Movable To Within Vehicle Or Under Vehicle Patents (Class 224/496)
  • Patent number: 11072294
    Abstract: A bicycle mount which mounts a bicycle longitudinally over the bed rail of a pickup truck. A carriage of the bicycle mount supports the wheels of the bicycle above it. A pivot arm and hook is used as a primary vertical support for the bicycle, with the pivot arm mounted using slide channels of the carriage to allow both longitudinal and pivoting motion. The hooks is extendable on the pivot arm to support an upper section of the bicycle frame. A mounting system for the carriage is provided allows the carriage to mount into stake pockets of the bed rail, adjustable to accommodate different length bed rails and different stake pocket spacing on different pickup trucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Curt Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Robert G. Fehr
  • Patent number: 10507769
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a front trunk between fenders, a grille movable to provide an opening to the front trunk, and front and rear bins, slidable out of the front trunk to allow the front bin to pivot on the rear bin. A light is mounted on the front bin such that light projects into the front and rear bins when adjacent and only into the front bin when the front bin is pivoted away.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Mark A. Wisneski
  • Patent number: 10414349
    Abstract: An autonomous flip-up license plate mount for motorcycles that improves the aesthetics of a motorcycle while ensuring a license plate is properly displayed during use of the motorcycle. The mount includes a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate, an automatic pivoting mechanism, and a hinge mechanism. A first end of the first mounting plate is connected along the hinge mechanism. Additionally, the hinge mechanism is connected along a rear surface of the second mounting plate, allowing for relative rotation about a main axis of the hinge mechanism. The automatic pivoting mechanism includes a servomotor and a control linkage. The servomotor is adjacently mounted to the first mounting plate with the control linkage being mechanically engaged in between the servomotor and the second mounting plate. Activation of the servomotor positions the mount into either a functional configuration or a collapsed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Alejandro Diaz
  • Patent number: 10220793
    Abstract: A bicycle attachment system for a truck bed includes a first compartment in the truck bed, a first access door providing access to the first compartment and a first bike fork trap in the first compartment. The bicycle attachment system is fully integrated into the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio Cesar Maldonado Cruz, Carlos Miguel Chon Gaxiola
  • Patent number: 9376062
    Abstract: A carrier apparatus for a vehicle may include guide rails, a carrier, an extending bar, an extending linkage, a support unit and lamps. The guide rails may be symmetrically disposed under a rear bumper beam and extend in a front-rear direction. The carrier may have a panel and sliding rails and be stowed in or drawn out from the rear bumper beam. The extending bar may be coupled to a driving unit disposed on a front of the carrier and extend rearward from the driving unit and be connected to the panel. The extending linkage may include a plurality of links on the the extending bar which open laterally away from the extending bar when the driving unit operates. The support unit may be connected to the links and moves laterally with the links. The lamps may be mounted on the support unit and slide laterally with the support unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Hyun Gyung Kim, Seung Mok Lee, Phil Jung Jeong, Young Sub Oh, Soo Hyun Hyun
  • Patent number: 9278647
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a rear seat, a forward shelf and an aft shelf. The forward shelf is movable between first and second retention locations and the aft shelf is movable between horizontal and vertical retention locations defined by side wall structures. The second retention location is above the first retention location. In the second retention location the forward shelf is located proximate an upper end of the upright seatback. With the aft shelf in the horizontal retention location and the forward shelf in the first retention location, the forward shelf and the aft shelf are co-planar. With the seatback upright, the aft shelf in the vertical retention location and the forward shelf in the second retention location, the back surface of the seatback, the forward shelf and the aft shelf define an enclosed storage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Stanczak, Hidetake Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9126610
    Abstract: A collapsible shopping cart apparatus allows a person to load and unload items from a vehicle without having to remove the items from a shopping cart. The apparatus includes a plurality of panels including a back panel, a bottom panel, a front panel and a pair of side panels. A frame is coupled to and extends around a perimeter edge of the bottom panel. The frame and the plurality of panels define a basket. A plurality of legs is coupled to the frame. Each of the legs is pivotable relative to the frame between a use position and a storage position. A plurality of swivelable casters is configured for contacting a ground surface when the legs are in the use position. Each of the casters is coupled to a bottom end of an associated one of the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventor: Sagi Abiri
  • Publication number: 20140299642
    Abstract: A powered bicycle racking system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle and which is configured to be concealed within or beneath a rear bumper area of the motor vehicle. The system includes a power-operated presenter unit that can be controlled to move a folding bicycle attachment assembly that is mounted to a mounting structure between retracted and extended position. In the retracted position, the bicycle attachment assembly is folded and concealed within the bumper. In the extended position, the bicycle attachment assembly can be unfolded for mounting a bicycle thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Kurt Schatz, Krzysztof Groszkowski, Gabriele Wayne Sabatini, Luciano Boin, Traian Miu
  • Patent number: 8844779
    Abstract: A storage apparatus for a vehicle may include a rear bumper having a back beam mounted under an inner space thereof, a storage case provided in a space above the rear bumper and drawn-out/drawn-in by being sled to the outside in the state in which a load is supported by the top of the back beam, and a bumper door rotatably provided on an end of the storage case so as to open and close the storage case and formed so that a portion exposed to the outside coincides with an outer surface of the rear bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, MS Autotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Jeong Ho Lee, Yeong Sun Choi
  • Patent number: 8827128
    Abstract: A cargo carrier system is presented for a motor vehicle with a supporting frame for accommodating at least one object and with an energy supply device for supplying the object accommodated on the supporting frame with electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Degenstein, Carsten Glaser, Felice De Rogatis
  • Patent number: 8573628
    Abstract: The present invention is a configurable trailer hitch that provides an extended towing position for transferring a tractor force to a load, and a retracted storage position for safely stowing the hitch under a towing vehicle. The trailer hitch has a spring loaded retaining pin which engages a hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the towing position, and a storage latch adapted to hold the hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: David McConnell
  • Publication number: 20130161364
    Abstract: A collapsible receptacle of approximately cubic shape with two or more attachments to fixing points inside a vehicle for holding the receptacle erect in the rear of the vehicle in which the rear wall folds down over the rear bumper of the vehicle to allow loading and closes off the receptacle when loaded. An alternative embodiment fits inside the boot of a vehicle and is held erect by attachment to the roof of the boot and has rear top and side flaps which open for loading and close to secure the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SALTASH PTY LTD
    Inventor: SALTASH PTY LTD
  • Patent number: 8418902
    Abstract: A telescopic bicycle carrier installed on a vehicle so as to be able to load a bicycle outside the vehicle, may include a guide rail located inside a bumper of the vehicle and fixed to an end of a body of the vehicle, a guide frame slidably installed on the guide rail along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle, a pair of expansion brackets installed on lateral sides of the guide frame and slidable toward or away from each other with respect to the guide frame in a widthwise direction of the vehicle through the guide frame, bicycle wheel fixtures pivotally installed on the pair of expansion brackets to fix wheels of the loaded bicycle, and bicycle body fixtures pivotally installed on the pair of expansion brackets to fix a body of the loaded bicycle, wherein the pair of expansion brackets may be received inside the bumper along with the guide frame in a retracted state where the expansion brackets slide toward each other into the guide frame, and may be extracted from the bumper along with the guide frame if
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Sung Won Kim, Hun Soo Kim, Hoo Taek Cho
  • Publication number: 20130087590
    Abstract: A storage apparatus for a vehicle may include a rear bumper having a back beam mounted under an inner space thereof, and a storage case provided in a space above the rear bumper, having a portion exposed to the outside formed so as to coincide with an outer surface of the rear bumper, and drawn-out/drawn-in by being slid to the outside in a state in which a load is supported above the back beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seung Mok Lee, Nae Ung Jang, Hee Chan Yang, Dong Eun Cha, Nam Cheol Kim, Kwang Jae Choi, Jo Han Kim, Yong Won Jeong, Seung Hwan Lee, Cheol O. Kim, Ki Tae Kim, Myung Eun Kim, Hun Soo Kim, Hoo Taek Cho, Jeong Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20130087591
    Abstract: A storage apparatus for a vehicle may include a rear bumper having a back beam mounted under an inner space thereof, a storage case provided in a space above the rear bumper and drawn-out/drawn-in by being sled to the outside in the state in which a load is supported by the top of the back beam, and a bumper door rotatably provided on an end of the storage case so as to open and close the storage case and formed so that a portion exposed to the outside coincides with an outer surface of the rear bumper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicants: MS Autotech Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Seung Mok Lee, Jeong Ho Lee, Yeong Sun Choi
  • Publication number: 20110163141
    Abstract: An electric charging cord is stored aboard an automotive vehicle using a cord storage unit that has at least one mounting feature. A bracket is positioned on an interior of a movable body closure, such as a hatch-back, and engages the mounting feature to removably attach the storage unit to the panel throughout movement of the body closure between open and closed positions. In a stowed position, the storage unit is held closely adjacent the body closure by a latch. When the body closure is in the raised/open position, the latch is released and the storage unit drops downward and hangs from the bracket where it may easily be removed from engagement with the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Jonathon Lucas, Kip Alan Ewing, Julie D'Annunzio
  • Patent number: 7854358
    Abstract: A bicycle carrier includes a base holder mountable to a vehicle and a support holder for holding a bicycle. The support holder is movably connected to the base holder to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a neutral position in which the holders extend over one another and an operating position in which the support holder extends out from the base holder. A tail light is movably connected to the support holder to be movable between a stored position in which the tail light is stowed in the support holder when the support holder is in the neutral position and a functional position in which the tail light extends out from the support holder and is orientated transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction when the support holder is in the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Bergerhoff, Michael Waller, Gerald Hahn
  • Patent number: 7818905
    Abstract: A license plate transport mechanism includes a mounting bracket connectable beneath a vehicle support structure, such as a front bumper of a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes an elongate track with a pivot pin for pivotally mounting a license plate mounting plate. When the mounting plate is at a first end of the track, it pivots to a vertical position that is generally perpendicular to a base of the mounting bracket to display the license plate. The mounting plate is pivotable to a horizontal position generally parallel to the mounting bracket base. Once in the horizontal position, the pivot pin and mounting plate can move toward a second end of the track to store the license plate underneath the vehicle support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Altec Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Stahel, Paul H. Plahn
  • Patent number: 7806307
    Abstract: A bicycle carrier for a vehicle includes a holding column and a support device. The holding column is movable between a horizontal position and an upright position. The holding column is operable for receiving a crank arm of a pedal of a bicycle when the holding column is in the upright position. The support device fixes the holding column in the upright position when the holding column is in the upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Bergerhoff, Michael Waller, Gerald Hahn
  • Patent number: 7793967
    Abstract: The present invention is a configurable trailer hitch that provides an extended towing position for transferring a tractor force to a load, and a retracted storage position for safely stowing the hitch under a towing vehicle. The trailer hitch has a spring loaded retaining pin which engages a hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the towing position, and a storage latch adapted to hold the hitch receiver when the trailer hitch is placed in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: David McConnell
  • Patent number: 7338104
    Abstract: A transfigurable bed liner assembly mountable on a vehicle including a bed. The assembly may include a channel mountable to each side wall of the vehicle, and a transfigurable bed liner including a plurality of rollers disposable in the channels for permitting sliding of the transfigurable bed liner. The transfigurable bed liner may include a leg generally adjacent a first end thereof for supporting the transfigurable bed liner in an extended position, for use of the bed liner, for example, as a workbench and for permitting loading of heavy objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Bejin
  • Patent number: 7028872
    Abstract: A storage device for a motor vehicle, such as a station wagon, including at least one partially flexible storage bag, which can be firmly secured in the cargo space, wherein each of two opposing sides of the storage bag features a dimensionally stable supporting section extending along at least one entire horizontal length of the side to which it corresponds, wherein the opposing fronts of the supporting sections can be secured, in a detachable manner, in a mounting device in the cargo space, and the dimensionally stable supporting sections are connected to one another by a flexible folding structure that protrudes into at least one floor section of the storage bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Mark Lobanoff
  • Patent number: 6889880
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo rack is provided with a sill connected to the vehicle, at least one rotatable joint mounted on the sill, and at least one arm coupled to the at least one joint and configured to hold cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Design America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfonso E. Albaisa, John Cupit
  • Patent number: 6883849
    Abstract: A truck bed extender that enables a user to load and unload heavy loads from a truck bed. The apparatus includes a lower frame longitudinally aligned and securely mounted inside the truck bed. Disposed inside the lower frame is a sliding intermediate frame with at least one length adjustable leg attached at its distal end that supports the distal end of the intermediate frame in an extended position. During assembly, the proximal end of the intermediate frame slides into, and extends from, the lower frame. Disposed longitudinally over the lower frame and the intermediate frame is a moveable upper frame with a support panel attached thereto. When the intermediate frame is fully extended from the truck bed, the upper frame may move longitudinally rearward from the truck bed and onto the intermediate frame so that cargo may be loaded or unloaded onto the support panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Gerald Hebert
  • Patent number: 6601899
    Abstract: A multi-functional cargo bed liner assembly for a cargo bed of a vehicle includes a first side wall and a second side wall disposed in a transversely spaced relationship, and an integrally formed guide track in the first and second side walls. The cargo bed liner assembly also includes an end wall extending therebetween the first and second side walls at a first end, and a floor extending therebetween the first and second side walls. The cargo bed liner assembly further includes a movable divider panel supported within the guide track by a support rod, and extending transversely therebetween the first and second side walls, wherein the divider panel includes a positioning mechanism for fixedly locating the divider panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: PROJX
    Inventors: Lowell Kiester, Douglas Street
  • Patent number: 6557918
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo area extender including a pair of sidewalls, a center wall extending between the pair of sidewalls and a lid removeably disposed relative to the pair of sidewalls and the center wall. The sidewalls, the center wall and the lid cooperate to define an enclosure having an open end. At least one of the side and center walls defines a mating surface extending along at least a portion of the upper margin thereof. In addition, the lid defines a corresponding mating surface that is adapted to cooperate with the mating surface defined on at least one of the side and center walls to removeably retain the lid relative to side and center walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Plastech Engineered Products
    Inventors: Marc Iafrate, Robert Bastuba
  • Patent number: 6547115
    Abstract: A car-mounted bicycle or wheelchair carrier that enables a bicycle to be easily and quickly loaded and unloaded, that can be completely stored in the trunk in a compact fashion when it is not being used and be removed from the trunk in a one-step operation, that can be easily mounted to any existing cars, that can reliably immobilize a bicycle or wheelchair when the car is being driven, that can be applied to various types of bicycles as well as to wheelchairs, and that can be manufactured at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kato, Tadashi Iura, Kazuki Mori
  • Patent number: 6491331
    Abstract: An extendable cargo deck for pickup trucks having a rearwardly opening cargo bed bounded by side walls having inwardly projecting rails spaced above the floor of the cargo bed. The cargo deck includes a base and a carriage mounted to the base for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the base. The cargo deck is equipped with one or more upwardly extending holding devices connected to the base for engaging the side wall rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ted-Dan, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Fox
  • Patent number: 6290277
    Abstract: A cargo system for a vehicle having a floor and a seat that folds and forms a cargo surface. The cargo system includes a cargo platform having a front edge. The cargo platform is connectable to the vehicle for movement between a lowered position with the front edge being located under a portion of the seat and a raised position with the cargo platform being generally aligned with the cargo surface of the seat thereby forming an upper tier and a lower tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: David J. Spykerman, Rick A. Anderson, Detlef Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6176535
    Abstract: A partitioning system for use in the storage area of a vehicle is disclosed. The partitioning system includes a multipurpose shelf that can be positioned in a plurality of different locations. The shelf can be disposed (1) horizontally near the top of the rear row of seats to act as a security cover; (2) horizontally along the floor in the storage area; (3) horizontally to cooperate of a folded last row of seats to provide a generally flat surface from the end gate into the passenger area; (4) vertically and adjacent to the rear row of seats; and (5) horizontally, while the end gate is open, such that the shelf extends beyond the storage area as defined by a closed end gate. The shelf includes a pivotable support leg that may contact the vehicle body to support the shelf in this horizontal position that extends beyond the storage area defined by a closed end gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Chaloult, George Walczowski, Thomas D Mihelich
  • Patent number: 6176406
    Abstract: A support device for a rear end assembly on motor vehicles, especially on campers, caravans or the like, is provided with two connecting elements which, on the one hand, carry a transporting frame, protruding from the rear of the vehicle and, on the other, are supported on a chassis. The connecting elements are formed by a sliding rail, which has a guiding and holding profiling and at which the transporting frame 6, as well as additional supporting elements for transported goods can be fixed as pivotable, foldable and/or extendable add-ons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: SMV-Metall GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Laumann
  • Patent number: 6113172
    Abstract: A partitioning system is for use in the storage area of a vehicle. The partitioning system includes a multipurpose shelf that can be positioned in a plurality of different locations. The shelf can be disposed (1) horizontally near the top of the rear row of seats to act as a security cover; (2) horizontally along the floor in the storage area; (3) horizontally to cooperate of a folded last row of seats to provide a generally flat surface from the end gate into the passenger area; (4) vertically and adjacent to the rear row of seats; and (5) horizontally, while the end gate is open, such that the shelf extends beyond the storage area as defined by a closed end gate. The shelf includes a pivotable support leg that may contact the vehicle body to support the shelf in this horizontal position that extends beyond the storage area defined by a closed end gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Chaloult, George Walczowski, Thomas D. Mihelich, John W. Joyce, Robert P. Kuhr, Thomas E. Edson
  • Patent number: 5957346
    Abstract: A system for stowing a spare tire on the exterior of a sport utility vehicle includes a carrier that holds the spare tire and that can pivoted between a highway configuration, wherein the spare tire is positioned beneath the chassis to thereby provide unimpeded access to the vehicle's rear lift door, and an off-road configuration, wherein the tire is positioned against the rear lift door, to thereby provide ample clearance beneath the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: John Schambre, Liliana Neag, Raymond C. Deyonker, Karl M. Lindh, David L. Garber
  • Patent number: 5791533
    Abstract: A system for mounting a spare tire on a vehicle that has a hatch and a door frame that partially surrounds the hatch. The system includes an exterior tire mounted mode and an interior tire mounted mode. The system also includes an exterior holder device disposed in the hatch and an interior holder device disposed in an inner side wall of the vehicle. Further provided is an arm that is swivelably mounted to one side of the door frame of the vehicle at a first end portion. The arm has a middle portion and second end portion that has the spare tire mounted thereon. The system further provides an engagement member attached at the second end portion of the arm. The engagement member includes a device for engaging the exterior holder device when the system is in the exterior tire mounted mode and for engaging the interior holder device when the system is in the interior tire mounted mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Dorinel D. Neag, Thomas R. Carbone, James P. Salva, Stylianos A. Meidanis, Leonard C. Paul, Jr., Jeffery E. Long
  • Patent number: 5564767
    Abstract: A motorized extendible drawer apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The apparatus has a drawer slidably mounted to a frame. The drawer is extendible from the frame in a cantilever position for allowing access within the drawer. The frame has a tray mounted on a top side of the frame for additional storage. A pair of rails mounted to outside surfaces of the drawer engage a plurality of roller bearings mounted on the frame. A threaded rod is connected to the frame in a fixed position and at a height level above the drawer. A motor assembly is mounted to a back side of the drawer and to the threaded rod for moving the drawer in first and second directions. A switch mechanism for controlling the motor assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: John E. Strepek
  • Patent number: 5445300
    Abstract: A load carrier for transporting bulky articles on vehicles, having two beams connected by a cross-strut, the cross-strut being able to secure a load to be carried, has holding tubes that are securable to a rear of a vehicle and extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The beams are insertable into the holding tubes, and have angled ends. The beams are displaceable by a defined amount in the longitudinal direction in the holding tubes between a rest position in which the beams are under the vehicle and a use position in which the beams project beyond the rear of the vehicle. The beams are fixable in the rest and use positions and mounted so as to each be pivotable about the axis of one of the holding tubes into one of two different end positions. The angled ends of the beams are swivellably articulated on the cross-strut. The beams project beyond the rear of the vehicle and are swivelled upwards with their angled ends when in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Konrad Eipper, Lothar Bottcher