Patent Publication Number: US-2002005423-A1

Title: Hitch-mounted tilting cargo carrier

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/204,657 filed on May 17, 2000. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] I. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] This invention relates to cargo carriers mounted to a hitch assembly of a vehicle and, in particular, to a hitch mounted carrier with a platform which can be selectively tilted downwardly to facilitate loading of the carrier.  
       [0004] II. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0005] With the increased popularity of sport utility vehicles and similar recreational vehicles, vehicle owners have sought convenient means for transporting even more cargo and even secondary vehicles. One well-known tool for increasing the cargo capacity of the vehicle is a rear mounted deck or other carrier. Typically, these carriers are removably mounted to a hitch receiver of the vehicle to position the carrier proximate the rear bumper. Because these carriers are stationary large items must be lifted onto the carrier platform.  
       [0006] Mechanically operated platforms have also been developed to assist in the loading and transport of large items including secondary vehicles such as scooters and wheelchairs. These prior known lifts are heavy structures requiring substantial superstructures which must be supported by the vehicle frame. As a result, these lifts are bulky and expensive and therefore used only for special requirements.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0007] The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known cargo carriers mounted to a vehicle by providing a hitch-mounted carrier which can be easily lowered to a tilted position to facilitate the loading of cargo including secondary vehicles such as wheelchairs, scooters and recreational vehicles.  
       [0008] The cargo carrier of the present invention is removably mounted to a hitch structure secured to the rear of a vehicle. The carrier may be removed when not in use simply by detaching the carrier from the hitch structure. The carrier has an upright stationary frame which includes at least one beam adapted to be matingly received in corresponding bosses of the hitch structure. Movably attached to the frame is a cargo platform. The platform is attached to the frame by a pair of movable arms, one end of which are pivotably connected to the frame and the other end of which are pivotably connected to the platform. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the arms are unequal in length such that when extended, the platform will tilt downwardly forming a ramp upon which the cargo is loaded.  
       [0009] The pivoting movement of the arms and therefore the deployment of the platform is controlled by a jack assembly mounted to the fixed frame. The jack includes telescopically extendable tube attached to the frame. The retraction and extension of the tube is controlled through a crank drivably connected to a gear system. As the crank is operated, the inner tube will be extended to move the platform between a raised position and a lowered position proximate the ground.  
       [0010] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
     [0011] The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views and in which:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hitch-mounted tilting cargo carrier embodying the present invention mounted to the rear of a vehicle;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cargo carrier;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cargo carrier lowered to a tilted position for loading and unloading; and  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is an end view of the cargo carrier. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
     [0017] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cargo carrier  10  adapted to be mounted to the rear of a vehicle  12 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier  10  is detachably mounted to a towing hitch structure  14  fixedly secured to the vehicle  12  proximate the rear bumper of the vehicle  12 . As a result, the carrier  10  will transport a load at the rear of the vehicle  12 . When not in use, the carrier  10  may be detached from the hitch  14  and stored away. Unlike well-known stationary carriers, the cargo carrier  10  of the present invention is selectively movable between a raised position and a lowered position proximate the ground  16  for loading and unloading as will be subsequently described.  
     [0018] The cargo carrier  10  includes a fixed frame  20  detachably mountable to the hitch  14 . The frame  20  is disposed substantially upright and has at least one hitch receiver bar  22  extending perpendicular to the frame  20 . The at least one hitch receiver bar  22  is adapted to be received either in a hitch sleeve  24  or a boss  26  of the hitch assembly  14  depending upon the hitch type mounted to vehicle  12 . The frame  20  may include horizontal supports  28  and vertical cross-members  29 .  
     [0019] Pivotably attached to the frame  20  are at least a pair of pivot arms  30 . A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two pivot arms  30  including a first pivot arm  32  and a second pivot arm  34  having a greater length than the first arm  32  in order to tilt the carrier in accordance with the present invention. An upper end  36  of the arms  30  is pivotably connected to the fixed frame  20 . A lower end  38  of the arms  30  is pivotably connected to a platform  50 . The pivoting movement of the arms  30  is preferably controlled by a manually operated jack  40  although any type of mechanical assembly could be used to control the movement of the arms  30  and, consequently, deployment of the platform  50 .  
     [0020] The jack  40  of the present invention includes a housing  42  secured to the frame  20  and a telescoping arm  44  extending from the housing  42 . The telescoping arm  44  is attached to one of the pivot arms  30  such that upon extension of the jack arm  44 , the pivot arms  30  will be moved downwardly. The telescoping movement of the jack arm  44  is controlled by a gear assembly operably connected to a crank  46 .  
     [0021] The carrier platform  50  is attached to the lower end  38  of the pivot arms  30  for movement therewith. The platform  50  will preferably have a rectangular configuration dimensioned according to the intended end use of the carrier  10 . The pivot arms  30  are pivotably connected to one edge  52  of the platform  50 . The platform  50  may comprise a simple frame, a series of parallel rails, or a flat platform according to the intended use. As further alternatives, a ramp or a cargo housing may be secured to the platform  50 . Cross support beams  62  extend beneath the platform  50  and are connected directly to the pivot arms  30 . The crossbeams  62  may be pivotably connected to the platform  50  to facilitate movement.  
     [0022] Operation of the carrier  10  facilitates loading, transport and unloading of even heavy cargo without lifting the cargo onto a raised platform. The platform  50  will normally be maintained in the raised position substantially parallel to and spaced above the ground  16 . Winding of the crank  46  in a first direction will telescope the arm  44  of the jack  40  outwardly pivoting the arms  30  downwardly. The unequal length of the pivot arms  30  will cause a first end of the platform  50  to drop farther than the other until the first end engages the ground  16 . The load can then be moved up the ramp-like platform  50  and into position. The rotation of the crank  46  is reversed to pull the telescoping arm  44  into the housing  42  thereby drawing the pivot arms  30  upwardly until the platform is substantially parallel to the ground  16 . With the platform  50  in the raised position, the load in the cargo carrier  10  can be transported with the vehicle.  
     [0023] During non-use, the cargo carrier  10  can be detached from the hitch assembly  14  by removing the hitch receiver bar  22  depending upon the mounting of the cargo carrier  10 .  
     [0024] The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.