Patents
US 7857179 B1: Latching assembly for a folding equipment carrier
- Granted
- 2010-12-28
- Filed
- 2007-09-17 application 11901570
- Type
- Utility · 19 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
A universal folding carrier for carrying objects on tailgates of pickup trucks and trunk lids of automobiles or the like has a substantially U-shaped frame, a substantially U-shaped carrying member and a substantially U-shaped supporting member. The folding carrier is movable between a folded or storage position and a locked extended or operational position. The carrying arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and the supporting member is pivotally mounted to the frame. A latching assembly includes a pair of first brackets. The first brackets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame. A pair of second brackets is mounted to opposite sides of the carrying member, each second bracket having a ramp portion and a latch. A latching assembly with first and second latching members is mounted to the first brackets. Each latching member has an engaging pin, the engaging pins extending from opposite ends of the latching members. The first latching member includes a first trigger assembly and the second latching member includes a second trigger assembly, the trigger assemblies being urged apart by a spring. The engaging pins are position for locked engagement with the latches when the folding carrier is in its extended position. The trigger assemblies are spaced apart a distance that permits a user using one hand to move the trigger assemblies towards one another for disengaging the engaging pins from the latches so that the folding carrier can be moved from its locked extended position to its folded position.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg101228.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The R.A. Allen Company, Inc. 3 patents | US company or organization | Vero Beach, FL | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard A. Allen | Concord, MA | 3 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Alexander R. Allen | Vero Beach, FL | 6 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| B60R | Vehicles, vehicle fittings, or vehicle parts, not otherwise provided for | B60R9/06 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| Y10S | Technical subjects covered by former uspc cross-reference art collections [xracs] and digests | Y10S224/924 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-24 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | R.A. ALLEN COMPANY, INC. signed 2022-08-19 | ALLEN GLOBAL FZCO DUBAI | 61515/626 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2007-09-17 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | ALLEN, ALEXANDER R. signed 2007-08-28 ALLEN, RICHARD A. signed 2007-09-11 | R.A. ALLEN COMPANY, INC. VERO BEACH, FL | 19884/168 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.