Patent Publication Number: US-2021178980-A1

Title: Skis and snowboards rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Fields of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a skis and snowboards rack, and more particularly, to a rack connected to rear end of a vehicle for conveniently carrying skis and snowboards. 
     2. Descriptions of Related Art 
     The conventional skis and snowboards racks for vehicles are installed to the top of the vehicles and the skis and snowboards are secured on the top of the vehicles. However, the skis and snowboards increase the height of the vehicles and may hit the garage door or parking facility to damage the skiing equipment and the facility. 
     The present invention intends to provide a rack for carrying skis and snowboards, and the rack is connected to rear end of a vehicle so as to eliminate shortcomings mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a skis and snowboards rack, and comprises a post connected to a vehicle, and including a first clamp unit and a second clamp unit respectively connected thereto. The first clamp unit includes multiple pairs of first bars, and a first space is formed between each pair of the first bars. Multiple restriction members are slidably mounted to each pair of the first bars. The second clamp unit includes multiple pairs of second bars, and a second space is formed between each pair of the second bars. The second spaces are located corresponding to the first spaces. An end bar is connected to each of the first clamp unit and the second clamp unit to close up the first spaces and the second spaces. 
     Preferably, the post includes a first positioning section and a second positioning section. Each of the first and second positioning section includes multiple holes. Multiple first and second positioning members extend through a portion of each of the first and second clamp units and the holes to connect the first and second clamp units to the post. 
     Preferably, one of the two first bars of one pair of the first clamp unit includes a first pivotal end. One of the two first bars of another one pair of the first clamp unit includes a first connection end. One of the two second bars of one pair of the second clamp unit includes a second pivotal end, and one of the two second bars of another one pair of the second clamp unit includes a second connection end. The end bars each have a pivotal portion and an engaging portion, wherein the pivotal portion is pivotably connected to the first/second pivotal end, and the engaging portion is detachably mounted to the first/second connection end. 
     Preferably, the first clamp unit includes two first positioning plates, and the second clamp unit includes two second positioning plates. The post is connected between the two first positioning plates and the two second positioning plates. The first and second positioning plates of the first and second clamp units are pivotable relative to the post. 
     Preferably, the first clamp unit includes a first tube and two first positioning plates which are connected to the first tube. Each first positioning plate includes first bores defined through at least three corners thereof. The multiple pairs of first bars are connected to the first tube. The first positioning plates are pivotably connected to the first positioning section of the post by multiple first positioning members. The first positioning plates are pivotable about one of the first positioning members at one of corners thereof. 
     Preferably, the second clamp unit includes a second tube and two second positioning plates which are connected to the second tube. Each second positioning plate includes second bores defined through at least three corners thereof. The multiple pairs of second bars are connected to the second tube. The second positioning plates are pivotably connected to the second positioning section of the post by multiple second positioning members. The second positioning plates are pivotable about one of the second positioning member at one of corners thereof. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a skis and snowboards rack that is connected to the rear end of a vehicle so as not to increase the height of the vehicle and not to block the driver&#39;s sight. 
     Another object of the present invention is that the skis and snowboards are positioned in the first and second spaces between the first and second bars. The restriction members further position the skis and snowboards. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is that the skis and snowboards rack can also be used to secure surfing boards. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view to show the skis and snowboards rack of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the skis and snowboards rack of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows that the end bars are pivoted relative to the first and second clamp units of the skis and snowboards rack of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows that a snowboard is to be positioned to skis and snowboards rack of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows that a snowboard is positioned to skis and snowboards rack of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  show that the first and second clamp units are adjusted along the post; 
         FIG. 8  shows that the first and second clamp units are pivoted relative to the post, and 
         FIG. 9  shows that the first and second clamp units are folded to be parallel to the post. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the skis and snowboards rack of the present invention comprises a post  1  which is connected to rear end of a vehicle (not shown). A first clamp unit  2  is connected to the upper portion of the post  1 , and a second clamp unit  3  is connected to the lower portion of the post  1 . The first clamp unit  2  includes two pairs of first bars  21 . A first space  22  is formed between each pair of the first bars  21 . Multiple restriction members  23  are slidably mounted to each pair of the first bars  21 . The restriction members  23  are slidable along the first bars  21  to adjust the distance between the restriction members  23 . The first bars  21  are mounted with sleeves made of soft or resilient material. 
     The second clamp unit  3  includes two pairs of second bars  31 . A second space  32  is formed between each pair of the second bars  31 . The second spaces  32  are located corresponding to the first spaces  22 . The second bars  31  are mounted with sleeves made of soft or resilient material. 
     The post  1  includes a first positioning section  11  and a second positioning section  12 . Each of the first and second positioning section  11 ,  12  includes multiple holes  111 / 121 . 
     Specifically, the first clamp unit  2  includes a first tube  24  and two first positioning plates  25  which are connected to the first tube  24 . Each first positioning plate  25  includes first bores  251  defined through three corners thereof. The multiple pairs of first bars  21  are connected to the first tube  24 . The first positioning plates  25  are pivotably connected to the first positioning section  11  of the post  1  by multiple first positioning members  5  which extend through the first bores  251  and the holes  111  so as to connect the first clamp unit  2  to the post  1 . Similarly, the second clamp unit  3  includes a second tube  34  and two second positioning plates  35  which are connected to the second tube  34 . Each second positioning plate  35  includes second bores  351  defined through three corners thereof. The multiple pairs of second bars  31  are connected to the second tube  34 . The second positioning plates  35  are pivotably connected to the second positioning section  12  of the post  1  by multiple second positioning members  50  extending through the second bores  351  and the holes  121  so as to connect the second clamp unit  3  to the post  1 . 
     An end bar  4  is connected to each of the first clamp unit  2  and the second clamp unit  3  to close up the first spaces  22  and the second spaces  32 . Specifically, one of the two first bars  21  of one pair of the first clamp unit  2  includes a first pivotal end  211 , one of the two first bars  21  of another one pair of the first clamp unit  2  includes a first connection end  212  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The end bars  4  each have a pivotal portion  41  and an engaging portion  42 , wherein the pivotal portion  41  is pivotably connected to the first pivotal end  211 , and the engaging portion  42  is detachably mounted to the first connection end  212 . Similarly, one of the two second bars  31  of one pair of the second clamp unit  3  includes a second pivotal end  311 . One of the two second bars  31  of another one pair of the second clamp unit  3  includes a second connection end  312 . The pivotal portion  41  of the end bar  4  corresponding to the second clamp unit  3  is pivotably connected to the second pivotal end  311 , and the engaging portion  42  of the end bar  4  corresponding to the second clamp unit  3  is detachably mounted to the second connection end  312 . 
     When in use, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the two respective end bars  4  is pivoted about the pivotal portion  41 , and the engaging portion  42  of the end bar  4  is separated from the first/second connection ends  212 / 312  so as to form an entrance  221 / 321  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The restriction members  23  are released and moved to proper positions, so that the snowboard can be inserted into the first and second spaces  22 ,  32 . The restriction members  23  contact two sides of the snowboard, and are secured to the first bar  21  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The end bars  4  are then pivoted to engage the engaging portions  42  with the first and second connection ends  22 ,  312  of the first and second bars  21 ,  31  to close the entrances  221 ,  321 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first and second clamp units  2 ,  3  can be moved along the first and second positioning sections  11 ,  12  of the post  1  by removing the first and second positioning members  5 ,  50  out from the first and second bores  251 ,  351  of the first and second positioning plates  25 ,  35  of the first and second clamp units  2 ,  3 , and the holes  111 ,  121 . By this adjustment, the first and second clamp units  2 ,  3  are able to position the snowboards of different lengths. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the rack is not in use, the first and second positioning members  5 ,  50  are removed from the first and second bores  251 ,  351  of one of the corners, and the first and second positioning plates  25 ,  35  are connected to the post  1  by only one corner. Therefore, the first and second clamp units  2 ,  3  are pivotable relative to the post  1  about the first and second positioning members  5 ,  50  at the corners of the first and second positioning plates  25 ,  35 . The first and second clamp units  2 ,  3  are pivoted to be parallel to the post  1 . The first and second positioning members  5 ,  50  are again extended through the first and second bores  251 ,  351  of another corners of the first and second first positioning plates  25 ,  35  and the holes  111 ,  121  to position the first and second clamp units  2 ,  3 . The folded status of the rack saves space. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.