Patent ID: 7404504

Claim:
A cargo carrier configured to be mounted to a rear of a vehicle, comprising: first, second, and third support frame structures, wherein one of the support frame structures is configured to contact an upper portion of the rear of the vehicle, wherein a second one of the support frame structures is configured to contact a lower portion of the rear of the vehicle, and wherein a third one of the support frame structures is configured to support at least one cargo item; and at least one hub assembly operatively connecting the first, second, and third support frame structures and permitting selective pivoting of the first and third support frame structures relative to the second support frame structure, the at least one hub assembly including: a first locking device configured to selectively prevent pivoting of the first support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure, a second locking device configured to selectively prevent pivoting of the third support frame structure relative to the second support frame structure, a first unlocking structure configured to selectively cause the first locking device to permit the pivoting of the first support frame structure without causing the second locking device to permit the pivoting of the third support frame structure, and a second unlocking structure configured to selectively cause the second locking device to permit the pivoting of the third support frame structure without causing the first locking device to permit the pivoting of the first support frame structure.