A hitch-mounted cargo carrier designed to remove provide transport of cargo outside a vehicle. The hitch-mounted cargo carrier has a container designed to store cargo, having a base with a perimeter and a plurality of sidewalls extending therefrom. One or more lid members are attached to an upper edge of a sidewall and designed to enclose the container, such that each lid member has an upper surface designed to support cargo thereon, in addition to one or more extendable legs affixed thereon. A frame is disposed around the container and designed to support the container using a support rod. The support rod has a first section and a second section connected by an intermediate bar, wherein one end of the first section is designed to removably secure to a trailer hitch. In this way, a user is able to easily transport cargo without encumbering the space within their vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hitch-mounted cargo carrier configured to store and transport objects therein. More specifically, the present invention provides a rectangular container with lid members supported by a frame. The frame is affixed to a support rod, having two sections joined by an intermediate bar, wherein one end of the support rod is configured to affix to a trailer hitch.

Many people use their cars to transport a variety of items, each of which may take up a large amount of space. When transporting food or dirty laundry, the smells can seep into the interior of the vehicle. Some people may attach an external cargo carrier on the roof of their vehicle, but this can be cumbersome and difficult to access. Others may choose to purchase a trailer to affix to the rear of their vehicle, however, this can lead to expensive insurance policies and increased tolls. Therefore, a hitch-mounted cargo carrier adapted to easily store and transport a plurality of items atop or within the hitch-mounted cargo carrier is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of cargo carrier now present in the known art, the present invention provides a hitch-mounted cargo carrier wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when desiring to remove a plurality of different objects outside their vehicle.

The present system comprises a hitch-mounted cargo carrier having a container with a base, wherein the base has a perimeter and a plurality of sidewalls extending therefrom. One or more lid members are affixed to an upper edge of a sidewall and configured to enclose the container, such that each lid member has an upper surface configured to support cargo thereon, in addition to one or more extendable legs affixed thereon. A frame is disposed around the container and configured to support the container using a support rod. The support rod has a first section and a second section connected by an intermediate bar, wherein one end of the first section is configured to removably secure to a trailer hitch. In this way, a user is able to easily transport cargo without encumbering the space within their vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, there is shown an exploded view and a perspective view of an embodiment of the hitch-mounted cargo carrier, respectively. A hitch-mounted cargo carrier10comprises a container11, having a base12with a plurality of sidewalls extending therefrom. Each sidewall is flush against another sidewall, such that an enclosure having an interior13is formed therein, wherein the interior13is configured to hold cargo. In one embodiment, the container11further comprises a plurality of modular compartments configured to fit flush within the container11, such that each modular compartment is frictionally secured.

In the shown embodiment inFIG. 1, the base12is rectangular, such that the interior13forms a box. In the illustrated embodiment, the container11has two lateral sidewalls15that are disposed opposite one another and are equivalent in length. The container11additionally comprises two longitudinal sidewalls14that are disposed opposite one another and perpendicular to the lateral sidewalls15, wherein the longitudinal sidewalls14are equivalent in length to one another and greater in length than the lateral sidewalls15.

At least one lid member17is affixed to an upper edge16of one of the plurality of sidewalls. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two lid members17, wherein each lid member17is affixed to the upper edge16of one of the sidewalls such that each lid member17is affixed to a different sidewall. Each lid member17is configured to affix overtop the container11, such that the total surface area of all lid members17are configured to be equivalent to the surface area of the base12, such that the lid members17fully enclose the interior volume13.

In the shown embodiment, each lid member17is hingedly affixed to the upper edge16of the sidewall, such that each lid member17is configured to rotate around the upper edge16to rest flush against an outer surface of the container11. This allows a user to access the interior volume13from any side of the container11while allowing each lid member17to remain affixed to the container11such that the lid members17are not misplaced. However, in other embodiments, each lid member17is removably affixed to the upper edge16via a fastener, such as a clip or a latch, such that the lid member17can be completely removed. This allows a user to access the interior volume13when the container11is in an area where there is not enough space to allow the lid members17to open via rotation.

In the illustrated embodiment inFIG. 1, the two lid members17are each disposed on each of the lateral sidewalls15, such that they are opposing one another and configured to rotate away from one another when opened. However, in other embodiments each lid member17is affixed to a varying sidewall, such that in one embodiment both lid members17are disposed proximally to one another on one of the longitudinal sidewalls14, whereas in another embodiment each lid member17is disposed on each of the longitudinal sidewalls14, such that the lid members17are offset from one another and disposed diagonally so as not to interfere with one another when rotating open or closed.

Each lid member17has an upper surface19and a lower surface. The upper surface19is planar, such that it is configured to support additional cargo thereon, such as a tarp or a bike rack. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface19of each lid member17comprises a raised flange20disposed about the perimeter of each lid member17configured to provide an additional aid when securing the cargo on the upper surface19of the lid member17, such that the objects are confined to the upper surface19. In the shown embodiment, the flange20has a plurality of apertures21disposed at even intervals, thereby allowing a user to tie down any cargo placed atop the upper surface19of the lid member17.

Additionally, each lid member17has at least one extendable leg23disposed on the upper surface19. In the illustrated embodiment, there is one extendable leg23disposed on each lid member17. Each extendable leg23is disposed in a casing22configured to hold the extendable leg23therein. Each casing22has one or more apertures24that allow a user to lock the extendable leg23into place once it has been extended to a desired length. In the shown embodiment, each extendable leg23is disposed in a corner of the lid member17such that it rests flush against the upper surface19and extends along the longitudinal sidewall14parallel to the upper surface19of the container11. Each casing22and extendable leg23therein is configured to rotate ninety degrees prior to extending. In this way, the user can rotate and extend each casing22and extendable leg23prior to opening and rotating each lid member17, thereby allowing the user to utilize the lower surface of each lid member17as a table supported by the extendable legs23.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container11further comprises at least one secondary lid member18, wherein each lower lid member18is configured to rest flush against the lower surface of each lid member17. Each secondary lid member18is sized to fit flush beneath the lid member17above it and is similarly affixed to the container beneath the lid members17within the interior13of the container11such that it does not interfere with the operation of the lid members17. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower lid members18are also hingedly affixed to the container11and are configured to act as a table surface when the lid members17are rotated away from the container11.

The hitch-mounted cargo carrier10further comprises a frame25, configured to removably receive and support the container11. As such, the frame25is rectangularly shaped in the illustrated embodiment, having two lateral sides and two longitudinal sides disposed similarly to the container11. Additionally, the frame25is configured to support larger cargo therein that may otherwise not fit inside the container11, such as a small riding mower.

The frame25has a support bar26disposed about a perimeter of the frame25, wherein the support bar26is configured to enclose a portion of a lower body of the container11and is sized to fit flush around a perimeter of the container11. In the illustrated embodiment, the support bar26extends upward to support the container11and prevent the container11from moving while disposed in the frame25.

In another embodiment, a support siding27is additionally disposed along an outer surface of the support bar26on one or more sides of the frame25. The support siding27is configured to provide greater support and stability to the container11when the container11is secured to the frame25. As such, the support siding27extends further up the side of the container11than the support bar26on the respective sides on which the support siding27is disposed. In the illustrated embodiment, the support siding27is disposed on two sides of the frame25, such that the support siding27is disposed on one lateral side of the frame25and one longitudinal side of the frame25. However, in other embodiments the support siding27varies with respect to which specific sides of the frame25it is disposed thereon, such that the support siding27can be disposed on both lateral sides or both longitudinal sides of the frame25. Further, the support siding27can also vary with respect to the number of sides of the frame25on which it is disposed, such that the support siding27can be disposed on only one of the sides of the frame25or on three sides of the frame25or on all four sides of the frame25.

The hitch-mounted cargo carrier10further comprises a support rod28, having a first section29and a second section30removably secured to one another via an intermediate bar31. Each section of the support rod28has a first end and a second end. The first end291of the first section29is configured to removably secure to a trailer hitch. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end292of the first section29of the support rod28is secured into the intermediate bar31, as is the first end301of the second section30of the support rod28. In one embodiment, the second section30is permanently offset from the first section29when both are removably secured within the intermediate bar31, such that each section is disposed at a different vertical height. In the shown embodiment, however, the height of the second section30is changeable within the intermediate bar31, such that the height of the second section30is offset from the first section wherein the second section30is of equivalent or greater height than the height of the first section29. The height of the second section30is adjustable up to a terminal end of the intermediate bar31.

The second end302of the second section30is configured to removably affix to a support casing33disposed on a lower surface of the frame25. The support casing33is dimensioned to receive the second end302of the second section30of the support rod28therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the second section30of the support rod28is telescopic, such that a length of the second section30is adjustable, thereby allowing a user to control the distance of the container11from the intermediate bar31through a sliding section32. The first end291of the first section29of the support rod28is configured to removably secure to a hitch on a back end of a vehicle. The adjustability of the height of the second section30allows the user to freely change a height of the frame25and container11to ensure the height of the container11is offset from the hitch of the vehicle, thereby providing greater stability to the hitch-mounted cargo container10.

Referring now toFIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the frame of the hitch-mounted cargo carrier. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one side of the support bar26is pivotably secured to the frame25, such that the support bar26can be rotated. In the shown embodiment, the pivotable support bar26is held in place with a locking pin261. When the locking pin261is pulled, the support bar26is free to rotate about an axis of the frame25edge. In this way, the user is able to move cargo into the frame25without having to lift the cargo over the support bar26.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support siding27is reinforced to support additional weight and is removably secured to at least one side of the perimeter of the frame25, such that the support siding27can be removed from the frame25and disposed elsewhere. In the shown embodiment, the support siding27has a tapered end271and a non-tapered end. The tapered end271is configured to sit flush against the base of the frame25when the support siding27is rotated ninety degrees, such that the support siding27provides a planar surface sloped towards the ground, wherein the non-tapered end rests against the ground. In this way, the support siding27is configured to act as a ramp, allowing a user to push cargo onto the frame25along the planar surface of the support siding27.

Referring now toFIG. 4, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the hitch-mounted cargo carrier in use as a raised platform. In one embodiment, at least one housing34, having an opening at one end and sealed at an opposing end, is disposed on an outer surface35of the container. In the shown embodiment, each longitudinal side of the container has two housings34disposed at even intervals thereon, wherein each housing34is disposed such that each opening is aligned with the base of the container. A support leg36is slidably disposed within each housing34, wherein each support leg36is configured to extend out of the housing34from the open end and lock into place at a predetermined point. In this way, the support legs36are configured to both raise and to brace the container when it is not affixed to a vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, each housing34has one or more apertures37configured to accept a locking pin therethrough, such that the user can choose between one or more heights when extending each support leg36.

In an additional embodiment, the container further comprises a plurality of cylindrical casings38disposed along one or more corners of the container, wherein each cylindrical casing38has an opening39at one end and is sealed at an opposing end. In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical casings38are disposed such that the openings39are aligned with the upper surface of the container, and the cylindrical casings38are disposed on each of the corners of the container. Each cylindrical casing38is configured to accept a pole71therein, such as from an umbrella or tent72. Thereby, a user can set up a tent72to cover the container by removably securing the pole71of the tent72within the cylindrical casing38. In this way, a user can set up the container as a platform or table, wherein the container is supported by a plurality of the support legs36and extendable legs23while the tent72is secured overtop the container with the tent poles71disposed in the cylindrical casings38.

Referring now toFIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the hitch-mounted cargo carrier affixed to a vehicle with one or more pieces of cargo secured on the upper surface of the lid members. In operation, a user will affix the first end of the first section of the support rod28to a hitch disposed on the rear of a vehicle70. The second end of the first section of the support rod28is then secured to the intermediate bar, and the first end of the second section of the support rod28is secured to the intermediate bar at an appropriate height, depending on the height of the vehicle70and the bumper73of the vehicle. The second end of the second section of the support rod28is then secured to the lower surface of the frame. The container11is disposed in the frame and the lid members are disposed overtop the container11, enclosing any objects therein. One or more objects, such as a pair of bikes74, are secured on the upper surface of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, the bikes74are secured via wire75by utilizing the apertures21disposed on the flanged edge20of the lid members. In this way, a user can secure any number of objects in or on a cargo container that is easily affixable to a trailer hitch of a vehicle, thereby allowing the user to easily carry a greater number of objects while additionally transporting the objects outside the vehicle.