US5108018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detachable carriers for motor vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-02-07
•
Granted: 1992-04-28
•
Expires: 2011-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A detachable carrier for use on motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, and the like. A lower hollow post is pivotably connected to an upper hollow post that carries a cross piece on which a pair of hangers are mounted. An anchor bolt is fixed on the lower post for mounting the carrier on a conventional trailer hitch mounting bracket. A locking pin cooperates with superimposed locking holes to lock the carrier in the upright position. A counterbalancing spring and a stop-limit chain are mounted inside the hollow posts. The spring is a coil spring in one embodiment and a leaf spring in another embodiment. An assembly is provided for adjusting the counterbalancing spring force applied to the posts.
Inventors
- 👤 James Spinka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:09
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R9/00; B60R9/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S224/00; Y10S224/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A carrier for use on motor vehicles comprising: a first hollow post; a second hollow post pivotably mounted on said first post; hanger means mounted on said second post for removably mounting articles thereon; locking means for releasably locking said posts in a first positon and for permitting relative rotation of said posts out of said first position when said locking means is released; spring means mounted in said posts for applying a counterbalancing torque to said posts for biasing said posts toward said first position in response to rotation of said posts out of said first position; and a stop-limit means secured to said posts for restricting rotation of said posts beyond a predetermined angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A carrier for use on motor vehicles comprising: a first hollow post; a second hollow post pivotably mounted on said first post; hanger means mounted on said second post for removably mounting articles thereon; locking means for releasably locking said posts in a first positon and for permitting relative rotation of said posts out of said first position when said locking means is released; spring means mounted in said posts for applying a counterbalancing torque to said posts for biasing said posts toward said first position in response to rotation of said posts out of said first position; and a stop-limit means secured to said posts for restricting rotation of said posts beyond a predetermined angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The carrier of claim 1 further including spring adjusting means for manual adjustment of the amount of said counterbalancing torque.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The carrier of claim 2 wherein said spring means includes a coil spring having first and second ends secured to said first and second posts respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The carrier of claim 3 wherein said spring adjusting means includes means for varying the tension in said coil spring while in said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The carrier of claim 4 wherein said stop-limit means includes a flexible line having first and second ends attached to said first and second posts respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The carrier of claim 5 wherein said line is a chain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The carrier of claim 6 wherein said locking means includes locking holes in said posts that are superimposed when said carrier is in said first position and a locking pin capable of insertion in said holes when superimposed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The carrier of claim 7 further including a mounting means for removably mounting said carrier on a motor vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The carrier of claim 8 wherein said mounting means includes a bolt extending from said first post.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The carrier of claim 2 wherein said spring means includes an elongated leaf spring mounted in said hollow posts, said spring having first and second ends secured to said first and second posts respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The carrier of claim 10 wherein said leaf spring has at least one of said ends slidably secured.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The carrier of claim 11 wherein said spring adjusting means includes means for adjustably deflecting a portion of said spring intermediate said first and second ends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The carrier of claim 12 wherein said stop-limit means includes a flexible line having first and second ends attached to said first and second posts respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The carrier of claim 13 wherein said line is a chain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A carrier for use on motor vehicles comprising: first and second hollow posts each having a central axis, and first and second ends; a hinge means secured to said first ends of said posts for pivotably connecting said posts together to enable rotation of said posts between a first position wherein said central axes are aligned and a second position wherein said central axes form a predetermined angle with each other; an article hanger mounted on said second end of said second post; a mounting means located on said second end of said first post for mounting said carrier on a motor vehicle; a counterbalancing spring mounted inside said posts having first and second ends secured to said first and second posts respectively; and a stop-limit means located inside said posts for restricting rotation of said posts beyond said predetermined angle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
A carrier for use on motor vehicles comprising: first and second hollow posts each having a central axis, and first and second ends; a hinge means secured to said first ends of said posts for pivotably connecting said posts together to enable rotation of said posts between a first position wherein said central axes are aligned and a second position wherein said central axes form a predetermined angle with each other; an article hanger mounted on said second end of said second post; a mounting means located on said second end of said first post for mounting said carrier on a motor vehicle; a counterbalancing spring mounted inside said posts having first and second ends secured to said first and second posts respectively; and a stop-limit means located inside said posts for restricting rotation of said posts beyond said predetermined angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The carrier of claim 15 further including locking means for selectively locking said posts in said first position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The carrier of claim 16 further including spring force adjusting means for manual adjustment of the counterbalancing force of said spring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The carrier of claim 17 wherein said spring is a coil spring.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The carrier of claim 17 wherein said spring is a leaf spring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The carrier of claim 17 wherein said stop-limit means includes a chain having first and second ends secured to said first and second posts respectively.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |