Abstract:
A hitch carrier device for transporting cargo and particularly, but not exclusively, large game carcasses on a hitch of a road vehicle is described. The carrier device comprises a support structure having a vertical support frame. A hitch connection is provided at a lower end of the vertical support frame. A horizontal harness support frame is secured to an upper end portion of the vertical support frame. A harness of flexible material is detachably secured to the horizontal harness support frame for supporting a cargo to be transported at an elevated position above the hitch behind the road vehicle.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a hitch carrier device for transporting cargo on a hitch of a road vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Various transporting devices are known that are connectable to a hitch of a road vehicle whereby to transport cargo. For Example, such support structures are known whereby to support bicycles or snow skis and other articles behind a road vehicle. The carrier device of the present invention was particularly designed for transporting a cargo which is malleable, such as sports equipment bags and in particular, but not exclusively, to the support of game carcasses. 
         [0003]    U.S. Patent Application 2003/0080538 describes a multi-purpose deer hunting cart whereby to support a game carcass. However, that cart was designed whereby to be drawn into the bush where the animal is killed to transport the animal back to a road vehicle. A disadvantage of this type of carrier is that the animal rests on rigid structures and this is damaging to the skin and, of course, to the meat of the carcass. It is not meant to transport an animal by a road vehicle over long distances by connection to a hitch of that vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a hitch carrier device for transporting cargo, such as game animal carcasses, in a safe manner and wherein the transport device is detachably connectable to the hitch of a road vehicle and does not harm the meat of the carcass. 
         [0005]    Another feature of the present invention is to provide a hitch carrier device for transporting cargo such as equipment bags, golf bags, camping gear or any other bulky cargo. 
         [0006]    According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a hitch carrier device for transporting cargo on a hitch of a road vehicle. The carrier device comprises a support structure having a vertical support frame. Hitch connecting means is provided at a lower end of the vertical support frame. A horizontal harness support frame is secured to an upper end portion of the vertical support frame. A harness of flexible material is detachably secured to the horizontal harness support frame for supporting a cargo to be transported at an elevated position above the hitch behind the road vehicle. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hitch carrier device constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the construction of the support structure of the hitch carrier device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a further embodiment of a hitch carrier device constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the interconnectable parts of the hitch carrier device illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0012]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are side views showing the operation of the lifting mechanism to displace the harness from a loading position to a load transport position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown generally at  10  a hitch carrier device constructed in accordance with the present invention whereby to connect to the hitch  20  of a road vehicle, not shown. Such hitches are well known in the art and are comprised by a tubular member which receives a locking pin  19  to secure a hitch attachment rod therein. As hereinshown the hitch carrier device is comprised of a support structure  11  which is comprised of a vertical support frame  12  and a horizontal harness support frame  14  which is secured to the upper end  12 ′ of the vertical support frame  12 . The lower end  12 ″ of the vertical support frame is provided with detachable connection means whereby to connect to a lower straight support bar  13  having a hitch connecting end  13 ′. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a harness  15  of flexible material, herein flexible canvas straps  15 ′ interconnected in transverse relationship, is detachably secured to the horizontal harness support frame members  14 . This harness is provided with loop ends  16  which are slid over opposed free ends  14 ′ and  14 ″ of the horizontal support frame members  14 . Accordingly, the harness  15  is a flexible harness constituted by a flat wide strap whereby to support game carcasses without damaging the skin and meat of the carcass as the harness conforms to the shape of the animal carcass and provides a smooth support structure. Of course the animal carcass would be tied down to the harness straps  15 ′ by further strapping means. 
         [0015]    As hereinshown the vertical support frame is comprised of a pair of vertical support posts  12  secured at a lower end in spaced-apart relationship to the straight support bar  13  which is provided with the hitch connector  13 ′ at a free end thereof. The horizontal harness support frame  14  is comprised of two straight horizontal support bars formed by bar sections  17  and  17 ′ interconnected together by a connector  18 . Also the vertical posts  2  are interconnected to the horizontal straight support frame  13  by connectors  22 . Accordingly, the horizontal harness support frame is a straight horizontal support bar secured at mid-length thereof to a top end of each of the vertical support posts  12  and extends transversely to the straight support bar  13  whereby the horizontal support bars  14  are spaced apart in spaced, parallel relationship. The harness  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , depends from between these horizontal support bars. 
         [0016]    Although as illustrated in  FIG. 1  the harness is constructed of strapping, it is also conceivable that the harness can be in the form of a canvas bag and the harness can be open-ended, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or have closed strap ends as is obvious to a person skilled in the art. Further, although the hitch carrier device of the present invention was conceived for the carrying of game carcasses, it is intended that such carrier can be used to carry all sorts of cargo such as sport bags, golf bags, camping gear, coolers or any bulky cargo and particularly cargo which is malleable. The harness or hand or canvass bag may also be constructed of weather-proof material. 
         [0017]    With reference now to  FIGS. 3 to 5B , there will be described a further embodiment of the hitch carrier device of the present invention. As hereinshown the vertical support frame is constituted by a vertical support post  30  which is provide with a horizontal connecting post  31  at a lower end  30 ′ thereof. The horizontal hitch connecting post has a hitch connector  32  at a free end thereof. A transverse support bar  33  is secured at mid-length thereof to a top end  34  of the vertical support post  30  by aligning the holes  35  in the vertical connector  36  with the holes  37  at the top end of the vertical post  30  and placing a lock pin therethrough as is obvious to a person skilled in the art. A pair of horizontal support arms  38  and  38 ′ are each connected to a respective end connector  39  of the transverse support bar  33  and extend in a common rearward direction in parallel spaced relationship to one another. Harness attaching means is provided between a free end  40  and  40 ′ of each of the horizontal support arms  38  and  38 ′ whereby to detachably secure the harness attaching means which is herein constituted by a roll bar  41 . As hereinshown a further roll bar  42  is connected adjacent the transverse support bar  33  under the pair of horizontal support arms  38 . Each of these roll bars are provided with a well known winch mechanism  43 , respectively, whereby to cause rotation of the roll bars. The winch mechanism  43  is constituted by a worm gear and sprocket drive coupling  44  whereby to arrest the bar against counter-rotation when lifting a load on the harness  50  secured thereto. A wench handle  57  is coupled to the worm gear to rotate same to impart rotation to the roll bar  41 . 
         [0018]    As hereinshown the harness  50  is comprised of transverse interconnected straps  51  and  52  and they are provided with free end portions  53  which interconnect, by suitable means (not shown herein, but obvious to a person skilled in the art) to a respective one of the roll bars  41  and  42 . Of course, the end  53 ′ may be connected to a stationary bar  42  or to the transverse support bar  33  while the other end  53  of the harness is connected to the roll bar  41  to cause the harness to be lowered and raised, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . However, this would cause displacement of the load during lifting as it would cause the load to tend to rotate within the harness, but it may be suitable for carrying certain loads wherein this action would not be damaging to the load. 
         [0019]    As also shown in  FIG. 3 , the support frame is further provided with anti-sway tie-down ropes or wires  49  respectively connected to the pair of horizontal support arms  38  and  38 ′ whereby to prevent swaying of the vertical support frame when carrying a heavy load, particularly over bumpy roads or terrain. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the harness  50  is shown in  FIG. 5A  in a lowered position whereby a load  55  may be positioned into the harness  50  when lowered against a ground surface  56 . This provides for ease of loading of heavy loads such as game animal carcasses. Once the load  55  is placed in the harness then both winches  43  are actuated whereby to raise the load with the ratchets  44  preventing the weight of the load to unwind the harness from its respective roll bars. Once the load is lifted, as shown in  FIG. 5B , it is ready for transport. In order to unload the load, it is only necessary to disengage the ratchets  44  and to cause rotation of the roll bars by rotating the winch handles  57  in a counter-clockwise direction. 
         [0021]    It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such examples fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also pointed out that the hitch carrier device of the present invention, although constructed of detachable parts, may be constructed as a permanent rigid structure. It is also pointed out that the detachable parts are intended to be packaged or stored in a case such as a nylon bag or a plastic tool box which is conveniently stored in the trunk of a motor vehicle and which is compact in size. It is also pointed out that by using a harness formed of straps it provides ventilation to an animal carcass carried thereby whereby to maintain the meat fresh and preventing contamination.