WO2021217198A1

WO2021217198A1 - Extendable guard rail for a cargo platform

Info

Publication number: WO2021217198A1
Application number: PCT/AU2021/050365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tarek Alfakhrany; Adam Connellan
Original assignee: Rhino Rack Australia Pty Limited
Priority date: 2020-04-29
Filing date: 2021-04-23
Publication date: 2021-11-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to an extendable guard rail for a vehicle-mounted cargo platform, comprising a stationary first rail that extends along an axis substantially parallel to a surface of the cargo platform, the first rail having a seat region extending along a portion of its length, a slidable second rail that extends along the axis, the second rail having a complementary engagement region shaped to sit atop the seat region of the first rail, and a fixing means, wherein the engagement region is able to slide along the seat region.

Description

EXTENDABLE GUARD RAI L FOR A CARGO PLATFORM

PRI ORI TY DETAI LS

[0001 ] The present application claims priority from 2020901345, filed in Australia on 29 April 3030, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNI CAL FI ELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of luggage transport accessories for vehicles, and more specifically to the field of roof platforms.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Vehicle-mounted roof platforms for cargo often benefit from having at least one guard rail. The guard rail provides security to prevent cargo from sliding off, and can also provide at least one ‘tie-down’ point for straps, rope and sim ilar.

[0004] As technology moves towards modular solutions, the ability to provide cargo platforms in an array of sizes - or in a format enabling the size to be adjusted - has become easier and more economical to achieve. However, prior art guard rails are yet to become similarly adaptable. Prior art solutions tend to comprise fixed guard rails wherein one purchases the size(s) required, or alternatively comprise telescopic rails.

[0005] There is a clear benefit in providing alternative solutions that overcome at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art.

Dl SCLOSURE OF THE I NVENTI ON

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an extendable guard rail for a vehicle-mounted cargo platform, comprising a stationary first rail that extends along an axis substantially parallel to a surface of the cargo platform, the first rail having a seat region extending along a portion of its length, a slidable second rail that extends along the axis, the second rail having a complementary engagement region shaped to sit atop the seat region of the first rail, and a fixing means, wherein the engagement region is able to slide along the seat region thereby sliding the second rail, parallel to the axis, relative to the first rail, and engagement of the fixing means fixes the engagement region at a position along the seat region.

[0007] In an embodiment the seat region may comprise a vertically-oriented plate, and the engagement region may comprise either an inverted “L” or inverted “U” cross-section arranged to at least partially straddle the vertically- oriented plate of the seat region.

[0008] In an embodiment the seat region may comprise a plate having a vertically-oriented plate face, and the engagement region may comprise a “C” cross-section having at least a top flange and bottom flange that rest against an upper surface and lower surface of the plate, respectively.

[0009] In an embodiment, the fixing means may comprise an array of receiving apertures positioned along either the seat region of the first rail or the engagement region of the second rail, at least one fixing aperture positioned on the other of the engagement region or the seat region, and a fixing pin able to extend through the fixing aperture and a particular one of the array of receiving apertures when the particular receiving aperture and the fixing aperture are aligned.

[0010] In an embodiment the fixing aperture or receiving apertures that are positioned on the engagement region open on only an inner face of the engagement region that faces the seat region of the first rail.

[0011 ] In an embodiment the fixing means may comprise one or more fixing structures on the seat region, and at least one complementary fixing structure on the engagement region of the second rail, the fixing structure and complementary fixing structure engaging with one another to inhibit the ability of the second rail to slide, and the fixing structure and complementary fixing structure are able to be selectively disengaged to enable the second rail to be slid relative to the first rail. [0012] In an embodiment the fixing structure may comprise a locking pin or locking recess, and the complementary fixing structure may comprise the other of the locking recess or locking pin.

[0013] In an embodiment the stationary first rail may comprise a further seat region, and a further slidable second rail is arranged to sit thereupon, such that the extendable guard rail is extendable in a first direction along the axis by movement of the slidable second rail along the seat region, and in an opposing second direction along the axis by movement of the further slidable second rail along the further seat region.

[0014] In an embodiment the extendable guard rail may further comprise a mounting element configured to engage with the cargo platform.

[0015] In an embodiment the cargo platform may comprise at least one C- shaped channel, and the mounting element may comprise a channel nut configured to engage with the C-shaped channel, wherein the mounting element is able to slide therealong, enabling a horizontal position of the guard rail upon the cargo platform to be adjusted, and upon tightening the channel nut, the mounting element frictionally engages with the C-shaped channel, thereby fixing the guard rail in position.

[0016] In an embodiment the extendable guard rail may further comprise a vertical element downwardly extending between at least one of the first component and the second component and the mounting element, wherein the vertical element may comprise a first vertical component, and a second vertical component configured to engage with and vertically slide relative to the first component, such that a vertical height of the guard rail is adjustable.

[0017] Further embodiments may be disclosed herein or otherwise become apparent to the person skilled in the art through the disclosure contained in this specification. These embodiments are considered to fall within the scope of the invention. DESCRI PTI ON OF FI GURES

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in relation to figures, wherein:

Figures 1A & 1 B depict an embodiment of the invention in retracted and extended configurations;

Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of a seat region;

Figures 3A-3C depict cross-sections of various embodiments of interface between a seat region and an engagement region;

Figures 4, 5A & 5B depict embodiments of a fixing means; and

Figure 6 depicts an embodiment of the invention having extendable vertical elements.

DETAI LED DESCRI PTI ON OF PREFERRED EM BODI MENTS [0019] In a first aspect, the present invention comprises an extendable guard rail for a vehicle-mounted cargo platform, comprising a stationary first rail and a slidable second rail. In an embodiment, the first rail comprises a seat region extending for a portion of a length thereof, and the second rail comprises an engagement region that sits atop the seat region such that the second rail can slide therealong, thereby enabling the first and second rails to slide relative to one another and thus adjusting the length of the guard rail. Without limiting the scope of the invention through theory, it is envisaged that this may enable an embodiment of the guard rail to be used on cargo platforms of differing sizes. This may enable simplification of construction and improvement in manufacturing costs, due to eliminating the need for a range of sizes to be produced.

[0020] An embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figures 1A and 1 B. In at least the described embodiment, the present invention may comprise a first rail 10 and a second rail 12 that are each substantially aligned to axis 14, wherein the first rail 10 comprises a seat region 16. The engagement region 18 of the second rail 12 is configured to engage with the seat region 16 and allow the second rail 12 to slide therealong parallel to the axis 14, thereby enabling the length of the guard rail to be altered. In an embodiment the guard rail may further comprise a fixing means 20, engagement of which fixes the engagement region at a position along the seat region 16. [0021 ] In at least one embodiment and with reference to Figures 2 and 3A-3C, the seat region 16 may comprise a vertically-oriented plate 16A and the engagement region has a cross-section complementary in shape to the seat region 16. With reference to Figure 3A, in at least one embodiment, the engagement region may comprise a complementary inverted-L-shaped structure that sits flush to a face of the vertical plate 16A, with a horizontally-oriented flange that rests atop the vertical plate 16A. In an alternate embodiment as depicted in 3B, the engagement region may comprise a complementary inverted-U-shaped structure that straddles the vertical plate 16A of the seat region 16. In a further alternate embodiment as depicted in Figure 3C, the engagement region may comprise a C-shaped structure with upper and lower flanges that rest against the upper and lower surfaces of the vertical plate 16A. In either the “L” or “C” embodiments, the flange or flanges may be shaped to ‘grip’ the vertical plate 16A to prevent accidental disengagement of the second rail 12 from the first rail 10.

[0022] With reference to Figure 4, in an embodiment the engagement region may comprise an array of receiving apertures 16A-F. In such an embodiment, the seat region may comprise at least one fixing aperture 18. In an alternate embodiment, the array of receiving apertures 16A-F may be on the seat region, and the at least one fixing aperture on the engagement region of the second rail 12. In either embodiment, the second rail 12 may thus be fixable in a position relative to the first rail 10 by extending a pin (not shown) through the fixing aperture 18 and into engagement with one of the array of receiving apertures 16 A-F. In an embodiment, the pin may comprise a threaded bolt, a rivet, an unthreaded pin or any similar object suitable for locking the relative positions of the first rail 10 and second rail 12 by extending through aligned apertures.

[0023] In an embodiment, the receiving apertures 16A-F may not extend entirely through the second rail 12, such that they are only open on one side to receive the pin. This may enable the pin to be obscured from view on an ‘outer’ side of the guard rail. [0024] In an alternate embodiment and with reference to Figures 5A & 5B, the fixing means rail may comprise one or more fixing structures 26 on the seat region 16, and the engagement region of the second rail 12 may comprise at least one complementary fixing structure 28, wherein the fixing structure 26 and complementary fixing structure 28 engage with one another to inhibit the ability of the second rail to slide. In one exemplary embodiment and as depicted in Figures 5A & 5B, the fixing structure 26 and complementary fixing structure 28 may comprise one or more notches and complementary pins, pawls, teeth or similar structures.

[0025] In one such embodiment, the fixing structure 26 and complementary fixing structure 28 may be disengaged from one another by moving the second rail in a lateral direction that is at least partially perpendicular to axis 14, thereby enabling the second rail 12 to be slid along the seat region. Alternatively, one of the fixing structure 26 and complementary fixing structure may be actuable so as to retract or disengage from the other. Actuation may be through pressing a button, moving a lever or dial, or turning a rotatable mechanism located on either the first rail 10 or second rail 12.

[0026] As the skilled person will appreciate, embodiments of the present invention may be mounted to a cargo platform through any conventional means known in the art. By way of non-limiting example, one means may comprise the guard rail mounting elements 30 having channel nuts that slide into and engage with one or more channels upon a surface of the cargo platform. Depending on the configuration of the cargo platform and the arrangement of channels thereupon, an embodiment of the present invention could be mounted to the cargo platform in a plurality of different arrangements. The skilled person will therefore appreciate that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to being guard rails that are arranged about a periphery of the cargo platform; rather, the embodiments disclosed herein may be adapted for attachment to any suitable position upon the cargo platform without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention and with reference to Figure 6, the vertical elements 32 may be extendable as well. In such an embodiment, a height of the guard rail above the cargo platform may be adjustable. In a further embodiment, the vertical element 32 may comprise elements similar in form and function to the first rail 10 and second rail 12 as discussed above, albeit oriented to extend along a different axis. For example, the vertical element 32 may comprise a first vertical component 34 and a second vertical component 34 that engage with one another in order to provide the vertical element 32. The second vertical component 34 may be able to slide along the first vertical component 34 to enable the height of the first rail 10 and second rail 12 above the cargo platform to be adjustable.

[0028] The skilled person will appreciate that although the vertical elements 32 depicted in Figure 1 are orientated diagonally, the term ‘sliding vertically’ should be interpreted to include sliding diagonally as well as sliding in any other direction that induces a change in height of the guard rail. The term ‘sliding vertically’ is not to be interpreted in a strictly literal manner.

[0029] Unless clearly indicated otherwise, the various embodiments disclosed above may be combined without departing from the scope of the present invention. Unless clearly indicated otherwise, no disclosure or explanation should be construed as denoting any two embodiments as being mutually exclusive of one another.

[0030] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms, variations and modifications other than those specifically described. The invention includes all such variation and modifications. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, components and/or devices referred to or indicated in the specification, individually or collectively and any and all combinations or any two or more of the steps or features.

[0031 ] In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the word “comprising” is not intended to have the exclusive meaning of the word such as “consisting only of”, but rather has the non-exclusive meaning, in the sense of “including at least”. The same applies, with corresponding grammatical changes, to other forms of the word such as “comprise”, etc.

[0032] Other definitions for selected terms used herein may be found within the detailed description of the invention and apply throughout. Unless otherwise defined, all other scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs.

[0033] Any promises made in the present document should be understood to relate to some embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to be promises made about the invention in all embodiments. Where there are promises that are deemed to apply to all embodiments of the invention, the applicant/patentee reserves the right to later delete them from the description and they do not rely on these promises for the acceptance or subsequent grant of a patent in any country.

Claims

CLAI MS

1. An extendable guard rail for a vehicle-mounted cargo platform, the guard rail comprising: a stationary first rail that extends along an axis substantially parallel to a surface of the cargo platform, the first rail having a seat region extending along a portion of its length; a slidable second rail that extends along the axis, the second rail having a complementary engagement region shaped to sit atop the seat region of the first rail; and a fixing means; wherein the engagement region is able to slide along the seat region thereby sliding the second rail, parallel to the axis, relative to the first rail; and engagement of the fixing means fixes the engagement region at a position along the seat region.

2. The extendable guard rail of claim 1 wherein the seat region comprises a vertically-oriented plate; and the engagement region comprises either an inverted “L” or inverted “U” cross-section arranged to at least partially straddle the vertically- oriented plate of the seat region.

3. The extendable guard rail of claim 1 wherein the seat region comprises a plate having a vertically-oriented plate face; and the engagement region comprises a “C” cross-section having at least a top flange and bottom flange that rest against an upper surface and lower surface of the plate, respectively.

4. The extendable guard rail of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing means comprises: an array of receiving apertures positioned along either the seat region of the first rail or the engagement region of the second rail; at least one fixing aperture positioned on the other of the engagement region or the seat region; and a fixing pin able to extend through the fixing aperture and a particular one of the array of receiving apertures when the particular receiving aperture and the fixing aperture are aligned.

5. The extendable guard rail of claim 4 wherein the fixing aperture or receiving apertures that are positioned on the engagement region open on only an inner face of the engagement region that faces the seat region of the first rail.

6. The extendable guard rail of any one of claims 1 -3, wherein the fixing means comprises: one or more fixing structures on the seat region, and at least one complementary fixing structure on the engagement region of the second rail; the fixing structure and complementary fixing structure engaging with one another to inhibit the ability of the second rail to slide; further wherein the fixing structure and complementary fixing structure are able to be selectively disengaged to enable the second rail to be slid relative to the first rail.

7. The extendable guard rail of claim 6 wherein: the fixing structure comprises a locking pin or locking recess; and the complementary fixing structure comprises the other of a locking recess or locking pin.

8. The extendable guard rail of any one of the above claims, wherein the stationary first rail comprises a further seat region; and a further slidable second rail is arranged to sit thereupon; such that the extendable guard rail is extendable in a first direction along the axis by movement of the slidable second rail along the seat region, and in an opposing second direction along the axis by movement of the further slidable second rail along the further seat region.

9. The extendable guard rail of any one of the above claims, further comprising a mounting element configured to engage with the cargo platform.

10. The extendable guard rail of claim 9 wherein the cargo platform comprises at least one C-shaped channel; and the mounting element comprises a channel nut configured to engage with the C-shaped channel; wherein the mounting element is able to slide therealong, enabling a horizontal position of the guard rail upon the cargo platform to be adjusted; and upon tightening the channel nut, the mounting element frictionally engages with the C-shaped channel, thereby fixing the guard rail in position.

11. The extendable guard rail of claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising a vertical element downwardly extending between at least one of the first component and the second component and the mounting element; wherein the vertical element comprises a first vertical component; and a second vertical component configured to engage with and vertically slide relative to the first component; such that a vertical height of the guard rail is adjustable.