Abstract:
This is directed to systems, processes, machines, and other means that mount a cargo rack to a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV). The invention can improve the UTV experience by allowing a user to easily bring a table, spare tire and a plethora of equipment on one&#39;s trip.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERNCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to a cargo rack for a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The UTV has existed for several years, but presently lacks a meaningful way to store a plethora of equipment and other devices. The current invention solves that problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Methods, systems, and other means are provided for a UTV cargo rack. In accordance with some embodiments the UTV cargo rack comprises a basic carrier frame, a large side rack assembly, a tail-gate frame assembly, a hang-on table assembly and a small side rack assembly. To avoid the problem of excessive vibration, the invention utilizes a series of hollow tubes and hollow u-shaped tubes. Where necessary the device can be mechanically coupled to a UTV by utilizing bolts, novel screw clamps, welding the device directly to the UTV frame or some combination of these. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1 : is a perspective view of the invention shown in use and omitting accessories for illustrative clarity. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2 : is a perspective view of the invention illustrated with all accessories. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3 : is a perspective view of the basic carrier frame and intentionally omitting subcomponent the basic carrier frame assembly diamond grate for illustrative clarity. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4 : is a perspective view of the large side rack frame assembly only. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5 : is a perspective view of the tail-gate frame assembly only. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6 : is a perspective view of the hang-on table frame assembly only. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7 : is a perspective view of the small side rack frame assembly. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8 : is a perspective detail view of the screw clamp shown in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with transporting materials on a utility terrain vehicle (UTV), and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0018]    As used here, “pole” indicates a hollow tube. Hollow tubes strength and vibration tolerance properties that are necessary for the present invention to avoid mechanical failure. A U-pole is a hollow pole bend using conventional technology and connections between poles and plates are welded unless explained otherwise. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows the general layout of the invention. Utility Terrain Vehicle  166  comprises UTV frame  168  which further comprises UTV bed  170 . UTV bed  170  is mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10  which comprises a plurality of hollow tubes and a plurality of hollow U-shaped tubes welded together as explained below. Cargo rack  10  is mechanically coupled to spare wheel  172  by a plurality of bolts (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a plurality of screw clamps (shown in  FIG. 8 ) 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the accessories that can be mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10 . Here, cargo rack  10  comprises large side rack assembly  64  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), tail-gate frame assembly  86  (shown in  FIG. 5 ), small side rack frame assembly  134  (shown in  FIG. 7 ), table frame assembly  124  (shown in  FIG. 6 ), basic carrier frame assembly diamond gate  158  and large rack frame assembly diamond gate  160 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows cargo rack  10 . Rear lower cross bar  56  is mechanically coupled to right side lower bolt bar  26 , left side lower bolt bar  38 , and rear U-pole bracket  14 . Right side lower bolt bar  26  and left side lower bolt bar  38  are both further mechanically coupled to forward lower cross bar  54 . Both right side lower bolt bar  26  and left side lower bolt bar  38  contain a plurality of bolt bar bolt holes  122 . Cargo rack  10  is mechanically coupled to UTV  166  (not shown), in part, by inserting bolts through bolt bar bolt holes  122  into UTV bed  170  (not shown). 
         [0022]    Rear U-pole bracket  14  receives lateral support and is mechanically coupled to rear sign plate pole  60  and rear cross brace pole  62 . Rear sign plate  58  is mechanically coupled to rear sign plate pole  60 . Forward lower cross bar  54  is further mechanically coupled to forward U-pole bracket  12 . Forward U-pole bracket  12  is supported by having its left side and right side mechanically coupled by forward plate pole  42 , forward upper cross brace pole  44 , forward middle cross brace pole  46  and forward lower cross brace pole  48 . Forward side sign plate  50  is mechanically coupled to forward plate pole  42 . 
         [0023]    Forward U-pole bracket  12  is mechanically coupled to right side plate pole  16 , right side upper cross brace pole  18 , right side lower cross brace pole  20 , right side sign plate  22 , right side inner support U-pole bracket  24 , right side lower bolt bar  26 , left side plate pole  28 , left side upper cross brace pole  30 , left side lower cross brace pole  32 , left side sign plate  34  and left side inner support U-pole bracket  36 . Similarly, right side plate pole  16  right side upper cross brace pole  18  right side lower cross brace pole  20 , right side sign plate  22 , right side inner support U-pole bracket  24 , right side lower bolt bar  26 , left side plate pole  28 , left side upper cross brace pole  30 , left side lower cross brace pole  32 , left side sign plate  34  and left side inner support U-pole bracket  36  are mechanically coupled to rear U-pole bracket  14 . Right side sign plate  22  is mechanically coupled to right side plate pole  16  and left side sign plate is mechanically coupled to left side plate pole  28 . Additional horizontal support is provided by a plurality of v-bar grid supports  52  which are mechanically coupled to forward upper cross brace pole  33  and rear cross brace pole  62 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows large side rack assembly  64 . Large side rack assembly  64  comprises upper cross brace pole  70  which is mechanically coupled to right side vertical support pole  66 , left side vertical support pole  68 , left hook  82  and right hook  84 . Right side vertical support pole  66  is mechanically coupled to left side vertical support pole  68  by middle cross brace pole  72 , lower cross brace pole  74 , lower U-pole bracket  76 , middle U-pole bracket  78  and upper U-pole bracket  80 . Large rack frame assembly diamond grate  160  is mechanically coupled to lower U-pole bracket  76 . Large side rack assembly  64  is mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10  by placing left hook  82  and right hook  84  over right side upper cross brace pole  18  (not pictured) as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows tail-gate frame assembly  86 . Tail-gate frame assembly  86  comprises upper brace pole  88  which is mechanically coupled to lower brace pole  90  by right vertical brace pole  92 , right secondary vertical brace pole  94 , right tertiary vertical brace pole  96 , right quaternary vertical brace pole  98 , left vertical brace pole  100 , left secondary vertical brace pole  102 , left tertiary vertical brace pole  104  and left quaternary vertical brace pole  106  and tire bracket plate  112 . Tail-gate frame assembly  86  is mechanically coupled to rear U-pole bracket  14  (not shown) by welding left vertical brace pole  100  and right vertical brace pole  92  to rear U-pole bracket  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    Tail-gate frame assembly  86  also has the capacity for holding a spare wheel. Right side tire spacer bar  108  is mechanically coupled to right tertiary vertical brace pole  96 . Similarly, left side tire spacer bar  110  is mechanically coupled to left tertiary vertical brace pole  104 . Tire bracket plate  112  is mechanically coupled to tire bar bracket  18  by tire bracket main pole support  114  and tire bracket angled pole support  116 . Tire bracket plate  112  comprises two tire rim bolt holes  120  to which a standard sized UTV tire can be mounted using technology well known in the art. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows hang-on table frame assembly  124 . Hang-on table frame assembly  124  comprises hang-on table U-pole  126  which is mechanically coupled to hang-on table cross pole brace  128 . Hang-on table cross pole brace  128  is mechanically coupled to hang-on table right hook  130  and hang-on table left hook  132 . Hang-on table assembly diamond grate  164  is mechanically coupled to hang-on table U-pole  126  and hang-on table cross pole brace  128 . 
         [0028]    A first hang-on table frame assembly  124  is mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10  by placing hang-on table right hook  130  and hang-on table left hook  132  on right side inner support U-pole bracket  24  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . A second hang-on table frame assembly  124  is mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10  by placing hang-on table right hook  130  and hang-on table left hook  132  on left side inner support U-pole bracket  36  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows small side rack frame assembly  134 . Small side rack frame assembly  134  comprises small side rack right side vertical support pole  138  which is mechanically coupled to small side rack left side vertical support pole  140  by small side rack upper cross brace pole  142 , small side rack middle cross brace pole  144 , small side rack lower cross brace pole  146 , small side rack lower U-pole bracket  148 , small side rack middle U-pole bracket  150  and small side rack upper U-pole bracket  152 . Small side rack upper cross brace pole  142  is mechanically coupled to small side rack left hook  154  and small side rack right hook  156 . 
         [0030]    A first small side rack frame assembly  134  is mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10  by placing small side rack left hook  154  and small side rack right hook  156  over left side upper cross brace pole  30  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . A second small side rack frame assembly  134  is mechanically coupled to cargo rack  10  in a similar manner and is immediately adjacent to the first small side rack frame assembly  134 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  shows screw clamp  174 . Screw clamp  174  comprises screw clamp screw  176  which is mechanically coupled to screw clamp base  178  at a first end and further comprises a screw clamp hook  180  that can be moved along screw clamp screw  176  by screw clamp knob  182 . 
         [0032]    Here, screw clamp  174  is shown mechanically coupling forward U-pole bracket  12  to UTV frame  168 . A user first aligns forward U-pole bracket  12  to UTV frame  168  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Next a user links screw clamp  174  around a corner of UTV frame and then links screw clamp hook  180  around forward U-pole bracket  12 . The user completes the couple by tightening screw clamp hook  180  by turning screw clamp knob  182 . This configuration is exemplary and not exclusive. For example, plurality of clamps may be used on forward lower cross bar  54 , rear lower cross bar  56  and elsewhere as necessary for support