Patent ID: 6520393
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A cargo carrier, comprising;a support base mountable atop a motor vehicle, a cargo support platform engaged with said support base and both horizontally slidable and pivotally tiltable relative to said support base for providing access to said cargo support platform in a substantially tilted position, and for transporting cargo on said cargo support platform when in a horizontally disposed position relative to said support base; pivot axle means engaging between said support base and said cargo support platform for allowing tilting of said cargo support platform relative to said support base; said pivot axle means positioned intermediate of said cargo support platform so that an upper portion and a lower portion of the cargo support platform is provided relative to said pivot axle means when said cargo support.platform is in the tilted position; said support base having a first rail; said cargo support platform having a first rail interfacing said first rail of said support base; at least a first strip of plastics secured to one of the first rails and residing between interfacing sides of the first rails for providing a low-friction lateral-load bearing surface between the first rails during horizontal sliding of said cargo support platform on said support base; the first strip of plastics positioned to have a portion thereof proximal to a first pivot axle of said pivot axle means; the portion of the first strip of plastics proximal said first pivot axle remaining between the interfacing sides of the first rails of the support base and the cargo support platform when said cargo platform is tilted, whereby at least the portion of the first strip of plastics remains between the first rails and in alignment to reduce shearing forces against the first strip of plastics when the cargo platform is tiltably returned to horizontal; said support base having a second rail; said cargo support platform having a second rail interfacing said second rail of said support base; at least a second strip of plastics secured to one of the second rails and residing between interfacing sides of the second rails for providing a low-friction lateral-load bearing surface between the second rails during horizontal sliding of said cargo support platform on said support base; the second strip of plastics positioned to have a portion thereof proximal to a second pivot axle of said pivot axle means; the portion of the second strip of plastics proximal said second pivot axle remaining between the interfacing sides of the second rails of the support base and the cargo support platform when said cargo platform is tilted, whereby at least the portion of the second strip of plastics remains between the second rails and in alignment to reduce shearing forces against the second strip of plastics when the cargo platform is tiltably returned to horizontal; vertical load supporting elongate strips of plastics positioned between an underside surface of said cargo support platform and an interfacing upper surface of said support base for providing vertical load supporting bearing surfaces for providing low friction when sliding said cargo support platform horizontally on said support base; tilt-stop means engagable between said support base and said cargo support platform for restricting said cargo support platform against being tilted in the tilted position beyond a pre-determined tilt-angle relative to said support base; said tilt-stop means including user selectable adjustment means for allowing user selection of said pre-determined tilt-angle, said tilt-stop means with said adjustment means comprising a bolt threadably engaged in an end of said support base and extending outward to abut said cargo support platform when tilted for restricting further tilting; the outward extension of said bolt being adjustable by way of rotating the bolt.