Roof rack with an indication device for a load carrier foot.

Background of the Invention

Roof racks are widely used for the transport of sports items and equipment, such as skis, bags, suitcases, packages, bicycles, etc. Roof rack brackets generally have a support beam located across the roof, as well as the first and second support feet, which the feet are attached to the roof. Because there are a great many different vehicles available on the market, the market requires adjustable roof rack brackets with movable fasteners so that these racks fit the various dimensions and types of vehicles. Roof rack brackets typically extend across the entire width of the vehicle roof in the transverse direction, perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicles. It is therefore important that the distance between the first and second support feet can be adjusted.

One type of adjustable roof rack bracket has a support beam with a slot in which the support foot can easily be attached. US4778092A describes such a roof rack bracket according to the preamble of claim 1. Thanks to this gap, the distance between the first and second support feet can be easily adjusted. One problem with this type of luggage carrier is that the user who mounts the luggage carrier to the roof of the vehicle must determine the appropriate length of the bracket between the support feet and adjust accordingly

EP 2 492 149 position of the feet when mounting the brackets on the vehicle. In order to simplify this operation, you can put stickers on the support beam or print appropriate markings, e.g. on a plastic cover covering the support beam. However, the stickers may be attached incorrectly and the plastic caps may shrink, e.g. due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. As a result, the position indicated by the plastic cover or sticker may be misleading or simply wrong.

During vehicle movement, turbulence may occur around openings, depressions and protruding parts of the support beam. Such turbulence causes noise and also increases the air resistance of the support beam. It is also known that the above-mentioned solutions increase the turbulence (turbulence) of the air around the support beam and feet, because the air passes through fragments of holes in which the support feet are attached and exposed to the momentum of flowing air. When the air flows through the lumen exposed to the air stream, turbulence arises around the lumen, which can cause high noise levels, especially at high speeds.

Another solution is a plastic strip that can be cut to the right length. Such a predefined length, appropriate for a given type of vehicle, can be given in the paper operating manual of the product or on the appropriate website on the Internet. After trimming the slat to the appropriate length, it can be fixed in the slot of the support beam, and the support feet can then be permanently fixed in the same slot in a given position, which is physically determined by the length of the plastic strip properly cut before installation. This solution is not very flexible in the sense of enabling the change of the position of the support feet. After cutting the plastic strip to a certain length, the solution allows only little or no possibility of re-mounting the trunk. It is also not a user-friendly solution because it requires a tool to trim the strip.

So there is a need to develop a solution that could be adapted to different vehicles and would be less sensitive to conditions

EP 2 492 149 atmospheric and assembly parameters and which would allow easy operation by the user during subsequent operation. This solution should additionally be aimed at reducing air turbulence to reduce noise levels.

Description of the invention

The object of the present invention is to solve, or at least reduce or provide a useful alternative to the problems and difficulties mentioned above. These objectives were met by the vehicle roof rack bracket as defined in Claim 1.

The present invention provides a roof rack bracket easy to assemble in a manufacturing plant or as self-assembly by the end user, which can then be easily positioned and installed on the vehicle. The present invention also provides a universal roof rack bracket that can be mounted on many vehicles of various sizes while ensuring a good fit for each vehicle.

According to one aspect of the invention, the reference point is placed on or defined by the support beam. The reference point may be part of the gap, as described below, and used in conjunction with the indicator device to determine the appropriate position of the support feet. Alternatively, the reference point may be a protruding element, bead, or any other component of the support beam suitable for positioning the support foot.

For easy positioning of the support foot relative to the support beam, it is possible to move the indicator device along the support beam. This is made possible by a narrow mechanism that can be mounted inside the support beam and which can be moved when the vehicle is stationary and the gap or hole is not exposed to the momentum of the flowing air, thanks to which the turbulence level around the support beam is kept low. The indicator device has the form of a bar with a scale, so it can be used together with a support beam equipped with chambers to improve the rigidity of the support beam.

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Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the indicator rod can be located at least partially inside the support beam.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the support beam 5 has a slit and the indicator bar is positioned so that it can move in or near the slit and is visible in the slit. This aspect of the invention uses the gap as a reference point and requires little or no manipulation with the support beam itself except for the gap.

According to one aspect of the invention, the support beam gap is an open gap at both ends and is located on one side of the support beam. This design allows easy insertion of the indicator rod and the support foot.

According to one aspect of the invention, both the indicator rod and the support foot are positioned in the gap in a displaceable manner. This design is simple and ensures economic efficiency of production.

The indicator rod has an elongated shape, thanks to which it can be used together with bearing beams equipped with chambers designed to increase the stiffness of the beam. Such support beams can support more loads with a higher weight.

According to one aspect of the invention, the indicator rod has an upper portion made so that it is visible in the support beam gap, and a support portion made so that it can abut against the support surfaces of the support beam. The indicator rod is secured inside the support beam, at the same time sealing any gap openings reducing noise caused by air turbulence.

In order to prevent accidental movement of the indicator rod, the support beam has guide elements that prevent the indicator rod from moving in the transverse direction relative to the support beam while allowing the rod to move in the longitudinal direction relative to the support beam. In embodiments, when the beam

The support structure has walls separating separate chambers inside the support beam, such walls can be used as guide elements for the indicator rod.

According to one aspect of the invention, the guide elements 5 may be formed by the first and second flanges or by a whole series of elements projecting above the level of the inner surface of the support beam.

Optionally, the guide elements can be formed by a recess in the wall of the support beam.

The present invention also includes a method for mounting the roof rack bracket 10 as described in Claim 11.

This method allows you to assemble a roof rack bracket with at least one adjustable support foot in a simple but effective manner.

This method also includes the step of blocking the support foot in a predetermined position. The term "blocking" in the present context is intended to mean that the support foot is attached to the support beam of the device sufficiently stable so that the roof rack bracket can be used together with a load carrying vehicle with a permissible load attached to the support beam.

According to one aspect of the invention, the roof rack bracket is a roof bracket according to the version of the invention described herein.

It should be noted that even when some aspect of the present invention is described for one support foot and one end of the support beam, the roof bracket has the first and second support foot, as well as the first and second ends of the support beam. Hence, one support foot or both feet may have the feature described here (features described), as well as one end of the support beam or both its ends may have the feature (s) described here.

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Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is described in more detail with references to drawings accompanying the description, among which:

Fig. 1a shows the parts of the roof rack bracket with a support beam and with the first and second support feet attached to the roof rails (vehicle railings) for a given vehicle embodiment.

Fig. 1b shows the parts of the roof rack bracket from Fig. 1 in a view towards the lower side or the underside of the roof bracket and the support beam.

Fig. 2 shows an indicator rod in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3a - 3b show various views of the indicator rod shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4a shows parts of the support beam without the indicator bar and without the support foot in Fig. 1a and 1b.

Fig. 4b shows parts of the support beam from Fig. 1a and 1b together with the indicator rod before assembling together with the support foot, and

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of the support beam from Fig. 1a and 1b.

Detailed description of preferred versions of the invention

Figures 1a-1b show the roof rack bracket 10 for a vehicle 11 having a roof 12. In this case, the vehicle is a car. The roof rack bracket 10 consists of a support beam 13 and a first support foot 14 mounted near the first end 15 of the support beam 13 on the rail 16 of the vehicle 11. The second support foot (not shown in the figure) attaches the support beam 13 to the second rail (railing) (not shown in the figure) on the opposite side of the vehicle 11. Various types of luggage can be placed on the support beam, such as sports equipment, i.e. bicycles, kayaks, skis, etc., travel equipment such as bags, suitcases, etc., or other

EP 2 492 149 car accessories such as lockable roof racks, bicycle stands, etc.

In order to determine the directions, it was assumed that the support beam 13 extends in the longitudinal direction to the length L and is located across the vehicle 11, illustrated by the OY axis in Fig. 1a-1b. The height of the vehicle 11, support beam 13 and support foot 14 is illustrated by the OX axis, while the longitudinal direction of the vehicle corresponds to Fig. 1a-1b of the OZ axis. Fig. 1a shows the roof bracket 10 seen towards the rear side of the support beam 13, while Fig.

1b shows the bottom side of the support beam 13. The axes OX, OY and OZ are mutually perpendicular.

The position of the first support foot 14 can be adjusted, as indicated by arrow A, in the longitudinal direction L of the support beam 13 and parallel to the axis

OY in Fig. 1a-1b between various positions. Depending on the distance between the vehicle rails (railings) 11, or more generally, between the two attachment points of the first and second support foot 14, the position of at least the first support foot 14 can be adjusted along the length of the support beam 13 so as to allow mounting of the luggage carrier 10 on various vehicles of different dimensions. The position of the second support foot can also be adjusted if desired, although for the purposes of the present invention it is possible to adjust the position of the first and / or second support foot.

The roof bracket 10 has an indicator device in the form of an indicator bar 31. The indicator bar 31 is movably arranged on the roof bracket 10, and in the version of the invention presented here for the support beam 13 provides the possibility of determining a wide range of different positions of the support foot, as will be described in detail below.

Fig. 2 shows one version of the indicator rod 31. The indicator rod 31 is located in the longitudinal direction and has a T-shaped cross-section, also shown in Fig. 3a and Fig. 5.

The upper part 32 of the rod is substantially perpendicular to the support element 33.

As can be seen, a scale ruler or at least a number of reference points are provided on the upper part 32. In Fig. 2 these reference points are

EP 2 492 149 illustrated by means of a ruler with a metric scale, as shown in the enlarged fragment Fig. 2.

As can be seen in Fig. 2 - Fig. 3b, the indicator rod 31 has first and second ends 34, 35. The first end of the indicator rod 31 is designed to allow the quick and easy placement of the indicator rod 31 in the support beam 13. In the version shown here the first end 34 is cut at an angle, which facilitates insertion into the support beam. At the other end 35 of the indicator rod 31 there is a stop surface 36. The surface of the limiter has the shape of a protruding flange 37. The surface of the limiter 36 is designed to mate with the surface of the support beam 13 and prevent the indicator bar from being inserted too far into the support beam 13, while providing the user with a grip surface enabling the indicator bar 31 to be moved.

Fig. 3a shows the indicator rod 31 seen towards the first end 34 of the indicator rod 31. Figure 3a also shows the upper part 32, the support part 33 and the stop surface 36 formed by the flange 37. As can also be seen, the upper part 32 and the part cantilever 33 have a shape substantially reminiscent of a flat plate. Fig. 3b shows the indicator rod 31 seen in the direction of one of the longitudinal sides of the indicator rod 31. In Fig. 3a, the upper part 32, the cantilever part 33 and the stop surface 36 made as a flange 37 protruding above the surface of the upper part 32 can also be seen.

Figures 4a-4b show the elements of the support beam 13, and more precisely the first end 15 of the support beam 13 in a view from the bottom side 20 of the support beam 13.

After mounting the support beam on the rails 15 of the vehicle 11, the lower side 20 is to be facing the roof surface 12 of the vehicle 11.

The support beam 13 is made of extruded aluminum with a cross-section essentially similar to that of an aircraft wing, as shown in Fig. 5, however it can also be made of other materials, e.g. steel, cast iron, carbon fiber material, plastic, etc. and may also have a different cross-section, such as, e.g., an oval, rectangular or cross-section

EP 2 492 149 similar. As shown in Fig. 5, the support beam 13 has a lower side 20, upper side 21, front side 22 and rear side 23. The support beam 13 also has an internal space 24 limited by external walls, i.e. lower, upper, front and rear pages 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the support beam 13. The inner space is divided into various chambers 24a, 24b and 24c, which gives the support beam 13 the appropriate rigidity.

As can be seen in Fig. 4a-4b, inside the support beam 13 there is an empty space where the support foot connection element 14 is used to attach the support foot 14 to the support beam 13 and made to place the indicator rod 31 there, which allows to set the support foot in a predetermined position. This empty space can be formed by the elements of the support beam 13 or by other elements attached to this beam. This hollow space is preferably formed by the support beam 13, and more preferably by the inner space 24, or also parts 24a, 24b, 24c of the inner space and parts of the side walls of the support beam 13. The hollow space can be made in the form of a lumen, opening or shaped chamber so that the indicator rod 31 can be placed there allowing the positioning of the support foot 14 in a predetermined position.

The indicator bar 31 allows the user to position the support foot 14 using the indicator bar 31, which will be described in more detail below.

In the illustrated version of the invention, the hollow space is made as a gap 40, which extends from the first end 15 of the support beam 13 in the longitudinal direction of the support beam 13. The slot 40 is made in such a way that it can be seen in the indicator rod 31 as shown in Fig. 4b, when the indicator rod 31 is inserted into the support beam 13, and at the same time the first end 15 of the support beam 13 is sealed by an end plug 60 attached to the first end 15 of the support beam 13. In the embodiment shown, the gap 40 is open at both ends, i.e. is not completely limited by the wall of the bottom side 20 of the support beam 13, so the end plug 60 also seals, in other words - limits the gap 40 when assembled with the support beam 13. Cutout 41 from the bottom side

EP 2 492 149 made in the gap 40 near the first end 15 of the support beam 13 serves as a lock assembly 42 cooperating with the flange element 61 of the end plug 60.

The slot 40 has a first end 42. The first end 42 of the slot

400 it is open at the end, as mentioned above, but after mounting the end plug 60, it is sealed and bounded by the flange member 61 of the end plug 60. The other end 43 of the gap 40 limits the longitudinal extent of the gap 40 towards the other end (not shown) of the support beam 13.

The gap is further limited by the first and second lateral longitudinal edges 44, 45, which define the width W of the gap. Instead of a gap 40, a hole may be used. For such an embodiment, the opening is completely delimited by the wall of the bottom side 20 of the support beam 13.

Fig. 4b shows the indicator rod 31 after inserting it inside

24 the support beam 13 and after mounting the end plug 60 on the support beam 13. The flange 37 protrudes through the gap between the first and second longitudinal edge 44, 45 of the slot and also prevents the indicator rod 31 from moving out of the gap 40. After inserting the indicator rod 31 it can only move along the support beam between different positions. Each position can be pre-set or predetermined by means of reference points marked on the upper part 32 of the indicator rod 31. The indicator rod 31 thus allows the user to position the support foot 13 by means of the indicator device 30, which serves directly or indirectly as a position indicator . It can be used directly if the indicator rod 31 is used to directly indicate the desired position of the support foot 14 or indirectly if it is used to position the second element, which in turn directly or indirectly indicates the desired position of the support foot. After determining the position of the indicator rod, as shown in Fig. 4b, the support foot 14 can be locked on the support beam 13 in the indicated position determined either by the indicating device 30 or by the indicator rod 31.

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The cantilever portion 33 of the indicator rod 31 is located near the abutment surface 50 of the support beam 13, as shown in Fig. 5. The abutment surface 50 of the support bar 13 helps the cantilever portion 33 of the indicator rod 31 to maintain the alignment of the upper part 32 of the indicator rod 31 relative to the inner surface 20a side 20 of the support beam 13, due to which the upper surface is clearly visible in the gap 40. The inner surface 20a of the bottom side 20 of the support beam 13 also has a first and second flange 51, 52, which extends along the support beam 13 parallel to the slot 40 of the support beam 13. The indicator rod 31 is guided by the first and second flange 51, 52 of the inner bottom surface 20a side 20 of the support beam 13 and held in place relative to the transverse direction, i.e. the OZ axis, as shown in Fig. 1b, and at the same time has the ability to move in the longitudinal direction L of the support beam 13. An alternative solution to the first and second flanges 51, 52, which extend in the longitudinal direction L of the support beam 13, is the use of multiple separate flange elements, projections or recesses in the wall which will be on the inner surface 20a of the bottom side 20 of the support beam 13.

The indicator rod 31 can be made in very many ways and have different shapes. For example, the cross-section of the indicator rod may be round, square-like, triangular or any other polygonal shape, other shapes are also possible. Other movable display devices are also possible, but it is important that the display device is made in a way that allows repeatable readings in various positions. This solution allows the use of an indicator device to properly adjust the distance between the first and second support foot according to the requirements of various vehicles.

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