SUPPORT RACK

• US 20200130600A1
• Filed: 10/24/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Morgan, Ron Morrison
• Original Assignee: Jason Morgan, Ron Morrison
• Inventors: Morgan, Jason, Morrison, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 11,027,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• 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 cargo and storage rack for increasing the carrying capacity of a vehicle having a spare tire mount on the exterior of the vehicle. Retaining features of a mounting boss engage the retainment features of the spare tire to the spare tire mount. The mounting boss is adapted to receive storage brackets above or below or both of above and below the mounting boss, to secure cargo securing features at desired distances of engagement from the boss. Rails of any bracket secured to the boss provide support for alternately translating and selectably locatable cargo supporting features, such that the rack can secure cargo without a bracket that provides its own securing features. Optionally, the rack can support cargo with any combination of selectably locatable cargo supporting features on the rails and a bracket, and the rack comprises methods of construction and customization that facilitate rapid reconstruction of the rack and removal from the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mounting boss; and

an accessory bracket,

the mounting boss comprising plural parallel rail mounting tubes;

the mounting tubes being adapted to receive at least one accessory bracket;

the accessory bracket comprising plural parallel rails;

the rails being insertably translatable and selectably securable to a desired distance inside the rail mounting tubes; and

wherein the boss comprises mounting features in an arrangement adapted to engage the retaining features of a spare tire mount, such that the mounting boss is mountable centrally, with respect to the mounting position of a spare tire retained to the exterior of a vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second accessory bracket having plural parallel rails, each of the rail tubes being assembled and arranged to receive a rail of each of the bracket and second bracket;

such that each of the brackets are insertably translatable into the rail mounting tubes from opposite directions and selectably securable to a desired distance inside the rail mounting tubes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

at least one rail hanger,

the rail hanger being one that is alternately translatable and selectably securable to a rail, at a desired distance from the mounting boss, along the length of the rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the rail hanger is selectably securable by comprising a set screw; and

further comprising an accessory engagement pin;

such that securing the rail hanger to the rail securely locates an accessory engagement pin at a desired distance from the mounting boss.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, and further comprising:

a second accessory rail hanger.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the rail of the first rail hanger and the rail of the second rail hanger are rails of the accessory bracket, such that an accessory can be supported by the first and second rail hangers at equal distance from the same side of the mounting tubes.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the accessory rail hanger rail hanger and second accessory rail hanger rail hanger are translatable with respect to the direction of predominant length of the rail,

such that securing these rail hanger rail hangers at desired distances from the mounting boss locates engagement pins at a desired distance from one another, the engagement pins being disposed on said rail hangers.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the first rail hanger rail hanger and second rail hanger rail hanger are arranged on distinct accessory brackets, and opposite sides, of the same mounting tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the rails of the first bracket and the rails of the second bracket are insertably translatable from opposite directions.