Adjustable rack for carrying equipment on a vehicle

An equipment carrier adapted for removable mounting to the rear of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first frame arrangement having a forward area adapted for engagement with the vehicle and a rearward area adapted to support one or more items of equipment;
• a second frame arrangement having an inner end area and a an outer end area, wherein the outer end area is adapted for engagement with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward area of the first frame arrangement;
• a pivot arrangement interposed between the first frame arrangement and the inner end of the second frame arrangement, wherein the second frame engagement is pivotably mounted to the pivot arrangement for movement relative to the first frame arrangement between an extended operative position and a collapsed inoperative position;
• wherein the first frame arrangement includes one or more axial frame members and wherein the second frame arrangement includes one or more outwardly extending frame members, each of which extends outwardly from one of the axial frame members when the second frame arrangement is in its extended operative position, and wherein the pivot arrangement comprises a hub member interposed between and engaged with each axial frame member and its associated outwardly extending frame member, wherein the pivot arrangement comprises a pivot connection between each hub member and its associated outwardly extending frame member located toward an inner end defined by the outwardly extending frame member;
• and
• a variable position engagement arrangement interposed between the pivot arrangement and the first frame arrangement for varying the position of at least the forward area of the first frame arrangement relative to the second frame arrangement, wherein the variable position engagement arrangement is operable to selectively enable movement of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot arrangement, and is operable to selectively fix the position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot arrangement;
• wherein each axial frame member is slidably mounted within a passage defined by one of the hub members for varying the position of the second frame arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement.

In an equipment carrier adapted for mounting to a vehicle, including a first frame arrangement having a forward end engageable with the vehicle and a rearward end adapted to support one or more items of equipment, and a second frame arrangement defining an outer end engageable with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward end of the first frame arrangement, the improvement comprising a pivot hub arrangement interposed between the first frame arrangement and the second frame arrangement, wherein the second frame arrangement is pivotably mounted to the pivot hub arrangement for movement relative to the first frame arrangement between an inoperative collapsed position in which the second frame arrangement is positioned toward the first frame arrangement, and an operative extended position in which the second frame arrangement extends outwardly away from the first frame arrangement, and wherein the pivot hub arrangement includes axially extending passage structure within which the first frame arrangement is movably received for providing adjustment in the axial position of the pivot hub arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement, wherein the axially extending passage structure and the first frame arrangement are configured to maintain the first frame arrangement in a fixed and non-adjustable angular relationship upon movement of the first frame arrangement in the passage structure to provide adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement, and a selective engagement arrangement interposed between the pivot hub arrangement and the first frame arrangement, wherein the selective engagement arrangement enables selective adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement and thereby the second frame arrangement.

In an equipment carrier adapted for mounting to a vehicle, including a first frame arrangement having a forward end engageable with the vehicle and a rearward end adapted to support one or more items of equipment, and a second frame arrangement defining an outer end engageable with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward end of the first frame arrangement, the improvement comprising a movable mounting arrangement interposed between the first frame arrangement and the second frame arrangement for providing movement of the second frame arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement between an inoperative collapsed position in which the second frame arrangement is positioned toward the first frame arrangement, and an operative extended position in which the second frame arrangement extends outwardly away from the first frame arrangement, and a variable position engagement arrangement interposed between the first and second frame arrangements, wherein the variable position engagement arrangement enables selective adjustment in the position of the first frame arrangement relative to the second frame arrangement, wherein the movable mounting arrangement comprises one or more hub members interposed between the first frame arrangement and the second frame arrangement, wherein the second frame arrangement is pivotably mounted to the one or more hub members for movement between its operative extended position and its inoperative collapsed position, and wherein the first frame arrangement is engaged within passage structure defined by the one or more hub members for providing sliding movement of the first frame arrangement relative to the one or more hub members and the second frame arrangement.

An equipment carrier adapted for mounting to the rear of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first member having a forward engagement area adapted for engagement with the vehicle;
• a second member having an outer engagement area adapted for engagement with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward engagement area of the first member, wherein the first member is axially movable relative to second member to adjust the position of the forward engagement area of the first member relative to the outer engagement area of the second member;
• a pivot hub arrangement interposed between the first and second members;
• wherein the second frame member is pivotably mounted to the pivot hub arrangement for movement relative to the first frame member between an extended operative position and a collapsed inoperative position, and wherein the pivot hub arrangement includes axially extending passage structure within which the first frame arrangement is movably received for providing adjustment in the axial position of the pivot hub arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement, wherein the axially extending passage structure and the first frame arrangement are configured to maintain the first frame arrangement in a fixed and non-adjustable angular relationship upon movement of the first frame arrangement in the passage structure to provide adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement;
• a selective engagement arrangement interposed between the pivot hub arrangement and the first frame member for varying the axial position of at least the forward area of the first frame member relative to the second frame member, wherein the selective engagement arrangement is operable to selectively enable axial movement of the first frame member in a forward-rearward direction relative to the pivot hub arrangement, and is operable to selectively fix the axial position of the first frame member relative to the pivot hub arrangement;
• and
• an equipment carrying arrangement supported by the first and second members such that the first and second members cooperate to support the equipment carrying arrangement on the vehicle.

An equipment carrier adapted for mounting to the rear of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first member having a forward engagement area adapted for engagement with the vehicle;
• a second member having an outer engagement area adapted for engagement with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward engagement area of the first member, wherein the first member is axially movable relative to second member to adjust the position of the forward engagement area of the first member relative to the outer engagement area of the second member;
• an engagement arrangement interposed between the first and second members for selectively fixing the axial position of the first member relative to the second member, wherein the engagement arrangement includes a hub arrangement interposed between the first and second members, wherein the second member is mounted to the hub arrangement for movement between an operative extended position and an inoperative collapsed position by means of a pivot connection of the second member to the hub arrangement, and wherein the first member is axially movable relative to the second member via movable engagement of the first member with the hub arrangement, wherein the first member is received within passage structure associated with the hub arrangement for providing axial movement of the first member relative to the hub arrangement and thereby relative to the second member;
• and
• an equipment carrying arrangement supported by the first and second members such that the first and second members cooperate to support the equipment carrying arrangement on the vehicle.

An equipment carrier adapted for removable mounting to the rear of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first frame arrangement having a forward area adapted for engagement with the vehicle and a rearward area adapted to support one or more items of equipment;
• a second frame arrangement having an inner end area and an outer end area, wherein the outer end area is adapted for engagement with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward area of the first frame arrangement;
• a pivot hub arrangement interposed between the first frame arrangement and the inner end of the second frame arrangement, wherein the second frame arrangement is pivotably mounted to the pivot hub arrangement for movement relative to the first frame arrangement between an extended operative position and a collapsed inoperative position, and wherein the first frame arrangement and the pivot hub arrangement include an axially adjustable mounting arrangement that is configured and arranged to enable adjustment in the axial position of the pivot hub arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement and to maintain the first frame arrangement in a fixed and non-adjustable angular relationship upon adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement;
• and
• a selective engagement arrangement interposed between the pivot hub arrangement and the first frame arrangement for selectively fixing the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to pivot hub arrangement and thereby the second frame arrangement, wherein the selective engagement arrangement is operable to selectively enable axial movement of the first frame arrangement in a forward-rearward direction relative to the pivot hub arrangement, and is operable to selectively fix the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement;
• wherein the first frame arrangement includes one or more axial frame members and wherein the second frame arrangement includes one or more outwardly extending frame members, each of which extends outwardly from one of the axial frame members when the second frame arrangement is in its extended operative position, and wherein the pivot hub arrangement comprises a hub member interposed between and engaged with each axial frame member and its associated outwardly extending frame member, wherein each axial frame member is slidably mounted within a passage defined by one of the hub members for varying the position of the second frame arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement;
• and
• wherein the pivot hub arrangement comprises a pivot connection between each hub member and its associated outwardly extending frame member located toward an inner end defined by the outwardly extending frame member.

In an equipment carrier adapted for mounting to a vehicle, including a first frame arrangement having a forward end engageable with the vehicle and a rearward end adapted to support one or more items of equipment, and a second frame arrangement defining an outer end engageable with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward end of the first frame arrangement, the improvement comprising one or more pivot hub members interposed between the first frame arrangement and the second frame arrangement, wherein the second frame arrangement is pivotably mounted to the one or more pivot hub members for movement relative to the first frame arrangement between an inoperative collapsed position in which the second frame arrangement is positioned toward the first frame arrangement, and an operative extended position in which the second frame arrangement extends outwardly away from the first frame arrangement, and wherein the first frame arrangement and the one or more pivot hub members include an axially adjustable mounting arrangement that is configured and arranged to enable adjustment in the axial position of the one or more pivot hub members relative to the first frame arrangement and to maintain the first frame arrangement in a fixed and non-adjustable angular relationship upon adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the one or more pivot hub members, and a selective engagement arrangement interposed between the one or more pivot hub members and the first frame arrangement, wherein the selective engagement arrangement enables selective adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the one or more pivot hub members and thereby the second frame arrangement, wherein the first frame arrangement is engaged within passage structure defined by the one or more pivot hub members for providing sliding movement of the first frame arrangement within the passage structure relative to the one or more pivot hub members and the second frame arrangement, and wherein selective engagement arrangement is operable to provide adjustment in the position of the second frame arrangement relative to the one or more pivot hub members to one of a plurality of predetermined positions within the passage structure.