Cargo carrier attachment for a vehicle

Claim 2

A cargo carrier for a vehicle, comprising: a swingably openable frame spaced outwardly apart from the vehicle and mounted adjacent and normally generally parallel to the vehicle, the frame including an elongated front jaw member having opposite first and second ends and a U-shaped rear jaw member having a first end pivotally attached along a generally vertical pivot axis to the first end of the front jaw member for angular relative movement between open and closed positions in a substantially horizontal plane, the rear jaw member having a second end releasably secured to the second end of the front jaw member so as to define a space between the jaw members upon the pivoting of the rear jaw member to the closed position; and a container for holding cargo releasably secured to at least one of the jaw members of the frame and having a base portion extending into the space between the jaw members and an upper portion protruding from the frame in the closed position of the jaw members.

Claim 3

The cargo carrier of claim 1 wherein a handle is provided on one of the jaw members for swinging the jaw member about the pivot axis into an open position of the frame.

Claim 4

The cargo carrier of claim 1 wherein the tongue is substantially S-shaped such that the frame and the container secured on the frame are elevated above the cantilevered end of the tongue and spaced apart from the vehicle.

Claim 5

The cargo carrier of claim 1 wherein two tongues are attached to the frame and releasably cantilevered to the vehicle.

Claim 6

The cargo carrier of claim 1 wherein the container has a ledge portion disposed between the base portion and the upper portion, the ledge portion being adapted for resting on one of jaw members.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein the inserting of the container into the position within one of the jaws is accomplished without the use of tools.

Claim 10

A cargo carrier for a vehicle, comprising: a frame including an elongated front jaw member having opposite first and second ends and a U-shaped rear jaw member having a first end pivotally attached to the first end of the front jaw member for movement between open and closed positions, the rear jaw member having a second end releasably secured to the second end of the front jaw member so as to define a space between the jaw members upon the pivoting of the rear jaw member to the closed position; at least one tongue member attached to one of the jaw members and being adapted to extend into releasable cantilevered engagement with the vehicle to support the frame; and a container for holding cargo releasably secured to at least one of the frame members and having a base portion extending into the space between the jaw members, the container including a bottom wall, side walls attached to the bottom wall and forming a top opening, and a lid pivotally attached to one of the side walls for covering the top opening, and wherein an outwardly protruding ledge is formed on at least one of the walls and therebelow at least one catch/holddown mechanism is operatively interposed between at least one of the jaw members and one of the walls having the ledge so as to form a channel for securing the container to the jaw member, such that the container is restrained against vertical movement relative to the frame in the open position and in the closed position of the frame yet can be slid horizontally to detach from the frame in the open position.

Claim 11

A cargo carrier for a vehicle, comprising: a frame including an elongated front jaw member having opposite first and second ends and a U-shaped rear jaw member having a first end pivotally attached to the first end of the front jaw member for movement between open and closed positions, the rear jaw member having a second end releasably secured to the second end of the front jaw member so as to define a space between the jaw members upon the pivoting of the rear jaw member to the closed position; at least one tongue member attached to one of the jaw members and being adapted to extend into releasable cantilevered engagement with the vehicle to support the frame; and a container for holding cargo releasably secured to at least one of the frame members and having a base portion extending into the space between the jaw members, the container including a bottom wall, side walls attached to the bottom wall and forming a top opening, and a lid pivotally attached to one of the side walls for covering the top opening, and wherein an outwardly protruding ledge is formed on at least one of the walls and therebelow at least one catch/holddown mechanism is operatively interposed between at least one of the jaw members and one of the walls having the ledge so as to form a channel for securing the container to the jaw member, such that the container is restrained against vertical movement relative to the frame in the open position and in the closed position of the frame yet can be slid horizontally to detach from the frame in the open position.

Claim 12

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein each catch/holddown mechanism comprises a protrusion from the respective jaw member and a complementary horizontally disposed slot in the side wall which receives the protrusion.

Claim 13

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein each catch/holddown mechanism comprises an elongated, horizontally disposed pin extending from the jaw members and an indentation disposed in the container for receiving the pin.

Claim 14

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein the container has an aperture in one of the side walls and a drop door is pivotally connected to the container and positioned to cover the aperture.

Claim 15

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein at least one of the walls and lid includes a vent therein which allows air into the container yet keeps fluids out, whereby animals can be carried in the container as cargo.

Claim 16

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein a pair of handles for carrying are integrally formed in the side walls of the container.

Claim 17

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein each catch/holddown mechanism comprises a bracket having one portion attached to one of the walls and another portion extending generally horizontally therefrom to form a channel for receiving one of the jaw members.

Claim 18

The cargo carrier of claim 8 wherein the bracket is generally L-shaped with one generally vertical leg attached to one of the side walls and a generally horizontal leg extending generally parallel to the ledge to form a channel for receiving one of the jaw members.