Apparatus for carrying articles and portable table attachable to a trailer-hitch ball

Patent 5232133 Issued on August 3, 1993. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 6, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3448904

3876123

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Issued on: 03/16/1976
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Apparatus for connecting article carriers to a trailer hitch ball
Patent #: 4901896
Issued on: 02/20/1990
Inventor: Speer

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Inventor

Speer, William W.

Application

No. 846897 filed on 03/06/1992

US Classes:

224/485, Convertible to hold different type of article224/487, Different device is furniture224/497, Collapsible to nonuse position224/520, Ball hitch224/532, Laterally extending arms224/917, SKI CARRIER224/917.5Vehicle attached

Examiners

Primary: Recla, Henry J.
Assistant: Walczak, David J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Baker & Botts

International Class

B60R 007/00

Abstract

An article carrier connectable to a vehicle trailerhitch ball is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a vertical support member having a horizontal support member connected to its upper end and a hitch ball receptacle attached to its lower end. Hanger arm support sleeves are attached to the horizontal support member and bike hanger arms are rotatably coupled to the hanger arm support sleeves. The bike hanger arms can be rotated to be carried in either the transport position to carry bicycles and the like or storage position. Upper and lower ski attachments can be attached to the hanger arm support sleeves and the lower end of the vertical support member, respectively, for carrying ski equipment. In addition, a table top can be attached to the vertical support member to form a table when the article carrier is detached from the vehicle.