Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
FOLDABLE CARRIER FOR A VEHICLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to carriers
configured to be attached to vehicles, more particularly to
such carriers having a collapsed or folded configuration
when not in use.
2. Background Art
[0002] A variety of equipment carriers for vehicles are
known in the art. A common type of such carriers is a hitch
rack, which has a coupler adapted to be received in a
receptacle of a hitch receiver of the vehicle normally used
to receive a coupling arrangement for connection to a
trailer to be pulled or pushed. Usually, the trailer hitch
receiver has a tubular configuration with a rectangular
cross-section and receives therein a tubular foot member of
the rack which can be locked in place through various means.
Such racks generally support bicycles, ski equipment, other
sporting or recreational articles, or various other
equipments such as, for example, wheelchairs.
[0003] A common use of such racks is for the
transportation of bicycles, with the rack suspending one or
more bicycles at the rear of an automotive vehicle or at the
front of a large vehicle, the bicycle support structure
being cantilevered from a post having a base portion thereof
received within the hitch receiver on the vehicle.
[0004] Most of such known cantilevered-type hitch racks
produce a relatively large overhang behind the vehicle when
they are not being used to support bicycles or other
equipment thereon, even those allowing a folded
configuration.
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to
provide an improved foldable carrier for a vehicle.
0006] Therefore, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a carrier detachably
connectable to a hitch of a road vehicle and adapted to
transport at least one article mounted thereto, the carrier
comprising: a foot member having a first end and a second
connecting end, the second connecting end being adapted to
be detachably connected to the hitch, a post having a bottom
end and a top end, the bottom end being connected to the
first end of the foot member and extending upwardly
therefrom in an operational position, a top member pivotally
connected to the top end of the post and displaceable
between a deployed operative position and a collapsed
inoperative position, the top member having a carrying
portion adapted for receiving the at least one article, the
top member in the deployed operative position extending from
the post with at least the carrying portion extending away
from the vehicle, and the carrying portion and a major part
of the top member being located between a longitudinal axis
of the post and the vehicle when the top member is in the
collapsed inoperative position, and retaining means for
selectively retaining the top member at least in the
deployed operative position.
N0071 Also in accordance with the present invention,
there is provided a method of collapsing a carrier attached
to a trailer hitch of a vehicle into an inoperative
position, the method comprising: unlocking retaining means
preventing a carrying portion of the carrier from pivoting
with respect to a post of the carrier; and pivoting the
carrying portion, about a pivot connecting the carrying
portion to the post, upwardly and toward the vehicle until
the carrying portion is disposed in a collapsed inoperative
position wherein the carrying portion is located between the
post and the vehicle.
- 2 -
CA 02531567 2013-04-30
[0008]
Further in accordance with the present invention,
there is provided a hitch rack for an automobile, the hitch
rack comprising: an elongated foot member having a rear end
and a front connecting end, the front connecting end being
adapted to be detachably inserted into a hitch receiver of
the automobile, a post having a bottom end and a top end,
the bottom end being pivotally connected to the rear end of
the foot member to be pivotable between an upwardly extended
operational position and rearwardly pivoted position, a top
member having a carrying portion adapted for carrying an
article, the top member pivotally connected to the top end
of the post and pivotable between an operative position
where the carrying portion extends rearwardly from the post
in a position adequate for carrying the article and a
collapsed inoperative position where the carrying portion
and a major part of the top member are located in front of a
longitudinal axis of the post, first removable retaining
means for retaining the post at least in the operational
position, and second removable retaining means for
alternately retaining the top member in the operative and
inoperative positions.
[0008.1] In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a carrier detachably
connectable to a hitch of a road vehicle and adapted to
transport at least one article mounted thereto, the carrier
comprising: a foot member having a first end and a second
connecting end, the second connecting end being adapted to
be detachably connected to the hitch; a post having a bottom
end and a top end, the bottom end being connected to the
first end of the foot member and extending upwardly
therefrom in an operational position; a top member pivotally
connected to the top end of the post and displaceable
between a deployed operative position and a collapsed
inoperative position, the top member having a carrying
portion adapted for receiving the at least one article, the
- 3 -
CA 02531567 2013-04-30
,
top member in the deployed operative position extending
substantially perpendicularly from the post with at least
the carrying portion extending away from the vehicle, and
the carrying portion and a major part of the top member
being located between a longitudinal axis of the post and
the vehicle when the top member is in the collapsed
inoperative position; and retaining means for selectively
retaining the top member at least in the deployed operative
position; wherein the top member includes a first retaining
hole defined therethrough and a portion of the post includes
second and third retaining holes defined therethrough, the
first and second retaining holes being aligned when the top
member is in the deployed operative position, the first and
third retaining holes being aligned when the top member is
in the collapsed inoperative position, and the retaining
means include a locking device selectively insertable into
the aligned first and second retaining holes and the aligned
first and third retaining holes.
[0008.2]
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a hitch rack for an automobile,
the hitch rack comprising: an elongated foot member having
a rear end and a front connecting end, the front connecting
end being adapted to be detachably inserted into a hitch
receiver of the automobile; a post having a bottom end and a
top end, the bottom end being pivotally connected to the
rear end of the foot member to be pivotable between an
upwardly extended operational position and rearwardly
pivoted position; a top member having a carrying portion
adapted for carrying an article, the top member pivotally
connected to the top end of the post and pivotable between
an operative position where the carrying portion extends
rearwardly from the post in a position adequate for carrying
the article and a collapsed inoperative position where the
carrying portion and a major part of the top member are
located in front of a longitudinal axis of the post; first
disengageable retaining means for retaining the post at
- 3a -
CA 02531567 2013-04-30
least in the operational position; and second disengageable
retaining means for alternately retaining the top member in
the operative and inoperative positions; wherein the top
member includes a first retaining hole defined therethrough
and a portion of the post includes second and third
retaining holes defined therethrough, the first and second
retaining holes being aligned when the top member is in the
deployed operative position, the first and third retaining
holes being aligned when the top member is in the collapsed
inoperative position, and the second retaining means include
a locking device alternately insertable into the aligned
first and second retaining holes and the aligned first and
third retaining holes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred
embodiment of the present invention and in which:
[00010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier
according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown
with a post thereof in an operational position and a top
member thereof in a deployed operative position;
[00011] Fig. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the
carrier of Fig.1;
[00012] Fig. 3 is a side view of the carrier of Fig.1,
shown with the post in a pivoted position; and
- 3b -
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
[0013] Fig.4 is a side view of the carrier in Fig.1,
shown with the top member in a collapsed inoperative
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a carrier or hitch
rack is generally indicated at 10. The term "carrier" will
be used herein to define any device which is mountable to a
vehicle and capable of supporting equipment thereon for the
transportation thereof. Such a carrier will be understood to
include racks used for transporting bicycles, skis and/or
other equipment, particularly sporting equipment. In the
preferred embodiment described below, the carrier 10 of the
present invention is specifically described as a rack
mountable to a rear hitch of a road vehicle, however it is
to be understood that other applications remain possible. A
variety of items maybe be mounted to the carrier for
transportation thereof, including (but not limited to)
bicycles, skis, wheelchairs, water-sports equipment, and the
like. The carrier 10 is configured to be detachably mounted
to a trailer hitch receiver 12 mounted to a vehicle (not
shown). The carrier 10 comprises a foot. member 14 to be
connected to the hitch receiver 12, a post 16 extending
upwardly from the foot member 14, and a top member 18
supported by the post 16. Throughout the specification and
claims, the terms "front", "frontward", "frontwardly" and
other related terms refer to the direction toward and/or
facing the vehicle when the carrier 10 is attached thereco,
while the terms "rear", "rearwardlv" and related terms refer
to the opposite direction, i.e. away from the vehicle.
Similarly, "top", "bottom" and other similar terms refer to
directions when the carrier 10 is attached to the vehicle
for use.
[0015] As best seen in Fig. 2, the foot member 14
comprises a central elongated member 20 snuggly received
between adjacent front and rear pairs of "C"-shaped members
- 4 -
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
22,24. As seen in Fig.1, the front "C"-shaped members 22
define a front connecting section 26 of the foot member 14
while the rear "C"-shaped members 24 define a rear section
28 thereof. The front connecting section 26 is sized and
shaped to be received within the hitch receiver 12. The
front "C"-shaped members 22 are detachable from the central
member 20, and the central member 20 is sized to be received
within a hitch receiver of a smaller size, such that the
carrier 10 is adapted to be used with various sizes of hitch
receivers. Alternatively, the front connecting section 26
can be formed of a single member adapted to be inserted into
a single size of hitch receiver, or larger front "C"-shaped
members 22 can be installed for receipt within larger hitch
receivers.
[0016] The front connecting section 26 of the foot member
14 has a securing hole 30 defined therethrough, sized and
shaped to be aligned with similar holes (not shown) defined
through the walls of the hitch receiver 12 such that the two
can be locked together by inserting locking means (not
shown) through the aligned connecting portion and hitch
receiver holes. Examples of such locking means include, for
example, a pin, a padlock, etc. The rear section 28 of the
foot member 14 has first and second spaced apart holes 32,34
defined therethrough, the purpose of which will be explained
further below.
N0171 Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the post 16, in an
operational position, extends upwardly when the carrier 10
is connected to the hitch receiver 12 of the vehicle. In the
embodiment shown, the post 16 includes an elongated tube 17
with an annular cross-section. The elongated post 16 defines
a top end 36 and a bottom end 38. The post 16 includes a
pair of bottom brackets 40 extending frontwardly from the
tube 17 at the bottom end 38, substantially parallel to one
another. The bottom brackets 40 have first aligned holes 42
defined therein which are aligned with the first hole 32
defined through the rear section 28 of the foot member 14. A
bottom pivot bolt 44 is inserted into the aligned first
-5-
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
holes 42,32 to pivotally interconnect the post 16 and the
foot member 14, the bottom pivot bolt 44 being frontwardly
offset from a longitudinal axis 84 (see Fig.2) of the post
16. The bottom brackets 40 also have second aligned holes 46
defined therein which, in the operational position, are
aligned with the second hole 34 defined through the rear
section 28 of the foot member 14. A bottom locking device
shown here as a pin 48, is removably inserted into the
aligned second holes 46,34 to act as a retaining means
preventing the post 16 from pivoting away from the
substantially vertical operational position. Alternate
locking devices include, for example, a bolt, a padlock, or
a pedal or lever actuated mechanism. In the embodiment
shown, a cotter pin 49 or other retention means is used to
prevent the bottom pin 48 from being accidentally removed.
Optionally, the bottom brackets 40 also have third aligned
holes 50 defined therein to receive a bolt 52 acting as a
stop, limiting the rearward rotation of the post 16 by
abutting the foot member 14. Moreover, it is also possible
to provide additional aligned holes in the bottom brackets
40 and/or the rear section 28 for receiving the bottom pin
48, or other retaining means, such that the post 16 can be
locked in a desired one of a plurality of operational and/or
pivoted positions.
[0018] The post 16
further includes a pair of top
brackets 54 extend frontwardly from the tube 17 at the top
end 36, substantially parallel to one another. Finish
protecting plates 56, for example made of nylon, are
optionally provided against the surfaces of the top brackets
54 facing one another to protect the paint finish of the top
brackets 54. The top brackets 54 and plates 56 have aligned
first, second and third holes 58,60,62 defined therein, the
purpose of which will be explained further below. In the
embodiment shown, the second holes 60 are vertically aligned
with and horizontally spaced apart from the first holes 58
and the third holes 62 are horizontally aligned with and
vertically spaced apart from the first holes 58, with a
- 6 -
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
distance between the first and second holes 58,60 being
equal to a distance between the first and third holes 58,62,
the reason for which will be explained further below. The
plates 56 also include a peg 66 which protrudes through a
hole 68 defined in the corresponding top bracket 54 so as to
prevent a movement of the plate 56 relative to its
corresponding top bracket 54.
[0019] Still referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the top member
18 comprises an elongated tubular body 70 supporting a
carrying portion 72 thereon. In the deployed operative
nosition shown in Fig.1, the top member 18 extends
substantially perpendicularly to the post 16, with at least
the carrying portion 72 being located rearwardly from the
post 16. Other operative positions are possible, including
positions in which the top member 18 is tilted at a given
angle with respect to the horizontal, examples of the given
angle being 10 or 15 degrees. In the embodiment shown, the
carrying portion 72 includes a plurality of individual
retaining members 74, each being adapted to retain a
bicycle. Alternatively, the carrying portion 72 can be
configured to support a single bicycle or other types of
cycling or sporting equipment, wheelchairs, tools, etc.
[0020] The tubular body 70 of the top member 18 has first
and second spaced apart holes 76,78 defined therein and
located to the front of the carrying portion 72. A distance
between the first and second holes 76,78 is equal to the
distance between the top brackets' first and second holes
58,60 and to the distance between the top brackets' first
and third holes 58,62. The first hole 76 of the tubular body
70 is aligned with the first holes 58 of the top brackets 54
and a top pivot bolt 80 is inserted therethrough to
pivotally interconnect the top member 18 and the post 16,the
top pivot bolt 80 being frontwardly offset from the
longitudinal axis 84 (see Fig.2) of the post 16. The finish
protecting plates 56, located between the top brackets 54
and the top member 18, prevents the two elements from
- 7 -
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
rubbing together during the pivoting motion, thus protecting
their paint finish from being damaged.
[0021] In the deployed operative position shown in Fig. =
1, the second hole 78 of the tubular body 70 is aligned with
the second holes 60 of the top brackets 54, and a top
locking device, shown here as a pin 82, is removably
inserted therethrough to act as a retaining means preventing
the top member 18 from pivoting with respect to the post 16.
Alternate locking devices include, for example, a bolt, a
padlock, or a pedal or lever actuated mechanism.
[0022] In a collapsed inoperative position shown in Fig.
4, the second hole 78 of the tubular body 70 is aligned with
the third holes 62 of the top brackets 54 and the top pin
82, or alternatively another pin, is inserted therethrough
to act as a retaining means brev.enting the cop member 18
from pivoting with respect to the post 16. Since in the top
brackets 54 the distance between the first holes 58
receiving the pivot bolt 80 and the second holes 60 is equal
to the distance between the first and third holes 58,62, the
same hole 78 in the tubular body 70 is used to be
alternatively aligned with the second and third holes 60,62
and receive the top pin 82. In cases where the distance
between the first and second holes 58,60 is different from
the distance between the first and third holes 58,62, two
different holes will be required in the tubular body 70 to
receive the top pin 82, i.e. one that is aligned with the
second holes 60 in the operational position and one that is
aligned with the third holes 62 in the collapsed position.
[0023] In the embodiment shown in Fig.4, the top member
18 in the collapsed position is substantially parallel to
the post 16, the carrying portion 72 and a major part of the
top member 18 being located in front of the longitudinal
axis 84 (see Fig.2) of che post 16, with the carrying
portion 72 being adjacent to and aligned with the post 16.
Thus, in the embodiment shown, the top member 18 undergoes a
pivoting motion of more than 180 degrees, particularly of
270 degrees, between the deployed and collapsed positions.
- 8 -
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
Other collapsed positions are possible, such as the top
member 18 extending in front of the post 16 at a given angle
therefrom, and other operative positions are also possible,
as explained above, and as such in many cases the pivoting
motion will be different from 270 degrees, and can also be
less than 180 degrees, when displaced between the deployed
and collapsed positions. In addition, it is also possible to
provide additional aligned holes in the top brackets 54
and/or the tubular body 70 for receiving the top pin 82, or
other retaining means, such that the tubular body 70 can be
locked in a desired one of a plurality of operative and/or
collapsed positions.
[0024] When the
carrier 10 is not used, the overhang from
the vehicle produced by the carrier 10 can be minimized by
folding the carrier 10 into the collapsed position, as
described below. Referring to Fig. 3, the locking device or
bottom pin 48 is first removed and the post 16 is pivoted
rearwardly about the bottom pivot bolt 44 to the pivoted
position, i.e. away from the vehicle, as indicated by arrow
A. In a particular embodiment, the post 16 is pivoted until
the bolt 52 abuts the foot member 14. Then, the collapsed
position shown in Fig. 4 is obtained by removing the locking
device or top pin 82 and pivoting the top member 18 upwardly
and frontwardly about the top pivot bolt 80, i.e. toward the
vehicle as indicated by arrow B (Fig.4), until the top pin
82 can be inserted into the aligned tubular body second hole
78 and brackets' third holes 62 to retain the top member 18
in the collapsed position. Then, the post 16 is pivoted
frontwardly about the bottom pivot bolt 44 back to the
operational position, i.e. toward the vehicle as indicated
by arrow C (Fig.4), and the bottom pin 48 is put back in
place. Alternatively, the top din 82 can he inserted into
the aligned tubular body second hole 78 and brackets third
holes 62 after the post 16 is hack to the operational
position. The reinsertion of the top pin 82 can also be
omitted in cases when a free pivoting of the top member 18
is allowable, or an alternate retaining means is provided.
- 9 -
CA 02531567 2005-12-28
[0025] The pivoting of the post 16 thus allow a longer
top member 18 to be pivoted frontward without interference
from the vehicle. It is to be understood that if the top
member 18 is short enough so as to be able to pivot to the
collapsed position without touching the vehicle, then the
post 16 does not need to be pivoted back and forth to reach
the collapsed position, provided the post 16 need not be
pivoted rearwardly for other purposes such as, for example,
access to a trunk of the vehicle.
[0026] Since in the collapsed position no element of the
carrier 10 protrudes rearwardly from the post 16, the
configuration of the carrier 10 minimizes a rear overhang
thereof when not in use.
[0027] In addition, the backward pivoting of the post 16
allows a user a more convenient access to a rear door of the
vehicle if required.
[0028] The embodiments of the invention described above
are intended to be exemplary. Those skilled in the art will
therefore appreciate that the foregoing description is
illustrative only, and that various alternatives and
modifications can be devised without departing from the
spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present
invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances which fall within the scope of
the appended claims.
-10-
