Cargo carrier having a door with a lift-assisting hinge apparatus

Abstract

A cargo carrier incorporates at least one hinge assembly that permits the controlled opening and closing of the cargo carrier door. The hinge assembly includes a torsion bar that has one end fixed with respect to the cargo carrier floor and the other end fixed with respect to the door. One end of the torsion bar rotates with respect to the other end when the door is opened or closed. The door is of sufficient weight that controlled opening and closing of the door is not possible without the aid of the hinge assembly. The door is also allowed to open sufficiently such that the end of the door opposite the hinge can contact the ground thereby forming a ramp.

1 . A cargo carrier comprising: 
 a body incorporating a floor and a plurality of walls; and    a door disposed orthogonal to said floor and to at least one of said walls, said door coupled to said body via at least one hinge assembly, wherein said at least one hinge assembly comprises a torsion bar having a first end mounted to said body and having a second end mounted to said door such that the opening or closing of said door rotates said second end of said torsion bar with respect to said first end.    
   
   
       2 . The cargo carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said hinge assembly permits said door to be opened such that the edge of said door distal to said hinge assembly extends below the plane of said floor thereby forming a ramp.  
   
   
       3 . The cargo carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the weight of said door does not permit controlled opening or closing of said door without the assisting force of said torsion bar.  
   
   
       4 . The cargo carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said hinge assembly further comprises a fastener cooperating with one of said first or second ends of said torsion bar to maintain said torsion bar in a pre-loaded condition when said door is in a closed position.  
   
   
       5 . The cargo carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said hinge assembly further comprises a fastener cooperating with one of said first or second ends of said torsion bar to maintain said torsion bar in a pre-unloaded condition when said door is in a closed position.  
   
   
       6 . The cargo carrier of  claim 5 , wherein said one of said first or second ends of said torsion bar are threaded and wherein said fastener is threaded onto said one of said first or second ends.