Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Patent
1991-09-20
1992-12-08
Recla, Henry J.
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
211 20, 224315, 224331, B60R 908
Patent
active
051690446
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a holder device for securing a load on a vehicle roof, comprising a support portion for supporting the load, a movable anchorage portion which is displaceable to an operative position and which, in the operative position, is disposed to engage with and positionally fix the load on the support portion, the anchorage portion being connected to the support portion and the holder device proper being fixable on a load carrier strut extending transversely across the vehicle roof, by means of a releasable locking member which is disposed in the region of the connection of the anchorage portion to the support portion.
BACKGROUND ART
Holder devices of the type mentioned by way of introduction are previously known in this Art and may, for example, be intended for the transport of bicycles on a vehicle roof.
Such prior art holder devices have, for instance, been secured to a roof rack or the like extending across the vehicle roof, by means of U-shaped threaded stirrups which are positioned about the rack and are screwed in place in the holder device. In such instance, use may be made of conventional nuts, in which even the holder device runs the risk of being stolen, together with the load carried thereon. Alternatively however, use may also be made of hand nuts which are lockable by means of a cylinder lock. Since the roof rack frame is also lockable on the vehicle by means of a cylinder lock and, as a rule, also the load itself in the holder device by means of a further cylinder lock, it will be readily appreciated that there is a considerable risk of confusing the various keys involved. Furthermore, the risk of losing these keys cannot be discounted.
PROBLEM STRUCTURE
Thus, the present invention has for its object to realise a holder device of the type mentioned by way of introduction, the holder device being designed in such a way that it may be mounted in a tamper-proof manner on the load carrier strut extending across the vehicle roof without the assistance of any form of cylinder lock. The present invention further has for its object to design the holder device in such a way that it will be simple and economical in manufacture an easy to mount on and dismount from the roof rack. The present invention further has for its object to realise a holder device of such type as has no loose parts susceptible to being lost.
SOLUTION
The objects forming the basis of the present invention are attained if the holder device disclosed by way of introduction is characterised in that the anchorage portion is provided, in the region of its connection with the support portion, with a detent portion which, in the operative position of the anchorage portion, is located in a detent position and, in an inoperative position of the anchorage portion, is located outside the detent position; and that the locking member is provided with a locking portion which by co-operation with the detent portion in the detent position thereof, prevents release of the locking member.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the holder device is intended as a holder device specifically designed for the transport of bicycles. According to the present invention, this holder device is also suitably characterised in that the anchorage portion is, by means of joints, pivotally secured in a mid-section which is connected to the support portion and displays upwardly angled portions with the joints; that the upwardly angled portions are provided with an aperture for insertion and removal of the locking portion of the anchorage portion, the detent portion on the anchorage portion being movable, by pivoting thereof, to a position where the aperture is closed.
The above-considered embodiment of the present invention is suitably also characterised in that the locking member is in the form of a U-shaped stirrup; that the locking portion consists of a head at the free end of its one shank; and that its other shank is provided with a locking clamp for fixedly tightening the stirrup about the carrier strut.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1346170 (1920-07-01), Brandt et al.
patent: 4442961 (1984-04-01), Bott
patent: 4452384 (1984-06-01), Graber
patent: 4606216 (1986-08-01), Riutta
patent: 4629104 (1986-12-01), Jacquet
patent: 4643388 (1987-02-01), Tazawa
patent: 4702401 (1987-10-01), Graber et al.
patent: 4961524 (1990-10-01), Huntz
patent: 5042705 (1991-08-01), Johansson
patent: 5052605 (1991-10-01), Johnsson
Barrett Glenn T.
Industri AB Thule
Recla Henry J.
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