초록 ▼

Carrier racks are coupled to a vehicle such that a user can access a pack (e.g., to open and close the pack) carried by the carrier racks. When the vehicle is stationary, items may be loaded and unloaded from the pack while the pack remains securely held by the carrier rack. An all terrain vehicle c

Carrier racks are coupled to a vehicle such that a user can access a pack (e.g., to open and close the pack) carried by the carrier racks. When the vehicle is stationary, items may be loaded and unloaded from the pack while the pack remains securely held by the carrier rack. An all terrain vehicle can include a vehicle frame carrying an engine and a carrier rack fixedly coupled to the vehicle frame. The carrier rack has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a center plane of the all terrain vehicle. The carrier rack extends upwardly from a rearward end of the vehicle. A longitudinally-extending straddle-type seat is between a handlebar assembly of the all terrain vehicle and the carrier rack such a pack on the carrier rack is positioned directly rearward of a rider.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of coupling a pack to an all terrain vehicle, the all terrain vehicle including a vehicle frame carrying an engine; at least one front wheel supporting the vehicle frame; a pair of rear wheels supporting the vehicle frame; a handle bar assembly adapted to move the front wheel relative to

1. A method of coupling a pack to an all terrain vehicle, the all terrain vehicle including a vehicle frame carrying an engine; at least one front wheel supporting the vehicle frame; a pair of rear wheels supporting the vehicle frame; a handle bar assembly adapted to move the front wheel relative to the vehicle frame; a carrier rack fixedly coupled to the vehicle frame, the carrier rack including a frame base that extends in a first direction, a pair of elongate frame members that are spaced apart in the first direction and that extend in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, from the frame base, at least one lower support extending outwardly from the frame base, an upper strap support portion positioned with respect to the at least one lower support such that the carrier rack supports a pack when the pack is placed on the at least one lower support and shoulder straps of the pack are positioned on the upper strap support portion, and a partition plate extending between the elongate frame members, above the lower support, and below the upper strap support portion, the partition plate being positioned to maintain separation between a rider on the all terrain vehicle and the pack during operation of the all terrain vehicle when the pack is supported by the carrier rack; and a longitudinally-extending straddle-type seat between the handle bar assembly and the carrier rack, the method comprising: placing a pack onto the carrier rack; andplacing the shoulder straps of the pack onto the upper support portion such that the pack is vertically oriented while the pack rests on the at least one lower support. 2. A carrier rack for a motorized vehicle, comprising: a frame configured to extend upwardly from a rear end of the vehicle, the frame extending vertically from a horizontally extending base and terminating at a U-shaped section, the U-shaped section being defined by an upper portion of a pair of elongate frame members that extend vertically from the base and a horizontally extending reinforcement member;a pack support coupled to the frame at the base;a pair of shoulder strap retainers extending horizontally from free ends of the elongate frame members, the shoulder strap retainers positioned to receive a pair of shoulder straps of a vertically oriented backpack that rests upon the pack support when the motorized vehicle is on a level support surface;a partition plate extending between the elongate frame members, above the base, and below the reinforcement member; anda plurality of strap holders configured to receive straps that hold the backpack that rests on the pack support and that is adjacent to the frame, the plurality of strap holders including a pair of strap holders on each one of the elongate frame members, one of the pair of strap holders being vertically aligned with the partition plate, and the other of the pair of strap holders being adjacent to the reinforcement member. 3. The carrier rack of claim 2, wherein the carrier rack has a longitudinal axis, the frame extends a sufficient distance in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the shoulder strap retainer keeps a pack aligned with a center plane of the motorized vehicle. 4. The carrier rack of claim 2, wherein a substantial portion of the frame extends along an imaginary plane and the lower support extends perpendicularly from the rack frame. 5. The carrier rack of claim 2, wherein the pack support projects outwardly from the frame. 6. The carrier rack of claim 2, further comprising a mounting bracket for coupling to a vehicle. 7. The carrier rack of claim 2, further comprising means for coupling the frame of the carrier rack to a vehicle. 8. The carrier rack of claim 7, wherein the means for coupling includes a mounting bracket and at least one fastener for engaging both the frame of the carrier rack and the vehicle. 9. A method of placing a pack onto a carrier rack coupled to a vehicle, comprising: placing a pack onto a carrier rack at a rearward section of the vehicle, the carrier rack includes a frame extending upwardly from the rearward section and a pack support extending outwardly from the frame;placing a pair of shoulder straps of the pack onto a strap retainer coupled to the frame such that the pack is vertically oriented while the pack rests on the pack support; andholding the pack against the frame using a plurality of vertically spaced apart flexible restraints coupled to the frame, the plurality of flexible restraints including a first flexible restraint vertically aligned with a partition plate that extends between vertically extending elongate members of the frame and a second flexible restraint positioned vertically between the first flexible restraint and the strap retainer. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the placing of the pair of shoulder straps includes passing the pair of shoulder straps through a window defined by the strap retainer such that the strap retainer is between the pair of shoulder straps and a main body of the pack. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the strap retainer includes a first elongate arm spaced apart from a second elongate arm of the strap retainer to define the window. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein holding the pack against the frame using flexible restraints includes wrapping a plurality of straps about the pack. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein most of the pack is higher than a straddle-type seat of the vehicle when the pack is held against the frame.