JPS6349564A - Luggage-carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transverse bar of a luggage carrier adapted to be mounted on the exterior of a motor vehicle, in particular a fixedly mounted transverse bar forming a suspended load-bearing rack of the luggage carrier. It concerns the horizontal bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Luggage racks mounted on the exterior of a motor vehicle have long been used to carry luggage on the exterior of a motor vehicle. The simplest form of luggage carrier is a number of parallel strips mounted flush with the roof of the vehicle.

These strips were a special support element, but also a protection against damage to the top of the roof. However, since this type of rack lacked a member to restrain the load, the load often fell from the rack.

To overcome this drawback, the frame position was increased to prevent the load from slipping off the carrier during instantaneous speed changes. The frame was arranged to extend around the load-bearing strip and was supported above the exterior of the vehicle by struts attached to the roof. Supports a lot of load,
Although it was possible to restrain the load, the support strips and roof could bend or dent in the case of heavy loads. However, due to the weight and aerodynamic requirements of automobiles, it has been undesirable to construct support racks from heavy materials.

As a result, racks separated from the exterior surface were developed independently of the support of the roof of the vehicle. In addition,
These luggage carriers can be assembled before installation, reducing manufacturing and assembly costs. However, these conventional off-the-shelf racks either lacked peripheral restraints or utilized bulky connecting assemblies on the crossbars. The ultimate goal of car design is to eliminate drag and make the car as aerodynamic as possible, so these bulky components increase air resistance at critical points in the car's structure. This would be contrary to the stated goal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved cross bar assembly for a luggage carrier which eliminates the disadvantages of known luggage rack assemblies.

The crossbar according to the invention is designed for use in forming a fixed load-bearing rack suspended in a frame around a luggage carrier. A frame around the carrier is attached to the exterior surface of the vehicle and is elevated and spaced from this exterior surface. A cross bar according to the invention has an elongated cross bar member having a generally oblong cross section with an upper surface and a lower surface.

Couplings for fixed attachment to the side bars of the frame are attached to each end of the cross bar members. The coupling has a generally flat body with a U-shaped bottom edge and a straight top edge. Near the bottom edge of the coupling is provided an inwardly extending projecting portion which is fixedly received within the hollow end of the cross bar member.

The shape of this coupling and the arrangement of the part extending inward are:
It is arranged to reduce the resistance caused by the coupling between the side bars of the frame and the suspended transverse bars. Therefore, when the horizontal bar member and the coupling are connected, the U-shaped lower edge of the coupling is aligned with the five sides of the horizontal bar. Similarly, in the connecting portion between the horizontal bar and the side bar, the upper edge of the coupling and the upper edge of the side bar are aligned. In addition, a through hole is provided near the upper edge of the coupling for receiving a mounting screw for fixedly attaching the crossbar to the frame.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention will be better understood by the description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

20 Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In FIG. 1, a luggage carrier 10, which is an embodiment of the invention, is used to transport baggage and other cargo. It is attached to the exterior of the vehicle 12 for transportation. Although in this preferred embodiment the luggage rack 10 is mounted on the roof of the vehicle 12, the same principles could be applied to attaching a luggage rack to the rear deck. The luggage carrier 10 as a whole includes:
It has a generally rectangular frame 14 supported at a distance from the vehicle exterior surface 12 by a plurality of struts 16. The frame 14 has at least two side bars 18.
8 extends longitudinally between the posts 16. Additional bars 20 are also fixed to the posts, forming a rectangular frame 14. These additional bars 20 are transverse bars 22 according to the invention.
You can also use it instead. As shown in FIG. 1, a suspended crossbar 22 according to an embodiment of the invention is removably secured to a side par 18 of a frame 14.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the crossbar 22 includes an elongated crossbar member 24 having opposite and equal ends 26. As shown in FIGS. For the sake of clarity, the present invention will only be described with respect to one end of the transverse bar member 24. In fact, both ends of the horizontal bar 22 are equal to each other.
assembled in the same way. The horizontal bar member 24 has an upper surface 28
It has a generally oval cross section with a lower surface 30 and a lower surface 30.

In this preferred embodiment, the ends 26 of the crossbar members 24 are hollow for receiving mounting elements to be described below. However, the transverse bar member 24 may also be constructed in a tubular shape in order to reduce manufacturing costs. Additionally, the transverse bar member 24 may have any cross-sectional shape. However, the oval shape has the maximum load bearing capacity and the minimum air resistance.

The cross bar 22 also includes a member 32 for fixedly attaching the end 26 of the bar member 24 to the side par 18. This mounting element 32 has a coupling 34 which allows the transverse bar 22 to be suspended on the side bar 18 between the plane formed by the frame 14 of the luggage carrier 10 and the outer surface 12 of the motor vehicle. Fix it. coupling 34
has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape and a portion 36 that projects inward. This protruding portion 36 is connected to the horizontal bar member 2
It is inserted into the hollow end of 4. Furthermore, this protruding part 3
6 has an oval shape that exactly matches the shape of the bar member 24, allowing reliable attachment. In addition,
Bolts or screws 38 are used to secure coupling 34 to bar member 24. This screw 38 is
It cooperates with a hole 4o formed in the wall of the member 24 and a hole 62 provided in the protruding portion 36 of the coupling 34 for attaching the coupling 34 to the member 24.

Furthermore, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the coupling 34 has a generally L-shaped bottom Q44. This bottom edge 44 conforms to the shape of the underside 30 of the member 24. In addition, the inwardly projecting portion 36 is located near the bottom edge 44 of the coupling 34 and also includes a peripheral shoulder 46.
is provided between the protruding portion 36 and the bottom edge 44.

The equal shapes and shoulder 46 ensure that when the coupling 34 and the member 24 are connected, the lower member surface 30 and the bottom edge 44 of the coupling
They are aligned as shown in the figure. With such an aligned mounting, in the case of known luggage carriers,
Air resistance caused by the connection between the side pars 18 and the horizontal bars 22 is significantly reduced.

After assembly of the crossbars 22, this assembly is easily attached to the spaced parallel sidebars 18 and loads suspended by the frame between the vehicle exterior surface 12 and the frame 14. Forms a bearing surface. Coupling 34 has a through hole 48 for receiving a mounting screw 50. After inserting the screw 50 into the hole 48, the coupling 34 and the horizontal bar 22 are attached to the side par 18.

In this preferred embodiment, a hole 52 is previously formed in the side par 18 at a predetermined location for mounting the horizontal bar 22.

The coupling 34 is fixed to the side par 18 by inserting a screw 50 into this hole 52.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the coupling 34 has a generally straight upper edge 54 that is
After installing the horizontal bar 22, the upper edge 56 of the side par 18
and come to an aligned position. The holes 48 in the coupling and the holes 52 in the side pars are located so that their edges 54,56 are aligned. In this way, exposed edges that would compromise the aerodynamic design of the carrier 10 are avoided, and additional air resistance is minimized.
The objective of obtaining carrier 10 was achieved.

What is thus obtained with the invention is a suspended load-bearing surface, which is suspended below the surrounding frame of the luggage carrier in order to restrain the load placed thereon. be. In addition, the position and number of the crossbars can be varied to obtain a bearing surface for the strength and size of the seed bar. Although the invention has been described above in connection with a plurality of transverse bars extending between the longitudinal side bars of the frame, the bars 22 can also be mounted longitudinally to form a load bearing surface.

Although the above description has been simplified to aid understanding, unnecessary limitations should not be placed on the invention thereby. This is because it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that certain modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a luggage carrier according to the present invention installed in an automobile, FIG. 2 is a developed view before assembly, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a connecting portion. In the figure, 10... luggage carrier, 12...
・Automobile, 14... Frame, 16... Support, 18
...Side bar, 20...Additional bar, 22...-Horizontal bar, 24...Horizontal bar member, 26...Bar end, 2
8...Top surface of horizontal bar, 3o...Bottom surface of horizontal bar, 32...
- Attachment is to members: 34...Coupling, 44...Bottom edge of coupling, 46...Shoulder, 54...Top edge of coupling, 56...Top surface of side bar.

Claims (10)

[Claims] (1) A luggage carrier (10) adapted to be attached to an exterior surface (12) of a motor vehicle having a generally rectangular frame (14) supported in a plane spaced upwardly from the exterior surface of the vehicle; A sidebar with two frames (
18) and at least one transverse bar (22), which bars form a load-bearing rack suspended by the frame, with said transverse bar (22) at both ends. part and upper and lower surfaces (28, 30
), and the side bar (18), which is suspended between the plane formed by the frame and the exterior surface (12) of the vehicle, has an elongated transverse bar member (24);
A member (32) for fixedly attaching the end (26) of 24)
A luggage carrier characterized by comprising: (2) an inwardly extending projecting portion (36) with which said attachment member is secured within the end (26) of said crossbar member (24);
2. The horizontal bar according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling (34) having a cross section and a member for fixing the coupling (34) to the side bar. (3) the lower surface of the horizontal bar member (24) has a substantially U-shaped profile, and the coupling (34) has a substantially U-shaped profile;
Claim 2, characterized in that it has a letter-shaped bottom edge (44), which bottom edge (44) is adapted to the contour of the lower surface (30) of the crossbar member. Horizontal bar listed. (4) said inwardly extending protruding portion (36) being in close proximity to the bottom edge (44) of said coupling (34);
This bottom edge is such that the coupling is connected to the horizontal bar member (24).
4. A transverse bar according to claim 3, characterized in that it is aligned with the lower surface (30) of the transverse bar member (24) when fixed to the transverse bar member (24). (5) said coupling (34) has a generally rectangular upper edge (54), which upper edge (54) extends over the top of said sidebar (18) in securing said coupling to said sidebar (18); The horizontal bar according to claim 2, characterized in that the horizontal bar is aligned with (56). (6) said coupling (34) has a through hole (48), and said fixing member also has screws, these screws extending through said through hole (48) into the side bar and said side bar; 6. Horizontal bar according to claim 5, characterized in that a bar (22) is fixed to the side bar (18). (7) a transverse bar (22) forming a load-bearing rack of the luggage carrier (10) adapted to be attached to the exterior surface (12) of the motor vehicle;
) has a generally rectangular frame (14) supported in a plane spaced from the exterior surface of the vehicle and also has two side bars (18), said transverse bars (22) has an elongated transverse bar member (24) having upper and lower surfaces (28, 30), said lower surface (30) having a generally U-shaped profile, and also said transverse bar ( (22) fixedly attaching the end (26) of the crossbar member (24) to the sidebar (18) in a manner suspended between the plane formed by the frame and the exterior surface of the vehicle; 32), the fitting further comprising a coupling (36) having an inwardly extending portion (36) secured within the crossbar member end (26).
34) and means for securing the coupling to the side bar, the coupling having a generally U-shaped bottom edge and a generally straight top edge, the bottom edge being connected to the side bar. adapted to the contour of said lower surface (30) of the bar member; ), and said upper edge (54) also aligns the coupling (34) with the sidebar (18).
), the top (56) of the side bar (18)
A horizontal bar characterized by being aligned with. (8) The coupling (34) has a through hole (48), and the fixing member also has a screw, which screw extends into the side bar (18) through the through hole (48). 7. A horizontal bar according to claim 6, characterized in that said horizontal bar (22) is fixed to a side bar (18). (9) A luggage carrier (10) adapted to be attached to the exterior surface (12) of a motor vehicle, the carrier having a frame (14) with a pair of side bars, in a plane spaced apart from the exterior surface of the vehicle; supported, at least one transverse bar having generally U-shaped upper and lower surfaces extending between said side bars (18) to form a load bearing rack; and a member for fixedly attaching the end portion of the horizontal bar while being suspended between the outer surface of the vehicle and the outer surface of the vehicle, wherein the attaching member (32) has a substantially U-shaped bottom edge (44). , a coupling (3) having a generally straight upper edge (54) and an inwardly extending portion (36) proximate said bottom edge.
4), the bottom edge being adapted to the contour of the lower surface of the transverse bar (22), and the inwardly extending protrusion (36) being fitted into the end of the transverse bar (22). fixedly received, such that the bottom edge of the coupling is aligned with the underside of the crossbar, and furthermore, the top edge secures the coupling to the sidebar (18); Sidebar (1
8) A luggage carrier characterized in that it is aligned with the top of. (10) The coupling (34) is connected to the side rail (1
9. The mounting member according to claim 9, characterized in that it has a through hole (48) for receiving a screw (50) for fixing the horizontal bar (22) to the mounting member.