Hitch carrier

Abstract

To provide a hitch carrier that easily implements an operation form of an operating lever and enables adjusting a tilt angle of a main frame even in the case of difficulty in applying force.SOLUTION: A hitch carrier comprises: a vehicle engagement frame 12 with an angle adjusting mechanism 16 through a hub 18; a main frame 20 that is rotatably supported on a base end side by the angle adjusting mechanism 16 and has an operating lever 26 on a front end side; a positioning pin 28 that enables movement of the main frame 20 in an axial direction, is biased toward the base end side, and determines a tilted position of the main frame 20 by interposing into a positioning groove 18c provided in the hub 18; and a connection member 32 connecting the operating lever 26 and the positioning pin 28. The connecting member 32 is configured to move in response to a swinging operation of the operating lever 26 and release interposition of the positioning pin 28 into the positioning groove 18c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier for carrying cargo such as bicycles, and more particularly to a hitch carrier for carrying cargo on the rear of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] There are various known carriers (hitch carriers) for carrying cargo such as bicycles at the rear of a vehicle. A typical structure, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, has a vehicle engagement frame that can be engaged with a hitch receiver (not shown) attached to the rear of the vehicle, and a main frame that can adjust the angle relative to the vehicle engagement frame. An example of a hitch carrier having such a basic structure is shown in Figures 10 and 11.

[0003] The hitch carrier 1 disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a hub 4 interposed between a vehicle-engaging frame 2 and a main frame 3 as an angle adjustment mechanism, and is configured so that the main frame 3 can rotate relative to the hub 4. A positioning pin 5 is fitted into a positioning groove 4a provided in the hub 4 to determine the tilt angle (position) of the main frame 3. An operating lever 6 is provided at the tip of the main frame 3, and this operating lever 6 and the positioning pin 5 are connected by a connecting member 7 disposed inside the main frame 3. With this configuration, by pulling the operating lever 6 toward the tip of the main frame 3, the positioning pin 5 is released from the positioning groove 4a, allowing the main frame 3 to rotate.

[0004] With the hitch carrier 1 configured as described above, the tilt angle of the main frame 3 can be easily changed simply by operating the operating lever 6 at the tip of the main frame 3.

[0005] However, in a hitch carrier 1 configured as described above, when releasing the engagement state of the positioning pin 5, it is necessary to pull the operating lever 6 along the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the main frame 3. For this reason, depending on the length and tilt angle of the main frame 3, it may be difficult to apply force when operating the operating lever 6. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 1,139,0222 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a hitch carrier that simplifies the operation of the operating lever and makes it possible to adjust the tilt angle of the main frame even when it is difficult to apply force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the hitch carrier of the present invention comprises a vehicle engagement frame having a connection portion to a hitch receiver at one end and an angle adjustment mechanism via a hub at the other end; a main frame whose base end is supported by the angle adjustment mechanism so as to be freely rotatable and has an operating lever at its tip end; a positioning pin that allows the main frame to move in the axial direction and is biased toward the base end, and determines the tilt position of the main frame by interposing itself in a groove provided in the hub; and a connecting member that connects the operating lever and the positioning pin, wherein the connecting member moves in the axial direction due to the swinging action of the operating lever, and the connecting member is pulled toward the tip end, thereby releasing the positioning pin from interposing itself in the groove.

[0009] Furthermore, the operating lever of the hitch carrier having the above-described characteristics may have a fulcrum, a force point, and a point of action, and the fulcrum may be pivotally supported, and the force point may be swung in a direction different from the axial direction to move the force point and pull the connecting member. This feature allows the operating lever to apply the principle of leverage. Therefore, by making the distance between the fulcrum and the force point longer than the distance between the fulcrum and the point of action, it is possible to pull the connecting member with a small force.

[0010] In addition, a handle may be provided at the tip of the main frame in a hitch carrier having the above-described features, and the fulcrum of the operating lever may be pivoted to the tip of the main frame or to the frame of the handle. With this feature, by gripping the operating lever with the handle as the base point, it is possible to swing the operating lever with one hand.

[0011] In addition, in a hitch carrier having the above-described features, it is desirable that the handle be inclined upward in the direction of arrangement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main frame. With this feature, even when the main frame is lowered close to the ground while gripping the handle, it is possible to prevent the hand from getting caught between the ground and the main frame.

[0012] Furthermore, in a hitch carrier having the above-mentioned features, the operating lever can be configured so that the point of application is located between the fulcrum and the force point. Even if the operating lever is configured in this way, the above-mentioned principle of leverage can be applied. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] A hitch carrier with the above-mentioned features can simplify the operation of the control lever, making it possible to easily operate the control lever and adjust the tilt angle of the main frame even when it is difficult to apply force. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a side configuration of a hitch carrier according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment, showing a partial cross-sectional side view with the case of the angle adjustment mechanism open. [Figure 3] 1 is a view showing a cross-sectional configuration of a hitch carrier according to a first embodiment, taken in a longitudinal direction. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a partial cross section of a hitch carrier according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a main frame is raised to a maximum angle in the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a main frame is lowered to a minimum in the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a view showing a side structure of a hitch carrier according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a view showing a cross-sectional configuration of a hitch carrier according to a second embodiment, taken in a longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view of a hitch carrier according to a second embodiment, showing a partial cross-sectional side view with a case of an angle adjustment mechanism open. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a side configuration of a conventional hitch carrier. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of a conventional hitch carrier, taken in the longitudinal direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the hitch carrier of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments shown below are only a part of the present invention, and even if a part of the configuration is changed, it can be considered as part of the present invention as long as the effect of the invention is achieved.

[0016] [First embodiment: configuration] First, a hitch carrier according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the side configuration of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment with the case of the angle adjustment mechanism open. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment, divided longitudinally. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a partial cross-section of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment with the main frame raised to the maximum angle. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the hitch carrier according to the first embodiment with the main frame lowered to the minimum position.

[0017] The hitch carrier 10 according to this embodiment is basically composed of a vehicle-engaging frame 12, a main frame 20, a positioning pin 28, and a connecting member 32. The vehicle-engaging frame 12 is an element that serves as a base for attaching the hitch carrier 10 to a vehicle (not shown). Specifically, one end of a long (longitudinal length is sufficiently longer than the width) frame base 12a is provided with a connecting portion 14 for a hitch receiver (not shown) provided on a vehicle (not shown), and the other end is provided with an angle adjustment mechanism 16. The details of the connecting portion 14 are not important as long as it can be reliably fixed to the hitch receiver.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the angle adjustment mechanism 16 is configured to determine the tilt angle of a main frame 20 (details of which will be described later) using a hub 18 provided therein. The hub 18 has a rotation center hole 18a, an arc-shaped groove 18b, and a positioning groove 18c. The rotation center hole 18a is an element that serves as the rotation center of the main frame 20 (details of which will be described later) and is the portion into which a rotation shaft 18d is inserted. The arc-shaped groove 18b is an arc-shaped groove that is formed around the rotation center hole 18a as a base point and is an element that is provided to move a positioning pin 28 (details of which will be described later). The positioning grooves 18c are grooves that protrude outward from the outer periphery of the arc-shaped groove 18b and are provided at multiple locations on the arc-shaped groove 18b in a radial pattern that is based on the rotation center hole 18a. When the positioning pin 28 is fitted into the positioning groove 18c, rotation of the main frame 20 is prevented and the tilt angle of the main frame 20 is determined.

[0019] The main frame 20 is an element that serves as the carrier of the hitch carrier 10, and a cradle 22 is placed on it when a bicycle is to be carried. The main frame 20 is configured so that its tilt angle can be changed, with the angle adjustment mechanism 16 described above as the base point. The main frame 20 is made of a hollow material, and is provided with a rotation axis 18d at its center of rotation, and a handle 24 and an operating lever 26 are provided at the end (tip) that protrudes from the angle adjustment mechanism 16. The main frame 20 also has a rectangular hole 20a with its major axis aligned along the longitudinal direction, and a positioning pin 28 is placed in this rectangular hole 20a. By moving the positioning pin 28 along the major axis of the rectangular hole 20a, it is possible to switch the tilt angle of the main frame 20 between a positioned state and a rotatable state.

[0020] The handle 24 extends obliquely upward in a side view of the main frame 20. This arrangement makes it possible to prevent the hand holding the handle 24 from coming into contact with the ground or the like (the hand being pinched between the ground and the main frame 20) when the tilt angle of the main frame 20 is lowered while the handle 24 is being held. The tilt angle θ of the handle 24 is not limited, but it is preferable that the handle 24 be tilted upward by about 30 degrees from an extension of the main frame 20.

[0021] The operating lever 26 has a rotation axis serving as a fulcrum a on the frame of the handle 24, and also has a force point b and an action point c. By configuring the operating lever 26 in this way, it becomes possible to adjust the force acting on the action point c when the force point b is operated by adjusting the distance between the fulcrum a and the force point b, and between the force point c, and it also becomes possible to generate a large force on the action point c with a small force.

[0022] The positioning pin 28 is fixed to a pin base 30 that is movable in parallel along the longitudinal direction within the interior space of the main frame 20, and is arranged so that a portion of the pin protrudes outward from the rectangular hole 20a. The shape of the positioning pin 28 is not particularly limited, as long as it is movable in the arc-shaped groove 18b provided in the hub 18 and can be fitted into the positioning groove 18c to fix the tilt angle of the main frame 20.

[0023] A connecting member 32 is disposed between the point of application c of the operating lever 26 and the pin base 30. By operating the point of application b of the operating lever 26 (by swinging it in the direction of arrow A), the point of application c rotates around the fulcrum a, and the connecting member 32 is attracted to the tip side of the main frame 20, making it possible to attract the pin base 30. Here, a force attracting the pin base 30 to the base end side of the main frame 20 is applied to the pin base 30 according to this embodiment via a biasing means 34. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the positioning pin 28 from unintentionally coming out of the positioning groove 18c.

[0024] In this embodiment, the fulcrum a of the operating lever 26 is described as being fixed (the rotation axis is arranged) on the frame of the handle 24. However, it goes without saying that the fulcrum a may be arranged on the tip side of the main frame 20 depending on the operability of the operating lever 26, the shape of the handle 24, etc.

[0025] [Actions and Effects] Next, we will explain the operation of the hitch carrier 10 configured as described above. As shown in Figures 2, 5, and 6, the hitch carrier 10 according to this embodiment rotates the main frame 20 around a rotation axis 18d disposed on a hub 18 provided in the angle adjustment mechanism 16 as a base point, thereby making it possible to change the tilt angle.

[0026] 5, for example, the positioning pin 28 is fitted into the positioning groove 18c provided at the lowest part of the arc-shaped groove 18b, and the main frame 20 is in an upright state (a state in which it does not function as a loading platform: an unused state). From this state, by gripping the handle 24 and operating (swinging) the operating lever 26 so as to grip it toward the handle 24, the positioning pin 28 is released from the positioning groove 18c, and the main frame 20 can be rotated in the direction of arrow B.

[0027] The pin base 30 to which the positioning pin 28 is fixed is urged toward the base end of the main frame 20 by a urging means 34. Therefore, by operating the operating lever 26, the engagement between the positioning groove 18c and the positioning pin 28 is released, and while the positioning pin 28 moves along the arc-shaped groove 18b as the main frame 20 is rotated, there is no need to operate the operating lever 26. When the positioning pin 28 moves to a position corresponding to a new positioning groove 18c, the positioning pin 28 engages with the corresponding positioning groove 18c. Figure 2 shows a state in which the positioning pin 28 is engaged with the positioning groove 18c that is located at the top of the multiple positioning grooves arranged along the arc-shaped groove 18b.

[0028] Note that the tip position of the main frame 20 can be further lowered from the tilted position shown in Fig. 2 as shown in Fig. 6 by operating the operating lever 26 to release the engagement of the positioning pin 28. In the state shown in Fig. 6, the positioning pin 28 abuts against the upper end of the arc-shaped groove 18b, stopping the rotation of the main frame that would otherwise rotate in a direction that would lower the tip due to its own weight.

[0029] In this way, in the hitch carrier 10 according to this embodiment, the main frame 20 can freely rotate around the rotation axis 18d. Furthermore, if multiple positioning grooves 18c are provided, the tilt angle can be fixed according to the position of the positioning grooves 18c.

[0030] Furthermore, the main frame 20 can be rotated by operating the operating lever 26 at the tip of the main frame 20. Also, by making the operating mode of the operating lever 26 a swinging mode, even if it is difficult to apply force to operate the operating lever 26 due to the tilt angle or length of the main frame 20, it has become possible to easily operate the operating lever 26 and easily adjust the tilt angle of the main frame 20.

[0031] Furthermore, by providing the operating lever 26 with a fulcrum a, a force point b, and a point of action c, and making it possible to apply the principle of leverage, it is also possible to reduce the force required to swing the operating lever 26 by changing the ratio between the fulcrum a and the force point b, and between the fulcrum a and the point of action c.

[0032] [Second embodiment: configuration] Next, a hitch carrier according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. The basic configuration of a hitch carrier 10A according to this embodiment is the same as that of the hitch carrier 10 according to the first embodiment. That is, the hitch carrier 10A is basically composed of a vehicle-engaging frame 12, a main frame 20, a positioning pin 28, and a connecting member 32. The main frame 20 is capable of pivoting around an angle adjustment mechanism 16 provided at the other end of the vehicle-engaging frame 12. An operating lever 26 is disposed at the tip of the main frame 20, and the positioning pin 28 and the point of application c of the operating lever 26 are connected by the connecting member 32. Therefore, by swinging the operating lever 26, the positioning pin 28 is pulled out of the positioning groove 18c of the hub 18 of the angle adjustment mechanism 16, allowing the main frame 20 to be pivoted.

[0033] The hitch carrier 10A according to this embodiment differs from the hitch carrier 10 according to the first embodiment in that the handle 24 provided at the tip of the main frame 20 is eliminated, and the operating lever 26 is L-shaped with the force point b disposed in a direction along the main frame 20. With this configuration, the operating lever 26 has a point of action c disposed between the force point b and the fulcrum a. Furthermore, by making the operating lever 26 L-shaped and disposing the force point b in a direction along the main frame 20, it is possible to achieve a configuration that makes it easy to input force when operating the operating lever 26, even without the handle 24.

[0034] The hitch carrier 10A configured in this manner also has the same effects as the hitch carrier 10 according to the first embodiment described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10, 10A... Hitch carrier, 12... Vehicle engagement frame, 12a... Frame base, 14... Connection portion, 16... Angle adjustment mechanism, 18... Hub, 18a... Rotation center hole, 18b... Arc-shaped groove, 18c... Positioning groove, 18d... Rotation shaft, 20... Main frame, 20a... Rectangular hole, 22... Cradle, 24... Handle, 26... Operating lever, 28... Positioning pin, 30... Pin base, 32... Connecting member, 34... Actuating means.

Claims

1. a vehicle engagement frame having a connection portion for connecting to a hitch receiver at one end and an angle adjustment mechanism via a hub at the other end; a main frame having a base end side pivotally supported by the angle adjustment mechanism and rotatable, and having an operation lever on a tip end side; a positioning pin that allows the main frame to move in the axial direction, is biased toward the base end, and determines the tilt position of the main frame by being inserted into a recessed groove provided in the hub; a connecting member that connects the operating lever and the positioning pin, This hitch carrier is characterized in that the connecting member moves in the axial direction due to the swinging movement of the operating lever, and the connecting member is pulled toward the tip side, thereby releasing the intervention of the positioning pin in the groove.

2. The operating lever has a fulcrum, a force point, and a point of action, The hitch carrier of claim 1, characterized in that the fulcrum is pivotally supported, and the force point is swung in a direction different from the axial direction to move the action point and attract the connecting member.

3. A handle is provided on the tip side of the main frame, 3. The hitch carrier according to claim 2, wherein the fulcrum of the operating lever is pivotally supported on the tip end side of the main frame or on the frame of the handle.

4. 4. The hitch carrier according to claim 3, wherein the handle is provided at an angle inclined upward in the arrangement direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the main frame.

5. 3. The hitch carrier according to claim 2, wherein the operating lever has a point of application disposed between a fulcrum and a force point.

Images