Carrier for transporting objects on a motor vehicle

• US 5,000,363 A
• Filed: 08/18/1989
• Issued: 03/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillip A. Linquist
• Original Assignee: Phillip A. Linquist
• Inventors: Linquist, Phillip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US07/395,642
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 224/42.43, 224/42.45 R, 224/42.03 R, 224/43.07, 224/42.05, 224/42.44, 224/42.08, 224/42.33
• 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 carrier for objects which is particularly useful for transporting skis and elongated objects on motor vehicles is shown. A cross bar is shown having a first and second arm on each end extending rearwardly of the opposite ends of the cross bar. At least one leg is shown extending upwardly from the base formed by the cross bar and first and second arms, which can extend upward from each end of the first and second arms. In one embodiment, the device may be mounted to the trailer hitch of the motor vehicle by providing a hole centrally through the cross bar and passing a ball hitch through the hole in the cross bar and the hole in the trailer hitch tongue.

Claims

1. A device for carrying objects on a motor vehicle having a body and bumper, the motor vehicle having a trailer hitch, the device comprising:

a base comprising a cross bar having opposite ends and first and second arms extending rearwardly substantially in a plane from the opposite ends of the cross bar;

at least one leg extending upwardly from said base to prevent the objects from falling off the device; and

said cross bar having a centrally located hole providing a single point of attachment of the device to the motor vehicle, the device when mounted on the motor vehicle not contacting the body or bumper of the vehicle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first arm and second arm each have two opposite ends and said at least one leg comprising a leg extending upwardly from each of said ends of said first and second arms.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said cross bar is elongated and L-shaped in cross-section, having an upper portion and a lower portion.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said hole is in said lower portion of said L-shaped cross bar.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said lower portion of said L-shaped cross bar has a top surface and bottom surface, said bottom surface having adjacent said hole a pair of abutments to assist in securing said device to said motor vehicle.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said first arm and second arm is L-shaped in cross-section.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said cross bar has a width less than the width of said motor vehicle.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein said first arm and second arm each have an upper and lower portion, said lower portion having an upper and lower end, said upper portion extending laterally from said upper end of said lower portion to form a supporting surface for said object.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second arms extend in a horizontal plane from the opposite ends of the cross bar.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said trailer hitch includes a ball hitch, said hole in said lower portion of said L-shaped member is of a size and shape to allow said ball hitch to be placed through said hole in said lower portion of said L-shaped member for connection of said device to said trailer hitch.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said base is a size and shape to support skis without said skis falling off said device.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for detachably mounting the device to the motor vehicle is integral with said cross bar.

13. A method of carrying objects on a motor vehicle having a trailer hitch with a hole therethrough comprising:

detachably attaching to the motor vehicle a base comprising an elongated cross bar having opposite ends, first and second arms extending rearwardly from the opposite ends of the cross bar and at least one leg extending upwardly from said base;

placing the hitch through a hole in the cross bar and the hole in the trailer hitch; and

placing said objects on said cross bar and first and second arms so that said leg prevents the objects from falling off.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein skis are placed on said cross bar and said first and second arms.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said motor vehicle has a storage area and said device has a width less than the width of the motor vehicle, and further comprising detaching said device and storing it in said storage area.