Vehicle mounted foldable carrying system

A carrying system is releasably attached to a vehicle such as a tractor, zero turn mower, ATV or UTV, and includes a flexible storage basket and optional accessories for retaining a variety of items including tools and materials. The flexible storage basket pivots downwardly for use, and upwardly for storage. The carrying system includes a column that releasably engages with a hitch assembly of a vehicle, thereby allowing the carrying system to be put onto and taken off of a vehicle fairly quickly and easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field

The present invention relates to accessories for vehicles, and more specifically, to a carrying system with a flexible storage basket that is configured for connecting to, among other vehicles, tractors, zero turn mowers, ATV's and UTV's.

Related Art

Small tractors have become indispensable in many settings such as farms, large properties and industrial facilities because they are versatile, easy to use, and relatively inexpensive. One shortcoming of small tractors, however, is that they aren't configured to carry many tools or working implements. As a result the tractor user may have a difficult time transporting items to a desired location. Solutions such as trailers are useful, but tend to be expensive, require time and energy to attach, occupy a lot of storage space, make driving the tractor more difficult and more likely to jackknife when backing up, and items in a trailer are likely to bounce around and be damaged.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system for carrying items which is easy to use, doesn't take up much storage space, doesn't lessen the convenience or flexibility of using the tractor, doesn't unnecessarily jostle the items, and is inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a carrying system releasably connected to a vehicle such as a tractor, mower or ATV. The carrying system includes a substantially upright frame and a basket assembly pivotally connected to the frame such that the basket assembly can be raised or lowered for storage or use, respectively. The frame preferably includes at least one accessory or tool holder for retaining tools outside the basket itself. The frame includes a column for engagement with a hitch assembly on the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but rather it illustrates the general principles of the invention, with the scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

As used herein, the following structure numbers shall refer to the various structures of the invention as depicted in the figures:10—Carrying system;20—Frame;21—Universal tool holder;22—Tool attaching accessory;23—Pivot clamp;24—Universal tool holder bracket;25—Universal tool holder strap;26—Lanyard;27—Basket support;28—Snap button;29—Rubber washer;30—Basket assembly;31—Front wall;32—Rear wall;33—Side wall;34—Bottom;35—Insert;37—Securing strap;38—Storage strap;40—Hitch assembly42—Hitch assembly mounting plate;44—Receiver;56—Column;57—Column connector plate;59—Auxiliary hitch bracket; and70—Tool trough.

Broadly, the present invention is a carrying system that attaches to a small vehicle such as a small tractor, mower, zero turn mower, ATV, or UTV. The carrying system preferably includes a flexible storage basket having four sides and a bottom, that can be put on and taken off a tractor fairly quickly and easily, and includes a plurality of components for holding tools and such. In use a user mounts the carrying system onto the tractor assembly of a tractor, lowers and secures the pivoting frame to position the basket assembly in the open position, uses the carrying system to transport items, and optionally removes carrying system afterwards.

As shown inFIG. 1, carrying system10generally includes vertically oriented frame20with basket assembly30pivotably engaged at pivot clamp23. Basket assembly30includes front wall31, rear wall32, side walls33and bottom34(seeFIG. 3) maintained by basket support27. Insert35(seeFIG. 10) is preferably sized and shaped to sit snugly atop bottom34, thereby providing additional stability to the basket structure. In a preferred embodiment frame20is constructed of 1 inch round steel tube, and flexible portion of basket assembly30is constructed of approximately 20″×30″ ballistic material.

Referring toFIG. 2, carrying system10preferably includes a variety of components such as universal tool holder21(shown best inFIG. 23), and tool attaching accessory22(shown best inFIG. 22), which are useful for securing a variety of implements including elongated tools such as rakes and shovels.FIG. 19depicts tool trough70, which can likewise be attached to frame20for carrying items.

Column56is connected to frame20with column connector plate57. As shown best inFIG. 4, column56engages with hitch assembly40. Although basket assembly30is shown inFIG. 2in the downward position, it should be understood that basket support27pivots upwardly at pivot clamps23for storage. In this upward orientation basket support27would be substantially parallel with frame20, and lanyards26would be slack. Basket support27may be retained in upward storage position with storage strap38, shown inFIGS. 16 and 17. Lanyard26(FIG. 11) is preferably constructed of PVC coated steel cable and rubber washer29is preferably mounted to frame20to secure looped end of lanyard. In a preferred embodiment lanyards are approximately 19″ to 21″ long.

Closure devices37may be used to secure upper edges of front wall31, rear wall32and or side walls33to bag support27, but other securing devices such as tri-glide straps, buckles, buttons, clamps, ties, hook and loop fasteners and the like are also within the scope of this invention.

Although not shown, hitch assembly40ofFIG. 4is releasably connected to the backside of a vehicle such as a tractor, mower or ATV at mounting plate42. The preferred mounting plate42is depicted inFIG. 12. To engage carrying system10, column56is inserted into receiver44and the connection is secured with bolts or the like, not shown. Column56and corresponding column connector plate57are shown best inFIGS. 14 and 7, respectively, while hitch assembly40, hitch assembly mounting plate42and receiver44are best shown inFIGS. 12, 13, 20 and 21.

Auxiliary hitch attachment59, shown inFIGS. 18 and 24, may be integrated with outer vertex of column56for attaching additional items.

FIG. 5depicts universal tool holder bracket24, which is part of universal tool holder21. In use, universal tool holder strap25ofFIG. 6is engaged with bracket24, and the length of the strap can be adjusted to cinch in tools for retention and transport.

Referring toFIG. 8, frame20is preferably constructed of a plurality of segments of squared tubing which are connected for use. Similarly, bag support27is preferably constructed of a plurality of segments that are put together for use as shown inFIG. 9. In preferred embodiments the segments of frame20and bag support27slide together end-to-end and are retained in position with spring pins. Frame and bag support may be assembled and disassembled for extended storage as desired.

In use a user securely attaches hitch assembly mounting plate42to rear end of a vehicle, preferably on a solid structure such as the frame, then connects receiver44to mounting plate. The vehicle is now configured to receive carrying system10. Column56of carrying system10is engaged with receiver44of hitch assembly40, and secured using bolts or the like. To use the carrying system, basket assembly30is pivoted downwardly so bottom34is substantially perpendicular to frame20. In this downward position lanyards26are substantially taut, and items such as materials and tools can be placed in basket assembly30. Additionally, items can be attached to or placed in various accessories such as universal tool holder21, tool attaching accessory22and tool trough70. Vehicle can be driven as normal. When basket assembly30is empty, basket support27can be pivoted upwardly and releasably secured to frame20using storage strap38. In this orientation basket support27is substantially parallel to frame20for storage. For longer term storage frame20and/or basket support27can be disassembled by disconnecting segments end-from-end.

Specifications of certain structures and components of the present invention have been established in the process of developing and perfecting prototypes and working models. These specifications are set forth for purposes of describing an embodiment, and setting forth the best mode, but should not be construed as teaching the only possible embodiment. Ranges of values set forth inherently include endpoints, as well as all increments between. Also, it should be understood that all values are “approximately”, and “approximately” and the like, unless otherwise stated or contrary to common sense, are +/−10%.