Abstract:
The present invention provides a convertible ladder and load platform including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary bottom portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, a removable top portion received by the stationary bottom portion, a frame received by the stationary bottom portion, and a plurality of rotatable steps operable between a vertically oriented ladder position and a horizontally oriented load platform position received by the frame.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to ladders and platforms, and more specifically, a convertible ladder and load platform for a vehicle articulating roof rack system. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     An articulating roof rack system provides a new level of utility not seen in current roof rack systems. The system is operatively deployed upon a vehicle and is selectively movable to allow a user to easily and quickly load and unload items to and from the assembly. As such, a portion of the roof rack assembly is selectively removable from the roof, thereby allowing the user to access the assembly from ground level. 
     To allow for the selectively removable portion of the roof rack assembly to be repositioned, the system provides for support members in combination with cross members to be slideably and pivotally repositionable upon the back end of the vehicle such that the assembly is in a back end mounted position, resulting in the assembly being substantially parallel with the back end of the vehicle. In this back end position, the user can easily load and unload items from ground level without the use of a ladder or the like. 
     While the roof rack system provides for easy operator loading and unloading and access from ground level, its purpose is to securely store and hold items that are not currently in use. In such vehicles where the articulating roof rack system would be used, typically sport utility vehicles and the like, there is a need for increased utility of external vehicle components. An operator may desire, for example, to have the roof rack system in a back end mounted position while still requiring access to the roof of the vehicle or an operator may desire a loading surface on the roof of the vehicle when the roof rack system is in a roof mounted position. 
     It is therefore desired to have a convertible ladder and load platform for a vehicle articulating roof rack system such that when in the back end mounted position the convertible ladder and load platform can be attached to the system to serve as a ladder for access to the roof of the vehicle, and when in the roof mounted position the convertible ladder and load platform can be attached to the system to serve as a load platform thereby creating a flat loading surface on the roof of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a convertible ladder and load platform for a vehicle articulating roof rack system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Accordingly, the present invention advantageously provides a convertible ladder and load platform including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary bottom portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, a removable top portion received by the stationary bottom portion, a frame received by the stationary bottom portion, and a plurality of rotatable steps operable between a vertically oriented ladder position and a horizontally oriented load platform position received by the frame. 
     It is a feature of the present invention that the convertible ladder and load platform for a vehicle articulating roof rack system has steps that rotate such that when in the substantially vertical ladder position the shelves serve as steps, and when in the horizontal load platform position the shelves articulate forward thereby creating a flat loading surface on the roof of the vehicle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible ladder and load platform on an articulating roof rack system of a vehicle in a horizontal load platform position according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a convertible ladder and load platform on an articulating roof rack system of a vehicle in a substantially vertical ladder position according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a convertible ladder and load platform according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective cutaway view of a convertible ladder and load platform according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a convertible ladder and load platform according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the frame of a convertible ladder and load platform according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle  10  having an articulating roof rack system  12  on which there is a convertible ladder and load platform  14  is shown. Although not limited to such, the vehicle  10  which has such a rack system  12  is typically a sport utility vehicle or the like. Here, the articulating roof rack system  12  is in a roof mounted position. As such, the convertible ladder and load platform  14  is in a horizontal load platform position. 
     A selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system  12  is slideably and pivotally repositionable upon a back end  16  of the vehicle  10 , as seen in FIG.  2 . The rack system  12  has left and right support members,  18  and  20  respectively, that are slideably and pivotally repositionable upon the back end  16  of the vehicle  10 . The left and right support members  18  and  20  are tubular shaped and extend substantially the height of the back end  16  of the vehicle  10  when in this back end mounted position, excluding a rear bumper  22 . 
     The roof rack system  12  also has a plurality of tubular shaped cross members  24  each received by both the left and right support members  18  and  20  such that they are perpendicular to said support members  18  and  20 . The plurality of cross members  24  are spaced a predetermined distance apart. The left and right support members  18  and  20  in combination with the cross members  24  form the articulating roof rack system  12  which, in its entirety, extends a predetermined width of the back end  16  of the vehicle  10  when in this back end mounted position. 
     The convertible ladder and load platform  14  is attached to the system  12  by using crossbar mounts  26 , such as what are currently used for bicycle and cargo carriers, which attach to the cross members  24  of the system  12 . A feature of the convertible ladder and load platform  14  is that when not in use, it can be removed from the vehicle  10  altogether. Here in FIG. 2, the convertible ladder and load platform  14  is in a substantially vertical ladder position. 
     A plurality of steps  28  can be seen here, thus creating a ladder for an operator to access the roof of the vehicle  10 . The steps  28  can be locked in place via internal locking mechanisms. The steps  28  also serve as shelves when the convertible ladder and load platform  14  is in this position. As such, the steps  28  can be loaded with various cargo such as outdoor items, groceries, or the like. The steps  28  can then be unlocked, and as the articulating roof rack system  12  and the convertible ladder and load platform  14  are rotated upward and slid into the roof mounted and horizontal load platform position as seen in FIG. 1, the steps  28  rotate forward due to gravity via pivot rods  30  and thus keep the cargo upright. The steps  28  can then be relocked to restrict any movement while the vehicle  10  is in motion. Conversely, when the steps  28  are unlocked and the articulating roof rack system  12  and the convertible ladder and load platform  14  are lowered into the back end mounted position, the steps  28  pivot rearward thus keeping themselves, and their items, upright. 
     A closer look at the convertible ladder and load platform  14  can be seen in FIG.  3 . The convertible ladder and load platform  14  is made of plastic and is substantially rectangular shaped. The convertible ladder and load platform  14  has a top portion  32  and a bottom portion  34  that are held together via a latch  36 . The top portion  32  is angled downward toward the front such that when the convertible ladder and load platform  14  and the articulating roof rack system  12  are in the roof mounted position, the surface of the top portion  32  is optimally aerodynamic. The top portion  32  has a nylon, or the like, cloth portion  38 , preferably breathable, with a zipper  40  extending the length of the material. When access to the steps  28  is desired, the latch  36  is unfastened and the top portion  32  is removed for operator use of the ladder, or the zipper  40  is unzipped and the cloth portion  38  is opened for use of the shelves as a load platform. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of the convertible ladder and load platform  14 . As seen here in this horizontal load platform position, the steps  28  have rotated forward about pivot rods  30  such that they are now in a flat surface load platform position. The steps  28  have textured rubberized surfaces so as to reduce slippage. An added feature is that the steps  28  can be removed from the convertible ladder and load platform  14  if desired. The steps  28  themselves are cast aluminum or plastic. 
     The steps  28  are used in conjunction with the pivot rods  30  via use of end caps  42 . The pivot rods  30  are attached to the end caps  42  which are attached to the steps  28  to allow for rotation of the steps  28 . The end caps  42  are of similar material as the steps  28 . The pivot rods  30  are supported by an aluminum frame  44  that is inside the convertible ladder and load platform  14 . 
     A closer look at the frame  44  can be seen in the exploded view of the convertible ladder and load platform  14  in FIG.  5 . As seen here, the aluminum frame  44  defines the overall shape of the convertible ladder and load platform  14 . On the sides and back of the frame  44  there are support rails  46  which are a predetermined distance between the top and bottom of the frame  44 . These support rails  46  hold the pivot rods  30  and thus the end caps  42  and the steps  28 . 
     A view of the framework of the convertible ladder and load platform  14  is best seen in FIG.  6 . Here, the steps  28  can be seen supported by the pivot rods  30  via use of end caps  42 . In this position, the steps  28  serve as a flat load platform to hold cargo. It can be seen here that as the articulating roof rack system and the convertible ladder and load platform  14  are moved into a back end mounted position, the steps  28  articulate rearward about the pivot rods  30  such that the steps  28  are now in a ladder position as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     While only one embodiment of the convertible ladder and load platform of the present invention has been described, others may be possible without departing from the scope of the following claims.