GB2117723A

GB2117723A - Load-carrying support for fitting on a car roof

Info

Publication number: GB2117723A
Application number: GB08309169A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Marshall Adam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-05
Filing date: 1983-04-05
Publication date: 1983-10-19
Also published as: GB8309169D0

Abstract

A load-carrying support for the roof of a car comprises a bolster (7) which is held down on the roof by means of a strap (8) having at each end an anchorage (12) for gripping the roof gutter rim (11). The strap (8) incorporates a quick release buckle (16) with means for releasing the strap quickly and for tensioning the strap. Two of the supports may be used in conjunction with rods (26) to provide a roof rack. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load-carrying support for fitting on a car roof Conventionally, loads are carried on the roofs of saloon motor cars by means of a roof rack consisting of a rectangular frame, which may have feet resting on the roof, and which is secured in position by anchorages, one at each corner. Each anchorage hooks over or otherwise grips the roof gutter rim and is drawn tightly up to secure the rack by means of a screw threaded adjustment. Such a rack is cumbersome, extravagant in storage space when not in use, and time-consuming to fit to, and remove from, a car roof, owing to the need to apply a manipulative tool to the screw threaded parts of the anchorages.

In accordance with the present invention, a load-carrying support for fitting on a car roof comprises a bolster which is arranged to rest on, and to extend transversely across the top of, a car roof; at each end of the bolster, a strap of adjustable length extending from the bolster to an anchorage which is arranged to be held by fixed means adjacent to the edge of the roof, e.g., a gutter rim of the roof, when the strap is under tension; and quick release means for slackening the strap tension and anchorages.

The advantage of the new support is that it occupies the minimum of space for storage but can be quickly fitted to or removed from a car roof with a width within a wide range of values.

A downward component of tension in a separate strap at each end of the bolster may be sufficient to hold the bolster down against slipping on the car roof, but preferably the end straps are parts of a common strap which extends from one anchorage along the top of the bolster to the other anchorage. In the latter case, the strap may run in a longitudinal channel in the top of the bolster, to avoid chafing of th-e strap by a load carried on the bolster, and to prevent the bolster from slipping transversely from under the strap. Irrespective of whether there are two straps or a common strap, only one quick release means will actually be necessary as both ends will be loosened by slackening of the tension in the strap at either end. However a separate quick release means at each end may simplify fitting to car roofs of different width.

The strap or straps may be adjusted in length by means interconnecting an end of a strap to an anchorage, or by means, such as a buckle, fitted part way along the strap, to accomodate the particular width of the roof.

The quick release means may then be, for example, a toggle or other over-centre buckle fitted in the strap or to one of the anchorages.

Preferably, however, the quick release means and the adjustability of the strap length are provided by a buckle, of the kind which is known in the field of vehicle and aircraft seat belts, in which an end of the strap can be drawn through part of the buckle and then held by friction with the strap under tension, upon operation, for example, of a cam or pin and slot mechanism. The holding friction may be released by lifting a release lever. Alternatively, the part of the buckle may have a spring-loaded snap connection with a second buckle part, the connection being releaseable upon operation of an actuating member, such as a lever which is lifted or pressed into the buckle.

Each anchorage may be arranged to grip a gutter rim by being hooked over the rim and subjected to tension by the strap. However, the grip is rendered more positive if the anchorage is provided by a pair of jaws which are pivotally, slidably, or otherwise relatively movable, and the respective strap is connected to one jaw and, when under tension, bears against the other jaw to urge the jaws towards one another, in use to grip the gutter rim.

The body of the bolster, or at least its under surface which will rest on the car roof, will usually be made of a sympathetic material which does not damage the cellulose or metallic finish of the car roof. Preferably, the bolster is made of a material having a slight degree of resilience and flexibility, such as a plastics material, or rubber. When tightened down by the strap or straps, the bolster will then flex slightly to accommodate the particular convex shape of the car roof to which it is being fitted. The bolster may be a moulding, if necessary with incorporated reinforcement.

In order to economize on the cost of material for the bolster, it may be of generally hollow construction, having top side and end walls and an open bottom, the interior of the bolster being reinforced by transverse webs The bolster will preferably provide at least one transverse passageway through which, in use, a cord may be passed to secure a load on a bolster. The passageway may be defined entirely by the bolster, or partly by a channel in the underside of the bolster and partly by the car roof on which the bolster, in use, rests. In the hollow construction with transverse webs, the passageway preferably extends through a transverse web.

The new support is particularly useful for carrying on thr roof of a car elongate loads, such as ladders and planks, which will rest directly on the bolster, and the leading and trailing ends of which may be tied down to the front and rear bumpers of the car. If necessary, two or more of these supports may be provided spaced along the roof to provide additional stability and to spread the load.

It is also possible for the supports to pro vide the base of a roof rack to support loads, such as suitcases. In that case, the bolsters may form integral bases for a permanently assembled roof rack. However, it is more convenient it two or more of these supports provide the base for a knock down roof rack which can be readily stored and assembled when required. Such a knock down roof rack would comprise at least a pair of these supports together with frame members arranged to extend along the top of the roof and to be supported by the bolsters of the two supports.

Most simply, the frame members are rods and the bolsters are each provided on one side with blind holes to receive the ends of the rods.

An example of a roof rack incorporating two supports constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the rack fitted to a car roof; Figure 2 is an underneath plan of one bolster; Figure 3 is a plan of one bolster; Figure 4 is an elevation of one bolster partly in central vertical section; Figure 5 is a section taken on the line V-V in Fig. 4; and, Figure 6 is a section taken on the line VI-VI in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1 the roof rack includes two supports each comprising a moulded bolster 7 and a nylon webbing strap 8 which runs in a channel 9 in the top of the bolster to hold the bolster down on a roof 10 of the car.

At each end the strap 8 is fixed to a respective side gutter rim 11 of the car roof by means of an anchorage 1 2. Each anchorage consists of an upper hooked plate 1 3 which hooks over the gutter rim 11 and a flat lower plate 14, which bears against the inner side of the gutter rim 11. Both plates are made of steel with a non-scuff plastic coating.

The respective end of the strap extends onto and down through a slot 1 5 in the plate 13, and back to a riveted connection with the plate 14. As a result, when tension is applied in the strap, the plate 14 is forced outwardly relatively to the plate 13, whereby the gutter rim 11 is gripped between the jaws formed by the edge of the plate 1 4 and the hooked portion of the plate 1 3.

The strap 8 is divided into two parts which are interconnected by a buckle assembly 1 6.

This comprises a part 1 7 through which the shorter length of strap is threaded back on itself, so that when the buckle is closed and the free end of the shorter strap length is pulled, the strap is tensioned. The part 1 7 has a projecting tongue which extends into and is releaseably locked in a part 1 8 secured to the end of the longer length of strap, by means for example of the end of the longer length of strap being passed through a slot in the buckle part 1 8 and riveted back on itself. The part 18 has at each side a release lever 19.

The arrangement is such that when the tongue of the part 1 7 is pushed into the part 18, locking detents on the tongue ride over spring loaded pawls in the part 1 8 to provide a snap connection holding the parts coupled until the levers 1 9 are depressed, thereby withdrawing the pawls from the locking detents and providing a quick release. In practice, with the strap slightly slack, the bolster and strap will be fitted to the roof to a car, with the anchorages 1 2 loosely engaging the gutter rims 11 and the parts 17 and 18 coupled. The free end of the shorter length of strap will then be pulled to tension the strap.Thereafter the support can be fitted to and moved from the car roof merely by coupling and uncoupling the parts 1 7 and 18, with an occasional need to increase the tension in the strap if, for example, the strap has stretched.

The bolster 7 is generally hollow, having, in addition to its channel top wall, side walls 20, end walls 21, and a number of interior transverse webs 22. Three channels 23 are provided in the bottom surface of three of the webs 22, and extend from side to side of the bolster to provide, as shown in Fig. 1, in combination with the car roof 10, passageways through which load-securing cords may be passed.

At each end of the bolster, upstanding projections 24 are provided on each side of the channel 9. These will assist in preventing any load resting on the bolster from sliding off an end of the bolster.

In addition, each bolster is provided with four blind holes 25, each extending into one of the webs 22 and arranged to receive the ends of rods 26 when, as shown in Fig. 1, two of the supports are used with four of the rods to provide a knock down roof rack.

Vertical blind holes 27 extend down through the top of the bolster intersecting the holes 25, for the insertion of locking pins which may be passed through complementary holes adjacent to the holes of the rods 26, positively to lock the rods in the bolster.

If the car roof does not have any gutter rims, the anchorages may be provided by a bracket with studs which fit into purpose drilled holes in the top of the car door frame.

Claims

1. A load-carrying support for fitting on a car roof comprises a bolster which is arranged to rest on, and to extend transversely across the top of, a car roof; at each end of the bolster, a strap of adjustable length extending from the bolster to an anchorage which is arranged to be held by fixed means adjacent to the edge of the roof when the strap is under tension; and quick release means for slackening the strap tension and anchorages.

2. A support according to claim 1, in which the end straps are parts of a common strap which extends from one anchorage along the top of the bolster to the other anchorage.

3. A support according to claim 2, in which the strap runs in longitudinal channel in the top of the bolster.

4. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the quick release means and the adjustability of the strap length are provided by a buckle of the kind in which an end of the strap can be drawn through one part of the buckle and then held by friction with the strap under tension, the one part of the buckle having a spring-loaded snap connection with a second buckle part, the connection being releaseable upon operation of an actuating member.

5. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the quick release means and the adjustability of the strap length are provided by a buckle of the kind in which an end of the strap can be drawn through one part of the buckle and then held by friction with the strap under tension, the buckle part having a release lever, lifting of which releases the holding friction.

6. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anchorage is provided by a pair of jaws which are relatively movable, the respective strap being connected to one jaw and, when under tension, bearing aganist the other jaw to urge the jaws towards one another, in use, to grip a gutter rim of the roof.

7. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bolster is made of a material having a slight degree of resilience and flexibility.

8. A support according to claim 7, in which the bolster is a moulding of a rubber or plastics material and of generally hollow construction having top side and end walls and an open bottom, the interior of the bolster being reinforced by transverse webs.

9. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the bolster provides at least one transverse passageway which, in use, a cord may be passed to secure a load on the bolster.

10. A support according to claim 9, when dependent on claim 7, wherein the passageway extends through one of the transverse webs.

11. A support according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A knockdown roof rack comprising a pair of supports according to any one of the preceding claims, together with frame members arranged to extend along the top of the roof and to be supported by the bolsters of the two supports.

13. A rack according to claim 11, in which the frame members are rods and the bolsters are each provided on one side with blind holes to receive the ends of the rods.