Reversible shank for hitch mounted accessory carriers

Abstract

An accessory carrier assembly includes a reversible shank manufactured of a substantially square first portion and a substantially square second portion. The first portion is sized to engage a first hitch receiver and the second portion is sized to engage a second hitch receiver. To attach the accessory carrier to the reversible shank, the first segment is located in amounting assembly either with or without the bushings depending on which type of hitch receiver is available. The accessory carrier is pivotable by removal of a single pin to provide access to a rear of a vehicle. The single pin can be further located in a stop aperture to prevent overrotation of the carrier.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An accessory carrier assembly comprising: 
 a first segment having a first aperture, said first segment being capable of telescopically engaging a first hitch element of a first cross sectional size;    a second segment, wherein at least a portion of the second segment is fitted in said first aperture and wherein the first and second segments are connected, said second segment also being capable of telescopically engaging a second hitch element of a second cross sectional size;    an accessory carrier element, said accessory carrier element selective engageable with either the first segment or the second segment so as to permit the selective engagement of the first segment with the first hitch element and of the second segment with the second hitch element; and    wherein the first cross sectional size of the first hitch element is not equal to the second cross sectional size of the second hitch element.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the accessory carrier element is selected from the group consisting of: a bicycle rack, a ski rack, a snowboard rack, at least one accessory shelf and at least one accessory bustle.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the first segment is angled between 0 and 90 degrees so as to cause the first hitch element to be engaged on a different spatial plane than the second hitch element.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first segment is angled between 0 and 90 degrees so as to cause the first hitch element to be engaged on a different spatial plane than the second hitch element.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the accessory carrier element further comprises at least one support member connecting the accessory carrier element and either the first segment or the second segment.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced plates.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the accessory carrier element further comprises at least one support member connecting the accessory carrier element and either the first segment or the second segment.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced plates.