Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An automotive carrier deck for fitting over an existing trailer hitch tongue, comprising: a horizontal tongue support having an aperture therethrough, said horizontal tongue support adapted to be secured to said trailer hitch tongue; a vertically extending bracket having an upper and lower end, said upper end having an aperture extending laterally therethrough, said lower end having an L-shaped member for receiving a bolt, said bolt extending upward and having an associated nut, said bolt extending through said L-shaped member, said aperture of said horizontal tongue support and said trailer hitch support for securely attaching said vertically extending bracket to said horizontal tongue support and said trailer hitch tongue; a first securing pin; and, a rectangular deck having a first and a second outwardly extending bracket arm, each of said arms having an upper and lower aperture formed therethrough, said deck hingedly attached to said vertically extending bracket by said first securing pin inserted through said aperture of said vertically extending bracket and said upper aperture of said first and second outwardly extending arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An automotive carrier deck for fitting over an existing trailer hitch tongue, comprising: a horizontal tongue support having an aperture therethrough, said horizontal tongue support adapted to be secured to said trailer hitch tongue; a vertically extending bracket having an upper and lower end, said upper end having an aperture extending laterally therethrough, said lower end having an L-shaped member for receiving a bolt, said bolt extending upward and having an associated nut, said bolt extending through said L-shaped member, said aperture of said horizontal tongue support and said trailer hitch support for securely attaching said vertically extending bracket to said horizontal tongue support and said trailer hitch tongue; a first securing pin; and, a rectangular deck having a first and a second outwardly extending bracket arm, each of said arms having an upper and lower aperture formed therethrough, said deck hingedly attached to said vertically extending bracket by said first securing pin inserted through said aperture of said vertically extending bracket and said upper aperture of said first and second outwardly extending arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The automotive carrier deck of claim 1 wherein said rectangular deck further comprises an downwardly extending stop with an aperture at its distal end, said aperture having therethrough a bolt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The automotive carrier deck of claim 1 wherein said rectangular deck further comprises channels at opposite ends therebelow to receive and store a ramp member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The automotive carrier deck of claim 3 wherein said ramp member has located thereon at one end at least one downwardly extending tab.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The automotive carrier deck of claim 1 whereby said rectangular deck has a second securing pin inserted through said lower apertures of said first and second outwardly extending bracket arms when said deck is in the vertical position, said second securing pin engaging said vertically extending bracket preventing said rectangular deck from rotating to the horizontal position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The automotive carrier deck of claim 1 wherein said horizontal tongue support has a first channel with two side walls and a bottom surface and a second channel on the opposite side having two side walls and a bottom surface, said first channel being narrower in width than said second channel, whereby said horizontal tongue support may be utilized for both wide and narrow trailer hitch support members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
An automotive carrier device for attachment to a trailer hitch tongue, comprising: (a) a rectangular deck having a circumscribing rail and a first and second bracket arm extending outward therefrom, said first and second bracket arm each having an upper and lower aperture formed therethrough; (b) a horizontal tongue support having an aperture formed therethrough, said tongue support adapted to be aligned with said trailer hitch tongue; (c) a vertically extending bracket having a first aperture formed therethrough on one end and a threaded aperture for receiving a bolt, said bolt adapted to extend through said trailer hitch tongue, said tongue support aperture and said threaded aperture for securing said vertically extending bracket and said horizontal tongue support to said trailer hitch tongue; (d) a first securing pin extending through the upper apertures of said first and second bracket arm and said first aperture of said vertically extending bracket pivotally mounting said deck on said vertically extending bracket; and, (e) opposing channel members formed below and on opposite ends of said deck which slidably receive an extension ramp therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
An automotive carrier device for attachment to a trailer hitch tongue, comprising: (a) a rectangular deck having a circumscribing rail and a first and second bracket arm extending outward therefrom, said first and second bracket arm each having an upper and lower aperture formed therethrough; (b) a horizontal tongue support having an aperture formed therethrough, said tongue support adapted to be aligned with said trailer hitch tongue; (c) a vertically extending bracket having a first aperture formed therethrough on one end and a threaded aperture for receiving a bolt, said bolt adapted to extend through said trailer hitch tongue, said tongue support aperture and said threaded aperture for securing said vertically extending bracket and said horizontal tongue support to said trailer hitch tongue; (d) a first securing pin extending through the upper apertures of said first and second bracket arm and said first aperture of said vertically extending bracket pivotally mounting said deck on said vertically extending bracket; and, (e) opposing channel members formed below and on opposite ends of said deck which slidably receive an extension ramp therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The automotive carrier device of claim 7 further comprising a second securing pin extending through the lower apertures of said first and second bracket arms outwardly extending from said deck, said deck pivoted in a vertical position about said first securing pin, said second securing pin having a lateral portion between said first and second bracket arms compressing against said vertically extending bracket thereby holding said deck in a vertical position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The automotive carrier device of claim 7 further comprising a downwardly extending stop attached at one end to said rectangular deck and having at the opposite end a threaded bolt extending therethrough, said bolt compressing against said vertically extending bracket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The automotive carrier device of claim 7 wherein said extension ramp further comprises a downwardly extending tab.