ZA200403256B - Vehicle with integrated load carrier. - Google Patents

Description

VEHICLE WITH INTEGRATED LOAD CARRIER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

“This invention relates to a cantilever support for use with a vehicle such as a conventional automobile, recreational vehicle or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Most vehicle owners desire a support for bicycles, additional luggage, surfaces for use as tables, seats beds and the like, and many other uses.

Certain complicated ideas have been propounded such as sliding supports which slide from a first position under the vehicle to a second extended position in which they can be used as a support.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement which is easily stored away when not in use and which provides adequate support for virtually any normal article required to be transported, or, as mentioned above, a support for a table top or the like. 15S DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a support for use on a vehicle comprises one or more articulated cantilevers adapted to be moved between a retracted and an extended position to provide a support.

In a preferred form of the invention a pair of such articulated cantilevers may be provided and these may be articulated to move in a horizontal plane. The most convenient location for the cantilevers is at the rear of the vehicle and in one form of the invention they are mounted below the chassis for movement under the rear bumper.

WO-93/039913 - PCT/ZA01/00170..

In a refinement of the invention the cantilevers may be mounted inside the bumper and for this purpose a bar may be located in or behind the bumper, the cantilevers being articulated at either end of such bar. The bumper may have a cover strip or the like which hides the cantilevers when they are n their retracted position.

In their extended position they may be fitted with surfaces or with frames or containers for use in transporting articles. These may be attached by means of nuts and bolts, clamps or other means.

The cantilevers and frames and the like may be made from metal, plastic, timber or ‘the like. 10. ___The cantilevers may be mounted on hinges, pins or the like and may include releasable locking means for secure location in one or other of the retracted and extended position. :

The invention also extends to certain accessories for use with the articulated cantilevers.

A first accessory comprises a container having a pair of channels adapted to engage the articulated cantilevers when the latter are in their extended position. The channels are preferably closed and have a cross section which corresponds with that of the cantilevers.

A second accessory comprises a frame for one or more bicycles, the lower horizontal portion of the frame including similar channels.

A further accessory is a single or spaced-apart double supporting elements for a vehicle cover, the support/s being mounted on a horizontal frame with similar channels.

In essence, a variety of accessories may be provided having a pair of horizontal channels corresponding with the cantilevers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the principle of the invention; _ Figure 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the rear of a vehicle showing one form _ of the invention;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing an alternative form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a photograph of an arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a photograph of an example of the invention used as a bicycle carrier;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a container for use as an accessory for the cantilevers;

Figure 7 is a similar view of a frame for a bicycle; and

Figure 8 is a similar view of supporting elements for a vehicle cover.

BEST MODE FO CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a pair of bars 10 which are mounted at either end of a horizontal bar 12 below the chassis of a vehicle. The bars 10 are held by pins 16 so that they are able to swivel in the horizontal plane from a first position in which they are parallel to the bar 12 and therefore in a retracted position, to a second position in which they swing out by an angle of 90 degrees. In either position they may be releasably held by a suitable mechanism (not shown). In the extended position, the bars may support a surface to act as a seat, a bed, a table or the like.

In Figure 3, the bar 12 is located inside a bumper 20 and the cantilever bars 10 are mounted at either end. A cover plate 22 is provided to close the bumper when the bars are in their retracted position. :

Claims (1)

1. i WO 03/039913- : -PCT/ZA61/00170— CLAIMS:

   1. A support for use at the rear and possibly also at the front of a vehicle characterised by one or more articulated cantilevers adapted to be moved between a retracted and an extended position to provide a support.

   2. The support according to claim 1 characterised in that a pair of such cantilevers is provided for articulated movement in a horizontal plane.

   3. The support according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the cantilevers are located at the rear of the vehicle and are mounted below the chassis for movement under or inside the rear bumper.

   4. The support according to claim 3 characterised in that the cantilevers are mounted below the rear bumper.

   5. The support according to claim 3 characterised in that the cantilever are mounted inside the bumper.

   6. The support according to claim 5 characterised in that the cantilevers are mounted on a bar located inside the bumper and the bumper has a cover strip to hide the cantilevers when they are in their retracted position.

   7. The support according to any of the above claims in association with an accessory, characterised in that the accessory includes channels adapted to engage the cantilevers when the latter are in their extended position.

   8. The support according to claim 7 characterised in that the channels are closed.

   509. The support according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterised in that the accessory is chosen from a container, a bicycle carrier, a vehicle cover support, a table top, chair top and the like.