Patent ID: 7857179
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: B60R,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A folding carrier mountable on a tailgate, trunk lid or the like of a motor vehicle, said carrier configured to carry bicycles and the like, said carrier comprising: (a) a substantially U-shaped frame; (b) a substantially U-shaped carrying member having a pair of carrying arms and a foot bar pivotally mounted to said frame, one end of each said carrying arm is connected to opposite ends of said foot bar, said carrying member movable between a locked extended position and a collapsed position, said carrying member and said frame being in a substantially side-by-side relationship when said carrying member is in its collapsed position, said carrying member and said frame being substantially perpendicular to one another when said carrying member is in its locked extended position, said foot bar configured to rest on the motor vehicle when said carrying member is in its locked extended position, free ends of said carrying arms extending outwardly and away from the motor vehicle when said carrying member is in its locked extended position and said foot bar is resting on the motor vehicle; (c) a substantially U-shaped supporting member having a pair of side legs and a base member, said legs pivotally mounted to said frame, said supporting member constrained for limited rotational movement relative to said frame between an extended position and a collapsed position, said supporting member and said frame substantially in perpendicular relationship to one another when said supporting member is in its extended position, said supporting member and said frame being in a substantially side-by-side relationship when said supporting member is in its collapsed position, said base member configured to rest on the motor vehicle when said supporting member is in its extended position: (d) a latching assembly with a pair of first brackets and a pair of movable latching members, an opening formed in each said first bracket, one of said latching members movable in said opening in one of said first brackets and the other of said latching members movable in the other of said openings in the other of said first brackets, one of said first brackets mounted to one side of said frame and the other of said first brackets mounted to an opposite side of said frame, a tubular member extending between and connected to said first brackets, said latching members disposed in said tubular member [between said first brackets], said carrying member pivotally mounted to said first brackets; (e) a pair of second brackets, one of said second brackets mounted to one side of said carrying member, the other of said second brackets mounted to an opposite side of said carrying member, each said second bracket having a ramp portion and a latch; (f) biasing means engaging said pair of latching members, said biasing means urging said latching members away from one another; and (g) a pair of triggers, one of said triggers operatively connected to one of said latching members, the other of said triggers operatively connected to the other of said latching members; (h) said latching members engaging and sliding along said ramp portions of said second bracket means as said carrying member is moved from its collapsed position to its extended position, said triggers urged towards one another against said urging of said biasing means as said latching members slide along said ramp portions, said latching members moved into locked engagement with said latches of said second brackets, said carrying member being in its locked extended position when said latching members are in locked engagement with said latches, said triggers are spaced apart a distance that permits a user using one hand to move said triggers towards one another for disengaging said latching members from said latches; (i) said triggers moved towards one another for disengaging said latching members from said latches, said triggers moved towards one another by a user using one hand, said carrying member movable from its extended position to its collapsed position when said latching members are disengaged from said latches.