Cart and hitch insert apparatus for a vehicle

摘要

A special hitch insert, adapted to receive a rolling cart, can be inserted into a standard vehicle hitch. The hitch insert allows the cart to be loaded at ground level, rolled to the rear of the vehicle, and secured to the hitch insert by using the cart as a lever to raise the cart and lock it onto the hitch insert at the level of the receiving hitch.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a cart portion comprising:
an article-supporting part having a front end and a rear end;at least one elongate handle proximate to and extending upwardly from the rear end;means proximate to the rear end allowing the cart portion to be moved along the ground;a substantially vertical pillar extending upwardly from the front end; a hitch insert portion shaped to fit a receiving hitch, the hitch insert comprising:
a substantially horizontal elongate bar extending rearwardly from the receiving hitch;
the bar having an upper surface, a forward end, and a rearward end;a substantially vertical post fixed to the upper surface of the bar;
the vertical post comprising at least one latch rotatably secured to the post;
the at least one latch comprising:a first pivot proximate to the top of the post that is substantially perpendicular to the elongate bar;a rear structure shaped to fit behind the pillar; andmeans for shifting the weight distribution of the latch from one that lowers the rear structure behind the pillar to one that raises it.