WO1996022901A1

WO1996022901A1 - Load carriers for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO1996022901A1
Application number: PCT/SE1996/000082
Authority: WO
Inventors: Morgan REHNSTRÖM
Original assignee: Mont Blanc Industri Ab
Priority date: 1995-01-27
Filing date: 1996-01-26
Publication date: 1996-08-01
Also published as: SE9500279D0; SE503913C2; SE9500279L; AU4637696A

Abstract

The invention concerns a load carrier to be mounted on vehicles, for instance on gunwale mouldings extending lengthwise along the vehicle roof. The load carrier comprises a cross-rail and foot members interconnecting the cross-rail with the moulding or the like. In accordance with the invention the foot member comprises at its lower portion a fork-leg shaped base including downwardly directed fork-leg members (6, 7) defining between them a space for reception therein of the mounting element of the vehicle, viz. e.g. its moulding, portions of said fork-leg members of the base projecting downwardly past the mounting element arranged to form, together with a releasable bridging element (23) extending between said leg members, a quick-connective coupling means which, in inactive position, exposes a downwardly directed opening between said fork-leg members and, in active position, bridges said opening underneath the mounting element and secures the fork-leg members of the foot member to the mounting element through clamp action.

Description

LOAD CARRIERS FOR VEHICLES

The subject invention relates to a load carrier to be mounted on vehicles on enclosing grip engagement mounting elements positioned on the vehicle, such as gunwale mouldings extending lengthwise along the vehicle roof, said load-carrier comprising at least one cross- rail extending transversely across the vehicle, usually the roof surface thereof, as well as foot members which in the vehicle-mounted condition of the load carrier support said cross-rail on top of the associated mounting element.

The main purpose of the invention is to provide a load carrier of the kind outlined above, which is simple to handle and allows the load carrier to efficiently secured to the associated mounting element while at the same time requiring but minimum building height of the foot member above as well as below the mounting element attached to the vehicle.

This purpose is achieved in accordance with the invention by means of a load carrier which is essentially characterized in that the foot member comprises at its lower portion a fork-shaped base including downwardly directly fork-leg members defining between them a space for reception therein of the mounting element of the vehicle, portions of said base fork-leg members projecting downwardly past the mounting element arranged to form, together with a releasable bridging element extending between said leg members, a quick-connective coupling means which in its inactive position exposes a downwardly directed opening between said fork-leg members and in its active position bridges said opening under¬ neath said mounting element and secures the fork-leg members of the foot member to the mounting element through clamp action. Owing to this arrangement the load carrier is mounted in a manner giving a closed grip about the mounting element, which in turn provides a very stable hold. Because of the closed surrounding grip the need for extended momentum arms is minimized, which favours the possibility of designing foot members having a low building height, a feature which is essential when the mounting element extends close to the vehicle roof and it is desirable that the load carrier cross-rail is positioned as closely to the mounting element and thus to the vehicle roof as possible.

Preferably, the bridging element consists of a rod formed with an abutment head arranged to cooperate in abutment with one of the fork-leg members, as also with a first engagement portion with engagement teeth thereon for cooperation with a second engagement portion with engagement teeth thereon in the other one of the fork-leg members, the rod as well as the engagement portion of the fork-leg member having sections devoid of engagement teeth and of such mutual peripheral extension that the two engagement portions are mutually disengaged and the rod freely insertable in an angular position with its engagement teeth cooperating with the engagement teeth of the fork-leg member in another angular position than the angular position of the bar.

Owing to this arrangement the enclosing grip may be re-established quickly without the need for resorting to time-consuming screw operations.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will become apparent from claims 3-10.

The invention will be described in the following in closer detail by way of one embodiment thereof with reference to the enclosed drawings, on which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view as seen obliquely from above of a load carrier in accordance with the invention as mounted on a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken in the cross- sectional direction of the vehicle through one end portion of the load carrier when mounted to the vehicle; Fig. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2 and showing the same mounting portion but in a released condition;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to those of Figs. 2 and 3 and showing the same end portion of the load carrier illustrated in a sequence while being mounted onto the vehicle;

Fig. 5 is a view of a detail component incorporated in the load carrier;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the same detail along line VI-VI; Fig. 7 is a view of another component incorporated in the load carrier; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7 through the same component.

In drawing figure 1 reference numeral 1 designates generally a vehicle provided with gunwale mouldings 2 applied on the vehicle roof in the longitudinal direction thereof and serving in accordance with the embodiment shown as mounting elements on which may be secured load carriers, only one of which is illustrated in the drawing figures. The illustrated load carrier is designated generally by reference 3. Obviously, any desired number of load carriers may be mounted on the vehicle gunwale mouldings. Often, the number is decided by the weight of the load to be carried. When only single articles are to be carried, such as lights, informations signs, and the like it may even be possible to use one load carrier only. The load carrier consist of a cross-rail 4 and a foot member 5 interconnecting the cross-rail with the vehicle mounting elements 2. Drawing figures 2-4 illustrate the gunwale moulding 2 having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to that of the gunwale mouldings of Fig. 1; however, it goes without saying that the mounting elements could have a different shape, such as a square, rectangular, circular or any other shape without departing from the scope of the invention. The foot member in accordance with Fig. 2 has an essentially inverted U-shape including twofork-leg members 6 and 7 and a web portion 8 interconnecting the two leg members. In accordance with Fig. 4 the web portion 8 and the leg members 6, 7 together form a down¬ wardly open fork. One leg member 6, in accordance with the embodiment shown the inner one, is rigidly connected to the web portion 8 whereas the other web member 7 is articulated to the web portion 8 about a pivot pin 9 which is mounted for vertical movement in an elongate slit 10 formed in the web portion 8. From the pin 9 a traction pin 11 with a head 12 thereon projects upwards through a slit 13 formed through the bottom wall of the tube forming the cross-rail. The slit 13 opens towards the end of the tubular rail. The ends of the tubular rail 4 are closed by means of lids 14, preferably made from a plastics material. The edge pieces 15 of the fork-leg member 7 supported by the pivot pin are formed at their upper part with one eccentric cam means 16 each. Under¬ neath the head 12 of the traction pin a soft damping washer 17 is positioned and below the latter in turn a support washer 18. The distance from the eccentric cam member 16 to the support washer 18, which serves as a back-up member, is adapted to ensure that upon pivotal movements of the fork-leg member from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, a nip is formed between said means, corresponding to the total thickness t of the lower wall of the cross-rail 4 and an upper wall 19 on the web portion 8 in abutment with the rail. Numeral reference 20 designates a support block positioned in the angle between the fork-leg member 6 and the web portion 8 and by means of a soft element 21 of rubber or a similar material it forms a corner support for abutment of the foot member 5 against the mounting element 2. Numeral reference 22 designates a support plate the lower end of which is angled and which plate is attached to the fork-leg member 7 by means of an interconnection member 33, such as a rivet. The lower portion 22a of the support plate forms an abutment means which in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 is wedged-in underneath the corner of the mounting element 2 that is positioned diagonally with respect to the corner in abut¬ ment against the fork-leg member 6 and the support block 20. Numeral reference 23 designates a traction rod, one end portion of which is formed with engagement teeth 24 cooperating with corresponding engagement teeth formed in a support member 25 resting on a seat adjacent the fork- leg member 6. At its opposite end the traction rod 23 supports a lever mounted on the traction rod 23 for pivotal movement about a shaft 27. The lever is formed with a cam means including an eccentric cam curve 28 and forming an abutment head on the traction rod for cooperation with the outer face of the fork-leg member 7. As most clearly apparent from Figs. 7 and 8, the traction rod is formed with smooth side faces 23a which thus forms segments devoid of engagement teeth 24. As most clearly apparent from Figs. 5 and 6 the support member 25 is formed in a corresponding manner with segment parts 25a that are devoid of engagment teeth and other segment parts 25b which are formed with engagement teeth. In the segment parts 25a the opening in the support element 25 has a radius exceeding the corresponding radius of the segment of the traction rod provided with support teeth whereas the radius of the segment parts 25b is smaller than that of the segment parts of the traction rod that are formed with teeth. As a result, the traction rod may be freely pushed into the support element 25 in one angular position whereas the engagement teeth cooperate in another angular position of the traction rod with relatively to the support element 25. Numeral reference 29 designates pins provided in the ends of the support element and together with corresponding seats adjacent the fork leg member 6 forming a pivotal mounting, allow¬ ing limited pivotal movement of the support element. Preferably, the engagement teeth on the traction rod and the support element are in the form of screw threads but obviously the engagement teeth could have any other suitable configuration.

In the open, pull-out position of the fork-leg member 7 illustrated in Fig. 3, the foot members 5 may be deposited on the mounting element, in this case the gunwale moulding 2, and be adjusted in a suitable position relatively to the cross-rail by displacement in the longitudinal direction thereof. Thereafter, the fork- leg member 7 is pivoted down to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the support plate 22 is placed in abutment against the gunwale moulding 2. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the traction rod 23 is thereafter inserted through the support element 25 in such an angular position that it may be introduced freely through the support element, i.e. the thread portions of the traction rod are turned so as to be presented oppositely the corresponding thread portions 25a in the support element. The insertion operation continues until the abutment head impinges on the external face of the fork-leg member 7. In this position the abutment head, i.e. lever 26, is turned to a position in which the engagement teeth cooperate, in the subject case into a position turned over 90° with respect to Fig. 4. In this position, the traction rod has a holding engagement grip in the support element 25 and when the lever 26 is pivoted to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the eccentric means 28 of the cam drives the abutment face 22a of the support plate to urge the gunwale moulding 2 in a direction towards the corner formed by the fork-leg member 6 and the support block 20, thus securely retaining the foot member against the gunwale moulding. During this pivotal movement inwards of the fork-leg member 7, the eccentric cam means 16 is also forced against the upper plate 19 of the web portion 8 and thus the support washer 18 is pressed against the inner face of the cross-rail 4. At the same time as the foot member thus is clampingly secured against the gunwale moulding the cross-rail is likewise clamped to the foot member. Numeral reference 30 designates a covering hood preferably made from plastics and reference 31 designates a lock allowing the covering hood to be locked to the fork-leg member 7 whereby also the lever 26 will be locked in the active position illustrated in Fig. 2 and thus prevented from being released by an unauthorized person. Numeral reference 32^' designates a second covering hood, preferably made from a plastics material. Together with the covering hood 30 the covering hood 32 offers protection to the inner components of the foot member against pollution and external damage.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment referred to above as an example only but could be varied with respect to its various components within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the inventive idea of the invention. Thus, it is within the scope of the invention to attach the foot member to the cross-rail in some other way than described herein. Similarly, the cam means on the traction rod 23 could be designed differently than described herein. For instance, the wedging effect of the cam means could be realized by allowing a cam means to be turned about the longitudinal axis of the traction rod 23. The bridging element formed by traction rod 23 and lever 26, i.e. the element bridg¬ ing the two free ends of the fork-leg members 6 and 7, could be configured differently, for instance as a buckle of a conventional type, such as an overcenter lock, which pulls the fork-leg members together. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated the two eccentric cam means 16 and 28 are designed in such a manner that in the active position, i.e. the position illustrated in Fig. 2, they have moved past an overcenter position but in case in the pivotal means may be locked in some other way the eccentric cam means naturally need not be so adaptable, i.e. they may be dimensioned such that an overcenter position is not exceeded. The invention has been described as including foot members attached to a longitudinal extending roof moulding on a vehicle, in which case the cross-rails 3 extend in the crosswise direction of the vehicle. It is in the order of things that the mounting elements need not consist of the roof mouldings illustrated by could be some other kind of mounting element which naturally could also extend in a different direction, for instance in the transverse direction of the vehicle, in which case the cross-rails will extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The mounting system could also by used to mount load carriers on the vertical sides of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A load carrier to be mounted on vehicles on enclosing grip engagement mounting elements (2) positioned on the vehicle, such as gunwale mouldings extending lengthwise along the vehicle roof, said load carrier comprising at least one cross-rail (4) extending transversely across the vehicle (1), usually the roof surface thereof, as well as foot members (5) which in the vehicle-mounted condition of the load carrier support said cross-rail on top of the associated mounting element, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the foot member (5) comprises at its lower portion a fork-leg shaped base including downwardly directed fork-leg members (6, 7) defining between them a space for reception therein of the mounting element (2) of the vehicle, portions of said base fork-leg members projecting downwardly past the mounting element arranged to form, together with a releasable bridging element (23) extending between said leg members, a quick-connective coupling means which in its inactive position exposes a downwardly directed opening between said fork-leg members (6, 7) and in its active position bridges said opening underneath said mounting element (2) and secures the fork-leg members of the foot member to the mounting element through clamp action.

2. A load carrier as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said bridging element consists of a rod (23) formed with an abutment head (26) arranged to cooperate in abutment with one (7) of the fork-leg members, as also with a first engagement portion with engagement teeth (24) thereon for cooperation with a second engagement portion with engagement teeth (25) thereon in the other one (6) of the fork-leg members, the rod (23) as well as the engagement portion of the fork- leg member having sectors devoid of engagement teeth and of such mutual peripheral extension that the two engage- ment portions are mutually disengaged and the rod freely insertable in an angular position with its engagement teeth cooperating with the engagement teeth of the fork- leg member in another angular position than the angular position of the rod.

3. A load carrier as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the engagement teeth are formed by threaded portions.

4. A load carrier as claimed in claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the abutment head (26) is formed with a rotatable cam means (28) which is arranged to cooperate with the associated fork-leg member (7), said cam means arranged when being turned to impart an axial movement to the rod (23) .

5. A load carrier as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the cam means is an eccenter means which is mounted on the rod (23) so as to be turnable about a shaft (27) extending transverally relatively thereto.

6. A load carrier as claimed in claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the cam means includes a lever (26) forming a handle for turning thereof.

7. A load carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that one (7) of the fork-leg members is mounted on portions (8) of the foot member (5) that are integral with the other fork-leg member, about a pin (9) extending along the mounting element.

8. A load carrier as claimed in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the pivotable fork-leg member (7) is formed with an abutment face (22a) in wedge-like engagement with the mounting element (2) underneath the latter, which face, upon pressing together of the two fork-leg members (6, 7) into abutment against the mounting element (2), forces the latter diagonally into the foot member.

9. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 5- 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the pivotable fork- leg member (7) is connected to an eccenter cam means (16) adapted in cooperation with a back-up element (18) to clamp the cross-rail (4) between itself and the latter element upon pivotal movement of the fork-leg member towards the active position, i.e. the clamping position.

10. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 4-9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the eccenter cam means (16) cooperating with the cross-rail (4) and/or the cam means (26, 28) on the rod are so adapted with respect to their dimensions and curvatures of the cam face that an overcenter position exists in the operative condition of the foot member, i.e. when the load carrier is clamped onto the mounting element (2) of the vehicle, such as a roof moulding.