Patent ID: 7631791

Claim:
A collapsible swing-out hitch mounted equipment carrier that is configured to be detachably mounted to a vehicle, the swing-out hitch mounted equipment carrier movable between a collapsed position and an extended position, the swing-out hitch mounted equipment carrier comprising: (a) a securing means for securing the swing-out hitch mounted equipment carrier to the vehicle; (b) a fixed arm attached to said securing means; (c) a swing arm; (d) a first hinge means attached to said fixed arm and one end of said swing arm, said first hinge means permitting pivotal movement of said swing arm relative to said fixed arm; (e) an upright vertical member; (f) a second hinge means connected to a free end of said swing arm and said upright vertical member, said second hinge means permitting rotational movement of said upright vertical member about a substantially vertical axis relative to said swing arm; (g) an equipment carrier attached to said upright vertical member; (h) a control member means in the form of a bar, said control member means having first and second ends, said first end of said control member means pivotally connected to said fixed arm and said second end of said control member means pivotally connected to said second hinge means, said control member means controlling the pivotal movement of said swing arm relative to said fixed arm and rotational movement of said equipment carrier relative to said swing arm, said upright vertical member maintained in an upright position when the collapsible swing-out hitch mounted equipment carrier is moved between its collapsed position and its extended position; and (i) a locking means for locking the collapsible swing-out hitch mounted equipment carrier in its collapsed position and in its extended position.