GB2511502A

GB2511502A - Carrier assembly for a motorized vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2511502A
Application number: GB201303808A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gian Luca Baccelli; Roberto Forneris
Original assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Current assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Priority date: 2013-03-04
Filing date: 2013-03-04
Publication date: 2014-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-04
Also published as: GB201303808D0; GB2511502B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carrier assembly attachable to a roof structure 4 of a motorized vehicle 1. The carrier assembly comprises: at least a base member 12, 14 attachable to the roof, a first pivoting member 20, 22 pivotally collapsible to the base member into an initial position (figure 1) and being pivotable relative to the base member into a carrier position (figure 4), in which the first pivoting member is attachable to a tailgate 3 of the vehicle. The first pivoting member may be connected to the base member by means of a second pivoting member 16, 18, so that when in use the first pivoting member is substantially vertically parallel with the tailgate and the second pivoting member extends horizontally. The pivoting members may be connected by cross-members 32, 34, and a support frame (36, figure 4) may be pivotally attached to the first pivoting member. The support frame may have channels (40, 41) for carrying a bicycle(s). The carrier may be left in the in use position when the tailgate is opened (figure 6).

Description

s Carrier assembly for a motorized vehicle

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a carrier assembly, in particular to a bicycle carrier, attachable to a roof structure of a motorized vehicle.

Background

There exist various solutions on how to implement a carrier assembly to carry bulky or large items, e.g. on the roof or at the back of a motorized vehicle.

Document DE 10 2004 008 451 Al discloses for instance an item carrier featuring a pair of beams permanently attached to the roof of a vehicle. The carrier assembly extends across a pivotable tailgate. In such configurations, access to the tailgate is blocked by the carrier assembly. For opening the tailgate the carrier assembly has to be completely removed from the tailgate. This may require to completely unload the carrier structure thereby setting a respective burden to the user of the vehicle.

Moreover, the carrier structure as described in DE 10 2004 008 451 Al is slideably supported on the roof of the vehicle. Such a sliding mechanism is generally rather susceptible to jamming or jerking. When permanently attached to the vehicle roof and regarding a long-term use, it may become rather difficult that the carrier assembly provides a smooth running of its sliding components.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved carrier assembly for a vehicle even when configured in a carrier position or carrier configuration. The carrier assembly should provide access to a tailgate of the vehicle without the need of unloading the carrier assembly.

Moreover, the carrier assembly should be rather robust and stable. It should be easily and intuitively configurable between an initial position and an extended carrier position. A respective reconfiguration of the displaceable components of the carrier assembly should be rather robust even after long-term operation of the carrier assembly.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, a carrier assembly attachable to a roof structure of a motorized vehicle is provided. The carrier assembly comprises at least a base member attachable to the vehicle's roof structure. The carrier assembly comprises at least a first pivoting member pivotally collapsible to the base member to transfer the carrier assembly into an initial position.

The first pivoting member is further pivotable relative to the base member into a carrier position, in which the first pivoting member allows to fasten items to be carried thereto or thereon. Moreover, in the carrier position the first pivoting member is attachable or is actually attached to a tailgate of the vehicle.

By having at least a base member attachable to the vehicle's roof structure and a first pivoting member releasably attachable to the tailgate of the vehicle, the tailgate of the vehicle may be opened and closed by means of a pivoting motion without a need of detaching the first pivoting member from the tailgate.

It is therefore no longer required to unload the carrier assembly prior to open the tailgate.

Since the first pivoting member is pivotally attached to the base member tailgate and pivoting member may be pivoted in a single and combined operation. Transport items attached to the carrier assembly may be kept to the carrier assembly, in particular to the first pivoting member.

Even when opening the tailgate with the first pivoting member attached thereto, respective transport items attached to the carrier assembly or attached to the first pivoting member may be remain supported by the carrier assembly without colliding with the body of the vehicle, in particular with the roof structure of the vehicle.

Typically, the first pivoting member is exclusively pivotally attached to the base member either directly or by means of an intermediate member, e.g. by a second pivoting member.

Since the first pivoting member is pivotally collapsible to or onto the base member to transfer the carrier assembly into an initial position or configuration, a translational or sliding displacement of the first pivoting member relative to the at least one base member is not required here.

The interconnection between the first pivoting member and the base member is in particular based on at least one or several hinges providing a smooth pivoting or displacement of the components of the carrier assembly even after long-term use.

According to another embodiment, the first pivoting member is pivotally connected to the base member via a second pivoting member. Typically, the second pivoting member is pivotally connected to the base member and the first pivoting member is exclusively pivotally connected to the second pivoting member.

By means of the second pivoting niernber, the base member can be effectively extended towards the rear of the vehicle, while the first pivoting member may be arranged in a substantially upright or vertical orientation, thereby extending substantially parallel to the tailgate structure of the vehicle.

Typically, both, the first pivoting member and the second pivoting member are pivotally collapsible in an overlapping configuration onto or to the at least one base member. In the collapsed initial position or configuration, the first and second pivoting members of the carrier assembly can be stowed in a rather space saving way, typically on top of the roof structure of the vehicle.

The substantially overlapping or nested initial configuration of base member, first and second pivoting member is also beneficial in terms of the aerodynamics of the vehicle. A rather space saving arrangement of the carrier assembly in its initial configuration allows to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle and may therefore contribute to reduce the vehicle's fuel or power consumption.

According the another embodiment, the second pivoting member is pivotally connected to the base member with a first end while an opposite, hence, a second end is pivotally connected to the first pivoting member. Typically, the first end of the second pivoting member is pivotally attached to a rear end section of the base member, typically located in close proximity to the tailgate hinge.

The second pivoting member is typically pivotable between an initial configuration, in which the second pivoting member substantially overlaps with the at least one base member. In this initial configuration the second pivoting member may be arranged on top of a vehicle's to roof structure. However, in its carrier position the second pivoting member may be pivoted with regard to the initial configuration by 1 800. When arriving in its carrier position or carrier configuration the second pivoting member may therefore substantially protrude horizontally from the rear end section of the vehicle roof Consequently, the second end of the second pivoting member may be located at a predefined distance from the rear end of the vehicle's roof structure. Since the first pivoting member is pivotally connected to the second end of the second pivoting member, the first pivoting member may extend in a substantially vertical or upright configuration, typically substantially parallel to the tailgate of the vehicle. 20:

Since the second pivoting member is pivotally connected to the base member, thereby defining a second pivot axis and since the first pivoting member is pivotally connected to an opposite end of the second pivoting member, thereby defining a first pivoting axis, the tailgate can be easily opened with the first pivoting member attached thereto. Even though the pivot axes or axis at the first and second end of the second pivoting member do not coincide with the tailgate hinge a pivoting motion of the tailgate is enabled with the carrier assembly attached thereto.

When opening the tailgate with the first pivoting member attached thereto, the second end of the second pivoting member may experience a respective upward directed displacement according to the upward directed pivoting motion of the tailgate.

ccording to another embodiment the carrier assembly comprises a pair of first and second pivoting members interconnected by at least a first cross-beam extending between respective end sections of the first pivoting members. Typically, the carrier assembly comprises also two base members attachable to respective left and right portions of the vehicle's roof structure, e.g. attachable to the roof rails.

Accordingly, there exist two second pivoting members, namely a left and a right second pivoting member, each of which being pivotally attached or pivotally connected to the left base member and to the right base member, respectively. Moreover, also a left and a right first pivoting member may be provided.

The left first pivoting member is typically pivotally connected to the second end of the left second pivoting member while the right first pivoting member is pivotally connected to the second end of a respective right second pivoting member.

By providing at least one cross-beam extending between left and right first and/or second pivoting members, a substantially closed but pivotable or collapsible frame structure for the carrier assembly can be provided. By means of the cross-beam interconnecting left and right pivoting members of the carrier assembly, the overall stability of the carrier assembly can be improved.

Moreover, by means of the at least one cross-beam left and right pivoting members of the carrier assembly can be mutually coupled. By means of the at least one cross-beam a pivoting motion of the right first and/or second pivoting members can be equally transferred to the respective left first and second pivoting members; and vice versa.

Typically, pairs of left and right first and second pivoting members are of substantial equal size and geometry. They may be symmetrically arranged and connected to the base member with the at least one cross-beam extending therebetween.

According to another embodiment, the first pivoting member comprises a fastening member at a free end section to releasably engage with a corresponding fastening member of the tailgate. Preferably, the tailgate's fastening member is arranged at a lower end section of the tailgate, located below a window of the tailgate.

By fastening the base member to the roof structure and by fastening the free end of the first pivoting member to the tailgate of the vehicle, the entire carrier assembly may be sufficiently fastened and fixed to the vehicle. The mutually corresponding fastening members of the first pivoting member and of the tailgate may provide a releasable positive or frictional engagement of the first pivoting member and the tailgate.

If not in use, the first pivoting member can be released from the tailgate and may be pivoted into its initial position on top of the vehicle's roof structure.

According to another embodiment, the fastening member of the first pivoting member is releasably attachable to the base member when the first pivoting member is in its initial position. Here, the fastening member of the first pivoting member comprises a double function. It serves to attach the first pivoting member to the tailgate when in extended in its carrier position.

Moreover, it allows to fix the first pivoting member to the base member when the carrier assembly is in its initial configuration on top of the vehicles roof. In this way, the fastening member of the first pivoting member may be always in use and may be engaged with a corresponding fastening when in initial configuration as well as when in carrier position or carrier configuration. It may therefore be less susceptible to ingress of dirt or humidity.

According to another embodiment, the pair of first pivoting members is interconnected by means of a second cross-beam extending between the free end section of the first pivoting members. The second cross-beam typically extends between those ends of the left and right first pivoting members facing away from respective left and right second pivoting members.

Typically, the second cross-beam extends between the fastening members of respective left and right first pivoting members. Alternatively, the at least one fastening member, preferably two fastening members may be integrated into said second cross-beam or may be connected therewith.

Additionally, the second cross-beam may also serve as a handle bar in order to manually transfer the carrier assembly, in particular its first pivoting members between the initial position and the carrier position.

Therefore and according to another embodiment, the second cross-beam is located at a rear end section of the base member when the first pivoting member is in its initial position. In this way, the carrier assembly, in particular the first and/or the second pivoting members are accessible via the second cross-beam, which is accessible from the rear end of the roof structure of the vehicle.

When the fastening member of the first pivoting member is appropriately released from the base member, the carrier assembly may be unfolded from its initial configuration into its carrier configuration by lifting the second cross-beam and by dragging the first pivoting member further to the rear of the vehicle. This initial motion of the first pivoting member typically induces an upward and rearward directed pivoting of the second pivoting member, which may start to pivot with respect to the second pivot axis while its second end experiences a semicircular shaped upward and rearward directed displacement until it reaches the carrier position.

According to another embodiment, a support frame is pivotally attached to the first pivoting member. The support frame is in particular pivotable from an initial position into a carrier position. In the initial position the support frame substantially overlaps with at least the first pivoting member, in particular with the two first piston members, namely with left and right first piston members.

In the carrier position or carrier configuration the support frame may then protrude from the first pivoting member or from the carrier frame formed by left and right first pivoting members and by the first and/or second cross-beams extending therebetween. Since the first pivoting member typically extends in a vertical orientation when in its carrier position the pivotable support frame may provide a support structure to put items thereon.

Typically, the support frame may extend in horizontal direction from the at least one first pivoting member when in carrier position. The support frame may typically serve as a bicycle carrier. However, it may serve as a general carrier structure extending and protruding from the rear of a vehicle to put large or bulky items thereon. Typically, the support frame is pivotally attached to the free end of the first pivoting member in order to have the support frame located on a low level with respect to the vehicle's vertical axis (z), which is of particular benefit for putting items thereon.

The support frame is only one example of an accessory component to be reconfigurably attached to the first pivoting member. Generally, the pivoting member itself may provide a support structure operable to receive various transport items thereto. For instance, skis or snowboards may be directly attached to the cross-beams extending between left and right first pivoting members. Hence, also the cross-beams may provide respective fastening members allowing to attach bulky items directly thereto.

In a further embodiment the support frame comprises two lateral branches each of which being pivotally connected to the free ends of the pair of first pivoting members. Typically, one of said lateral branches is pivotally connected to the left first pivoting member, while the other lateral branch is pivotally connected to the right first pivoting member. Moreover, the lateral branches of the support frame are interconnected by means of a crossbeam portion, which may extend between the free ends of the lateral branches facing away from the first pivoting members.

Additionally or alternatively the two lateral branches may also be interconnected by means of at least one support rail. The support rail may extend between and across the two lateral branches. Typically, the support rail is adapted to receive the wheels of a bicycle to be put thereon. For fixing and attaching a bicycle to the carrier assembly the frame of the bicycle may be separately fastened e.g. to at least one of the aforementioned cross-beams extending between the pair of first and/or second pivoting members.

According to another embodiment the first pivoting member is collapsible in or into its initial position or initial configuration between two parallel oriented base members. Typically, the carrier assembly comprises a somewhat staggered structure as seen in vehicle transverse direction (y). The second pivoting members are typically pivotally attached to an inside facing portion of the based members and the first pivoting members are typically pivotally attached to an inside facing portion of the second pivoting members.

As seen in vehicle transverse direction (y), the second pivoting member is geometrically sandwiched between the first pivoting member and the base member when the carrier assembly is in its initial configuration. By arranging first and second pivoting members next to each other in transverse direction (y) the installation height of the carrier assembly can be kept in a rather low range, which is beneficial to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle's body.

According to another embodiment the first pivoting member and/or the second pivoting member substantially overlaps with the base member in the initial configuration. In the initial configuration the base member and at least one of first and second pivotable members comprise mutually corresponding and releasably engaging fastening members. In this way, also a midsection or another end section of e.g. the first or second pivoting members can be directly fixed to the base member in order to provide a secure fastening of the carrier JO assembly to the vehicle's roof structure when not in use.

Typically, the base member and one of first and second pivotabie members may comprise mutually corresponding protruding and recessed portions, by way of which a releasable interlock can be realized. The base member may for instance support a displaceable pin to Is be removeably inserted into a respective recess or through opening of e.g. the second pivoting member when the carrier assembly is in its initial configuration. Typically, the displaceable pin is operable from Outside the vehicle, hence, from an outside facing side of the base member, thereby providing an easy and intuitive manipulation thereof.

According to another embodiment the base member comprises or forms a roof rail of the body of a motorized vehicle. By implementing the base member as a roof rail, it may be permanently attached to the roof structure of the vehicle. Alternatively, the entire carrier assembly may be detachably mounted to the body of the vehicle. In such configurations, the base member may be detachably connectable with a roof rail of the motorized vehicle.

In still another aspect also a body of a motorized vehicle is provided. Said body comprises a roof structure and at least a pivotable tailgate, typically located at a rear end of the roof structure. Furthermore, the body comprises a carrier assembly as described above, fixedly or removeably attached to the roof structure and to the tailgate of said body.

In still another aspect also a motorized vehicle is provided featuring a body as described above and/or comprising a carrier assembly as described above.

In the following, a non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described in detail by making reference to the drawings in which: s FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a body of a vehicle with a carrier assembly in an initial configuration, FIG. 2 shows the body according to FIG. 1 with the carrier assembly in an intermediate configuration, FIG. 3 shows the carrier assembly according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the first pivoting member in a carrier position and fixed to the vehicle's tailgate, FIG. 4 shows the carrier assembly with a pivoted support frame adapted to keep and to support at least one bicycle, FIG.5 schematically illustrates the carrier assembly with two bicycles attached thereto, FIG. 6 schematically shows the configuration of the carrier assembly with an opened tailgate, FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a fastening of the second cross-beam to the base member in an interlocked configuration, FIG. 8 shows the assembly according to FIG. 7 in a release configuration, FIG.9 schematically illustrates the two base members provided with a fastening member.

Detailed description

The carrier assembly 10 as illustrated in various configurations in FIGS. 1 to6 comprises two base members 12, 14 that may act or that may serve as a roof rail of a roof structure 4 of the body 2 of a motorized vehicle 1. As can be seen for instance in FIG. 1 the two base members, left base member 12 and right base member 14, extend in vehicle longitudinal direction (x) almost to the tailgate 3 of the body 2. A rear end of the two base members 12, 14 almost coincides with a hinge of the tailgate 3, wherein said hinge is not explicitly s illustrated in the Figures.

To the rear end of the two base members 12, 14 there is pivotally attached a second pivoting member 16, 18. As illustrated for instance in FIGS. 2 to 4, a left second pivoting member 16 is pivotally connected to the left base member 12, whereas a right second pivoting member 18 is pivotally connected to a rear end section of the right base member 14. The opposite end, hence, the second ends of the left and right second pivoting members 16, 18 is further pivotally connected to respective first pivoting members 20, 22.

As illustrated for instance in FIG. 2,the left first pivoting member 20 is pivotally connected to the second end of the respective left second pivoting member 16, whereas the right first pivoting member 22 is pivotally connected to a respective second end of a right second pivoting member 18.

Hence, the second pivoting members 16, 18 are pivotally connected to the base members 12, 14 with a first end and are further pivotally connected with a pair of first pivoting members 20, 22 with their oppositely located second end.

Between the hinges fornied by the pivotable interconnection of first and second pivoting members 16, 18; 20, 22 there extends a first cross-beam 32. In the carrier position or carrier configuration as for instance illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the first cross-beam 32 is located at a height, which substantially coincides with the level or height of the roof structure 4.

As further shown in these Figures, the second pivoting members 16, 18 may be pivoted by about 180° in comparison to the initial position as illustrated in FIG. 1. Consequently, the second pivoting members 16, 18 substantially extend in vehicle longitudinal direction (x) from the rear end of the base members 12, 14.

The first pivoting members 20, 22 further comprise a fastening member 24, 26 at a free end section thereof. The fastening members 24, 26 are typically located at the free end of the first pivoting members 20, 22 that faces away from the second pivoting members 16, 18.

The fastening members 24, 26 of the first pivoting members 20, 22 are operable to engage with correspondingly designed or correspondingly shaped fastening members 28, 30 located on and provided by the tailgate 3 of the vehicle body 2. In this way, a lower end portion of the left and right first pivoting members 20, 22 can be securely attached and releasably fixed to the tailgate 3.

First and second pivoting members 20, 22, 16, 18 form an L-shaped structure as seen in vehicle longitudinal and vehicle vertical direction (x, z) since first and second pivoting members 20, 22, 16, 18 are pivotable with respect to each other and since the second pivoting members 16, 18 remain pivotally supported relative to the base members 12, 14 even when the carrier assembly 10 is in its carrier configuration, the tailgate 3 can be lifted and opened by means of a pivoting motion while the first pivoting members 20, 22 remains fixed thereto.

In this way, the carrier assembly 10 does no longer has to be unloaded and detached from the tailgate 3 in order to open the tailgate 3.

As becomes further apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, first and second pivoting members 20, 22; 16, 18 are pivotally collapsible to or onto the base members 12, 14.

Typically, first and second pivoting members 20, 22, 16, 18 may be stowed and located in the plane defined by the parallel oriented and laterally spaced base members 12, 14. In this way, the constructional height of the carrier assembly 10 can be kept rather small, thereby allowing to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the carrier assembly when in initial configuration.

The free end portions of the first pivoting members 20, 22 are further interconnected by means of a second cross-beam 34 as illustrated for instance in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this way, first and second cross-beams 32, 34 together with the two first pivoting members 20, 22 disposed therebetween may form a closed, substantially rectangular frame structure that is operable to attach bulky items in an upright orientation thereto.

Even though not illustrated, the cross-beams 32, 34 may be provided with numerous fastening members allowing to releasably attached bulky items to the cross-beams 32, 34.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, a support frame 36 may be pivotally attached to the two first pivoting members 20, 22. The support frame 36 comprises two lateral branches 37, 38. The branch 37 is for instance pivotally attached to the left first pivoting member 20, while the other lateral branch 38 is pivotally connected to the right first pivoting member 22.

The free ends of the lateral branches 37, 38 are typically interconnected by means of a cross-beam portion 39. Lateral branches 37, 38 and the interconnecting cross-beam portion 39 may be integrally formed. The support frame 36 pivotally connected to the free end of the pair of first pivoting members 20, 22 may comprise a U-shape.

Additionally, the support frame 36 comprises two support rails 40, 41 extending between, on Is and/or across the lateral branches 37, 38. Typically, the support rails 40, 41 comprise a V-shaped profile adapted to receive bulky items 42, such like the wheels of a bicycle as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Since the upper first cross-beam 32 is located at a predefined distance from the tailgate 3, the tailgate 3 may be opened as illustrated in FIG. 6 with bulky items 42 remaining attached to the carrier assembly 10. Here, the cross-beam 32 may serve as a support for the item 42 thereby protecting the body 2 and its roof structure 4 from colliding with the bulky item 42.

In the sketch of FIGS. 7 and 8 another fastening member 48 provided at a rear end of the base member 12 is shown. Here, the fastening member 48 is pivotally attached to a lateral inwardly facing side of the base member 12. The pivotable fastening member 48 comprises an appendix 49 pointing upwards in its initial configuration as shown in FIG. 7.

In this donfiguration, a lifting of the cross-beam 34 together with the first pivoting member 22 is effectively hindered and prevented. It is generally required to pivot the fastening member 48 into a released configuration as shown in FIG. 8, in which the appendix substantially points horizontal direction for that a fastening structure 46 of the fastening member 26 can be lifted over the fastening member 48 in order to extend and to expand the carrier assembly in a rearward direction.

The fastening structure 46 may be designed as a portion of the fastening member 26 located at a free end of the first pivoting member 22. Hence, the fastening structure 46 may not only be adapted to releasably engage with the fastening member 48 of the base member 12 but may also be operable to engage with the fastening member 30 provided on a lower portion of the pivotable tailgate 3.

As further illustrated in FIG. 9 the two base members 12, 14 may also comprise an additional fastening member 44, e.g. designed as a pin, to engage with a correspondingly shaped recess in an outside facing portion of the first and/or second pivoting members 20, 22, 16, 18. By means of this additional fastening member 44 the collapsed carrier assembly 10 can be securily fastened and fixed to the roof structure 4 of the vehicle 1.

The first and second pivoting members 20, 22, 16, 18 may be designed and may comprise an elongated bar or beam, typically made of a light weight material, such like an extruded is profile of aluminum or plastic.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should appreciated that a vast number of variations exists. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient roadmap for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood, that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and theirlegal equivalence.

List of References 1 vehicle 2 body 3 tailgate 4 roof structure carrier assembly 12 base member 14 base member 16 pivoting member 18 pivoting member pivoting member 22 pivoting member 24 fastening member 26 fastening member 28 fastening member fastening member 32 cross-beam 34 cross-beam 36 support frame 37 branch 38 branch 39 cross-beam portion support rail 41 support rail 42 item 44 fastening member 46 fastening structure 48 fastening member 49 appendix

Claims

Claims 1. A carrier assembly attachable to a roof structure (4) of a motorized vehicle (1), comprising: -at least a base member (12, 14) attachable to the roof structure (4), -a first pivoting member (20, 22) pivotally collapsible to the base member (12, 14) into an initial position and being pivotable relative to the base member (12, 14) into a carrier position, in which the first pivoting member (20, 22) is attachable to a tailgate (3) of the vehicle (1).
2. The carrier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first pivoting member (20, 22) is pivotally connected to the base member (12, 14) via a second pivoting member (16, 18).
3 The carrier assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second pivoting member (16, 18) is pivotally connected to the base member (12, 14) with a first end and wherein the first pivoting member (20, 22) is pivotally connected to a second end of the second.pivoting member (16, 18).
4. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims 2 or 3, further comprising a pair of first and second pivoting members (16, 18, 20, 22) interconnected by at least a first cross-beam (32) extending between an end section of the first pivoting members (20, 22).
5. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the first pivoting member (20, 22) comprises a fastening member (24, 26) to releasably engage with a corresponding fastening member (28, 30) of the tailgate (3).
6. The carrier assembly according to claim 5, wherein the fastening member (24, 26) of the first pivoting member (20, 22) is releasably attachable to the base member (12, 14) when the first pivoting member (20, 22)is in its initial position.
7. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims 4 to 6, wherein the pair of first pivoting members (20, 22) is interconnected by means of a second cross-beam (34) extending between a free end section of the first pivoting members (20, 22).
8. The carrier assembly according to claim 7, wherein the second cross-beam (34) is located as a rear end section of the base member (12, 14), when the first pivoting member (20, 22) is in its initial position.
9. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein a support frame (36) is pivotally attached to the first pivoting member (20, 22) and being pivotable from an initial position, in which the support frame (36) substantially overlaps with the first pivoting member (20, 22) into a carrier position, in which the support frame (36) protrudes from the first pivoting member (20, 22).
10. The carrier assembly according to claim 9, wherein the support frame (36) comprises two lateral branches (37, 38) pivotally connected to the first pivoting members (20, 22), and wherein the lateral branches (37, 38) are interconnected by means of a cross-beam portion (39) and/or by means of at least a support rail (40, 41) adapted to receive an item (42) thereon.
11. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the first pivoting member (20, 22) is collapsible in its initial position between two parallel oriented base members (12, 14).
12. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the first pivoting member (201 22) and/or the second pivoting member (16, 18) substantially overlaps with the base member (12, 14) in the initial configuration, and wherein the base member (12, 14) and at least one of first and second pivotable members (16, 18, 20, 22) comprises mutually corresponding and releasably engaging fastening members (26, 44, 48).
13. The carrier assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the base member (12, 14) comprises or forms a roof rail of a motorized vehicle (1).
14. Body of a motorized vehicle comprising a roof structure (4), apivotable tailgate (3) and a carrier assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.
15. Motorized vehicle comprising a carrier assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims ito 13.