Carrier for lightweight two wheel vehicles, with capability for also towing a trailer

• US 5,579,973 A
• Filed: 05/12/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William O. Taft
• Original Assignee: William O. Taft
• Inventors: Taft, William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/440,478
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 224/509, 224/495, 224/497, 224/502, 224/504, 224/518, 224/519, 224/520, 224/521, 224/488, 224/498, 224/499, 224/511, 224/537
• US Class Current: 224/509
• 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: B60R 9/10 for cycles

Abstract

A carrier for a two wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear of a motor vehicle, with one configuration of this carrier being an extended position intended for carrying a two wheeled vehicle. The second configuration of the carrier is a compacted position in which a minimal amount of space along the rear of the motor vehicle is occupied. This carrier utilizes a rigid base member having a wheel receiving portion, and a second rigid member pivotally attached to the base member, the second member also having a wheel receiving portion. The second member, when in the compacted position, has its wheel receiving position adjacent the wheel receiving portion of the base member, but when the second member is moved to the extended position, its wheel receiving portion is removed for a relatively substantial distance from the wheel receiving portion of the base member. In this way the wheels of a two wheel vehicle can be substantially simultaneously received in the wheel receiving portions of the base member and the second member, whereby the two wheeled vehicle can be transported by the motor vehicle to another location. One embodiment of my carrier may utilize a towing ball that becomes available for towing a trailer when the second member has been moved to its compacted position, whereas in another embodiment the towing ball is at all times in an active position in which the tongue of a trailer can be readily received.

Claims

1. A carrier for a two wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on a rear end of a motor vehicle having a frame as well as a rear bumper, said carrier having a rigid base member provided with a first supporting portion, a second member pivotally attached to said base member and movable for a limited extent with respect thereto, said second member being of rigid construction and being provided with a second supporting portion, said second member being movable from a compact, folded position in which said first and second supporting portions are disposed relatively close together, into an extended position in which said supporting portions are relatively widely separated, such that said supporting portions can contact and support two relatively widely separated portions of the two wheeled vehicle, and means for removably attaching said carrier to an undercar receiver attached to the frame of a motor vehicle, at a location below and forward of the rear bumper of such motor vehicle, said means for removably attaching said carrier to the undercar receiver being a forwardly extending member rigidly attached to said base member, which forwardly extending member is intended to be received in a slot located in said undercar receiver.

2. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 1 in which said base member is generally "L" shaped.

3. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 1 in which a towing ball is disposed on said second member, said towing ball being in substantial alignment with a centerline passing through said forwardly extending member when said second member is in its folded position.

4. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 1 in which a towing ball is attached to said second member, said towing ball being in an upright position to be engaged by a trailer at such time as said second member is in its folded position.

5. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 1 in which a towing ball is rigidly mounted on said base member so as to be availed at all times for receiving the tongue of a trailer to be pulled.

6. A carrier for a two wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on a rear of a motor vehicle and having an extended position as well as a folded position, with said extended position being intended for carrying a two wheeled vehicle, and said folded position being one in which said carrier presents a compact configuration, said carrier utilizing a rigid base member having a wheel receiving portion, and a second rigid member pivotally attached to said base member, said second member also having a wheel receiving portion, said second member, when in said compact configuration, having its wheel receiving portion adjacent the wheel receiving portion of said base member, said second member, when moved to the extended position, having its wheel receiving portion removed for a relatively substantial distance from the wheel receiving portion of said base member, such that the wheels of a two wheel vehicle can be substantially simultaneously received in the wheel receiving portions of said base member and said second member, whereby the two wheeled vehicle is adapted to be transported by a motor vehicle to another location, and a towing ball operatively mounted on said carrier for enabling a trailer to be pulled.

7. The carrier for a two-wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 6 in which said base member is generally "L" shaped.

8. The carrier for a two-wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 6 in which said base member is provided with a forwardly extending member configured to be removably received in an undercar receiver attached to the frame of the motor vehicle, at a location below the rear bumper of the motor vehicle.

9. The carrier for a two-wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 8 in which said towing ball is disposed in substantial alignment with a centerline passing through said forwardly extending member.

10. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 6 in which said towing ball is rigidly mounted on a portion of said base member so as to be availed at all times for receiving the tongue of a trailer to be pulled.

11. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 6 in which said towing ball is attached to said second member, said towing ball being in an upright position in which it is adapted to be engaged by the tongue of a trailer at such time as said second member is in its compact configuration.

12. A carrier for a two wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on a rear end of a motor vehicle, said carrier having a rigid base member provided with a wheel receiving portion, a rigid second member pivotally attached at approximately a mid portion of said base member, with said second member also provided with a wheel receiving portion, said second member being movable from a folded position in which said wheel receiving portions are disposed relatively close together, into an extended position in which said wheel receiving portions are relatively widely separated, such that the wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle are adapted to be received in said wheel receiving portions, said base member being provided with a rigid, forwardly extending member configured to be removably received in an undercar receiver attached to the frame of a motor vehicle, at a location below a rear bumper of such motor vehicle.

13. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 12 in which said base member is generally "L" shaped.

14. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 12 in which a towing ball is attached to said second member, said towing ball, when in an upright position, being disposed in substantial alignment with a centerline passing through said forwardly extending member.

15. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 12 in which a towing ball is attached to said second member, said towing ball being in an upright position to be engaged by a trailer at such time as said second member is in said folded position.

16. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 12 in which a towing ball is rigidly mounted on said base member so as to be availed at all times for receiving the tongue of a trailer to be pulled.

17. A carrier having two operative positions and adapted for mounting on a rear of a motor vehicle, with one position of said carrier being intended for carrying a two wheel vehicle, and the other being a compacted position in which a towing ball is presented in an operative position, thus to enable a trailer to be pulled, said carrier utilizing a rigid base member having a wheel receiving portion, and a second member, also having a wheel receiving portion, that is pivotally attached to said base member, said second member, when in the compacted position, having its wheel receiving position adjacent the wheel receiving portion of said base member, said second member, when moved to an extended position, having its wheel receiving portion removed for a relatively substantial distance from the wheel receiving position of said base member, such that the wheels of a two-wheeled vehicle are adapted to be simultaneously received in the wheel receiving portions of said base member and said second member.

18. The carrier having two operative positions and adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 17 in which said base member is generally "L" shaped.

19. The carrier having two operative positions and adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 17 in which said base member is provided with an extension member configured to be removably received in an undercar receiver attached to the frame of the motor vehicle, at a location below the rear bumper of the motor vehicle.

20. The carrier for a two-wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear end of a motor vehicle as recited in claim 19 in which said towing ball is disposed on said second member, said towing ball in its operative position being in substantial alignment with a centerline passing through said extension member when said second member is in its compacted position.

21. The carrier for a two wheel vehicle as recited in claim 17 in which said towing ball is rigidly mounted on said base member so as to be availed at all times for receiving the tongue of a trailer to be pulled.