Patent ID: 6874835
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A storage rack comprising: a) a base section that is adapted to be mounted on top of a land vehicle and which includes a frame which includes a first frame side element, a second frame side element, a first frame end element, a second frame end element, a longitudinal axis which extends between the first frame end element and the second frame end element, a transverse axis which extends between the first frame side element and the second frame side element, the frame side elements intersecting the frame end elements to form a polygon, a first corner formed at an intersection between the first frame end element and the first frame side element, a second corner formed at an intersection between the first frame end element and the second frame side element, a third corner formed at an intersection between the first frame side element and the second frame end element, a fourth corner formed at an intersection between the second frame end element and the second frame side element, the first frame side element being L-shaped and having a first flange that is a bottom flange when the frame is in a use orientation and a second flange that is a side flange when the frame is in the use orientation, the first frame end element and the second frame end element being C-shaped, each C-shaped frame end element having a first flange that is a top flange when the frame is in the use orientation, a second flange which is a bottom flange when the frame is in the use orientation and a third flange which is a side flange when the frame is in the use orientation, the flanges of each C-shaped frame end element defining a channel, a longitudinal support element which is connected at a first end thereof to the first frame end element and at a second end thereof to the second frame end element, a transverse support element having a first end fixed to the first frame side element and a second end fixed to the second frame side element, a first leg fixed to the frame adjacent to the first corner, a second leg fixed to the frame adjacent to the second corner, a third leg fixed to the frame adjacent to the third corner, and a fourth leg fixed to the frame adjacent to the fourth corner, each leg having a first end that is a top end when the frame is in the use orientation and a second end that is a bottom end when the frame is in the use orientation, the first ends of the first and second legs being co-planar with each other in a first plane and the second ends of at least the first and second legs being co-planar with each other in a second plane that is spaced apart from the first plane, the frame side and end elements being co-planar with each other in a third plane, the third plane being spaced apart from the first and second planes with the third plane being located between the first and second planes; b) a first stop element on the second frame side element of the frame adjacent to the second corner of the frame; c) a second stop element on the second frame side element of the frame adjacent to the fourth corner of the frame; d) an item-engaging section which includes a frame which includes a first frame side element, a second frame side element, a first frame end element, a second frame end element, a longitudinal axis which extends between the first frame end element of the item-engaging section and the second frame end element of the item-engaging section, a transverse axis which extends between the first frame side element of the item-engaging section and the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, the frame side elements of the item-engaging section and the frame end elements of the item-engaging section being co-planar with each other and contained in a first plane of the item-engaging section, the frame side elements of the item-engaging section intersecting the frame end elements of the item-engaging section to form a polygon, a first corner formed at an intersection between the first frame end element of the item-engaging section and the first frame side element of the item-engaging section, a second corner formed at an intersection between the first frame end element of the item-engaging section and the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a third corner formed at an intersection between the first frame side element of the item-engaging section and the second frame end element of the item-engaging section, a fourth corner formed at an intersection between the second frame end element of the item-engaging section and the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a longitudinal support element having a first end fixed to the first frame end element of the item-engaging section and a second end fixed to the second frame end element of the item-engaging section, a transverse support element having a first end fixed to the first frame side element of the item-engaging section and a second end fixed to the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a first roller element mounted on the item-engaging section adjacent to the first corner of the item-engaging section, a first axle rollably mounting the first roller to the item-engaging section, a second roller element mounted on the item-engaging section adjacent to the third corner of the item-engaging section, a second axle rollably mounting the second roller to the item-engaging section, the first roller element being rollably accommodated in the C-shaped first end element of the base section frame and moving between a storage position adjacent to the first corner of the base section frame and a use position adjacent to the second corner of the base section frame, the second roller element being rollably accommodated in the C-shaped second frame end element of the base section frame and moving between a storage position adjacent to the third corner of the base section frame and a use position adjacent to the fourth corner of the base section frame, the frame elements of the item-engaging section being L-shaped and each having a first flange that is a top flange when the frame of the item-engaging section is in a storage position and a second flange that is a side flange when the item-engaging section is in the storage position, a first corner support element having a first end fixed to the second corner of the item-engaging section and a second end spaced apart from the first end of the first corner support element, a second corner support element having a first end fixed to the fourth corner of the item-engaging section and a second end spaced apart from the first end of the second corner support element, the second ends of the corner support elements being co-planar with each other and being contained in a second plane of the item-engaging section, the second plane of the item-engaging section being spaced apart from the first plane of the item-engaging section; e) the item-engaging section being rotatable about the first and second axles between a storage position that has the first plane of the item-engaging section essentially co-planar with the third plane of the base section frame and a deployed position that has the first plane of the item-engaging section oriented at a right angle with respect to the third plane of the base section frame; and f) a handle which is U-shaped and has a first leg having a first end fixed to the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a second end spaced apart from the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a second leg having a first end fixed to the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a second end which is spaced apart from the second frame side element of the item-engaging section, a bight section having a first end connected to the second end of the first leg and a second end connected to the second end of the second leg.