Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-04-03
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
C224S318000, C224S324000, C224S329000, C224S563000, C224S567000, C224S572000, C224S580000, C410S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209768
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is package carriers for transporting packages on the trunk of automobiles or the tail gate of utility vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a numerous devices for securing packages to the outside of automobiles and utility vehicles. Many of these devices utilize a structure which is permanently attached to the vehicle, such as rails or tracks attached to the roof or trunk lid, to which packages can be tied with rope or elasticized bungee chords. Others include removable storage cases which are mounted on the roof or trunk lid, including removable containers, such as the carrier disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,614 which comprises a storage container which can be mounted on a trunk lid with hooks which are operatively associated with the front end of the container and with side hooks which are operatively associated with lateral straps which help hold down the container, but not attached on the rear end. Another removable container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,003 which is a container designed to fit on roofs of aerodynamically streamlined cars which comprises a container which is secured by straps which are affixed to the top of the container and include novel hooks which secure through the car doors.
A disadvantage of trunk top carriers which include a container or a fixed structure is that the size of the container is effectively limited to by the dimensions of the unobstructed flat space available on the top horizontal portion of the trunk. There is no standard shape or size for a trunk lid. The length of the flat horizontal surface (the dimension starting at the hinged opening of the trunk and ending where the lid bends down) varies from ten inches or less to several feet. Many of today's compact and sub-compact cars have smaller sized trunk lids. The problem of fitting a container on a trunk lid is further confounded by the popular trend of placing an aerodynamic obstruction (often called a spoiler) at the end of the horizontal surface of the trunk lid thus reducing the useable length still further. Thus, while it is possible to make a “one size fits all” carrier which includes a container or a structure which is designed to fit on the horizontal trunk surface, such a device would necessarily be very small and would not make good use of the space available on larger vehicles.
The great variety of trunk mounted package carrier designs available for cars is good evidence of the utility of such devices, however it is apparent that there is not a suitable portable carrier for smaller cars due to the small size of the available flat space on the trunk lid. Yet the need for such a device is greatest on small cars because the carrying capacity inside of the trunk is so small. It is also clear that a readily removable device would be very desirable, since most such devices are used relatively infrequently.
There is a need for a package carrier which would be suitable for use on a wide range of vehicle sizes irrespective of the trunk lid dimensions while still being able to carry a large package.
There is a need for a package carrier that could be quickly attached when needed and removed when not in use, and which could be rolled up into a compact package for stowage when not in use.
There is a need for a package carrier which could be efficiently used on a large variety of vehicle designs, irrespective of trunk proportions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention regards a package carrier which is designed to be mounted onto the trunk lid of an automobile or the tail gate of a utility vehicle. One embodiment of the package carrier comprises a flat, flexible, essentially rectangular pad with a plurality of elongated mounting straps. Each mounting strap comprises a long strip of fabric which traverses the pad and has free ends extending on two opposing sides of the pad. Broad flat hooks are attached to each of the ends. The mounting straps are attached to the pad near two opposite edges of the pad, so that each strap is attached in two places. There are at least two mounting straps which traverse the pad across the two long edges of the pad, and optionally at least one strap which traverses the pad across the two short edges of the pad. At least one side of each strap has an adjustment connector by which the distance between the edge of he pad and the hook can be varied. Some of the mounting straps may also contain a pivotal connection. The pad also contains a plurality of binding straps each of which also traverses the pad, is attached to the pad near each of two opposing edges, and has free ends extending on two opposing sides of the pad. There are at least three binding straps which traverse the long edges of the pad, and at least two straps which traverse the short edges of the pad. The binding straps each contain a connection buckle, with one part of the buckle on each free end of the strap, and at least one member of the buckle pair contains an adjustment connector by which the distance between the edge of he pad and the hook can be varied. Alternatively, a separate adjustment connector may be supplied.
In alternate embodiment, some or all of the mounting and binding straps which traverse the pad may be replaced with two separate straps attached opposite each other on opposing sides of the pad proximate to the respective edge.
The pad preferably comprises two layers with the straps attached to each layer and running between the layers.
The device is deployed by attaching the mounting strap hooks on one of the long sides of the pad under the hinged side of the lid so that the pad rests on the trunk lid, attaching the mounting straps on the short sides of the pad under the trunk lid sides and tightening the fit with the adjustment connector on the short sides, attaching the mounting strap hooks on the remaining long side of the pad under the open side of the trunk lid, and tightening the fit with the adjustment connector on the long sides. On most vehicles this can be accomplished without opening the trunk lid. Depending on the size and proportions of the trunk lid, the pad may rest entirely on the horizontal surface of the trunk lid or bend around the lid and rest part on the horizontal surface and part on the vertical surface. The item to be carried is rested on the closed trunk lid and secured in place by the binding straps the ends of which are fastened together by fastening the parts of the connection buckle and tightening the adjustment connector.
Important aspects of the invention are a soft flexible pad which can conform to the shape of the trunk lid, adjustable attachment straps with hooks for attaching the device to the vehicle , and independent binding straps for securing the package.
An object of this invention is to provide a removable, portable package carrier that is suitable for use on many different vehicles while making efficient use of the space available on the trunk notwithstanding substantial differences in trunk sizes and proportions.
A further object of the invention is to provide a package carrier which can be rolled up into a tight compact cylinder for stowage in a small space when not in use.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a package carrier which can be quickly deployed from the stored condition when needed and quickly removed and stored when not in use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1196762 (1916-09-01), Cunningham
patent: 1552563 (1925-09-01), Labisky
patent: 2268881 (1942-01-01), LeBoeuf
patent: 3000418 (1961-09-01), Bitting
patent: 3610490 (1971-10-01), Smith
patent: 3670934 (1972-06-01), Kraselsky
patent: 4050614 (1977-09-01), Simpson
patent: 5148956 (1992-09-01), Funk
patent: 5193955 (1993-03-01), Chou
patent: 5288003 (1994-02-01), MacDonald
patent: 5458447 (1995-10-01), Clason
patent: 5927575 (1999-07-01), Gatling
Garbe Stephen P.
Lebowitz Howard E.
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