IP Library Granted Patent US 11,560,099
Granted Patent B2
US 11,560,099 · App. 17/226,792 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Collapsible cargo platform

Inventors: David Lester Pinkston (Novi, MI); Kunal Deulkar (Plymouth, MI); Gregoire P. Mercier (Plymouth, MI); Curt Nowack (Plymouth, MI)
Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
B60R9/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,560,099
App. No.
17/226,792
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates generally to a cargo platform designed to be used in connection with a trailer hitch and, more particularly, to a cargo platform designed to be collapsible. A cargo platform has an open position and a closed position. The cargo platform includes a frame with a front portion, a rear portion, first and second stationary side portions coupled to the front portion, first and second rotatable side portions, a first hinge element to rotatably could the first rotatable side portion to the rear portion, a second hinge element to rotatably could the second rotatable side portion to the rear portion, and a foldable floor. The foldable floor includes a first floor, second floor rotatably connected to the first floor, and a third floor rotatably connected to the second floor. The first floor is coupled to the front portion. The third floor is coupled to the rear portion.

Claims (45)

1. A cargo platform with an open position and a closed position, the cargo platform comprising:

a frame including:

a front portion;

a rear portion;

first and second stationary side portions coupled to the front portion;

first and second rotatable side portions; and

a first hinge element to rotatably couple the first rotatable side portion to the rear portion; and

a second hinge element to rotatably couple the second rotatable side portion to the rear portion; and

a foldable floor including a first floor, second floor rotatably connected to the first floor via a first connecting portion free of engagement with the first and second stationary side portions and the first and second rotatable side portions, and a third floor rotatably connected to the second floor via a second connecting portion of engagement with the first and second stationary side portions and the first and second rotatable side portions, the first floor being coupled to the front portion and the third floor being coupled to the rear portion.

2. The cargo platform of claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes:

a first sleeve connector to on the first rotatable side portion to selectively couple to the first stationary side portion; and

a second sleeve connector on the second rotatable side portion to selectively couple to the second stationary side portion.

3. The cargo platform of claim 2 , wherein each of the first sleeve connector and the second sleeve connector define an open locking aperture and a closed locking aperture.

4. The cargo platform of claim 3 , wherein each of the first rotatable side portion and the second rotatable side portion include a push button spring pin to selectively engage with the open locking aperture and a closed locking aperture.

5. The cargo platform of claim 4 , for each of the first stationary side portion and the second stationary side portion:

the push button spring pin is to engage with the open locking aperture when coupling the stationary side portion to the corresponding rotatable side portion

the push button spring pin is engage with the closed locking aperture when not coupling the stationary side portion to the corresponding rotatable side portion.

6. The cargo platform of claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes:

a latching knob coaxial with the first hinge element; and

a flexible latch affixed to the front portion configured to engage with the latching knob when the cargo platform is in the closed position.

7. The cargo platform of claim 6 , wherein the flexible latch includes a base and defines a latching aperture and a handle aperture, and wherein the latching aperture is configured to engage with the latching knob when the cargo platform is in the closed position.

8. The cargo platform of claim 7 , wherein the rear portion defines a latch hole, and wherein the base of the flexible latch is press fit into the latch hole.

9. The cargo platform of claim 1 , wherein each of the hinge elements includes a push button spring pin and defines a first locking aperture along a first position of a circumference of the hinge element and a second locking aperture along a second position of a circumference of the hinge element.

10. The cargo platform of claim 9 , wherein the first position is 90 degrees along the circumference of the hinge element compared to the second position.

11. The cargo platform of claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes a handle and the rear portion defines a clearance to accept the handle with the cargo platform in the closed position.

12. A cargo platform with an open position and a closed position, the cargo platform comprising:

a frame including:

a front portion;

a rear portion;

first and second stationary side portions coupled to the front portion;

first and second rotatable side portions; and

a first hinge element to rotatably couple the first rotatable side portion to the rear portion; and

a second hinge element to rotatably couple the second rotatable side portion to the rear portion; and

a foldable floor, wherein the front portion includes a handle and the rear portion defines a clearance to accept the handle with the cargo platform in the closed position.

13. A cargo platform with an open position and a closed position, the cargo platform comprising:

a frame including:

a front portion;

a rear portion;

first and second stationary side portions coupled to the front portion;

first and second rotatable side portions; and

a first hinge element to rotatably couple the first rotatable side portion to the rear portion; and

a second hinge element to rotatably couple the second rotatable side portion to the rear portion; and

a foldable floor;

a latching knob coaxial with the first hinge element; and

a flexible latch affixed to the front portion configured to engage with the latching knob when the cargo platform is in the closed position.

Assignments (2)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2022
From: MERCIER, GREGOIRE P.; NOWACK, CURT
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 061492/0135 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63007635 · Apr 9, 2020
Related Publication 20210316667A1 · Oct 14, 2021
Cited By (2)
US 12,565,154 US 12,576,790