Carrier for transportation
A carrier is provided for transporting objects, such as two-wheeled vehicles via a transportation vehicle. The carrier includes a unique coupling mechanism such that movement between the carrier and the tow hitch of the transportation vehicle is greatly reduced, thereby providing a more secure platform upon which to transport the two-wheeled vehicles.
1 . A carrier for motorcycles, bicycles, storage racks or storage boxes for detachably coupling to a vehicle, the carrier comprising:
a primary support arm configured to extend through a tow hitch coupled to a towing vehicle, the primary support arm extending along a first primary longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the primary support arm defining a first cavity at the first end extending along a second primary longitudinal axis parallel to the first primary longitudinal axis, the first cavity includes threading extending inward, the primary support arm defining a second cavity extending along a third primary longitudinal axis perpendicular to each of the first primary longitudinal axis and the second primary longitudinal axis;
a coupling plate defining a first aperture, the coupling plate interfacing against a first surface at a first end of the tow hitch, wherein the first surface is perpendicular to the first primary longitudinal axis;
a fastener extending through the first aperture and into the first cavity, the fastener threadably engaging the threading in the first cavity, the engagement between the fastener and the primary support arm biasing the coupling plate against the first end of the tow hitch; and
a support platform configured to couple and support to one or more two-wheeled vehicles, the support platform coupled to the second end of the primary support arm.
2 . The carrier of claim 1 , the primary support arm comprising a block coupled to the first end of the primary support arm, the block defining the first cavity.
3 . The carrier of claim 1 , the primary support arm comprising a block integrally molded with the first end of the primary support arm, the block defining the first cavity.
4 . The carrier of claim 1 , comprising a hitch pin configured to extend through the second cavity.
5 . The carrier of claim 4 , wherein the hitch pin interfaces against the tow hitch to bias the primary support arm away from the first end of the tow hitch the second end.
6 . The carrier of claim 5 , wherein the first primary longitudinal axis is colinear with the second primary longitudinal axis.
7 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first primary longitudinal axis is colinear with the second primary longitudinal axis.
8 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the coupling plate is a first non-zero distance from the primary support arm when the fastener is threadably engaged with the first cavity thereby rigidly coupling the coupling plate against the tow hitch.
9 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the primary support arm at the first end defines a horizontal diameter parallel to the third primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the horizontal diameter is between 1.4 inches and 1.6 inches.
10 . The carrier of claim 9 , wherein the primary support arm at the first end defines a vertical diameter perpendicular to each of the first primary longitudinal axis, the second primary longitudinal axis, and the third primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the vertical diameter is between 1.4 inches and 1.6 inches.
11 . A carrier for detachably coupling to a vehicle, the carrier comprising:
a primary support arm configured to extend through a tow hitch coupled to a towing vehicle, the primary support arm extending along a first primary longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the primary support arm defining a first cavity at the first end extending along a second primary longitudinal axis parallel to the first primary longitudinal axis, the first cavity defining threading extending inward, the primary support arm defining a second cavity extending along a third primary longitudinal axis perpendicular to each of the first primary longitudinal axis and the second primary longitudinal axis;
a hitch pin extending through the second cavity and a first aperture in the tow hitch;
a coupling plate defining a second aperture, wherein the coupling plate extends normal to the first primary longitudinal axis;
a fastener extending through the second aperture, the fastener engaging the primary support arm, the engagement between the fastener and the primary support arm biasing the coupling plate against the tow hitch; and
a support platform configured to couple and support to one or more two-wheeled vehicles, the support platform coupled to the second end of the primary support arm.
12 . The carrier of claim 11 , wherein the first primary longitudinal axis is colinear with the second primary longitudinal axis, wherein the engagement between the fastener and the primary support arm biases a first surface of the coupling plate against the tow hitch, wherein the first surface is perpendicular to the first primary longitudinal axis.
13 . The carrier of claim 12 , wherein the coupling plate is separated from the primary support arm a first distance when the fastener is engaged with the primary support arm thereby rigidly coupling the coupling plate against the tow hitch.
14 . The carrier of claim 11 , wherein the primary support arm at the first end defines a horizontal diameter parallel to the third primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the horizontal diameter is between 1.45 inches and 1.55 inches.
15 . The carrier of claim 14 , wherein the primary support arm at the first end defines a vertical diameter perpendicular to each of the first primary longitudinal axis, the second primary longitudinal axis, and the third primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the vertical diameter is between 1.45 inches and 1.55 inches.
16 . A method of using a carrier with a vehicle comprising:
sliding a primary support arm through a tow hitch, the primary support arm extending along a first primary longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, the primary support arm defining a first cavity at the first end extending along a second primary longitudinal axis parallel to the first primary longitudinal axis, the first cavity defining threading, the primary support arm defining a second cavity extending along a third primary longitudinal axis perpendicular to each of the first primary longitudinal axis and the second primary longitudinal axis;
extending a hitch pin through the second cavity and a first aperture in the tow hitch;
extending a fastener through a first aperture of a coupling plate and into the first cavity, the fastener and the threading in the first cavity threadably engaging such that the coupling plate is biased against the tow hitch, wherein the coupling plate extends normal to the first primary longitudinal axis; and
securing one or more two-wheeled vehicles to a support platform coupled to the second end of the primary support arm.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first primary longitudinal axis is colinear with the second primary longitudinal axis, wherein the engagement between the fastener and the primary support arm biases a first surface of the coupling plate against the tow hitch, wherein the first surface is perpendicular to the first primary longitudinal axis.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the coupling plate is separated from the primary support arm a first distance when the fastener is engaged with the primary support arm thereby rigidly coupling the coupling plate against the tow hitch.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the primary support arm at the first end defines a horizontal diameter parallel to the third primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the horizontal diameter is 1.5 inches.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the primary support arm at the first end defines a vertical diameter perpendicular to each of the first primary longitudinal axis, the second primary longitudinal axis, and the third primary longitudinal axis, and wherein the vertical diameter is 1.5 inches.