Patent Abstract:
There is disclosed herein a multipurpose frame for use with a top mounted vehicle rack wherein the frame telescopingly attaches to the rack. As such, the frame is laterally extensible from the side of the vehicle and may be used to support a canopy, shower or serve as a clothes line or rain catch. 
     A canopy may be attached at the outside ends of a plurality of extensions attached to the frame. The extensions may be removably attachable at the mounting portions of the frame of the present invention. In this fashion the canopy is sturdily supported by the extensions and can provide shade and protection from the elements to one who remains beneath it. Side walls may be attached to the frame to provide additional protection as well.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to accessory equipment for vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to mountable carrying frames. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a multipurpose mountable carrying frame for vehicles. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     For years, vacationers and adventurers have taken their vehicles and traveled on road-trips. These trips may include some camping, sightseeing and offroading, as well as a host of other activities. Oftentimes the vacationers may find themselves away from the conveniences of a hotel or bathroom, such as when camping. 
     As is well known in these instances, tents or the vehicle itself are generally employed to provide protection from the sun and weather. During the day, a tent or the interior of the vehicle may afford the only escape from the rays of the sun or inclement weather. The inside of a tent may be uncomfortable due to it&#39;s size and restricted environment. The vehicle may have substantially the same drawbacks. 
     Additionally, and especially when away for an extended period of time, campers may need to shower and to do so may hang a plastic bag filled with water from a tree as a water source for taking a shower. This can be a difficult task as the water bag is flimsy and may be punctured if dropped. Additionally, it can be difficult to hang the bag from a tree depending upon the height of the branches. It may also be the case that there are no trees available to hang the bag from and as such, this method is not available. 
     There have heretofore been provided canopies that attach to the side of a vehicle to provide shade and protection from the elements. One such canopy is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,814. In this patent there is disclosed a canopy that rolls up inside a container that is attached atop a vehicle. Although this canopy may provide protection from the elements, it does not have a sturdy frame and as such may be damaged or destroyed in a windy environment. Additionally, the disclosed canopy is not designed to provide any functionality other than that of a canopy and is configured to mount to the top of a long vehicle such as a minivan or utility vehicle, but is not designed to mount atop of a smaller car such as a midsize or compact auto. 
     Therefore, what is needed in the art is a multifunctional frame that may attach to the top of various sized vehicles. The frame should be configurable and removable so that it can mount to the top of a long vehicle, such as a minivan, or to a smaller vehicle such as a subcompact car. 
     It is to the solutions of these problems to which the present invention is directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a laterally entesible frame for attachment to a vehicle roof-top rack having a pair of hollow cross-bars, said frame comprising: 
     a pair of spaced apart mounting bars, each of said pair of spaced apart mounting bars telescopingly seated within a corresponding one of the pair of cross-bars, each mounting bar having an outside end. 
     The present invention provides a multipurpose frame for use with a top mounted vehicle rack wherein the frame telescopingly attaches to the rack. As such, the frame is laterally extensible from the side of the vehicle and may be used to support a canopy, shower or serve as a clothes line or rain catch. 
     A canopy may be attached at the outside ends of a plurality of extensions which are mounted to the frame. The extensions may be removably attachable at the mounting portions of the frame of the present invention. In this fashion the canopy is sturdily supported by the extensions and can provide shade and protection from the elements to one who remains beneath it. 
     The frame is adjustable with respect to length and width and as such, the frame will fit on vehicles and will provide clearance such that one may sit beneath the canopy or stand beneath a shower supported therefrom. Additionally, the canopy in accordance with the present invention may be used to collect rain water. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a rear plan view of a vehicle having a roof mounted rack mounted thereupon; 
     FIG. 2 is side plan view of a vehicle having a roof mounted rack mounted thereupon; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a laterally extensible frame in accordance with the present invention , the frame attached to a roof rack and in an extended configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the laterally extensible frame attached to a roof rack and in a retracted configuration; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan partial break-out view of the laterally extensible frame attached to a roof rack, the frame in an extended configuration and having a pluarlity of extensions attached thereto; 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the proximal extension joint as included in the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the distal extension joint as included in the preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the laterally extensible frame attached to a roof rack, the frame in an extended configuration and having an upwardly extendable shower attachment mounted thereupon, the shower attachment in a lowered configuration; 
     FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the shower attachment taken along A—A as depicted in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the laterally extensible frame attached to a roof rack, the frame in an extended configuration and having an upwardly extendable shower attachment mounted thereupon, the shower attachment in a raised configuration; 
     FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the upwardly extensible shower attachment taken along B—B as depicted in FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the laterally extensible frame having a canopy mounted thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a vehicle  4  having a roof  6 . The vehicle  4  has a longitudinal or length-wise axis X and a lateral or width-wise axis Y. Upon the roof  6  there is mounted a carrying rack  8 . The carrying rack  8  includes two cross-bars  10 ,  12 . Each of the cross-bars  10 ,  12  are tubular and has a hollow interior  14 ,  16 . As such, each of the cross-bars  10 ,  12  may serve as a telescoping housing for similarly configured bars that have a smaller circumference permitting insertion into each of the cross-bars  10 ,  12 . 
     It is well-known for the cross bars  10 ,  12  to be cylindrical, or to have a square cross-sectional shape. Carrying racks produced by Yakima, such as those having the trade names Q Towers™ or HiRise Towers™, may be used with cylindrical cross-bars. For convenience, the cross-bars  10 ,  12  depicted are cylindrical, however it is to be appreciated that these cross-bars may have a square cross-sectional shape, or other cross-sectional shape, as well. The cross-bars  10 ,  12  of the rack  8  extend in parallel with the width-wise axis Y of the vehicle  4 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts a frame  20  mounted to the carrying rack  8  at each of the cross-bars  10 ,  12 . The frame  20  includes a pair of mounting bars  22 ,  24 . Each of the mounting bars  22 ,  24  has an inside end  26 ,  28  and an outside end  30 ,  32 . Each of the pair of mounting bars  22 ,  24  has a diameter less than the inside diameter of an associated cross-bar  10 ,  12  and each is telescopingly seated therein. 
     The mounting bars  22 ,  24  are slidable within the associated cross-bars  10 ,  12  and may be moved laterally with respect to the vehicle  4 , or parallel with the lateral axis Y. The frame  20  is in an extended configuration when the mounting bars  22 ,  24  have their inside ends  26 ,  28  disposed adjacent an associated one of the cross-bars  10 ,  12 , as depicted in FIG.  3 . Attached to each of the mounting bars  22 ,  24  at their outside ends  30 ,  32  is a corner joint  34 . Each corner joint  34  has a substantially hollow interior  35  and integrally includes a mounting bar mounting portion  36  and an attaching bar mounting portion  38 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the interior of the corner joint  34  at the mounting bar mounting portion  36  and the attaching bar mounting portion  38  interiorly has the same cross-sectional shape as an associated mounting bar  22  or  24  and attaching bar  42 . Additionally, the mounting bar mounting portion  36  and the attaching bar mounting portion  38  are configured to slidably receive and house a respective attaching bar or mounting bar. At the interior  35  of the corner joint  34  the mounting bar mounting portion  36  and the attaching bar mounting portion  38  include recesses which are disposed orthogonally. In the preferred embodiment, the recess of the attaching bar mounting portion  38  extends entirely through the corner joint  34  thus forming an aperture therethrough. In this fashion an attaching bar  42  may extend between and pass through each of two corner joints  34  disposed at the ends  44 ,  46  thereof. 
     The attaching bar  42  extends between each of the mounting bars  22 ,  24  and forms substantially a right angle with each of the mounting bars  22 ,  24 . The attaching bar  42  has ends  44 ,  46  which are slidably received by each of the attaching bar mounting portions  38  on each corner joint  34 . The ends  44 ,  46  of the attaching bar are held in place by some attaching mechanism such as a spring biased detent  48  disposed at each of the outside ends which is received by an aperture  50  extending from the exterior  52  of the corner joint  34  to the interior  35  thereof. Alternatively, each aperture  50  may be threaded and a screw, not depicted, may be used to retain the attaching bar  42  in place. In this fashion the attaching bar  42  may be of substantially any length and will appropriately seat through each corner joint  34 , providing adjustability for the rack  20 . 
     The recess of the mounting bar mounting portion  36  extends towards the recess of the attaching bar mounting portion  38 , but does not intersect it. As such, each mounting bar  22 ,  24  may be housed in the recess and temporarily mounted therein vie a an aperture and screw as disclosed hereinabove, a spring biased detent and aperture, or the like. Additionally, each mounting bar  22 ,  24  will not interfere with the adjustability of the attaching bar  42 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts the frame  20  in a retracted configuration. In such a configuration, each of the outside ends  30 ,  32  of the mounting bars  22 ,  24  are disposed interiorly an associated corner joint  34  and each corner joint is disposed adjacent an associated cross-bar  10 ,  12 . In this configuration, the vehicle  4  may be driven safely. A clasping mechanism or hook and loop fastening, such as Velcro® fastening, or some other suitable fastener such as a collet and collar assembly where the collet is attached to at least one of the cross-bars  10 ,  12 . The collet and collar assembly or other clasping mechanism may be used for temporarily maintaining the retracted configuration may be employed. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the collar  54  is disposed at the end of each of the cross bars  10 ,  12 . The collet  56  is disposed at the interior of the collar  54 . When the frame  20  is in the retracted configuration the collar  54  may be turned clockwise to tighten the collet  56  to temporarily maintain the retracted configuration and guard against the frame  20  accidentally sliding into the extended configuration. 
     In FIG. 5 there is depicted the frame  20  in accordance with the present invention further having proximal extension bars  60 ,  62  and distal extension bars  64 ,  66 , attached thereto. Each of the extension bars  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66  may be of substantially any length, although a maximum length of four feet is preferable. The proximal extension bars  60 ,  62  are disposed in close proximity to the vehicle  4  while the distal extension bars  64 ,  66  are disposed in close proximity to the ends  30 ,  32  of the mounting bars  22 ,  24 . Each of the proximal extension bars  60 ,  62  and the distal extension bars  64 ,  66  have substantially the same length which facilitates manufacture of the rack  20 . 
     Additionally, each proximal extension bar  60 ,  62  engages an associated proximal extension joint  68 ,  70 , and each distal extension bar  64 ,  66  engages a distal extension joint  72 ,  74 . The proximal extension joints  68 ,  70  are substantially identical in their configuration and the distal extension joints  64 ,  66  are also substantially identical. 
     As depicted in FIG. 6, each proximal extension joint  60 ,  62  has a hollow interior and a proximal side  78 , a distal side  76 , an external side  80  and an internal side  83 . A mounting bar aperture  81  extends between the proximal side  78  and the distal side  76  and has a diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of each of the mounting bars  22 ,  24 . In this fashion, a mounting bar  22 ,  24  may be slidably received through the aperture such that the proximal extension joint  68 ,  70  can slide on a respective mounting bar  22 ,  24 . A proximal extension bar aperture  85  extends between the external side  80  and the internal side  83  and is disposed below or above the mounting bar aperture  81 . As such each proximal extension bar  60 ,  62  may be slidably seated within a corresponding proximal extension bar aperture  85 . An aperture extending to the interior may be used in conjunction with a screw to tighten each respective proximal extension bar  60 ,  62  in place. 
     Each proximal extension joint  68 ,  70  may be temporarily affixed in place through the use of a threaded aperture and a screw. The screw may be tightened against the mounting bar  22 ,  24  such that the proximal extension joint will not move. In this way, a proximal extension joint  68 ,  70  and its associated proximal extension bar  60 ,  62  may be angled upwardly or downwardly, the advantages if which will become apparent hereinbelow. 
     A proximal extension bar  60 ,  62  is received in the proximal extension aperture  85  and may be removably affixed in place through the use of a spring biased detent and aperture as was disclosed herein with respect to the attachment of the corner joint. Alternatively, a threaded aperture and screw may be used to affix a proximal extension bar  60 ,  62  within an associated proximal extension joint  68 ,  70 . 
     As depicted in FIG. 7, each distal extension joint  72 ,  74  is removably mounted to an the extension bar  42  somewhere along the length thereof. In the preferred embodiment, each distal extension joint  72 ,  74  includes a distal extension bar aperture  90  and an attaching bar aperture  92 . The distal extension bar aperture  90  and the attaching bar aperture  92  are offset at an angle theta and the attaching bar aperture  92  is disposed below or above the distal extension bar aperture  90 , although this may be reversed. 
     By offsetting the apertures by an angle theta, each of the distal extension bars will create a greater area for a canopy to cover. This will be described hereinbelow in more detail. Theta may generally range from about 180 degrees to 100 degrees. However it is to be appreciated that angles of between 60 and 100 may be employed as well. The attaching bar aperture  92  has the attaching bar  42  inserted therein and attached thereto by the hereinabove described screw, or detent and aperture means. 
     Although not depicted, each distal extension joint may be attached to the attaching bar  42  on either side of a corner joint  34 . In this fashion, each respective extension bar  64 ,  66  may be aligned to provide for removable attaching a standard canopy. 
     Each distal extension bar  64 ,  66  is slidably received in the distal extension bar aperture  90  and attached to an associated distal extension joint  72 ,  74  through the use of an aperture and screw or spring biased detent and aperture, both of which attachment schemes are generally well known in the art of attaching mechanisms. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, a canopy  100  may be attached to the frame  20 . The canopy  100  has a plurality of pockets  102  which slidably receive an associated end of the proximal and distal extension bars  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 . The canopy  100  has a proximal end  104  and a distal end  106 . At its proximal end  104  a reinforced shoulder extends upwardly ensuring rain water does not leak between the proximal end of the canopy  100  and the vehicle  4 . This ensures that people may enter and exit the vehicle  4  without getting wet. The height of both the proximal end  104  and the distal end  106  is adjustable by rotating the proximal and distal extension joints  68 ,  70 ,  72 , and  74  in the direction C indicated and affixing each of the joints so that the extension bars are angled upwardly with respect to the ground. 
     The canopy is preferably formed from some waterproof material such as nylon, plastic or rubber and has a top surface  108  and a bottom surface  110 . An aperture  112  extends between the top surface  108  and the bottom surface  110  and is disposed between the mounting bars  22 ,  24 . In this fashion, rainwater may be collected by placing a bucket or other container below the aperture  112 . Rain is funneled to the aperture  112  when the canopy  100  is angled upwardly at each of its edges  114 ,  116 ,  118 . This provides a camper a means for collecting water that would not be available without the frame  20  and canopy  100  in accordance with the present invention. 
     The canopy  100  may be further removably attached to the frame  20  through the use of a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro®. The fastener  110  encircles each of the mounting rods  22 ,  24  and attached the canopy thereto. 
     The present invention may additionally include a shower mount  200 . The shower mount  200 , as depicted in FIGS. 8-11 has a lowered configuration and a raised configuration. As such, when someone wishes to take a shower, they may mount the shower mount  200  to the frame  20  and then place the shower mount  200  in the raised configuration. In this way even if the vehicle to which the frame is mounted is low to the ground, a person will be able to stand beneath the shower mount to wash. 
     The shower mount  200  includes two side rails  210 ,  212 . Each side rail has a first portion  214 ,  216  and a second portion  218 ,  220 . Each first portion  214 ,  216  and each second portion  218 ,  220  have respective outer surfaces  222  and inner surfaces  224 . A shower seat  230  is disposed adjacent to and between of the side rails  210 ,  212 . 
     Each portion  214 ,  216 ,  218  and  220  of the side rails  210 ,  212  rotatably removably seats atop an associated mounting rod  22 ,  24  through the use of a plurality of notches  25  cut into each portion such that each portion removably seats independent of the space by which the mounting bars  22 ,  24  are separated. 
     The shower seat  230  has a plurality of rollers  232 . One of the rollers  232  seats in each C-channel  231  disposed at the inner surface  222  of each portion  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220 . Each C-channel  231  has a well  234  portion and when the shower seat  230  is raised, each portion  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  200  rotates relative to the mounting rods  22 ,  24  until the rollers  232  fall into the well  234  in the C-channel  231 . Each of the rollers  232  abuts the well which maintains the raised configuration of the shower seat. 
     To lower the shower seat  230 , the shower seat  230  is simply lifted slightly which moves the rollers  232  up out of the well  234 . The shower seat  230  can then be lowered into the lowered configuration. 
     A shower container  240 , which is generally formed from plastic may be seated upon the shower seat  230 . The shower seat  230  has a top surface  236  and a bottom surface  238  and an aperture  240  extending between the top surface  236  and the bottom surface  238 . The shower container  240  preferably has a lower surface  299  formed from a dark colored plastic. Dark colors absorb radiant energy and this way, the water in the container may be stored in the sun, thus warming the water which is to be used for showering. The shower container  240  may have a stopcock  242  to open and close a spout disposed at the bottom  244  thereof. Additionally, the stopcock may serve to allow air to enter at the top of the container which further enables the function of the shower by allowing more water to run thereout. A person can open the spout, shower and then close the spout. 
     All of the components of the present invention should be formed from strong durable materials. Such materials may include PVC tubing, or other plastic tubing, alternatively they may be formed from aluminum or some other lightweight durable metal, or graphite or some other durable strong composite material. 
     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1