Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-08-28
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
C224S316000, C224S326000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279802
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to vehicle article carriers, and more particularly to a vehicle article carrier incorporating a cross bar constructed to reduce or eliminate wind noise generated thereby.
2. Discussion
Vehicle article carriers are used in a wide variety of applications to enable various articles to be secured above an outer surface of a vehicle and transported thereon. Such vehicle article carriers typically incorporate a pair of slats which are fixedly secured to an outer body surface, such as a roof or deck lid of the vehicle. The slats are typically secured such that they extend generally parallel to one another. One or more cross bars are incorporated which each include a support member at opposite ends thereof for securing the cross bar to the slats. Often, one of the cross bars is fixedly secured to the slat so as to be immovable while the other cross bar may be adjustably positioned along the slats as needed to accommodate variously sized articles being supported on the cross bars.
With some modern day vehicles, the vehicle roof has a shape which requires the slats to converge slightly in order to follow the contour of the vehicle roof. The convergence of the slats requires that the movable cross bar be adjustably secured to at least one of its associated support members such that the overall length of the cross bar can be effectively increased or decreased slightly as the cross bar moves along the slats. This has typically been accomplished by a slot which is formed in one of the supports associated with the movable cross bar. The slot enables a fastening member to secure one end of the cross bar to the support and further enables the cross bar to move slightly inwardly and outwardly relative to the support to accommodate the convergence of the slats when the cross bar is moved along the slats.
The above described arrangement in which a slot is formed within a portion of the support member has been found to, in some instances, generate some objectionable wind noise. In some instances, the slot may have a “flute” like effect depending upon the speed of the vehicle and various environmental conditions such as the speed and direction of wind which the vehicle is subjected to.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide some means for coupling an end of a movable cross bar to its associated support member to provide for a degree of adjustability between these two components while doing so in a fashion which prevents any wind noise from being generated by the support member at the area where it couples to its associated cross bar.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle article carrier which enables a degree of adjustability in the overall length of a movable cross bar thereof while reducing or eliminating the wind noise which might be generated because of the adjustable coupling of a support member to a movable cross bar of the article carrier. In the preferred embodiment the present invention incorporates a pair of slats which are adapted to be fixedly secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle such as the vehicle roof or even a deck lid of the vehicle. At least one movable cross bar is included having its outermost ends coupled to a pair of support members. The support members are adapted to be coupled to the slats such that the support members can be moved slidably along the slats and positioned at a desired point along the slats.
The adjustable positioning feature is accomplished by a slot which is formed in a neck portion of one of the support members. The neck portion is adapted to receive one end of one of the cross bars and the end of the cross bar is secured to the neck portion by a fastening element. The fastening element permits the end of the cross bar to move slightly inwardly or outwardly of the neck portion such that the overall length of the cross bar can be either lengthened or shortened slightly as needed.
Within the neck portion is disposed a compressible, foam-like member. The foam-like member effectively covers that portion of the slot which is not covered by the end of the cross bar when the end of the cross bar is inserted into the neck portion. Since the foam-like member is compressible, it allows the end of the cross bar to be urged inwardly relative to the neck portion when needed, such as when the cross bar is being moved along two slightly converging slats. Conversely, the compressible nature of the foam-like member allows it to take up the space vacated within the neck portion of the support member by the end of the cross bar if the cross bar is moved along the slats in a direction such that the slats diverge slightly. Thus, the foam-like member compresses or expands as needed to fill the unoccupied area within the neck portion of the support member such that air cannot enter through the uncovered portion of the slot in the neck portion and thereby create wind noise while the vehicle is moving.
In the preferred embodiment the foam-like member is comprised of low density, closed cell foam rubber. The use of the foam-like member does not significantly complicate the assembly of the vehicle article carrier, add significantly to its cost or weight, or require any other modifications to the support members.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5071050 (1991-12-01), Pudney et al.
patent: 5474217 (1995-12-01), Mandarino et al.
patent: 5474218 (1995-12-01), Arsenault, Jr. et al.
Hickman K. Michael
Teodoro Antonio
Elkins Gary E.
Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC
JAC Products Inc.
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