CA2042471A1 - Rear-mounted carrier for a motor vehicle - Google Patents
Rear-mounted carrier for a motor vehicleInfo
- Publication number
- CA2042471A1 CA2042471A1 CA 2042471 CA2042471A CA2042471A1 CA 2042471 A1 CA2042471 A1 CA 2042471A1 CA 2042471 CA2042471 CA 2042471 CA 2042471 A CA2042471 A CA 2042471A CA 2042471 A1 CA2042471 A1 CA 2042471A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- platform
- vehicle
- rod
- carrier
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
The carrier is provided with a number of tubes which are received in bars attached to the under-carriage of a motor vehicle. The carrier may be attached to the vehicle by sliding the bars into the tubes. The carrier has a platform which may be rotated from a horizontal position for receipt of a load to a horizontal position for stowage of the carrier. Pins are provided for locking the platform selectively in one of those two position.
Description
r~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to carriers attached to motor vehicles for transporting loads and more par~icularly to carriers which are attached to the rear of vehicles and which swing downward from a vertical position to a horizon-tal position for use and swing upward to a vertical position when not in use.
Carriers attached to motor vehicles are illustrated in a number of United States patents including Nos. 4,815,638 to Hutyra; 4,181,348 to Whitley et al.; 3,913,811 to Spen-cer; 4,775,282 to Van Vliet; 4,813,584 to Wiley; and 4,705,448 to Mungons.
Carriers which are attached to the rear of motor veh-icles are known and the patents referred to above describe some of such carriers. A feature of many such carriers is that they can be attached to a vehicle for use and removed from the vehicle after use. Some of these carriers also have provision for folding them out of the way when they are not in use.
Known carriers which fold and unfold have a number of shortcomings. Some carriers ~uch as that illustrated in U.S.
patent No. 3,913,811 to Spencer have obstructions on the , . .
:
~3~
surface where the object to be transported rests and is accordingly inconvenient to load and unload. Other carrier~
such as that illustrated in ~.S. patent No. ~,181,3~8 to Whitley et al. are complicated of construction and hence are quite expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a carrier which has a simple construction and which has an obstruct-ion-free surface on which a load rests.
Another object of this invention is to provide a car-rier which is attached to a motor vehicle and which ~ay be loaded from either one of its two sides.
Another object of this invention is to provide a car-rier which may be easily attached and detached from a motor vehicle and which, when attached, may be easily folded out of the way when not in use.
These and other objects are accomplished by a a carrier for transporting a load at the rear of a vehicle comprising:
a hitch having a sleeve for removeable engagement to the rear of said vehicle; a platform having a rod pivotally received in said sleeve and being moveable from a horizontal position for receipt of A load to a vertical position for . .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to carriers attached to motor vehicles for transporting loads and more par~icularly to carriers which are attached to the rear of vehicles and which swing downward from a vertical position to a horizon-tal position for use and swing upward to a vertical position when not in use.
Carriers attached to motor vehicles are illustrated in a number of United States patents including Nos. 4,815,638 to Hutyra; 4,181,348 to Whitley et al.; 3,913,811 to Spen-cer; 4,775,282 to Van Vliet; 4,813,584 to Wiley; and 4,705,448 to Mungons.
Carriers which are attached to the rear of motor veh-icles are known and the patents referred to above describe some of such carriers. A feature of many such carriers is that they can be attached to a vehicle for use and removed from the vehicle after use. Some of these carriers also have provision for folding them out of the way when they are not in use.
Known carriers which fold and unfold have a number of shortcomings. Some carriers ~uch as that illustrated in U.S.
patent No. 3,913,811 to Spencer have obstructions on the , . .
:
~3~
surface where the object to be transported rests and is accordingly inconvenient to load and unload. Other carrier~
such as that illustrated in ~.S. patent No. ~,181,3~8 to Whitley et al. are complicated of construction and hence are quite expensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a carrier which has a simple construction and which has an obstruct-ion-free surface on which a load rests.
Another object of this invention is to provide a car-rier which is attached to a motor vehicle and which ~ay be loaded from either one of its two sides.
Another object of this invention is to provide a car-rier which may be easily attached and detached from a motor vehicle and which, when attached, may be easily folded out of the way when not in use.
These and other objects are accomplished by a a carrier for transporting a load at the rear of a vehicle comprising:
a hitch having a sleeve for removeable engagement to the rear of said vehicle; a platform having a rod pivotally received in said sleeve and being moveable from a horizontal position for receipt of A load to a vertical position for . .
2 ~ ;7 1 stowage of said plat~orm; and a pin slideable in an aperture formed in said sleeve and removeably receivable in a recess formed in said rod for selectively locking said platform in a hori~ontal position and in a vertical position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carrier of the invention shown in conjunction with the rear portion of a motor vehicle;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carrier and a load resting on the carrier;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the carrier shown partly cut away;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire carrier;
Figure 5 is an elevation of the carrier and the rear of a vehicle;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the carrier shown in a position for stowage in solid lines and in position for use in broken lines;
Figure 7 is an elevation of the rear portion of a vehicle and the carrier in a position for stowage in solid lines and in position for use in broken lines;
Figure 8 is an elevation of the carrier and the rear of the vehicle; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the carrier and a removable cover for a load restin~ on the carrier.
Like reference characters refer to like parts through-out the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENBODIMENT
With reference to Figure l, the carrier of the inven-tion, indicated generally lO, is shown in conjunction withthe rear of a motor vehicle, generally 12. The carrier includes a platform 14 on which the load to be transported rests. The platform is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle by means of a hitch, generally 16. The load is loaded onto the carrier and unloaded from it by means of ramp l8.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, a number of aper-tures 22 are spaced along the platform adjacent to each of its four edges. A load hidden by a cover or tarpaulin 24 rests on the platform. Eyelets 26 are arranged in rows adjacent to each edge of the tarpaulin and the tarpaulin is lashed to the platform by passing a cord or rope 28 alter-, ~3~2~ ~
nately throu~h an aperture in the platform and through aneyelet in the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin protects the load from inclement weather and from water and salt which splash-es up from the road.
Other means may be used to removably attach -the tarp-aulin to the platform. The tarpaulin may for example be attached by dome or snap fasteners.
A pair of brackets 30, 32 is attached, such as by welding, to the underside of the platform. Each bracket has spaced upper and lower walls 34, 36 disposed parallel to the platform and an intermediate wall 38 which extends there-between.
The brackets define a compartment for ramp 18. As illustrated in Figure 3, the lower walls of the brackets support the side margins of ramp 18 when it is stowed in the compartment &nd the intermediate walls contact its side edges and prevent the ramp from moving lon~itudinally with respect to the motor vehicle.
When the ramp is stowed in the compsrtment it is pre-vented from moving by means such as one or more bolts (notillustrated) which pass through apertures formed in the ramp and in the platform. The bolts are secured by means of wing . . . .
' :
-nuts which may be readily loosened and separated from thebolts so that the bolts may be be removed from the aper-tures. Once the bolts are removed the ramp may be withdrawn from the compartment.
The ramp may be slid along the brackets and removed from ei-ther end of the compartment for use. When the ramp is ;n the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 1~ the brackets support the edge 18a of the ramp while edge 18b rests on the ground. When the ramp is in the position il-lustrated in broken lines in the same Figure, edge 18b rests on the brackets and edge 18a rests on the ground.
With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a portion of the platform closest to the vehicle is cut away at 40 for acco~~
modation of a sleeve 42 of hitch 16. A rod 44 is attached to the platform and passes through the sleeve. A number of tubes 46 are connected to the sleeve and extend laterally outwardly from it. The tubes are parallel to one another and each removably receives a bar 48 (Figure 5) disposed beneath the vehicle.
Bars 48 may be attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle by suitable means such as by welding and are ar-ranged and constructed to be received within the tubes when . . - - - -~3L12~7 ~
the hitch is attached to the vehicle as illustrated in Figure 5.
Each tube is provided with an aperture 50 which is in register with a like aperture in each bar so that the tubes and bars may be interconnected by means of bolts (not illus-trated). In order to remove the hitch from the vehicle it is merely necessary to re~ove the bolts from the apertures and draw the hitch backward to withdraw the tubes from the bars.
With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the sleeve is pro-vided with two apertures adjacent to each of its ends, oneof which 55a extends vertically downward from the upper wall of the sleeve and the other of which 55b extends inwardly from the side wall which faces the cut portion of the plat-for~.
A recess 54 is formed in the rod adjacent to each end of the tube. That recess extends vertically downward and is in register with aperture 55a when the platform is in the vertical position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 6.
When the platform is rotated to a horizontal position illus-trated in broken lines in the same Figure, aperture 55b isin register with recess 54.
A pin 55 is slideably accommodated in each aperture - ~ .
.
~3~
56a, b. Each pin is removably received in recess 5~ in order to selectively secure the platform in a vertical or a hor-izontal position. In Figure 6 the pin 55 which is illustated in solid lines has a shank which extends inwardly and down-wardly through aperture 55a and terminates at an inner end.
That end is received in recess 54 and serves to maintain the platform in a vertical position. When the pin is removed, the platform can be rotated clockwise to a hori~ontal pos-ition and maintained in that position by passing pin 52b through aperture 55b and into recess 54. Preferably the pins are held within the apertures by means of conventional coil springs (not illustrated) which bias the pins into contact with the rod.
With reference to Figure 4 at the side of the platform opposite rod 44 is a panel 60 which is attached to the platform by A hinge 6~. That panel is provided with an outer face 64 on which are mounted conventional back-up lights 66 and a holder 68 for a licence plate.
As illustrated in Figure 7-panel 60 pivots as the platform is rotated so that the outer face of the panel is always vertical. The back-up lights and the licence are accordingly always visible from the rear of the vehicle 2 ~ '~ 2 ~
whether the platform is vertical as illustrated in Figure 8 or horizontal as illustrated in Pigure 9.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, a curved bracket 70 is attached to the lower edge of panel 60 and a stud 72 fits into an elongated slot 74 formed in the bracket. The ~tud may be tightened and loosened in an aperture formed in the ènd of the platform. Tightening brings the bracket into contact with the platform and prevents the panel 60 from swinging. Loosening of the stud allows the panel to swing freely. The outer face of the panel may thus be secured in a vertical position whether the platform is horizontal as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 or vertical as illustrated in Figure 7.
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiment illustrated and des-cribed herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
. , ', ' ' ' .
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the carrier of the invention shown in conjunction with the rear portion of a motor vehicle;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carrier and a load resting on the carrier;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the carrier shown partly cut away;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the entire carrier;
Figure 5 is an elevation of the carrier and the rear of a vehicle;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the carrier shown in a position for stowage in solid lines and in position for use in broken lines;
Figure 7 is an elevation of the rear portion of a vehicle and the carrier in a position for stowage in solid lines and in position for use in broken lines;
Figure 8 is an elevation of the carrier and the rear of the vehicle; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of the carrier and a removable cover for a load restin~ on the carrier.
Like reference characters refer to like parts through-out the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ENBODIMENT
With reference to Figure l, the carrier of the inven-tion, indicated generally lO, is shown in conjunction withthe rear of a motor vehicle, generally 12. The carrier includes a platform 14 on which the load to be transported rests. The platform is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle by means of a hitch, generally 16. The load is loaded onto the carrier and unloaded from it by means of ramp l8.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, a number of aper-tures 22 are spaced along the platform adjacent to each of its four edges. A load hidden by a cover or tarpaulin 24 rests on the platform. Eyelets 26 are arranged in rows adjacent to each edge of the tarpaulin and the tarpaulin is lashed to the platform by passing a cord or rope 28 alter-, ~3~2~ ~
nately throu~h an aperture in the platform and through aneyelet in the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin protects the load from inclement weather and from water and salt which splash-es up from the road.
Other means may be used to removably attach -the tarp-aulin to the platform. The tarpaulin may for example be attached by dome or snap fasteners.
A pair of brackets 30, 32 is attached, such as by welding, to the underside of the platform. Each bracket has spaced upper and lower walls 34, 36 disposed parallel to the platform and an intermediate wall 38 which extends there-between.
The brackets define a compartment for ramp 18. As illustrated in Figure 3, the lower walls of the brackets support the side margins of ramp 18 when it is stowed in the compartment &nd the intermediate walls contact its side edges and prevent the ramp from moving lon~itudinally with respect to the motor vehicle.
When the ramp is stowed in the compsrtment it is pre-vented from moving by means such as one or more bolts (notillustrated) which pass through apertures formed in the ramp and in the platform. The bolts are secured by means of wing . . . .
' :
-nuts which may be readily loosened and separated from thebolts so that the bolts may be be removed from the aper-tures. Once the bolts are removed the ramp may be withdrawn from the compartment.
The ramp may be slid along the brackets and removed from ei-ther end of the compartment for use. When the ramp is ;n the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 1~ the brackets support the edge 18a of the ramp while edge 18b rests on the ground. When the ramp is in the position il-lustrated in broken lines in the same Figure, edge 18b rests on the brackets and edge 18a rests on the ground.
With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a portion of the platform closest to the vehicle is cut away at 40 for acco~~
modation of a sleeve 42 of hitch 16. A rod 44 is attached to the platform and passes through the sleeve. A number of tubes 46 are connected to the sleeve and extend laterally outwardly from it. The tubes are parallel to one another and each removably receives a bar 48 (Figure 5) disposed beneath the vehicle.
Bars 48 may be attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle by suitable means such as by welding and are ar-ranged and constructed to be received within the tubes when . . - - - -~3L12~7 ~
the hitch is attached to the vehicle as illustrated in Figure 5.
Each tube is provided with an aperture 50 which is in register with a like aperture in each bar so that the tubes and bars may be interconnected by means of bolts (not illus-trated). In order to remove the hitch from the vehicle it is merely necessary to re~ove the bolts from the apertures and draw the hitch backward to withdraw the tubes from the bars.
With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the sleeve is pro-vided with two apertures adjacent to each of its ends, oneof which 55a extends vertically downward from the upper wall of the sleeve and the other of which 55b extends inwardly from the side wall which faces the cut portion of the plat-for~.
A recess 54 is formed in the rod adjacent to each end of the tube. That recess extends vertically downward and is in register with aperture 55a when the platform is in the vertical position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 6.
When the platform is rotated to a horizontal position illus-trated in broken lines in the same Figure, aperture 55b isin register with recess 54.
A pin 55 is slideably accommodated in each aperture - ~ .
.
~3~
56a, b. Each pin is removably received in recess 5~ in order to selectively secure the platform in a vertical or a hor-izontal position. In Figure 6 the pin 55 which is illustated in solid lines has a shank which extends inwardly and down-wardly through aperture 55a and terminates at an inner end.
That end is received in recess 54 and serves to maintain the platform in a vertical position. When the pin is removed, the platform can be rotated clockwise to a hori~ontal pos-ition and maintained in that position by passing pin 52b through aperture 55b and into recess 54. Preferably the pins are held within the apertures by means of conventional coil springs (not illustrated) which bias the pins into contact with the rod.
With reference to Figure 4 at the side of the platform opposite rod 44 is a panel 60 which is attached to the platform by A hinge 6~. That panel is provided with an outer face 64 on which are mounted conventional back-up lights 66 and a holder 68 for a licence plate.
As illustrated in Figure 7-panel 60 pivots as the platform is rotated so that the outer face of the panel is always vertical. The back-up lights and the licence are accordingly always visible from the rear of the vehicle 2 ~ '~ 2 ~
whether the platform is vertical as illustrated in Figure 8 or horizontal as illustrated in Pigure 9.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, a curved bracket 70 is attached to the lower edge of panel 60 and a stud 72 fits into an elongated slot 74 formed in the bracket. The ~tud may be tightened and loosened in an aperture formed in the ènd of the platform. Tightening brings the bracket into contact with the platform and prevents the panel 60 from swinging. Loosening of the stud allows the panel to swing freely. The outer face of the panel may thus be secured in a vertical position whether the platform is horizontal as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 or vertical as illustrated in Figure 7.
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiment illustrated and des-cribed herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
. , ', ' ' ' .
Claims (5)
1. A carrier for transporting a load at the rear of a vehicle comprising: a hitch having a sleeve and means for removable engagement to the rear of said vehicle; a platform having a rod pivotally received in said sleeve and being moveable from a horizontal position for receipt of a load to a vertical position for stowage of said platform; and a pair of pins slidable in apertures formed said sleeve and each selectively receivable in a recess formed in said rod for selectively locking said platform in a horizontal position and in a vertical position.
2. A carrier for transporting a load at the rear of a vehicle having a plurality of parallel bars connected to and extending beneath the rear of said vehicle, said carrier comprising: a hitch having a sleeve and a plurality of tubes being connected to and extending laterally outwardly from said sleeve, said tubes being arranged and constructed to receive said bars for removable engagement of said hitch to said vehicle; a platform having a rod pivotally received in said sleeve and being moveable from a horizontal position for receipt of a load to a vertical position for stowage of said platform; and a pair of pins slidable in an aperture formed said sleeve and each selectively receivable in a recess formed in said rod for selectively locking said platform in a horizontal position and in a vertical pos-ition.
3. A carrier for transporting a load at the rear of a vehicle comprising: a hitch having a sleeve and means for removable engagement to the rear of said vehicle; a platform having a rod pivotally received in said sleeve; and a pair of pins each having an outer end disposed exterior of said sleeve and a shank which extends inwardly from said outer end through an opening formed in said sleeve and terminating at an inner end disposed adjacent to said rod, said rod having recesses formed therein any one of which being adapt-ed to receive said inner end and when so received preventing pivoting of said sleeve relative to said rod, said recesses being arranged such that said platform may be selectively locked in a vertical position or a horizontal position by insertion of said pin into an appropriate said recess.
4. A carrier for transporting a load at the rear of a vehicle having a plurality of bars connected to and extend-ing beneath the rear of said vehicle, said carrier compris-ing: a hitch having a sleeve and a plurality of tubes con-nected to and extending laterally outwardly from said sleeve, said tubes being arranged and constructed to receive said bars for removable engagement of said hitch to said vehicle; a platform having a rod pivotally received in said sleeve; and a pair of pins each having an outer end disposed exterior of said sleeve and a shank which extends inwardly from said outer end through an opening formed in said sleeve and terminating at an inner end disposed adjacent to said rod, said rod having recesses formed therein any one of which being adapted to receive said inner end and when so received preventing pivoting of said sleeve relative to said rod, said recesses being arranged such that said platform may be selectively locked in a vertical position or a hor-izontal position by insertion of said pin into an approp-riate said recess.
5. The carrier as claimed in any preceding claim further including a compartment attached to and disposed beneath said platform; and a ramp slideable in said compartment from a first position in which said platform is disposed within said compartment for stowage to a second position in which said ramp extends outwardly from said compartment to rest on the ground to facilitate the placement of the load on the platform and the removal therefrom.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2042471 CA2042471A1 (en) | 1991-05-13 | 1991-05-13 | Rear-mounted carrier for a motor vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2042471 CA2042471A1 (en) | 1991-05-13 | 1991-05-13 | Rear-mounted carrier for a motor vehicle |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2042471A1 true CA2042471A1 (en) | 1992-11-14 |
Family
ID=4147588
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2042471 Abandoned CA2042471A1 (en) | 1991-05-13 | 1991-05-13 | Rear-mounted carrier for a motor vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2042471A1 (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-05-13 CA CA 2042471 patent/CA2042471A1/en not_active Abandoned
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5816637A (en) | Truck cargo space extension bed | |
| US6340190B1 (en) | Tailgate attachment for extending the cargo space of a vehicle | |
| US6425618B1 (en) | Articulating cargo bed extender | |
| CA1335090C (en) | Vehicle mountable luggage carrier assembly | |
| US5700047A (en) | Truck bed extender | |
| US5383703A (en) | Modular trailer | |
| US6152339A (en) | Vehicle rooftop carrier apparatus | |
| US5752799A (en) | Apparatus for loading and carrying small recreational water vehicles and method therefor | |
| US6502730B2 (en) | Carrier rack for vehicle | |
| US5816638A (en) | Pickup truck bed extender, ramp and tailgate | |
| US7195432B2 (en) | Adjustable cargo gate system | |
| US5881937A (en) | Movable frame assembly | |
| US6422628B1 (en) | Transportable satellite communication station including double-expandable trailer | |
| US4640658A (en) | Demountable carrier for mounting on vehicles | |
| US5038983A (en) | Vehicle cargo carrier attachment | |
| US6669269B1 (en) | Multipurpose working, load carrying and camping platform structure | |
| US6520523B2 (en) | Removable vehicle running boards | |
| US20080142559A1 (en) | External bicycle rack integrated within a vehicle | |
| US5316357A (en) | Extension wall attachment structure for pickup trucks | |
| US6550836B2 (en) | Vehicle bed modular system and method therefor | |
| US6773025B1 (en) | Collapsible trailer | |
| US5368354A (en) | Pickup bed cap having passenger seat | |
| US20020008406A1 (en) | Collapsible shelter/camper/storage unit with a suspended floor | |
| US6379101B1 (en) | Ramp and cargo system | |
| US6196602B1 (en) | Deployable cargo rack for pickup truck |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |