Abstract:
A carrier for bicycles or other objects which is adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The carrier being adapted to pivot downwardly away from the rear of the vehicle to allow for improved access to the rear doors of the vehicle. The carrier including a cantilever mounted handle having a spring actuated locking member for holding the carrier in a horizontal or, vertically stored position, or, when released, allowing the carrier to tilt downwardly. The carrier including bicycle support members is adapted to grip the wheels of a bicycle mounted thereon. The bicycle support members are mounted on transverse members and are laterally adjustable to match the wheel span of a bicycle to be carried. The bicycle support members are adapted to be folded and the transverse members moved inwardly to make the carrier more compact for storage. In an alternative embodiment, a tiltable carrier rack is provided for carrying items other than bicycles.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/854,803, filed Oct. 27, 2006, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to vehicle mounted carriers or racks and particularly to hitch mounted racks for carrying bicycles or other goods, the rack being pivotable upwardly when not in use and downwardly away from the vehicle to improve access to the rear doors of the vehicle. 
         [0003]    Rearwardly tiltable vehicle hitch mounted support racks are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,181,822, 5,527,146 and 5,658,119. In addition, hitch mounted support racks capable of tilting downwardly are also known, see for example International Publication No. WO2006/004519A1. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0005]    A carrier for mounting in a hitch receiver at the rear of a vehicle. The carrier including a first tube portion adapted to be inserted in the hitch receiver of the vehicle and a second beam portion adapted to carry bicycle mounting racks, or in another embodiment, a rack for carrying other loads. The first and second portions are pivotally connected to each other such that upon actuation of a pivoting lever, the bicycle or load carrying portion may be tilted downwardly to improve access to the rear storage area of a vehicle. The bicycle carrier includes foldable loops for holding the front and rear wheels of a bicycle, the loops are mounted on laterally adjustable tube structures. When not in use, the loops may be folded inwardly and the tubes moved laterally inward to compress the size of the carrying rack. The beam portion of the rack may also be pivoted upwardly to reduce the length of its extension rearwardly from the vehicle. The tilt or pivot control lever includes a spring actuated locking pin extending through the beam and adapted to mate with spaced receiving holes in an adjacent plate for holding the carrier in its horizontal or vertical position or, when released, allowing the carrier to tilt downwardly. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hitch mounted bicycle carrier of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the bicycle carrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a pair of bicycles mounted in the carrier; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the bicycle rack of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the bicycle carrier of  FIG. 1  in its folded position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bicycle carrier shown folded in its upright position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the bicycle carrier of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a partial upward perspective view of the tilting mechanism and spring lock of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is an upward perspective view of the bicycle carrier of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a side elevation view of the bicycle carrier of  FIG. 5  in the downwardly titled position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a partial section view showing the transverse rod gripping mechanism; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a partial perspective view of the wheel holding loop mount of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of the wheel holding loop mount of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a section view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of the locking pin and spring assembly of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a downward perspective view of a second carrying rack embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is an upward perspective view showing the bottom of the embodiment of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is a top plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 18 ; and, 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is a side elevation view of the rack of  FIG. 18  in its upwardly pivoted position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-5 , a first embodiment of a carrier  10  adapted to be mounted in a hitch receiver at the rear of a vehicle is disclosed. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , carrier  10  is adapted to hold two bicycles for transport behind a vehicle. It will be understood that the carrier can also be designed for holding more or less than two bicycles. Bicycle rack  10  includes a first tubular hitch mount  12  which is adapted to slide within and be locked to a hitch receiver mounted at the rear of a vehicle. Referring additionally to  FIGS. 6-10 , tube  12  is connected to plates  14  and  16  by means of conventional nut, bolt, and washer sets  18 , for example, or may be welded thereto. As seen in  FIG. 8  and other views, plate  16  extends further rearward and upward with respect to plate  14  to define a non-overlapping portion which includes additional holes  20  and  44  which, as will be described hereafter, are adapted to receive a locking pin. 
         [0030]    As shown, plates  14  and  16  are interconnected with beam  22  by means of nut, bolt, and washer set  24  about which beam  22  may pivot both upwardly and downwardly. Other pivotal interconnecting means may alternatively be used. As best seen in  FIG. 10 , nut, bolt, and washer set  26  extends between plates  14  and  16  and acts as a stop to the downward pivoting of beam  22  as will be described hereafter. 
         [0031]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 17 , lock pin  28  is shown extending through beam  22  and hole  20  in the non-overlapping portion of plate  16  to hold beam  22  in its horizontal position. Lock pin  28  is mounted on the distal end of cantilever mounted handle  30 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , handle  30  extends rearwardly from a pivot mount  32  and may include an upward bend such that handgrip portion  34  is positioned above the bicycle support tubes  36   a  and  36   b  for easy access, while the distal end of handle  30  runs below bicycle support tubes  36   c  and  36   d.    
         [0032]    Referring again to  FIG. 17 , lock pin  28  is shown to include a split end  38  including a mounting hole through which a pin such as nut and bolt combination  40  extends to hold the distal end of handle  30  in place. It will be understood that lateral movement of handgrip  34  toward beam  22  causes lock pin  28  to move out of hole  20  in plate  16 , thus unlocking beam  22  and allowing it to be pivoted either upwardly or downwardly as desired. As lock pin  28  moves outwardly, it compresses spring  42  such that lock pin  28  tends to automatically seat itself either back in hole  20  when the beam is moved to its horizontal position or into hole  44  when it is moved to its upright storage position. 
         [0033]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 13 , it will be seen that the bicycle support rods  36   a - 36   d  are substantially circular in cross-section but include a flat side which prevents the tubes from rotating in their mounts in beam  22 . Rods  36   a - 36   d  may be solid or hollow tubes and may be formed in other cross-sections such that they cannot rotate with respect to each other when in contact. 
         [0034]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , through holes  46  are formed in beam  22  into which bicycle support rod receiving fittings  48  are mounted. Fittings  48  act to align bicycle support tubes or rods  36  as they pass through beam  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , for example, each of rods  36   a - d  include an end fitting  50   a - 50   d  which fitting includes a tube end mounting portion and an adjacent “C”-shaped section through which the adjacent tube or rod  36  runs. Fittings  50  assist in maintaining the alignment of the adjacent bicycle support tubes  36  when under load. End plugs  52   a - 52   d  may also be provided for tubes  36   a - d.    
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 14-16 , the construction of one embodiment of the pivotable bicycle wheel support loops  54   a - 54   d  and their mounts will now be discussed. As is perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 16 , the bicycle support loops each include a first tubular mount  56  which is adapted to be slid upon tube  36  and fixed in place by means of set screws  58  ( FIG. 6 ). Mount  56  includes a pair of upwardly extending ears  57  having holes therein adapted to receive nut, bolt, and washer combinations  60 , to hold fitting  62  and loop support  64  such that supports  64  and their associated loops  54  are adapted to pivot and therearound. 
         [0036]    Loops  54  may be made of aluminum tubing or other suitable material and are connected to loop supports  64  by welding or other conventional means. In the disclosed embodiment, loops  54  are closed at their upper ends by means of plastic fittings  66  but other obvious variations such as a continuous loop or a loop open at its bottom are also contemplated. 
         [0037]    Tubular mounts  56  include a pair of outwardly extending flanges  68  ( FIGS. 15 and 16 ), which contact a flat surface  63  of fitting  62  when loop  54  is pivoted upwardly and outwardly, thus, limiting the angular pivotability of loop  54 . It will be understood that loops  54  are adapted to pivot from a substantially horizontal inwardly pointing stored position to an upwardly extending position such as shown in  FIG. 1 , for receiving a bicycle to be carried. 
         [0038]    In operation, and assuming that carrier  10  is in its upwardly stored position such as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , handle  30  is moved inwardly toward beam  22  thus causing lock pin  28  to move out of hole  44  allowing the carrier to pivot downwardly. If the handle is released during pivoting, spring  42  biases lock pin  28  against the inside surface of plate  16  until it reaches hole  44  where pin  28  automatically is pushed into hole  20  by spring  42  to lock beam  22  in its horizontal position. 
         [0039]    With beam  22  in the horizontal position, loops  54  may be pivoted upwardly until the flat surfaces  63  of fittings  62  come in contact with flange  68  to prevent further rotation. Knobs  70  are then rotated counterclockwise to loosen the gripping pressure of curved plate  72  on the upper surfaces of associated tubes  36  as best seen in  FIG. 13 . Knob  70  includes a downwardly extending threaded portion  74  which runs through cooperatively threaded fitting  76  such that rotation of knob  70  moves curved plate  72  upwardly or downwardly. When the pressure of plate  72  is removed from tubes  36  they may be slid outwardly until the distance between associated loops such as  54   a  and  54   b  approximates the wheel span of a bicycle to be mounted thereon. 
         [0040]    Curved plate  72  is shaped to contact tubes  36   a  and  36   b  such that when the knob  70  is tightened downwardly, the curved plate  72  forces the flat surfaces of the tubes together to prevent both rotation and sliding of the tubes with respect to each other. 
         [0041]    In an alternative embodiment, it will be understood that tubes  36  or a single tube extending through beam  22 , may be fixed in a laterally extending position and tubular mounts  56  may be adjusted along the tube to accommodate bicycles of varying size. 
         [0042]    In still another embodiment, a knob actuated ratchet may be used to cause loops  54  to rotate upwardly to grip the wheels of a bicycle mounted on the carrier. The degree of rotation being used to accommodate bicycles of differing size. 
         [0043]    It is also contemplated that the entire tube and loop arrangement could be replaced by a tray or trough cross-sectionally sized to accommodate a bicycle wheel and extending through a slot in beam  22  so as to hold both front and rear wheels of a bicycle. The wheels would be held in place by elastic straps or other conventional wheel gripping means. Other conventional means for gripping a bicycle may also be used. 
         [0044]    A bicycle is then positioned such that its front and rear wheels extend between the arms of loops  54   a  and  54   b  ( FIG. 5 ). The distance between loops  54   a - b  may be further adjusted to match the wheel span of the bicycle and to better hold the wheels in place, and knob  70  tightened to prevent further movement of tubes  36 . Conventional elastic straps  78  may be mounted on buttons  80  of fittings  62  and looped over the bicycle wheels to hold the bicycle in place during travel. Other conventional means of holding the wheels in place during travel may be used alternatively. It is also contemplated that the tightening of a single strap about a wheel may be used to remove the need for a second loop to engage the other wheel of the bicycle which may simply be held in place in a trough with appropriate wheel gripping means. 
         [0045]    Referring additionally to  FIG. 12 , if access to the rear doors of the carrying vehicle is desired, handle  30  may again be moved laterally inward to cause lock pin  28  to move out of hole  20  to allow the loaded carrier  10  to be tilted downwardly until beam  22  contacts stop bolt  26 . 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIGS. 18-22 , a second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed wherein the bicycle support structures are replaced by a carrying rack  82  which is mounted in a conventional manner such as by bolts, rivets, or welding to the top surface of beam  22 . It will be understood that support struts or gussets may extend outwardly from beam  22  beneath rack  82  to strengthen it for carrying heavy loads. 
         [0047]    It may also be desirous to increase the length of beam  22  and handle  30  as compared to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in order to accommodate a larger rack. 
         [0048]    Rack  82  includes a bottom surface  84  having raised stiffening ribs  86  spaced thereon. Upstanding sidewalls  88  provide depth to the rack and may include tie-down loops such as  90  or openings  92  through which rope or shock cords may be threaded to hold cargo in place on rack  82 . In one embodiment, the carrying rack  82  may be formed of a single piece of metal meant to define sides. The rack may alternatively be formed of perforated steel or steel mesh to improve drainage of rain water. As illustrated, rack  82  provides drainage at the openings at the corners of the rack. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment, bottom surface  84  may be formed of aluminum while the sidewalls are formed of steel, the bottom surface being interconnected with the sidewalls by means of screws. It is also contemplated that the bottom surface may be formed of plastic and pop riveted to the top surface of beam  22 . 
         [0050]    As will be understood, the tilting structure described above with respect to the first embodiment is identical in this second carrying rack embodiment and thus, the operation of the rack embodiment in pivoting from vertical to horizontal to tilting downwardly is also identical to that described above. 
         [0051]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes obvious to a man skilled in the art can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.