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.

1 . An accessory carrier assembly mountable to a vehicle having a hitch element, the assembly comprising: 
 a first segment, the first segment being capable of telescopically engaging a first vehicle mounted hitch element of a first cross sectional size;    a second segment connected with the first segment, the second segment being capable of telescopically engaging a second vehicle mounted hitch element of a second cross sectional size;    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; and    an accessory carrier element selectively engageable with the first segment and the second segment so as to permit selective engagement of the first segment with the first hitch element and of the second segment with the second hitch element.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the accessory carrier element comprises at least one 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 1 , wherein the accessory carrier element further comprises at least one support member capable of selectively connecting the accessory carrier element with the first segment and connecting the accessory carrier element with the second segment.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the support member comprises a pair of spaced plates.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , further comprising a pair of bushings sized to fit between the plates and the second segment.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second segment comprises a solid shank.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second segment is permanently fixed to the first segment.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the first segment includes an aperture therethrough, the second segment includes an aperture therethrough, and the pair of spaced plates each include an aperture therethrough.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a pin that is removably inserted into the apertures of the spaced plates and either of the apertures of the first and second segments to hold the accessory carrier element in a first position.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein removing the pin from the apertures of the spaced plates and either of the apertures of the first and second segments releases the accessory carrier element to rotate.  
   
   
       11 . A reversible shank for mounting an accessory to a vehicle having either a first vehicle mounted hitch element or a second vehicle mounted hitch element wherein the cross section of the first hitch element is larger than the cross section of the second hitch element, the reversible shank comprising: 
 a first segment having a first cross section capable of telescopic engagement with the first hitch element; and    a second segment having a second cross section capable of telescopic engagement with the second hitch element, the cross section of the first segment being larger than the cross section of the second segment, wherein the second segment extends from the first segment.    
   
   
       12 . The reversible shank of  claim 11 , wherein the first segment further comprises an aperture therein for telescopically receiving a portion of the second segment.  
   
   
       13 . The reversible shank of  claim 12 , wherein the second segment is welded to the first segment.  
   
   
       14 . The reversible shank of  claim 11 , wherein the second segment extends co-axially from the first segment.  
   
   
       15 . An accessory carrier assembly selectively attachable to either a first vehicle mounted hitch element or a second vehicle mounted hitch element wherein the cross section of the first hitch element is larger than the cross section of the second hitch element, the accessory carrier assembly comprising: 
 a reversible shank comprising: 
 a first segment having a first cross section capable of telescopic engagement with the first hitch element; and  
 a second segment having a second cross section capable of telescopic engagement with the second hitch element, the cross section of the first segment being larger than the cross section of the second segment, wherein the second segment extends from the first segment;  
   an accessory carrier element selectively engageable with the first segment and the second segment so as to permit selective engagement of the first segment with the first hitch element and of the second segment with the second hitch element.    
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the accessory carrier element includes a support and a mount assembly, the mount assembly being connected with the support.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the mount assembly is engageable with the second segment through the use of at least a pair of bushings.  
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the support includes a tubular support that defines an axis perpendicular to an axis of the first or second vehicle mounted hitch element.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the mount assembly comprises a pair of spaced plates, the plates each having an aperture therethrough.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second segments include an aperture capable of receiving a pin, wherein insertion of the pin through the aperture of the spaced plates and through the aperture of either of the first and second segments substantially prevents rotation of the support, and wherein removal of the pin from the spaced plates and the aperture of either of the first and second segments permits rotation of the support.