Pivoting sports equipment carrier

Abstract

A pivoting equipment carrier adapted for use with a vehicle having a receiver hitch for receiving said pivoting equipment carrier. The pivoting equipment carrier is movable between a first closed position, wherein equipment carried by the pivoting equipment carrier is held at a desired spaced distance from a rear bumper of the vehicle, and a second clearance position, wherein the equipment is swung rearwardly and outwardly to one side of the vehicle in order to permit full and unobstructed access to a rear entry of the vehicle. The invention includes a first fixed horizontal support arm adapted to be aligned generally parallel with the rear vehicle bumper, and a second movable horizontal support arm pivotally connected to the first fixed horizontal support arm by a first hinge pivot assembly. The first hinge pivot assembly is effective to swing the second movable arm in a horizontal plane about a generally vertical pivot axis through an arc of about 180 degrees between the closed position and a second extended open position. The invention further includes a vertical support post having an equipment carrier assembly disposed connected at an upper end thereof. The lower end of the vertical support post is pivotally connected by a second hinge pivot assembly to the second movable arm. The second hinge pivot assembly is effective to pivot the support post and equipment carrier assembly through a 90 degree arc between a transport position and the clearance position. The invention includes a spring-biased locking assembly which provides the dual function of: (1) releasably locking the vertical support post in the second clearance position; and releasably locking the vertical support post and second movable arm to the first fixed arm when the equipment carrier is in the closed position.