WO2000020254A1

WO2000020254A1 - Hitch mount

Info

Publication number: WO2000020254A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/023056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael A. Harrison; Devin S. Linden
Original assignee: Bard-Wyers Sports, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-10-05
Filing date: 1999-10-04
Publication date: 2000-04-13
Also published as: AU6412899A

Abstract

An article carrier (12) adapted to be installed on the hitch of a motor vehicle that will not interfere with the rear door tail gates or hatches at the rear of the vehicle and will stow out of the way while operating the vehicle. The carrier has a pivot tube (25) rotatably mounted on a rear portion (18) of a hitch mount (13) that rotates from a locked up position down about 90 degrees either right or left to be substantially parallel to the bumper and is arranged to be locked in the side down position as well as to pivot down and away from the door to a rear down position and is arranged to be locked in the rear down position.

Description

HITCH MOUNT

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/103,182 filed October 5, 1998.

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to carriers for transporting articles on a motor vehicle and more particularly to detachable carriers for carrying articles such as bicycles on a motor vehicle and especially those vehicles with a rear door.

Background Art It is common practice to use a variety of detachable carriers for supporting articles on a motor vehicle. Numerous attempts have been made to move the article carrier and article away from the rear of the vehicle so as to provide access to the rear door without removing the carrier.

Eisenberg et al. No. 4,400,129 discloses the use of a wheel chair carrier having compression springs connected between an upright support member and a pivot flange to resist movement toward a lowered position and assist in returning the support member to an upright transport position.

Spin a No. 5,108,018 discloses a detachable carrier having a hollow upright post with an internal spring to resist movement toward the lowered position and assist in returning the post to the upright position. Burgess No. 5,529,231 discloses an upright support member pivoted on a mounting base using a cylinder between the vertical support and the rear end of the mounting base to support and restrain movement of the carried article.

Yeckley et al. No. 5,730,345 discloses the use of a second upright support member parallel to a first upright support member with an article carrier member mounted at spaced upper plates and a gas cylinder connected between one leg of the linkage and the rear end of the hitch mounting member.

De Aquiar No. 5,857,824 discloses a hitch mounted dirt bike carrier for a motor vehicle which has a boxed tube for attachment at one end to the hitch receiver of the vehicle and a rotatable pipe assembly at the opposite end for pivoting a stanchion having an attached support frame from a horizontal to a vertical position.

Bloemer et al . No. 5,938,093 discloses an article support member including a single tubular arm on which there are mounted brackets having cradles on clamps that clamp to the tubular arm at any angular position and at any place along the arm.

Disclosure of the Invention A detachable carrier for mounting articles such as bicycles to a motor vehicle is disclosed. The carrier includes a mounting base that releasably attaches to the rear vehicle hitch and extends rearwardly thereof and a pivot assembly on the mounting member supporting an upright support member which in turn supports an article support assembly. The pivot assembly provides for rotation of the upright support member from an up position for article transport to either side through arcs of about 90 degrees about a first axis to a side down position for stowage without removal from the vehicle and the upright support member is further pivotally mounted to pivot about a second axis to move between the upright position and a rear down position with the rear down position locating the article carried away from the rear of the vehicle to allow opening of a rear door for loading without removal from the vehicle. The article support assembly has releasably clamped cradles on a tubular support arm. Springs are provided for the upright support member to assist in returning it to the up position and a locking member releasably locks the upright support member in the up position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference numerals in which:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of an article carrier with the upright support member and the article support assembly in article transport positions and the vehicle hitch shown in dashed lines. Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the article carrier shown in Figure 1 with the article support assembly in a folded position.

Figure 2A is an enlarged sectional view through lines 2A-2A of Figure 2. Figure 3 is a rear elevation view of the support assembly having the article supports shown in a horizontal position and a tilted position shown in dashed lines .

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a forward portion of the article carrier shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a rear elevation view of a lower portion of the article carrier shown in Figure 1 with a right side down position shown in dashed lines.

Figure β is a front elevation view opposite the view of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the article carrier shown in Figure 1 with the upright support member in a lowered rear down position.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation view showing the upright support member in the vertical transport up position with the lowered rear down position shown in dashed lines.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawing, the article carrier 12 shown embodying features of the present invention generally stated includes a mounting base 13, a support member 14 pivotally attached to the mounting base 13 and an article support assembly 15 pivotally attached^' to the support member 14. The mounting base 13 includes a front portion

17 and a rear portion 18 arranged along a horizontal longitudinal axis extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle V to which it is mounted. The front portion

17 shown is a metal tube of square cross section sized and shaped to telescope within the vehicle hitch 21 and has two longitudinally spaced holes 22 that align with a hole in the hitch 21 and receive a fastening pin or bolt 23 to detachably fasten the carrier 12 to the motor vehicle and extend rearwardly of the rear bumper 24. The rear portion 18 shown is a length of metal tube of circular cross section attached to the front portion 17 as by welding which serves as a pivot tube, the center of which is at a first axis 19 at the longitudinal axis of portions 17 and 18. The rear portion 18 has and a pair of spaced, aligned, horizontal holes 46 in the sides and a pair of spaced, aligned, vertical holes 48 in the top and bottom.

A pivot assembly 25 mounted to the rear portion

18 includes a lower portion 27 in the form of a sleeve or tube of circular cross section and an upper portion 29 in the form of a pivot flange including two spaced parallel plates extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lower portion 27 and spaced equal distances from the center of the lower portion 27 to provide a second axis 31 extending laterally of the direction of vehicle travel that is perpendicular to first axis 19. The lower portion or sleeve 27 and upper portion or plates 29 preferably are metal with the lower ends of the plates being rigidly attached as by welding to the sleeve 27. The lower portion or sleeve 27 telescopes on and is coaxial with rear portion 18 and is in a close fitting relation and rotates thereon about first axis 19.

The lower portion or sleeve 27 is arranged to be releasably clamped to the rear portion or pivot tube 18 by a conventional releasable clamp which includes a longitudinal slot 32 in sleeve 27 and a pair of parallel spaced tabs 33 with aligned holes extending equal distances from the center of sleeve 27 which are affixed at the ends to the sleeve 27 as by welding. Slot 32 is open at the rear end and may extend only part way along the sleeve 27 or for the full length thereof.

The releasable clamp shown further includes a bolt 36 extending through the pair of aligned holes in tabs 33. The bolt 36 has external threads and a nut 38 on one end and an eyelet 39 at the opposite end. A pin 42 extends through the eyelet to hold a forked offset or off center cam 43 on the eyelet with the cam connected to a lever arm 44. Cam 43 is rotatably supported to bear against a washer 45 between the cam and one tab 33 so that rotation of the cam 43 by applying a rotational force to the cam lever biases the cam against the washer 45 and compresses the sleeve 27 by compressing the tabs and narrowing the slot 32 to clamp the sleeve 27 against the rear portion 18. In this way the lower portion or sleeve 27 can be set and clamped at any angular position relative to rear portion 18. This allows the support member 14 to be in the up position if desired or at a selected angular position between an upright transport position and a side down position as shown in dashed lines in Figure 5. In the furthest down position the support member is parallel to the bumper 24.

Referring now to Figure 2A the pairs of aligned horizontal holes 46 in the rear portion 18 align with a pair of horizontal holes 47 in the sleeve 27 and receive a pin 50 to lock the upright support member 14 in the vertical transport up position shown. When portion 27 rotates through an arc of 90 degrees the aligned pair of holes 48 along a vertical axis align with the pair of holes 47 and receive a pin to lock the upright support member 14 in either side position. This allows storage of the carrier 12 in a folded position for stowage during transport when not in use.

The support member 14 shown is in the form of an elongated metal tube of square cross section with a pair of spaced, aligned pivot holes 52 (Fig. 8) a short distance from the lower end. A pivot member 53 such as a pin or bolt extends through holes 52 and a pair of aligned holes 54 in the upper portion or plates 29 so that the support member 14 will pivot about a second axis 31 between a vertical up position and a rearwardly inclined rear down position (shown as 45 degrees to the vertical Figs. 7 and 8) which enables access to the rear doors of the vehicle for loading. A ring 60 is fastened to the side of member 14 for using a cable to lock the article being carried to the carrier 12.

The support member 14 is locked in the up position by providing an upper channel-shaped extension 56 on the upper portion 29 including a front base wall portion 57 and two parallel spaced side wall portions 58.

Referring to Figure 8 the top edge of each side wall portion 58 has from rear to front a rear lower top edge 61, an inclined ramp top edge 62 at 15 degrees to the vertical, an upper top edge 63 and an inclined front top edge 64 at 45 degrees to the vertical. A latch rod 66 has external threads on both ends with a knob 67 threaded on the top end and resting on a top cap 70 in member 14 with a hole through which the rod extends and has a cross pin 68 threaded on the lower end. The cross pin 68 slides up and down in a pair of spaced, longitudinal, elongated slots 71 in opposite walls of the support member 14. A compression spring 72 on the rod 66 bears against the cross pin 68 and against a stop 73 fixed to member 14 at the upper end so that the compression spring forces the cross pin 68 down against the top edges 61 to 64. A hole allows rod 66 to pass through. In use, the latch rod 66 is pulled up against the force of the spring 72 and rides along the top edges 61 to 64 as the upright support member moves from the vertical up position to the rearwardly inclined rear down position. On the return movement, the cross pin 68 is forced down against the top edge 61 and against ramp top edge 62 to lock the upright support member in the up position. A stop pin 75 connected between plates 29 limits the extent of the rearward movement of the upright support member 14.

A resistance and return arrangement for support member 14 shown includes three laterally spaced compression springs 78 connected at the lower end to a lower plate 79 attached to the front wall portion at the rear top edge and has three spaced holes 81 to receive the lower end of the spring together with an upper plate 83 attached to the back of the support member 14 a distance above the lower end. These springs 78 resist movement of the upright support member 14 toward the lowered rear down position and provide a pulling force to return the support member 14 to the up position. A stop 75 limits the extent of the rear movement of the support member 14. The article support assembly 15 shown includes an elongated metal tube 86 of circular cross section with two longitudinal spaced rear and front holes 87 and 88, respectively, in the front end portion and a cap 89 in the rear end. Two spaced article supports 91 are mounted at spaced intervals along the tube 86. It is understood the tube 86 can be lengthened to accommodate more article supports 91 such as four. Each article support 91 has a clamp 92 on which there is mounted a supporting cradle 93 that is arranged perpendicular to the clamp 92 and tube 86 and extends a substantial distance beyond the sides of the tube 86. Each clamp has a mounting base 94 with two spaced holes through which bolts 96 extend to removably fasten the cradle 93 to the clamp 92. The clamp 92 has two opposed downwardly extending leg portions 97 with a flange portion 98 at the lower end having a hole. A bolt 101 similar to bolt 36 above described extends through the hole in flange portion 98 with a cam 102 similar to cam 43. The releasable clamp is similar to the releasable clamp above described so that the cradles 93 may be rotated on the tube to a selected angle and clamped at any selected angle on tube 86 as shown in dashed lines in Figure 3 as well as at any point along the tube 86 for spacing between article supports.

Each cradle 93 is generally trough shaped and has an opposed U-shaped or channel-shaped base 103 from which extends oppositely disposed legs 104 arranged in a V-shape. Cushion pads 105 are attached to the top face of the legs. Two elongated slots 106 and 107 are provided in the base through which a strap 108 extends with a buckle 109 or Velcro strips for fastening the ends of the strap to encircle the article such as the frame of a bicycle being carried and strap the article firmly to the cradle 93 during transport.

A top pivot and locking bracket 116 for the article support assembly 15 is mounted at the top of the member 14 and extends rearwardly thereof. Top bracket 116 is formed of a pair of parallel spaced plates that are attached to the top end of the member 14 as by welding and are provided with a pair of aligned top pivot holes 117 that receive a removable pivot pin 118 which enables the tube 86 to pivot about a third axis 120 parallel to second axis 31 from an extended article carrier transport position at right angles to support member 14 to a folded position substantially parallel to the support member 14 for stowage or storage while on the vehicle. A pair of second aligned locking holes 119 on the plates rearwardly of the hole 117 through which a pin 125 extends provide for locking the assembly in the transport position. A pair of aligned locking holes 121 are provided below holes 117 which receive a pin for locking the support assembly 15 in the folded position for stowage or storage while on the vehicle.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An article carrier for mounting on a vehicle comprising: a mounting base for releasably mounting to said vehicle, 5 a pivot assembly rotatable on said mounting base about a first axis, a support member pivotally mounted to said pivot assembly about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said pivot assembly and 0 support member rotating about said first axis between an up position for transport and a side down position for stowage, said support member pivoting about said second axis between an up position for transport and a rear down position for loading, and _5 an article support assembly attached to said support member.

2. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting base includes a front portion of metal tubing of square cross section sized and shaped to telescope into a hitch receiver of a corresponding shape

5 on said vehicle and a rear portion of metal tubing of circular cross section to provide a pivot tube having a center at said first axis.

3. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting base includes a rear portion of metal tubing of circular cross section to provide a pivot tube having a center at said first axis, said pivot

5 assembly including a lower portion of metal tubing having circular cross section sized and shaped to fit around and rotate on said rear portion.

4. The article carrier as set forth in claim 3 including clamping means to releasably clamp said lower portion to said rear portion at any angular position about said first axis.

5. The article carrier as set forth in claim 4 wherein said clamping means includes an elongated slot in said lower portion, a pair of spaced tabs on opposite sides of said slot and an off center cam clamp assembly on said tabs that applies a force to bring the tabs together in a clamping position and releases the tabs in a release position.

6. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 including locking means to lock said support member in said up position against rotary movement toward said side down position.

7. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a first pair of aligned holes and a second pair of aligned holes in said rear portion, a third pair of aligned holes in said lower portion and a locking pin selectively extending through said first and third pairs of aligned holes and in the alternative in second and third pairs of aligned holes.

8. The article carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pivot assembly includes an upper portion having two spaced, parallel plates substantially perpendicular to said second axis, said plates being attached to said lower portion and disposed at equal distances from said first axis.

9. The article carrier as set forth in claim 8 including a pivot member extending along said second axis through aligned holes in said parallel plates and said upright support member so that said support member pivots about said pivot member.

10. The article carrier as set forth in claim 9 including a front plate connected between said plates above said second axis and in front of said support member to limit forward pivoting of said support member.

11. The article carrier as set forth in claim 10 including a stop pin connected between said parallel plates behind said support member and at a selected level relative to said second axis to limit rearward pivoting of said support member.

12. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 including means to lock said upright support member in said up position for transport against movement to said rear down position.

13. The article carrier as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means to lock includes a latch rod extending through said upright support member, a locking cross pin at the lower end of said latch rod slidable in opposed, elongated slots in said support member, and means to bias said cross pin in the locked position, a channel-shaped member forming an extension of said parallel plates having upper and lower top edges and a ramp top edge along which said cross pin travels as said support member moves during travel from said up position, said ramp top edge inhibiting pivotal movement until a lifting force is applied to said latch rod against the force of said means to bias.

14. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 including a top bracket in the form of a pair of parallel spaced plates attached to the upper end portion of said support member, said bracket having a first pair of aligned holes that align with a pair of aligned holes in said article support assembly through which a pivot member extends to enable said article support assembly to pivot along a third axis from a transport position perpendicular to said upper support member to a folded position substantially parallel to said support member.

15. The article carrier as set forth in claim 14 wherein said pair of parallel spaced plates have a second pair of aligned holes that align with holes in said support member in said article support portion through which a locking pin will extend to lock said article support assembly in said transport position.

16. The article carrier as set forth in claim 14 wherein said parallel spaced plates have a third pair of aligned holes that align with holes in said support member in said folded position through which a locking pin will extend to lock said article support assembly in said folded position.

17. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said article support assembly includes an elongated tube of circular cross section and a plurality of article supports mounted on the tube at spaced intervals along said tube, each article support including an upper cradle.

18. The article carrier as set forth in claim 17 wherein said cradle has a pair of opposed upper legs arranged in a V-shape on a lower U-shaped channel.

19. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 including means to releasably lock said article support assembly in the transport position.

20. The article carrier as set forth in claim 1 including means to releasably lock said article support assembly in the folded position.

21. An article carrier for mounting on a vehicle having a hitch extending rearwardly of a rear bumper comprising: a mounting base including a front portion ^~ for telescoping into said hitch and a rear portion in the form of a pivot tube having a center at a horizontal first axis extending in the direction of vehicle travel, a pivot assembly on said mounting base including a lower portion in the form of a sleeve rotatable on said pivot tube about said first axis in either direction through an arc of about 90 degrees and an upper portion extending perpendicular to said lower portion providing a second axis perpendicular to said first axis and extending laterally of the direction of vehicle travel, said upright support member being movable between an up position to both a side down position when said lower portion is rotated about said first axis and a rear down position when said upright side member is rotated about said second axis, an upright support member pivotally connected to said lower portion to move about said second axis between a transport up position down and rearwardly to a rear down position to provide access to doors at the rear of the vehicle for loading, first locking means to releasably lock said upright support member in said up position, second locking means to releasably lock said upright support member in said up position, third locking means to releasably lock said upright support member on either side along the vehicle bumper in said side down position, and an article support assembly pivotally attached to an upper portion of said upright support member to move between a transport position perpendicular to said upright support member and a folded position substantially parallel to said upright support member for stowage during vehicle travel, said article support assembly including a support tube and a plurality of spaced article supports attached to said support tube.