| 摘要 |
A carrier that is cantilevered from the trailer hitch of a motor vehicle includes a solid tongue that telescopically engages the trailer hitch and a hollow tube having a leading end that is secured to the trailing end of the solid tongue. About one-fifth the weight of the container is supported by the solid tongue, and about four-fifths of its weight is supported by the hollow tube. Gusset plates maintain the hollow tube at a slightly inclined angle with respect to the solid tongue so that the apparatus does not drag the road surface when bumps are encountered. In a second embodiment, the hollow tube is spaced above the solid tongue and the container sits atop the hollow tube. However, about one-fifth of the solid tongue is positioned below the hollow tube to support it and the container. In both embodiments, transverse frame members are secured to the tongue and tube, and in the second embodiment, longitudinal frame members interconnect opposite ends of the transverse frame members to further strengthen the carrier frame. The frame supports a box-like container having a lockable lid, and one side wall of the container is hinged to provide a ramp that allows a wheelchair to enter or exit the container when the side wall is swung open. An auxiliary ramp is used when a scooter is on or off-loaded.
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