Carrier racks for vehicles
OwnerWally Byers, Shawn McEueninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Carrier racks including an elongate base member, a pivot mechanism mounted to the base member and configured to rotate relative to the base member, and a frame coupled to the pivot mechanism for supporting cargo, wherein the pivot mechanism is configured to pivot the frame between a loading position and a stowed position for transport, a first support member of the frame being oriented substantially horizontal in the stowed position.
Claims20
A carrier rack mounted to a vehicle for transporting cargo in a position above a roof of the vehicle, comprising:
- an elongate base member;
- a pivot mechanism mounted to the elongate base member and configured to rotate relative to the elongate base member;
- a frame coupled to the pivot mechanism for supporting cargo, the frame including a first support member substantially defining a first plane and a second support member substantially defining a second plane transverse to the first plane;
- a first cargo mount coupled to the first support member for securing cargo to the first support member;
- and
- a second cargo mount coupled to the second support member for securing cargo to the second support member, the second cargo mount defining a trough and including a restraining member for securing cargo within the trough;
- wherein the pivot mechanism is configured to pivot the frame between a loading position and a stowed position for transport, the first support member being oriented substantially horizontal above the roof of the vehicle in the stowed position.
A carrier rack for securing cargo on a vehicle having a roof rack, comprising:
- an elongate base member;
- a pivot mechanism mounted to the elongate base member and configured to selectively rotate relative to the elongate base member, the pivot mechanism including a spring clutch mechanism;
- a frame extending from the pivot mechanism;
- a release mechanism mounted to the frame and including a cable connected to the spring clutch mechanism, the release mechanism being movable between a release position applying at least a threshold tension to the cable and a fixed position reducing tension in the cable below the threshold tension,
- wherein the spring clutch mechanism allows the pivot mechanism to rotate when the release mechanism increases the tension in the cable to at least the threshold tension and restricts the frame from rotating when the release mechanism reduces tension in the cable below the threshold tension.
A carrier rack mounted to a vehicle for transporting cargo in a position above a roof of the vehicle, comprising:
- an elongate base member;
- a pivot mechanism mounted to the elongate base member and configured to rotate relative to the elongate base member;
- a frame coupled to the pivot mechanism for supporting cargo, the frame including a first support member substantially defining a first plane and a second support member substantially defining a second plane transverse to the first plane;
- a first cargo mount coupled to the first support member for securing cargo to the first support member, the first cargo mount including:
- a clamp defining an opening complimenting the shape of the first support member;
- and
- a lever coupled to the clamp and configured to selectively compress the clamp onto the first support member and to selectively release the compression of the clamp onto the frame to enable the first cargo mount to move relative to the first support member;
- and
- a second cargo mount coupled to the second support member for securing cargo to the second support member;
- wherein the pivot mechanism is configured to pivot the frame between a loading position and a stowed position for transport, the first support member being oriented substantially horizontal above the roof of the vehicle in the stowed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.