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US 8,281,968 B2Granted
Lightweight cargo carrier for vehicles
OwnerJohn Wesley Perryinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight cargo carrying structure mounted upon arms which cantilever rearward from tow eyes mounted at the rear of a vehicle. This invention provides an efficient way to expand the cargo-carrying capacity of a vehicle.
Claims15
A cargo carrier adapted to be interconnected to a plurality of tow eye members at the rear of a vehicle, said cargo carrier comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cantilever arms;
- (b) a plurality of primary attachment means each of which is configured to engage one of said tow eye members and one of said cantilever arms, each of said plurality of primary attachment means configured to engage a respective aperture in one of said tow eye members;
- and
- (c) a cargo support means supported by said cantilever arms;
- wherein said cargo carrier is configured to be operatively coupled to said vehicle only by means of said tow eye members and without the use of a hitch assembly, and wherein said cargo carrier is configured to engage said tow eye members or said vehicle at one or more bearing points forward of said primary attachment means such that said one or more bearing points are disposed closer to a front end of said vehicle than said primary attachment means;
- and wherein said cargo carrier further comprises adjustment means configured to allow modification of the angle of pitch of said cantilever arms with respect to said vehicle, said adjustment means configured to engage said tow eye members at said one or more bearing points forward of said primary attachment means.
3 more elements
A vehicular cargo carrier system comprising:
- a vehicle having a front end and a rear end, said vehicle having a plurality of tow eye members disposed proximate to said rear end thereof, each of said plurality of tow eye members having an aperture disposed therethrough;
- and
- a cargo carrier operatively coupled to said vehicle by means of said plurality of tow eye members, said cargo carrier including:
- (a) a plurality of cantilever arms;
- (b) a plurality of primary attachment means each of which engages one of said tow eye members and one of said cantilever arms, each of said plurality of primary attachment means engaging a respective said aperture in one of said tow eye members;
- and
- (c) a cargo support means supported by said cantilever arms;
- wherein said cargo carrier is operatively coupled to said vehicle without the use of a hitch assembly, and wherein said cargo carrier contacts said tow eye members or said vehicle at one or more bearing points forward of said primary attachment means such that said one or more bearing points are disposed closer to said front end of said vehicle than said primary attachment means;
- and wherein said cargo carrier further comprises adjustment means that permit modification of the angle of pitch of said cantilever arms with respect to said vehicle, said adjustment means contacting said tow eye members or said vehicle at said one or more bearing points forward of said primary attachment means.
6 more elements
A cargo carrier adapted to be interconnected to a plurality of tow eye members at the rear of a vehicle, said cargo carrier comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cantilever arms;
- (b) a plurality of primary attachment means each of which is configured to engage one of said tow eye members and one of said cantilever arms, each of said plurality of primary attachment means configured to engage a respective aperture in one of said tow eye members;
- (c) a cargo support means supported by said cantilever arms, said cargo support means being disposed on a first side of said primary attachment means;
- and
- (d) adjustment means configured to allow modification of the angle of pitch of said cantilever arms with respect to said vehicle, said adjustment means configured to contact said tow eye members or said vehicle at one or more bearing points forward of said primary attachment means such that said one or more bearing points of said adjustment means are disposed on a second side of said primary attachment means that is opposite to said first side, and said one or more bearing points are disposed closer to a front end of said vehicle than said primary attachment means;
- wherein said cargo carrier is configured to be operatively coupled to said vehicle without the use of a hitch assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.