GB2582774A

GB2582774A - Luggage containment device

Info

Publication number: GB2582774A
Application number: GB1904584.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ford Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-04-02
Filing date: 2019-04-02
Publication date: 2020-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-02
Also published as: GB2582774B; GB201904584D0

Abstract

A luggage containment device, roof box, for transporting luggage on a roof of a vehicle comprises: a base portion 12 and a cover portion 14 for covering the base portion, the cover portion being pivotably mounted to the base portion such that the cover portion is configured to pivot between an open and a closed position; wherein a cross section of at least a portion of the luggage containment device when the cover is in the closed position is substantially circular (figure 2). Protrusions 16 may extend below the base portion so as to form a flat base for mounting the roof box (figure 2). The circular cross-section may be substantially constant from a rear of the box to a point beyond a mid-point and thereafter decrease to a point. Alternatively, the circular cross-section may decrease from a mid-point towards both the front and rear (figure 3). In both embodiments detachable fins 20, 32 may be provided so that the roof box resembles a rocket with a flame at the rear.

Description

LUGGAGE CONTAINMENT DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates to luggage containment devices for carrying luggage on 5 the roof of vehicles.

BACKGROUND

In order for vehicles and in particular cars to be able to transport additional luggage, roof boxes have been devised for mounting on a roof of a vehicle and for containing luggage within a weather tight and in some cases lockable container. These roof boxes have conventionally had a flat bottom for receiving the luggage and a corresponding flat roof, with side walls between the two. The side walls are generally formed in two parts, one part being an integral part of the roof and one part being an integral part of the floor of the roof box.

The roof and floor of the roof box are attached together via hinges which allow the roof of the roof box to pivot with respect to the floor, allowing the roof box to be opened and closed.

zo SUMMARY

A first aspect provides a luggage containment device for transporting luggage on a roof of a vehicle, said luggage containment device comprising: a base portion and a cover portion for covering said base portion, said cover portion being pivotably mounted to said base portion such that said cover portion is configured to pivot between an open and a closed position; wherein a cross section of at least a portion of said luggage containment device when said cover is in said closed position is substantially circular.

The inventor of the present invention recognised that although conventionally roof boxes were designed with flat bases for accommodating luggage, a roof box with a circular cross section would have some advantages. In particular, such a design would provide a container with an increased volume to surface area ratio, allowing a roof box of a certain required volume to be manufactured from less material, thereby reducing the costs. Furthermore, such a design provides a naturally robust, strong and aerodynamic shape. Thus, despite the conventional prejudices it has been found that a roof box with a circular cross section provides a robust, convenient and cost effective solution for additional vehicle storage space.

For the purpose of this application a cross section is considered to be circular if the 5 diameter of said cross section varies by less than io% around the cross section.

In some embodiments, said circular cross section of said luggage containment device is substantially constant from a rear end of said device, said rear end being an end configured to be mounted towards the rear of said vehicle, to a point beyond a mid point of said device and thereafter decreases steadily towards a front end where said device has a pointed shape.

The cross section of the luggage containment device may be smaller at a front end and gradually increase moving towards the rear reaching a substantially constant cross section at a point in the front half of the device and in some preferred embodiments in the forward 20% of the length of the luggage containment device. in this regard, having a reduced cross section forward end provides a device which is more aerodynamic. Making this reduction in cross section only at the forward end of the device means that the corresponding reduction in volume available for containing luggage is only reduced for a portion of the containment device. The reduction in cross section may be done synimetrically around an axis running through the centre of the circular cross section.

In other embodiments, said circular cross section of said luggage containment device increases from each end towards a mid-point, a cross section at a rear end, said rear end 25 being an end configured to be mounted towards the rear of said vehicle, being larger than a cross section at a front end configured to be mounted towards the front of said vehicle.

In some cases the cross section may decrease both towards the front and the rear end, the cross section being smaller at the front. This provides an aerodynamic shape.

In some embodiments, said cross section at said rear end is larger than said cross section at said front end, said cross section towards said front end being small and forming a point. -3 -

Forming the front end to a point provides a particularly effective aerodynamic shape for the device.

In some embodiments, for a portion of a length of said device, said base portion comprises protrusions extending away from the base portion, said protrusions being configured for mounting said device on a roof of said vehicle.

Although a luggage containment device with a circular cross section may be advantageous for increasing the volume to surface area ratio of the device and for to providing a robust shape it may prove challenging to mount on a vehicle. in some embodiments these challenges are addressed by providing protrusions extending away from the base portion on either side of a mid line along a longitudinal axis of the base portion the protrusions being configured for mounting the device on a roof of the vehicle.

In some embodiments, said protrusions are configured to extend below said containment device and be joined under said device, such that said protrusions provide a flat base for said device.

The protrusions may be such that they form a flat base for a portion of the roof containment device, this flat base portion being the portion that is used to mount the device. In some embodiments the flat portion mounts the device on rails extending across the roof from a roof rack.

In some embodiments, the luggage containment device comprises at least one clip at a 25 rear end, said rear end being configured to be mounted towards the rear end of said vehicle, said at least one clip being configured for mounting an outwardly extending flap in the form of a flame.

The choice of a circular cross section for the luggage containment device not only 3o provides a device with a relatively large internal volume and robust shape but also one that resembles a rocket. This resemblance can be increased by mounting an outwardly extending flap in the form of a flame to the rear of the device. Although this may provide an aesthetic advantage there will be times when such a flap will be inconvenient and thus, advantageously this is mounted via a clip such that it can be removed at will where it is advantageous to reduce the cross section or length of the device.

In some embodiments, the luggage containment device comprises said outwardly extending flap mounted to said at least one clip.

In some embodiments, the luggage containment device comprises at least one fin shaped protrusion, removably mounted towards a rear end of said device.

Another way of improving the aesthetic of the luggage containment device and in some cases the aerodynamic aspects to it is to mount fins towards the rear end. Again where to these are removably attachable then the properties of the luggage containment device can be altered according to requirements.

In some embodiments, said fin shaped protrusion is configured not to extend beyond a high or low point of said luggage containment device.

In some embodiments, the luggage device comprises two fin shaped protrusion, removably mounted on either side of said device in in a mid-region of said cover portion between a top of said cover portion and a bottom of said cover portion.

In some embodiments, the luggage containment device comprises two fin shaped protrusion, removably mounted on either side in a mid region of said base portion between a top and a bottom of said base portion.

Although the fins may be formed in a number of ways in some embodiments the fins are formed from flexible plastic. As the fins do not provide any structural supports it may be advantageous to form them from a flexible material as this makes them more resistant to damage. In this regard, as they extend from the luggage containment device they may be at risk of being damaged and a flexible plastic will be able to bend and thus, be less likely to break.

In some embodiments, said base and cover are formed from rigid plastic.

As the base and cover are there to provide structure and support and shield the luggage it is advantageous if they are formed of a rigid plastic. -5 -

In some embodiments, the device further comprises a frustoconical portion mounted on a rear end of said device, said rear end of said device being configured to be mounted towards a rear of said vehicle, said frustoconical portion having a smaller cross section at an end connected to said luggage containment device than the cross section of said luggage containment device at the connection point.

In some embodiments the clip for mounting the flame will be attached to the frustoconical portion.

Further particular and preferred aspects are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes an apparatus feature which provides that function or which is adapted or configured to provide that function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

zo Embodiments of the present invention will now be described further, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a view from the side of a roof box according to a first embodiment; Figure z shows a cross-section of the roof box of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of a roof box according to a second embodiment; and Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view through the roof box of Figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before discussing the embodiments in any more detail, first an overview will be provided.

3o A luggage containment device or roof box is provided with a substantially circular cross section. The area of the circular cross section may vary along the length of the roof box. The front end may have a pointed shape. The rear end may have a smaller cross section than a mid portion and a larger cross section than the front end. The mid portion between the front quarter and the rear quarter of the device may have a constant cross section. The roof box may have protrusions extending from the circular cross section.

Some may extend from the base portion and extend under the roof box to provide a flat surface for a portion of the length of the roof box, this flat portion being configured to rest on support rails spanning the roof of the vehicle when the roof box is mounted on the vehicle.

There may also be other protrusions extending from the roof box and these may be removably attached. The protrusions may be in the form of fins mounted towards the rear end of the roof box. There may be a flap configured to be removably mounted to a rear end of the roof box. The flap may be configured to extend from the rear of the roof box. The flap may have the form of a flame. The flap may be configured to be mounted such that its main surface is substantially perpendicular to the roof of the vehicle to which the roof box is mounted.

Figure 1 shows a luggage containment device or roof box ro according to an embodiment.

The roof box comprises a floor portion 12 pivotally connected to a roof portion 14. There is a base support portion 16 that extends from the floor portion 12 and provides a flat lower surface suitable for mounting the device on a roof rack for example. In this example the roof box 10 has a substantially cylindrical form for the majority of its length, the circular cross section having a decreasing circumference going to a point at the front zo of the device.

The upper or roof portion 14 has a slot for receiving removable flexible plastic fins 20. The floor or lower portion 12 has corresponding slots for receiving flexible plastic fins 22. These can be removably attached to the roof box ro allowing the user to change the appearance and the aerodynamic nature of the roof box ro as required. There is additionally a clip structure 30 which in this embodiment extends from a frustoconical extension extending from a rear end of the roof box. The clip structure 3o is configured to receive a removable flap in the form of flame 32 which can be attached to the back of the roof box to provide the impression of a rocket mounted on the vehicle. The clip 3o structure 3o allows the flap 32 to be attached or removed as desired. There is also a porthole or window shape 13 which can be mounted on a side surface of the roof box 10 and may be personalised with a picture.

Figure 2 shows a cross section through the device 10 of Figure 1. This figure shows the 35 four removable fins 20, 22 and the flat base portion 16 as well as the upper and lower portions 14, 12 of the roof box to. The upper and lower portions of the roof box 14, 12 are attached together via a hinge 15 which allows the upper portion 14 to pivot with respect to the lower portion 12 allowing the roof box to be opened and closed. The two portions are releasably held together in the closed position via clip 17. Clip 17 may have a locking mechanism associated with it.

Figure 3 shows a luggage containment device according to a further embodiment. The luggage containment device comprises upper and lower portions 14, 12, a porthole 13 mounted on a side of the lower portion 12, and a base support portion 16. There are fins 20 and 22 removably mounted on the respective upper and lower portions14, 12. Fins 20 do not extend beyond the upper level of upper portion 14. In this embodiment the lower fin extends beyond base support portion 16, but in many embodiments the fins will be designed not to extend beyond the base support portion 16.

There is a flap in the form of a flame 32 extending from the rear end of the device and attached to a frutsoconical portion extending from the rear of the roof box. This frustoconical portion may be attached to only one of the upper and lower portions 14, 12, generally to the lower portion, so that it does not move when the upper portion pivots to the open position. The frustoconical portion has a clip 3o extending from the end which supports in a removable manner a flap in the form of flame 32, allowing the flap to be attached or removed at will.

A cross section through the device is shown in Figure 4 and shows the upper and lower portions 12 and 14, the flat support base 16 and the fins 20 and 22. In this example the 25 hinge and locking portions are not shown.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be 3o effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A luggage containment device for transporting luggage on a roof of a vehicle, said luggage containment device comprising: a base portion and a cover portion for covering said base portion, said cover portion being pivotably mounted to said base portion such that said cover portion is configured to pivot between an open and a closed position; wherein a cross section of at least a portion of said luggage containment device when said cover is in said closed position is substantially circular.
2. A luggage containment device according to claim 1, wherein said circular cross section of said luggage containment device is substantially constant from a rear end of said device, said rear end being an end configured to be mounted towards the rear of said vehicle, to a point beyond a mid point of said device and thereafter decreases steadily towards a front end where said device has a pointed shape.
3. A luggage containment device according to claim 1, wherein said circular cross section of said luggage containment device increases from each end towards a mid-point, a cross section at a rear end, said rear end being an end configured to be mounted towards the rear of said vehicle, being larger than a cross section at a front end configured to be mounted towards the front of said vehicle.
4. A luggage containment device according to claim 3, wherein said cross section at said rear end is larger than said cross section at said front end, said cross section towards 25 said front end being small and forming a point.
5. A luggage containment device according to any preceding claim, wherein for a portion of a length of said device, said base portion comprises protrusions extending below said base portion, said protrusions being configured for mounting said device on a 3o roof of said vehicle.
6. A luggage containment device according to claim 5, wherein said protrusions are configured to extend from either side of a longitudinal mid axis of said base portion and 35 to meet under said device, such that said device comprises a flat base for said portion of said length comprising said protrusions.
7 A luggage containment device according to any preceding claim comprising at least one clip at a rear end, said rear end being configured to be mounted towards the rear end of said vehicle, said at least one clip being configured for mounting an outwardly 5 extending flap in the form of a flame.
8. A luggage containment device according to claim 7, comprising said outwardly extending flap mounted to said at least one clip.
9. A luggage containment device according to any preceding claim comprising at least one fin shaped protrusion, removably mounted towards a rear end of said device.o.
A luggage containment device according to claim 9, where said fin shaped protrusion is configured not to extend beyond a high or low point of said luggage 15 containment device.
A luggage containment device according to claim 9 or 10, comprising two fin shaped protrusion, removably mounted on either side of said device in in a mid-region of said cover portion between a top of said cover portion and a bottom of said cover portion.
12. A luggage containment device according to any one of claims 9 toll, comprising two fin shaped protrusion, removably mounted on either side in a mid region of said base portion between a top and a bottom of said base portion.
13. A luggage containment device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said fins are formed from flexible plastic
14. A luggage containment device according to any preceding claim, wherein said base and cover are formed from rigid plastic.
15. A luggage containment device according to any preceding claim, said device further comprising a frustoconical portion mounted on a rear end of said device, said rear end of said device being configured to be mounted towards a rear of said vehicle, said frustoconical portion having a smaller cross section at an end connected to said -1 0 -luggage containment device than the cross section of said luggage containment device at the connection point.