GB2259067A

GB2259067A - Load carrying attachment for vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2259067A
Application number: GB9218658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Mcpeake
Original assignee: HOUSE JOHN WESLEY
Current assignee: HOUSE JOHN WESLEY
Priority date: 1991-08-31
Filing date: 1992-09-01
Publication date: 1993-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-01
Also published as: GB2259067B; GB9218658D0

Abstract

A load carrying attachment comprises an anchoring device, in the form of an E shaped bracket (12), to be fitted to a ball hitch mounting bracket (10) of a vehicle. A multi-sided load carrier (18) is provided with one side adapted to be engaged with the anchoring device when fitted on a vehicle. The carrier (18) has a stay arrangement (30) to support it in a horizontal position or substantially so with one part (34) thereof to be engaged against the anchoring device. <IMAGE>

Description

LOAD CARRYING ATTACHMENTS FOR VEHICLES.

This invention relates to a load carrying attachment for a motor vehicle, the attachment to be mounted extending rearwardly of the vehicle.

Accordingly, the present invention is a load carrying attachment comprising an anchoring device to be fitted to a ball hitch mounting bracket, a multi-sided load carrier with one side adapted to be engaged with the anchoring device when fitted on a vehicle, and a stay arrangement to support the carrier in a horizontal position or substantially so with one part thereof to be engaged against the anchoring device.

Preferably, the anchoring device comprises a bracket of substantially E shape in side elevation with the outer end of the top arm bent downwardly towards the middle arm to form a hook for engagement by the side of the carrier, the part of the stay arrangement enyaging between the middle arm and the bottom arm. Aligned holes may be provided in the middle and bottom arms of the bracket, and a hole may be provided in the part of the stay arrangement to be aligned therewith when positioned whereby a bolt or split pin can be inserted in the aligned holes to secure the stay arrangement in position on the bracket.

Preferably also, the carrier is planar and formed of a framework comprising an outer substantially rectangular surround supporting thereacross a series of bars parallel with the longitudinal components of the surround. The longitudinal components of the surround are desirably tied together by two equispaced ties parallel with the transverse components of the surround.

The surround may be made in two or more sections secured together for use and dismantled for storage or packing.

Preferably also, the stay arrangement comprises a U shaped stay, the limbs of which are splayed apart and the outer ends thereof are rooted to the longitudinal component remote from the bracket, the limbs being downwardly sloped with the web serving as the part to engage with the bracket. The limbs are preferably braced to the ties.

Preferably further, the longitudinal component remote from the bracket carries a vehicle traffic light board mounting a series of illuminable lamps and reflectors.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fiys. 1A and 1B are plan and side views respectively of a load carrying attachment accordiny to the present invention; Fiys. 2A and 2B are front and side views respectively of an anchoring device of the attachment; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified carrier of the attachment.

Referring to the drawings, a load carrying attachment comprises an anchoring device to be fitted to a ball hitch mounting bracket 10 provided or to be provided at the rear of a vehicle. The anchoring device comprises a bracket 12 of substantially E shape in side elevation with the outer end of the to arm 14 bent downwardly towards the middle arm 16 to form a hook, the bracket 12 to be fitted with its arms extending rearwardly.

A multi-sided load carrier 18 has one side 20 adapted to be enyayed with the anchoring device when fitted on a vehicle. The carrier 18 is planar and formed of a framework comprisiny an outer rectangular surround supporting thereacross a series of bars 24 parallel with the longitudinal components 20, 22 of the surround. The longitudinal components 20, 22 of the surround are tied together by two equispaced ties 26 parallel with the transverse components 28 of the surround. The longitudinal component 20 has intermediate its ends a planar U extension 19 with the outer ends of its limbs rooted to the component 20 and the web 21 parallel thereto. The extension 19 projects from component 20 in a direction opposite from the position of longitudinal component 22.

A stay arrangement is provided to support the carrier 18 in a horizontal position or substantially so with one part thereof to be engaged against the anchoring device. The stay arrangement comprises a U shaped support 30, the limbs 32 of which are splayed apart and the outer ends thereof are rooted to the longitudinal component 22 remote from the bracket 12.

The limbs 32 are downwardly sloped with the web 34 serving as the part to engage with the bracket 12. The limbs 32 are braced to the ties 26 by braces 36. The limbs and web of the U extension 19 and the inner part of the limbs and web of the U support 30 overly each other exactly in plan.

Aligned holes (not shown) are provided in the middle and bottom arms 16, 38 of the bracket 12. A hole (not shown) is provided in the web 34 of the stay arrangement to be aligned with the aligned holes when the web 34 is positioned whereby a bolt or slit pin (not shown) is inserted in the aligned holes to secure the stay arrangement in position on the bracket 12.

The longitudinal component 22 remote from the bracket 12 carries a vehicle traffic light board 40 mounting a series of illuminable lamps 42 and reflectors 44,the lams 42 being connected by wiring terminating in a plug (not shown) to a socket (not shown) provided adjacent to the mounting 10.

For use, the bracket 12 is mounted on the ball hitch mounting bracket 10. If a ball hitch 11 is already mounted thereon, it is removed and then replaced with the bracket 12 sandwiched between the hitch 11 and the mounting bracket 10. When the carrier is not fitted, the bracket 12 does not interfere with the use or function of the ball hitch 11. If necessary a spacer (not shown)may be fitted to space the bracket 12 a greater distance from the ball hitch 11. The carrier 18 is fitted onto the bracket 12 with the longitudinal component 20 in engagement in the hooked arm 14 and the web 34 of the stay arrangement engaging between the middle arm 16 and the bottom arm 38 as shown in the drawings. With a bolt or split pin inserted into the aliyned holes, the longitudinal component 20 cannot jump out off its engagement in the hooked top arm 14.To remove the carrier 18, the bolt or split pin is withdrawn, and the carrier 18 tipped upwards at its rear end for the web 21 of the extension of the longitudinal component 20 to disenyage from the hooked arm 14.

A load carrying attachment described above is beneficial in that it allows articles too bulky or awkwardly shaped, ie. bicycles, for positioning in a boot or inside a motor vehicle to be carried. Also, because the carrier is mounted at the rear of the vehicle heavier articles can be carried which would be too heavy for positioning on a roof rack. It is also advantageous compared with a trailer hitched to a ball hitch in that it is not a separate towed vehicle with the problems associated in towing separate vehicles. The surround, the stay arrangement and the bracket 12 are of metal and the bars 24 are of wood.

Sides and/or a back may be provided to be fitted as required to the carrier 18.

In a first modification, the surround is made in two or more sections, three sections being shown in Fiy.

3, securable together for use and dismantlable for storage or packing. As shown in Fig. 3, each outer section has a tie 26A, parallel with tie 26, to rigidise the section. The portion of each longitudinal component 20, 22 in each outer section is provided with a peg 50 securable in a corresponding socket provided in the portion of each longitudinal component 20, 22 in the central section. The tail light board 40 is secured to the longitudinal component of the carrier after the sections of the carrier are secured together. The bars 24 in this modification are mounted tranversely of each section parallel with the transverse components 28.

In a second modification, in a carrier of one piece construction, the ties 26 may be omitted and the limbs 19 extended rearwardly to be rooted to the longitudinal component 22 on the inside of the roots of limbs 32. The limbs 19 are welded to the longitudinal component 20 and a first stay, aligned with the component 20 is provided between the limbs 19. Also, a similar second stay can be provided between the limbs 32 immediately below the first stay. When not horizontally oriented, the carrier can still be transported in an upright position in either of two attitudes ie. one with the bars 24 outermost or the other with the bars 24 innermost. The one position has the web 34 located between the middle and bottom arms 16, 38 and the hooked top arm 14 over the second stay, and the other position has the web 21 located between the middle and bottom arms 16, 38 and the hooked top arm 14 over the first stay.

In a third modification, the carrier may be a framework on which a superstructure can be built, ie. a kennel for transporting a do(s) or an enclosed en for transporting other types of smallish animals, such as goats, sheep or calves.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A load carrying attachment comprising an anchoring 'device to be fitted to a ball hitch mounting bracket, a multi-sided load carrier with one side adapted to be engaged with the anchoring device when fitted on a vehicle, and a stay arrangement to support the carrier in a horizontal position or substantially so with one part thereof to be enyaged against the anchoring device.

2. An attachment as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the anchoring device comprises a bracket of substantially E shape in side elevation with the outer end of the top arm bent downwardly towards the middle arm to form a hook for engagement by the side of the carrier, the part of the stay arrangement engaging between the middle arm and the bottom arm.

3. An attachment as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the middle and bottom arms of the bracket are provided with aligned holes, and the stay arrangement is provided with a hole at that part to be aligned therewith when positioned whereby a bolt or split pin can be inserted in the aligned holes to secure the stay arrangement in position on the bracket.

4. An attachment as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the carrier is planar and formed of a framework comprisiny an outer substantially rectangular surround supporting thereacross a series of bars.

5. An attachment as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the longitudinal components of the surround are tied together by two equispaced ties parallel with the transverse components of the surround.

6. An attachment as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the bars are parallel with the longitudinal components of the surround.

7. An attachment as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the surround is made in two or more sections secured together for use and dismantled for storage or packing, the bars being parallel with the transverse components of the surround.

8. An attachment as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the one longitudinal component of the carrier has intermediate its ends a planar U extension with the outer ends of its limbs rooted to the component and with the web thereof parallel with the one longitudinal component.

9. An attachment as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the stay arrangement comprises a U shaped support, the limbs of which are splayed apart and the outer ends thereof are rooted to the longitudinal component remote from the bracket, the limbs being downwardly sloped with the web serving as the part to engage with the bracket.

10. An attachment as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the limbs are braced to the ties.

11. An attachment as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the longitudinal component remote from the bracket carries a vehicle traffic light board mounting a series of illuminable lams and reflectors.

12. An attachment as claimed in Claim 8 when dependant on Claim 4, wherein the limbs of the U extension are extended rearwardly to be rooted to the other longitudinal component, the limbs being secured to the one longitudinal component with a first stay, aligned with the one longitudinal component provided between the limbs.

13. An attachment as claimed in Claim 9, wherein a second stay is provided between the limbs of the stay arrangement.

14. An attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B of the accompanying drawinys.

15. An attachment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fiy. 3 of the accompanying drawings.