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US 7,404,504 B2Granted
Adjustable rear-mounted cargo carriers
AssigneeYakima Products, Inc.
InventorJoseph J. Settelmayer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cargo carriers are disclosed, and more particularly adjustable cargo carriers that may be mounted on a rear of a vehicle.
Claims38
A cargo carrier configured to be mounted to a rear of a vehicle, comprising:
- first, second, and third support frame structures, wherein one of the support frame structures is configured to contact an upper portion of the rear of the vehicle, wherein a second one of the support frame structures is configured to contact a lower portion of the rear of the vehicle, and wherein a third one of the support frame structures is configured to support at least one cargo item;
- and
- at least one hub assembly operatively connecting the first, second, and third support frame structures and permitting selective pivoting of the first and third support frame structures relative to the second support frame structure, the at least one hub assembly including:
- a first locking device configured to selectively prevent pivoting of the first support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure,
- a second locking device configured to selectively prevent pivoting of the third support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure,
- a first unlocking structure configured to selectively cause the first locking device to permit the pivoting of the first support frame structure without causing the second locking device to permit the pivoting of the third support frame structure, and
- a second unlocking structure configured to selectively cause the second locking device to permit the pivoting of the third support frame structure without causing the first locking device to permit the pivoting of the first support frame structure.
4 more elements
A bicycle carrier configured to be mounted to a rear of a vehicle, comprising:
- a first support frame structure configured to contact an upper portion of the rear of the vehicle;
- a second support frame structure configured to contact a lower portion of the rear of the vehicle;
- a third support frame structure configured to support at least one bicycle;
- and
- at least one hub assembly operatively connecting the first, second, and third support frame structures and permitting selective pivoting of at least the first and third support frame structures relative to the second support frame structure, the at least one hub assembly including a first connector element attached to the first support frame structure and permitting selective pivoting of the first support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure, a second connector element attached to the second support frame structure, and a third connector element attached to the third support frame structure and permitting selective pivoting of the third support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure, the hub assembly including:
- a first locking device at least substantially contained within an outer portion of the at least one hub assembly and configured to selectively prevent pivoting of the first support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure,
- a second locking device at least substantially contained within an inner portion of the hub assembly and configured to selectively prevent pivoting of the third support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure,
- a first unlocking handle configured to selectively cause the first locking device to permit pivoting of the first support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure without causing the second locking device to permit pivoting of the third support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure, and
- a second unlocking handle configured to selectively cause the second locking device to permit pivoting of the third support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure without causing the first locking device to permit pivoting of the first support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure.
6 more elements
A cargo carrier configured to be mounted to a rear of a vehicle, comprising:
- a first support structure having a first base portion configured to contact an upper portion of the rear of the vehicle;
- a second support structure having a second base portion configured to contact a lower portion of the rear of the vehicle;
- a third support structure configured to support at least one cargo item;
- and
- at least one hub assembly operatively connecting the first support structure, the second support structure, and the third support structure, the at least one hub assembly at least partially containing:
- a first pivoting connector assembly connected to one of the first support structure, the second support structure, and the third support structure, wherein the first pivoting connector assembly is configured to secure the one structure in a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to the other structures,
- a first unlocking handle configured to cause the first pivoting connector assembly to permit the one structure to pivot about a pivot axis among the plurality of positions relative to the other structures,
- a second pivoting connector assembly connected to one of the other structures and configured to secure the one of the other structures in a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to the support structure connected to the first pivoting connector assembly, and
- a second unlocking handle configured to cause the second pivoting connector assembly to permit the one of the other structures to pivot about the pivot axis among the plurality of positions relative to the support structure connected to the first pivoting connector assembly without causing the first pivoting connector assembly to permit the one structure to pivot about the pivot axis among the plurality of positions relative to the other structures.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.