Sports equipment vehicle rack

摘要

A sports equipment vehicle for transporting sporting equipment is disclosed. The rack comprises of a plurality of support sections that allow the equipment carrying member to translate from the top of the vehicle roof to the side of the vehicle. Each support section has a bottom member, top equipment holding member, a first leg member, a second leg member, and a strut connected to the bottom member and the top equipment holding member. The support sections move from a transport position that has the top equipment holding member substantially parallel to the vehicle's roof to a loading position where the top equipment holding member is on a substantially inclined plane with a portion below the vehicle's roof. The first and second leg members act as a radius bar for an arc-like motion of the top equipment holding member and the strut assists with the racks movement.

主权项

1. A sports equipment rack for mounting on a vehicle roof comprising:
a plurality of support sections;
each support section comprising;
a bottom member that attaches to a crossbar mounted on the top of a vehicle with a loading side and a non-loading side;a top equipment holding member that holds an equipment load with a loading and a non-loading side;a first leg member with an upper portion and a lower portion;a second leg member with an upper portion and a lower portion;the lower portion of the first leg member is pivotally connected to the bottom member at a first connection point, the lower portion of the second leg member is pivotally connected to the bottom member at a second connection point, and the first and second connection points are offset;the upper portion of the first leg member is pivotally connected to the top equipment holding member at a first connection point, the upper portion of the second leg member is pivotally connected to the top equipment holding member at a second connection point, and the first and second connection points are offset;the support section having a transport position;
wherein the top equipment holding member is bearing on the bottom member located above the roof plane of the vehicle and supporting the equipment load;wherein the first leg member and the second leg member in the transport position are substantially parallel to each other;the support section having a loading position;
wherein the top equipment holding member is substantially at an inclined plane and the loading side is partially below the roof plane of the vehicle supporting the equipment load;wherein the first leg member and second leg member in the loading position are not substantially parallel to each other;wherein the first leg member and second leg member support the top equipment member away from the side of the vehicle; wherein the top equipment holding member moves from the transport position to the loading position and back in an arc shaped motion facing substantially upwards in direction from the ground; and the first leg member and the second leg member act as a radius bar for a movement of the top equipment holding member.