Patent ID: 9694759
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. A hitch mounted accessory rack system, comprising: a lower base unit, wherein said lower base unit includes an elongate hitch beam and an elongate hitch beam vertical support extending from said hitch beam, wherein a longitudinal axis of said hitch beam is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said hitch beam vertical support, and wherein said hitch beam vertical support includes a plurality of hitch beam vertical support apertures formed therethrough; an upper base unit, wherein said upper base unit includes an elongate support beam and an elongate support beam vertical support extending from said support beam, wherein a longitudinal axis of said support beam is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said support beam vertical support, wherein said support beam vertical support includes a plurality of support beam vertical support apertures formed therethrough, and wherein said support beam vertical support is at least partially received within at least a portion of said hitch beam vertical support such that said longitudinal axis of said support beam is substantially coplanar with said longitudinal axis of said hitch beam and such that at least a portion of said support beam vertical support is adjustably slidable within at least a portion of said hitch beam vertical support; one or more attachment loops for support straps attached or coupled to opposing sides of said support beam vertical support; a center-point adjustable sleeve assembly, wherein said center-point adjustable sleeve assembly includes a sleeve element having a plurality of sleeve element apertures formed therethrough, such that at least certain of said sleeve element apertures are allignable with certain of said hitch beam vertical support apertures and certain of said support beam vertical support apertures so as to allow a position of said sleeve element to be adjusted in relation to said hitch beam vertical support and said support beam vertical support and maintained in a desired position when one or more pins or bolts is positioned through aligned, corresponding sleeve element apertures, hitch beam vertical support apertures, and support beam vertical support apertures; an arm beam attached or coupled to said sleeve element, wherein said arm beam comprises an elongate portion of material extending from a first end portion to a second end portion; two or more accessory arms attached or coupled to said arm beam, wherein a first accessory arm extends from said first end portion of said arm beam and where in a second accessory arm extends from said second end portion of said arm beam; one or more crossbar assemblies, wherein each crossbar assembly comprises a crossbar sleeve element attached or coupled to a crossbar, wherein a longitudinal axis of said crossbar sleeve element is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said crossbar, wherein said crossbar sleeve element comprises a portion of material sized so as to be slidable along at least a portion of said support beam, and wherein a plurality of crossbar sleeve element apertures are formed through said crossbar sleeve element such that at least certain of said crossbar sleeve element apertures can be aligned with at least certain of said support beam apertures; and support straps attachable between said attachment loops and said vehicle to limit movement of said hitch mounted accessory rack system.