Abstract:
The present invention discloses and claims an apparatus for attaching to a vehicle for carrying cargo. The apparatus includes a base and at least one wing having retracted and extended positions. The apparatus occupies a smaller volume when the wing is retracted than when the wing is extended.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is known in the art to attach a platform to a vehicle for increasing the carrying capacity of the vehicle. The platform generally consists of a rectangular surface that attaches to a trailer or receiver hitch on the vehicle. In this manner, the platform undesirably extends the length of the vehicle. However, the benefit of carrying additional cargo external to the vehicle generally outweighs the detriment of lengthening the vehicle. 
   When additional carrying capacity is not needed, it is desirable to store the platform in a convenient, readily accessible location. One solution, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,744,590; 6,382,486; and 6,513,690, is to fold the platform toward the vehicle and leave the platform attached to the vehicle in this folded position. Although this solution ensures that the platform is readily accessible, the platform still adds some length to the vehicle. In addition, the folded platform may be aesthetically undesirable or it may interfere with the vehicle&#39;s trunk or tailgate operation. 
   Another solution is to remove the platform from the vehicle and store the platform until needed. Although this solution restores the vehicle to its original length, the platform is generally too bulky to store inside the vehicle, and storing the platform separate from the vehicle limits the accessibility of the platform. 
   Therefore, the need exists for a cargo carrier that can increase the carrying capacity for a vehicle and that can also be conveniently stored with the vehicle when not in use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for attaching to a vehicle for carrying cargo includes a base, a mounting sleeve for attaching the apparatus to the vehicle, and a wing moveably connected to the base. The wing has extended and retracted positions so that the wing is substantially coplanar with the base in the extended position and transverse to the base in the retracted position. Furthermore, the apparatus occupies a smaller volume when the wing is in the retracted position than when the wing is in the extended position. 
   In other embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may include more than one wing moveably connected to the base. One or more of the wings may include an inner section moveably attached to an outer section so that the inner section resides within the outer section in the retracted position. Alternately, the outer section may reside in the inner section in the retracted position. The apparatus may further include a locking mechanism for locking one of the wings in the retracted position. 
   Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the specification. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which: . . . 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a close-up perspective view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  as partially folded; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  as fully folded; and 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention as partially folded. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
   The present invention relates to a collapsible cargo carrier that attaches to a vehicle to increase the carrying capacity of the vehicle. When not in use, the carrier folds up for convenient detachment and storage within the vehicle. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the carrier  10  generally includes a base  20 , a mounting sleeve  30 , and one or more wing assemblies  40 . The base  20  provides a sturdy foundation to which the other components may attach. The base  20  is typically a flat, solid structure, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or it may include perforations to reduce its weight. The base  20  may be made of metal, plastic, fiberglass, or a combination thereof, depending on the particular uses and needs. The base may include one or more raised sides  22  to further define the carrier  10  and provide additional attachment points. 
   The mounting sleeve  30  fixedly attaches to the base  20  and provides a means for attaching the carrier  10  to a vehicle. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting sleeve  30  may be a square collar  32  with an aperture  34  suited to mate with a drawbar  36  from a conventional receiver hitch. The mounting sleeve  30  receives the drawbar  36 , and a clevis pin, cotter pin, bolt, or other suitable structure (not shown) fits through a hole  38  in the mounting sleeve  30  and drawbar  36  to secure the mounting sleeve  30  to the drawbar  36 . In other embodiments, the mounting sleeve  30  may be a clamp, vice grip, or other structure more suitable for securely engaging the carrier  10  to a ball-type trailer hitch. 
   The wing assemblies  40  moveably connect to the base  20  and provide the remainder of the surface area for carrying cargo.  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a carrier  10  with symmetric, multi-sectional wing assemblies  40  on opposing sides of the carrier&#39;s longitudinal axis, although other orientations are within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, although  FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment with each wing assembly  40  having an inner section  41  and an outer section  42 , it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that wing assemblies  40  having fewer or more sections are within the scope of the present invention. 
   Each wing assembly  40  includes an expanded metal surface  44 , vertical siding  46 , and horizontal support bars  48 . The expanded metal surface  44  extends between the vertical siding  46  and provides the horizontal surface area for carrying cargo. The use of expanded metal reduces the weight of the wing assembly  40 ; however, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that a solid sheet of material is an equivalent substitute within the scope of the present invention. 
   The vertical siding  46  defines the perimeter and provides additional structural support for the wing assemblies  40 . The vertical siding  46  may include a slideable attachment  50  and/or a locking mechanism, as shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 . The slideable attachment  50  allows relative movement between two parts, such as between the wing assembly  40  and the base  20  or between inner  41  and outer  42  sections of the wing assembly  40 . The slideable attachment  50  may use rivets, bolts, hinges, slides, or other suitable substitutes. In alternate embodiments, the slideable attachment  50  may be located on other parts of the wing assembly  40 , such as the underside of the expanded metal surface  44  and/or horizontal support bars  48 . 
   The locking mechanism secures the wing assembly  40  in a desired position. Although various suitable mechanisms are known to one of ordinary skill in the art and within the scope of the present invention, one such mechanism is a spring button  60  depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . As shown, the spring button  60  attaches to the vertical siding  46  at one end  62  and has a button (not shown) at the other end  64 . The button fits into a detent  66  in the vertical siding  46  to lock the wing assembly  40  into retracted or extended positions. 
   The horizontal support bars  48  extend between the vertical siding  46  and provide structural support for the expanded metal surface  44 . In one embodiment, the horizontal support bars  48  attach to the vertical siding  46  using rivets, bolts, tack welds, or similar suitable methods. The expanded metal surface  44  then attaches to the horizontal support bars  48  in similar fashion. In another embodiment, the vertical siding  46  includes a support flange  49 , and the horizontal support bars  48  attach to the support flange  49 . The expanded metal surface  44  in turn attaches to the horizontal support bars  48  and/or the vertical siding  46 . It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that alternate embodiments within the scope of the present invention may employ other methods for securing the expanded metal surface  44 , vertical siding  46 , and horizontal support bars  48 . 
     FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention in various positions. In  FIG. 1 , the carrier  10  is fully extended, as it would be when installed on a vehicle. To fully retract one wing assembly  40 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the outer section  42  of the wing assembly  40  folds into the inner section  41 . The spring button  60  is then depressed to unlock the wing assembly  40 , and the entire wing assembly  40  rotates roughly perpendicular to the base  20  until the spring button  60  locks the wing assembly  40  in a fully retracted position.  FIG. 4  depicts the carrier  10  in a fully retracted position, as it would be when installing or removing the carrier  10  on a vehicle or when the carrier  10  is in storage. 
     FIG. 4  depicts an additional feature present in some embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the wing assemblies  40  may further include a U-shaped structure  70  attached to the horizontal support bars  48 , or other suitable structure on the wing assembly  40 . When the wing assembly  40  is in the folded position, the U-shaped structure  70  serves as a convenient handle for moving the carrier  10 . In the extended position, the U-shaped structure  70  is beneath the expanded metal surface  42  and provides additional support for the wing assembly  40 . 
     FIG. 5  depicts an alternate embodiment of the present invention with a modified wing assembly  80 . The modified wing assembly  80  includes an extension slide  82  mounted on the vertical siding  46  for slideably connecting the inner  41  and outer  42  sections. The extension slide  82  includes a ball bearing or nylon roller  84  that rides in a track  86  between the inner  41  and outer  42  sections, although other types of extension slides are known to one of ordinary skill in the art and within the scope of the present invention. In the modified wing assembly  80 , the outer section  42  slides on the extension slide  80  toward or away from the base  20  to reach a retracted or extended position, respectively. In this manner, the carrier has retracted and extended positions, as before. In addition, the carrier also has intermediate positions in which the modified wing assemblies  80  are rotated to be coplanar with the base  20  while one or both of the outer sections  42  remains retracted within its associated inner section  41 . 
   It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the invention set forth herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents.