Patent ID: 7118016

Claim:
An equipment carrier adapted for removable mounting to the rear of a vehicle, comprising: a first frame arrangement having a forward area adapted for engagement with the vehicle and a rearward area adapted to support one or more items of equipment; a second frame arrangement having an inner end area and an outer end area, wherein the outer end area is adapted for engagement with the vehicle at a location vertically spaced from the forward area of the first frame arrangement; a pivot hub arrangement interposed between the first frame arrangement and the inner end of the second frame arrangement, wherein the second frame arrangement is pivotably mounted to the pivot hub arrangement for movement relative to the first frame arrangement between an extended operative position and a collapsed inoperative position, and wherein the pivot hub arrangement includes axially extending passage structure within which the first frame arrangement is movably received for providing adjustment in the axial position of the pivot hub arrangement relative to the first frame arrangement, wherein the axially extending passage structure and the first frame arrangement are configured to maintain the first frame arrangement in a fixed and non-adjustable angular relationship upon movement of the first frame arrangement in the passage structure to provide adjustment in the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement; and a selective engagement arrangement interposed between the pivot hub arrangement and the first frame arrangement for selectively fixing the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to pivot hub arrangement and thereby the second frame arrangement, wherein the selective engagement arrangement is operable to selectively enable axial movement of the first frame arrangement in a forward-rearward direction relative to the pivot hub arrangement, and is operable to selectively fix the axial position of the first frame arrangement relative to the pivot hub arrangement.