US 7,591,404 B2
Swingable apparatus attachable to a vehicle for transporting a device and permitting access to the vehicle
Ernest W. LeDuc, Valley Center, Calif. (US); Scott C. Salter, San Diego, Calif. (US); and Steven J. Caliguri, Poway, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Sunbeam Products, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla. (US)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/719,107.
Application 10/719107 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/261800, filed on Sep. 30, 2002, granted, now 6,701,913.
Prior Publication US 2004/0112369 A1, Jun. 17, 2004
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60R 9/06 (2006.01); F24C 1/16 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 224—509  [224/519; 126/276] 53 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus selectively attachable to a vehicle, for transporting a device and positioning the device in an orientation that permits access to the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a support arm defining a support arm longitudinal axis, wherein the support arm has a hitch collar hole;
a primary swing arm defining a primary swing arm longitudinal axis;
a primary hinge assembly coupled to the support arm and the primary swing arm;
a hitch collar inserted into the hitch collar hole in the support arm and attached to the support arm;
a collar insertion member inserted into the hitch collar, wherein the collar insertion member is attached to the hitch collar, and wherein the collar insertion member is encircled by the hitch collar and is encircled by the support arm; and
wherein the support arm has a first end and a second end, and wherein the hitch collar hole is located proximate the first end of the support arm at a location along the longitudinal axis of the support arm that does not overlap the primary swing arm when the primary swing arm is oriented with the longitudinal axis of the primary swing arm substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support arm, to provide space between the collar insertion member and the primary swing arm when the primary swing arm is oriented with the longitudinal axis of the primary swing arm substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support arm.