Patent ID: 6062451
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An apparatus for mounting equipment to a trailer hitch comprising:a rectangular extension for mounting to a vehicle rear trailer hitch;a right cylindrical tube, having a cylindrical circumference, the tube extending vertically upwardly and being adapted to support brackets for mounting bicycles or other sporting equipment, the tube being positioned rearwardly of the rectangular extension;a bracket having a plane of symmetry, wherein the bracket has a cylindrical portion which is intersected only once by the plane of symmetry, the cylindrical portion wrapping at least 180 degrees and less then 360 degrees of the tube circumference of the right cylindrical tube, and the cylindrical portion having a first substantially triangular extension and a second substantially triangular extension arranged symmetrically about the plane of symmetry and forming therebetween a passage for the rectangular extension, and wherein the bracket is pivotably mounted to the rectangular extension by a first pin passing through the first substantially triangular extension, the rectangular extension, and the second substantially triangular extension, the pin being closely spaced from the cylindrical portion;a first stop mounted to a lowermost portion of at least one of said substantially triangular extensions to limit the outward pivoting of the bracket on the rectangular extension to about 45 degrees; anda removable second pin releasably fixing the first and second substantially triangular extensions to the rectangular extension at a position spaced from the first pin.