WO2001040024A1

WO2001040024A1 - Motor vehicle with attachment arrangement for a load carrier, and a load carrier

Info

Publication number: WO2001040024A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/002303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Andersson
Original assignee: Saab Automobile Ab
Priority date: 1999-12-03
Filing date: 2000-11-23
Publication date: 2001-06-07
Also published as: SE9904409L; AU2033201A; SE9904409D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle is provided with a built-in attachment arrangement (2) for mounting an external load carrier (3). The attachment arrangement (2) is arranged on an end portion of the vehicle and includes at least three attachments (5-8) built into the vehicle and arranged in a mutually spaced manner, at least two of the attachments (5, 6; 7, 8) being arranged in a mutually spaced manner in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The attachments are each arranged within the exterior of the vehicle and can, via an opening (11) in the outside of the vehicle, be brought into engagement with an attachment member (15) on a load carrier (3) adapted to fit the vehicle.

Description

Motor vehicle with attachment arrangement for a load carrier, and a load carrier

Technical field

The invention relates on the one hand to a motor vehicle with an attachment arrangement for an external load carrier, according to the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1, and on the other hand to a load carrier according to the precharacterizing clause of Claim 9.

State of the art

In many situations, there is a need to be able to transport a load externally on a motor vehicle. In this connection, transport is often effected by means of a roof-mounted load carrier, but it is nevertheless desirable in many situations to make handling the load easier by not having to lift the load, for example cycles, so high. If the vehicle is provided with a towing hook, it is possible to solve the problem by utilizing the towing hook as a mounting for a suitable load carrier which can be mounted when required and removed when no longer required. There are, however, a great many vehicles which do not have a towing hook and cannot therefore make use of this solution.

Various types of solution involving load carriers which are mounted on a bumper or its mountings, usually the rear bumper of a motor vehicle, have therefore been proposed.^ The disadvantages associated with such a solution include the fact that mounting is often difficult in itself, and the stability of the load carrier on the vehicle is often limited. Another disadvantage is that such a load carrier can be removed relatively easily by an unauthorized person. The object of the invention

The aim of the invention is to produce a vehicle and a load carrier which make possible simple and safe mounting of an external load carrier. Another aim is to make load-handling easy and to make it more difficult for unauthorized parties to remove the load or the load carrier from the vehicle.

Brief description of the invention

The aim of the invention is achieved on the one hand by means of a motor vehicle designed according to Claim 1 and on the other hand by means of a load carrier, adapted to fit the vehicle, according to Claim 9.

By providing a vehicle with an attachment arrangement from the outset when it is manufactured, which arrangement comprises a number of attachments, built into the vehicle and arranged in a mutually spaced manner, for a corresponding load carrier, it is always possible very easily to mount a load carrier intended for the purpose. By also locating the attachments within the exterior of the vehicle and making them accessible via openings in the outside of the vehicle, aesthetic advantages are achieved, at the same time as the attachments are located in a protected manner from the point of view of safety for fellow road-users. Another advantage is that the attachments are in this way afforded good protection against dirtying.

Locating the attachments in a mutually spaced manner contributes to a mounted load carrier having good stability. The protected location of the attachments in the vehicle is also advantageous for the positioning of a locking arrangement at at least one attachment, for securing the load carrier.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the description and patent claims below. The invention is explained in greater detail below by means of exemplary embodiments shown in the appended drawing.

Description of the figures

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view from the rear of a motor vehicle with an attachment arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a side view of a motor vehicle and a detached load carrier, and

Fig. 3 shows a partly sectional view of an attachment .

Description of exemplary embodiments

According to Figs 1 and 2, a motor vehicle 1 is provided with an attachment arrangement 2 at the rear for detachable external attachment of a load carrier 3 which is adapted to fit this attachment arrangement and is in this case designed for a load in the form of one or more cycles 4.

The attachment arrangement 2 includes a number of built-in attachments 5-8 which are arranged in the vehicle 1 in a mutually spaced manner and are all located higher than the rear bumper 9 of the vehicle. The attachments 5-8 are arranged in pairs on each side of the rear portion of the vehicle, essentially at the rear corners of the vehicle, with the attachments 5, 6 on the left side and the attachments 7, 8 on the right side. The attachments 5, 6 and the attachments 7, 8 are separated vertically so as to make stable attachment of a load carrier possible. The attachments 5-8 are located in a concealed and protected manner within the exterior of the vehicle and are each accessible via an opening, provided with a cover, in the outside of the vehicle. The design of such an attachment 6 can be seen in greater detail in Fig. 3. In the body 10 of the vehicle, there is, at the attachment 6, an opening 11 which can be closed by means of an associated cover 12 which can be, for example, pivotably attached to the body 10, suitably on the inside thereof. A little way inside the opening 11, there is a holder 13, formed in the chassis 20 of the vehicle, with a hole 14 for an attachment member 15 forming part of the load carrier 3. The attachment member 15 is provided, on its free end portion, with a locking recess 16 for interaction with a locking arrangement 17 by means of which the attachment member 15 and thus the load carrier 3 can be locked in the inserted position in the holder 13. Arranged on the attachment member 15 is a seal 18 for sealing the opening 11 from the outside in the mounted position of the load carrier 3.

In the embodiment shown here, the motor vehicle 1 has a total of four attachments 5-8. A load carrier 3 adapted to fit the vehicle cannot therefore have more than four attachment members 15, but it would also be possible to utilize a load carrier with only three attachment members 15, at least one of these three attachment members interacting with an attachment which is located higher than the others, this being advantageous for the stability of the load carrier on the vehicle. If only two attachments are used, less stable attachment of the load carrier is obtained, for which reason a solution of at least the "three-point type" is desirable. The location of the attachments on the vehicle can of course be selected in a manner other than according to the drawing, both vertically and laterally, as required and desired, but at least three attachments, located in a mutually spaced manner, are desirable. The attachments can be located at the front or at the rear on the vehicle, or both at the front and at the rear on the vehicle. In the embodiment shown, the attachments are of the female type, and the attachment members are of the male type, but the opposite is of course also possible. The load carrier 3 shown is in this case designed for cycles 4, but there is nothing to prevent it being designed as, for example, a lockable box for cycles or another type of equipment. The locking arrangement 17 can advantageously be remotely operated electrically. It can also be made operable from both the inside and the outside of the vehicle and, if appropriate, be made lockable by means of a key.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Motor vehicle, preferably of the passenger car type, provided with at least one attachment arrangement (2) for mounting at least one external load carrier

(3) , characterized in that the attachment arrangement

(2) is arranged on an end portion of the vehicle (1), in that the attachment arrangement includes at least three attachments (5-8) built into the vehicle and arranged in a mutually spaced manner, at least two of the attachments (5, 6; 7, 8) being located in a mutually spaced manner in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and in that the attachments can each be detachably interconnected with a corresponding attachment member (15) on a load carrier (3) intended for external mounting on the vehicle.

2. Motor vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that two of the attachments (5, 6; 7, 8) are located close to one side of the vehicle and are separated vertically.

3. Motor vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that there are four attachments (5-8), two being mounted in a vertically separated manner on each side of the vehicle.

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the attachments (5-8) are each arranged within the exterior of the vehicle and can, via an opening (11) in the outside of the vehicle, be brought into engagement with a load carrier (3) .

5. Motor vehicle according to Claim 4, characterized in that, at at least one of the attachments (5-8), there is a cover (12) on the vehicle for concealing the attachment when it is not in use.

6. Motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that at least one of the attachments (5-8) is provided with a locking arrangement (17) for securing a mounted load carrier (3) .

7. Motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1-6, characterized in that the attachment arrangement (2) is arranged on the rear portion of the vehicle.

8. Motor vehicle according to any one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the attachment arrangement (2) is arranged higher than a bumper (9).

9. Load carrier for a motor vehicle provided with an attachment arrangement (2) for an external load carrier, characterized in that it is provided with at least three attachment members (15) which are arranged in a mutually spaced manner and are intended for interconnection with corresponding attachments (5-8) arranged within the exterior of the vehicle, and in that each attachment member is designed so as to be capable of being inserted into its respective opening (11) in the outside of the vehicle..

10. Load carrier according to Claim 9, characterized in that there are four attachment members (15), and in that they are mounted in pairs, at a spacing from one another.

11. Load carrier according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one of the attachment members (15) is designed so as to interact with a locking arrangement (17) in the vehicle, for securing a mounted load carrier.