Abstract:
A hitch receiver mounted cargo carrier has a series of mount stations onto which various accessories can be removably attached. A handle, either manual or attachable to another vehicle, is received within the hitch mountable receiver tube. Vertical members, which can hold, grills, fishing rods or act as rails, etc., are attached within gaps between grid blocks located on either end of the carrier. A pair of latitudinal channels, which are part of holding rails of the top surface of the carrier, can support horizontal members, such as canopy rails. Landing gear, with or without wheels attached can be pivotally mounted proximate either end of the carrier.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/059,006, filed on Oct. 21, 2013, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/631,696, filed on Feb. 25, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. application No. 62/023,840, filed on Jul. 12, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device that functions as a cargo carrier that is removably attached to a tailgate hitch receiver and that can hold various accessories and that can convert to a wheeled cart, pulled either by hand or by a velocipede. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Many sport utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup truck owners, and even some automobile owners find that they simply lack sufficient cargo storage capacity for many trips and turn to tailgate hitch mounted carriers in order to increase the cargo capacity of the vehicle. Such hitch mounted carriers, which come in varying architectures, are removably attached to the tailgate hitch found on the rear of the vehicle and extend rearwardly therefrom. The carriers have a relatively flat bottom with peripheral sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom in order to help keep the cargo thereon. Some sidewalls have openings or are otherwise formed as a frame and truss configuration in order to provide tie-down points for the cargo that is loaded onto the carrier. Many carriers are very strong and sturdy and can carrier a fair amount of relatively heavy cargo. 
     Tailgate hitch mounted carriers are very versatile in increasing the cargo capacity of the vehicle to which such carriers are attached. However, such carriers are a unitary function article in that upon arrival at a destination, for example a picnic ground, the carriers tend to offer little further utility to their use, other than possibly acting as a temporary storage platform for which a fold out table may be better suited. Often the user has other needs at the destination, such as helping support a grill or securing a pop-up canopy from sun and wind effects. Such additional needs can either be met through labor, such as digging a hole for the post of the grill and securing the grill therein, or providing an appropriate anchoring device for the canopy. However, such need resolutions either require time-consuming and often difficult manual labor on the part of the user or his or her entourage, or the carrying of additional cargo which may require sacrificing other desired articles from being transported despite the use of the carrier. 
     Additionally, current carriers do no offer help in transporting cargo other via the vehicle to which they are attached. In order to transport cargo other than via the vehicle, other carrying devices must be employed, such as coolers or dollies, which devices take up further cargo capacity of the vehicle, leaving less room for other accessories. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device that can increase the overall utility of a typical tailgate hitch mounted carrier so that the carrier has substantial utility to a user beyond the primary cargo transport function. Such a device must provide support for a variety of articles in order to reduce the need for time-consuming and difficult manual labor or the need to transport additional articles. Such a device must offer assistance in cargo transport when detached from the vehicle to which the carrier is attached. Such a device must be of relatively simple construction and be easy to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The convertible cargo carrier and cart system of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a comprehensive carrier that is removably attached to the distal end of a typical tailgate hitch mounted carrier in quick and easy fashion, wherein the convertible cargo carrier and cart system is able to support and secure a variety of elongate articles in either an upward orientation or downward orientation, or both. One such downwardly oriented elongate article that is able to be supported by the present invention is a pair of wheels, either in a fixed downward orientation, or in a pivoted attachment in order to allow the wheels to landing-gear-pivot between a generally horizontal orientation (stowed) and a generally vertical orientation (deployed), allowing the convertible cargo carrier and cart system to function as a land cart for transporting cargo when detached from the vehicle. A desired handle, either a handheld handle, or a handle that attaches to a velocipede or other vehicle (ATV, motorcycle, etc.,), is attachable to the convertible cargo carrier and cart system in order to tow the device that has been converted to a cart. The convertible cargo carrier and cart system is of relatively simple design and construction, being produced using standard manufacturing techniques, so as to make the device relatively inexpensive to produce so as to make the invention economically attractive to potential consumers of this type of device. The convertible cargo carrier and cart system is quickly and easily converted to a desired architecture for a particular job in short order, using at most basic handle tool to perform the conversion. 
     The convertible cargo carrier and cart system is comprised of a carrier that has a frame that has a front end, an opposing back end, joined by a first side and an opposing second side, a top surface and a bottom surface. A receiver tube that is receivable within a hitch receiver of a vehicle extends longitudinally and horizontally outwardly from the front end of the carrier. A pair of tube members forms a portion of the top surface. Each tube member has a latitudinally disposed tube channel extending between the first side and the second side. The bottom surface of the carrier has an open front channel lattitudinally disposed proximate the first end of the carrier and an open back channel lattitudinally disposed proximate the back end of the carrier. The front channel and the back channel are each joined by an open first side channel disposed proximate the first side and an open second side channel disposed proximate the second side. A first pivot bolt opening faces the front channel and a second pivot bolt opening faces the front channel and corresponds with the first pivot bolt opening. At least one of the receiver tubes has a series of spring-loaded button openings disposed on an upper wall thereof. A third pivot bolt opening faces the back channel while a fourth pivot bolt opening faces the back channel and corresponding with the third pivot bolt opening. At least one tray is attached to the receiver tube and is accessible through the top surface. A series of spaced apart vertically oriented block channels are located at the back end of the carrier or the front end of the carrier or both. The block channels are formed by attaching a series of spaced apart grid blocks to the back end and/or front end of the carrier and attaching a plate to the grid blocks, each block channel bounded by a pair of grid blocks, the back end and/or front end of the carrier and the plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1L  is an exploded view of the left side of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1R  is an exploded view of the right side of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system that mates up with  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view, partially cut away, of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system using a novel bicycle holder. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the convertible cargo carrier and cart system of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a receiver tube  12  that has a first end  14  having a pair of corresponding openings  16  located proximate thereto, and a second end  18 . A first pair of angle plates  20  is attached to the second end  18  of the receiver tube  12 , one on either side of the receiver tube  12 , each having a first angle bolt opening  22 , while a second pair of angle plates  24  is attached to the receiver tube  12  medially between the first end  14  and the second end  18 , again on either side of the receiver tube  12 , each second angle plate  24  having a second angle bolt opening  26  and each second angle plate  24  facing the first angle plate  20  on its side of the receiver tube  12 . Each angle plate  20  and  24  is attached to the receiver tube  12  in appropriate fashion such as via a low profile fastener (bolts and nuts, rivet, etc., none illustrated) or via welding. 
     A pair of trays  28  is provided and each is positioned between a respective one of the first angle plate  20  second angle plate  24  pair located on one side of the receiver tube  12 . As seen, each tray has an inbound bolt opening  30  and one or more outbound bolt openings  32  on its opposing sidewalls  34 . The first angle plate  20  second angle plate  24  pair is spaced apart so that the tray  28  fits snugly between the angle plate pair and such that the inbound bolt openings  30  align with the first angle bolt openings  22  of the first angle plate  20  and the second angle bolt openings  26  of the second angle plate  24  on the respective angle plate  20  and  24  against which the tray sidewall  34  is abutting—the trays  28  are illustrated as not having an inner end wall with the receiver tube  12  acting as the inner end wall, thereby conserving material and weight. However, if the angle plates  20  and  24  are bolted or riveted to the receiver tube  12 , then the trays may be provided with such end walls with the bolts passing through such end walls in attaching both the tray and the angle plates to the receiver tube  12 . 
     A rear platform  36  has a hollow elongate rear tube member  38  that is open on either end and that has a series of button openings  40  located along its top wall  42  (or possibly the bottom wall  44 ). A rear channel member  46  extends outwardly from the joinder of the bottom wall  44  and outer sidewall  48  of the rear tube member  38 . As seen, the rear channel member  46  has a rear channel base plate  50  and a rear channel side plate  52  having a series of rear channel bolt openings  54  thereon, the rear channel member  46  forms an elongate open channel essentially coextensive with the rear tube member  38 . A rear mounting flange  56  extends upwardly from the joinder of the bottom wall  44  and outer sidewall  48  of the rear tube member  38  and has a notch or gap  58  at its midpoint, the gap  58  not strictly needed on the rear mounting flange  56  as the receiver tube  12  does not intersection the rear mounting flange  56 . A series of rear flange bolt openings  60  are located on either side of the gap  58 . The various items, including the rear tube member  38 , the rear channel member  46  and the rear mounting flange  56  are connected to each other in appropriate fashion such as via welding or the rear tube member  38 , the rear channel member  46  and the rear mounting flange  56  may be formed as one unit via extrusion. 
     A rear end mount  62  has a rear end plate  64  having a series of rear end plate bolt opening pairs  66  located along its length. A rear side plate  68  extends inwardly from each end of the rear end plate  64 . As seen, each rear side plate  68  has a pair of side plate bolt openings  70  and a rear mount pivot bolt opening  72 . 
     A rear vertical receiver  74  has a rear base plate  76  with a series of rear base plate bolt opening pairs (not separately illustrated or numbered), while a series of rear grid blocks  78  each have a pair of rear grid bolt openings  80  that each align with a respective one of the rear plate bolt opening pairs of the rear base plate  76 . If desired, the rear grid blocks  78  may be welded to the rear base plate  76 , although such is not necessary. 
     A pair of side rails  82  is provide such that each side rail  82  has a pair of front rail bolt openings  84  proximate the forward end thereof and a pair of rear rail bolt openings  86  proximate a rearward end thereof. 
     To assemble this sub-portion of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10 , each tray  28  is positioned between its respective first angle plate  20  and second angle plate  26  such that the inbound bolt opening  30  of each tray  28  aligns with the first angle bolt opening  22  of that tray&#39;s first angle plate  20 . The rear platform  36  is positioned so that the rear mounting flange  56  abuts the sidewall  34  of the trays  28  and so that the rear flange bolt openings  60  on either side of the gap  58  and nearest the gap  58  of the rear mounting flange  56  align with a respective one of the aligned inbound bolt opening  30  and first angle bolt opening  22 . The remaining rear flange bolt openings  60  of the rear mounting flange  56  align with one of the outbound bolt openings  32  of one of the trays  28 . Bolts  168  are passed through all aligned openings and secured via appropriate nuts  170 . The rear end plate  62  is positioned so as to abut the rear channel side plate  82  so that each of the lower row of rear end plate bolt openings  66  aligns with a respective one of the rear channel bolt openings  54 . Additionally, each side rail  82  is positioned so as to abut against the rear channel side plate  52  such that the rear rail bolt openings  86  each align with respective rear side plate bolt openings  70  with bolts  168  passed through each of the aligned rear rail bolt openings  86  and rear side plate bolt opening  70  pairs. The rear vertical receiver  74  is positioned so that the rear grid blocks  78  abut the outer surface of the rear end plate  64  of the rear end mount  62  so each rear base plate bolt openings aligns with a respective one of the rear grid block bolt openings  80  and that each aligned opening pair aligns with a respective one of the rear end plate bolt opening  66  and the all of the aligned bolt opening triples along the lower row align with a respective one of the rear channel bolt openings  54 . Bolts  168  are passed through all aligned bolt opening triples or quads and secured via appropriate nuts  170 . 
     The forward end of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  is substantially similar to the just described rearward end of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  except with appropriate notches gaps to account for the receiver tube  12 . 
     Specifically, a front platform  88  has a hollow elongate front tube member  90  that is open on either end and that has a series of button openings  92  located along its top wall  94  (or possibly the bottom wall  96 —button openings may be provided only on the front tube member  90 , the rear tube member  38 , or both. A front channel member  98  extends outwardly from the joinder of the top wall  94  and outer sidewall  100  of the front tube member  90 . As seen, the front channel member  98  has a front channel base plate  102  and a front channel side plate  104  having a series of front channel bolt openings  106  thereon, the front channel member  98  forms an elongate open channel essentially coextensive with the front tube member  90 . As seen, a pair of mount plates  108  extends across the channel of the front channel member  98 , just inward from either end thereof, each mount plate  108 , having a mount plate opening  110 . A front mounting flange  112  extends upwardly from the joinder of the bottom wall  96  and outer sidewall  100  of the front tube member  90  and has a notch or gap  114  at its midpoint. A series of front flange bolt openings  116  is located on either side of the gap  114 . The various items, including the front tube member  90 , the front channel member  98  and the front mounting flange  112  are connected to each other in appropriate fashion such as via welding or the front tube member  90 , the front channel member  98  and the front mounting flange  112  may be formed form as one unit via extrusion. 
     A front end mount  118  has a front end plate  120  having a series of front end plate bolt opening pairs  122  located along its length, the front end plate  120  having a notch  124  to allow the receiver tube  12  to pass therethrough (the rear end plate  64  may be similarly notched even though it does not need to be for ease of manufacturing and assembly). A front side plate  126  extends inwardly from each end of the front end plate  120 . As seen, each front side plate  126  has a pair of front side plate bolt openings  128  and a front mount pivot bolt opening  130 . 
     A front vertical receiver  132  has a front base plate  134  with a series of front base plate bolt opening pairs (not separately illustrated or numbered), while a series of front grid blocks  136  each have a pair of front grid block bolt openings  138  that align with a respective one of the front plate bolt opening pairs of the front base plate  134 . If desired, the front grid blocks  136  may be welded to the front base plate  134 , although such is not necessary. The front base plate  134  is notched to allow the receiver tube  12  to pass therethrough (the rear base plate  76  may be similarly notched even though it does not need to be, for ease of manufacturing and assembly). 
     To assemble this sub-portion of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10 , the front platform  88  is positioned so that the front mounting flange  112  abuts the sidewall  34  of the trays  28  and so that the front flange bolt openings  116  on either side of the front gap  114  and nearest the front gap  114  of the front mounting flange  112  align with a respective one of the aligned inbound bolt opening  30  and second angle bolt opening  26 . The remaining front flange bolt openings  116  of the front mounting flange  112  align with one of the outbound bolt openings  32  of one of the trays  28 . Bolts  168  are passed through all aligned openings and secured via appropriate nuts  170 . The front end mount  118  is positioned so as to abut the front channel side plate  104  so that each of the lower row of front end plate bolt openings  122  aligns with a respective one of the front channel bolt openings  106  with the receiver tube  12  passing through the notch  124 . The front rail bolt openings  84  of the side rails  82  each align with a respective one of the front side plate bolt openings  128  with bolts  168  passed through each of the aligned front rail bolt openings  84 —front side plate bolt opening  128  pairs. The front vertical receiver  132  is positioned so that the front grid blocks  136  abut the outer surface of the front end plate  120  of the front end mount  118  so that each front base plate bolt openings aligns with a respective one of the front grid block bolt openings  138  and so that each aligned pair aligns with a respective one of the front end plate bolt opening  122  and the all of the aligned bolt opening triples along the lower row align with a respective one of the front channel bolt openings  106 , the receiver tube  12  passing through the notch. Bolts  168  are passed through all aligned bolt opening triples or quads and secured via appropriate nuts  170 . 
     The various components of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  can be made from an appropriate sturdy material such as metal including aluminum. 
     The convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  is now assembled and ready for use. The convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  can be attached to a vehicle in normal fashion by having the front end  14  of the receiver tube  12  received within the receiver hitch of a vehicle and pinned therein by passing an appropriate pin through the openings  16  of the receiver tube  12  that align with openings of the receive hitch in the usual way. The convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  has five main areas of securement for cargo. One securement area is the top or upper surface of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  being formed of the various members that make up the upper surface, as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Cargo can be loaded onto the top and secured as desired, in essentially typical cargo carrier fashion. Another securement area is the two trays  28  that can hold various small items such as fasteners, small hand tools, fishing tackle, etc. Another securement area is the vertical gaps  140  between the rear grid blocks  78  and front grid blocks  136 . A vertical member, such as a post to hold a grill or a tube that acts as a fishing pole holder are received within the gap  140 , and can extend down to the ground for support, such as a grill post or can be secured by passing a bolt through openings  142  between the rear grid blocks  78  or openings  144  between the front grid blocks  136  and through the item to be secured. Hooks can also be screwed into these bolt openings  142  and  144  in order to allow securement of devices to the hooks or for use as tie-down strap securement points. Another securement area is the horizontal channels formed within the rear tube member  38  and front tube member  90 . A horizontal bar, such as possibly a horizontal support leg of a pop up canopy, can pass through one of the horizontal channels and be secured thereby. As seen in  FIG. 4 , another horizontal channel support item is a bicycle holder, which as seen is a rod  146  that forms an elongate loop  148  with a gap  150  and which has a spring loaded push button  152  on an end thereof. The bush button end of the rod  146  is inserted into the horizontal channel until the push button  152  aligns with a desired one of the button openings, either  40  or  92 , depending on which platform is being used. A second bicycle holder is attached to the opposite side of this horizontal channel. The wheels of a bicycle are each received within one of the loops  148 . The bicycle holders can be moved into or out of the channel as needed, aligning the push button  152  with a desired button opening  40  or  92 , depending on the size of the bicycle. Another securement area is the underside of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , a pair of horizontal longitudinal channels  154  is formed mainly by the side rails  82  and the trays  28  while a pair of horizontal latitudinal channels  156  is created by the rear mounting flange  56  and the rear plate mount  62  and the front channel member  98  and front mounting flange  112 . A leg can be pivotally attached to the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10 , one leg on each side, by positioning the leg such that its openings aligns with the mount plate opening  110  and the front mount pivot bolt opening  130  and passing a bolt through the aligned openings and securing with an appropriate nut. The leg can pivot into and out of its respective  5  longitudinal channel  154 . If a cross bar (which may have wheels thereon), such as a landing bar is attached to the ends of the legs, the landing bar can seat within the outer latitudinal channel  156 . 
     A handle can be inserted into the channel formed at the front  14  of the receiver tube  12  and pinned therein and used to pull the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  (wheels  10  being attached to either the grid block subsystem or to the underside mount subsystem) via hand or attaching the handle to another vehicle such as a velocipede, an ATV, a motorcycle, etc., in appropriate fashion 
     Many examples of the versatility of the convertible cargo carrier and cart system  10  have been illustrated in the parent application. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.