GB2122154A

GB2122154A - A locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2122154A
Application number: GB08304263A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Herr Ing Hans Riehle
Original assignee: ORIS METALLBAU KG RIEHLE H
Current assignee: ORIS METALLBAU KG RIEHLE H
Priority date: 1982-06-22
Filing date: 1983-02-16
Publication date: 1984-01-11
Also published as: GB2122154B; DK60583A; FR2528899B1; DE3223216A1; SE8300951D0; DK156247B; NL182065C; DK60583D0; DK156247C; SE455182B; NL182065B; DE3223216C2; CH657098A5; SE8300951L; FR2528899A1; IT1164585B; BE895824A; GB8304263D0; NL8300128A; IT8347747A0

Abstract

A locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles has a cylinder lock 10 and arranged on a square hollow sectioned cross member 1, in such a manner that, when in the locking position, the device covers the fastening 3 of the support 2 on the vehicle roof so that it is inaccessible and also secures a fitting 8, which is arranged on the cross member 1, to prevent their removal or opening. A first opening position of the lock case is ensured by a catch formed by a spring element 11, which is fixed to the lock case 9 and lies inside the hollow section, in combination with a rivet 6. When the lock case 9 is in a second opening position, the fastening 3 of the support is accessible. The lock case 9, together with the spring element 11 and a guide element 12, consists of one piece of plastics material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles The invention relates to a locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles, the said device being adapted to be mounted at the end of a cross member having a hollow section which is attached by support means to the vehicle roof, for example to the gutter or to a roof rail, the device consisting of a lock case, which engages in the hollow section, and a cylinder lock The invention seeks to provide a locking device of this type, independently of the respective -design of the support means fastened to the cross member, in such a manner that it can assume several locking functions.

According to the invention there is provided a locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles, the said device being adapted to be arranged at the end of a cross member having a generally square hollow crosssection and which is attached by support means to the vehicle roof, the device consisting of a lock case, which engages in the hollow section, and a cylinder lock, the lock case being such that, when in the locking position, it both covers the fastening securing the support means to the vehicle roof so that it is inaccessible and also secures fittings which are arranged on the cross member to prevent their removal therefrom.

The invention can avoid the necessity for special measures for locking the fittings or for locking the fastening of the support on the vehicle roof. A cross member having the locking device can be manufactured in large quantities so that, when adapting to specific vehicle roof designs, different supports and any desired fittings can be attached simply to the cross member without the locking measures being affected.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the lock case, with the cylinder lock, has, in addition to the locking position, a first opening position, which is ensured by a catch, and a second opening position which is ensured by an end stop and in which the means of fastening the support to the vehicle roof, for example a clamping or locking screw, is accessible. The locking device has accordingly three positions which can be controlled or operated in a logical sequence. In the first position, the locking position, both the fittings and the fastening of the support on the vehicle roof are locked. In the second position which is secured by the catch, namely the first opening position, the fastening for the support on the vehicle roof remains concealed but the fittings on the cross member can be opened or removed.In the third position, that is the second opening position, access to the fastening point for the support on the vehicle also becomes possible.

The lock case can be provided advantageously with a flat spring element which projects from one side of the lock case and, standing on end, engages in the hollow section of the cross member and which, in order to form the catch for the first opening position of the lock case, is provided with a spring recess which co-operates with a rivet arranged in the cross member and, in order to ensure the second opening position, is provided with a guide element acting as an end stop which occupies the hollow section and which cooperates with the rivet.

The lock case, together with the spring element and guide element, may consist advantageously qf one piece of plastics material so that, particularlyif the cross member is made of light metal, considerable weight saving is achieved.

In the case of a cross member having a Tshaped slot for the positive fixing of fittings above the square hollow section, the lock case can be advantageously provided with an extension which covers the open end of the T-shaped recess. In a further embodiment of the invention, this extension may be provided with a pin which engages in the T-shaped slot and, for positive locking, is provided with a pin which engages in a corresponding recess on the fitting.

In order to assist manual manipulation of the locking device, recessed grips can be provided opposite one another on the lock case.

An indentation may be provided on the underside of the cross member for the interlocking bolt of the cylinder lock.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a cross member, with support means and the fitting and with the locking device in the locking position, Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the cross member, along the line Il-Il in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a longitudir,al section through the cross member along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section corresponding to Figure 3 with the locking device in the first opening position, Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section corresponding to Figure 3 with the locking device in the second opening position, and Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section corresponding to Figure 1 with a pin on the lock case which engages in the fitting.

According to Figure 1 a cross member 1 , which is supported on both sides on the gutter of the vehicle roof by a supporting foot 2 and is firmly secured to the roof by a clamping screw 3, is provided for holding and securing fittings (e.g.

reference 8) for example ski holders, etc., on the roof of a motor vehicle. The cross member 1 is made of light metal, As is also shown in Figure 2, it has a generally square hollow section 4, and above this, a T-shaped slot 5. The foot 2 is fastened to the underside of the cross member 1 by means of rivets 6, 7. A fitting 8 having a corresponding T-shape cross-section is inserted into the T-shaped slot 5.

To prevent unauthorised removal of the clamping screw 3 on the foot 2 there is provided a locking device consisting of a lock case 9 made of plastics material and of a cylinder lock 10 attached thereto. As is also shown in more detail in Figure 3, the lock case 9 has a part with a flat spring element 11 which engages in the hollow section 4 of the cross member 1. and which projects on one side from the lock case 9, and, at its free end, has a guide element 12 which occupies the hollow section 4,'Approximately halfway along its length, the spring element 11 is provided with a spring recess 13 which is in the vicinity of one of the rivets 6 projecting into the hollow section.

With the lock case 9 in. the position as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3, when the interlocking bolt 14 of the cylinder lock 10 engages behind an indentation 1 5 which extends from the underside of the cross member 1 , the fastening of the support 2 on the vehicle roof is secured because the lock case 9, extends over and covers the clamping screw 3 which is concealed in a recess 1 6. The fitting 8 is locked in the slot 5 because an extension 1 7 at the top of the lock case 9 moves into a position in front of the fitting 8 to close the end of the slot 5.

If it is necessary to open, remove or replace the fitting 8, the cylinder lock 10 is unlocked and the lock case 9 is drawn out manually of the hollow section 9 of the cross member 1, recessed grips 1 8 being provided to assist gripping the lock to such an extent that the spring recess 13 of the spring element 11 snap engages on the rivet 6. If it is necessary to remove the cross member 1 from the vehicle roof, the lock case 9 is drawn even further out of the hollow section 4 until the guide element 12 comes into contact with the rivet 6. In this position, as seen in Figure 5, the lock case is forced sideways by the spring element 11 so that the clamping screw becomes accessible for the application of a tool.

The fastening of a cross member with a supporting foot or sustainer, the insertion of a fitting and the locking of the fastening of the sustainer on the vehicle roof and of the fitting in the slot 5 take place in reverse order. The embodiment according to Figure 6 shows a cross member 1 which a support foot 2 is fastened for attachment to a roof rail 19. In this case also, the clamping screw 3 is covered by the lock case 9.

For additional securing of the fitting 8, the lock case 9 is provided with a pin 20 which engages in a corresponding recess 21 on the fitting.

Otherwise, the function of the locking device according to Fig. 6 corresponds to that of the locking device in Figure 1.

Claims

1. A locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles, the said device being adapted to be mounted at the end of a cross member having a generally square hollow crosssection and which is attached by supporting means to the vehicle roof, the device consisting of a lock case, which engages in the hollow section, and a cylinder lock, the lock case being such that, when in the locking position, it both covers the fastening securing the support means to the vehicle roof to that it is inaccessible and also secures fittings, which are arranged on the cross member to prevent their removal therefrom.

2. A locking device according to Claim 1 wherein the lock case with the cylinder lock, has, in addition to the locking position, a first opening position, which is ensured by a catch, and a second opening position which is ensured by an end stop and in which the said fastening securing the support means to the vehicle roof is accessible.

3. A locking device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the lock case is provided with a flat spring element which projects from one side of the lock case and engages in the hollow section of the cross member and which, in order to form said catch for the first opening position of the lock case, is provided with a spring recess which cooperates with a projection in the cross member and, in order to provide the second opening position, is provided with a guide element acting as an end stop which occupies the hollow section and which co-operates with said projection.

4. A locking device according to Claim 3 wherein the lock case, together with the spring element and guide element consist of one piece of plastics material.

5. A locking device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, adapted for use with a cross member which has, above the square hollow section, a T-shaped slot for the positive fixing of fittings, the lock case being provided with an extension which covers an open end of the Tshaped recess to prevent said fittings sliding out of said slot.

6. A locking device according to Claim 5, wherein the extension of the lock case is provided with a pin which engages in the T-shape slot and, for positive locking, is provided with a pin which engages in a corresponding recess on the fitting.

7. A locking device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wheein recessed grips are arranged opposite one another on the lock case to facilitate manual manipulation of said locking device.

8. A locking device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein an indentation on the underside of the cross-member is adapted to receive an interlocking bolt of the cylinder lock.

9. A locking device for locking roof racks and roof mountings on motor vehicles, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 1 to 5 as modified by Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.