Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
  • B60R9/04—Carriers associated with vehicle roof
  • B60R9/048—Carriers characterised by article-gripping, -covering,-retaining, or -locking means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
  • B60R9/04—Carriers associated with vehicle roof
  • B60R9/058—Carriers associated with vehicle roof characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a vehicle fitted carrier mounting device wherein two mutually opposing mounting devices support therebetween a rod-like or a tubular carrier that extends across the roof of said vehicle, the load to be carried being placed on the rod ⁇ like or tubular carrier.
• the inventive carrier mounting device is intended particularly for use with automotive vehicles of the kind whose rooves lack the provision of drip mouldings or which are provided with drip mouldings that are concealed inwardly of an upper edge-part of the doors of the vehicle.
• the inventive carrier mounting device has been designed with the aforesaid problems in mind.
• the mounting device coacts with a carrier element, preferably a plastic- covered tubular member of square cross-section, and includes a readily exchangeable element which retains the device in position against the edge profile of the vehicle roof, for instance in the gap presented between the roof and a vehicle door, wherein the exchangeability of this element enables the inventive carrier mounting device to be adapted readily to different car makes and models.
• the holding or retaining element may be con ⁇ structed to enable it to be attached directly in the roof edge, around the drip moulding that is sometimes provided, or in a drip moulding concealed in said gap, and is brought into abutment with the roof edge/drip moulding by movement in a generally horizontal plane or in the plane of the roof.
• the carrier mounting device and ancillary devices, such as strap tighteners, ski holders, cycle racks or the like carried on the carrier element of said carrier mounting device are locked against unlawful removal, and attach ⁇ ment of the carrier mounting device is effected without requiring the use of auxiliary means, wherein the carrier mounting devices and the load on the load carriers are locked by turning the keys of respective locks on the carrier mounting devices. Because the carrier assembly can be mounted without the use of tools, the inventive carrier mounting device can be handled much more easily than known devices, which normally require the use of some form of tool when mounting the device.
• the inventive carrier mounting device can be adapted readily to different makes of automotive vehicle, by giving the holding element a configuration which conforms to the edge profile of the vehicle roof in question, and by adapting the length of the carrier element.
• the carrier mounting device also includes a pivotal or swivable support element which rests against the vehicle roof and which enables the carrier mounting device and carrier element to be fitted to vehicles of varying roof constructions/roof slopes without transmittingunfavour ⁇ able stresses to the carrier element through the mounting device.
• the essential parts of the carrier mounting device may be cast or moulded from an impact and temperature resistant synthetic material, therewith actively contributing to reducing manufacturing costs.
• movable parts have a double function, therewith enabling the number of movable parts to be reduced and handling of the device simplified. As will be understood, this does not prevent the inventive carrier mounting device from being produced completely or partially from metal in some other embodiment.
• the afore- described carrier mounting device will provide the motorist with a useful accessory by means of which a carrier element can be easily fitted and locked to a vehicle by hand without the use of tools.
• the carrier mounting devices and carrier elements are locked firmly to the vehicle roof and the accesso ⁇ ries are locked to the mounting device with the aid of the keys provided in respective mounting devices.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier mounting device with which the carrier elements can be lockingly fitted in the aforedescribed manner to vehicles of the kind which lack a drip moulding or which are provided with a concealed drip moulding, and therewith in particular a drip moulding which is concealed by an upper edge-part of the vehicle doors projecting above the edge of the vehicle roof.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inventive carrier mounting device seen obliquely from above
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carrier mounting device shown in Figure 1, but seen obliquely from beneath
• Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the inven ⁇ tive carrier mounting device;
• Figure 4 is a side view of the inside of one end wall of the carrier mounting device;
• Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectioned schematic view of the carrier mounting device and shows the device in an open, fitting position; and Figure 6 shows the device of Figure 5 when fitted or locked, and shows part of a carrier element and includes a schematically illustrated edge profile of a vehicle roof.
• Figures 1 and 2 are overviews in perspective of an inventive carrier mounting device with the device shown in a locked state. No carrier elements are shown in these Figures.
• the carrier mounting device generally referenced 1, comprises a body which includes two mutually identical, mirror-image end-walls 2, 2' , which meet in a horizontally extended upper part 3, where said end-walls are joined together by locking pins pressed into holes intended therefor.
• the body 1 comprising the end-walls 2 and 2' , is attached at its bottom end to a rotatably mounted support plate 4, while a carrier- element clamping device 5 of U-shaped cross-section and an accessory locking device 6 of U-shaped cross-section are mounted for vertical movement on the upper part 3 of said body.
• the body has pivotally moun ⁇ ted thereon three operating devices or operating arms, of which a locking arm 7 can be seen in Figure 1, and a clamp arm 8 and a tensioning arm 9 can be seen in Figure 2.
• Figure 1 also shows the position of a lock 10 in the locking arm 7 , and shows that a holding element 100 extends from the tensioning or tightening arm 9 through an aperture in the edge of the support plate 4, so as to reach and engage the edge profile of a vehicle roof (see also Figure 6).
• a holding element 100 extends from the tensioning or tightening arm 9 through an aperture in the edge of the support plate 4, so as to reach and engage the edge profile of a vehicle roof (see also Figure 6).
• Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components and elements included in the carrier mounting device 1, wherein the thin drawing lines indicate the positions in which said elements are fitted into the end walls 2 and 2 ' .
• the horizontal, upper parts 3 of the end-walls include slots 31 and 32 in which the link arms 51 and 61 of the clamp 5 and the accessory locking device 6 respectively are guided while able to move vertically.
• the slot 31 also functions to receive a stop shoulder 201 provided on the underside of the carrier element, as described in more detail below with reference to Figure 6.
• Figure 3 also shows locking pins 33 on the end-wall 2, these locking pins being inserted into corresponding holes in the opposing end-wall 2 ' when fitting the end-walls to ⁇ gether, wherewith the annular beads shown in the Figure on the locking pins 33 engage with and are locked behind internal annular beads in the receiving holes, in a conventional manner.
• the hole 33' in the end-wall 2 receives correspondingly the locking pin 33 on the opposing end-wall.
• the end-walls 2 and 2 ' are provided on their respective inner surfaces with a plurality of channels 21-25 in which the pins on the operating devices 7, 8 and 9 are mounted and guided in a manner which will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 4. Also provided on the inner surfaces of the end-walls is an aperture 26 which engages with and locks a locking shoulder 81 provided on respective clamp arms 8.
• the operating devices of the carrier mounting device i.e. the locking arm 7, the clamp arm 8 and the tension ⁇ ing arm 9, include in opposing side-parts a horizontally outwardly projecting pivot pin 11 and guide pin 12 respectively, which are movably mounted in corresponding guide channels 21-25 in the inner surfaces of the end- walls.
• the accessory locking device 6 is pivotally mounted on the pivot pins 11 of the locking arm 7 through holes provided herefor in the lower end of the link arm 61, while the clamp 5 is pivotally mounted on pivot pins 11 on the clamp arm 8 through the holes 52 provided to this end in the lower end of the link arms 51.
• the link arms 51 also include apertures 53 which receive the guide pins 12 when the clamp arm 8 and the clamp 5 are in a closed position.
• the tensioning arm 9 includes a horizontal shaft 91 which interconnects the pivot pins 11 and on which the holder element 100 is pivotally mounted through the medium of bent attachment means 101.
• the attachment means 101 have looped ends which engage the shaft 91 and the attachment means 101 are bent, or folded, so as to provide a constriction 102 by means of which said attachment means can be snapped firmly onto and around the shaft 91 and therewith prevent said means from being released from the shaft unintentionally.
• the tensioning arm 9 also includes an aperture 93 in the wall part that lies proximal to the locking arm 7 and in which the locking device 10 engages when the locking arm 7 is in its locked position.
• a cam 92 is provided in the centre part of the upper edge of the latching arm 9, said cam lying against an abutment or counter-pressure means 71 provided in the locking arm 7, when the latching arm 9 and the locking arm 7 are in their closed positions.
• the accessory locking device 6 includes on its respec ⁇ tive side-parts a locking means in the form of a lip 62 with which a hook 202 on a load accessory 203 (shown in Figure 6) is held in a widened space 34 in the upper parts 3 of the end-walls when the accessory locking device 6 is in a locked state.
• the support plate 4 includes upwardly extending, longitudinal side-edges 42 on which a friction-enhancing and wear-preventing profile 43 of resilient material, for instance rubber, is fitted.
• the upstanding side-edges 42 fit into grooves provided in the folded side-parts of the rubber profile 43.
• That side of the support plate 4 which lies proximal to the outer edge of the vehicle roof includes an aperture or recess 44, which is formed in the side-part of said rubber profile and in the upstanding edge 42 and through which the holding element 100 extends when fitting the carrier mounting device 1 to the roof of a vehicle.
• the support plate 4 also includes two mutually opposing attachment lugs 45 which are punched out at right angles to the plate surface and extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the support plate.
• Each of the lugs 45 is provided with a respective hole 46 in which circular shoulders or pins 27 on the outer surfaces of the end-walls 2 and 2 ' are rotatably mounted.
• Each of the end walls includes above said pins 27 a respective stop shoulder 28 which includes a cup-shaped recess 29 on the underside thereof, this recess, or aperture, receiving the arcuate upper end 47 of the attachment lug 45.
• This upper end 47 is also folded outwards from respective end-walls 2 and 2 ' at its arcuate part located above the hole 46, therewith obtaining a clamping function of the attachment lug 45 in abutment with the outer surface of the end-wall when fitting said outwardly folded part into the aperture in the stop shoulder 28.
• the holes 46 are positioned with their centres offset from the centre line of the attachment lugs 45, in a direction towards the centre of the vehicle roof, whereby the pins 20 can only be inserted into and removed from the holes 46 in an extreme rotational position of the end-walls 2 and 2' . This ensures that the carrier mounting device 1 will not be released unintentionally from the support plate 4 in its use position.
• the pivot and guide pins 11 and 12 of the clamp arm 8 are displaceably journalled in the guide channel 21, 21', wherein the pivot pin 11 is received in the generally vertical channel-part 21 whereas the guide pin 12 is received in the generally horizontal channel-part 21' of the guide channel 21, 21'.
• the clamping device 5 is therewith moved vertically downwards as a result of its engagement with the pivot pin 11 and thereby holds a carrier element 200 inserted in the clamping device in firm abutment with the upper part 3 of respective end- walls 2 and 2 ' .
• the link arms 51 of the clamping device 5 are therewith guided for vertical movement in the slot 31, which also receives a stop shoulder 201 provided on the carrier element 200.
• the locking shoulder 81 is in engagement with the aperture 26 provided on the insides of respective end-walls and is locked in this position with the aid of the tensioning arm 9, in a manner described herebelow.
• the tensioning arm 9 is movably mounted in the guide channels 22 and 23, wherein the pivot pin 11 of the tensioning arm is received in the channel 22 and the guide pin 12 of said arm is received in the channel 23.
• the tensioning arm 9 is swung from the open position shown in Figure 5 to the closed position shown in Figure 6, the pivot pin 11 will move in the direction of the arrow from the broken-line position shown in Figure 4 to the full-line position.
• the pivot pin 11 of the tensioning arm 9 is forced to move linearly in the guide channel 22 by the guide pin 12 which is mounted excentrically in relation to the pivot pin 11 and which when swinging around the pivot pin 11 is guided to the full-line position in the direction of the arrow.
• the pivot pins 11 of the tensioning or tightening arm 9 herewith generate a linear movement via the shaft 91 joining said pins, and therewith a force which tightens the holding element 100 which, as a result of its engagement with the shaft 91, is moved horizontally in towards the carrier mounting device 1 and embraces the concealed drip moulding 103 of a vehicle roof, for instance as illustrated in Figure 6.
• the centre of the shaft 91 will preferably coincide with the rotational mounting axis of the carrier mounting device in the support plate 4, so as to prevent movement of the shaft 91 and therewith influence on the holding force of the holding element 100 when fitting the carrier mounting device to vehicles whose rooves have mutually different configurations and slopes.
• the tensioning arm 9 is pressed-in between the locking shoulders 81 on the clamp arm 8, as shown in Figure 6, thereby locking these shoulders firmly in the apertures 26 in the end-walls.
• the locking arm 27 is movably mounted in the guide channels 24 and 25 in a similar manner, wherein the pivot pin 11 of said arm is received in the channel 24 and the guide pin 12 of said arm is received in the channel 25.
• the guide pin 12 and the pivot pin 11 of the locking arm are moved from the broken-line positions shown in Figure 4 in the direction of the arrows to the positions shown in full lines.
• the linear movement of the pivot pin 11 is generated in the same way as that described in the aforegoing. Because the guide channel 25 has a progressively increasing radius with a centre in the open end position (broken line) of the pivot pin 11, the rotational centre of the locking arm 7, i.e.
• the pivot pin 11 will be moved as the arm swings in the direction of the arrow from the position shown in full lines, as a result of the engagement of the guide pin 12 with the guide channel 25.
• the vertical movement of the pivot pin 11 is herewith transmitted through the link arm 61 to the accessory locking device 6, which is therewith brought into abutment with the carrier element 200 and, at the same time, locks any accessories 203 on the carrier mounting device 1 through the medium of the lips 62, as illustrated in Figure 6.
• the locking device 10 When the locking arm 7 is in its closed position, the locking device 10 will be in engagement with the aperture 93 in the tensioning arm 9, wherewith all locking or securing functions of the carrier mounting device 1 can be protected against un- authorized release in one and the same locking process.
• the general extension of the guide channels 23 and 25 and the general extension of the essentially horizontal part 21' of the guide channel 21, 21' are so chosen as to enable respective operating devices to swing from their respective closed positions in the absence of any appreciable force, and therewith loosen the guide pins 12 from their terminal positions, these positions being defined distinctly by the aforesaid constrictions.
• the carrier element 200 with the two carrier mounting devices fitted thereto is placed across the vehicle roof with the hooked end-part of the holding elements 100 in position for engagement with an appropriate part of the vehicle, whereafter the tensioning arms 9 are moved to the closed position shown in Figure 6, therewith applying a tightening force to the holding elements 100 in a generally horizontal direction, for instance against the concealed drip moulding 103 shown in Figure 6.
• the lock ⁇ ing arm 7 is then closed and the tensioning or tighten ⁇ ing arm 9 is firmly locked in the aforedescribed manner.
• the respective carrier mounting devices 1 and carrier element have therewith been fitted to the roof of the vehicle with three simple hand operations and without the use of any particular tool, wherein opening and removal of respective mounting devices and associated parts is prevented by turning the key in the lock 10.
• the carrier element 200 coacting with the carrier mounting device 1 is provided on its flat undersurface with a number of pre-drilled holes or square apertures into which stop shoulders 201 are fitted in positions adapted to the breadth of the vehicle roof concerned.
• the carrier element can be supplied with a template covering respective types of vehicle and the positions to which the stop shoulders should be located, and for cutting the carrier element to the appropriate length.
• the carrier element 200 projects beyond the carrier mounting device 1 and therewith provides an attachment means for different accessories, for instance through the medium of a U-shaped holding device 204 for the accessory 203.
• the holding element 100 includes a bend which is adapted for fastening the carrier mounting device to a drip moulding 103 that is concealed beneath a part of respective vehicle doors that cover the edge of the roof.
• the holding element 100 can be readily designed by the skilled person for fastening to vehicle rooves which have a visible drip moulding or which completely lack the provision of a drip moulding, in which latter case the holding element 100 will extend in beneath the vertical part of the edge of the vehicle roof.
• the invention provides a carrier mounting device of compact construction, low weight and only a few movable parts which function to couple a carrier element to the roof of an automotive vehicle while requiring only three simple hand operations and without the use of auxiliary devices, irrespective of whether the roof includes a visible or a concealed drip moulding or completely lacks the provision of a drip moulding.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20389235

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Citations (2)

• 1993
  • 1993-03-15 SE SE9300854D patent/SE9300854L/sv not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1993-03-15 SE SE9300854A patent/SE501825C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1994
  • 1994-03-15 AU AU62945/94A patent/AU6294594A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-03-15 WO PCT/SE1994/000223 patent/WO1994021491A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (2)

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