Abstract:
A carrier (10) for external attachment to a vehicle (80) for facilitating the loading and carrying of objects (90) externally of the vehicle (80) is provided. The carrier (10) includes a support member (26) attached externally of the vehicle (80) and extends from the vehicle (80) in a first direction. A pivot member (20) is pivotally mounted to the support member (26) and is rotatable for arcuate movement through an arc about an axis (22) extending through the pivot member (20) in a second direction. The arc of rotation is between a vertical carrying position and a receiving position at the end of the arc. A carrying device (66, 70, 72) is attached to the pivot member (20) for carrying objects (90), such that the carrying device (72, 70) receives objects (94) in the pivot member receiving position thereby loading the objects (90) to the carrier (10) for carrying the objects (90) in the pivot member vertical carrying position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to article carrying devices, and, more particularly, to carriers for wheelchairs capable of being removably installed on vehicles, and loading devices for facilitating the carrying of wheelchairs by vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Vehicles, such as automobiles, are generally designed in structure to carry objects and people inside the vehicle structure. Objects can be carried in either the passenger compartment or in the baggage section or trunk of the automobile. Additionally, automobiles frequently carry objects externally to the trunk or passenger compartment areas, such as objects which are either too large or are not appropriately structured for being carried in the passenger compartment or trunk. 
     Numerous type vehicle attachments for the roof top, side, front or rear end both permanently or semipermanently affixed to the vehicle have been prposed. The structure, alignment and positioning of these carriers have generally been dictated by the exact type of object that the carrier is designed to accommodate. For example, roof top carriers have been designed and structured to carry relatively light objects, such as luggage, boxes and the like which can be fitted easily on the roof top. Carriers structured for the use on the rear of the vehicle are used for many purposes, such as, for example, bicycles, small vehicles, light motorcycles, and similarly irregularly structured objects which do not lend themselves readily to being carried on a vehicle roof or other areas because of their cumbersome shape or weight characteristics. 
     The transportation of wheelchairs when not in use presents a difficult problem because of their bulky weight and unusual shape. Typically, in order to transport a wheelchair by way of an automobile, it must be ordinarily loaded into the back seat area of the vehicle which is tedious, awkward and time consuming. Additionally, the wheelchair consumes considerable space that could otherwise be used for additional occupants of the automobile. Additionally, there is considerable risk of damage to the upholstery of the interior of the vehicle. Therefore, several wheelchair carriers have been designed for attachment to the rear of an automobile. Such wheelchair carriers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,729 issued to Cowles et al on July 22, 1980 and entitled &#34;Vehicle Attached Carrier Pivotable About Plural Axes&#34;; U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,376 issued to Ewing on Feb. 10, 1976 and entitled &#34;Vehicle Support for Wheeled Vehicles&#34; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,967 issued to Kosecoff on Apr. 2, 1974 and entitled &#34;Wheelchair Carrier Attachable to Vehicle&#34;. Such proposed carriers have been structurally configured to accommodate a wheelchair for attachment to the rear of a vehicle; however, these carriers have not provided the wheelchair user or other person providing care for the wheelchair user with an efficient and easy method of loading and unloading the wheelchair to the carrier. Furthermore, such previously developed wheelchair carriers have prevented access to the trunk interior of an automobile and to the gas tank, if rearwardly located, whether the wheelchair is affixed to the carrier or not. 
     An additional problem associated with wheelchair carriers is that they are not easily attachable to an automobile by persons lacking in mechanical skills. Since a wheelchair user may be the individual desiring to carry the wheelchair utilizing his automobile, a necessity for a carrier that is easily attachable without assistance from others and which can be attached to the automobile in minimal time is readily apparent. Furthermore, the loading of the wheelchair to the carrier must be achievable by a person of minimal or limited strength which presents a problem because of the cumbersome structure and weight of wheelchairs. 
     A need has thus arisen for a wheelchair carrier and loading device which is easily attached to a vehicle by a wheelchair user or another individual without assistance from others and in a minimal amount of time. Furthermore, a need has arisen for a wheelchair carrier that will facilitate the lifting of the wheelchair onto the carrier with minimal effort and which does not interfere with the use of trunk space or the gas tank when a wheelchair is being carried by the carrier device. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a wheelchair carrier and loading device is provided that is relatively inexpensive, simple and durable in construction, capable of being removably installed on a vehicle and wherein a collapsed wheelchair can be easily manipulated onto and withdrawn from the carrier by a single person, and wherein the carrier does not interfere with the use of the trunk of a vehicle or access to the gas tank. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a carrier for external attachment to a vehicle for facilitating the loading and carrying of objects externally of the vehicle includes a fixed support member attached externally of the vehicle and which extends from the vehicle in a first direction. A pivot member is pivotally mounted to the fixed support member and is rotatable for arcuate movement through an arc about an axis extending through the pivot member in a second direction. The arc of rotation is between a vertical carrying position and a receiving position at the end of the arc and wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A carrying device is attached to the pivot member for carrying objects, such that the carrying member receives objects in the pivot member receive position thereby loading the object to the carrier for carrying the object in the pivot member vertical carrying position. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a carrier for external attachment to a vehicle for facilitating the loading and carrying external of the vehicle of a wheelchair is provided. A fixed support member is attached externally of the vehicle and extends from the vehicle in a first direction. A pivot member is pivotally mounted to the fixed support member and rotatable for arcuate movement through an arc about an axis extending through the pivot member in a second direction. The arc of rotation is between a vertical carrying position and a receiving position at the end of the arc and wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. A carrying device is attached to the pivot member for carrying the wheelchair, such that the carrying device receives the arms of the wheelchair in the pivot member receive position and frictionally engages the arms of the wheelchair thereby lifting the wheelchair for carrying the wheelchair in the pivot member vertical carrying position. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a wheelchair carrier for external attachment to a vehicle for carrying wheelchairs externally of the vehicle and wherein the vehicle has a central longitudinal axis extending from the front to the back of the vehicle is provided. A fixed support member is attached externally of the vehicle and extends rearwardly from the vehicle. A pivot member is pivotally mounted to the fixed support member and is rotatable for arcuate movement through an arc about an axis extending through the pivot member. The arc of rotation is between a pivot member vertical carrying position and a receiving position rearward of the vehicle at the end of the arc and wherein the axis is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A support device is interconnected to the pivot member and extends rearwardly of the vehicle for receiving the arms of the wheelchair. A clamp is interconnected to the pivot member and is disposed adjacent the support device for frictionally engaging at least one arm of the wheelchair. At least one arm of the wheelchair is mounted between the clamp and the support device in the pivot member vertical carrying position. The support device in the pivot member receiving position is positionable to be placed under the arms of the wheelchair, such that as the pivot member rotates to the pivot member vertical position, at least one of the arms of the wheelchair slidably engages the clamp to thereby load the wheelchair to the wheelchair carrier with minimal effort by the user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the carrier of the present invention in the carrying position and receiving position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present carrier attached to the rear bumper of an automobile in the receiving position for loading of a wheelchair; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier of the present invention attached to the rear bumper of an automobile in the carrying position with a loaded wheelchair; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wheelchair support structure of the present invention illustrating the adjustable aspects of the present carrier. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present wheelchair carrier assembly, generally identified by the numeral 10 for attachment to the rear bumper of an automobile is shown. Carrier assembly 10 specifically described herein and shown in the Drawings is particularly adapted to carrying a wheelchair as illustrated. However, the principles and physical characteristics of the present invention, with minor variations, are applicable to carrying various other types of objects. What can be carried by the present carrier assembly 10 is limited only by objects of extreme weight or size. The invention can also be used on the front or side of an automobile or other vehicle. For the purpose of delineating a specific embodiment and the application thereof, a wheelchair carrier assembly 10 is described herein. 
     Wheelchair carrier assembly 10 includes a pivot member 20 interconnected through a rotating shaft 22 which is journaled in a bushing 24 located in a support bracket generally identified by the numeral 26. Support bracket 26 includes side walls 28 and 30. Side walls 28 and 30 are interconnected by a bottom wall 32. Shaft 22 traverses side walls 28 and 30 and lies in a plane parallel to bottom wall 32 of support bracket 26. Shaft 22 permits pivot member 20 to arcuately rotate through an arc about shaft 22 between a vertical carrying position, illustrated in FIG. 1 in the solid lines, and a receiving position at the end of the arc of rotation illustrated in FIG. 1 in the dotted lines. As used herein, the receiving position is defined as including both the positions in which a wheelchair may be loaded and unloaded from carrier assembly 10. 
     Disposed within each side walls 28 and 30 of support bracket 26 are detents 36 and 38. Positioned within pivot member 20 is a shaft 42 extending the length of pivot member 20 and having ends 42a and 42b. Interconnected to end 42a of shaft 42 is a lever 44 which extends transversely through pivot member 20 parallel to rotating shaft 22. Interconnected to end 42b of shaft 42 is a pin 46 for engaging detents 36 and 38 of support bracket 26. Shaft 42 is biased to pivot member 20 utilizing a spring 50 which is interconnected between lever 44 and pivot member 20. 
     In the vertical position as illustrated in FIG. 1 in the solid lines, pin 46 engages detents 36 within side walls 28 and 30 of support bracket 26, such that pivot member 20 is locked in the vertical carrying position. By raising lever 44 thereby compressing spring 50, pin 46 disengages detents 36 and is raised to a position above side walls 28 and 30 of support bracket 26 to enable pivot member 20 to rotate through an arc from the vertical position to the receiving position. In the receiving position, pin 46 engages detents 38 within side walls 28 and 30 of support bracket 26 to lock pivot member 20 in the receiving position. It therefore can be seen that through operation of lever 44, pin 46 and detents 36 and 38, pivot member 20 can be locked in the vertical carrying position or receiving position. 
     Carrier assembly 10 further includes a handle 54 extending through the upper end of pivot member 20 for manipulating pivot member 20 through the arc of rotation between the positions illustrated in FIG. 1. 
     Interconnected to pivot member 20 is a bracket 56 for mounting a pair of springs 58 between pivot member 20 and side walls 28 and 30 of support bracket 26. Springs 58 provide a controlled bias on pivot member 20 to prevent pivot member 20 from excessive rotation from the receiving position to the vertical carrying position when carrier assembly 10 is empty. 
     Interconnected to side walls 28 and 30 of support bracket 26 is a bumper assembly generally identified by the numeral 62 which is disposed parallel to shaft 22. Bumper assembly 62 engages the wheels of a wheelchair carried by carrier assembly 10 to maintain the wheelchair in a vertical position and to prevent the wheelchair from interfering with rotation of pivot member 20 as will subsequently be described with respect to FIG. 3. Disposed within bottom wall 32 of support bracket 26 is a stop member 64 for restricting movement of pivot member 20 past the receiving position. 
     Interconnected to pivot member 20 is a support plate 66. Support plate 66 extends perpendicularly to pivot member 20 and is interconnected to pivot member 20 using brackets 68. Interconnected to support plate 66 are a pair of support forks 70 each having ends 70a and 70b. Ends 70a extend perpendicularly from support plate 66 and arcuately curve upwardly to ends 70b. Disposed above support forks 70 and interconnected to support plate 66 is a clamp 72. Clamp 72 functions to frictionally engage an arm of the wheelchair carried by carrier assembly 10 between clamp 72 and support forks 70 as will subsequently be described. Clamp 72, support forks 70 as well as support plate 66 are all adjustable to accommodate various sized wheelchairs carried by carrier assembly 10 as will be discussed with respect to FIG. 4. 
     Also illustrated in FIG. 1 is a strap 74. Strap 74 has one end thereof interconnected to pivot member 20. The free end of strap 74 includes a hook 76 for attachment to the wheelchair for preventing movement of the lower portion of a wheelchair during transit using the present carrier assembly 10. Strap 74 also permits a wheelchair to be mounted to pivot member 20, such that pivot member 20 can be rotated between the vertical carrying position and receiving position while the wheelchair is attached to pivot member 20 thereby permitting access to the rear of an automobile without removal of the wheelchair. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, wherein like numerals are utilized for like and corresponding components previously identified, the rear end of an automobile 80 having a bumper 82 is illustrated. Interconnected to bumper 82 is a standard trailer-hitch type mounting bracket 84 for use in detachably connecting support bracket 26 of carrier assembly 10 to automobile 80. a bolt 86 extends through bottom wall 32 of support bracket 26 for interconnection to bracket 84. An important aspect of the present invention is the operation of carrier assembly 10 to permit access to the rear of an automobile 80 either to the trunk compartment or gas tank. Due to the rotatable nature of pivot member 20, rotating rearwardly from automobile 80, the user has access to the trunk compartment and gas tank even though carrier assembly 10 is carrying a wheelchair. 
     FIG. 2 further illustrates a wheelchair, generally identified by the numeral 90. Wheelchair 90 is of typical construction including support structure 92, arms 94, front wheels 96 and larger rear wheels 98. Wheelchair 90 is shown in a conventional folded position for being mounted to carrier assembly 10 in the receiving position. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that pivot member 20 has rotated such that pin 46 is engaged in detents 38 of support bracket 26, such that support forks 70 are disposed beneath arms 94 of wheelchair 90. Wheelchair 90 is slightly tilted towards the rear of automobile 80 such that arcuate ends 70b of support forks 70 are slid under arms 94 of wheelchair 90 in the loading position. It therefore can be seen that wheelchair 90 need not be lifted off the ground in order to position wheelchair 90 for loading to carrier assembly 10, and therefore carrier assembly 10 can be utilized by persons having strengths less than that required to lift wheelchair 90. 
     Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2 and 3, to complete the loading of wheelchair 90 to carrier assembly 10, lever 44 is lifted upwardly towards handle 54, such that pin 46 disengages detents 38 of support bracket 26. Pivot member 20 is then rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 to the vertical carrying position of carrier assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 3. Wheelchair 90 is now mounted to carrier assembly 10 for transportation by automobile 80. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates one arm 94 of wheelchair 90 frictionally engaged and held between clamp 72 and support forks 70. The rotational motion of pivot member 20 from the receiving position (FIG. 2) to the vertical carrying position (FIG. 3) of carrier assembly 10 causes arms 94 to slide over support forks 70, such that one arm 94 becomes frictionally engaged between clamp 72 and support forks 70 to thereby completely support the weight of wheelchair 90. 
     As previously discussed, bumper assembly 62 is disposed to contact wheels 96 and 98 on one side of wheelchair 90 and functions as a bumper to maintain wheelchair 90 in a vertical position parallel to pivot member 20 in the vertical carrying position as well as preventing wheelchair 90 from interfering with the rotation of pivot member 20, particularly the structure comprising pin 46 and support bracket 26. 
     The reverse procedure as described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 is followed for unloading wheelchair 90 from carrier assembly 10. Pivot member 20 is rotated from the vertical carrying position as illustrated in FIG. 3 through an arc of rotation to the receiving position as illustrated in FIG. 2, such that arms 94 of wheelchair 90 frictionally slide from ends 70a of support fork 70 to ends 70b to permit wheelchair 90 to be tilted from carrier assembly 10 and thereby unloaded. 
     FIG. 3 further illustrates operation of strap 74 wherein hook 76 is attached to support structure 92 of wheelchair 90. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, the adjustable nature of carrier assembly 10 will now be discussed. Support plate 66 includes a plurality of apertures 110 for receiving threaded ends 70a of support forks 70 which are mounted to support plate 66 using bolts 111. A plurality of apertures 110 is provided in support plate 66 to accommodate wheelchair arms 94 of varying lengths. It therefore can be seen that if a wheelchair arm is short, apertures 110a will receive support forks 70, whereas if a wheelchair arm 94 is long, apertures 110b will be utilized for supporting support forks 70 to thereby distribute the weight of wheelchair 90 over a greater area. 
     A further adjustable feature of the present carrier assembly 10 is provided to accommodate wheelchair arms 94 of varying thicknesses. Clamp 72 includes slotted apertures 112 which mate with apertures 114 contained within support plate 66 to be joined by bolt 116 and nut 118. Slotted apertures 112 permit vertical adjustment of clamp 72 with respect to support plate 66 to thereby accommodate various sized thicknesses of wheelchair arms 94. For wheelchair arms 94 of thin thicknesses, clamp 72 will be mounted to support plate 66 such that the top ends of slotted aperture 112 receive bolts for mounting clamp 72 to support plate 66, whereas if arms 94 of wheelchair 90 were thick, the bottom ends of slotted apertures 112 of clamp 72 would receive bolts for mounting clamp 72 to support plate 66. 
     A still further adjustable feature of the present carrier assembly 10 is provided by brackets 68. Brackets 68 include apertures 120 for receiving bolts 121 to be interconnected to apertures 122 within support plate 66. Disposed between brackets 68 is pivot member 20. Brackets 68 are slidable along pivot member 20 to accommodate wheelchair 90 being of varying heights, such that support forks 70 can engage arms 94 that are a range of heights above the ground. Brackets 68 include apertures 124 for receiving bolts 126 and nut 128 for mounting support plate 66 to pivot member 20 at desired positions along pivot member 20 between handle 54 and bracket 56. 
     It therefore can be seen that the present carrier assembly 10 for facilitating the loading and carrying of a wheelchair 90 to the rear of a vehicle such as automobile 80 is operable to load and carry a wheelchair with a minimal amount of effort. Wheelchair 90 or other objects to be carried by carrier assembly 10 need not be lifted off the ground to be loaded to carrier assembly 10 which thereby permits the wheelchair user to operate carrier assembly 10 himself. Furthermore, the present carrier assembly 10 permits relatively unobstructed access to the trunk storage compartment and gas tank of a vehicle. Therefore, access can be had to these areas of an automobile whether or not a wheelchair is mounted to the present carrier assembly. Furthermore, the present carrier assembly 10 can be mounted to an existing ball of a trailer-hitch or bolted to a bracket interconnected to the bumper of the rear of an automobile. 
     Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended to encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.