GB2108450A

GB2108450A - Wheel-less goods carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2108450A
Application number: GB08227143A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Farquhar Thomson
Original assignee: GUYSON INT Ltd
Current assignee: GUYSON INT Ltd
Priority date: 1981-09-23
Filing date: 1982-09-23
Publication date: 1983-05-18

Abstract

A wheel-less goods carrier comprises a platform 8 supported at the rear of a vehicle 1. The carrier, which is movable to an upright position when not in use, comprises a chassis supporting a load-bearing platform or box structure, the chassis being connectable to a mounting bracket comprising a substantial vertical plate 12 which mounts two spaced and slightly diverging wings 11, the chassis being connected to said wings by means of a pin 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel-less goods carrier The invention relates to goods carriers for motor cars and other vehicles.

When all luggage space inside a vehicle is occupied and still more goods remain to be carried, recourse is commonly made to a roof rack or boot-rack, though goods carried on top of a vehicle significantly increase wind resistance and therefore fuel consumption. As an alternative, many drivers attach trailers to the rear of their vehicles, but these are somewhat expensive and reduce the legal speed limit. By contrast out invention is relatively cheap to manufacture and is not subjected to the same speed requirements.

According to the invention there is provided a goods carrier for a motor vehicle comprising platform means adapted to be supported by the motor car at the rear thereof. Preferably, the platform means are readily detachable or mounted for movement to an upright position behind the vehicle when not in use.

In particular, the goods carrier is adapted for use with a motor vehicle having means for hitching a trailerthereto,the platform means being adapted to be supported by the trailer hitching means. The platform means may be supported by means comprising a removable pin which may act as a pivot for the platform means. The platform means may comprise a flat plate and may support a container such as an open-topped or lidded box.

Embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a goods carrier attached to or supported by the tow bar of a motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a section on line ll-ll of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of a goods carrier according to the invention.

As shown in the drawings a motor vehicle 1 is provided with a trailer tow bar 1A having a plate 2 for mounting a tow hitch. In place of a tow hitch, a wheel-less goods carrier 3 is secured to the plate, the carrier comprising a chassis 4, defining platform means, and a supporting bracket 5.

The chassis 4 comprises a steel bar 6 of square section and transverse bars 7 welded thereto, the bars supporting a load carrying platform 8. The platform 8 comprises a flat plate, whereas in other embodiments the plate may support or be replaced buy a box.

A steel block 9 is welded below the bar 6 at one, the "inboard", end thereof and the block has a horizontal transverse bore 10 therethrough. The bracket 5 comprises a substantial vertical plate 12 which mounts two spaced and slightly diverging wings 11 which extend from a root 18. The end of the bar 6 having the block 9 welded thereto, can be introduced between the wings 11 of the bracket 5, and each of the wings 11 is provided with a bore in line with and of the same diameter as bore 10 so that a pin 13 can be passed through each ofthe three bores to link the chassis 4 to the bracket 5.

The pin 13 may be secured in position by being provided a one end with a cranked portion 15, and at the other end by a split pin 14 introduced into a hole 16. By withdrawing the split pin, the pin 13 may be withdrawn from the bores and the chassis thereby separated from the bracket, but if left in place the pin 13 acts as a pivot whereby the chassis 4 may be displaced to a vertical position behind the vehicle when not in use. Means (not shown) will be provided to secure the chassis in the upright position.

It is required that the carrier shall be wheel-less, and to maintain the chassis substantially horizontal in use, a steel tongue 17 is welded to the underside of the block 9 and projecting forward thereof to a position at which its upper surface at the forward end engages the underside of the root 18 of the wings 11. Thus, downward pressure on the bar 6 to the rear of the pivot pin 13 is resisted by reaction between the root 18 and the tongue 17.

In an alternative arrangement as shown in Figure 3, the block 9 may be arranged so close to the root 18 with the pin passing through the bore 10 in the block and the holes in the wings 11, that downward movement as shown in the Figure is prevented, whilst the upper end of the block 9 is radiussed about the axis of the bore 10 to allow upward pivoting of the chassis.

The mounting plate 12 of the bracket 5 is provided with through holes located for alignment with holes in the tow bar mounting plate 2, which are generally standardised, and the bracket is secured to the mounting plate 2 by means of bolts 19, 20. Whilst it is anticipated that the invention will have its main application as an attachment for a vehicle having a trailer tow bar, the goods carrier of the invention may be attached to any other sufficiently substantial portion of the rear of a vehicle if required.

It will be appreciated that instead of coupling the trailer to the vehicle as described and illustrated, the usual ball hitch may be left in position (on the vehicle) and a spacer plate may be located between the back of the vehicle and the ball hitch and clamped in position. The plate will have a tube along its top edge and the ball may be used as a means of location for the platform.

1. A wheel-less goods carrier for a motor vehicle comprising platform means adapted to be supported by the vehicle at the rear thereof.

2. A wheel-less goods carrier according to claim 1, wherein said platform means is adapted to be readily attached to and detached from said vehicle.

3. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said platform means is mounted for movement to an upright position behind the vehicle.

4. A wheel-less goods carrier according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said platform means comprises a chassis supporting a load-bearing platform or box structure.

5. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 4, wherein said chassis is connectable to a mounting

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wheel-less goods carrier The invention relates to goods carriers for motor cars and other vehicles. When all luggage space inside a vehicle is occupied and still more goods remain to be carried, recourse is commonly made to a roof rack or boot-rack, though goods carried on top of a vehicle significantly increase wind resistance and therefore fuel consumption. As an alternative, many drivers attach trailers to the rear of their vehicles, but these are somewhat expensive and reduce the legal speed limit. By contrast out invention is relatively cheap to manufacture and is not subjected to the same speed requirements. According to the invention there is provided a goods carrier for a motor vehicle comprising platform means adapted to be supported by the motor car at the rear thereof. Preferably, the platform means are readily detachable or mounted for movement to an upright position behind the vehicle when not in use. In particular, the goods carrier is adapted for use with a motor vehicle having means for hitching a trailerthereto,the platform means being adapted to be supported by the trailer hitching means. The platform means may be supported by means comprising a removable pin which may act as a pivot for the platform means. The platform means may comprise a flat plate and may support a container such as an open-topped or lidded box. Embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a goods carrier attached to or supported by the tow bar of a motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a section on line ll-ll of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of a goods carrier according to the invention. As shown in the drawings a motor vehicle 1 is provided with a trailer tow bar 1A having a plate 2 for mounting a tow hitch. In place of a tow hitch, a wheel-less goods carrier 3 is secured to the plate, the carrier comprising a chassis 4, defining platform means, and a supporting bracket 5. The chassis 4 comprises a steel bar 6 of square section and transverse bars 7 welded thereto, the bars supporting a load carrying platform 8. The platform 8 comprises a flat plate, whereas in other embodiments the plate may support or be replaced buy a box. A steel block 9 is welded below the bar 6 at one, the "inboard", end thereof and the block has a horizontal transverse bore 10 therethrough. The bracket 5 comprises a substantial vertical plate 12 which mounts two spaced and slightly diverging wings 11 which extend from a root 18. The end of the bar 6 having the block 9 welded thereto, can be introduced between the wings 11 of the bracket 5, and each of the wings 11 is provided with a bore in line with and of the same diameter as bore 10 so that a pin 13 can be passed through each ofthe three bores to link the chassis 4 to the bracket 5. The pin 13 may be secured in position by being provided a one end with a cranked portion 15, and at the other end by a split pin 14 introduced into a hole 16. By withdrawing the split pin, the pin 13 may be withdrawn from the bores and the chassis thereby separated from the bracket, but if left in place the pin 13 acts as a pivot whereby the chassis 4 may be displaced to a vertical position behind the vehicle when not in use. Means (not shown) will be provided to secure the chassis in the upright position. It is required that the carrier shall be wheel-less, and to maintain the chassis substantially horizontal in use, a steel tongue 17 is welded to the underside of the block 9 and projecting forward thereof to a position at which its upper surface at the forward end engages the underside of the root 18 of the wings 11. Thus, downward pressure on the bar 6 to the rear of the pivot pin 13 is resisted by reaction between the root 18 and the tongue 17. In an alternative arrangement as shown in Figure 3, the block 9 may be arranged so close to the root 18 with the pin passing through the bore 10 in the block and the holes in the wings 11, that downward movement as shown in the Figure is prevented, whilst the upper end of the block 9 is radiussed about the axis of the bore 10 to allow upward pivoting of the chassis. The mounting plate 12 of the bracket 5 is provided with through holes located for alignment with holes in the tow bar mounting plate 2, which are generally standardised, and the bracket is secured to the mounting plate 2 by means of bolts 19, 20. Whilst it is anticipated that the invention will have its main application as an attachment for a vehicle having a trailer tow bar, the goods carrier of the invention may be attached to any other sufficiently substantial portion of the rear of a vehicle if required. It will be appreciated that instead of coupling the trailer to the vehicle as described and illustrated, the usual ball hitch may be left in position (on the vehicle) and a spacer plate may be located between the back of the vehicle and the ball hitch and clamped in position. The plate will have a tube along its top edge and the ball may be used as a means of location for the platform. CLAIMS

5. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 4, wherein said chassis is connectable to a mounting bracket comprising a substantial vertical plate which mounts two spaced and slightly diverging wings, one end of said chassis being locatable between said wings by a removable pin.

6. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 5, wherein said pin passes through said wings and a block secured to the underside of said chassis.

7. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 5, wherein said pin acts as a pivot during the movement of said platform means to an upright position behind the vehicle.

8. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein said block carries on its underside a tongue which projects forwardly of said block and which is engageable with a root portion of said wings so as to resist downward pressure on said load-bearing platform.

9. A wheel-less goods carrier according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein said block is arranged in close prximity to a root portion of said wings so as to resist downward pressure on said load-bearing platform, an upper end of the block being radiussed to allow upward movement of the platform means to an upright position.

10. A wheel-less goods carrier according to any of Claims 5 to 9, wherein said substantial vertical plate is provided with spaced through holes so as to enable said mounting bracketto be connected to a tow bar mounting plate of the vehicle.

11. A wheel-less goods carrier constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 1 and 2 as modified by Figure 3, of the accompanying drawings.