Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~067049
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automobile luggage racks frequently employ two
separate subassemblies or portions: a rectangular framework which
surrounds the load to be carried and a plurality of slats which rest
on the roof or other automobile body surface and carry the weight of
Ithe load. In such constructions the framework and the slats are often
secured to the automobile body indepcndent~ of one another or the
slats are connected to the body through the framework by means of
special cross straps. In still another automobile luggage or article
carrier, the means of confining the luggage and support.llg its weight
are formed into one unitar~ welded tubular assembly.
Some luggage racks or article carricrs havc becn
designed to be sccurc(l on all automobilc body by flcxiblc straps or
the likc and arc rclativcly casily removablc from thc automol~ilc.
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``~uch carriers, however, have not enjoycd great popularity. They
have generally been quite unsightly and their bulk and weight have made
their removal and storage raliher difficult. Accordingly, most
automobilc owners desiring a luggage rack have favoreà the type of
luggage rack which is permanently mounted on the ~ehicle. The
one type of article carrier of the removable type which is in common
use is a so-called "ski rack". Ski racks have traditionally been
somewhat awkward to install on and remove from an automobile.
Also, the presence of a luggage rack on an automobile has frequently
interferred with the use of a ski rack.
I~ my prior United States Patent No. Re. 26, 539, I
disclosed a luggage carrier having cross bars which can be adjusted
to accommodate loads of varying size. This construction has
achieved significant commercial success. Nevertheless, some
problems have been experienced in adapting this type of luggage
- carrier to the carrying of certain types of loads, including skis.
While this type of carrier does provide an ~nproved degree of
flexibility in its use, it is believed that a need exists for a luggage
rack which has the attractive appearance of modern permanently
mounted luggage carriers but which possess a degree c` removability
and greater adaptability to varying loads.
SUMl\'l~RY OF TI-lE INVE:NTION
.
The prescnt invention is distinguisl-cd l~y its use of
spccially constru(:ted lo;lcl supportillg sl;lts ~vhicll also provicle thc
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means of attachmcnt of the article securing mcmbcr to thc automobile
i~ody. Such article securing member may consist of ~ rectan~ular
framework, raised cross bars, ski racks, tie-down members or
any other desired article securing device. 'rhe slats are decorative
in appearance and perform the usual slat functions of reinforcing the
roof, trunk lid or other body surface on which they are mounted
and holding luggage or other objects to be carried out of contact with .
the painted finish of the automobile. However, they serve the added
function of providing an attachment location for one or more article
securing members. The slats maintain a low profile on the
automobile surface and are designed to be left on the auto~nobile
by themselves without any remaining portion of the carrier> if
desired. Special end caps may be used to cover up the ends of
me slats. These end caps may incorporate eyelets by which straps
or ropes can be attached to the automobile for tying down luggage.
In one form of the invention the slats are formed with
upwardly facing channels in which a nut is slidable. The means of
attachment of the article securing member to the slat includes a
screw which is threaded into the nut so as to draw the nut against
a clamping surface of the slat. The slat is of greater width than
height, providing a broad article supporting surface. These surfaces
may be used cooperatively with the clamping surfaces of the slats
for locking an article securing member in place.
Among the objects of the present invention are the
provision of an article carricr for an automobile in which all portions
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~f the article carrier which project to any appreciable degree above
the body surface on which it is mounted may be conveniently removed,
adjusted in position, interchanged and/or reinstalled. It is another
object of the present invention to provide an article carrier of the
foregoing type which is adapted for use with a wide variety of
article securing members such as a ski rack, a cross bar, an article
confining framework, tie-down eyelets and the like. It is still
another object of the present invention to provide an article carrier
of the foregoing type which helps to protect the finish of *he
automobile body, is attractive in appearance, structurally reinforces
the surface of the automobile body to which it is secured, may be
manufactured at a reasonable cost and is highly convenient to use
and is readiiy adapted to carrying a wide variety of loads.
In one particular aspect the present invention provides an
article carrier for an automobile including a plurality of parallel
slats fixedly secured on an exterior body surface of the automobile
and lying closely against said surface, supporting surfaces on the
upper sides of said slats and upwardly open channel means providing
clamping surfaces in other locations of said slats, each of said
slats having major and minor dimensions in transverse cross section,
with said major dimensions being parallel to said body surface and
said supporting surface, an article supporting member mounted on at
least one of said slats and projecting upwardly therefrom and
clamping means connecte~ to said article supporting member and
engageable with the clamping surface of said at least one slat to
secure said member thereto, said clamping means being movable
longitudinally along substantially the entire length of said slat
and being readily loosened for the removal of said member from said
carrier.
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BRIE_F DESCRIPTION~OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile
showing an article carrier mounted thereon which is constructed in
accordance with the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion
of the structure illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure
illustrated in Fig~tre 1 taken along line 3-3 thereof;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in
Figure 3 taken along the line 4-4 thereof;
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Figure 5 is a sectional vicw of thc structur~ illustratcd
in Figure 1 taken along the line 5-5 thercof;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated
in Figure 5 taken along the line ~-6 thereof;
S Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view oE the structure
illustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line 7-7 thereof;
Figure 8 is a view of structure similarly illustrated
in Figure 7 showing a modified form of the invention,
Figure 9 i8 a sectional view of the structure illustrated
in Figure 8 taken along the line 9-9 thereof;
~ Figure 10 is a view of structure similarly illustrated
in Figure 7 showing still another form of the present invention;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of structure similarly
iLlustrated in Figure 7 showing a still further form of the present
invention;
Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the
cross bar removed and a pair of ski carriers installed on the slats;
E'igure 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure
illustrated in Figure 12 taken along the line 13-13 thereo~;
Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified
form of the present invention illustrating an alternative slat con-
~truction and an alternative method of attaching an article securing
member on the slats;
Figure 15 is a sectional vicw of the structure illustratcd
. 25 in Figure 14 tal;cn along thc line 15-15 thcrcoî;
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1`067C~49
~i~urc 1~ is a vicw of structure similarly illustratccl
in Figurc 1~ 8howing another modified slat construction and still
further arrangement for sccuring the cross bar to the slats;
~igure 17 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated
in Figure 16 taken along the line 17-17 thereof; and
E igure 18 is a view of structure similarly illustrated
in Figure 4 showing a further modified form of the present in~7ention.
~hroughout the various modifications of the present
invention identical parts are identified hy the same reference
numerals.
. , .
DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED EMBODII\~ENTS
Figure 1 depicts an automobile 20 having a trunk lid 22
on which are mounted a plurality of identical parallel; transversely
spaced slats 24. Although the slats 24 are shown mounted on the
15 . trunk lid 22 the article carrier of the present invention may be
mounted with equal utility on an automobile roof or any other generally
horizontal exterior body portion of an automobile. Interposed between
the slats 24 and the trunl; lid 22 are elastomeric mounting pads 26 on which
flat bottom surfaces 27 of the slats rest. The slats 24 are secured on
the trunk lid 22 by means of shect metal screws 30 which also pass
through thc mounting pads 26. Mounted on a pair of the slats 24 is
a raised tubular cross bar 32 ~Yhich is fittcd at its oppositc cnds onto
brackcts 3~. A cylindrical boss 5~ on each brackct 3~ is hclcl in an
en(3 of the b;lr 32 by a screw G0. ~3ach brac1ict 3~ rests on a bro;-d
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.Ipwardly facin~ supporting surface 36 on the top ~f onc of the slats
24. The surface 36 is interrupt~d by an upwardly open dove-tail
~haped groove 38 extending th.e length of each slat 24. Extruded
plastic trim members 28 are frictionally fitted in the channels 38
of the slats 24, one trim member 28 being broken away in Figure
1 for illustrative purposes. It will be seen that the groove or
charmel 38 is wider at its bottom than at.its top to define upwardly
and inwardly inclined clamping surfaces 40. Conformably but
slidably fitted within the channel 38 of various slats 24 are one
or more nuts 42 of dove-tailed cross sectional shape. 'rhe nuts 42
have upwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 44 which corformably
engage the clamping surfaces 40 of the slats 24. A screw 46 is
illustrated in Figure 2 as passing through the bracket 34 from the top
thereof into threaded engagement with a nut 42. The screw 46 is
formed with an enlarged head 48 which may be manually gripped
for the tightening and loosening of the screw 46. When the screw
46 is tightened, its associated nut 42 is drawn upwardly into clamping
engagement with t~ie channel clamping surfaces 40. This action also
draws the bracket 34 down against the supporting surfaces 36, locking
20 , the bracket 34 firmly in place on its slat 24.
One or both ends of each of the slats 24 is fitted with a
decorative end cap 50 having a dove-tail shaped tongue 52 fitted into
the end of the channel 38. l~ach tongue 52 has a tapped hole 54 for
the rcceptioll of a setscrew se. When thc sctscrcw 56 is tightened,
its pointcd end bears a~ainst thc bottom oî thc cl)anllcl 3~ to locls tllc
end cap 50 to its slat 24.
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~ 1067049
Possible rotation of the brackets 34 r~lative to th~
61ats 2~ is prevented by th~ formation of a dove-tail shape~l boss 6i
on the bottom of each bracket. 34. Each boss 61 is conformably
fitted within the channel 38 of its slat 24 as shown in Figurc 3.
~he nut 42 and boss 61 being longitudinally spaced, the bracket
34 is thereby kept from rotating about a vertical axis~ .
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate still another form of
article securing member which is shown in Figure 1 mounted on
the outer slats 24. ~his article supporting member is in the form
of a tie-down member 62 having an eyelet 64 for the reception of a
rope, strap or other device intended to tie-down luggage on the slats
24~ The tie down member 62 has a dove-tail tongue 66 which is
conformably fitted in the channel 38- of its slat 24. The tie-down
member 62 is further provided with a peripheral ledge 68 surrounding
the tongue 66 and resting on the slat supporting surface 36. :A screw
70 passes through the tie-down member 62 into threaded engagement
with a nut 42 by means of which the tie-down member may be clamped
in any desired position along the length~ of its slat 24.
Another tie-down member 72 is illustrated in detail in
2~ Figure 7 as being located at one or more ends of selected slats 24.
Each tie-down member 72 has an eyelet 74 adapted to receive rope, a
strap or the like. A shoulder portion 76 of the tie-down member 72
rests on the slat supportin~ surface 36 while a depending tongue 78
of thc tic-down mcmbcr 72 is conformably fittcd in the channel 38.
'rhe tie-do~vll mcml~cr 72 is cI;~mpcd into pOSitiOIl l~y a screw 70
`` 106~049
nd nut ~2. From Fi~urc 7 it will ~c sccn that thc tic-down membcr
72 overlies the tonguc 52 of one o~ thc end caps 50 thereby coop~rating
with the end cap 50 to hide its. retaining means.
Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the present
invention in which a member 80 serves the combinecl functions of an
end ca~ and tie-down. The member 80 will be seen to have an
upstanding eyelet 82 and a tongue 84 which is fitted within the channel
38 of a slat 24-. An end wall 86 of the rnember 80 covers the end of
the slat 24. A screw 88 has its head exposed to the upper surface
of the member 80 and passes through the slat 24, through the subjacent
mounting pad 26 and into the trunk lid 22. Thus the screw 88 serves
the combined function of securing both the member 80 and a slat 24
on the automobile,
Figure 10 illustrates stiLI another form of the present
invention in which an end member 90 has a raised eyelet 92 and is
held in place on a slat 24 by means of a setscrew 94 bearing against
the bottom of the c~annel 38. The screw 9~ is threaded into an opening
in a dove-tail shaped tongue 96 of the member 90 closely fitted in the
channel 38. An end wall 98 of the member 90 covers the slat 24
at the one end thereof ~roviding a smooth decorative end finish to the
slat 24. ~he slat 24 illustral;ed in Figure 10 is secured on the trunk
lid 22 by means of an adhesive strip 100. 'rhe strip 100 is provided
with adl~csivc on both sidcs thercof and takcs the place of screws
for hol(ling tllc slat in placc on thc trunk lid 22,
Figlirc 11 illllstratcs tllc use of a tic-dowtl membcr 102
llaving an eyclct 104. A dovc-tail sllaped ton~uc 10(; of tllc mcmhcr 102
1067049
- is fittecl in thc ch~nnol 3n of the sl~t 24. Thc tie-down member 102
is securcd in plac~ on the slat 24 by means of a screw 70 and nut 42.
The tie-down member 102 is uscd in cooperation with an end cap
member 108 which underlies the rear portion of the tie.-down member
102 and has a slat coverin~ end wall 110. The end cap 108 has a
dove-tail tong~e 112 fitted in the channel 38 and held in place by a
sheet metal screw which passes through the slat 24 at the bottom of
the channel 38 and into the trunk lid 22.
It will be readily apparent that the cross bar 32 and its
mounting brackets 34 are easily removed from the slats 24 by the
_ 8~nple unthreading of the screws 46. This can be done for the
purpose of installing another type of article securing device on the
~;latæ 24 and the nuts 42 will remain in the slats 24 for that purpose.
Figure 1~ illustrates the slats 24 on the trunk lid 22 but with the
cross bar 32 removed and a pair of ski rack clamps 116 installed
on the outermost slats 24. The clampsll6 are of identical construction
and include a lower supporting bar 118 to which is pivoted an upper
clamping bar 120. The lower bar is fitted to a slat 24 through a
pair of adapters 122 resting on the slat supporting surface 36. A
cushion 124 is frictionally held on the top of the lower bar 118
through a spring clip 130 while a pair of screws 128 pass through
the lower bar 118 and adapters 122 into threaded engagement with
a pair of nuts 42. The hcads of the screws 128 are normally covered
by thc cushion 124. The upper clamping bar 120 carries a rubbcr
bumper 12G which is adapted io clamp the sl;is to bc carricd against
the cushion 124, Thc bumpcr 12G is sccurcd to thc uppcr clamping
bar 120 by mcans of scrcws 13~ which also hold polc rct;linillg
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1067049
lip~ 132 on thc top of the upper clampin~ bar.
It will be seen that a ~ingle ski rack clamp 116 is mounted
on a singlc slat 24. It will therefore be apparent that any article
securing member to be utilized in conjunction with an article carrie
of the present invention may be positioned entirely on a single slat
24 or on two or even more of the slats 24.
The removal of the slci rack clamps 116 is accomplished
by sirnply pulling the cusmon 124 out of each lower bar 118 and
unthreading the screws 128. The ski carriers are, thus, easily
detached from the vehicle and stored when not being used. In order
to prevent the skis and/or ski carrier clamps 116 from being stolen
when in use, the clamps may be provided with locks in the we~l known
manner. Such locks keep the upper clamping bar 120 from being
~pened relative to the lower bar 118. So long as this is prevented,
access to the heads of the screws 128 is precluded, thereby preventing
the removal of the gki carriers 116 from the vehicle.
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a somewhat modified form
of slat 136 which will be seen to be used in connection with a bracket
138 for supporting a cross bar 32. The slat 136 is positioned on a
rubber mounting pad 140 and is provided with downwardly facing
clamping surfaces or shoulders 142 running along the opposite sides
thereof. ~he shoulders 142 are raised with respect to a flat bottom
surface 144 of the slat 136. l~n upwardly facing groove 14~ is formed
in a broad load supporting surface 147 on the top of the slat 136~ A
hardcncd scat 148 is pOSitiOlleCl ~vitl~in the groovc 14~ îor coopcration
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~vith a scrcw 150 threadcd through the braclcet 138. 'rhe ~crew lS0
has an cnlarged head 152 which may be grippcd to rotate the screw
into clamping engagement witll the seat 148, ~he bracket 138 ha~
a channel 149 on its ~ower surface and receives a slat 13~. A pair
of inturned lips formed on the opposite sides of the channel are
drawn up against the clamping shoulders 142 to secure the bracket 138
in place on the slat 136 when the screw 150 is tightened. It will thus
be apparent that the clamping surfaces of a slat of the present
invention need not be necessarily located within a channel formed in
the slat but may be located exteriorly of the slat.
Another form of the present invention is ;11ustrated in
Figllres 16 and 17 which makes use'of exterior slat clamping surfaces.
Figures 16 and 17 show a slat 154 used in cooperation with a bracket
156. The slat 154 has a flat bottom 158 resting on a mounting pad' 140.
~he slat 154 is also formed with a load supporting top surface 160,
although the bracket 156 does not rest on the supporting surface 160.
As seen in Figure 17 the bracket 156 is formed in two parts: 156a
and 156b. ~hese two parts define inwardly projecting rails 164
which are received in external grooves 162 running longitudinally
along the opposite sides of the slat 154. When the two halves ,156a
and 156b are drawn together by means of a screw 166, the rails 164
are caused to clampingly engage in the grooves 162 and secure the
braclcet 156 in a .selcctcd position.
~he slats illustratcd in the foregoing cmbodimcnts of
the invcntion arc dcsiral)ly manufacturcd as alllmi~ cxtru~sion~s and
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i067C~49
:e of substantially uniform cross sectional shapc. Thc slats of the
present invention are not necessarily made as extrusions, however.
Another form of slat 170 is illustratcd in Figurc 18 which is made
from a roll formed steel. The slat 170 will be seen to have a flat
bottom wall 172, upwardly inclined sidewalls 174 defining interior
clamping surfaces and upper supporting surfaces 176. The slat 170
defines an upwardly open channel 178 within which a nut 180 is
positioned. Figure i8 illustrates the use of the slat 170 in con- -
junction with the bracket 34. The slat 170 is used and functions in
a manner similar to the slat 24.
It will be apparent that it is not necessary to keep the
cross bar 32 and its supporting brac,ket 34 or the ski rack clamps 116
on the slats. Any such raised article securing members may be left
off the vehicle unless desired for a particular purpose. Ibe removal
of such members may be desired to prevent interference with the function-
ing of an automatic car wash machine, for appearance reasons or any
other purpose. The various tie-downs iLlustraled herein are of very
low height and are quite ,inconspicuous. LeavLng them on the carrier
.
has little influence on either the appearance of the carrier or its use
for any other purpose.
It will be apparent that the slats 24, 136, 154 and 170
illustrated herein may be utilized for the mounting of a wide variety of
article securing mcmbers and their use is not limited to the particular
article securin~ members illustratcd hcrein. For cxample, a
complctc rcctangular framcwork of fol~r bars can bc mounted on thc
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s1ats instead of the single cross bar 32. Such a framework would
use four brackets 34, with two brackets mounted on each of two
slats. Specific article securing devices can be designed for various
other objects a car owner might wish to carry (e. g., small boats,
golf club bags, etc. ). The installation and removal of all such
devices is easily accomplished without drilling special holes or in
any way detracting from the appearance of the car.
.
HGII/ jp
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