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US 6,786,494 B2Granted
Vehicle hardtop carrier
OwnerMichael J. Garbisoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle hardtop carrier has a rear wheels bar transversely of a mounting bar, and front wheels on separate wheel bars support the hardtop and are adjustably pivotally mounted on the mounting bar to accommodate various hardtops. A cushion bar extends generally upwardly from the mounting bar to support the hardtop. A retaining strap extends from the carrier and about the hardtop.
Claims15
A vehicle hardtop carrier, comprising:
- a generally elongated mounting member having forward and rear ends,
- a head on the forward end portion of the mounting member,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop, said bars having ground wheels at their outer end portions,
- an adjustable continuous loop retaining strap threaded through an opening in the rear portion of the mounting member and extending about the hardtop to retain the hardtop to prevent the hardtop from swiveling on the carrier, said strap being adjustable in length to accommodate different hardtops,
- a rear wheel bar secured generally transversely on a rear portion of the generally elongated mounting member, said rear wheel bar having ground wheels at its opposite ends, and
- a support bar having at least one contact member thereon and being supported by at least one rod extending generally upwardly from the mounting member to support a hardtop.
3 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier comprising:
- a generally elongated mounting member having forward and rear ends,
- a head on the forward end portion of the mounting member,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop, said bars having ground wheels at their outer end portions,
- a rear wheel bar secured generally transversely on a rear portion of the generally elongated mounting member, said rear wheel bar having ground wheels at its opposite ends,
- a support bar having at least one contact member thereon and being supported by at least one rod extending generally upwardly from the mounting member to support a hardtop,
- said head comprises two plates secured in spaced-apart relation by threaded fasteners on top and bottom sides of a forward portion of said mounting member, and
- the front wheel bars are pivotally mounted relative to said plates.
4 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier comprising:
- an elongated mounting member having forward and rear ends,
- a head on the forward end portion of the mounting member, said head comprising two plates secured in spaced-apart relation by threaded fasteners on opposite sides of the forward end portion of said mounting member,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop, said bars having wheels at their outer end portions, the front wheel bars being pivotally mounted relative to said plates,
- a rear wheel bar secured generally transversely on a rear portion of the mounting member, said rear wheel bar having ground wheels at its opposite ends,
- a cushion bar being supported by at least one rod extending generally upwardly and forwardly from said mounting member to support the hardtop, and further including
- a cushion member at at least one end of the cushion bar.
3 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier, comprising:
- an elongated mounting member having forward and rear ends,
- a head on the forward end portion of the mounting member,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop, said bars having wheels at their outer end portions,
- a cushion member extending generally upwardly from end portions of each front wheel bar to engage and support the hardtop,
- a rear wheel bar secured generally transversely on a rear portion of the mounting member, said rear wheel bar having ground wheels at its opposite ends,
- a cushion bar having at least one cushion member thereon and being supported by at least one rod extending generally upwardly from the mounting member to support the hardtop, and
- a cross member secured transversely to the mounting member and having openings therein to mount said at least one rod.
4 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier, comprising:
- an elongated mounting member having forward and rear ends,
- a head on the forward end portion of the mounting member,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop, said bars having wheels at their outer end portions, said front wheel bars being pivotally adjustable into positions to accommodate different respective hard tops,
- a cushion member extending generally upwardly from end portions of each of said front wheel bars to engage and support the hardtop,
- a rear wheel bar secured generally transversely on a rear portion of the mounting member, said rear wheel bar having ground wheels at its opposite ends,
- a cushion bar having at least one cushion member thereon and being supported by at least one rod extending generally upwardly from the mounting member to support the hardtop, and
- a cross member secured transversely of the mounting member and having openings therein to mount said at least one rod.
4 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier, comprising:
- an elongated mounting member having forward and rear ends,
- a head on the forward end portion of the mounting member,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop, said bars having wheels at their outer end portions,
- a rear wheel bar secured generally transversely on a rear portion of the mounting member, said rear wheel bar having ground wheels at its opposite ends,
- a cushion bar having at least one cushion member thereon and being supported by at least one rod extending generally upwardly from the mounting member to support the hardtop,
- said cushion bar being supported by two rods extending generally upwardly and forwardly from said mounting member to support the hardtop,
- a cushion member mounted at each end of the cushion bar, and
- a cross member secured transversely of the mounting member and having openings therein to mount said at least one rod.
5 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier comprising:
- an elongated horizontal mounting member having forward and rearward ends,
- a head on a front end portion of the mounting member and comprising two plates secured in spaced-apart relation on the upper and bottom sides of the mounting member and secured by threaded fasteners,
- a pair of front wheel bars secured to and extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support a hardtop,
- supporting ground wheels on outer end portions of the front wheel bars,
- pins extending through registering openings in said two plates of the head and in the front wheel bars, the pins being insertable into and removable from the openings for selective positioning of the front wheel bars to an extended service position or a retracted position for carrying and storage, and
- a rear wheel bar secured transversely on a rear portion of the mounting member and having ground wheels at its opposite ends.
3 more elements
A vehicle hardtop carrier comprising:
- an elongated mounting member having forward and rearward ends,
- a head on a front end portion of the mounting member and comprising two plates secured in spaced-apart relation on opposite sides of the mounting member and secured by threaded fasteners,
- a cushion bar supported by two rods extending generally upwardly and forwardly from said mounting member to support a hardtop,
- a cross member secured transversely of the mounting member and having openings therein to mount said rods,
- a pair of front wheel bars extending generally forwardly and oppositely outwardly from the head to support the hardtop,
- supporting ground wheels on outer end portions of the front wheel bars,
- pins extending through registering openings in said two plates of the head and in the front wheel bars, the pins being insertable into and removable from the openings for selective positioning of the front wheel bars, and
- a rear wheel bar secured transversely on a rear portion of the mounting member and having ground wheels at its opposite ends.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.