US 12,077,116 B2
Expandable bumper cargo carrying system
Daniel Perotti, St. Charles, MO (US)
Assigned to Etrailer Corporation, Wentzville, MO (US)
Filed by Etrailer Corporation, Wentzville, MO (US)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/687,994.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/193,429, filed on May 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0379829 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 9/06 (2006.01); B60R 19/48 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 19/48 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cargo carrying system comprising:
a cargo support surface;
a mounting bracket that is removably attachable to a bumper of a vehicle, the mounting bracket being comprised of a front panel, a rear panel and a top panel that are integrally formed in a configuration that enables the mounting bracket to be positioned over an exterior configuration of a bumper of a vehicle with the front panel extending over a first surface of the bumper that is directed away from the vehicle, with the rear panel extending over a second surface of the bumper that is opposite the first surface of the bumper and with the top panel extending over a top of the bumper;
the configuration of the mounting bracket enabling the front panel and the rear panel to flex away from each other when positioning the mounting bracket over the bumper and enabling the front panel and the rear panel to flex toward each other with the front panel engaging against the first surface of the bumper and the rear panel engaging against the second surface of the bumper to thereby attach the mounting bracket to the bumper without making changes to the construction of the bumper;
the mounting bracket being pivotally connected to the cargo support surface with the cargo support surface being pivotable between first and second positions of the cargo support surface relative to the mounting bracket, where in the first position the cargo support surface is oriented horizontally and in the second position the cargo support service is oriented vertically;
a pivot plate secured to the front panel of the mounting bracket, the pivot plate being perpendicular to the front panel and extending outward from the front panel, the pivot plate extending upward across the front panel to a top edge of the pivot plate that is spaced vertically above the top panel of the mounting bracket;
a pivot hole through the pivot plate, the pivot hole being positioned on the pivot plate above the top panel of the mounting bracket;
a support arm, the support arm having a length between a proximal end of the support arm and a distal end of a support arm, the cargo support surface being secured on the support arm;
a contact arm secured to the proximal end of the support arm, the contact arm being perpendicular to the support arm and extending downward from the proximal end of the support arm;
a pivot hole through the proximal end of the support arm;
a pivot pin extending through the pivot hole through the pivot plate and through the pivot hole through the proximal end of the support arm, the pivot pin mounting the support arm to the mounting bracket for pivoting movement of the support arm relative to the mounting bracket between a horizontally oriented position of the support arm relative to the mounting bracket where the contact arm engages in surface engagement against the front panel of the mounting bracket and a vertically oriented position of the support arm relative to the mounting bracket.