Patent ID: 7261228

Claim:
A sporting article transport rack engageable to a hitch of an automotive vehicle, the rack comprising: a hitch engaging portion fastenable to said hitch and extending therefrom away from said automotive vehicle; at least one elongated stem portion extending upwardly from said hitch engaging portion; said elongated stem portion being pivotably engaged to said hitch engaging portion, such that said elongated stem portion is selectively displaceable between an upright transport position and an inclined vehicle access position; an article support member securable to an upper end of said elongated stem portion and being cantilevered therefrom, said article support member being removable from said elongated stem portion; a latch member biased to retain said elongated stem portion in said upright transport position; and a foot actuable release mechanism for disengaging said elongated stem portion from said latch member, such that said elongated stem portion is permitted to move to said inclined vehicle access position, said release mechanism comprising a foot pedal pivotably engaged to said elongated stem portion about a guide pin, said latch member being pivotably mounted to said hitch engaging portion and comprising a guide slot defined therein for receiving said guide pin, and wherein said guide slot defines an integrally formed stop at one end thereof for limiting travel of said guide pin, thereby limiting travel of said elongated stem portion when displaced into said inclined vehicle access position.