Patent ID: 8047412

Claim:
A load carrier for coupling to a vehicle, said load carrier comprising: a loading frame including a first arm, a second arm, and a base extending between the first arm and the second arm to form a U shape; connecting members connected to the loading frame to couple the load carrier to the vehicle; and a supporting arch that extends substantially upwardly from and transversely to said loading frame, said supporting arch being divisible into first and second arch parts, the first arch part is pivotally coupled to the first arm of said loading frame and the second arch part is pivotally coupled to the second arm of said loading frame such that the first arch part is coaxial with the first arm and the second arch part is coaxial with the second arm, wherein, when divided, each of said first and second arch parts is configured to be pivoted down to a storage position lying substantially level with said loading frame, and wherein said arch parts are configured to be interlocked substantially directly to each other into an in-use position, in which said first and said second arch parts substantially alone form said supporting arch.