Technical Field The present invention relates generally to the vehicle accessory field and, more particularly, to an accessory receiver assembly that allows vehicle accessories to be secured on a swing arm mounted to a vehicle.

Background of the Invention Recently, great consumer interest has been shown in the mounting of various accessories such as cargo carriers, bike racks, snowboard racks, ski racks and other devices to a receiver assembly carried on a vehicle. The present invention relates to a particularly useful accessory receiver assembly that allows two-point mounting of an accessory to the vehicle through a swing arm which allows the accessory to be pivoted away from the vehicle to allow access to, for

example, easily and conveniently reach a trunk, tailgate or hatchback at the rear of the vehicle.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an improved accessory receiver assembly is provided.

The assembly is secured to a vehicle and may, advantageously, be utilized to stabily secure various vehicle accessories to the vehicle while allowing those accessories to be conveniently pivoted away from the vehicle so as to allow enhanced vehicle access without requiring the removal of the accessory from its mounting location.

The accessory receiver assembly includes a base, a swing arm pivotally secured to the base and a pair of accessory receivers secured to the swing arm. The base may be more particularly described as including a cross member and a pair of mounting brackets that are secured to the cross member. A pivot pin is provided to secure the swing arm to the base while allowing the swing arm to pivot relative to the base.

Each of the accessory receivers of the assembly includes a first section and a second section. The first section has a first end that is secured to the swing arm and a second end that is connected to the second section. Advantageously, the connection between the two sections is a pivotal connection that allows the second section to pivot relative to the first section. Further, it should be appreciated that each of the second sections of the receivers include a mounting flange having a series of spaced apertures. These apertures allow the

mounting of an accessory to the accessory receivers by means of appropriate fasteners.

In the following description there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention that is illustrative of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Brief Description of the Drawings The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is perspective view illustrating the accessory receiver assembly of the present invention with the swing arm in the open position; Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the assembly of Figure 1 with the swing arm in the closed position; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the assembly with the swing arm in the closed position and the accessory receivers in the lowered or horizontal position with a cargo carrier mounted thereon and ready for use;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 3 but showing the accessory receivers in the raised position and the cargo carrier removed; Figure 5 illustrates a vehicle receiver assembly of the type upon which the assembly of the present invention may be mounted.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description of the Invention Reference is now made to Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the accessory receiver assembly 10 of the present invention. The receiver assembly 10 includes a base generally designated by reference numeral 12. The base includes a cross member 14 and a pair of mounting brackets 16.

The cross member 14 and mounting brackets 16 are preferably formed from high strength yet lightweight materials such as steel. The mounting brackets 16 may be secured to the cross member 14 by any appropriate means including, for example, welding or fasteners such as bolts and cooperating nuts (not shown).

Each of the mounting brackets 16 includes one or more mounting flanges 18. The flanges 18 may include mounting apertures 20 that receive fasteners such as cooperating nuts and bolts to allow the assembly 10 to be rigidly secured to the frame of a motor vehicle in a manner well known in the art.

A swing arm 22, also constructed of a high-strength material such as tubular steel, is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to an end of the cross member 14 by means of a clevis 23 and cooperating pivot pin 24. As illustrated, a pair of articulated accessory receivers 26 are mounted to the swing arm 22 at spaced locations. Each of the accessory receivers 26 includes a first section 28 and a second section 30. A first end of the first section 28 is secured to the swing arm 22 by welding or other appropriate means such as fasteners. A second end of the first section 28 is connected to the second section 30 by means of a pivot pin 32.

Each of the second sections 30 includes a flange 34 having various spaced openings/apertures 36. As illustrated in Figure 3, an accessory, such as the cargo carrier 38, is secured to the second sections 30 of the accessory receivers 26 by means of fasteners such as cooperating nuts and bolts (not shown). While an open cargo carrier 38 is illustrated, it should be appreciated that substantially any type of accessory may be mounted to the assembly 10 through the accessory receivers 26. Exemplary of other accessories are bike racks, ski racks, snowboard racks, closed cargo carriers, trays, tables, work benches or any other appropriate item known to be useful and suitable for attachment to a vehicle by means of a two-point mounting system of the type described.

In use, the accessory receiver assembly 10 of the present invention provides a number of unique features and advantages that greatly benefit the user. When the operator desires to utilize the cargo carrier 38 during operation of the vehicle, the assembly 10 is positioned

as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Specifically, the swing arm 22 is moved to the closed position so that the swing arm is adjacent to the cross member 14. A locking pin 40 is inserted through the opening 42 in the lug 44 connected to the cross member 14 and engages in a cooperating aperture (not shown) in the swing arm 22 in order to secure the swing arm in the closed position.

As further shown, the second sections 30 of the articulated accessory receivers 26 are pivoted about the pivot pins 32 and placed in their lowered or use position so that the bottom 46 of the cargo carrier 38 extends in a substantially horizontal plane (see Figure 3). This allows the cargo carrier 38 to be loaded with boxes, luggage or other items which may be secured in place on the cargo carrier by tie straps or other appropriate means.

In the event the user wishes to access the tailgate, trunk lid or hatchback of the vehicle to which the assembly 10 is mounted, this may be done conveniently and without having to reach over the assembly and the materials held thereon as well as without having to disconnect the assembly from the vehicle. More specifically, the locking pin 40 is removed from the swing arm 22 and lug 44 and the swing arm is moved to the open position shown in Figure 1. This provides the necessary clearance to allow the user to readily access the tailgate, trunk or hatchback of the vehicle in a simple and convenient manner.

Once the need for access no longer exists, the swing arm 22 is returned to the closed position and the pin 40 is reinserted through the lug 44 and the swing arm 22 to secure the swing arm in position.

If the user is not currently using the cargo carrier 38, the user may fold the cargo carrier up against the rear of the vehicle so as to reduce the distance the cargo carrier projects behind the vehicle. This is easily accomplished by pivoting the second sections 30 of the accessory receivers 26 about the pivot pins 32 so that the cargo carrier is held in a substantially vertical plane adjacent the rear of the vehicle (see Figure 4). Thus, the cargo carrier is stored in a safe position without necessitating the removal of the cargo carrier from the vehicle.

In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts of the present invention. The accessory receiver assembly 10 of the present invention includes a pair of accessory receivers that provide stable two-point mounting of substantially any conceivable accessory one might want to secure to a towing vehicle. The swing arm feature also advantageously allows ready access to the rear of the vehicle such as the tailgate, trunk or hatchback without the need of removing the accessory. Further, the accessory receivers 22 incorporate a pivoting feature that allows low height profile accessories to simply be folded up in a substantially vertical direction adjacent the rear of the vehicle when not in use. This substantially reduces the distance the accessory would otherwise project behind the vehicle thereby allowing the vehicle additional clearance. This can be a particularly beneficial feature where space limitations are an issue including, for example, homes having relatively small garages.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention

to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the accessory receiver assembly 10 has been described as being mounted directly to the frame of a vehicle. It could just as easily be mounted to a vehicle by connection of the mounting brackets 16 to the vehicle mounted brackets described and claimed in copending U. S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/423,329, filed on November 1, 2002 and entitled"Bracket For Mounting An Accessory To A Vehicle", the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Further, the assembly 10 of the present invention may also be mounted to a vehicle by connection of the mounting brackets 16 to the receivers of the vehicle receiver assembly described and claimed in PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/USO 1/29012, filed on September 17,2001, entitled"Utilitarian Accessory Mounting System For A Trailer Hitch Assembly", the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such a structure is disclosed in Figure 5 and includes a cross member 50, vehicle frame mounting brackets 52, an optional trailer hitch receiver box 54 and a pair of receivers 56 upon which the present assembly 10 may be mounted.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.