The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 28, 2002
Steven J. Cole, Arcata, CA (US);
Watermark PaddleSports, Inc., Arcata, CA (US);
Abstract
A recreational equipment rack system, which includes an equipment rack configured for exterior engagement on a vehicle. The equipment rack including a rack tongue configured to be inserted into and secured within a hitch receiver provided on the vehicle. A fastening mechanism configured to tightly secure the rack tongue to the hitch receiver. The fastening mechanism includes a bolt having a bolt head and a bolt post extending from the head for extending through transverse holes in the hitch receiver. The bolt post includes a threaded length and an unthreaded length. A nut assembly including a nut configured to engage the threaded length of the bolt enables selective clamping and releasing of the rack tongue with the hitch receiver. The bolt post has a removable post lock on its distal end to prevent removal of the rack from the vehicle without a security key or combination code. The threaded length of the bolt post is limited so that the threaded portion of the bolt exits the nut before the post lock contacts the exterior surface of the hitch receiver.