WO1997022496A1

WO1997022496A1 - A load carrier foot

Info

Publication number: WO1997022496A1
Application number: PCT/SE1996/001657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt Fischhaber
Original assignee: Industri Ab Thule
Priority date: 1995-12-20
Filing date: 1996-12-13
Publication date: 1997-06-26
Also published as: DE19681683T1; SE9504578L; SE9504578D0

Abstract

A load carrier foot is disposed at each end portion of a load carrier strut extending transversely over a vehicle roof, for securing the strut at opposing edge portions of the vehicle roof. The load carrier foot comprises a body (1) in whose upper region the load carrier strut is fixable, a base portion (2) disposed at the lower region of the body for abutment against the vehicle roof, a clamping member for fixedly clamping the load carrier foot on the vehicle, and a clamping device (26) for actuating the clamping member (11). The base portion (2) is, at one of its short ends (9, 10), of considerably greater thickness seen in the vertical direction of the vehicle than is the case at the opposite short end (9, 10).

Description

A LOAD CARRIER FOOT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a load carrier foot which is disposed at each end portion of a load carrier strut extending transversely over a vehicle roof, for securing the strut at opposing edge portions of the vehicle roof, comprising a body in whose upper region the load carrier strut is fixable, a base portion which is disposed at the lower region of the body, is elongate in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is intended for abutment against the vehicle roof, a clamping member for fixedly clamping the load carrier foot on the vehicle, and a clamping device for actuating the clamping member.

BACKGROUND ART

Vehicle bodies displaying exaggerated archings in the body surfaces have become common in recent years. If a conventional load carrier foot is secured on a sloping or such an arched vehicle body surface where it is presupposed that the surface is arched about a horizontal axis which is transversely directed in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the load carrier foot will slope either rearwards or forwards. If such a sloping load carrier foot is employed for co-operation with a load carrier strut, the upper side of the strut will slope in the same way as the load carrier foot. This implies that elongate loads which rest both on a front and rear load carrier strut will be given poor support.

This situation may become particularly aggravated if the load carrier strut is provided on its upper side with an undercut groove in which drawbolts are disposed for fixedly clamping accessories onto the load carrier strut. If such accessories consist, for example, of brackets for ski poles, wind surfing boards or similar elongate objects, these brackets will not match to the shape of the carried load, but will slope in the same way as the load carrier foot itself. PROBLEM STRUCTURE

The present invention has for its object to design the load carrier foot disclosed by way of introduction in such a manner that this obviates the above-outlined drawbacks. Thus, the present invention has for its object to realise a load carrier foot which may be employed on sloping or arched vehicle body surfaces without any problems involved in aligning a load carrier strut or equipment carried thereon. The present invention further has for its object to realise a load carrier foot which, by simple replacement parts, may be adapted for use together with vehicle bodies of different shapes. Finally, the present invention has for its object to realise a load carrier foot which is economical in manufacture, which is reliable in function and which is simple in operation.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the load carrier foot is characterized in that the base portion is, at one of its short ends, of considerably greater thickness, seen in the vertical direction of the vehicle than is the case at the opposite short end.

Further advantages will be attained if the subject matter of the present invention is also given one or more of the characterizing features as set forth in appended Claims 2 to 5.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings. In the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1 is a simple, fundamental exploded view of a load carrier foot according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows an assembled load carrier foot according to the present invention seen in the longitudinal direction of a load carrier strut; Fig. 3 shows the load carrier foot of Fig. 2, seen transversely of the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle proper; and

Fig. 4 shows a slightly modified base portion included in the load carrier foot according to the foregoing.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that the load carrier foot comprises a body 1 and a base portion 2 which is intended to rest with its underside against a vehicle roof in a side edge region of the vehicle roof. In its upper region, the body 1 has means for co-operation with and fixing of a load carrier strut 3 (Figs. 2 and 3). The body 1 has, at its lower region, a forward anchorage portion 4 and a rear anchorage portion 5, where the expressions "forward" and "rear" relate to the direction of travel of the vehicle in accordance with the arrow 6. The anchorage portions are horizontal and extend out from either side of the body 1.

The base portion 2 is composed of an upper, configurationally stable and form finishing portion 7, as well as a lower, tolerance-absorbing portion 8. In such instance, the upper, configurationally stable portion 7 may be produced by injection moulding of a suitable, but substantially rigid, plastic material, while the lower, tolerance-absorbing portion is produced from a resiliently yieldable material. The manufacture of the base portion 2 may be put into effect by double injection in an injection moulding machine with two different plastic materials, so that the base portion 2 will thereby become an integral unit.

Seen from above, the base portion 2 is elongate in form and has a forward short end 9 and a rear short end 10. It will be clearly apparent from the Drawing that the base portion 2 is, at one of its short ends, of considerably greater thickness or height than is the case at the opposite short end. Hereby, the base portion may compensate for a steeply sloping vehicle roof so that, despite the slope, the load carrier foot will be placed in a substantially vertical position and consequently the upper side of the load carrier strut 3 will be substantially horizontal.

Depending upon the vehicle body form, the base portion may have a thick forward section and a thin rear section, or vice versa. Furthermore, the underside of the base portion is, naturally, arched and designed in correspondence to that part of the vehicle body against which the base portion is intended to abut. In such instance, the underside of the base portion may be designed to be substantially complementary to the intended section of the vehicle body. The base portion 2 will hereby play the role of an adapter between the horizontal and planar anchorage portions 4 and 5 on the body 1 and the three-dimensional vehicle body surface (sloping and / or arched) on which the load carrier foot rests.

Despite the fact that the base portion 2 has been given a configuration which is directly adapted to the configuration of the vehicle body, it is not certain that the actual abutment constitutes an acceptable surface engagement. In this context, the lower tolerance-absorbing portion 8 of the base portion is important in order to even out and distribute the pressure between the base portion and the vehicle body throughout the entire underside of the base portion.

It will be clearly apparent from Fig. 2, where the load carrier foot is seen in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut 3, i.e. in a direction in towards the longitudinal side of the vehicle, that the base portion 2 is cuneiform, with its major thickness or height at the forward short end 9. It will further be apparent that the load carrier foot has a clamping member 11 which is intended to be applied against the vehicle body beneath the base portion and clamp in a direction towards the base portion. The clamping member 11 has a lower clamping portion 12 which is intended for abutment against the vehicle body, and this clamping portion is suitably parallel with the underside of the base portion 2.

In order to prevent the clamping portion 12 from being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the base portion 2 has, on its outside (i.e. that side which is turned to face away from the vehicle), a recess 13 against whose forward and rear edges 14 and 15, respectively, corresponding forward and rear edge portions on the clamping member 11 may abut.

Fig. 4 shows a somewhat modified clamping member which lacks the above- considered recess 13 in its outside.

It will be apparent from Fig. 4 that, on its upper side and at its forward and rear short ends 9 and 10, respectively, the base portion 2 has forward and rear upwardly open recesses 16 and 17, respectively, for accommodating the forward and rear anchorage portions 4 and 5, respectively, of the body 1. At least in a forward direction, both of the recesses are surrounded by defining surfaces 18 and 19, respectively, which match to corresponding edge surfaces on the anchorage portions 4 and 5. As a result of these upwardly projecting defining surfaces 18 and 19, the anchorage portions 4 and 5 are prevented from moving away from one another.

For connecting the base portion 2 and the body 1, the base portion has snap connections 20 which co-operate with apertures 21 in the anchorage portions 4 and 5. As a result, the base portion 2 is simple to mount in place and dismount.

It will further be apparent from Fig. 3 that the lower clamping portion 12 of the clamping member 11 is angled in a direction in towards the vehicle in order to be able to grasp under a projecting portion of the vehicle body. The upper end of the clamping member 11 has an obliquely inclined sliding surface 22 which abuts against a pin 23 connecting the forward and rear side walls 24 and 25, respectively, in the body.

In the body, there is further provided a clamping device 26 with a clamping screw 27 which co-operates with a nut 28 which is pivotally disposed about a pivot pin 29. The pivot pin 29 is designed as a stub shaft which extends between the forward and rear side walls 24, 25, respectively of the body 1.

The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A load carrier foot which is disposed at each end portion of a load carrier strut (3) extending transversely over a vehicle roof, for securing the strut at opposing edge portions of the vehicle roof, comprising a body (1) in whose upper region the load carrier strut (3) is fixable, a base portion (2) which is disposed at the lower region of the body, is elongate in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is intended for abutment against the vehicle roof, a clamping member (11) for fixedly clamping the load carrier foot on the vehicle, and a clamping device (26) for actuating the clamping member (11), characterized in that the base portion (2) is, at one of its short ends (9, 10), of considerably greater thickness seen in the vertical direction of the vehicle than is the case at the opposite short end (10, 9).

2. The load carrier foot as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the base portion (2) has an upper portion (7) of substantially configurationally stable, rigid material, said upper portion being, seen in a direction in towards the longitudinal side of the vehicle, substantially cuneiform, and a substantially uniformly thick lower portion (8) of resiliently yieldable material.

3. The load carrier foot as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base portion (2) is provided in its upper side with an upwardly open recess (16, 17) for accommodating a lower anchorage portion (4, 5) of the body (1).

4. The load carrier foot as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the base portion (2) has a recess (16) in its forward short end (9) and a recess (17) in its rear short end (10), an anchorage portion (4, 5) being disposed in each respective recess; and that said recesses have defining walls (18, 19, respectively) which, at least forwardly and rearwardly match with the adjacent end edge regions of the anchorage portions (4, 5).

5. The load carrier foot as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the body (1) is connected to the base portion (2) by means of snap connections (20) which extend through apertures (21) in the body.