Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Patent
1994-12-20
1996-12-31
Walczak, David J.
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
224330, 224325, B60R 900
Patent
active
055885730
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention concerns a load-carrier for vehicles of the kind comprising a load-carrying tubular rail extending across the vehicle roof in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and a foot member at each lateral edge of the vehicle roof to support said load-carrying tubular rail, said foot member resting on the upper vehicle roof face and serving as a load-carrying rail support.
When load-carriers of the kind outlined above are exposed to heavy stress exerted thereon by the load that they carry, for instance as the vehicle is driven across uneven road surfaces with consequential temporary or permanent deflection of the load-carrying rail extending across the vehicle roof, or as the vehicle is driven through sharp bends, there is an immediate risk, particularly in vehicles of the kind having no drip moulding at the roof edge, that the lower end of the foot member of the load-carrier will tend to move laterally outwards with consequential disengagement of the foot member from the roof edge.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main purpose of the invention is to eliminate this drawback and to provide a load-carrier structure which positively maintains its secure and safe engagement with the vehicle roof edge, also when exposed to load.
This purpose is achieved in a load-carrier of the kind defined in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The load-carrier in accordance with the invention will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
FIG. 1 is a lateral view of one end portion of a load-carrier in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention as seen in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the load-carrier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the upper portion of the load-carrier in the position when secured to the vehicle, i.e. corresponding to the situation illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing the same load-carrier portion in the position of detachment of the latter;
FIG. 5 is a cross section along line V--V of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a section along line VI--VI of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is a corresponding section along line VII--VII of FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a lateral view of one end portion of a load-carrier according to a second embodiment of the invention, the load-carrier being shown in a fastened position and the view being taken in the longitudinal direction of the associated vehicle;
FIG. 9 is a view as seen from the left in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a section along line X--X in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9 but showing the load-carrier in a detached position, and
FIG. 12 is a section along line XII--XII of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The load-carrier illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings consists of a load-carrying tubular rail 1 which in the mounted position of the load-carrier extends transversely across the vehicle 2 onto which the load-carrier is to be mounted, and a foot member 3 forming a load-carrier bearing means and supported by the vehicle roof adjacent the lateral edge thereof by way of a base 4. Numeral reference 5 in the drawing figures designates an actuating arm which is pivotally mounted in the foot member, said arm serving to secure the foot member to the vehicle roof and also to secure the load-carrier to the foot member.
In accordance with the shown embodiment, the load-supporting rail having a square cross-sectional configuration, is preferably formed at its lower end with centrally located slits 6 which are open towards the rail ends and which from the rail ends extend some distance towards the vehicle center. The foot member 3 illustrated in the drawings consists of sheet metal bent to a U-shape as most clearly apparent from FIG. 5. The lateral flanges or legs of the foot member are designated by numeral 3a and the web portion thereof by 3b. The upper part of the web 3b is bent downwards so as to form an essentially hori
REFERENCES:
patent: 4684049 (1987-08-01), Maby et al.
patent: 4757929 (1988-07-01), Nelson
patent: 5452831 (1995-09-01), Linnhoff
Mont Blanc Industri AB
Walczak David J.
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