EP-4735303-A1 - CONVERTIBLE CARRIER RACK AND PLATFORM

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a convertible carrier rack and platform including a platform, a front rail including a pair of front rail segments, and a back rail including a pair of back rail segments, wherein the front and back rail segments are each removable and/or rotatable between a wall position along the front and back faces of the platform and a leg position for operation in a table-type mode.

Inventors

• DENMAN, KEVIN L.

Assignees

• Crooked Cedar Designs, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240618

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus, comprising: a platform comprising a first end, a second end, a front face and a back face; a front rail comprising a first front rail segment and a second front rail segment, wherein the first front rail segment is rotatably secured to the platform proximate the first end of the platform, and wherein the second front rail segment is rotatably secured to the platform proximate the second end of the platform; and a back rail comprising a first back rail segment and a second back rail segment, wherein the first back rail segment is rotatably secured to the platform proximate the first end of the platform, and wherein the second back rail segment rotatably secured to the platform proximate the second end of the platform; wherein the first and second front rail segments and the first and second back rail segments are rotatable between a wall position along the front and back faces, respectively, of the platform and a leg position where the first front rail segment and the first back rail segment are proximate the first end of the platform and where the second front rail segment and the second back rail segment are proximate the second end of the platform.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wall position is substantially perpendicular to the leg position.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second front rail segments and the first and second back rail segments are securable to the platform in the wall position via a connector element.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second front rail segments and the first and second back rail segments are securable to the platform in the leg position via a connector element.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a first side rail secured to the first front rail segment and the first back rail segment; and a second side rail secured to the second front rail segment and the second back rail segment.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first front rail segment and the first back rail segment are rotatable at least 270 degrees about a first pivot axis aligned with the first end of the platform, and wherein the second front rail segment and the second back rail segment are rotatable at least 270 degrees about a second pivot axis aligned with the second end of the platform.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first front rail segment comprises a first front rail longitudinal segment comprising a first front rail segment edge, wherein the second front rail segment comprises a second front rail longitudinal segment comprising a second front rail segment edge, wherein the first back rail segment comprises a first back rail longitudinal segment comprising a first back rail segment edge, wherein the second back rail segment comprises a second back rail longitudinal segment comprising a second back rail segment edge, wherein the first front rail segment edge abuts the second front rail segment edge in the wall position, and wherein the first back rail segment edge abuts the second back rail segment edge in the wall position.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first front rail segment comprises at least two first front rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more first front rail brace segments, wherein the second front rail segment comprises at least two second front rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more second front rail brace segments, wherein the first back rail segment comprises at least two first back rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more first back rail brace segments, and wherein the second back rail segment comprises at least two second back rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more second back rail brace segments.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a platform frame, wherein the platform is planar and is secured atop the platform frame.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hitch connector assembly secured to the platform, wherein the hitch connector assembly comprises a movable hitch connector.
11. 11. An apparatus, comprising: a support frame; a platform secured atop the support frame, wherein the platform comprises a perimeter, a first end, a second end, a front face and a back face; a first front rail segment and a first back rail segment joined by a first side rail to form a first perimeter wall; a second front rail segment and a second back rail segment joined by a second side rail to form a second perimeter wall; wherein the first perimeter wall is rotatably secured to the support frame so as to be rotatable from a wall position proximate a first portion of the perimeter of the platform to a leg position whereby the first side rail engages the support frame; and wherein the second perimeter wall is rotatably secured to the support frame so as to be rotatable from a wall position proximate a second portion of the perimeter of the platform to a leg position whereby the second side rail engages the support frame.
12. 12. The apparatus of claim 11. wherein the wall position is substantially perpendicular to the leg position.
13. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second front rail segments and the first and second back rail segments are securable to the platform in the wall position via a connector element.
14. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second front rail segments and the first and second back rail segments are securable to the platform in the leg position via a connector element.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first front rail segment and the first back rail segment are rotatable at least 270 degrees about a first pivot axis aligned with the first end of the platform, and wherein the second front rail segment and the second back rail segment are rotatable at least 270 degrees about a second pivot axis aligned with the second end of the platform.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 11. wherein the first front rail segment comprises a first front rail longitudinal segment comprising a first front rail segment edge, wherein the second front rail segment comprises a second front rail longitudinal segment comprising a second front rail segment edge, wherein the first back rail segment comprises a first back rail longitudinal segment comprising a first back rail segment edge, wherein the second back rail segment comprises a second back rail longitudinal segment comprising a second back rail segment edge, wherein the first front rail segment edge abuts the second front rail segment edge in the wall position, and wherein the first back rail segment edge abuts the second back rail segment edge in the wall position.
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first front rail segment comprises at least two first front rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more first front rail brace segments, wherein the second front rail segment comprises at least two second front rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more second front rail brace segments, wherein the first back rail segment comprises at least two first back rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more first back rail brace segments, and wherein the second back rail segment comprises at least two second back rail longitudinal segments secured to one or more second back rail brace segments.
18. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the at least two first front rail longitudinal segments, the at least two second front rail longitudinal segments, the at least two first back rail longitudinal segments and the at least two second back rail longitudinal segments comprises an interior leg longitudinal segment having a first length and an exterior leg longitudinal segment having a second length, wherein the first length is longer than the second length.
19. 19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a hitch connector assembly secured to the platform or the platform frame, wherein the hitch connector assembly comprises a movable hitch connector.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the platform frame comprises a platform frame plane, and wherein the hitch connector is pivotable between a first position and a second position aligned with the platform frame plane, wherein the first position extends interiorly of the platform frame and wherein the second position extends exteriorly of the platform frame beyond the front face of the platform.

Description

CONVERTIBLE CARRIER RACK AND PLATFORM TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to transportation, and more particularly to a convertible carrier rack and platform for use in travel and outdoor activities. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Vehicles for transportation have inherently limited cargo carrying capacity based on vehicle size and external cargo carry ing abi 1 i ty. External cargo transport typically involves roof-mounted or trailer-mounted devices. Unfortunately, people desiring to participate in land-based travel to outdoor activity areas for camping, hiking, tailgating or other activities, are limited in how much gear can be transported safely and effectively to the desired activity area. For instance, it is often highly desirable to have a flat surface table-type device to use as a work area, a dining surface or other desired use. However, one cannot always bring such a desired object to the activity location due to space constraints, even with external cargo carrying ability. Present technology' solutions are focused on carry ing cargo or creating a freestanding table style workspace, but not both. However, there is a need for efficiently transporting cargo external to a vehicle in such a way that the cargo carrying device can be converted into a freestanding table-type platform for use after the vehicle has arrived at the desired destination. Embodiments of the present disclosure solve the above problems by providing a single convertible apparatus operable as both a carrier rack and a platform. The present disclosure relates to a device that can provide a user with both supplemental cargo canydng ability, and with a flat, stable workspace by use of the same device. This negates the need to carry multiple devices to achieve these distinctly different goals that are often both required in the same activity. The device can be employed in many applications, with a particular application as an automotive attachment to replace a roof or trailer cargo rack, where the cargo rack can be manipulated to function as a type of table. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a flat surface with rails along all sides for the purpose of carrying cargo while attached to a vehicle, carried, or somehow otherwise transported. In various embodiments, the rails can pivot, rotate or detach and re-attach so as to convert to legs in order to form a table by use of the same flat surface. In various embodiments, the side rails can contact the bottom of the platform or a platform frame to provide support and stability to the device while in table configuration. Various uses of the presently described device include camping, sporting events, construction/trades and other uses where a versatile, convertible cargo carrier and table may be employed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a left front top perspective view of a device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the rail segments are in the wall position. Fig. 2 is a right rear top perspective view of the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a right front bottom perspective view of the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a left rear bottom perspective view of the device of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a right front top perspective view of a device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein the rail segments are in the leg position. Fig. 6 is a left rear top perspective view of the device of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a right front bottom perspective view of the device of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a left rear bottom perspective view of the device of Fig. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The presently disclosed subject matter now' will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The presently disclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosed subject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. It will be appreciated that reference to “a”, “an” or other indefinite article in the present disclosure encompasses one or a plurality of the described element. Thus, for example, reference to a rail segment may encompass one or more rail segments, reference to a connector may encompass one or more