초록 ▼

A reconfigurable utility system that is mountable to a standard trailer hitch. The utility system has small basic units that can be temporarily combined to make members and connections. The connections can be fixed or pivoting. The members can be oriented both parallel and orthogonal (although not n

A reconfigurable utility system that is mountable to a standard trailer hitch. The utility system has small basic units that can be temporarily combined to make members and connections. The connections can be fixed or pivoting. The members can be oriented both parallel and orthogonal (although not necessarily intersecting) to the hitch. The utility system is constructed from durable materials such as steel, aluminum, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”). The utility system components can have a square cross-sectional mating area, so that it is most easily integrated with a standard trailer hitch.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A modular trailer-hitch utility system comprising: a plurality of Female Building Blocks, said Female Building Blocks being durably constructed from 2½″×2½″ square tubing, each Female Building Block having four connected surfaces with a substantially square cross-section, and two open ends oppose

1. A modular trailer-hitch utility system comprising: a plurality of Female Building Blocks, said Female Building Blocks being durably constructed from 2½″×2½″ square tubing, each Female Building Block having four connected surfaces with a substantially square cross-section, and two open ends opposed to one another;a plurality of Male Building Blocks, said Male Building Blocks being durably constructed from 2″×2″ square tubing each Male Building Block having four connected surfaces with a substantially square cross-section, and two open ends opposed to one another and each said Male Building Block being sized to nest or mate inside of said Female Building Blocks;a plurality of Connectors being constructed, temporarily or permanently, from at least one of a Female Building Block and a Male Building Block;said Connectors being configurable in “L”, “T”, and “X” configurations, wherein the “L” connector configuration is comprised of two or more of a Female Building Block and a Male Building Block arranged to have two openings, with the two open ends orthogonal to one another; the “T” connector configuration is comprised of at least two of a Female Building Block and a Male Building Block arranged to have three openings, with two of the openings being orthogonal to the third opening; and the “X” connector configuration is comprised of at least two of a Female Building Block and a Male Building Block arranged to have four exposed openings, with each of the four openings being orthogonal to two of the other openings; and,wherein the connections made by said “L”, “T”, or “X” configurations are either fixed rigid, or pivotable;a plurality of Extenders, said Extenders being durably constructed, each said Extender being sized to either nest inside a Female Building Block, or fit over a Male Building Block;wherein at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender can mate and nest inside a hitch receiver;and wherein more than one of a Male Building Blocks, said a Female Building Blocks, a Connectors, and an Extenders can be temporarily connected to create one structural members that can do at least one of extend parallel with the hitch, extend orthogonal to the hitch, extend both parallel and orthogonal to the hitch, pivot about one connection, and articulate by pivoting around more than one connection. 2. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising hitch pins, wherein the Female Building Blocks, the Male Building Blocks, the Connectors, and the Extenders have through-holes sized to said fit hitch pins; and wherein the Female Building Blocks, the Male Building Blocks, the Connectors, and the Extenders are capable of being temporarily joined or mated, using the hitch pins, with at least two of Female Building Blocks, Male Building Blocks, Connectors, and Extenders. 3. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 2, wherein the through-holes are positioned on the Female Building Blocks, the Male Building Blocks, the Connectors, and the Extenders so that some hole combinations allow two joined components to pivot, while other hole combinations rigidly fix the two joined components. 4. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising wedge-shaped shims, inserted between at least two of Female Building Blocks, Male Building Blocks, Connectors, and Extenders to provide stability and sufficient force-fit. 5. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising Lumber Adapters, wherein the Lumber Adapters are durably constructed; are sized to either nest inside a Female Building Block, or fit over a Male Building Block; and are sized to accept, and mate with structural lumber members. 6. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising Hitch Anchor Shaft wherein the Hitch Anchor Shaft is durably constructed, is sized to fit in a hitch receivers. 7. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 6, wherein the Female Building Blocks, the Male Building Blocks, the Connectors, the Extenders, the Lumber Adapters, and the Hitch Anchor Shafts are constructed from at least one of steel, aluminum, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”). 8. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a lighting accessory, wherein the lighting accessory has a base that securely nests over, and is securely supported by at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 9. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a ramp accessory, wherein the ramp accessory has a support base that is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one cross member constructed from at least one of a Female Building Blocks, a Male Building Blocks, a Connectors, and an Extenders. 10. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a work bench accessory, wherein the work bench accessory has at least one opening to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, Male Building Block, Connector, or Extender, and wherein the work bench accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one cross member constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 11. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a step accessory, wherein the step accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Blocks, a Male Building Blocks, a Connectors, and an Extenders, and wherein the step accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member, and an extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Blocks, a Male Building Blocks, a Connectors, and an Extenders. 12. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a seat accessory, wherein the seat accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one Female Building Block, Male Building Block, Connector, and Extender, and wherein the seat accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member, and extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 13. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a pulley accessory, suitable for lifting a load with at least one of a rope and cable, wherein the pulley accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extenders, and wherein the pulley accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of cross members, and extension members, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 14. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a winch accessory capable of lifting and pulling a load with at least one of a rope and cable, wherein the winch accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender, and wherein the winch accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of cross member and extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector and an Extender. 15. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a rack accessory, capable of holding at least one of shelves, poles, and wires, wherein the rack accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender, and wherein the rack accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member and an extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 16. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a barrier accessory, capable of concealing and protecting a user, wherein the barrier accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender, and wherein the barrier accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member and an extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 17. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a cargo carrier accessory, capable of holding cargo, wherein the cargo carrier has a frame with at least one of an opening and a member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender, and wherein the cargo carrier is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member and an extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 18. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a roller accessory, suitable for rolling loads, wherein the roller accessory has at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender, and wherein the roller accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member and an extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 19. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a platform accessory, wherein the platform accessory has flat platform surface permanently bonded to at least one member to mate with at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender, wherein the platform accessory is supported by the trailer hitch through at least one of a cross member and an extension member, constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 20. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a wheel assembly accessory, wherein the wheel assembly accessory is comprised of a tire, a rim, bearings, an axle, and an axle housing wherein said axle housing can be mated, using hitch pins, to a member constructed from at least one of a Female Building Block, a Male Building Block, a Connector, and an Extender. 21. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 20, wherein a modular trailer can be temporarily constructed, said modular trailer comprising a plurality of wheel assemblies, Female Building Blocks, Male Building Blocks, Connectors, and Extenders. 22. The modular trailer-hitch utility system in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of Open Channel Building Blocks, durably constructed so that the Open Channel Building Blocks are a two-dimensional surface, folded or rolled into three dimensions, that does not enclose any volume; and wherein the Open Channel Building Block is sized to snuggly nest over Male Building Blocks.