US 6,644,525 B1 · Hitch rack

Abstract

A collapsible bicycle carrier has a base that is configured to fit a trailer hitch receiver on a motor vehicle. An upright frame is operatively connected to the base. A T-shaped member having a vertical upright body and a horizontal crossbar is connected to the frame. A substantially U-shaped carrying assembly having a pair of carrying arms at an open end thereof is pivotally mounted to the crossbar. A slide having a tab is slidably received on the upright body. A bracket is rotatably mounted at its ends to the tab and a closed end of the carrying assembly. A lock is provided on the slide for locking the slide in first and second positions. The carrying arms are in an extended carrying position when the slide is locked in the first position and in a collapsed position when the slide is locked in the second position.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A collapsible carrier detachably mountable to a trailer hitch receiver that is secured to a vehicle, said collapsible carrier comprising:

(a) a base that is sized and shaped to be detachably mounted to the trailer hitch receiver;
(b) a frame mounted to said base, said frame extending upwardly from said base in a substantially vertical position;
(c) a carrying assembly pivotally mounted to said frame, said carrying assembly having a forwardly extending carrying means and a rearwardly extending bracket engaging member;
(d) a slide member slidably mounted on said frame;
(e) a tab provided on said slide member;
(f) a bracket having first and second ends, said first end of said bracket is pivotally mounted to said tab, said second end of said bracket is pivotally mounted to said bracket engaging member;
and
(g) means for locking said slide member at first and second positions on said frame, said carrying means in a substantially horizontal extended carrying position when said slide member is locked in said first position, said carrying means in a collapsed position when said slide member is locked in said second position.

5 more elements

A collapsible carrier detachably mountable to a trailer hitch receiver that is secured to a vehicle, said collapsible carrier comprising:

(a) a base that is sized and shaped to be detachably mounted to the trailer hitch receiver;
(b) a frame mounted to said base, said frame extending upwardly from said base in a substantially vertical position;
(c) a substantially T-shaped member having a substantially vertical body and a substantially horizontal cross member, said cross member attached to an upper end of said body, a lower end of said body operatively connected to said frame;
(d) a carrying assembly pivotally mounted to said cross member, said carrying assembly having a forwardly extending carrying means and a rearwardly extending bracket engaging member;
(e) a slide member slidably mounted on said body;
(f) a tab provided on said slide member;
(g) a bracket having first and second ends, said first end of said bracket pivotally mounted to said tab, said second end of said bracket pivotally mounted to said bracket engaging member;
and
(h) means for locking said slide member at first and second positions on said body, said carrying means in a substantially horizontal extended carrying position when said slide member is locked in said first position, said carrying means in a collapsed position when said slide member is locked in said second position.

6 more elements

A collapsible carrier detachably mountable to a trailer hitch receiver that is secured to a vehicle, said collapsible carrier comprising:

(a) a base that is sized and shaped to be detachably mounted to the trailer hitch receiver;
(b) a frame mounted to said base, said frame extending upwardly from said base, said frame in a substantially vertical position;
(c) a substantially T-shaped member having a substantially vertical body and a substantially horizontal cross member, said cross member attached to an upper end of said body, said body slidably received within said frame;
(d) a carrying assembly pivotally mounted to said cross member, said carrying assembly having a pair of carrying arms at a forward end of said carrying assembly and bracket engaging member at a rearwardly end of said carrying assembly;
(e) a tab at an upper end of said frame;
(f) a bracket having first and second ends, said first end of said bracket pivotally mounted to said tab, said second end of said bracket pivotally mounted to said bracket engaging member;
and
(g) means for locking said body at first and second positions in said frame;
said carrying arms in a substantially horizontal extended carrying position when said body is locked in said first position, said carrying arm in a collapsed position when said body is locked in said second position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hitch rack

Life of this patent

Hitch rack

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23