Patent ID: 7866517

Claim:
An equipment carrier arrangement, comprising: a movable rear vehicle component defining an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the movable vehicle component is movable between an open position and a closed position; and an equipment carrier, comprising: a frame having a lower portion that includes a lower hook arrangement that is engaged with the lower edge of the movable vehicle component, wherein the lower hook arrangement prevents upward movement of the frame relative to the vehicle component; a structure connected to the frame or forming part thereof, for carrying one or more items of equipment; at least one support interconnected with the frame above the lower engagement means, wherein the at least one support extends from the frame toward the vehicle component; at least one pivotable vehicle engaging member; carried by the frame and located above the lower hook arrangement, wherein the vehicle engaging member is movably interconnected with the support at a location spaced from the frame toward the vehicle component, wherein at least a portion of the support is located between the vehicle engaging member and the frame, and wherein the vehicle engaging member is engaged with the vehicle component at a position above said lower edge of the movable vehicle component, a strap member having an upper hook arrangement engaged with the upper edge defined by the movable vehicle component, at least one support connected to the frame or forming part thereof, provided with strap engaging and tensioning means which are permanently engaged by said strap member, wherein said strap member constitutes an integral part of said carrier arrangement, whereby said carrier arrangement can be mounted on a vehicle with no need of additional separate strap members, and wherein said strap engaging and tensioning means can be controlled for tensioning the strap member in order to tighten said upper engagement means onto said upper edge of the vehicle component; and wherein the carrier is maintained in engagement with the movable vehicle component and is movable along with the movable vehicle component when the movable vehicle component is moved between the open position and a closed position via engagement of the lower hook arrangement with the lower edge of the movable vehicle component, engagement of the upper hook arrangement with the upper edge of the movable vehicle component, and engagement of the pivotable vehicle engaging member with the movable vehicle component at a location between the upper and lower edges of the movable vehicle component.