Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-01-23
Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
C224S316000, C224S321000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176404
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a seal adapted to cover a longitudinal groove forming a slide in the top of a roof bar which has in cross section, on its face that faces upward, two longitudinal lips projecting substantially toward each other to cover partly a longitudinal cavity of the bar and to define the groove between them, the seal having on each longitudinal lateral edge a conformation of substantially U-shaped cross section complementary to that of the corresponding longitudinal lip in order to interengage with the lip.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1
shows a prior art roof bar
3
comprising a light metal extrusion. Two longitudinal lips
5
,
6
partly covering the cavity
7
enable the insertion into said cavity
7
of T-shaped members, for example screws with a T-shaped head or T-shaped supports, for fixing to two substantially parallel roof bars
3
various objects such as bicycle carriers, luggage carriers, ski carriers.
In the conventional way, a seal
1
of the aforementioned type covers the groove
2
and is interengaged with the two lips
5
,
6
which define the top face
4
of the bar
3
.
The seal is generally made of rubber or preferably of a plastics material such as PVC and has more than one function. It lies between the extrusion constituting the bar and the object fixed to the bar to prevent metal-to-metal contact. It also covers the groove in the bar which otherwise could cause an extremely unpleasant noise at high speed. A seal of the above kind is generally extruded and threaded over the two lips from one end of the bar to the other and is difficult to use when it comes to introducing a member of any kind, such as the head of a screw, into the cavity: either the seal or its central part is partly destroyed, where a screw with a T-shaped head is inserted into the groove and turned 90° so that the head interengages with the two lips of the bar or the seal is cut into a number of lengths that are threaded successively over the two lips of the bar after interleaving between two adjacent lengths any member to be inserted into the cavity, such as the head of a screw.
Failing this, it may be necessary to remove the seal completely.
Users find partial destruction of the seal at certain places or lengths of seal between fixing members unsatisfactory from the esthetic point of view.
Finally, from the aerodynamic point of view, the parts of each bar that are not covered and protected by the seal generate noise at high speeds, the nuisance value and intolerability of which are in proportion to their length.
The aim of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of prior art seals and bars and to propose a seal of simple and economic structure that is very easy to use but fulfills perfectly the aforementioned functions of eliminating all metal-to-metal contact, esthetic covering, ease of use and elimination of aerodynamic noise.
Another aim of the present invention is to propose a roof bar adapted to receive a seal constituting the first aspect of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention consists in a seal adapted to cover a longitudinal groove forming a slide on the top of a roof bar which has in cross section on its face that faces upward two longitudinal lips projecting substantially toward each other to cover partly a longitudinal cavity of said bar and to define said groove between them, said seal having on each longitudinal lateral edge a conformation of substantially U-shaped cross section complementary to that of the corresponding longitudinal lip in order to interengage with said lip, said seal having on its face facing toward said cavity, between said two longitudinal lateral conformations, two longitudinal cuts extending from said face to the vicinity of a top surface of said seal to form between said cuts a longitudinal central tongue adapted to be easily separated from said two longitudinal lateral parts of said seal.
Accordingly, when the seal is in place in the groove of the roof bar the central tongue can be easily pulled out or separated along all or part of the length of the bar to uncover the groove, leaving the two longitudinal lateral parts in place on the respective corresponding lips of the roof bar.
These longitudinal lateral parts protect the bar against rubbing contact with the transported objects by eliminating all metal-to-metal contact. They also embellish the roof bar.
The groove is uncovered so that T-shaped heads of screws can be inserted into the cavity to fix various supports.
When the tongue is pulled out along all the length of the bar, T-shaped members for fixing supports of any kind can be inserted into the cavity and into the groove from the end of the bar.
In an advantageous version of the invention, there is a second longitudinal lateral conformation on at least one longitudinal lateral edge which in cross section extends outward relative to the corresponding longitudinal conformation, extending its top branch, and having a shape in cross section adapted to interengage with at least one second conjugate longitudinal lateral member of the bar to prevent movement of the corresponding lateral part of the seal in a cross section plane of the seal.
In a preferred version of the invention, the conjugate longitudinal lateral member of the bar is a second longitudinal lateral lip which partly covers a corresponding longitudinal lateral cavity of the bar forming a corresponding longitudinal lateral groove of the bar, wherein the corresponding second longitudinal lateral conformation of the seal has a shape in cross section including a first portion forming a foot adapted to pass through the corresponding lateral groove and a portion forming a head extending the portion forming a foot and adapted substantially to fill a corresponding lateral cavity of the bar.
In this way the two longitudinal lateral parts of the seal are firmly anchored to the roof bar and are perfectly able to support the loads to be fixed to the bars.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4165827 (1979-08-01), Bott
patent: 4239139 (1980-12-01), Bott
patent: 5004139 (1991-04-01), Strom et al.
patent: 5025967 (1991-06-01), Cronce et al.
patent: 5511709 (1996-04-01), Fisch
patent: 4113230 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 0 503 306 A1 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 2191747 (1987-12-01), None
patent: 247540 (1987-12-01), None
Automaxi Industries
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Vidovich Gregory M.
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