Support rack
First Claim
1. An apparatus for mounting to the spare tire mount of a vehicle comprising a spare tire retained to the exterior of the vehicle, comprising:
- a mounting boss configured to be engaged to retaining features of the particular spare tire mount of the particular vehicle without having to contact or be brought into contact with any other part of the vehicle or spare tire, such that it is mountable centrally thereto; and
an accessory bracket comprising plural parallel vertical rails,the mounting boss comprising plural parallel vertical rail mounting tubes on horizontally opposite ends of the mounting boss configured to;
receive the plural parallel vertical rails,the rails being alternately insertably translatable and selectably securable to a desired distance inside the rail mounting tubes;
such that;
alternately inserting the rails into the tubes of the mounting boss from above the mounting boss effects an embodiment configured to provide support for accessories to locate them at a height which is above the boss; and
alternately inserting the rails into the tubes of the mounting boss from below the mounting boss effects an embodiment providing support for accessories below the boss; and
alternately removing the rails from the mounting boss effects an embodiment which does not extend outwardly from the centrally mounted location of the mounting boss,relative to the spare tire;
at least one rail hanger,the rail hanger being one that is alternately translatable and selectably securable to a rail, at a desired distance from the mounting boss, along the length of the rail, and is also configured to be continuously translated along and continuously angularly swiveled about the respective rail; and
further comprising a vertical accessory support pin;
such that the accessory support pin is configured to be continuously translated along and continuously angularly swiveled about the respective rail to be alternately secured to and released from any position along the respective rail, and angularly swiveled about the length of the respective rail, between the face of the tire outboard of the horizontal position of the rail and the face of the tire inboard of the horizontal position of the rail, such that securing the rail hanger to the rail securely locates the accessory support pin at a desired distance from the mounting boss and angular offset with respect to the rail.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cargo and storage rack for increasing the carrying capacity of a vehicle having a spare tire mount on the exterior of the vehicle. Retaining features of a mounting boss engage the retainment features of the spare tire to the spare tire mount. The mounting boss is adapted to receive storage brackets above or below or both of above and below the mounting boss, to secure cargo securing features at desired distances of engagement from the boss. Rails of any bracket secured to the boss provide support for alternately translating and selectably locatable cargo supporting features, such that the rack can secure cargo without a bracket that provides its own securing features. Optionally, the rack can support cargo with any combination of selectably locatable cargo supporting features on the rails and a bracket, and the rack comprises methods of construction and customization that facilitate rapid reconstruction of the rack and removal from the vehicle.
7 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for mounting to the spare tire mount of a vehicle comprising a spare tire retained to the exterior of the vehicle, comprising:
-
a mounting boss configured to be engaged to retaining features of the particular spare tire mount of the particular vehicle without having to contact or be brought into contact with any other part of the vehicle or spare tire, such that it is mountable centrally thereto; and an accessory bracket comprising plural parallel vertical rails, the mounting boss comprising plural parallel vertical rail mounting tubes on horizontally opposite ends of the mounting boss configured to; receive the plural parallel vertical rails, the rails being alternately insertably translatable and selectably securable to a desired distance inside the rail mounting tubes; such that; alternately inserting the rails into the tubes of the mounting boss from above the mounting boss effects an embodiment configured to provide support for accessories to locate them at a height which is above the boss; and alternately inserting the rails into the tubes of the mounting boss from below the mounting boss effects an embodiment providing support for accessories below the boss; and alternately removing the rails from the mounting boss effects an embodiment which does not extend outwardly from the centrally mounted location of the mounting boss, relative to the spare tire; at least one rail hanger, the rail hanger being one that is alternately translatable and selectably securable to a rail, at a desired distance from the mounting boss, along the length of the rail, and is also configured to be continuously translated along and continuously angularly swiveled about the respective rail; and further comprising a vertical accessory support pin; such that the accessory support pin is configured to be continuously translated along and continuously angularly swiveled about the respective rail to be alternately secured to and released from any position along the respective rail, and angularly swiveled about the length of the respective rail, between the face of the tire outboard of the horizontal position of the rail and the face of the tire inboard of the horizontal position of the rail, such that securing the rail hanger to the rail securely locates the accessory support pin at a desired distance from the mounting boss and angular offset with respect to the rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification