GB2220899A - Hatch rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A luggage rack capable of being fixed to the tail-gate of relevant vehicles, comprises an adjustable frame with a means of releaseably securing it to the tail-gate. This frame then forms the base for any specialist sport or luggage carrying requirements, e.g. ski rack, bike rack, as well as the basis for general carrying purposes, by means of a folding 'shelf' or a lockable box. <IMAGE>

Description

HATCH RACK.

This invention relates to a luggage rack + or vehicles with tail-gates, e.g. hatch-back cars estate cars etc.

Luggage racks for cars of varlous sorts are very commonplace items. They tend to fall into two main categories. The largest category by far is that of the roof rack. The second category is that of the boot rack. The boot rack tends to be a small luggage rack attached to the boot of saloon cars or more often sports cars.

The design of the luggage rack does not seem to have kept pace with the modern desire for the hatch-back car. Increasing fuel costs have helped to reduce the popularity of the wind resistant roof rack and the boot rack has never really answered the problem of lack of storage space. Small hatch-bacie cars have increasingly become the family car because of their fiexibility and low running costs. However they can prove to be severely limited i n terms of space at certain times, e.g. motoring holidays.Todays low dragS streamllned car bodies often don't have the tamiliar rain gutter that most roof racks use as securing points, All these features now point to the need for a new concept in luggage rack.

According to the present invention there is now provided a luggage rack capable of being fixed to the tail-gate or hatch-back of relevant vehicles, comprising of an adjustable frame with a means of realeasably securing it to the tail-gate. This frame would then form the basis for any specialist sport or luegage carrying requiremente, e.g. ski rack, bike rack etc. as well as the basis for general carrying purposes. For general carrying purposes the rack: would provide a folding vshelfs to hold items of luggage S or a box in which to carry items.

Referring to the drawings Fig.l. shows the general hatch-rack in perspective.

Fig.. shows the hatch-box in perspective.

The rack sits on 'legs' with adjustable width to enable it to fit a variety of hatch-back or estate cars. A means of achieving this is as shown in Fig.3.

The Nlegc e' are attached to the hatch-back or tail- gate by means of a clamping system as shown in Figs.

4a/4b.

The general rack can be secured in a closed position when not in use, see Fig.5.

It can be opened out to a fixed position suitable for carrying luggage as shown in Fig.6.

Claims (10)

OLAIMS

1. 4 luggage racX capable of being fixed to the tailgate or hatch-back of relevant vehicles, comprising of an adjustable frame with a means of releasably securing it to the tail-gate. This forming the base for any specialist sport or luggage carrying requirments, e.g. ski rack, bike rack, etc., as well as the basis for general carrying purposes. For general carrying purposes the rack would provide a folding 'shelf' to hold items of luggage, or a box in which to carry items.

2. 4 luggage rack as claimed in Claim 1 wherein means are provideo for releasably securing it to a hatch bac or tail-gate.

A luggage rack as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 1 or Claim 2 adjustable in size to fit a variety of hatch-back or estate cars.

4. R luggage rack as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein by means of a 'shel+' luggage can be carried whilst the rack is at an angle designetec bv the design of the hatch-back or tair-gate.

5. A A 1 lucane rack as claimeo in Claim 4 wherein the shelf can be foiden down when not in dse.

A luggage rack as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the shelf can be releasably secured 1 n a closed position.

7. A luggage rack ar claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the 'shelf' can be folded out for carrylng purposes.

8. 4 luggage rack as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein by means of an attached box, luggage can be carried.

9. A luggage rack as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein by means of any necessary attachments specialist sport equipment can be carried.

10. A luggage rack substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.