Storable hitch mounted cargo carrier

• US 6,202,909 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cequent Towing Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Draw-Tite, Incorporated (TriMas Corporation)
• Inventors: Young, David A., Belinky, Jacob S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brevard, Maerena W.
• Application Number:
  US09/304,896
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 224/524, 224/523, 224/525, 224/529, 224/518, 224/519, 224/522, 224/527
• US Class Current: 224/524
• 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 carrier (10) has a separable drawbar (22) and platform (20) for facilitating ease of storage when not in use. The drawbar (22) is mountable to a vehicle hitch and the platform (20) is mounted onto the drawbar (22) via the fastening of a single manually operated knob (74).

Claims

1. A cargo carrier constructed to be mounted to a hitch sleeve of a vehicle to position said cargo carrier proximate the rear of the vehicle;

said cargo carrier comprising;

a drawbar having a first end construction to be removably mounted to the vehicle hitch sleeve and a rear distal end that includes a first bracket;

a cargo platform having a rear end removably attachable to said first bracket;

a second bracket affixed on an intermediate section of said drawbar between said first end and said rear distal end;

said second bracket removably connectable to said front end of said cargo platform;

said first bracket having a slot extending from an edge thereof for receiving a fastener that passes through a rear rail of said platform;

a manually operated knob engaging said fastener; and

an embossment at a side of said slot and said bracket for preventing said knob and fastener from laterally disengaging from said slot when said knob is fully fastened onto said fastener.

2. A cargo carrier as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said knob having a pair of manually operated wings and a threaded hub that threads onto said fastener.

3. A cargo carrier as defined in claim 2 further comprising:

said embossment being arcuate in shape to substantially surround said knob when fully fastened to said fastener.

4. A cargo carrier as defined in claim 3 further comprising:

said slot extending vertically down from a top edge of said first bracket and said fastener vertically moves to engage or disengage from said slot.

5. A cargo carrier as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

said slot extending vertically down from a top edge of said first bracket and said fastener vertically moves to engage or disengage from said slot.

6. A cargo carrier as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

said second bracket having an upper lip that engages a front rail of said platform and that allows said rail to pivotally move thereunder and disengage therefrom when said fastener laterally exits said slot of said first bracket.

7. A cargo carrier constructed to be mounted to a hitch sleeve of a vehicle;

said cargo carrier comprising;

a drawbar having a first end adapted to be selectively mounted to the hitch sleeve;

a cargo platform removably mounted onto said drawbar by a releasable fastener device such that said cargo platform is disconnectable from said drawbar such that said drawbar and cargo platform can be stored in the vehicle as separate members;

said releasable fastener device being a single operated fastener located axially with said drawbar and connecting an edge rail of said cargo platform to said drawbar; and

said drawbar having a front bracket with a top lip engaging a front rail section of said cargo platform and said single operated fastener clamps a rear rail section of said cargo platform.

8. A cargo carrier constructed to be mounted to a hitch sleeve of a vehicle;

said cargo carrier comprising;

a drawbar having a first end adapted to be selectively mounted to the hitch sleeve;

a cargo platform removably mounted onto said drawbar by a releasable fastener device such that said cargo platform is disconnectable from said drawbar such that said drawbar and cargo platform can be stored in the vehicle as separate members;

said releasable fastener device being a single operated fastener located axially with said drawbar and connecting an edge rail of said cargo platform to said drawbar; and

said single operated fastener being a threaded manually operated member, threadably engaging a complementary threaded fastener element to lock said rear rail section onto a rear bracket member attached to said drawbar.