GB2063344A - Luggage-securing clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamp for securing a load to a vehicle roof rack comprises a transverse member 1, having a telescopic leg 4 pivoted to it at one end, and a j-shaped rod 8 having a threaded end part 10 receivable in an aperture 13 in the other end of the transverse member, and each limb having a hooked extremity 6, 9 for engaging with the bars of a roof-rack. The attachment is lockable by means of a plate 12 having a threaded aperture (11) for receiving the end 10 of the rod 8, and a second hole (14) alignable with a further aperture (15) in the transverse member 1 for passing a padlock keep therethrough. The transverse member 1 may be extensible to accommodate loads of various sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Anti-theft attachment This invention relates to roof rack attachments, in particular to devices adapted for attachment to roof racks for retention of bulky, loose or other insecure loads to the rack.

The base requirements for such an attachment is that it should be adjustable for various sizes of load, that it should be simple to use and disassemble and that it should prevent lateral shifting of the load.

The best known type of such attachment comprises the use of one or more flexible and extensible cords, provided with hooking one at each end. Such cords may be provided singly or attached by webbing to form a "spider". The cords are passed over the load, and the hooked ends hooked over side members of a roof rack, or the guttering of a car roof. The form of attachment meets the first and second requirements, but is difficult in the third, as it is normally only possible to fasten cords to the sides of the roof or rack, allowing loads not co-extensive with the rack or roof scope for movement under inertial forces arising in acceleration, deceleration, and cornering for example.

An object of the invention is to provide a roof rack attachment which meets all the requirements set out above.

According to the invention, an attachment for securing a load to a roof rack comprises a transverse member for extending over the top of a load, and a limb member at each end thereof at least one being pivotally attached or attachable to the transverse member, and each adjustable in length.

In a preferred embodiment, the transverse member may be lockable by means of a padlock to one of the legs, and the transverse member may be extensible similarly to the legs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention which is described by way of with reference to the accompanying drawings which is a side view of the attachment in use.

The attachment comprises a transverse member 1, in the form of a strip of strong metal or synthetic plastics material, extended over a load 2 carried on a roof rack 3. At one end of member 1, a leg 4 is hinged, this leg 4 is telescopically constructed with an extensible part 5, having a hook 6 slidable into and out of a tubular upper part 7. A further leg 8 is provided at the other end of the transverse member 1, and this comprises a Jshaped rod, having a hook 9 and a screw threaded end 10.End 10 is slotted through an aperture 11 in the end region of member 1, and the attachment is lockable by means of a plate 12 having a tapped hole 13 into which the end 10 of rod 8 is screwed, and a further smooth bored hole 14 aligned with a smooth bored hole 1 5 in the extremity of member, the keep of a padlock 1 6 being passed through these aligned holes.

When the attachment is placed over the load 2 such as one or more cases on the rack 3, the hook 6 is engaged first with a transverse bar of the rack and the leg 4 adjusted for length. The leg 8 is slotted into the aperture 11 in member 1. The plate 1 2 is then screwed onto the threaded end 10 of rod 8 to hold the load secure, and the padlock is inserted in place. The padlock prevents unscrewing of leg 8 from the transverse member, and the legs cannot be unhooked from the bars of the roof rack while the attachment holds the load tightly. This serves not only to secure loads, but as an anti-theft device.

In a possible variation, the tranverse member may include a flexible part for example of webbing or stretchable fabric.

1. An attachment for securing a load to a roof rack, comprising a transverse member for extending over the top of a load, and a limbmember at each end thereof, at least one of said limb members being pivotally attached or attachable to the transverse member, and each said limb member being adjustable in length.

2. An attachment according to Claim 1 wherein said transverse member is adjustable in length.

3. An attachment according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the transverse member is lockable by means of a padlock to one of the legs.

4. An attachment according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transverse member is a metal strip.

5. An attachment according to Claim 4 wherein one limb comprises a telescopic leg hinged to the transverse member, and the other comprises a Jshaped rod, having a hook at one end, and a screw threaded portion at the other which enters an aperture in the transverse member.

6. An attachment according to Claim 5, wherein the threaded end of the J-shaped rod can be screwed into a tapped hole in a locking plate, the locking plate further having a smooth bored hole alignable with a similar hole in the respective end of the transverse member to enable the keep of a padlock to be passed therethrough for locking the attachment.

7. An attachment for securing a load to a roof rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Anti-theft attachment This invention relates to roof rack attachments, in particular to devices adapted for attachment to roof racks for retention of bulky, loose or other insecure loads to the rack. The base requirements for such an attachment is that it should be adjustable for various sizes of load, that it should be simple to use and disassemble and that it should prevent lateral shifting of the load. The best known type of such attachment comprises the use of one or more flexible and extensible cords, provided with hooking one at each end. Such cords may be provided singly or attached by webbing to form a "spider". The cords are passed over the load, and the hooked ends hooked over side members of a roof rack, or the guttering of a car roof. The form of attachment meets the first and second requirements, but is difficult in the third, as it is normally only possible to fasten cords to the sides of the roof or rack, allowing loads not co-extensive with the rack or roof scope for movement under inertial forces arising in acceleration, deceleration, and cornering for example. An object of the invention is to provide a roof rack attachment which meets all the requirements set out above. According to the invention, an attachment for securing a load to a roof rack comprises a transverse member for extending over the top of a load, and a limb member at each end thereof at least one being pivotally attached or attachable to the transverse member, and each adjustable in length. In a preferred embodiment, the transverse member may be lockable by means of a padlock to one of the legs, and the transverse member may be extensible similarly to the legs. In a preferred embodiment of the invention which is described by way of with reference to the accompanying drawings which is a side view of the attachment in use. The attachment comprises a transverse member 1, in the form of a strip of strong metal or synthetic plastics material, extended over a load 2 carried on a roof rack 3. At one end of member 1, a leg 4 is hinged, this leg 4 is telescopically constructed with an extensible part 5, having a hook 6 slidable into and out of a tubular upper part 7. A further leg 8 is provided at the other end of the transverse member 1, and this comprises a Jshaped rod, having a hook 9 and a screw threaded end 10.End 10 is slotted through an aperture 11 in the end region of member 1, and the attachment is lockable by means of a plate 12 having a tapped hole 13 into which the end 10 of rod 8 is screwed, and a further smooth bored hole 14 aligned with a smooth bored hole 1 5 in the extremity of member, the keep of a padlock 1 6 being passed through these aligned holes. When the attachment is placed over the load 2 such as one or more cases on the rack 3, the hook 6 is engaged first with a transverse bar of the rack and the leg 4 adjusted for length. The leg 8 is slotted into the aperture 11 in member 1. The plate 1 2 is then screwed onto the threaded end 10 of rod 8 to hold the load secure, and the padlock is inserted in place. The padlock prevents unscrewing of leg 8 from the transverse member, and the legs cannot be unhooked from the bars of the roof rack while the attachment holds the load tightly. This serves not only to secure loads, but as an anti-theft device. In a possible variation, the tranverse member may include a flexible part for example of webbing or stretchable fabric. CLAIMS

1. An attachment for securing a load to a roof rack, comprising a transverse member for extending over the top of a load, and a limbmember at each end thereof, at least one of said limb members being pivotally attached or attachable to the transverse member, and each said limb member being adjustable in length.

2. An attachment according to Claim 1 wherein said transverse member is adjustable in length.

3. An attachment according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the transverse member is lockable by means of a padlock to one of the legs.

4. An attachment according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the transverse member is a metal strip.

5. An attachment according to Claim 4 wherein one limb comprises a telescopic leg hinged to the transverse member, and the other comprises a Jshaped rod, having a hook at one end, and a screw threaded portion at the other which enters an aperture in the transverse member.

6. An attachment according to Claim 5, wherein the threaded end of the J-shaped rod can be screwed into a tapped hole in a locking plate, the locking plate further having a smooth bored hole alignable with a similar hole in the respective end of the transverse member to enable the keep of a padlock to be passed therethrough for locking the attachment.

7. An attachment for securing a load to a roof rack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.