Patent Publication Number: US-2009218462-A1

Title: Pivoting support assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/020,300 filed Jan. 10, 2008. Said application is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a load bearing assembly mountable to elongate support members including vertical bars, beams and ladder rails. More particularly, the load bearing assembly that attaches to the elongate member comprises a pivoting unit including a bracket and a hub having a load arm extending therefrom for rotation relative to the bracket for attachment of articles to the elongate member. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the many and varied recreational pursuits, including sporting activities, touring, camping and the like, there is a need to transport equipment and accessories used during recreation. Structures typically used for transporting recreational equipment and accessories include a variety of load carriers such as luggage racks, ski racks, bicycle racks and small item storage racks, for example. Load carriers mounted at the rear and side surfaces of transporting vehicles, for example, include rails, frames, ladders and rack pipes or bars, held to the surfaces by retainers including detachable connectors exemplified by bolts, screws and adjustable clamps. 
     In general, it is known to secure mounts to vertical beams, rods or bars for the purpose of attaching a variety of devices that will retain or support transportable equipment or accessories. It is relatively common for transporting vehicles such as panel trucks and vans and recreational vehicles (RVs) and the like to include a ladder attached to the rear or side of the vehicle to provide roof access. The rails of the ladder provide vertical bars to which to secure mounts for suspension or retention of articles. 
     As disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,345, the vertical supports of a vehicle ladder provide suitable points from which to suspend objects such as chairs, ski poles, fishing rods and the like using a mounting assembly attached to one or both of the vertical ladder supports for deployment of an elongated lower clamp arm extending orthogonally from the mounting assembly. The lower clamp arm engages a pivotally coupled upper clamp arm to facilitate reception of chair legs or other elongated objects between the upper and lower clamp arms. A similar rail clamp arrangement, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,156, provides attachment to a vertical rail, such as the side rail of a ladder, using threaded members with knobs for tightening the clamp at a variety of positions along the rail. The clamp arrangement facilitates carrying of bulky items such as lawn chairs exteriorly of a RV, for example. 
     Mounting arrangements described previously, perform effectively as intended for carrying objects. However, they represent inconvenient, potentially unsafe, impediments when not required to fulfill their intended purpose. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,345 attachment of a mounting block to the vertical support uses a plate operable to provide clamping pressure against the vertical support, substantially precluding sliding and rotation of the mounting arrangement relative to the vertical support. A ladder having a clamp in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,345 will, at some point along the vertical supports, have a solid projection extending immovably at right angles to the vertical support. Due to its rigid mounting, the clamp could impede progress and potentially cause injury to someone using the ladder to climb the exterior of the RV. When not in use, the clamp described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,156 has rotational capability to allow folding between vertical ladder rails. However, such clamp positioning impedes progress of someone trying to place their foot on the step of the ladder over which the folded clamp was positioned. 
     In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the use of known designs for mounting arrangements for attaching to vertical supports, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to several alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to conventionally designed assemblies mountable to elongate support members, such as tubular members and rails, to deploy support arms used for storage or suspension of objects adjacent to the support members. 
     Pivoting support assemblies in accordance with in accordance with an exemplary embodiment incorporate several beneficial features associated with a pivoting unit that includes a bracket and a hub where the hub that rotates relative to the bracket when the bracket is in a stationary position fixedly connected to the support member, such as a rail having a vertical orientation. A load arm connected to the hub pivots away from the support member when using the arm for attachment or suspension of objects. When not in use, the load arm folds against the support member in storage condition. Pivoting units in accordance with the present invention could be used in pairs, for example, for attachment of one to each of the vertical rails of a rear RV ladder. The pivoting units allow the user to deploy the support arms, also referred to herein as load arms, for carrying lawn chairs, bicycles or other recreational items and the like in a safe, secure exterior position on the RV. 
     Mounting of the pivoting unit against the support member could use a connecting bolt having a shaft passing through an opening formed in the support member to engage a threaded channel inside the hub for rotation to draw the pivoting unit towards the support member. This places the bracket in firm abutment with the support member. The connecting bolt has a knob suitable for manual adjustment of a restraining force between the hub and bracket. Loosening the knob allows increased freedom of rotation of the hub and load arm relative to the bracket, while tightening the knob sets the load arm in a desired position either for deployment or for storage. 
     Optionally, the connecting bolt could extend from the hub through the opening in the support member to present a threaded shaft engagable by a knob that rotates along the shaft to draw the pivoting unit against the support member as described previously. With this option the load arm also adopts an extended position outwardly of the support member when deployed and a folded position wherein the load arm is essentially parallel to the elongate support member, when stored. 
     More particularly, the present invention provides an assembly that is mountable to an elongate support member, the assembly comprising a pivoting unit including a bracket and a hub rotatable relative to the bracket when stationary. The elongate support member has an opening through which the shaft of a connecting bolt passes and is received in a threaded channel inside the hub for rotation to connect the pivoting unit to the elongate support. A load arm attached to the hub pivots relative to the elongate support between an extended position and a folded position. 
     In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the bracket that is included with the pivoting unit is interposed between the hub and the elongate support member. Also, the connecting bolt has a head accessible at an outer surface of the elongate support for rotation of the bolt to connect the pivoting unit to the elongate support and further to apply a restraining force restricting movement of the hub relative to the bracket. A preferred assembly in accordance with the present invention has a design of the head of the bolt to facilitate rotation of the bolt for connecting the pivoting unit to the elongate support and adjusting the force restricting movement of the hub relative to the bracket. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the assembly in accordance with the present invention uses a load arm that includes at least one clamp having a cradle to receive a portion of an item to be supported by the load arm, the item secured to the cradle using a flexible retainer adapted to wrap over the portion of the item. The flexible retainer is a strap having at least one latching aperture formed therein to engage a hook portion of the cradle, the strap wrapped over the portion of the item to secure the item to the load arm when the latching aperture engages the hook portion. Suitable items to be supported by the load arm include those selected from the group consisting of recreational items including tubular portions sized to fit in the cradle of the at least one clamp. 
     Another embodiment in accordance with the present invention is an assembly mountable to an elongate support member. The assembly comprises a pivoting unit including a bracket and a hub having rotation relative to the bracket when stationary. A connecting bolt has a shaft passing from the hub through an opening formed in the elongate support member. The shaft has a thread to be received in a threaded channel inside a rotatable object for connection of the pivoting unit to the elongate support. A load arm attached to the hub pivots relative to the elongate support between an extended position and a folded position, wherein in the folded position the load arm adopts an essentially parallel relationship with the elongate support. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the assembly in accordance with the present invention has a bracket that is included with the pivoting unit is interposed between the hub and the elongate support member. Also, the rotatable object is accessible at an outer surface of the elongate support for rotation to connect the pivoting unit to the elongate support and further to apply a releasable restraining force restricting movement of the hub relative to the bracket. In an optional arrangement the rotatable object is a knob designed to facilitate gripping and manual rotation of the knob for connecting the pivoting unit to the elongate support and adjusting the restraining force restricting movement of the hub relative to the bracket. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the assembly in accordance with the present invention uses a load arm that includes at least one clamp having a cradle to receive a portion of an item to be supported by the load arm in the extended position, the item secured to the cradle using a flexible retainer adapted to wrap over the portion of the item. The flexible retainer is a strap having a latching aperture formed therein to engage a hook portion of the cradle, the strap wrapped over the portion of the item to secure the item to the load arm when the latching aperture engages the hook portion. Suitable items to be supported by the extended load arm, which occupies a position substantially at right angles to the elongate support member, include those selected from the group consisting of recreational items including tubular portions sized to fit in the cradle of the at least one clamp. 
     Another embodiment in accordance with the present invention is an article for supporting objects suspended from an elongate support member. The article comprises a load arm attached to a hub of a pivoting unit attached to the elongate support member. The load arm pivots relative to the elongate support between an extended position and a non-supporting folded position. The load arm includes at least one clamp having a cradle to receive a portion of an item to be supported by the load arm, the item secured to the cradle using a flexible retainer adapted to wrap over the portion of the item wherein the flexible retainer is a strap having a latching aperture formed therein to engage a hook portion of the cradle, the strap wrapped over the portion of the item to secure the item to the load arm when the latching aperture engages the hook portion. Suitable items in accordance with the present invention are selected from the group consisting of recreational items such as chairs, bicycles and like items that include tubular portions sized to fit in the cradle of the at least one clamp, and wherein the cradle is adapted to receive the tubular portions of the recreational items. 
     In another aspect, the present invention includes a process for supporting an object on an elongate support member. The process comprises providing a pivoting unit including a bracket and a hub having rotation relative to the bracket when stationary. Also included in the process is positioning a connecting bolt having a shaft passing through an opening formed in the elongate support member, the shaft having a thread to be received in a threaded channel inside the hub for rotation to connect the pivoting unit to the elongate support. Adjustment of a load arm, attached to the hub, causes the load arm to pivot relative to the elongate support between an extended position for supporting the object and a folded, non-supporting position wherein the load arm becomes essentially parallel with the elongate support. 
     The beneficial effects described above apply generally to the exemplary devices and mechanisms disclosed herein of the pivoting support assembly. Specific structures through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail hereinbelow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation showing a pivoting load arm in accordance with an exemplary embodiment mounted on a vertical rail of a ladder attached at the rear of a transporting vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of a load arm in accordance with an exemplary embodiment folded for storage against the vertical rail of a vertical support such as a ladder rail. 
         FIG. 3  provides a partial cross sectional perspective view of a mounting assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment secured to a rail. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of load arms in accordance with an exemplary embodiment extended for use outwardly of vertical supports such as ladder rails. 
         FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of a pair of load arms in accordance with an exemplary embodiment extended to support a recreational article identifiable as a bicycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     Referring to the figures, wherein like numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  is a side elevation showing a pivoting load arm  10  according to the present invention mounted on a vertical rail  12  of a ladder  14  attached at the rear of a transporting vehicle  16 . 
       FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of a mountable assembly  18  in accordance with the present invention wherein the load arm  10  occupies a position folded for storage against the vertical rail  12  of the ladder  14 . Mountable assemblies  18  incorporate several beneficial features associated with a pivoting unit  20  that includes a bracket  22  and a hub  24  that rotates relative to the bracket  22  when the bracket  22  is in a stationary position fixedly connected to the vertical rail  12  as a support member. The load arm  10  connected to the hub  24  pivots away from the rail  12  when using the load arm  10  for attachment or suspension of objects. When not in use, the load arm  10  folds toward the vertical rail  12 , as illustrated, in a convenient storage condition. Pivoting units  20  in accordance with the present invention could be used in pairs, for example, for attachment of one to each of the vertical rails  12  of the ladder  14  at the rear of a RV  16 , for example. The pivoting units  20  allow the user to deploy load arms  10  for carrying lawn chairs, bicycles or other recreational items and the like in a safe, secure exterior position on the RV  16 . 
     Mounting of the pivoting unit  20  against the vertical rail  12  uses a connecting bolt  26  having a shaft extending through an opening formed in the vertical rail  12  to engage a threaded channel inside a knob  28  for rotation to draw the pivoting unit  20  towards the vertical rail  12 . The drawing of the pivoting unit  20  towards the rail  12  places the bracket  22  in firm abutment with the vertical rail  12 . The knob  28  provides manual adjustment of a restraining force between the hub  24  and bracket  22 . Loosening the knob  28  allows increased freedom of rotation of the hub  24  and load arm  10  relative to the bracket  22 , while tightening the knob  28  sets the load arm  10  in a desired position either for deployment or for storage. The load arm  10  adopts an extended position outwardly of the vertical rail  12  when deployed and a folded position, wherein the load arm  10  adopts an essentially parallel relationship with the elongate vertical rail  12 , when stored. 
     A preferred embodiment can include the placement of the mounting assembly  18  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  to be adjacent to the underside of the rung or step  30  of the ladder  14  attached to the side or rear of the transporting vehicle  16 , preferably an a RV. Also in a preferred embodiment, suitable selection of the length of the load arm  10  to be less than the distance between the underside of an upper rung  30  and the top surface of the next lower rung (not shown) facilitates storage of the load arm  10  folded in an adjacent, parallel relationship to the vertical rail  12  between the two rungs. In this way the load arm  10  does not protrude forward or behind the ladder allowing easy access to the rung  30  of the ladder  14  and preventing the possibility of an unsafe projection that could impede progress of someone ascending or descending the ladder  14 . 
       FIG. 3  provides a partial cross sectional perspective view of a mounting assembly  18  detachably secured to the vertical rail  12  of a ladder  14 . The mounting assembly  18  comprises the pivoting unit  20  held to the ladder rail  12  by engagement of the knob  28  with the threaded shaft  27  of the connecting bolt  26 . Hub  24  has a threaded channel which also receives shaft  27 . Rotation of the knob  28  along the shaft  27  moves the pivoting unit  20  towards the vertical rail  12  until the bracket  22  grippingly abuts the vertical rail  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Bolt  26  can also have a head accessible for rotation by an operator, where the head of the bolt is designed to facilitate rotation of the bolt  26 . After installing the bracket  22  against the rail  12 , the hub  24  rotates relative to the bracket  22  by reducing the tightness of the knob  28 . It is possible to immobilize the hub  24  by rotating the knob  28  to tighten the hub against the bracket  22 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the interacting faces of the bracket  22  and the hub  24  include serrations or interlocking grooves, or the like, that interfere to prevent relative movement between the bracket  22  and the hub  24 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of load arms  10  extended for use outwardly of vertical support rails  12  of the ladder  14 . The load arms  10  each have at least one clamp or a number of claims  32  positioned along their length to retain tubular or wheel components of one or more bicycles mounted for transportation. Each of the clamps  32  includes a cradle  34  for insertion of the bicycle&#39;s tubular or wheel component where it is held by a flexible retainer  36  having a strap that wraps over the bicycle component and the cradle  34  to be secured to the cradle  34  by a latching aperture or eye  38  formed in the strap portion of the retainer  36  located over a hook portion  40  of the cradle  34 . There may be one ore more latching aperture or eyes  38 . 
       FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of a pair of load arms  10  extended to support a recreational article identifiable as a bicycle  42 . Several parts of the bicycle  42  could be located in the clamps  32  for storage or transportation of the bicycle  42 . In one embodiment, the load arms  10  support the bicycle  42  by locating the crossbar  44  between a pair of clamps  32 , as indicated in the figure. In an optional embodiment, a single load arm  10  could be used for attachment of a cycle wheel  46 , for example, so that the flexible retainer  36  latched to the hook portion  40  holds the wheel  46  in the clamp  32 . In this embodiment the bicycle  42  becomes suspended in a substantially vertical orientation adjacent to the ladder  14  mounted on the vehicle. 
     A pivoting support assembly and its components have been described herein. These and other variations, which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, are within the intended scope of this invention as claimed below. As previously stated, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention finds applicability in the sports, recreation and camping industries.