# US 2023/0264635 A1 · Wheeled carrier for towing vehicle and method of use

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2023/0264635 A1
- Document ID: US20230264635A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/679,362
- Filed: 2022-02-24
- Published: 2023-08-24
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-24
- Inventors: Dr. Todd M. Sauer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230264635A1

## CPC

- B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)}
- B60R 9/065: {Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks}
- B60D 1/07: Multi-hitch devices, i.e. comprising several hitches of the same or of a different type; Hitch-adaptors, i.e. for converting hitches from one type to another
- B60D 1/488: {mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle}
- B60P 1/6409: {details, accessories, auxiliary devices}
- B60P 3/42: convertible from one use to a different one (vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F)
- B60R 9/10: for cycles
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates in general to carriers intended to be utilized with towing vehicles, and more specifically, to a wheeled carrier and method of use for providing additional cargo space while being towed behind an automobile or all-terrain vehicle. One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a variety of removable and interchangeable body styles each designed to be utilized with different types of cargo (e.g., luggage, bikes, small animals) such that the carrier may support a wide range of uses depending on certain preferences of the consumer. Another aspect of the present disclosure is providing a wheeled carrier that is rigidly and removably coupled to the chassis of the towing vehicle at multiple positions without requiring a ball hitch, pivoting pin box, or sliding hitch. Rigidly coupling the carrier directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle at multiple positions significantly improves stability and safety while towing as compared to traditional trailers that are pivotably coupled at a single location. The carrier and method of use of the present disclosure is designed to be utilized with smaller, more fuel-efficient towing vehicles to offer additional cargo storage space. Moreover, the carrier and method of use allows the carrier to be decoupled from the towing vehicle to lessen the impact on overall fuel economy and range mileage for the towing vehicle when the carrier is not being used.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wheeled carrier for transporting cargo, comprising:
a framework having an axle and at least two wheels;
the framework comprising:
a) a front member;
b) a rear member running parallel to the front member;
c) the front member and rear member running perpendicular to the direction of travel of the towing vehicle;
d) a first lateral member;
e) a second lateral member running parallel to the first lateral member;
f) the first lateral member and the second lateral member running in the same direction of travel of the towing vehicle;
g) the front member, rear member, first and second lateral members rigidly secured together in a coplanar relationship to form the shape of a square or rectangle;
a platform on the framework, the platform comprising:
a) a universal mounting base that is configured to accommodate bodies of a wide variety of styles, sizes and configurations;
b) the platform designed to removably, interchangeably and conveniently attach the body to the framework;
a body removably attached to the framework via the platform, the body comprising:
a) a luggage compartment;
b) a bicycle rack;
c) a watersports rack;
d) a crate for small animals;
e) a sports equipment rack;
f) a grocery compartment;
g) a tool rack; or
h) a cargo compartment;
a carrier coupler secured to the framework, the carrier coupler comprising:
a) a first extension arm having a proximal first end and a distal second end;
b) a second extension arm having a proximal first end and a distal second end;
c) the proximal first end of the first extension arm secured to the front member of the framework;
d) the proximal first end of the second extension arm secured to the front member of the framework;
e) a first coupling mechanism attached to the distal second end of the first extension arm;
f) a second coupling mechanism attached to the distal second end of the first extension arm;
g) wherein each coupling mechanism is configured to form a rigid joint between the chassis of the towing vehicle and the extension arm; and
the carrier coupler configured to directly couple the carrier to the chassis of a towing vehicle via the rigid joints at multiple positions on the chassis;
wherein the carrier is not coupled to the towing vehicle using a ball mounted hitch, pivoting pin box, pivot point, or sliding hitch.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wheeled carrier of claim 1, wherein the plurality of extension arms are of a fixed length.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The wheeled carrier of claim 2, wherein the plurality of extension arms are extendable in overall length to fit a variety of different towing vehicle sizes, makes, models and manufacturers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The wheeled carrier of claim 3, the axle and at least two wheels comprising:
a passive steering assembly having a pivot point; and
the passive steering assembly configured that the wheels passively turn in the direction of travel of the towing vehicle via the pivot point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The wheeled carrier of claim 3, the axle and at least two wheels comprising electric motors configured to power the wheels of the carrier to provide driving force while driving.

### Claim 6

A wheeled carrier for transporting cargo, comprising:
a framework having an axle and at least two wheels;
a platform on the framework;
a body removably attached to the framework via the platform;
a carrier coupler secured to the framework; and
the carrier coupler configured to directly couple the carrier to the chassis of a towing vehicle;
wherein the carrier is not coupled to the towing vehicle using a ball mounted hitch, pivoting pin box, pivot point, or sliding hitch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The wheeled carrier of claim 6, the framework comprising:
a front member;
a rear member running parallel to the front member;
the front member and rear member running perpendicular to the direction of travel of the towing vehicle;
a first lateral member;
a second lateral member running parallel to the first lateral member; and
the first lateral member and the second lateral member running in the same direction of travel of the towing vehicle;
wherein the front member, rear member, first and second lateral members rigidly secured together in a coplanar relationship to form the shape of a square or rectangle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The wheeled carrier of claim 6, the platform comprising:
a universal mounting base that is configured to accommodate bodies of a wide variety of sizes, types and configurations;
wherein the platform is designed to removably, interchangeably and conveniently attach the body to the framework.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The wheeled carrier of claim 6, the body comprising:
a) a luggage compartment;
b) a bicycle rack;
c) a watersports rack;
d) a crate for small animals;
e) a sports equipment rack;
f) a grocery compartment;
g) a tool rack; or
h) a cargo compartment.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The wheeled carrier of claim 6, the carrier coupler comprising:
a plurality of extension arms; and
at least two coupling mechanisms.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The wheeled carrier of claim 10, the plurality of extension arms each comprising:
a proximal first end;
a distal second end;
the proximal first end of each extension arm fixedly secured to the front member of the framework; and
the distal second end of each extension arm comprising a coupling mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wheeled carrier of claim 11, wherein the plurality of extension arms are of a fixed length.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wheeled carrier of claim 11, wherein the plurality of extension arms are extendable in overall length to fit a variety of different towing vehicle sizes, makes, models and manufacturers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wheeled carrier of claim 11, wherein each coupling mechanism is configured to form a rigid j oint between the chassis of the towing vehicle and an extension arm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The wheeled carrier of claim 14, wherein the plurality of extension arms are directly coupled to the chassis of the towing vehicle via the rigid joints at multiple positions on the chassis.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The wheeled carrier of claim 6, the axle and at least two wheels comprising: a passive steering assembly having a pivot point;
the passive steering assembly configured that the wheels passively turn in the direction of travel of the towing vehicle via the pivot point.

### Claim 17 (depends on 6)

The wheeled carrier of claim 6, the axle and at least two wheels comprising electric motors configured to power the wheels of the carrier to provide driving force while driving.

### Claim 18

A method of using a wheeled carrier for transporting cargo, comprising:
providing a towing vehicle;
providing a carrier for transporting cargo, the carrier comprising:
a) a framework having an axle and at least two wheels;
b) a platform on the framework;
c) a body for attachment to the framework via the platform; and
d) a carrier coupler secured to the framework;
e) a passive steering assembly attached to the axle and at least two wheels;
f) the passive steering assembly having a pivot point; and
g) the passive steering assembly configured that the wheels passively turn in the direction of travel of the towing vehicle via the pivot point;
selecting a particular style of body depending on the type of cargo to be transported;
attaching the selected body to the framework via the platform;
coupling the carrier directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle using the carrier coupler,
wherein the carrier is not coupled to the towing vehicle using a ball mounted hitch,
pivoting pin box, pivot point, or sliding hitch;
towing the carrier using the towing vehicle to a desired location;
unloading cargo from the carrier at the desired location;
uncoupling the carrier from the chassis of the towing vehicle using the carrier coupler; and
storing the carrier until further use is required for transporting cargo.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of using a wheeled carrier of claim 18, further comprising:
providing the carrier coupler with a plurality of extension arms and at least two coupling mechanisms;
extending each extension arm of the plurality of extension arms to reach the chassis of the towing vehicle; and
forming a rigid joint between each extension arm and the chassis of the towing vehicle using the at least two coupling mechanisms.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of using a wheeled carrier of claim 19, further comprising:
rigidly coupling the carrier to the towing vehicle via the two rigid joints at multiple positions on the chassis of the towing vehicle to add stability to the carrier while towing.