초록 ▼

An auxiliary storage system for attachment to a vehicle, including a storage container and a hitch assembly for releasably connecting the storage container and the vehicle together. The hitch assembly includes a central body, a first connection subassembly for attaching the central body and the vehi

An auxiliary storage system for attachment to a vehicle, including a storage container and a hitch assembly for releasably connecting the storage container and the vehicle together. The hitch assembly includes a central body, a first connection subassembly for attaching the central body and the vehicle together, and a second connection subassembly connectable with the storage container and movable relative to the central body, for attaching the central body and the storage container together. When the second connection subassembly is connected with the storage container, the storage container is movable thereby between a raised position, in which the storage container is located above a ground surface, and a lowered position, in which the storage container is located on the ground surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An auxiliary storage system for attachment to a vehicle, the auxiliary storage system comprising: a storage container;a hitch assembly for releasably connecting the storage container and the vehicle together, the hitch assembly comprising: a central body;a first connection subassembly for attachi

1. An auxiliary storage system for attachment to a vehicle, the auxiliary storage system comprising: a storage container;a hitch assembly for releasably connecting the storage container and the vehicle together, the hitch assembly comprising: a central body;a first connection subassembly for attaching the central body and the vehicle together;a second connection subassembly connectable with the storage container and movable relative to the central body, for attaching the central body and the storage container together;when the second connection subassembly is connected with the storage container, the storage container is movable thereby between a raised position, in which the storage container is located above a ground surface, and a lowered position, in which the storage container is located on the ground surface;a motion device for moving the second connection subassembly relative to the central body when the second connection subassembly is connected with the storage container;the second connection subassembly comprising: a jack element mounted in a rear column of the central body, and movable by the motion device relative to the central body;at least one upper engagement portion;at least one middle engagement portion;each of said at least one upper engagement portion and said at least one middle engagement portion being mounted to the jack element and engageable with the storage container for moving the storage container between the raised and lowered positions; andthe central body additionally comprising at least one lower engagement portion mounted on the central body and engageable with the storage container when the storage container is in the raised position. 2. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 1 in which the jack element is movable substantially vertically relative to the central body. 3. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 2 in which the storage container comprises at least one upper engagement element, configured for engagement with said at least one upper engagement portion. 4. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 3 in which: the storage container comprises at least one middle engagement element positioned for engagement with said at least one middle engagement portion when the storage container is in the raised position; andwhen the storage container is in the raised position, said at least one middle engagement portion and said at least one middle engagement element cooperate to position the storage container substantially vertically. 5. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 3 in which the central body comprises a plurality of bearings to support the jack element as the jack element is moved by the motion device relative to the central body. 6. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 5 in which: the rear column extends between upper and lower ends thereof;the rear column is partially defined by a front wall thereof, positioned to face the vehicle when the central body is attached to the vehicle, and by a rear wall thereof, positioned to face the storage container when the storage container is attached to the central body;the bearings are positioned for rolling engagement with the jack element as the jack element moves in the rear column, the bearings comprise: a lower bearing located at the lower end of the rear column, substantially aligned with the front wall; andan upper bearing located at the upper end of the rear column, substantially aligned with the rear wall. 7. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 1 in which the hitch assembly additionally comprises an adjustment subassembly for adjusting the position of the central body when it is attached to the vehicle, such that the central body positions the second connection subassembly to move the storage container substantially vertically between the lowered and raised positions; the adjustment subassembly comprising: an adjustment plate comprising rear and front adjustment plate holes therein;the adjustment plate being positionable adjacent to a selected part of the central body comprising respective rear and front central body holes therein, for alignment of the rear adjustment plate hole and the front adjustment plate hole substantially with the rear and front central body holes respectively;a bolt positionable in the rear adjustment plate hole and the rear central body hole, the rear adjustment plate hole being substantially larger than the bolt, to permit movement of the central body relative to the adjustment plate;a pin positionable in the front adjustment plate hole and the front central body hole, the front central body hole being substantially larger than the pin, to permit movement of the central body relative to the adjustment plate; andan eccentric washer movable by rotation of an adjustment bolt, the eccentric washer being engaged with the central body and at least partially engaged with the adjustment plate such that rotation of the eccentric washer causes corresponding pivoting movement of the central body relative to the adjustment plate, for positioning a rear column of the central body substantially vertically. 8. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 7 in which: the first connection subassembly comprises a connector securable to the vehicle, the connector comprising a main part receivable in a front column of the central body;an upper region of the main part being attached to the first column by a pin; andthe central body is pivotable about the pin in response to the rotation of the eccentric washer. 9. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 4 in which: the storage container additionally comprises a lower engagement element positioned below the middle engagement element; andsaid at least one lower engagement portion is formed for engagement with the lower engagement element when the storage container is in the raised position, such that the storage container is at least partially stabilized by said at least one engagement portion. 10. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 9 in which said at least one lower engagement portion comprises: an inner part secured to the rear column;an outer part at least partially separated from the inner part to define a slot therebetween extending between an open lower end and a closed upper end; andthe lower engagement element being at least partially receivable in the slot, and engageable with the lower engagement portion at the upper end of the slot when the storage container is in the raised position. 11. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 10 in which the inner part comprises a chamfer region formed to guide the lower engagement portion to receive the bar in the slot. 12. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 1 in which: the second connection subassembly is movable substantially vertically relative to the central body, the second connection subassembly comprising: at least one upper engagement portion;at least one middle engagement portion;the storage container comprises: at least one upper engagement element for engagement with said at least one upper engagement portion, to enable the second connection subassembly to at least partially support the storage container above the ground surface;at least one middle engagement element for engagement with said at least one middle engagement portion, to stabilize the storage container when said at least one upper element and said at least one upper engagement portion are engaged; andthe storage container additionally comprising a lower engagement element engageable with the central body, for further stabilizing the storage container when the storage container is in the raised position. 13. An auxiliary storage system according to claim 12 in which the central body additionally comprises at least one lower engagement portion engageable with the lower engagement element when the storage container is in the raised position.