Vehicle attachable carrier

• US 4,610,458 A
• Filed: 02/01/1985
• Issued: 09/09/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Garnham
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Garnham
• Inventors: Garnham, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US06/697,394
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 280/495, 280/500, 280/501, 280/502, 280/456 R, 293/117, 224/42.03 R, 224/42.03 A, 224/42.03 B, 224/42.04, 224/42.05, 224/42.06, 224/42.07, 224/42.08
• US Class Current: 280/495
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/485 mounted by means of transversal members attached to the frame of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/50 resiliently mounted B60D1/30 takes precedence ;B60D1/182 takes precedence; springs or dampers per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/924 Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle

Abstract

A carrier attachable to a vehicle having a bumper mounted to the vehicle frame via bumper attachment members or a pair of energy absorbing shock absorbers. The carrier includes a pair of straps having a first portion, an integral depending second portion and an outwardly extending, integral third portion. In one embodiment, clamp members, each formed with outwardly extending outer flanges and an intermediate arcuate portion, are securable in an inverted relationship around the energy absorbing shock absorbers and have the first portion of each strap attached thereto such that the second portion of each strap extends downward below the bottom of the vehicle bumper and the third portion of each strap extends outward beyond the vehicle bumper. In another embodiment, a clamp member having a V-shaped center portion is positioned below the energy absorbing shock absorber and fastened to the first portion of each of the straps disposed above the energy absorbing shock absorber to mount the carrier to the energy absorbing shock absorbers to the vehicle. A cross member extends between and adjustably joined to the third portions of each of the straps to adjustably laterally space the straps with respect to the energy absorbing bumper shock absorbers. Various carrying attachments, such as a rack, towing bar, towing hitch, etc., are securable to the third portions of each strap or to the cross member for attaching various articles to the vehicle-attachable carrier.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting an article carrier on a vehicle having a bumper mounted on the vehicle via support members comprising:

strap means, each having first and second opposed ends;

first means for mounting the first end of the strap means to the support members such that the second end of the strap means extends downward below the bottom of the vehicle bumper;

second means, attached to the second end of the strap means, for mounting an article carrier to the strap means rearward of the vehicle bumper, the second mounting means including a cross member secured to and extending between the second ends of the strap means; and

means for adjustably attaching the second end of the strap means to the cross member, the adjustable attaching means including;

first and second clamp members mounted to the cross member and defining an aperture between the clamp members and the cross member;

the second end of the strap means being slidably extendable through the aperture between the clamp members and the cross member; and

fastening means for securing the second end of the strap means in a pre-determined position to the cross member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an elongated slot is formed in the second end of the strap means and the fastening means is selectively inserted through the slot into an aperture formed in the cross member.

3. An apparatus for mounting an article carrier on a vehicle having a bumper mounted on the vehicle via support members comprising:

strap means, each having first and second opposed ends;

first means for mounting the first end of the strap means to the support members such that the second end of the strap means extends downward below the bottom of the vehicle bumper the first mounting means including;

a first member having a depending, V-shaped, central portion and two, opposed, outwardly extending flanges; and

fastening means for fastening the flanges to the first end of the strap means such that the V-shaped central position of the first member and the first end of the strap means define an aperture for receiving the bumper support member therein;

second means, attached to the second end of the strap means, for mounting an article carrier to the strap means rearward of the vehicle bumper; and

means for fixedly positioning the apparatus longitudinally with respect to the vehicle bumper, the positioning means comprising;

a plate secured to the strap means;

a threaded bore formed in the plate;

a strap member threadingly extensible and retractable within the threaded bore in the plate so as to be brought into engagement with the bumper to prevent longitudinal movement of the apparatus with respect to the bumper.

4. An apparatus for mounting an article carrier on a vehicle having a bumper mounted on the vehicle via energy absorbing shock absorbers comprising:

first and second straps, each having a first portion, an integral, depending second portion and an integral, third portion extenidng outward from the second portion opposite and parallel to the first portion;

clamp members, each having a depending central portion respectively secureable to the first portion of the first and second straps such that the first portion of the first and second straps and the depending central portion of the clamp members define apertures for surrounding the energy absorbing bumper shock absorber such that the second portion of the first and second straps extend downward below the bottom of the bumper;

a cross member extending between the first and second straps and carrying an article carrier attachment means thereon rearward of the vehicle bumper;

a plurality of U-shaped straps mounted on the cross member and forming an aperture for sliding receiving the third portions of the first and second straps;

means for securing the third portions of the first and second straps in a pre-determined position on the cross member.

5. A carrier for a vehicle having a bumper mounted to the vehicle frame via a pair of energy absorbing shock absorbers comprising:

first and second straps, each having a first portion, an integrally depending second portion and an integral third portion extending outward from the second portion in a direction opposite from the first portion and substantially parallel to the first portion;

means for mounting the first portion of each of the first and second straps to one of the energy absorbing shock absorbers such that the second portion of each of the first and second straps extends downward below the bottom of the vehicle bumper and the third portion of each of the first and second straps extends outward beyond the vehicle bumper; and

means for mounting a carrying means to the third portion of each of the first and second straps.

6. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the mounting means for each of the first and second straps comprises:

first and second clamp members having aligned outer flanges and an intermediate central arcuate portion; and

means for fastening the first and second clamp members in an inverted aligned arrangement about the energy absorbing bumper shock absorbers such that the intermediate central arcuate portion surrounds the energy absorption bumper shock absorbers.

7. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the first, second and third portions of each of the first and second straps are disposed substantially perpendicular to each other.

8. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the carrier means comprises a hitch including:

a horizontally extending bar member secured to and extending between the third portions of each of the first and second straps; and

a hitch ball member mounted on the horizontally extending bar member.

9. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the carrying means comprises a towing bar including:

a horizontally extending bar member extending between and secured to the third portion of each of the first and second straps; and

a substantially Y-shaped member secured to the outer ends of the horizontally extending member.

10. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the carrying means comprises a rack including:

first and second vertically extending leg members attached to the third portions of each of the first and second straps;

an upper horizontally bar extending between and secured to the first and second legs; and

hanger means mounted on the horizontally extending bar for supporting an article thereon.

11. A carrier for a vehicle having a bumper mounted to the vehicle frame via a pair of energy absorbing shock absorbers comprising:

first and second straps, each having a first portion, an integral second portion depending from the first portion and an integral third portion extending outward from the second portion in a direction opposite from the first portion and substantially parallel to the first portion;

a pair of first and second clamp members each having aligned outer flanges and an intermediate arcuate-shaped central portion;

means for fastening the first and second clamp members together in an inverted manner about the energy absorbing bumper shock absorbers such that the intermediate arcuate portions surround the energy absorbing shock absorbers;

the first portion of the first and second straps being secured to the joined first and second clamp member such that the second portion of each of the first and second straps extends downward below the bottom of the bumper and the third portion of each of the first and second straps extends outward beyond the bumper; and

means for mounting a carrying means to the third portins of each of the first and second straps.

12. An apparatus for mounting an article carrier on a vehicle having a bumper mounted on the vehicle via support members comprising:

strap means, each having first and second opposed ends;

first means for mounting the first end of the strap means to the support members such that the second end of the strap means extends downward below the bottom of the vehicle bumper;

second means, attached to the second end of the strap means, for mounting an article carrier to the strap means rearward of the vehicle bumper, the second mounting means including a cross member secured to and extending between the second ends of the strap means; and

means for adjustably attaching the second end of the strap means to the cross member, the adjustable attaching means including;

the cross member having an internal, depending slot with an open top end;

the second ends of the strap means slidingly extending within the slot on the cross member; and

fastening means for securing the second end of the strap means at a pre-determined position in the slot in the cross member.