AU648935B2

AU648935B2 - Towbar mount rack and motor vehicle racking system

Info

Publication number: AU648935B2
Application number: AU27306/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Beryl Dorothy Woskett; Rick Trevor Woskett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-11-01
Filing date: 1992-10-23
Publication date: 1994-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-23
Also published as: AU2730692A

Description

Our Ref: 442533 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 648935

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT .o S* eo eo oeo e°° oo e a Applicant(s): Address for Service: Rick Trevor Woskett 101 Hillcrest Avenue HURSTVILLE NSW 2220

AUSTRALIA

Beryl Dorothy Woskett 101 Hillcrest Avenue HURSTVILLE NSW 2220

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: Towbar mount rack and motor vehicle racking system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to ;me:- 5020 039 Op:mmb 1 The present invention relates to a carrying rack adapted for attachment to a towbar of a vehicle, and in particular to a ski carrying rack.

Carrying racks for fitting onto the roofs of cars are well known. These require either attachment means for hooking into the gutter of the vehicle or more permanent fixing by screwing to the roof of the vehicle.

The present invention provides an alternative construction whereby the ski carrying rack is affixed to the towbar of the vehicle, thus avoiding any risk of damage to the roof of the vehicle.

In one broad form the invention comprises a ski carrying rack comprising: a mast; connection means located at one end of said mast, for releasable connection to a towbar of a vehicle; a ski carrying cradle pivotally connected to the other end of said mast; and :eoeee S. locking means to releasably lock the cradle in at least one predetermined angular position relative to the mast.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of a ski carrying rack according to the present invention attached to a vehicle in the transport position; Figure 2 illustrates the ski carrying rack of Figure 1 pivoted out of the transport position to allow access to the boot of vehicle; and Figure 3 illustrates the components of the ski carrying rack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

One embodiment of a ski carrying rack is shown in Figure 3. The ski carrying rack comprises a mast (2) which can comprise two telescopic sections and such that the height of the mast is adjustable; the height being determined by aligning the holes of the section with the holes of the section and securing the sections and together by any suitable means such as bolts S0390p:mmb 2 Located at the base of the mast is a plate (8) having a hole therethrough, into which the ball of the towbar fits to secure the ski carrying rack to the towbar.

A ski cradle (10) is pivotally connected to the top of the mast A suitable locking device (11) releasably locks the ski cradle (10) in the travel position, as shown in Figure 1 and the position shown in Figure 2 which allows access to the boot (12) of the car (13).

The transport position of the skis (25) is as shown in Figure 1, wherein the skis held in the cradle are substantially aligned with the angle of the hatch (24) of the car The locking device (11) can be adjusted to lock the cradle in any desired angle. Further, the locking device (11) could be activated by a key to prevent tampering.

The cradle (10) comprises an elongated base frame (14), pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the mast Located at each end of the frame (14) are two racks (15) and Each rack (15) and (16) has two groups of L-shaped .eoo projections in cascade, extending outwardly from two central supports As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a pair of skis rest across a respective pair of the L-shaped projections (17) between the racks (15) and (16).

:.The cradle (10) shown in this embodiment can hold four pairs of skis The stocks as shown in Figures 1 and 2 rest across the cross bar (19) (Figure 3) and are secured by the straps With the skis and poles positioned in the cradle the two locking arms (21) are pivoted inwardly and the locking means (22) locks the two arms (21) together. The cradle (10) and the locking arms are so dimensioned that the rubber bearing strips (23) bear on the skis (25) preferably between the toe (27) and the heel (28) of the ski binding and jams the skis (25) against the central support (18), holding them securely in the carrying rack The top arms (26) of the locking arms (21) can also engage the stocks to assist in holding them in position and also may have a rubber bearing strip (not shown).

0390p:mmb -3- The locking device (11) can be of any suitable construction such as a plurality of holes located on a circular plate fixed to the mast with a pin or pins located on the locking device which engages in the holes to lock the cradle in the desired angular position with respect to the mast.

The ski cradle could be of any size so as to carry two or more pair of skis.

The ski holding bays formed by the L-shaped projections (17) and central supports (18) can be of any suitable size so as to hold two skis locked together, base to base. The two central ports (18) on each rack (15)(16) being sufficiently spaced apart such that the bindings of skis carried on opposed sides of the rack do not interefere with each other.

The carrying rack of the present invention can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic coated aluminium or plastics.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modification and additions can be carried out to the carrying rack described above, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

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Claims

2. A ski carrying rack according to claim i, wherein the ski carrying cradle comprises an elongated base frame which is pivotally connected, intermediate its ends, to the said other end of said mast, and a rack located at each end of said elongated base frame; each rack comprising at least two ski holding bays, such that in use a pair of skis extends between a holding bay in each rack.
3. A ski carrying rack according to claim 2 wherein the holding bays are formed by L-shaped projections extending outwardly from a centrally located support, the free ends of said L-shaped projections extending substantially in the same direction away from the elongated base frame as that of S the centrally located support.
4. A ski carrying rack according to claim 3 wherein there are two centrally located supports located on each rack on either side of said elongated base frame and each centrally located supports have two of said L-shaped projections located one above the other.
5. A ski carrying rack according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein said cradle further includes a pair of opposed locking arms which pivot, in use, from an open position to a closed position wherein the two arms encircle and hold skis in said cradle.
6. A ski carrying rack according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein located intermediate the ends of said elongated base frame are two opposed locking arms which are pivoted from an open position to a closed position wherein said arms lock together, such that, in use, the two arms encircle and 0390p:mmb 5 hold skis, extending between a holding bay in each rack, securely in the cradle.
7. A ski'carrying rack according to claim 6 wherein in use the locking arms bear on a respective ski in said rack forcing said ski or pair of skis against one centrally located support of each rack.
8. A ski carrying rack according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein said locking means is activated by a key.
9. A ski carrying rack according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein said mast is adjustable in height. A ski carrying rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2 DATED this 6th day of October, 1992. R.T. B.D. WOSKETT *I By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE o 0390pmmb ABSTRACT A ski carrying rack which is fitted to the towbar of a vehicle by means of the ball of the towbar. The rack comprises a mast having a ski carrying cradle which is releasably pivotally connected by locking means (11) to the top of the mast to be locked into various angular positions relative to the mast S go* 0 S.