초록 ▼

A cargo carrier for use on the outside of a vehicle having a trailer hitch receiver includes a tub, a rigid bracket for supporting the tub, and a pair of tail lights on the rear of the tub. The bracket is adapted at the lower end for insertion into the receiver for supporting the carrier without att

A cargo carrier for use on the outside of a vehicle having a trailer hitch receiver includes a tub, a rigid bracket for supporting the tub, and a pair of tail lights on the rear of the tub. The bracket is adapted at the lower end for insertion into the receiver for supporting the carrier without attachment to the bumper or frame of the vehicle. At the upper end, a rigid, flat plate is connected to the bracket for supporting and stabilizing the tub. The bracket is shaped to position the container elevated above the height of the receiver and spaced rearwardly apart from the vehicle to accommodate a spare tire.

대표청구항 ▼

A cargo carrier system for use in combination with a motor vehicle having a pair of tail lights spaced apart on the rear end of the vehicle, the cargo carrier system comprising: a hollow trailer hitch receiver fixed to the rear of the vehicle at a central location; a waterproof container for holding

A cargo carrier system for use in combination with a motor vehicle having a pair of tail lights spaced apart on the rear end of the vehicle, the cargo carrier system comprising: a hollow trailer hitch receiver fixed to the rear of the vehicle at a central location; a waterproof container for holding a predetermined volume of cargo, the container having a length less than the spacing between the pair of tail lights so that, when the container is mounted centrally and rearwardly of the vehicle, the vehicle tail lights are unobstructed; the container including a rectangular tub and a lid for covering the tub; the tub having an open top, a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and a pair of end walls; the lid hingedly connected to the tub along one of the end walls such that, when the container is spaced rearwardly apart from the vehicle by a predetermined distance, the lid swings along a path parallel to the rear end of the vehicle; a single elongate, rigid bracket for connecting the container to the vehicle, the bracket the bracket consisting of: a single, hollow elongate member having first and second end portions; and a hollow sleeve having a square external cross-section sized for fitting engagement into the hitch receiver and defining an aperture sized for receiving the first end portion of the elongate member in fitting engagement into the sleeve, the first end portion being fixed in fitting engagement through the aperture into the sleeve; the bracket including a pair of complementary obtuse bends such that the first and second end portions are parallel to and offset from each other so that, when the first end portion of the bracket is engaged in the hitch receiver, the second end portion of the bracket is elevated above the height of the hitch receiver for elevating the container above the hitch receiver; the bracket being shaped and sized to space the container apart from the hitch receiver by a distance sufficient to allow a person to stand therebetween, thereby providing access space extending laterally of the bracket between the vehicle and the container when the carrier is connected to the vehicle to allow access to the hitch receiver for engaging and disengaging the first end portion of the bracket; a rigid plate, fixed to the second end portion of the bracket and extending laterally and symmetrically therefrom for supporting the container; the rigid plate being sized smaller than the bottom wall of the tub and removably connected to a central region of the bottom wall of the tub for supporting the container in a centered position relative to the bracket; the plate sized to provide lateral stability to the container.