Angled ski rack attachment for a sports rack

Abstract

A rack assembly ( 100 ) for attachment to the back of a vehicle is disclosed. The rack assembly includes an upper retaining member ( 160 ) and a lower retaining member ( 180 ), the upper and lower retaining members being offset vertically and transversely, such that elongate gear, for example, skis or other sports equipment, will be oriented generally at an angle between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees, near the rear of the vehicle. Protective sheaths ( 163, 183 ) may be provided to protect the retained gear. In one embodiment the upper and lower retaining members are removably attachable to a support assembly ( 120 ) that engages the hitch ( 92 ) at the back of a vehicle. In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of upper and lower retaining members ( 220, 240 ) attach to a frame ( 204 ) disposed near the rear of the vehicle. In another embodiment of the invention a cargo container ( 310 ) is attached to the upper and lower retaining members.

1 . A rack assembly for retaining gear at the rear of a vehicle, the vehicle defining a vertical plane and having oppositely disposed first and second sides, the rack assembly comprising: 
 a lower retaining member adapted to be attached to the rear of the vehicle, wherein the lower retaining member is disposed at a first elevation, and near the first side of the vehicle; and    an upper retaining member adapted to be attached to the rear of the vehicle, wherein the upper retaining member is disposed at a second elevation that is higher than the first elevation, and near the second side of the vehicle;    wherein gear retained by both the lower retaining member and the upper retaining members will be oriented at an angle of between 20 degrees and 70 degrees with respect to the vertical plane defined by the vehicle.    
   
   
       2 . The rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein gear retained by both the lower retaining member and the upper retaining member will be oriented at an angle of between 35 degrees and 55 degrees with respect to the vertical plane defined by the vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . The rack assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a support assembly having a first end adapted to be attached directly to the vehicle and a second end adapted to receive the lower retaining member and the upper retaining member.  
   
   
       4 . The rack assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the lower retaining member comprises a rearwardly-extending rigid hoop that is oriented to receive one end of the gear, and the upper retaining member comprises a rearwardly-extending first bar having a clamp for releasably engaging the gear.  
   
   
       5 . The rack assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the clamp for releasably engaging the elongate gear comprises a second bar that is pivotally attached to the first bar.  
   
   
       6 . The rack assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a lock assembly adapted to lock the second bar to the first bar.  
   
   
       7 . The rack assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the lower retaining member further comprises a protective sheath disposed about at least a portion of the rigid hoop.  
   
   
       8 . The rack assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second upper retaining member and a second lower retaining member.  
   
   
       9 . The rack assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member are adapted to fold toward the vehicle.  
   
   
       10 . The rack assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member are adapted to retain a plurality of pairs of skis.  
   
   
       11 . The rack assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a cargo container having a lower portion and a lid portion, the cargo container being attached to the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member.  
   
   
       12 . The rack assembly of  claim 11  wherein the cargo container lower portion includes a metal frame.  
   
   
       13 . The rack assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a support assembly having a first end adapted to be attached directly to the vehicle and a second end adapted to receive the lower retaining member and the upper retaining member.  
   
   
       14 . A sports rack for releasably retaining an elongate item near the rear of an automobile, the sports rack comprising: 
 a first retaining member including a rigid hoop defining an elongate slot that is adapted to receive one end of an elongate item; and    a second retaining member including a first rigid bar and a clamp attached to the rigid bar, the second retaining member adapted to engage the elongate item near an opposite end;    wherein the first and second retaining members extend rearwardly from the automobile, and are vertically and transversely offset such that the retained elongate item is oriented at an angle of between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.    
   
   
       15 . The sports rack of  claim 14 , wherein the retained elongate item is oriented at an angle of between 35 degrees and 55 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.  
   
   
       16 . The sports rack of  claim 14 , further comprising a support assembly having a first end adapted to be attached directly to the vehicle and a second end adapted to receive the first retaining member and the second retaining member.  
   
   
       17 . The sports rack of  claim 14 , wherein the clamp attached to the first rigid bar comprises a second bar that is pivotally attached to the first rigid bar.  
   
   
       18 . The sports rack of  claim 17 , further comprising a lock assembly adapted to lock the second bar to the first rigid bar.  
   
   
       19 . The sports rack of  claim 14 , wherein the lower retaining member further comprises a protective sheath disposed about at least a portion of the rigid hoop.  
   
   
       20 . The sports rack of  claim 14 , wherein the first retaining member and the second retaining member are adapted to fold toward the vehicle.  
   
   
       21 . The sports rack of  claim 14 , wherein the first retaining member and the second retaining member are adapted to retain a plurality of pairs of skis.  
   
   
       22 . The sports rack assembly of  claim 14  further comprising a cargo container having a lower portion and a lid portion, the cargo container being attached to the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member.  
   
   
       23 . The sports rack assembly of  claim 22  wherein the cargo container lower portion includes a stiffening frame.  
   
   
       24 . The sports rack assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a support assembly having a first end adapted to be attached directly to the vehicle and a second end adapted to receive the lower retaining member and the upper retaining member.  
   
   
       25 . A rack assembly for a vehicle defining a horizontal plane, the rack assembly comprising: 
 a support assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a keyed post and the second end includes a first and a second keyed aperture;    a lower retaining member having a keyed post adapted to slidably engage the support assembly first keyed aperture, an extension bar extending downwardly and outwardly from the keyed post, and a rigid hoop extending rearwardly from the extension bar, the rigid hoop defining a first gear retention slot; and    an upper retaining member having a keyed post adapted to slidably engage the support assembly second keyed aperture, a first bar extending rearwardly from the keyed post, and a second bar hingedly attached to the first bar, the first and second bars defining a second gear retention slot;    wherein the first and second gear retention slots are disposed relative to each other such that a straight line through the first and second gear retention slots will form an angle between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees relative to the horizontal plane defined by the vehicle.    
   
   
       26 . The rack assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second gear retention slots are disposed relative to each other such that a straight line through the first and second gear retention slots will form an angle between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees relative to the horizontal plane defined by the vehicle.  
   
   
       27 . The rack assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a lock assembly adapted to lock the second bar to the first bar.  
   
   
       28 . The rack assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the lower retaining member further comprises a protective sheath disposed about at least a portion of the rigid hoop.  
   
   
       29 . The rack assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a second upper retaining member and a second lower retaining member.  
   
   
       30 . The rack assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member are adapted to fold toward the vehicle.  
   
   
       31 . The rack assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member are adapted to retain a plurality of pairs of skis.  
   
   
       32 . The rack assembly of  claim 25  further comprising a cargo container having a lower portion and a lid portion, the cargo container being attached to the upper retaining member and the lower retaining member.  
   
   
       33 . The rack assembly of  claim 32  wherein the cargo container lower portion includes a metal frame.