Hitch carrying rack for all terrain vehicles

• US 6,732,892 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith Mangrum
• Original Assignee: Keith Mangrum
• Inventors: Mangrum, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US10/192,574
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 224/401, 224/402, 224/405, 224/408, 224/410, 224/412, 224/419, 224/423, 224/425, 224/426, 224/445, 224/446, 224/452, 224/453, 224/513, 224/519-521, 224/494, 224/502, 224/505, 224/564, 224/42.32, 224/42.34, 224/274, 414/462
• US Class Current: 224/401
• 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

An extension bed apparatus for carrying a load with a vehicle. The extension bed includes a frame connector adapted to connect to the vehicle frame, a bed wall extending upward from the frame connector, a bed base adapted to be compacted or extending for carrying different loads, and a first movement absorbing connector attaching the bed wall to the frame rack so that the shock absorbing system on the vehicle may move the frame rack mounted on the vehicle body in relation to the frame while still supporting the extension bed. Multiple racks may be used for supporting loads off of both the front and back of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An extension bed apparatus for carrying a load with a vehicle, the vehicle including an attachment block connected to a frame and a frame rack connected to the frame through a moveable shock absorbing connection, the extension bed comprising:

a frame connector adapted to connect to the attachment block;

a bed wall connected to and extending upward from the frame connector;

a first movement absorbing connector attaching the bed wall to the frame rack, the movement absorbing connector adapted to allow movement of the frame rack relative to the attachment block; and

a bed base connected to the bed wall and adapted to extend laterally away from the vehicle to support the load.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the frame including a hitch ball extending from the frame and the frame connector comprising:

a trailer hitch adapted for removable connection to the hitch ball.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the frame connector further comprising:

an adjustable truing connector adapted to allow an adjustment of a relative distance between the bed wall and the trailer hitch for proper positioning of the bed wall in relation to the frame rack.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, the bed wall comprising:

a cross bar member; and

at least one hanger extending from the cross bar member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the first movement absorbing connector comprising:

a vertical slide moveably connected to the bed wall and adapted to connect and support the bed wall off of the frame rack while allowing vertical movement of the frame rack in relation to the bed wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge connected between the bed base and the bed wall and adapted to allow the bed base to be placed into both an extended position and a compacted position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a side support structure adapted to support the bad base off of the bed wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the side support structure comprising:

a cable extending from the bed wall to the bed base, wherein the cable is adapted to support the base in an extended position from the bed wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the side support structure comprising:

a side rail extending from the bed wall to the bed base, wherein the side rail is adapted to support the base in an extended position from the bed wall.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a bed side connected to and extending upward from the bed base, wherein the bed side is adapted to provide lateral support to the load.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a back side connected to and extending upward from the bed base, wherein the back side is adapted to provide longitudinal support to the load.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a hinge connecting the back side and the bed base, wherein the hinge is adapted to allow the bed base to be placed into both an extended position and a compacted position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a side rail extending from the bed wall to the bed base and adapted to support the bed base in an extended position from the bed wall; and

a tail gate support structure adapted to support the back side off of the side rail.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one wheel connected to the bed base and adapted to provide ground support to an end of the bed base distal from the frame connector.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a bed liner adapted to be removably secured to the extension bed, the bed liner adapted to provide support to a particle load.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bed liner is constructed from a flexible material allowing for compaction of the bed liner.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, the rear bed wall comprising:

a rear cross bar member; and

a winch connected to the rear cross bar member.

18. An extension bed carrying system apparatus for carrying a first load and a second load with a vehicle, the vehicle including a frame with both a rear frame rack and a front frame rack connected to the frame through at least one moveable shock absorbing connection, the frame further including a front connecting block and a back connecting block, the extension bed carrying system comprising:

a front extension bed including a front frame connector adapted to connect to the front connecting block, a front bed wall connected to and extending upward from the front frame connector, a first front movement absorbing connector attaching the front bed wall to the front frame rack, the front movement absorbing connector adapted to allow movement of the front frame rack relative to the front connecting block, a front bed base connected to the front bed wall and adapted to extend laterally away from the vehicle to support the first load; and

a rear extension bed including a rear frame connector adapted to connect to the rear connecting block, a rear bed wall connected to and extending upward from the rear frame connector, a first rear movement absorbing connector attaching the rear bed wall to the rear frame rack, the rear movement absorbing connector adapted to allow movement of the rear frame rack relative to the rear connecting block, a rear bed base connected to the rear bed wall and adapted to extend laterally away from the vehicle to support the second load.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one wheel connected to the rear bed base and adapted to provide ground support to an end of the rear bed base distal from the rear frame connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, the rear bed wall comprising:

a rear cross bar member; and

a winch connected to the rear cross bar member.

21. An extension bed apparatus for carrying a load with a vehicle, the vehicle including an attachment block connected to a frame and a frame rack connected to the frame through a moveable shock absorbing connection, the extension bed comprising:

a fixed connector adapted to connect to one side of the moveable shock absorbing connection;

a bed wall connected to the fixed connector;

a first movement absorbing connector attaching the bed wall to the opposite side of the moveable shock absorbing connection, the movement absorbing connector adapted to allow movement of the moveable shock absorbing connection; and

a bed base connected to the bed wall and adapted to extend laterally away from the vehicle to support the load.