AU2005100330B4 - Car Scoota Carrier (for Disabled) - Google Patents

Description

P:\WPDOCSARSSPE|CIE1259651 .do-0501/06 -1- ARTICLE CARRIER FOR USE WITH A VEHICLE This invention relates generally to a carrier which is suitable for use with a vehicle. The carrier may for example be suitable for carrying relative small vehicles such as scooters, motorcycles, ride on buggies and the like suitable for use by the disabled or other persons.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an article carrier suitable for use with a vehicle, the article carrier including, a support, a coupling for operatively connecting the support to the vehicle, a main body operatively connected to the support for pivotal movement between a transport position and a tilted position, the main body including a platform for carrying the article thereon and a ramp slidably moveable between a stowed position in which it is disposed on the main body and substantially below the platform and a deployed position in which it extends from an end of the main body.

In one form the coupling may be suitable for connection to a vehicle towing hitch. For example the coupling may include an elongated bar which is receivable within an aperture on the vehicle, the bar including a support mounting leg to which the support can be operatively connected. One example of a coupling is one which is suitable for use with a towing hitch of the type sold by Hayman-Reese.

The support may be in the form of an elongated member, one end of which is operatively connected to the support mounting leg of the coupling. When in the mounted position with the coupling fitted to the vehicle the support member extends away from the vehicle in cantilevered fashion.

The main body may include a chassis frame which is pivotally mounted to the support via hinge elements. The chassis frame is adapted to support the platform and is also adapted to support the ramp when in the stowed position.

The article carrier main body may include guides for respective receiving opposite side edges of the platform when in the stowed position. The chassis frame may include P:\WPDOCSARSSPECI\I259651 l.d-05/01/06 -2generally parallel spaced apart chassis rails each of which has one of the guides therein.

The guides may be in the form of recesses or slots in the chassis rails.

The ramp may include a base section having an upper surface and a flap hingedly connected to the upper surface of the base section the arrangement being such that when the ramp is in the deployed position the flap extends from the upper surface of the base section to an edge portion of the platform.

An electric ram may be provided which is operatively connected between the support and the main body for causing the pivotal movement of the main body relative to the support.

Operation of the preferred form of the carrier will hereinafter be described.

When fitted to the vehicle the support member extends rearwardly from the vehicle with the platform being disposed in a plane for carrying the article to be transported by the vehicle. To load or unload the article from the platform the electric ram is activated and the main body is moved from the transport position to the tilted position. The ramp thereafter is slidably withdrawn from its stowed position to its deployed position. In this position one edge of the ramp is on the ground: The flap on the ramp is positioned to enable the article to move from the platform down the ramp to the ramp or in the other direction when being loaded onto the carrier.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in these drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an article carrier according to one embodiment of the present invention with the article shown in phantom line thereon; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the carrier shown in Figure 1 with the main body in a tilted position and the ramp in a deployed position; P:WPDOCSARSSPECI E\I 259651 I.doe-05/01/06 -3- Figure 3 is a side elevation of the carrier shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the carrier shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a carrier generally indicated at 10 for use with articles such as a buggy 65 the carrier being suitable for use with a vehicle such as a motor vehicle 60 or the like (Fig The carrier includes a support member 12 and a coupling 14 for operatively connecting the support member 12 to the vehicle. The coupling 14 is adapted for connection to the motor vehicle's towing hitch. The coupling 14 includes a coupling bar 15 which is receivable within the vehicle towing hitch aperture (not shown) and a support mounting leg 16 to which the support 12 can be operatively mounted. In another form the support may be formed integrally with the coupling. As shown the support 12 includes an elongated member 13 which is connected to the support mounting leg 16 of the coupling 14. As best seen in Figure 4 when in the mounted position the elongated support member 13 extends in cantilevered fashion rearwardly and away from the motor vehicle 60. A skid wheel 17 is mounted on the under side of member 13.

The carrier further includes a main body 20 operatively connected to the support member 12 for pivotal movement between a transport position and a tilted position. To this end hinge elements 22 and 23 are disposed on the top face of elongated support member 13.

The main body 20 further includes a platform 30 for carrying the article thereon. As shown in Figure 1 the article may be a small vehicle such as a ride on buggy 65 suitable for use by disabled persons. The main body 20 includes a chassis frame 24 having hinge elements 25 and 26 thereon which cooperate with hinge elements 22 and 23 on the elongated support member 13 to enable pivotal movement of the chassis frame on the support member between transport position in which the chassis frame is disposed generally horizontal and a tilted position as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Stops 45 and 46 are provided on the chassis frames to limit pivotal movement thereof The chassis frame 24 includes spaced apart generally parallel chassis rails 27 and 28 each having a longitudinal extending recess or slot 29 and 31 therein.

P:\WPDOCSRS\SPECIE\I 259651 I.doc-05/01/06 The carrier further includes a ramp 32 which can be stored below the platform 30 with its side edges in slots 29 and 31. The ramp is slidably movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The ramp 32 includes a base section 35 having an upper surface 33 and a flap 34 hingedly connected to the upper surface of the base section the arrangement being such that when the ramp is in the deployed position the flap extends from the upper surface of the base section to an edge portion of the platform.

An electric ram 36 is operatively connected between the support and the main body for causing the pivotal movement of the main body relative to the support.

The main body further includes side walls 40 and 41 which are hinged so that they can be raised or lowered. Removable retention pins 43 can extend across the platform to limit movement of the buggy 65 when positioned on the platform. One or more of the retention pins 43 may be mounted in slots 47 in the side walls 41 to enable adjustment of the position of the pins 43 to cater for different sized buggies. A clamping plate 48 and fasteners receivable in slots 49 hold the retaining pins 43 in the selected position. As shown the side walls are folded inwardly at their top edge but they could be folded outwardly if further space was required.

When fitted to the motor vehicle 60 the support member 12 extends rearwardly from the vehicle 60 with the platform being disposed in a position in which it can support the buggy for transport via the vehicle. To load or unload the buggy from the platform the electric ram 36 is activated and the main body is moved from the limited transport position to the tilted position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The ramp 32 thereafter is slidably withdrawn from its stowed position to its deployed position. In this position one edge of the ramp is on the ground: The flap on the ramp is positioned to enable the buggy to move from the platform down the ramp to the ramp or in the other direction when being loaded onto the carrier.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may P:\WPDOCS\ARS\SPICIE\l259651 I.doc-05/01/06

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be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing 0 from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

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Claims (4)

1. An article carrier suitable for use with a vehicle, the article carrier including, a support, a coupling for operatively connecting the support to the vehicle, a main body operatively comnnected to the support for pivotal movement between a transport position and a tilted position, the main body including a platform for carrying the article thereon and a ramp slidably moveable between a stowed position in which it is disposed on the main body and below the platform and a deployed position in which it extends from an end of the main body.

2. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the main body includes guides for respective receiving opposite side edges of the platform when in the stowed position.

3. An article carrier according to claim 2 wherein the main body includes spaced apart generally parallel chassis rails each having a longitudinal extending recess therein the recesses defining the guides.

4. An article carrier according to any preceding claim wherein the ramp includes a base section having an upper surface and a flap hingedly connected to the upper surface of the base section the arrangement being such that when the ramp is in the deployed position the flap extends from the upper surface of the base section to an edge portion of the platform. An article according to any preceding claim including an electric ram operatively connected between the support and the main body for causing the pivotal movement of the main body relative to the support. Dated this 5th day of January 2006 LAWRENCE MERVYN COCHRANE By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE