Abstract:
A sled adapted to couple to a tow hitch on an off-road vehicle comprising a storage compartment and a lighting system. The lighting system is operated by an incorporated electrical system. A rack assembly is secured to the body of the sled. A ski frame with two (2) ski assemblies are secured to the underside of the sled frame. The sled body comprises a planar bottom with side walls and stiffening ribs located along the inner portion of the side walls.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/029,841, filed Jul. 28, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a sled adapted to couple to a tow hitch on an off-road vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A great number of people around the world enjoy fishing. Whether fishing for food or for the sport of it, the calmness and serenity of the sport, coupled with the excitement of landing “the big one,” makes fishing a popular pastime. However; in the sport of fishing as with almost any sport, one may quickly accumulate a numerous variety of fishing rods and accessories. As a result, transportation of one&#39;s fishing rods and accessories to and from the fishing area may become a task which diminishes the overall enjoyment of the sport. 
     While being exposed to the outdoors while traversing to a fishing site is often highly enjoyable the actual effort associated with carrying fishing equipment to the site is often not. Fisherman are sometimes forced to carry multiple fishing rods and tackle boxes from their home, to a car, to a hotel or campsite, through rough terrain to a boat, and then back again. As these items are transported oftentimes several trips may be necessary to accommodate all of the equipment and other items, such as food and drink. 
     With regard to ice fishing, the transportation of fishing equipment and survival gear is all the more difficult given the inhospitable terrain associated with ice fishing. Accordingly, there exists a need for a simplified sled to easily and effectively transport fishing equipment, particularly across snow and ice during travelling to a favorite ice fishing spot. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventors have recognized the aforementioned issues and inherent problems and observed that there is a lack in the prior art for a means to provide a sled adapted to couple to a tow hitch on an off-road vehicle. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sled, comprising a frame, a body mounted on the frame, a rack assembly mounted to a portion of the body and a pair of ski assemblies each attached to the bottom of the frame. The frame is configured to be towed by a vehicle with the rack assembly adapted to securably retain items therein. The body has a planar bottom and encircling sidewalls with a peripheral lip. The rack assembly is mounted to the lip. Stiffening ribs are located along an inner portion of the sidewalls. The forgoing configuration may also come with a cover which is capable of being removably placed over the body. The forging configuration may also be equipped with a means of illumination means in electrical communication with a power source for providing illumination in a vicinity of the sled. The means of illumination further comprises at least one clearance light located on a rear portion of the body which is selectively controlled by a clearance light switch. The means of illumination further comprises at least one (1) interior light located on an inner surface of one of the sidewalls which is selectively controlled by an interior light switch. 
     Each rack assembly comprises a first beam, a second beam and at least a pair of posts. Each beam is in the shape of a square tube and each post is in the shape of a cylindrical bar. Each post is secured near a midpoint of a given beam at a distance from any other given beam equidistant from the midpoint of the beam. Each post is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam in a vertical plane. Disposed at both ends of the first beam and the second beam is an aperture. The first beam and the second beam are secured to “C”-shaped rack mount brackets by means of rack mount bracket pivot pins. 
     Each ski assembly comprises a ski frame. The ski frame comprises an elongated body with an upturned first distal end and a pair of posts upstanding from the ski frame. Each post is slidably affixed and able to be secured into bottom ends of one (1) of a pair of legs extending downward from the sled frame. There is a plurality of cross-members spaced equidistantly along the ski frame and oriented perpendicularly therefrom and a runner longitudinally attached to and coextensive with the ski frame and the plurality of cross-members. Each runner further comprises a plurality of longitudinal ridges molded into a bottom face thereof. The ridges are sized so as to enable a ski insert to be inserted on the runner between adjacent ridges. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the utility sled  10  with a cover  160  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an isolated view of a frame  40  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isolated view of the legs  60  and skis  80  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an isolated view of the legs  60  of the utility sled  10  depicted in a retracted position in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an isolated view of a tongue assembly  110  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7 a    is an isolated view of the battery  172  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7 b    is an isolated view of the clearance lights  188  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8 a    is an isolated view of the interior light  194  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 8 b    is a block diagram of the electrical system  170  of the utility sled  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  utility sled 
               20  body 
               22  sidewall 
               24  sidewall lip 
               26  curvature 
               28  front 
               32  side 
               34  rear 
               36  bottom 
               38  interior 
               40  frame 
               42  lateral member 
               44  first cross member 
               46  second cross member 
               60  leg 
               62  upper leg member 
               64  lower leg member 
               66  upper leg outer brace 
               68  upper leg inner brace 
               72  leg aperture 
               74  leg pin 
               76  leg pin retainer 
               78  ski support 
               80  ski 
               82  ski frame 
               84  leading end 
               86  trailing end 
               88  lateral tube 
               92  cross tube 
               94  runner 
               96  ridge 
               98  bottom face 
               104  ski insert 
               106  insert fastener 
               110  tongue assembly 
               112  first lateral member 
               114  second lateral member 
               116  first angled member 
               118  second angled member 
               122  central member 
               124  tongue clevis 
               126  clevis pin 
               128  clevis pin retainer 
               132  offset strap 
               134  strap aperture 
               136  strap fastener 
               138  hitch pin 
               140  rack assembly 
               142  rack mounting bracket 
               144  mounting bracket pivot pin 
               146  pivot pin retainer 
               148  first beam 
               152  post 
               154  post end 
               156  spread 
               158  second beam 
               160  cover 
               162  band 
               170  electrical system 
               172  battery 
               174  battery anchor 
               176  battery tie-down 
               178  tie down fastener 
               182  wing nut 
               184  conductor 
               186  clearance light switch 
               188  clearance light 
               192  interior light switch 
               194  interior light 
               196  illumination 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8   b . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a utility sled (herein referred to as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means to transport a plurality of items across a snow, or ice, covered terrain in, or on, a body  20  mounted on a frame  40  with skis  80  able to be towed behind an off-road vehicle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  includes a body  20  supported on a frame  40  provided with skis  80 . The body  20  is generally configured to be rectangular with a planar bottom  36  and encircling sidewalls  22  joined along all horizontal and vertical abutting edges and formed in one (1) piece to define a hollow interior  38 . The sidewalls  22  are preferably vertical along the sides  32  and the rear  34  while sloping outward from the bottom  36  to the top along a front  28 . The bottom  36  and sidewalls  22  are made of a formed thermoplastic material and as such may be presented in a wide variety of colors and surface textures. The sidewalls  22  will have a peripheral sidewall lip  24  at an upper edge configured to be a transformation from a vertical planar surface through some ninety degree (90°) curvature  26  to a horizontal planar surface for some minimal distance and then back through preferably a symmetrical curvature  26  to a vertical planar surface. The sidewalls  22  may be provided with horizontal or vertical ribs, folds, or corrugations to increase the structural rigidity of the body  20  without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     Disposed along the horizontal surface of the sidewall lip  24  is a plurality of rack mounting brackets  142  for the purpose of attaching a rack assembly  140  to the body  20 . A rack assembly  140  is configured to be at least a first beam  148  and a second beam  158  spanning across the opposite sides  32  of the body  20  to support cargo for transportation which may be too long to be accommodated within the body  20 . The first beam  148  and the second beam  158  are preferably composed of square tube steel. It is understood that other materials, such as, but not limited to, other metals, wood, or rigid thermoplastics, or other shapes may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . Disposed along the beams  148 ,  158  is at least one (1) pair of posts  152  which are supports intended to stabilize and contain the chosen cargo. The posts  152  are preferably composed of a cylindrical bar of the same constituent material as the beams  148 ,  158  having a hemispherical post end  154 . The posts  152  are attached near a midpoint of the beam  148 ,  158  at some spread  156  distance from each other and equidistant from the midpoint of the beam  148 ,  158 . The posts  152  are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beams in a vertical plane and are angled up from the longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane and away from the midpoint of the beam  148 ,  158 . The spread  156  between the posts  152  may vary from the first beam  148  to the second beam  158 . 
     Disposed at both ends of the first beam  148  and the second beam  158  is an aperture (not shown) for the insertion of a mounting bracket pivot pin  144  to secure the beams  148 ,  158  to the rack mount brackets  142 . As previously stated, the rack mounting brackets  142  are attached to the horizontal surface of the sidewall lip  24 . The rack mounting brackets  142  are preferably configured to be “C”-shaped, metal brackets having aligned apertures (not shown) in the parallel members for the insertion of the mounting bracket pivot pins  144 . The rack mounting brackets  142  may be provided with any apertures and fasteners, of any kind, to included rivets, headed fasteners, or the like, to secure the attachment thereof to the sidewall lip  24 . The mounting bracket pivot pins  144  are preferably headed, cylindrical metal rods provided with pivot pin retainers  146  such as cotter pins, locking straps, or the like. The mounting bracket pivot pins  144  may be removed from the rack mounting brackets  142  along one (1) side of the body  20  and the first beam  148  and the second beam  158  may be pivotally rotated about the mounting bracket pivot pins  144  securing the opposite side of the beams  148 ,  158  so as to be removed from obscuring the interior  38  for loading or unloading cargo from the apparatus  10 . The rack assembly  140  may also be removed entirely from the body  20  by removing all of the mounting bracket pivot pins  122  if the use of the rack assembly  140  is not required. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an isometric view of the apparatus  10  with a cover  160 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  is provided with a removable cover  160  which can be installed over the body  20  to conceal and protect any cargo transported therein. The cover  160  is preferably composed of a waterproof nylon material and fitted specifically to drape over the installed rack assembly  140  and an upper portion of the body  20 . It is understood that other materials may be utilized in the fabrication of the cover  160  without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The cover  160  is configured to have an elastic band  162  attached around the perimeter thereof, preferably by means of stitching, so as to gather the perimeter in the area under the sidewall lip  24  of the body  20  so as to retain the cover  160 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an isolated view of the frame  40  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The frame  40  is preferably configured to be a rectangular, welded, tubular metal structure. The frame  40  may be configured to be any other geometric shape, such as, but not limited to, a hexagon, or utilize other materials of construction, without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . A pair of parallel lateral members  42  is attached perpendicularly at either end of a pair of first cross members  44 . The abutting joints of the lateral members  42  and the first cross members  44  are mitered at appropriate intersecting angles to provide a smooth fit and a full penetration weld. At least two (2) second cross members  46  are positioned between the lateral members  42  and continuously welded, with appropriate bead, around the perimeter of each end to permanently secure the second cross members  46 . The second cross members  46  span the distance between the lateral members  42 . The body  20  is attached to the frame  40  and retained thereon preferable with a plurality of self-threading fasteners inserted from the interior  38  and penetrating the first cross members  44  and the second cross members  46 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an isolated view of the legs  60  and skis  80  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The frame  20  is preferably supported on four (4) legs  60 . The legs  60  include an upper leg member  62  with an upper leg inner brace  68  and an upper leg outer brace  66 , and a lower leg member  64 . The upper leg members  62  and the lower leg members  64  are preferably composed of square metal tubing. It is understood that other materials, or other shapes, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The lower leg members  64  are configured to fit within, and slide relative to, the upper leg members  62 . The upper leg members  62  are attached, preferably by welding, perpendicularly to a lower side of the frame  40 , specifically the lateral members  42 . An upper leg outer brace  66  is attached as a gusset between the upper leg member  62  and the lateral member  42 . The upper leg outer braces  66  are consistently oriented to be located between the legs  60 . The upper leg inner brace  68  is attached as a gusset between the upper leg member  62  and a second cross member  46  of the frame  40 . The lower leg members  64  are attached, preferably by welding, perpendicular to the ski supports  78 . The ski supports  78  are preferably composed of square tubular metal. Disposed in a lower end of the upper leg member  62  is a leg aperture  72  for the installation of a leg pin  74 . Disposed in the lower leg member  64  near both ends are two (2) leg apertures  72 . The leg pins  74  are preferably headed, cylindrical metal rods provided with leg pin retainers  76  such as cotter pins, locking straps, or the like. In normal operation, the leg apertures  72  in the lower end of the upper leg member  62  are in alignment with the leg apertures  72  in the upper end of the lower leg member  64  with a leg pin  74  inserted to secure the configuration to achieve maximum ground clearance of the apparatus  10 . During the loading or unloading of the apparatus  10 , the frame  40  and the body  20  are stabilized on a hoisting device and the leg pins  74  are removed so that the frame  40  and the body  20  can be lowered to reduce the loading height. The frame  40  is preferably lowered sufficiently for the leg apertures  72  in the lower end of the upper leg member  62  to come into alignment with the leg apertures  72  in the lower end of the lower leg member  64 , whereupon the leg pins  74  are reinserted into the newly aligned leg apertures  72  so as to secure the new configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The skis  80  include a ski frame  82  and a runner  94 . The ski frame  82  is configured to be a network of preferably round metal tubing formed into a rectangle with an upturned leading end  84  and trailing end  86  and having a plurality of cross tubes  92  connecting the lateral tubes  88  at some selected spacing. The ski frame  82  is attached, preferably by welding, to the ski supports  78  at the juncture of any cross tube  92  that is contacted. The runner  94  is preferably a rectangle of a high density polyethylene slightly larger than the ski frame  82  and attached to the ski frame  82  so as to be upturned at the leading end  84  and the trailing end  86 . The runner  94  may be equipped with a plurality of longitudinal ridges  96  molded into the bottom face  98  to increase the structural rigidity thereof. The ridges  96  are spaced such that a ski insert  104  may be attached to the bottom face  98  of the runner  94  between each paired set of ridges  96 . The ski insert  104  is configured to be a rectangular polyhedron composed of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with, or without, additional graphite impregnation. The ski insert  104  is fastened to the runner with a plurality of threaded insert fasteners  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an isolated view of the tongue assembly  110  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The tongue assembly  110  is preferably configured to be a welded tubular metal structure pivotally attached to the front  28  of the frame  40 . The tongue assembly  110  is generally a “Y”-shaped weldment including a first lateral member  112 , a parallel second lateral member  114 , a first angled member  116 , a mirrored second angled member  118 , and a central member  122 . The first angled member  116  and the second angled member  118  connect a distal end of the first lateral member  112  and a distal end of the second lateral member  114  respectively to a proximal end of the central member  122 , with all members  112 - 122  lying in the same plane. All abutting joints of the tongue assembly  110  are preferably mitered for a smooth fit and a full penetration weld. A generally “C”-shaped tongue clevis  124  is attached, preferably by welding, at each end of the forward-most first cross member  44  along a front face thereof. The tongue clevis  124  is a metal bracket having aligned apertures (not shown) in the parallel members for the insertion of a clevis pin  126 . The parallel members of the tongue clevis  124  are oriented perpendicular to the front face of the first cross member  44  while the centerline of the aligned apertures (not shown) is parallel to the longitudinal axis. The clevis pin  126  is preferably a headed, cylindrical metal rod provided with a clevis pin retainer  128  such as a cotter pin, a locking strap, or the like, for the retention thereof. Disposed in the proximal ends of the first lateral member  112  and the second lateral member  114  are apertures (not shown) into which the clevis pins  126  are inserted to attach the tongue assembly  110  to the frame  40  through the tongue devises  124 . Attached at a distal end of the central member  122  is a pair of offset straps  132 . The offset straps  132  are preferably metal plates attached to an upper face and a lower face of the central member  122  by means of at least two (2) threaded strap fasteners  136 . The offset straps  132  are provided with strap apertures  134  in a distal end which align to accommodate the insertion of a hitch pin  138  to connect the apparatus  10  to a towing vehicle at a convenient hitch point. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 a , 7 b , and 8 a   , isolated views of various parts of the electrical system  170 , as well as  FIG. 8 b   , a block diagram of the electrical system  170  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. A rechargeable battery  172  is disposed within the interior  38  of the body  20 . The battery  172  is preferably a wet cell, lead plate battery capable of producing sufficient voltage of direct current electrical power to operate the clearance lights  188  and the interior light  194 . However, it is understood that other batteries  172 , or other power technology, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The battery  172  is stabilized within the interior  38  of the body  20  by means of a battery anchor  174 . The battery anchor  174  is configured to be a pair of metal angles affixed to the bottom  36  of the body  20  with mechanical fasteners, such as threaded fasteners. The angles are preferably oriented in a back-to-back arrangement, and spaced at a distance appropriate to accommodate the positioning of the battery  172  between them. A battery tie-down  176  is utilized to attach the battery  172  to the battery anchor  174 . The battery tie-down  176  is preferably configured to be a metal angle supported on an upper corner of the battery  172  being attached to the battery anchor  174  by means of a pair of tie down fasteners  178  inserted into apertures (not clearly shown) in both the battery anchor  174  and in the battery tie-down  176 . The tie down fasteners  178  are preferably “L”-shaped metal rods having a threaded end. A short leg of the “L” is inserted into an aperture in the battery anchor  174  while a longer leg, having a threaded end, is routed through an aperture in the battery tie-down  176  and secured with a wing nut  182 . It is understood that other methods of securing the battery  172  in the apparatus  10  may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The apparatus  10  is provided with clearance lights  188  of which at least a two (2) are preferably located on a rear  34  portion of the body  20  as seen in  FIG. 7 b   . Electrical power to provide the illumination  196  of the clearance lights  188  is supplied through conductors  184  attached to the battery  172  and selectively controlled by a clearance light switch  186  as presented in the block diagram of  FIG. 8 b   . The clearance light switch  186  is preferably a rocker-type, two pole switch located on the interior  38  of the body  20 . Other types of switches may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The apparatus  10  is provided with at least one (1) interior light  194  which is preferably located on a sidewall  22  in the interior  38  of the body  20  as seen in  FIG. 8 a   . The interior light  194  preferably utilizes a plurality of light emitting diodes as the source of illumination  196 ; however, other types of lighting may also be utilized without limiting the scope. Electrical power to provide the illumination  196  of the interior light  194  is supplied through conductors  184  attached to the battery  172  and selectively controlled by an interior light switch  192  as presented in the block diagram of  FIG. 8   b.    
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be configured as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired style to suit the taste of a user; supporting the frame  40  and the body  20  to stabilize the height of the apparatus  10 ; removing the leg pin retainers  76  from the leg pins  74 ; removing the leg pins  74  from the aligned apertures of the upper leg members  62  and the lower leg members  64 ; lowering the frame  40  and the body for loading cargo; removing the pivot pin retainers  146  from the selected mounting bracket pivot pins  144  so as to pivotally move the ends of the first beam  148  and the second beam  158  away from the sidewall lip  24  on that side of the body  20  from which loading the cargo will occur; loading the selected cargo into the interior  38  of the body  20 ; reattaching the ends of the first beam  148  and the second beam  158  which had previously been disconnected; installing the cover  160  over the body  20  and placing the resilient band  162  under the sidewall lip  24  to secure the cover  160 ; placing the desired cargo in the rack assembly  140 ; raising the frame  40  and body  20  so as to properly align the apertures of the upper leg members  62  with the apertures in the lower leg members  64 ; inserting the leg pins  74  into the now aligned apertures; reinstalling the leg pin retainers  76 ; connecting the apparatus to the towing vehicle by inserting a hitch pin  138  into the strap aperture  134  and whatever provision exists on the towing vehicle for the safe towing of trailing equipment; towing the apparatus  10  with the selected cargo to the desired destination. The cargo can be utilized by reversing the previous procedure to unload the desired cargo. The clearance lights  188  may be illuminated as needed by turning on the clearance light switch  186  at the rear  34  of the body  20 . The interior light  194  may be illuminated by turning on the interior light switch  192 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.