GB2304663A - Load carrying attachment for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A load carrying attachment for a vehicle comprises a mounting plate (35) which may be secured to the vehicle and a horizontal load carrying platform (1). Attached to the platform (1) are means for engaging the mounting plate having surfaces mating with the mounting plate to prevent the platform from tipping from side to side.

Description

LOAD CARRYING ATTACHMENT FOR VEHICLES The present invention relates to a load carrying attachment for vehicles of the type providing a platform extending rearwardly of the vehicle and requiring no additional wheels.

One aim of the invention is to provide a viable alternative to currently available means of transporting extra luggage, such as roof racks and trailers. The disadvantage of roof racks is that they are difficult to load with heavy articles and one of the many disadvantages of trailers is that they make driving the vehicle more hazardous. There have been many proposals for attaching load carrying platforms directly to vehicles. The disadvantage of most of the existing proposals is that they are time consuming to install. Some are not particularly stable when bearing large loads.

The present invention provides a load carrying attachment for a vehicle comprising a mounting plate which may be secured to the vehicle and a horizontal load carrying platform, the platform having attached thereto a mounting plate engaging member, the mounting plate and the mounting plate engaging member having mating surfaces for preventing the platform from tipping towards one side of the vehicle or the other.

Preferably the mounting plate engaging member includes means engaging the lateral edges of the mounting plate.

Additionally or alternatively, the mounting plate may include a horizontal channel receiving the mounting plate engaging member.

The mounting plate engaging member may comprise a horizontal bar. The mounting plate engaging member may have a flat surface which abuts against the mounting plate.

The platform may form a tubular frame work to which the mounting plate engaging member is attached. For additional stability, additional framework members may be provided extending from the rear edge of the platform diagonally and downwardly towards the mounting plate engaging member. The platform may be provided with a continuous load bearing surface in the form of a sheet.

Some vehicles are provided with means for securing a tow ball. The mounting plate may therefore be arranged to be secured to the tow ball connection provided on a vehicle. For example, some vehicles, especially in the USA, have a square section bar for receiving a square section socket attached to the tow ball. Thus, in the present invention, the mounting plate may have a socket attached to it, which may be square in section.

Alternatively, the load carrying attachment of the invention may be designed for use with a tow ball. Thus, a ball-engaging member may be provided, extending from one edge of the platform. The mounting plate engaging member may be positioned on the platform above or below the ball-engaging member. In the presently preferred arrangement it is vertically below the ball-engaging member. The mounting plate may be secured in use between the tow ball and the vehicle.

The ball engaging member may simply comprise a cylinder which extends vertically in use to receive the vehicle tow ball. For additional security, a locking bar may be provided extending across a part of the cylinder beneath the widest part of the tow ball. For example, this may comprise one arm of a padlock extending through holes provided in the cylinder or alternatively a "push-bar" lock may be provided.

Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a load carrying attachment for a vehicle according to the present invention: Figure 2 shows the load carrier of Figure 1 provided with a continuous load bearing surface.

Figure 3 shows in more detail one arrangement for the mating surfaces of the mounting plate and the mounting plate engaging member; Figure 4 illustrates the ball engaging member; Figure 5 shows one manner of locking the ball engaging member in place; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines VI VI in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an alternative arrangement for the mating surfaces of the mounting plate and mounting plate engaging member; Figure 8 is a modification of Figure 7 showing additional locking means; Figure 9 is a cross-section through a portion of Figure 8 taken on the line IX-IX; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the tow ball and ball-engaging member showing an alternative locking mechanism; Figure 11 is a cross section corresponding to Figure 10 taken through the push-bolt lock;; Figures 12 and 13 are partial perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the invention; Figure 14 shows a load carrier according to the invention, equipped with a solid container and attached to a vehicle; and Figure 15 shows a load carrier according to the invention, attached to a vehcile and carrying a smaller vehicle.

The illustrated load carrying attachment comprises a horizontal platform in the form of a generally rectangular tubular frame 10 supported by transverse strengthening bars 11,12,13,14,15. As shown in Figure 2, the platform may be additionally provided with a continuous surface, providing a flat floor, in the form of sheet material 16. This may be in the form of a solid sheet of steel, wood, fibreglass, plastic or other suitable material. The floor may have open perforations for water to drain off or it may be ribbed. In the illustrated version hand holes 17,18 may be provided to facilitate installation and removal and to provide drainage, for rainwater for example. The rearward edge of the platform is provided with an indicator plate 20 which carries the vehicle licence plate 21, standard warning triangles 22 and standard lights 23.The platform 1 is provided with a ball engaging member extending from its rearward edge in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 25. A mounting plate engaging member in the form of horizontal bar 26 is attached to frame 10 so as to extend substantially parallel to its forward edge. Bar 26 is attached to frame 10 by means of strengthening struts 27,28 which extend diagonally from the rearward edge of frame 10 to the ends of bar 26 as shown most clearly in Figure 3. The struts 27 and 28 are secured with respect to the forward edge of frame 10 by means of an additional strengthening bar 30 which has a central portion extending parallel to the bar 26 and end portions bent upwardly to join frame 10.

The platform 1 is secured to the vehicle 40 (see Figure 1) using a mounting plate 35. The mounting plate is secured to the vehicle between the tow ball 36 and the vehicle 40. To this end, the mounting plate 35 is provided with holes matching the holes on the tow ball mounting bracket 37. To install the mounting plate 35, the tow ball is simply removed from the vehicle and the mounting plate 35 sandwiched between the mounting bracket 37 and the vehicle.

Once installed, the mounting bracket 35 can be left in place as the platform 1 is attached to and removed from the vehicle.

In order to prevent the platform tipping towards one side of the vehicle or the other, the mounting plate engaging member in the form of bar 26 and the mounting plate 35 have cooperating surfaces. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the bar 26 has in-turned end portions 38,39 which abut against the lateral edges of the mounting plate 35.

Figure 7 shows an alternative arrangement in which the mounting plate 35 has an upturned portion at its base to provide a channel 42 for receiving the bar 26. In this arrangement, the portions 38 and 39 may be omitted although they provide extra stability.

A locking pin 45 (Figure 9) may be provided for additional stability and, more importantly, for security.

For this purpose the plate 35 and bar 26 have aligned holes indicated generally at 50 in Figure 8.

The cylindrical sleeve 25 which encircles the tow ball 36 may be provided with an optional cover 55 which may or may not be integral with the sleeve 25. The sleeve 25 may be provided with holes 56, 57 (see Figure 5) located in use below the widest portion of the tow ball (see Figure 6) for receiving a locking bar such that the bar of a padlock 60 as illustrated in Figure 5.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative locking mechanism in which a push-bolt lock 66 is mounted on the cylindrical sleeve 25. The lock is operated by a key 67 to push a bar 68 radially across the sleeve 25, below the widest point of the tow ball. The dotted lines in Figure 10 show the bar 68 in the locked position.

Referring back to Figure 1, the wiring for the lights 22 may be fed through the tubular members of the platform 1 to a plug 65 which is received in a standard socket as is commonly provided on vehicles in conjunction with tow balls for use with caravans, trailers etc.

The load carrying attachment as described above may be secured to a vehicle simply and quickly as follows: With the platform tilted slightly upwardly towards the rear, the sleeve 25 is lowered over the tow ball 36 and the platform is then rotated to bring the bar 26 towards the mounting plate 35. The bar 26 is then lowered into the channel 42, if provided. In the simplest arrangement described above, the padlock is positioned and pressed home and the plug 65 is placed in its socket. The load carrying attachment is then ready for use.

Figures 12 and 13 show an alternative embodiment of the invention which does not rely on a tow ball for attachment to a vehicle. The mounting plate 100 is provided within an upturned portion 101 at its lower edge to define a horizontal channel 102 for receiving a mounting plate engaging member 103 attached to the platform (not shown). The mounting plate engaging member 103 is in the form of a plate with in-turned side edges defining a vertical channel in which the mounting plate 100 is received. Attached to the forward face of the mounting plate 100 is a square section socket 104. The socket 104 is designed to receive a tow ball mounting bar which is provided on many vehicles, particularly in the USA. The mounting bar is usually square in cross section. Thus the load carrying platform can be attached to the vehicle without the use of the tow ball.A lock 110 may be provided to secure the load carrying platform to the vehicle.

The platform 1 may be provided with rings 70 for receiving "bungies" for securing loads in place, as shown in Figure 1.

Alternatively, the platform 1 may be provided with means for receiving vertical tubular supports which might support a rain cover for the luggage, for example. Figure 15 shows a cargo carrier supplied with tubular supports 81,82 used to secure an all-terrain vehicle in place.

Alternatively, the platform could be provided with specific means for securing bicycles to the platform, skis or other items.

A weatherproof container, as shown in Figure 14, could be secured to the platform of a cargo carrier according to this invention. The container could be constructed of steel, plastic, fibreglass, wood, or other suitable material to accommodate the contents in a safe manner for transport. The container may or may not look like the rear end of a motor vehicle (the boot of a car).

The container can be insulated for catering or other purposes.

The cargo carrier according to the invention has numerous advantages over trailers, roof-racks and carriers which obstruct the rear windows of a vehicle when loaded.

The advantages include the absence of extra wheels or tyres requiring maintenance, ease of reversing, no increases in head room restriction, better rear vision, ease of loading and unloading and no tendency of the cargo carrier to "weave", the latter being a common problem with trailers and caravans.

A cargo carrier according to the invention can be made to accommodate size and weight loads for small or large vehicles and four-wheeled drive vehicles as shown in Figure 5. The size range will be approximately 2 feet x 5 feet to 4 feet x 5 feet. Load weight limits will be from approximately 2001bs to 1,000lbs, depending on the vehicle to which the cargo carrier is attached. Figure 5 shows a platform which is pivotable. Alternatively, a ramp may be provided for unloading and loading wheeled vehicles onto the platform.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention provides a platform unit which may be quickly attached to the rear of a motor vehicle to safely and easily carry extra or awkward loads externally of the vehicle.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. A load carrying attachment for a vehicle comprising a mounting plate which may be secured to the vehicle and a horizontal load carrying platform1 the platform having attached thereto a mounting plate engaging member, the mounting plate and the mounting plate engaging member having mating surfaces for preventing the platform from tipping towards one side of the vehicle or the other.

2. A load carrying attachment as claimed in claim 1 in which the mounting plate engaging member includes means engaging the lateral edges of the mounting plate.

3. A load carrying attachment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the mounting plate includes a horizontal channel receiving the mounting plate engaging member.

4. A load carrying attachment as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the mounting plate engaging member comprises a horizontal bar.

5. A load carrying attachment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the mounting plate engaging member has a flat surface which abuts against the mounting plate.

6. A load carrying attachment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the platform comprises a tubular framework to which the mounting plate engaging member is attached.

7. A load carrying attachment as claimed in any preceding claim including additional framework members extending from the rear edge of the platform diagonally and downwardly towards the mounting plate engaging member.

8. A load carrying attachment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the platform has a continuous load bearing surface in sheet form.

9. A load carrying attachment as claimed in any preceding claim in which the mounting plate engaging member has a socket attached thereto.

10. A load carrying attachment as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 including a ball engaging member extending from one edge of the platform.

11. A load carrying attachment as claimed in claim 10 in which the mounting plate engaging member is positioned on the platform above or below the ball engaging member.

12. A load carrying attachment as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the ball engaging member is in the form of a cylinder.

13. A load carrying attachment as claimed in claim 12 including a locking bar extending across the cylinder beneath the widest part of the tow ball.

14. A load carrying attachment substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.