GB2118117A - Car roof attachment - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting device for fitting an elongate article to a car roof has a non-elastic strap (20) which passes through a longitudinally extending hole (18) in a flexible pad (10) and has a respective buckle (22) attached to each of its ends extending from the pad hole (18). The two buckles (22) are connected respectively to two hooked members (28, 30) by two elastic straps (24, 26) which are dimensioned such as to be in tension when the pad is initially positioned on the car roof with the hooked members (28, 30) engaged under the gutters on opposite sides of the roof. Two non- elastic straps (32, 36) are attached respectively to the two hooked members (28, 30) and are interconnectible by a locking member (38) which enables the straps (32, 36) to be tensioned both to take over the pad retaining action of the elastic members (24, 26) and to hold the article to the pad. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Car roof attachment The present invention is concerned with a device for use in mounting elongate articles, such as surf boards and windsurfers on the roofs of cars.

It is often required to carry an elongate article, such as a surfboard or windsurfer, on the roof of a motor car and for this purpose several purposebuilt devices have been previously proposed. These known devices perform their task reasonably successfully but are relatively complex and awkward to use. One problem with the known devices, for example, is that they are difficult for one person to fit to the car roof without assistance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for mounting elongate objects on the roofs of cars which is simpler and easier to use than the devices known hitherto for this purpose.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a mounting device for fitting an elongate article to a car roof which comprises a pad coupled to a pair of hooked members via one or more elastic members so that the pad can be initially positioned on the car roof with the elastic member or members in tension, and a pair of nonelastic straps attached respectively to the two hooked members and interconnectible by a locking member which enables the straps to be tensioned both to take over the pad retaining action of the elastic member or members and to hold said article to the pad.

Preferably, a further non-elastic strap passes through a longitudinally extending hole in the pad and has a respective buckle attached to each of its ends extending from the pad hole, the two hooked buckles being connected respectively to the two hooked members by two of said elastic members which are dimensioned such as to be in tension when the pad is initially positioned on the car roof with the hooked members engaged under the gutters on opposite sides of the roof.

Advantageously, each of the non-elastic straps is passed through that one of the two buckles which is located closest to its associated hooked member so as to ensure that the latter straps lie close to the vehicle roof in extending between their associated hooked members and the pad.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a windsurfer board mounted on a car roof by means of two mounting devices in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic, partially cut-away view illustrating one embodiment of mounting device in accordance with the invention.

With reference principally to Fig. 2, the mounting device comprises an elongate pad 10 of a flexible foamed plastics material, such as polyethylene foam, having basically flat sides, except for the upper surface 1 2 which has a shallow recessed portion 14 for receiving part of a windsurfer board or surfboard when the latter is to be mounted on a vehicle roof 1 6. Extending through the pad 10 along approximately its central longitudinal axis is a hole 1 8 of rectangular crosssection which loosely receives a flat strap 20 made of a tough, wear resistant material such as nylon. The strap 20 is dimensioned so that it projects sufficiently from the hole 1 8 to be attached at its two ends to respective two-eyed buckles 22, only one of which is visible in the drawings.Thus, the two buckles 22 are firmly interconnected by the nylon strap 20 and cannot be separated by more than the length of the latter strap.

At each end of the strap 1 8, immediately adjacent the connections to the buckles 22, there is connected one end of a respective elongate flexible member 24, 26 made of an elastic material capable of stretching longitudinally. The other ends of the elastic members 24, 26 are connected to respective hook-shaped members 28, 30. The hook-shaped member 28 is also connected to one end of a nylon strap 32 which extends through the other eye 34 of the buckle 22. The hook-shaped member 30 is also connected to one end of a further nylon strap 36 which extends through the other eye of the other buckle 22 (not shown). The free end of the strap 36 is connected to a strap locking device 38 through which the free end 40 of the strap 32 can be passed when the mounting device is used as described below.

Preferably, the buckles 22, hooked members 28, 30 and locking device 38 are made of metal, such as an aluminium alloy, and all connections are effected by stitching using nylon thread. The hooked members can be plastics coated to avoid scratching the surface of a car to which the device is fitted.

The device illustrated in Fig. 2 is used as follows, in conjunction with at least one other such device, for the purpose of mounting an elongate article (in this case a windsurfer board 42) on to the car roof 1 6.

The device is first itself fitted to one end of the car roof 1 6. This is achieved by the fitter gripping the pad 10, with the fitter standing to one side of the car (e.g. standing at the offside), leaning over the roof of the car and allowing one of the hooked members (say the member 30) to dangle downwardly and engage under the gutter 44 on the other side (nearside) of the car root The pad is then moved back over the roof towards the fitter until it is in an approximately central position on the roof (see Fig. 1) and the other hooked shaped member 28 is then engaged under the offside gutter 46.It will be appreciated that at this stage the straps 32 and 36 are free of tension so that the hooked members 28, 30 are effectively coupled to the strap 20 and pad 10 only by the elastic members 24, 26. The lengths of these elastic members 24, 26 are chosen such that, for all vehicles with which the device is likely to be used, when the hooked members 28, 30 are engaged under the gutters 44, 46, the elastic members are in a tensioned state. This enables the first applied hooked member 30 to be easily kept in engagement with the gutter 44 by the tension in the associated elastic member 26, while the pad is being manoeuvred into position and the second hooked member brought into engagement with the gutter 46 principally by stretching the elastic member 24.

At this stage, the straps 32, 34, extend through the respective buckles 22 but the strap 32 is not extending through the locking device 38.

A second identical device is then fitted to the other end of the car roof in an identical fashion.

One or more further such devices could be fitted to the roof but in fact two is the preferred number in practice.

The windsurfer board 42 is then placed lengthwise (and preferably inverted) on the two pads 10 and the straps 32 are passed through the locking devices 38 and pulled tight. The locking devices 38 are conveniently of the type which permit the straps to be freely pulled through in one direction (the tightening direction) but which grip the strap to prevent withdrawal in the opposite direction unless a release lever 48 is manually operated. Thus, simply by pulling the ends 40 of the straps 32 of the two devices, the board 42 is rigidly held in position on the pads. It will be appreciated that in tightening the strap 32, both straps 32 and 36 are placed in tension whereby the elastic members 24, 26 are relieved of tension and the whole of the retaining action is assumed by the tensioned straps 32, 36. Thus, the straps 32, 36 then provide the dual function of holding the pads in position on the car and holding the board in position on the pads.

The board is released from the pads by simply operating the release levers 48 on the locking devices 38 so that the straps 32 can be withdrawn. Upon release of the tension in the straps 32, 36, the elastic members resume their action of holding the pads in position. To release the pads, one of the hooked members is disengaged from its associated gutter and the loose devices can then be lifted away from the roof.

Claims (9)

1. A mounting device for fitting an elongate article to a car roof which comprises a pad coupled to a pair of hooked members via one or more elastic members so that the pad can be initially positioned on the car roof with the elastic member or members in tension, and a pair of nonelastic straps attached respectively to the two hooked members and interconnectible by a locking member which enables the straps to be tensioned both to take over with increased security the pad retaining action of the elastic member or members and to hold said article to the pad.

2. A mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a further non-elastic strap passes through a longitudinally extending passage in the pad and has a respective buckle attached to each of its ends extending from the pad passage, the two buckles being connected respectively to the two hooked members by way of two of said elastic members which are dimensioned such as to be in tension when the pud is intially positioned on the car roof with the hooked members engaged under the gutters on opposite sides of the roof.

3. A mounting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the non-elastic straps is passed through that one of the two buckles which is located closest to its associated hooked member so as to ensure that the latter straps lie close to the vehicle roof in extending between their associated hooked members and the pad.

4. A mounting device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the ends of said further non-elastic strap are stitched to said buckles, and wherein said elastic members comprise respective straps of elastic material which are stitched to said further non-elastic strap adjacent its ends so as to effect said connections between the two buckles and the two hooked members.

5. A mounting device as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the pad comprises an elongate block of flexible foamed plastics material.

6. A mounting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pad is formed from polyethylene foam.

7. A mounting device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said non-elastic straps are made of nylon webbing.

8. A mounting device for fitting an elongate article to a car roof, comprising an elongate flexible pad for positioning on the car roof to support the elongate article, a non-elastic strap which passes through a longitudinally extending passage in the pad and has a respective buckle attached to each of its ends extending from the pad passage, the two buckles being connected respectively to two hooked members by two elastic straps which are dimensioned such as to be in tension when the pad is initially positioned on the car roof with the hooked members engaged under the gutters on opposite sides of the roof, and two further non-elastic straps which are attached respectively to the two hooked members and which are interconnectible by a locking device which enables the straps to be tensioned over both to take over the pad retaining action and to hoid the article to the pad.

9. A mounting device for fitting an elongate article to a car roof, constructed and adapted to be operated substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.