GB2544550A - Extendable length vehicle roof rack bar cross-member - Google Patents

Abstract

A cross member for a vehicle roof rack, the length of the cross member being adjustable to suit vehicle roof racks that vary in width. The cross member 5 comprises two C shaped elongated sections, where one section slides telescopically inside the other. Each section has equally spaced holes in the top and side faces of the C shaped section, allowing the sections to be bolted together through any of the holes, to form a straight and rigid single member at the length required. Preferably each section bolts to vehicle fixings through slotted holes 6 in a flange section 7 positioned at one end of each section.

Description

Title:

Extendable length vehicle roof rack bar cross-member.

Background:

The invention relates to an interlocking extendable vehicle roof rack bar cross-member

Vehicle roofs vary in width between makes and models. This generally requires a different specific size cross-member for each vehicle type.

Statement of invention:

To overcome this, the invention proposes two C section part-width cross-members. One section is slightly different in size to the other section allowing them to overlap and extend or retract in length. The two sections can be bolted together at the required length.

Advantages:

The advantage of the invention is that it allows one adjustable cross-member to cover various roof widths. The open three-side main section can be bolted together so as to be straight and rigid.

The industry standard for vehicle roof rack bar cross-members is to have a one-piece bar specific to each vehicle roof width. Other extending roof bar cross-members available consist of combining two closed section tubes / box section of slightly different sizes that extend and retract by fitting inside of one and other. This method has the problem that it is difficult to bolt together to form a straight and rigid length.

Detailed Description:

Figure 1

Section 1 slides over the top of section 2 to the required length. Section 1 bolts to section 2 through any of the holes S in top face and holes 4 on both side faces.

Figure 2 section 1 and section 2 bolt together to form assembled cross member 5. Arrows A show direction of adjustable movement.

Figure 2

Assembled cross member 5 bolts to vehicle fixings through four slotted holes 6 in return section flange 7 at both ends and both sides. Slotted holes 6 allow for fine adjustment of cross-member when fitted to vehicle.

Figure-2 shows the interlocking assembled section. The section has three main faces, top face and opposing side faces.

Figure-3: Shows large vehicle roof X with fully extended cross-member and small vehicle roof Y with retracted narrower cross-member.

Figure 4

Shows assembled section 5, top view B and side view C. Slotted holes 6 at both ends of assembled section. Figure 4 D shows cross-section or end view.

Claims (1)

1. Claims: Claim 1: A vehicle roof rack bar cross member with adjustable width function. Claim 2: Each cross-member section has three effective sides that form a C section. One section being slightly different in size to the other allows them to interlock and extend and retract within each other. Claim 3: Open section design allows each section to move freely within each other and allows access to bolt fixings. Sections can be bolted tight together to form a straight and rigid section. Claim 4: Assembled cross-member can be adjusted in length to suit multiple vehicle roof widths. Each cross-member section has equally spaced holes in top and side faces to allow them to be bolted together as a straight and rigid single section.