Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-30
2001-02-20
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
C224S531000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189754
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus that permits an outboard motor and gas tank to be transported securely and safely on the exterior of a vehicle, including motor vehicles, motorhomes and camping trailers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many people with small boats, particularly collapsible boats, transport their boats and the outboard motor within the vehicle. The user may merely load the outboard motor and gas tank into the trunk of the automobile or place them on the floor inside a camper. This can cause hazardous conditions when unpleasant smelling gasoline fumes accumulate. In addition, there is a risk of damage to the motor or spills from the gasoline tank during motion of the motor vehicle, particularly during sudden starts and stops if the motor and gasoline tank are not properly secured. A further hazard is that any water that may be left inside the drive housing of the motor may flow into the working parts of the motor, such as the carburetor or cylinder, which may require that the motor be disassembled prior to the next use.
There have been a number of outboard motor carriers for motor vehicles proposed for carrying the outboard motor on the exterior of the motor vehicle. Examples of such carriers are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,069, 4,136,803, 5,509,592, 4,625,900 and Design Pat. Nos. 322,423 and 363,695. Most of these carriers are designed to be attached to a trailer hitch with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,900, which is attachable to a spare tire carrier or bumper of a motor vehicle. All of the patents describe carriers having a rigid metal support arm attached to the trailer hitch at one end and having a flat plate, preferably covered with flat wooden sheets to serve like a transom of a boat for attaching the clamps of an outboard motor. The designs all enable the outboard motor to be transported safely and securely at the exterior of a motor vehicle. While all of these carriers provide for a secure means for transporting the outboard motor, none of the carriers deal with the problems associated with the transport of the gasoline tank within the automobile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a carrier for attachment to a motor vehicle for transporting small outboard motors and their associated gasoline tanks. The carrier comprises a generally rectangular base for releasable attachment to a motor vehicle. The base has an outboard motor support for supporting an outboard motor in a position to maintain the propeller lower than the engine casing and a gasoline tank securing means for securely transporting the gasoline tank for the outboard motor.
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patent: 5020708 (1991-06-01), Kalbach
patent: 5232135 (1993-08-01), Marren
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patent: 5699985 (1997-12-01), Vogel
patent: 5803330 (1998-09-01), Stack et al .
Chadwick Kenneth
Cutajar Vince
LandOfFree
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