CA2209584A1 - Roof rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle roof rack includes a support beam attachable to a vehicle roof; a housing member slidable axially along the support beam between a retracted position and an extended position; an arm pivotally connected at one end to the housing member supported by and slidable along the support beam as the housing member is moved between the retracted position and a pre-determined position adjacent the extended position, wherein the arm is free to pivot between upper and lower positions when the housing member is in its pre-determined position. A platform is pivotally connected to the other end of the arm and a retaining device is provided for retaining the platform in a generally horizontal position as the arm is moved between the upper and lower positions.

Description

, CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 ROOF RACR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a roof rack with a load platform which is moveable to permit lowering of the platform to one side of the vehicle to facilitate loading and unloading.

R~a~ouND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle roof racks are commonly employed to mount storage containers or oversized items for transport such as bicycles, skiis and the like, onto the roof of the vehicle.

Most prior art roof racks are attachable to the roof of vehicles and extend horizontally between the sides of the vehicle. They are generally rigidly attached to the vehicle rain gutters or to existing factory-installed roof racks. After the roof rack is mounted on the vehicle roof the load must be lifted onto the roof rack and held there until firmly attached to the rack. This can be a difficult process, particularly with heavy or oversized loads which can be difficult to lift and hold on the rack until firmly secured. This problem is further exacerbated if the vehicle has a relatively high roof line between the ground and the roof of the vehicle or the user is not tall enough to reach up to the roof. This problem is particularly acute with the recent popularity of sport utility vehicles having high roof lines.

In order to overcome this problem attempts have been made to devise roof racks with a load bearing platform which may be extended laterally from the side of the vehicle and rotated downwardly towards the ground for loading and unloading from the platform. The load may then be attached to the platform at a low level at the side of the vehicle and then the platform may be rotated upwardly and retracted laterally to orient the platform with the load on top of CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 the roof of the vehicle, for transport.

An example of such a roof rack is provided in U.S. Patent No. 5,360,150 issued to Praz. The Praz roof rack provides a relatively large tubular structure 11 with a pair of arms 3' attached to a horizontal platform 4. The arms and platform are slidable within the housing in a lateral direction outwardly away from the vehicle and then rotatable downwardly to a lower position for loading and unloading of a load on the platform. The platform and arm can then be rotated upwardly and retracted laterally toward the vehicle into the tubular structure 11 for transport of that load. Because the Praz invention provides for movement of the platform and arm into the tubular structure 11 difficulties can be encountered in moving the loaded platform into structure 11 without causing the load to impede internal movement of the platform within structure 11. Praz provides a slot in the upper side of structure 11, presumably to permit unimpeded movement of a loaded platform to the fully retracted position although no details are provided as to how this would be accomplished.
It appears that this requires attaching components (not described in Praz) to enable a small diameter support to be interposed between the load and the platform, the support 2s of sufficiently small diameter to slide along the slot. In addition to the requirement of such additional components, a small diameter support provides a weak link between the load and the platform limiting the weight which can be placed on the support and increasing the risk of failure of the support as the roof rack is used. As well, the load cannot be rigidly connected to the support structure 11 without impeding the ability of the platform to move when the arm is moved between its retracted and extended positions.
The entire load weight of the Praz roof rack is supported CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 solely by the pair of arms 3' attached to slide 2, slidable within structure 11. There is no direct support of the load, only lateral support along the pivoting arms 3'. As depicted in Figure 3 of Praz there is no teaching of any direct support of the platform when the platform and arm are in the retracted position. The only support being the cantilevered connection of the platform to the arms 3' which in turn are connected to slide 2 which supports the platform and arm due to its close tolerance slidable fit within tubular structure 11. This cantilevered support increases the force on those components significantly as the weight of the load on the platform increases and causes considerable stress on those components as the platform moves up and down with movement of the vehicle, particularly as the vehicle moves over bumps and dips in the road or in off-road conditions. Praz describes in general terms only the latching of handle 5 in the position shown in Figure 3, to retain the m~-hAn;sm in that position when the vehicle is moved, but not to support it.
Furthermore tubular structure 11 with its relatively large height provides significant wind resistance which can cause difficulties in controlling the vehicle and in reduced fuel economy. Large structure 11 also increases the weight of the roof rack with the resultant difficulties in installing the rack on the roof and with increased instability of the vehicle.

The use of a longitudinal opening at the top of tubular structure 11 to permit clearance of the load as the platform is moved to the retracted position is also disadvantageous as it permits dirt, snow, ice and other foreign objects to fall through the slot into tubular structure 11 thereby impinging on the ability of slide 2 to move along tubular structure 11 preventing use of the roof rack in the manner intended to facilitate loading and CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 unloading.

As a result there is a need for a roof rack having a slidable arm and platform for lateral movement to one side of the vehicle and which pivots to permit lowering of the platform along the side of the vehicle to facilitate loading and unloading, wherein:

(i) the platform is directly supported from below when in the retracted position to support and secure the load for transport;

(ii) the sliding mechanism attached to the arm is covered in its upper areas and the support beam is open and accessible for cleaning, to prevent foreign matter from dropping from above and interfering with movement of the sliding mechanism along the support beam; and (iii) the roof rack may be made of light weight and streamlined materials without detracting from its ability to support relatively heavy loads, to facilitate installation and use of the rack on the vehicle and use of the rack on the vehicle without adversely affecting the operation of the vehicle.

~MNARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a roof rack having an arm and platform slidable along a support beam to permit lowering of the platform along the side of the vehicle for loading and unloading. When the arm and platform are in the retracted position the platform rests on the support beam which supports the arm and platform. The load on the platform is thereby directly supported by the support beam CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 which is rigidly attached to the vehicle roof or existing roof rack. A hollow support sleeve, pivotally connected to the arm, is slidable along the support beam between the extended and retracted positions. The support sleeve substantially surrounds the support beam except for a lower slot permitting movement of the support sleeves past the supporting posts attaching the roof rack to the vehicle.
In a further embodiment the platform includes a hollow longitudinal member which is also slidable along the support beam to both support the platform on the beam and prevent lateral movement of the platform off of the beam.

BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWING~

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the roof rack of the present invention mounted on the roof of a vehicle showing the housing member in its extended position and the arm in its lowered position;

Figure 2 is a front elevation sequence view of the roof rack of Fig. 1 showing the arm in its upper and lower positions and showing the housing member in its extended position;

Figure 2A is a front elevation view of the roof rack of Fig. 1 showing the housing member in its retracted position;

Figure 3 is a enlarged front elevation view, of the roof rack of Fig. 1, partially in section showing the housing member in its retracted position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along 4-4 of Fig. 2A of the roof rack of Fig. 1 showing the locking pin on the platform hollow beam and the means for attaching a load to the platform support beam;

CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 Figure 5 is a sectional view along 5-5 of Fig. 2A of the roof rack of Fig. 1 showing the housing member slidably attached to the support beam and the longitudinal member rotatably attached to the housing member;

Figure 6 is a partial front view of the roof rack of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with alternate clamping means for clamping the roof rack to the rain gutter of a vehicle roof and alternate orientation of the platform;

Figure 7 is a sectional view along 7-7 of Fig. 6 of the alternate embodiment of Fig. 6; and Figure 8 is a front view of the alternative embodiment of Fig. 6 showing the housing member in its retracted position.

Referring initially to Fig. 1, roof rack 10 comprises front portion 12 and rear portion 14 attached to bar 38 of an existing pair of vehicle roof rack sections 30 attached to vehicle 18. Portions 12 and 14 are removably attached to respective bars 38 by means of clamp 42.

Clamp 42 includes U-shaped member 130 having curved portion 132 of similar contour to the lower curvature of bar 38.
Each end of U-shaped member 130 is threaded to receive a pair of nut members 134 to threadingly engage the threads of member 130. Support plate 136 is connected to resilient pad 138. As nut members 134 are tightened, section 30 is tightly sandwiched between pad 138 and portion 132.
Resilient pad 138 is deflectable to facilitate rigid attachment of portions 12 and 14 to vehicle roof 19, as best seen in Fig. 5.

CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 As depicted in Fig. 1, a pair of clamps 42 connect to front portion 12 to one of a pair of roof rack bars 38 attached to vehicle 18. Another pair of clamps 42 attach rear portion 14 to the other of the pair of bars 38 attached to vehicle 18. As best seen in Fig. 5, support plate 136 is attached generally at its mid-point to one end of post 140.
The other end of post 140 is attached to rail 40 of portions 12 and 14. Each of portions 12 and 14 includes rail 40 extending in a lateral direction from one side 20 of vehicle 18 to the other side 21 of vehicle 18 (Figs. 2 and 2A). As best seen in Fig. 2A, rail 40 includes ends 52 and 54 extending outwardly beyond side edges of roof 19.

Each rail 40 has a housing member 41 slidable along substantially the full length of rail 40 in the directions of arrows 62 and 68 as depicted in Fig. 2. Housing member is shown in its extended position adjacent side 20 of the vehicle, in Fig. 2 and in its retracted position, adjacent side 21 of vehicle 18, in Fig. 2A. When housing member 41 is in its retracted position, the roof rack 10 is in position for movement of the vehicle allowing transport of load 60, in this case a luggage container, supported by portions 12 and 14.

Housing member 41 includes a lower support sleeve 50 connected to a pair of opposed side plates 78. As depicted in Fig. 5, support sleeve 50 includes an opening of cross sectional area slightly larger than the cross sectional area of rail 40. This permits slidable movement of support sleeve 50 along rail 40 between ends 52 and 54; i.e.
between the retracted and extended positions of housing member 41. As well, sleeve 50 is retained in slidable engagement with rail 40 as sleeve 50 substantially surrounds rail 40, preventing lateral and upward movement of sleeve 50 when engaged with rail 40.

CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 In order to enable support sleeve 50 to slide past posts 140 as support sleeve 50 is moved along rail 40, support sleeve S0 includes slotted opening 51 along the bottom of sleeve 50, of a width slightly larger than the diameter of posts 140.

Arm 44 is rotatably attached to side plate 78 of housing member 41. Arm 44 includes first longitudinal member 73 and second longitudinal member 74 rotatably attached at one end between a pair of spaced upstanding parallel plates 78 by means of bolts 79 attached to nuts 80 (as best depicted in Fig. 5).

As seen in Fig. 3, bolt 79 and nut 80 of first longitudinal member 73 is offset in the direction of end 52 as compared to bolt 79 and 80 attaching second longitudinal member 74 to plates 78. The distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 of first longitudinal member 73 is equal to the distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 of second longitudinal member 74. This allows parallel motion of member 73 and 74 while maintaining sufficient separation to facilitate installation of strut 82.

Longitudinal member 74 extends outwardly past nut 79 and bolt 80 attached to member 41 a sufficient distance to contact rail 40, in the event that member 74 is pivoted above a horizontal position along axis 53. This contact prevents upward movement of members 73 and 74 beyond that horizontal position and assists the user in aligning platform 46 along axis 53.

The opposite ends of first and second longitudinal members 73 and 74 are rotatably attached between a pair of spaced upstanding platform side plates 76 by means of respective bolts 79 and nuts 80 in a similar manner to the attachment of ends of members 73 and 74 to side plate 78. The CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 on plates 76 is equal to the distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 on plates 78 thereby maintaining members 73 and 74 in parallel spaced alignment.

As best seen in Figure 3 the point of attachment of member 73 to plates 76 is offset in the direction of end 52, as compared to the point of attachment of member 74 to plate 76. The offset is substantially equal to the offset of the members 73 and 74 at their point of attachment to plates 78. This offset enables the positioning of biasing means between members 73 and 74 as members 73 and 74 remain in spaced parallel relationship throughout their range of movement between upper and lower positions 44A and 44B.
A biasing means is provided between members 73 and 74, in the preferred emhoA;ment, consisting of hydraulically or pnuematically charged extendable strut 82. The base end 85 of cylinder 84 is rotatably connected to the lower side of member 73. Rod 86 of strut 82 is rotatably connected to a top side of member 74. Strut 82 is biased so that rod 86 is urged in an outward direction to cause member 73 to be biased for movement in the direction of sleeve S0 and member 74 to be biased for movement in the direction of platform side plate 76. This causes platform 46 to bias in an upward direction, in the direction of arrow 66 of Fig.
2. This assists in the lifting of platform 46 in the upward direction of arrow 66 to assist the user in lifting a load 60, together with platform 46 into the upper position 44A of arm 44, in axial alignment with rail 40.

Plates 76 are rigidly connected to platform 46. Platform 46 is oriented with respect to plates 76 such that platform 46 is in a generally horizontal position as arm 44 is moved between its lower position of 44B and its upper position of 44A, as depicted in Fig. 2. Members 73 and 74, pivotally CA 02209~84 l997-07-02 connected to plates 76 and 78 as discussed above, act as retaining means to retain the platform in a generally horizontal position as arm 44 is moved between upper position 44A and lower position 44B.

In order to retain platform 46 in lower position 44B, against the opposite biasing force of strut 82, one of platform side plates 76 includes hole 92 (Figs. 2 and 7) and lower arm includes outward biased pin 90. As platform 46 is moved from the upper position 44A to the lower position 44B, pin 90 moves toward hole 92, until platform 46 reaches the lower position 44B (depicted in Fig.7) when hole 92 and pin 90 are aligned. Outward biasing force on pin 90 caused by spring 93 forces pin 90 into hole 92 thereby securing platform 46 in lower position 44B.
Outward biasing force on pin 90 by spring 93 can be overcome by applying manual inward pressure on pin 90 to release pin 90 from hole 92 thereby enabling the biased force of strut 82 to assist to move platform 46 in the direction of arrow 66 to upper position 44A. Pin 90 secured in hole 92 also prevents further downward movement of platform 46 beyond the lower position 44B, thereby preventing contact of plates 76 against vehicle side 20 to prevent damage to side 20.
Platform 46 includes hollow beam 70 having a cross sectional opening similar to the cross sectional opening of sleeve 50, thereby permitting beam 70 to engage with and move slidably along rail 40 as arm 44 is in upper position 44A and as housing member 41 iS moved to the retracted position, as depicted in Fig. 2A and 3. Beam 70 includes a lower slot 100 (Fig.7) similar to slot 51 of sleeve 50.
This allows beam 70 to slide along beam 40 partially past post 140. As shown in Fig.7, beam 70 includes side walls 94, upper wall 96 and lower flanges 98, parallel to upper wall 96 to retain beam 70 when engaged with rail 40 as CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 member 41 is moved toward the retracted position. The load on platform 46 is directly supported from below when in the retracted position as the weight of the load 60 forces upper wall 96 against the top of rail 40 to rest thereon.
Little, if any, weight of load 60 is transferred to arm 44 or member 41 when member 41 is in or near its retracted position. Side walls 94 prevent lateral movement of beam 70 off of rail 40 and flanges 98 prevent upward movement of beam 70 off rail 40, when beam 70 is engaged with rail 40.
In order to prevent slidable movement of sleeve 50 beyond the extended position depicted in Fig. 2, stop 102 is attached to beam 40 adjacent end 52. Sleeve 50 includes corresponding flange 110 with face 111 oriented to contact stop 102 and prevent further movement of sleeve 50 in the direction of arrow 62 (Fig. 2). Stop 102 includes a pair of spacers 113 of height greater than the thickness of the lower flanges 98 of beam 70 and sleeve 50 to allow flanges 98 to pass stop 102 without contacting stop 102.
Stop 102 includes a pair of bolts 112 which are removable for assembly and disassembly of housing member 41 from rail 40 as desired by the user. When bolts 112 are removed stop 102 may be removed from rail 40 and sleeve 50 may slide off of the end 52 of rail 40 for removal of housing member 41, arm 44 and platform 46 from rail 40 and from vehicle 18.
This permits rail 40 to be used in a conventional unarticulated roof rack if desired.

In order to prevent movement of support sleeve 50 when in the retracted position as depicted in Fig. 2A, in preparation for movement of the vehicle, hollow beam 70 includes opening 69 near end 52 and beam 40 includes opening 75 near its outer end. Openings 69 and 75 are in alignment when member 41 is in its retracted position. As seen in Fig.4, pin 71 is dimensioned to slide through CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 openings 69 and 75 when the openings are aligned. When pin 71, is in openings 69 and 75 it secures platform 46 and housing member 41 to beam 40 and it secures platform 46 and member 41 in the retracted position. Pin retainer 72 is attached to each end of pin 71 to retain pin 71 in engagement with openings 69 and 75. When in this position vehicle 18 may be moved with roof rack 10 and load 60 safely secured to vehicle roof 19. To release platform 46 and member 41 from rail 40 to enable member 41 to move from its retracted position, pin 71 is removed from openings 69 and 75. Retainer 72 must be removed from one end of pin 71 in order to remove pin 71 from openings 69 and 75.

In order to prevent movement of beam 70 and member 41 in the direction of arrow 68 beyond the retracted position, plug 55 is dimensioned in length so that the outer end of plug 55 contacts plate 120 attached to the outer end of beam 70 when platform 46 is in the retracted position depicted in Fig. 2A. This prevents further movement in the direction of arrow 68 beyond the retracted position.

As discussed, when in upper position 44A as shown in Figure 2 hollow beam 70 is aligned with support sleeve 50 and rail 40 along axis 53. As sleeve 50 is slid along rail 40 in the direction of arrow 68 toward the fully retracted position as shown in Figure 2A, beam 70 will engage guide rail 40 and slide along guide rail 40 as housing member 41 slides to the fully retracted position. The engagement of hollow beam 70 with end 52 of rail 40 is facilitated by tapered plug 55 attached to end 52 which is tapered to form a rounded outer point. Tapered plug 55 is in axial alignment along axis 53. As best depicted in Figure 6, plug 55 of rail 40 contacts the lower side of member 74 when member 74 is in lower position 44B to prevent further downward and inward movement of member 74 in the direction of arrow 64 to assist in preventing contact between plates CA 02209~84 l997-07-02 76 and the side of the vehicle 18.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in order to support and secure a load 60 and to permit unimpeded sliding of beam 70 along rail 40 in the manner described above, a pair of support bars 142 are provided, one each for positions 12 and 14. Support bars 142 are connected in parallel horizontal alignment with hollow beam 70 by means of plates 120 and 121 at each end. Load 60 is rigidly attached to bars 142 of portion 12 and 14 by mean of u-shaped bolt 144 and a pair of threaded nuts 146. Load 60 is not directly attached to beam 70 which allows beam 70 to move along rail 40 without being impeded by load 60. Handle 48, attached to end plates 120, connects platforms 46 of front portion 12 and rear portion 14 to provide uniform movement of respective platforms 46 of portions 12 and 14 between upper and lower positions 44A and 44B.

Operation The operation and installation of roof rack 10 will now be discussed with reference to Figs. 1-5 and 7.

Referring initially to Figs. 3 and 5, which depicts the attachment of roof rack 10 onto vehicles having existing vehicle roof rack sections 30. Rail 40 of each of front portion 12 and rear portion 14 are rigidly attached to corresponding bars 38 of the existing vehicle roof rack sections 30. Clamps 42 are used to attach rail 40 by sandwiching bar 38 between U-shaped member 130 and resilient pad 138 by means of threaded nut members 134 on each end of member 130.

Platform 46 and housing member 41 are rotatably attached to first and second longitudinal member 73 and 74 by means of bolts 79 and nuts 80. Strut 82 is pivotally connected to CA 02209~84 l997-07-02 member 73 and 74 as previously discussed.

Stop 102 is not yet assembled at end 52 of rail 40 and sleeve 50 is slid onto rail 40 starting at end 52 and moved along rail 40 to the retracted position, as depicted in Figs. 2A and 3. Pin 71 is inserted through openings 69 and 75 to retain member 41 in its retracted position. Stop 102 is then bolted to the underside of rail 40 with spacers 113 interposed between rail 40 and plate 114 of stop 102. As previously discussed the end of slot 100 contacts stop 102 to prevent movement of housing member 41 in the direction of arrow 68 when pin 71 is removed.

Support bars 142 are attached to hollow beams 70 by means of plate 120. Handle 48, extending from the hollow beam 70 and support bar 142 of portion 12 to the hollow beam 70 and support bar 142 of portion 14, is attached at the outer ends of hollow beam 70 and support bars 142.

Attachment components (not shown) to facilitate attachment of a desired load 60 to platform 46 may be attached to support bar 142. This can include, for example, luggage carrier attached by means of U-shaped bolt 144, or bicycle attachment components, all of which are attached to support bars 142 rather than beam 70. Note that much of the assembly of the components can be undertaken while housing member 41 is in its extended position and platform 46 is in its lower position to facilitate assembly of those components in a position convenient to the user.
Use Once assembled, roof rack 10 will normally be positioned with housing member 41 in its retracted position with pin 71 in openings 69 and 75 to securely retain housing CA 02209~84 l997-07-02 member 41 in its retracted position with hollow member 70 engaged about rail 40.

In order to load roof rack 10 with load 60, pin 71 is removed and manual forces applied on handle 48 in the direction of arrow 62 (Fig. 2). Housing member 41 is moved until it reaches its extended position when face 111 of flange 110 contacts stop 102. Downward and inward manual force is then applied in the direction of arrow 64 and against the biasing force of strut 82. This is continued until platform 46 is in its lower position and outward biased pin 90 self engages into hole 92 to secure platform 46 in its lower position.

Load 60 may then be placed onto platform 46 and secured to support bars 142 of portions 12 and 14. Alternatively, if an existing luggage container has been previously fastened to support bars 142, the container is opened and loaded.
It will be readily apparent that the loading of platform 46 or a luggage container is greatly facilitated by the positioning of platform 46 in its lower position at the side of the vehicle. The weight of load 60 is primarily supported by member 74 resting on plug 55 of rail 40 and sleeve 50 on stop 102. The user may adjust the height of platform 46 above the lower position as member 74 rests on plug 55 by raising platform 46 in the direction of arrow 66 and applying inward force to move member 41 in the direction of arrow 68. The lower side of member 74 will come to rest on plug 55 at a range of different positions dependant on the position of member 41 along rail 40.

Preferably in installing roof rack 10 onto vehicle 18, the roof rack is oriented such that the platform 46 slides to the extended position to the passenger side of the vehicle, rather than the driver side. This facilitates loading and unloading in a safe position away from the traffic side of CA 02209~84 l997-07-02 the vehicle when located at the side of a road. As well the length of rail 40 and plug 55 extending beyond the side 20 of the vehicle and the positioning of hole 92 with respect to pin 90 is such that sufficient clearance exists between the side of the vehicle and plates 76 to allow the opening of sliding door 24 on vehicles 18 so equipped, as depicted in Fig.l.

Once the load is adequately secured to support bars 142, pin 90 is manually depressed against its bias to clear hole 92 and upward pressure is manually applied on platform 46.
With the assistance of strut 82, platform 46 is raised to its raised position in alignment with rail 40 along axis 53. Inward manual pressure is then applied on platform 46 in the direction of arrow 68 and member 41 is thereby slid along beam 40. The inner end of beam 70 contacts plug 55 and is guided onto rail 40 to engage therewith. Further inward pressure causes housing 41 and beam 70 to slide along rail 40 until end plate 120 of beam 70 contacts plug 55. Openings 69 and 75 are then in alignment and pin 71 is pushed through those holes to secure housing member 41 and platform 46 in the retracted position depicted in Figs. 2A and 3. The roof rack 10 is then ready for vehicle movement with the load rigidly and directly supported from below by rail 40, along the entire length of beam 70.

An alternate embodiment is shown in Figure 6 and 8. In that embodiment support bars 141 are located in horizontal alignment with adjacent sleeve portions 70. Support bar 141 may be rigidly attached to plates 76 at one end (best seen in Fig. 6) and can be attached at its opposite end to the outer end of beam 70 by means of plate 120. Load 60 is attached to bar 141, as seen with respect to a baggage CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 container in Fig.6. As best seen in Figure 8, this provides a relatively flat co-planar surface comprising the top of support bar 141 and the top of member 73, to permit loading of large articles on top of roof rack 10 such as plywood boards and the like. The retractable feature may be used to assist in loading or unloading those large items on top of roof rack 10, or the large items may be lifted directly onto roof rack 10 while arm 44 is in the retracted position. Otherwise the operation of this embodiment is the same as that of Figures 1-5 and 7.

Figure 6 also depicts alternate clamping means 150 for attachment of roof rack 10 to the rain gutter (not shown) of vehicles 18 which do not have an existing vehicle roof rack. Clamping means 150 includes a pair of lower vertical post members 152 attached to beam 40, with one pair of post 152 adjacent end 52 and a second pair of posts 152 adjacent end 54. Posts 152 are of a diameter less than the width of slots 51 and 100 to enable housing member 41 and beam 70 to pass posts 152 and move between the extended and retracted positions of member 41. Horizontal cross member 154 extends between posts 152. Adjustable mount 156 is connected for slidable movement along a substantial part of the length of cross member 154. Clamp 158 is attached by means of screw 160 to mount 156. As screw 160 is turned inwardly, clamp 156 is moved inwardly to clamp against the rain gutter of the vehicle. A similar, but opposed, orientation of clamping means 150 adjacent end 54 permits the user to clamp against the opposite rain gutter using clamp 158 and screw 160. In this way roof rack lo may be securely fastened to the rain gutter of vehicles not equipped with an existing roof rack section 30.

Optionally, a key lock can be provided to lock platform 46 in the retracted position depicted in Fig. 2A. Stop 102 can incorporate a lock mechanism (not shown) in which a CA 02209~84 1997-07-02 key pushes a pin upwardly into a hole in beam 70 and rail 40. Those holes are in co-axial alignment when platform 46 is in the retracted position. The lock mech~nism may be unlatched when the key is inserted and turned to move the pin from engagement with the holes in beam 70 and rail 40.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims (27)

1. A roof rack comprising of:

(a) a support beam attachable to a vehicle roof;

(b) a housing member slidable axially along the support beam between a retracted position and an extended position;

(c) an arm pivotally connected at one end to the housing member supported by and slidable along the support beam as the housing member is moved between the retracted position and a pre-determined position adjacent the extended position, wherein the arm is free to pivot between upper and lower positions when the housing member is in its pre-determined position.

(d) a platform pivotally connected to the other end of the arm; and (e) retaining means for retaining the platform in a generally horizontal position as the arm is moved between its upper and lower positions.

2. A roof rack as described in Claim 1 wherein the arm further comprises first and second longitudinal members aligned in a vertical plane with one end of each member pivotally connected to the housing member at a first pivot connecting point and the other end of each longitudinal member pivotally connected to the platform at a second pivot connecting point.

3. The roof rack described in Claim 2 further comprising a biasing means to bias the first and second longitudinal members in the direction of the upper position of the arm.

4. A roof rack as described in Claim 3 wherein the biasing means comprises a piston with a piston arm biased in an outward direction and wherein one end of the piston is pivotally connected to the first longitudinal member and the other end of the piston is pivotally connected to the second longitudinal member.

5. A roof rack as described in Claim 3 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring biased in an outward direction, connected at one end to the first longitudinal member and at the other end to the second longitudinal member.

6. A roof rack as described in Claim 2 wherein the first and second longitudinal members act as the retaining means to retain the platform in a generally horizontal position as the arm is moved between the upper and lower positions.

7. A roof rack as described in Claim 1 wherein the platform comprises a longitudinal hollow beam of cross sectional area slightly larger than the cross sectional area of the support beam to permit slidable movement of the hollow beam axially along the support beam and whereby the hollow beam is supported by the support beam as the housing member is moved axially along the support beam to its retracted position.

8. A roof rack as described in Claim 7 further comprising a platform support beam connected to the hollow beam to permit attachment of the load to the platform support beam, without interfering with the sliding movement of the hollow beam along the support beam.

9. A roof rack as described in Claim 8 wherein the platform support beam is in horizontal alignment with the hollow beam.

10. A roof rack as described in Claim 8 wherein the platform support beam is in vertical alignment above the hollow beam and where an upper surface of the platform support beam is in general coplanar alignment with the upper surface of the first longitudinal member when the housing member is in its retracted position.

11. A roof rack as described in Claim 1 wherein the support beam further comprises a pair of opposed vertical support posts attachable to the vehicle roof at one end of each post and to the support beam at the other end of each post and wherein the housing member further comprises a lower groove dimensioned to permit slidable movement of the housing member past the vertical support posts as the housing member is moved between its retracted and extended positions.

12. A roof rack as described in Claim 11 wherein the groove is on a lower side of the housing member.

13. A roof rack as described in Claim 1 further comprising stop means for preventing movement of the arm beyond a pre-determined lower position.

14. A roof rack as described in Claim 13 wherein the stop means comprises an end portion of the support beam which contacts a lower surface of the second longitudinal member when the arm is in its predetermined lower position.

15. A roof rack as described in Claim 14 wherein the end portion is tapered to facilitate movement of the hollow beam about the support beam when the housing member is moved to its retracted position.

16. A roof rack as described in Claim 7 wherein the housing member comprises a support conduit and the support conduit and hollow beam have an internal opening of cross sectional area slightly larger than the cross sectional area of the support beam and wherein the hollow beam, support conduit and support beam are in co-axial alignment when the arm is in its upper position.

17. A roof rack as described in Claim 16 wherein the tapered end of the support beam is in co-axial alignment with the hollow beam, support conduit and support beam when the arm is in its upper position.

18. A roof rack as described in Claim 1 wherein the platform is supported by the support beam when the housing member is in its retracted position.

19. A roof rack as described in Claim 18 wherein the platform comprises a longitudinal hollow beam of cross sectional area slightly larger than the cross sectional area of the support beam to permit slidable movement of the hollow beam about the support beam and to permit the support beam to support the platform when the housing member is in its retracted position.

20. A roof rack comprising a pair of roof rack members, each member comprising:

(a) a support beam attachable to a vehicle roof;

(b) a housing member slidable axially along the support beam between a retracted position and an extended position;

(c) an arm pivotally connected at one end to the housing member supported by and slidable along the support beam as the housing member is moved between the retracted position and a pre-determined position adjacent the extended position; wherein the arm is free to pivot between upper and lower positions when the housing member is in the pre-determined position of the housing member;

(d) a platform pivotally connected to the other end of the arm; and (e) retaining means for retaining the platform in a generally horizontal position as the arm si moved between the upper and lower positions.

21. A roof rack as described in Claim 20 further comprising a connecting beam connecting the platform of one roof rack member and the platform of the other roof rack member.

22. A roof rack as described in Claim 1 further comprising lateral restraining means to restrict lateral movement of the arm as it is moved between its retracted and pre-determined position.

23. A roof rack as described in Claim 1, wherein the platform comprises lateral restraining means to restrict lateral movement of the platform when the arm is in its retracted position.

24. A roof rack as described in claim 23 wherein the platform further comprises upward restraining means to restrict movement of the platform in an upward direction when the arm is in its retracted position.

25. A roof rack as described in Claim 2 wherein the longitudinal members are of equal length and wherein the distance between the pivoted connecting point of each member to the housing member is equal to the distance between the pivotal connecting point of each member to the platform.

26. A roof rack as describes in Claim 25 wherein the first pivot connecting point of the first longitudinal member is offset in a horizontal direction as compared to the first pivot connecting point of the second longitudinal member and the second pivot connecting point of the first longitudinal member is offset in a horizontal direction as compared to the second pivot connecting point of the second longitudinal member.

27. A roof rack as described in Claim 26 wherein the direction and distance of offset between the first connecting points of the longitudinal members is substantially equal to the direction and distance of offset between the second connecting points of the longitudinal members.