Patent ID: 6378748
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A carrier system for an associated vehicle having a rearwardly situated vehicle portion and a forwardly situated vehicle portion, comprising a mounting structure for mounting to said vehicle, wherein said mounting structure comprises a rearward mounting structure portion and a forward mounting structure portion, wherein said forward mounting structure portion is situated forwardly of said rearward mounting structure portion and physically closer to said forwardly situated vehicle portion, wherein said mounting structure comprises coupler apparatus effective for operative connection to cargo support means for supporting cargo to be transported by said vehicle, and further comprising intermediate connection means for operatively interconnecting said coupler apparatus to said cargo support means, wherein said intermediate connection means is carried by said coupler apparatus, wherein said intermediate connection means comprises a first intermediate connection body portion operatively carried by said coupler apparatus, a second intermediate connection body portion for operative connection to said cargo support means, pivot means for pivotally interconnecting said cargo support means to said second intermediate connection body portion, wherein said cargo support means comprises a cargo carrier member, wherein said cargo carrier member comprises a rearward cargo carrier member portion and a forward cargo carrier member portion, and journal means carried by said cargo carrier member for pivotal connection with said pivot means whereby said cargo carrier member can be pivotally swingably moved with respect to said mounting structure, wherein said cargo carrier member is able to be pivotally swingably moved to a first extreme position operatively abutting said forward mounting structure portion, wherein when said cargo carrier member is in said first extreme position said forward cargo carrier member portion is generally closest to said forwardly situated vehicle portion, wherein said cargo carrier member is able to be pivotally swingably moved to a second extreme position, wherein when said cargo carrier member is moved to said second extreme position said forward cargo carrier member portion is moved both generally upwardly away from said first extreme position and generally rearwardly as to become rearward of said first extreme position.