Display Apparatus for a Vehicle Having a Receiver Hitch

• US 20080073398A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brandon Plaschka
• Original Assignee: Brandon Plaschka
• Inventors: Plaschka, Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/519
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041

Abstract

A display apparatus for use with a truck having a receiver hitch includes a mounting bracket having oppositely disposed first and second ends, the first end being configured to be received in the receiver hitch. The apparatus includes a main support member coupled to the second end of the bracket, the main support member being height adjustable. The main support member defines an elongate channel. At least one fastener is coupled to the main support member for movement along the elongate channel, the fastener being selectively securable at a desired position along the channel. The fastener includes an eyelet to which a flag or banner may be secured. The apparatus may also include at least one auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to the main support member for displaying another flag.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for use with a vehicle having a receiver hitch, comprising:

a mounting bracket having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end being slidably receivable in the vehicle receiver hitch;

a main support member coupled to said second end of said bracket and extending upward, said main support member defining an elongate channel; and

at least one fastener coupled to said main support member for relative movement in said channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag.

2. The display apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

means for removably securing said mounting bracket to said receiving hitch; and

means for securing said pair of fasteners at user-determined positions in said channel.

3. The display apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said main support member includes:

a first leg having a generally tubular configuration, said first leg having a lower end fixedly connected to said second end of said bracket and an upper end defining an opening;

a second leg having a generally tubular configuration receivable in said first leg through said opening for relative movement therein; and

means for maintaining said second leg at a selected position relative to said first leg.

4. The display apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a ball hitch member connected to said second end of said bracket and extending outwardly therefrom.

5. The display apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said second leg defines said elongate channel.

6. The display apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a ball hitch connected to said second end of said bracket and extending outwardly therefrom.

7. The display apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve connected to said second end of said bracket and defining an open top and an open bottom for receiving said main support member in relative movement therethrough; and

means for securing said main support member at a selectable height position relative to said sleeve.

8. The display apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

a first support arm having first and second ends, said first support arm first end being pivotally coupled to a side wall of said main support member for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a first auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to said first support arm second end for movement between retracted and extended configurations, said first auxiliary support member defining a first auxiliary channel; and

at least one fastener coupled to said first auxiliary support member for relative movement in said first auxiliary channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag when said first support arm and said first auxiliary support member are at respective extended configurations.

9. The display apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:

a second support arm having first and second ends, said second support arm first end being pivotally coupled to another side wall of said main support member for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a second auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to said second support arm second end for movement between retracted and extended configurations, said second auxiliary support member defining a second auxiliary channel; and

at least one fastener coupled to said second auxiliary support member for relative movement in said second auxiliary channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag when said second support arm and said second auxiliary support member are at respective extended configurations.

10. The display apparatus as in claim 9 wherein:

said first and second support arms define respective auxiliary support member storage channels, each said respective auxiliary support member storage channel having a configuration such that said first and second auxiliary support members nest therein when at respective said retracted configurations; and

said side and said another side of said main support member define respective support arm storage channels each having a configuration such that said first and second support arms nest therein when at respective said retracted configurations.

11. The display apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising:

a first support arm having first and second ends, said first support arm first end being pivotally coupled to a side wall of said second leg for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a first auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to said first support arm second end for movement between retracted and extended configurations, said first auxiliary support member defining an elongate first auxiliary channel; and

at least one fastener coupled to said first auxiliary support member for relative movement in said first auxiliary channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag when said first support arm and said first auxiliary support member are at respective extended configurations.

12. The display apparatus as in claim 11 further comprising:

a second support arm having first and second ends, said second support arm first end being pivotally coupled to another side wall of said second leg for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a second auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to said second support arm second end for movement between retracted and extended configurations, said second auxiliary support member defining an elongate second auxiliary channel; and

at least one fastener coupled to said second auxiliary support member for relative movement in said second auxiliary channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag when said second support arm and said second auxiliary support member are at respective extended configurations.

13. The display apparatus as in claim 12 wherein:

said first and second support arms define respective auxiliary support member storage channels, each said respective auxiliary support member storage channel having a configuration such that said first and second auxiliary support members nest therein when at respective said retracted configurations; and

said side and said another side of said second leg define respective support arm storage channels each having a configuration such that said first and second support arms nest therein when at respective said retracted configurations.

14. The display apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a ball hitch connected to a rearward surface of said sleeve relative to said bracket and extending outwardly.

15. A display apparatus for use with a vehicle having a receiver hitch, comprising:

a mounting bracket having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said first end being selectively mounted in the vehicle receiver hitch;

a main support member coupled to said second end of said bracket and extending upward, said main support member defining an elongate channel; and

a pair of fasteners coupled to said main support member for relative movement in said channel, each of said pair of fasteners including an eyelet for securing a flag; and

means for securing each of said pair of fasteners at a user-selected position along said elongate channel.

16. The display apparatus as in claim 15 further comprising a ball hitch connected to said second end of said bracket and extending outwardly therefrom.

17. The display apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said main support member includes:

a first leg having a generally tubular configuration, said first leg having a lower end fixedly connected to said second end of said bracket and an upper end defining an opening;

a second leg having a generally tubular configuration receivable in said first leg through said opening for relative movement therein; and

means for maintaining second leg at a selected position relative to said first leg.

18. The display apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising:

a pair of support arms each having first and second ends, said support arm first ends being pivotally coupled to opposed sides of said second leg of said main support member for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a pair of auxiliary support members, each auxiliary support member being pivotally coupled to a respective second end of a respective support arm for movement between retracted and extended configurations, each auxiliary support member defining an elongate auxiliary channel; and

at least a pair of fasteners coupled to respective elongate channels of respective auxiliary support members for relative movement along respective elongate auxiliary channels, said at least a pair of fasteners including means for securing a flag.

19. The display apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising:

a first support arm having first and second ends, said first support arm first end being pivotally coupled to a side wall of said main support member for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a first auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to said first support arm second end for movement between retracted and extended configurations, said first auxiliary support member defining a first elongate auxiliary channel;

at least one fastener coupled to said first auxiliary support member for relative movement in said first auxiliary channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag when said first support arm and said first auxiliary support member are at respective extended configurations;

a second support arm having first and second ends, said second support arm first end being pivotally coupled to another side wall of said main support member for movement between retracted and extended configurations;

a second auxiliary support member pivotally coupled to said second support arm second end for movement between retracted and extended configurations, said second auxiliary support member defining a second elongate auxiliary channel; and

at least one fastener coupled to said second auxiliary support member for relative movement in said second elongate auxiliary channel, said at least one fastener having means for securing a flag when said second support arm and said second auxiliary support member are at respective extended configurations.

20. The display apparatus as in claim 19, wherein:

said first and second support arms define respective auxiliary support member storage channels, each said respective auxiliary support member storage channel having a configuration such that respective said auxiliary support members nest therein when at respective said retracted configurations; and

said side and said another side of said main support member define respective support arm storage channels each having a configuration such that said first and second support arms nest therein when at respective said retracted configurations.