Abstract:
Disclosed is a utility seat that attaches directly to a receiver hitch or indirectly by way of a sport utility rack, such as a bike or ski rack, thereby providing a stable means for sitting such that a sporting enthusiast may quickly and conveniently change sporting apparel and then collapse or fold up the seat toward the rear of the vehicle for storage and safe traveling.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority from the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application, the disclosure of which, including all appendices and all attached documents, is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/380,239, of Wesley Gene Wegner and Alan Conrad Holly entitled, “COLLAPSIBLE SEAT FOR ATTACHMENT TO A TRAILER HITCH OR SPORT UTILITY RACK,” filed May 13, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally relates to a platform for attachment to a vehicle hitch, and more particularly pertains to a readily storable seating assembly, attachable to a vehicle hitch. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Sports enthusiasts such as skiers, surfers and bikers often prefer delaying their changing into appropriate sporting attire until their arrival at their particular sporting venue. Changing into appropriate footware such as biking shoes and skiing boots is especially difficult without a seat. Typical sporting enthusiasts drive trucks or sport utility vehicles that are equipped with receiver hitches and often these hitches receive sport utility racks such as bike and ski racks. For the typical sporting enthusiast, it is desirable to have a utility seat that attaches to either the receiver hitch directly or indirectly by way of a sport utility rack already attached to the receiver hitch or by way of an adaptor. It is further desirable that such a utility seat collapse or fold upward toward the rear of the vehicle when not in use. 
   The several embodiments of the present invention possess several advantages of this invention over existing platforms in both the stability provided by attaching the sport utility seat to a receiver hitch and the adaptability and versatility such that the seat may be attached inconjunction with a sport utility rack. The several embodiments of the present invention do not require a trunk to be open for attachment and therefore offer a desirable advantage that such embodiments may be folded upward toward the rear of the vehicle for safe traveling. 
   The several embodiments of the present invention provide a sport utility seat assembly whereby one or more sporting enthusiasts may quickly and conveniently change apparel on a seat that provides stability as a result of its attachment to a receiver hitch or with a sport utility rack with such seat being collapsible such that it may be folded upward toward the rear of the vehicle for safe traveling. Further, the several embodiments provide mounting stations as luggage and cargo carriers and provide platforms for those providing assistance during recreational boat launches from towed trailers. 
   SUMMARY 
   A sport utility seat assembly, attachable to a vehicle by way of a receiver hitch, in conjunction with a sport utility rack or, the like, is readily collapsible or otherwise retractable by means of folding or rotating one or more seat panels toward the rear of the vehicle for safe traveling and readily deployable and stable for convenient use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is the front view of a dual seat assembly of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a cross section view of the left panel assembly joint of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1C  is the front view of a vehicle hitch/sport utility rack adaptor of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1D  is a cross section view of an embodiment of the vehicle hitch/sport utility rack adaptor; 
       FIG. 1E  is a cross section view of an alternative embodiment of the vehicle hitch/sport utility rack adaptor; 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the left side of the seat assembly in a deployed position with a ball hitch of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross section of the hinge line of the left panel assembly of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of one side of a seat in a retracted or stowed position of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of one side of a seat in a retracted or stowed position of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of one side of a seat in a retracted position of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a left seat assembly of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a right seat assembly; 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the left side of a seat in a deployed position with a bicycle/ski assembly station on the right side of the hitch beam of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the left side of a seat in a deployed position with a privacy curtain assembly on the right side of the hitch beam of an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a deployed two-piece foldable left panel seat assembly of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of a two-piece foldable left panel seat assembly during the first step of stowing of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9C  is a cross-sectional view of a two-piece foldable left panel seat assembly during the second step of stowing of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a saddle-shaped embodiment with the support members retracted of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the saddle-shaped embodiment with the support members extended of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment illustrating a single panel bench with an insertion channel and removable panel for the addition of a sport utility rack of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12A  is a side cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded pin elevating mechanism for a right panel assembly of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12B  is a front cross-sectional view of a spring-loaded pin elevating mechanism of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1A  is the front view (i.e., looking toward the rear of a vehicle for installation) of a dual seat assembly  100  as comprised of a left panel assembly  110  and a right panel assembly  140 . The left panel assembly is comprised of a left panel  112  fixedly attached to a first left cylindrical rod housing  114 . A second left cylindrical rod housing  116  and a third left cylindrical rod housing  118  are fixedly attached to a left horizontal support member  120 . Alternative embodiments of the present invention have hinges selected from the group of hinges providing structural support and needed articulation. The left support member  120  is supported by a fixedly attached strap and mount  122 . The left panel  112  and support member  120  are connected in an articulated fashion, preferably a hinge-like fashion, via a cylindrical rod (not shown) placed through the first  114 , second  116  and third cylindrical rod housings  118  and held in place by endcaps  124  and  126 . The left support member  120  is fixedly attached to a left elevating rod  128 . The left elevating rod  128  runs through the elevating rod housing  170 . The left elevating member  128 , illustrated as a rod, is held in place by a handled threaded blunt screw  130  screwed into the elevating rod housing  170 , which in several embodiments is integral with the vehicle hitch shoe  171 , in a fashion to allow adjustments in the left elevating member travel position. Alternative embodiments have the vehicle hitch shoe as a sleeve embodiment  174  ( FIG. 1E ) wherein the sleeve fits over and around a vehicle hitch allowing the insertion of a utility rack having an inserting beam member or other beam member into the vehicle hitch directly. In alternative embodiments, the elevating member includes rectangular transverse shapes and others three or more faces or sides in transverse. In like fashion, the right panel assembly is comprised of a right panel  142  fixedly attached to a first left cylindrical rod housing  144 . A second right cylindrical rod housing  146  and a third right cylindrical rod housing  148  are fixedly attached to a right horizontal support member  150 . The right support member  150  is supported by a fixedly attached strap and mount  152 . The right panel  142  and support member  150  are connected in an articulated fashion via a cylindrical rod (not shown) placed through the first  144 , second  146  and third right cylindrical rod housings  148  and held in place by endcaps  154  and  156 . The right support member  150  is fixedly attached to a right elevating rod  158 . The right elevating member  158  runs through the elevating rod housing  170 . The right elevating member  158  is held in place by a handled threaded blunt screw  130  screwed into the elevating rod housing  170  in a fashion to allow adjustments in the right elevating member  158  travel position. The elevating housing  170  is integral to the trailer hitch insert beam or rail  171 . Each seat panel  112 ,  142  may be set at a height relative to the rail and independent of the other seat. Seating pads (not shown) are detachably attachable to each panel. 
     FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view  190  of  FIG. 1A  of the hinge joint at the second left cylindrical rod housing  116  of the left panel assembly  110 . In this view, a cylindrical rod  180  is housed by the second left cylindrical rod housing  116 , thereby establishing an axis of rotation of the left panel  112  relative to the support member  120 . The second left cylindrical rod housing  116  is fixedly attached  117 , preferably welded, to the support member  120 . The left panel  112 , is in proximity to the second left cylindrical rod housing  116   
     FIG. 1D  illustrates a vehicle hitch/sport utility rack adapting member  171  in cross-sectional view  199  of  FIG. 1C. A  first portion  173  of the adapting member is sized to be insertable into a vehicle hitch. A second portion  172  of the adapting member is sized to receive a second inserting member (not shown) such as the insertable portion of a sport utility rack. 
     FIG. 1E  illustrates a vehicle hitch/sport utility rack adapting member  171  in cross-sectional view  199  of FIG.  1 C. The section  174  is a sleeve sized to fit securely around a vehicle hitch receiving member and is also sized to receive an inserting member (not shown) such as the insertable portion of a sport utility rack. 
     FIG. 2A  illustrates a side view of a deployed left panel assembly  110  and the trailer hitch shoe  272  with apertures for a securing bolt  274  and ball hitching member  273 . The trailer hitch insertion direction is to the right in this illustration. 
     FIG. 2B  is a cross section view  181  of  FIG. 2A  of the left panel assembly joint illustrating that the left panel  112  and support member  120  are connected in an articulated or otherwise rotational fashion, preferably a hinge-like fashion, via the cylindrical rod  180  placed through the first  114 , second  116  and third cylindrical rod housings  118  and held in place by endcaps  124  and  126 . Other joints are applicable including hinges. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of a retracted or otherwise stowed left panel assembly  110  and the elevating housing  170  and shoe  171 . The trailer hitch insertion direction is to the right in this illustration. When retracted, the panel is secured by a pin and bracket (not shown). A pin receiving first receiving aperture is provided in the panel assembly  110 , a bracket having a second receiving aperture aligned to the first aperture is fixedly attached to the support member  120 . Alternative securing mechanisms are employable. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a retracted or otherwise stowed left panel assembly  110  and the elevating housing  170  and shoe  171 . The trailer hitch insertion direction is to the rear in this illustration. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a side perspective view of a retracted or otherwise stowed left panel assembly  110  and the elevating housing  170  and shoe  171 . The trailer hitch insertion direction is to the left in this illustration. 
     FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the left seat assembly  110  with a support strap  122  attached to the support member  120  showing the elevating housing  170  as integral to a closedend trailer hitch insert beam or rail  670 .  FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a right panel member  620  with a support member not using the support strap  122 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of a deployed left panel assembly  110 , the elevating housing  170  integral to a closed end insertable beam or shoe  670  and a bicycle receiving station assembly  700  in place of a right panel assembly  140  (not shown). The bicycle receiving station assembly  700  is comprised of an elevating rod  710  and a fitment  720  for a bicycle cradle member, a ski clamp/rack member, a ski tuning member of a bike wheel tuning member, or similar members. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of a deployed left panel assembly  110 ,the elevating housing  170  integral to a closed-end instertable beam or shoe  670  and a privacy curtain assembly  800  in place of a right panel assembly  140  (not shown). The privacy curtain assembly  800  is comprised of an elevating rod  802 , a structural ring member  804  fixedly attached to the elevating rod  802  and a privacy curtain  806 . 
     FIG. 9A  illustrates a perspective view of a deployed left panel assembly  110  where in the embodiments such as this one, the left panel is comprised of a first left subpanel  902 , a second left subpanel  904  and a hinge system comprised of a first left cylindrical housing  906 . The hinge system is preferably substantially similar to that of the left support member  120  and the left panel  112  as disclosed in FIG.  2 A.  FIG. 9B  illustrates a first step in stowage by a transverse cut side view  920  of  FIG. 9A  with the second left subpanel  904  being folded upon the first left subpanel  902  about the axis of rotation provided by the hinge system comprised of first left cylindrical housing  906  and a second cylindrical rod  910 .  FIG. 9C  illustrates a second step in stowage by a transverse cut side view  920  of  FIG. 9A  with the first left subpanel  902  being rotated upward and about the cylindrical rod  180 . 
     FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of a saddle-shaped embodiment  1000  of the present invention. The present example of a saddle-shaped embodiment is comprised of a left seat panel  1004  and a right seat panel  1006  and a three-sided connecting member  1002  shaped to straddle a trailer hitch beam extension (not shown). An alternative embodiment has the connecting member  1002  with a fourth side  1015 . The underside of the left seat panel has a deployable leg  1008  and the underside of the right seat panel has a deployable leg  1010 .  FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the saddle shaped embodiment with the legs  1008 ,  1010  deployed. 
     FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the insertion channel for a sport utility rack such as a bike or ski rack with a hinged panel deployed  1110 . An alternative embodiment has a fixed panel (i.e., without hinged articulation). The seat assembly  1100  is comprised of a vertical member  1102  fixedly attached to a rail adaptor  1104  similar in function as the adapting member  171  illustrated in  FIG. 3. A  first cylindrical rod housing  1106  and a second cylindrical rod housing  1108  are fixedly attached to the vertical member  1102 . A third cylindrical rod housing  1109  is fixedly attached to a seat panel  1110 . The seat panel  1110  and vertical member  1102  are connected in an articulated fashion, preferably a hinge-like joint, via a cylindrical rod (not shown), or other suitable hinge mechanism similar in function to the cylindrical rod  180  described in  FIGS. 1B ,  2 B and  9 C, placed through the first  1106 , second  1108  and third cylindrical rod housings  1109  and held in place by endcaps  1120  and  1122 . A right support member  1112  and a left support member  1114  are stowed on the underside of the seat panel  1110  and are deployable to augment seat panel stability in a manner similar to the support members  1008 ,  1010  illustrated in FIG.  10 B. The male adaptor portion  1120  of the rail adaptor  1104  is insertable into a vehicle hitch (not shown). Alternative embodiments include a male adaptor member separate and detachably attachable to the rail adaptor  1104 . The male adaptor portion  1120  is insertable into a trailer hitch leaving the rail adaptor  1104  without sufficient volume to receive additional rail attachments such as bicycle rack. Accordingly, the seat assembly described is usable either independently or in conjunction with a sport utility rack such as a bike or ski rack and is attached via a trailer hitch unit. An alternative embodiment has a rail adapter  1104  without a vertical member  1102  of the previously described embodiment, thereby acting as a sleeve fitting securely over a vehicle hitch receiving member and allowing for a rack mounting member to be inserted through the sleeve  1104  and into the vehicle hitch receiving member (not shown). For those sport utility rack members that angle upwards a short distance from their attaching means,  FIG. 11  illustrates a removable seat panel section  1130 . 
   In all embodiments, the seat assembly utilizes the standard trailer hitch attaching devices for safety. The one or more support planes of the seat assembly are intended, as shown in the several embodiments, to be raised and/or lowered to allow for different leg lengths. This may be accomplished in a number of ways. The means of deployed seat elevation of several embodiments include: a rod perpendicular to the hitch mount (as shown in FIG.  1 A); a ratchet-type mechanism; a sliding bar, attached to the base, permitting sliding along the bottom of the seat; or a removable pin (as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B  below), 
   A panel or assembly elevation method embodiment of the present invention uses a cylindrical member and a screw, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A  as the left elevating rod  128 , and a screw such as handled threaded blunt screw  130 .  FIG. 12A  illustrates a transverse cut view of an alternative elevating embodiment of the present invention where a seat panel  1201  is fixed attached to an elevating member or beam  1207 . The elevating beam  1207  travels vertically within a housing  1202 . A spring mechanism  1203  is fixedly attached to the housing  1202  and pin  1204  with a knob  1205  in a fashion unloading the spring mechanism  1203  wherein the pin  1204  travels within an aperture  1220  of the housing  1202 . The elevating beam  1207  has at least one aperture that receives the pin  1204 . The travel of the pin  1204  is such that its withdrawal from the elevating beam  1207  loads the spring mechanism  1203 . A transverse cut of  FIG. 12A  at  1220  is illustrated in  FIG. 12B  where a plurality of apertures  1220  are shown. By this means, the elevating beam  1207  has several elevational settings, one at each aperture  1220  and the setting is resettable via the spring-load pin  1204 . 
   Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. 
   The words used in this specification to describe the several embodiments of the present invention are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself. 
   The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. 
   In addition to the equivalents of the claimed elements, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
   The claims are thus to be understood to include that which is specifically illustrated and described above; that which is conceptually equivalent, that which can be obviously substituted and that which incorporates the essential idea of the invention as disclosed by its several embodiments.