Storable hitch mounted cargo carrier

Details Storable hitch mounted cargo carrier Storable hitch mounted cargo carrier

1999-05-04

2001-03-20

Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)

Package and article carriers

Vehicle attached

Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle

C224S522000, C224S523000, C224S529000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202909

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The field of this invention relates to cargo carriers for vehicles and, in particular, to a hitch mounted carrier that can be disassembled and stored in the vehicle when not in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Article carriers are widely employed to expand the carrying capacity of vehicles while maintaining comfort within the passenger compartment. Rooftop carriers are well known and popular because they are unobtrusive and self-storing on the roof when not in use. However, access to a roof top carrier can be awkward and cumbersome, particularly with taller vehicles. As such, the inconvenience of rooftop carriers deters the everyday use of them. Moreover, rooftop carriers are dependent upon the structural strength of the vehicle roof and therefore may be limited in the carrying capacity.
Rear mounted cargo carriers have also been employed to increase the cargo capacity of the vehicle. While rear mounted cargo carriers undesirably stick out from the end of a vehicle when not in use, they have strong mounts to the vehicle and can hold relatively heavy and awkward loads compared to roof mounted carriers. Furthermore, the loading and unloading of a rear cargo carrier is extremely convenient compared to a roof mounted carrier.
On the other hand, many rear-mounted carriers require specialized mounting hardware to secure the carrier to the vehicle resulting in undesirable added structure and cost. Furthermore, many of these rear cargo platforms extend horizontally from the hitch assembly and do not provide for adequate clearance with the ground. This inadequate clearance can further be aggravated by the loaded condition where the extra cargo weight in the rear tilts the entire motor vehicle to allow the rear cargo carrier to tilt toward the ground. In extreme cases, the carrier can be damaged as the vehicle moves along in a loaded condition if there is contact of the platform with the ground. In addition, rear cargo platforms are bulky and are not amenable to storage within the vehicle interior when they are not in use.
What is desired is a cargo carrier that can be easily dismounted and disassembled to be stored within the vehicle interior when not in use. What is also desired is a rear mounted cargo carrier that is positioned to maintain adequate vertical clearance from the ground.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a cargo carrier is constructed for mounting to a hitch sleeve of a vehicle to position the cargo carrier proximate the rear of the vehicle. The cargo carrier includes a drawbar having a front end constructed to be removably mounted to the vehicle hitch sleeve. The rear section of the drawbar includes a rear first bracket and a second bracket affixed on the drawbar between the front end and the rear end. A cargo platform is removably mounted to the first and second brackets.
Preferably, the rear bracket has a slot extending from an edge, preferably its upper edge, for receiving a fastener that passes through a rear rail of the platform. A manually operated knob engages the fastener and is retained laterally against the bracket by an embossment at the side of the slot. Preferably, the embossment is arcuate in shape to substantially surround the knob when the knob is fully fastened to the fastener. Preferably, the knob has a pair of manually operated wings and a threaded hub that threads onto the fastener. When loosened, the knob allows the fastener to laterally exit the slot. Preferably the slot is vertically oriented and the fastener is vertically lifted out of the slot.
Preferably, the second bracket has an upper lip that engages a front section of the rail of the platform and allows the rail to be pivotably moved thereunder to disengage therefrom when the fastener laterally exits the slot of the first bracket.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a cargo carrier is constructed to be mounted to a hitch sleeve of a vehicle. The carrier includes a drawbar removably mounted to the hitch sleeve. A cargo platform is removably mounted onto the drawbar by a releasable fastener. When the fastener is loosened, the platform can be disconnected from the drawbar such that the drawbar and cargo platform can facilitate storage in a motor vehicle as separate members.
Preferably, the releasable fastener is a single manually operated fastener located axially with the drawbar and connects the edge rail of the cargo platform to the drawbar. Preferably the single fastener is a threaded manually operated knob that engages a threaded fastener element to lock the rear rail section of the platform onto a rear bracket member attached to the drawbar.
In this fashion, a cargo carrier can be mounted onto the rear of a motor vehicle and provide convenience of rear mounted carriers but can be easily disassembled into a separate platform and drawbar when not in use to facilitate ease in storage of the carrier.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4906015 (1990-03-01), LaCroix et al.
patent: 5038983 (1991-08-01), Tomososki
patent: 5106002 (1992-04-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5377886 (1995-01-01), Sickler
patent: 5427289 (1995-06-01), Ostor
patent: 5460304 (1995-10-01), Porter et al.
patent: 5570826 (1996-11-01), Garbes et al.
patent: 5586702 (1996-12-01), Sadler
patent: 5620126 (1997-04-01), Janek
patent: 5996869 (1999-12-01), Belinky et al.

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