Patent ID: 7261229

Claim:
A collapsible swing-away hitch mounted equipment carrier that is configured to be detachably mounted to a vehicle, said swing-away hitch mounted equipment carrier movable between a collapsed position and an extended position, said swing-away hitch mounted equipment carrier comprising: (a) securing means for securing the swing-away hitch mounted equipment carrier to the vehicle; (b) a fixed arm attached to said securing means; (c) a first swing arm; (d) a first hinge means attached to said fixed arm and one end of said first swing arm, said first hinge means providing relative pivotal movement of said fixed arm and said first swing arm; (e) a second swing arm; (f) a second hinge means attached to a free end of said first swing arm and one end of said second swing arm, said second hinge means providing relative pivotal movement of said first swing arm and said second swing arm; (g) a vertical member; (h) a third hinge means connected to a free end of said second swing arm said vertical member, said third hinge means providing rotational movement of said vertical member relative to said second swing arm; (i) an equipment carrier attached to said vertical member; (j) a first control member means operatively connected to said fixed arm and said second hinge means, said first control member means controlling the pivotal movement of said first and second swing arms relative to said fixed arm; and (k) a second control member means operatively connected to said first swing arm and said third hinge means, said second control member means controlling movement of said equipment carrier relative to said second swing arm.