Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 q2301
VEHICLE ARTICLE C~R~T~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to vehicle article carriers, and
more particularly to an adjustable vehicle article carrier for
adjustably supporting articles above an outer body surface of a
vehicle such as a roof or deck lid of a vehicle.
2. Discussion
Vehicle article carriers are used in a wide-variety of
applications to support a variety of articles above an outer body
surface of a vehicle such as a roof or deck lid of the vehicle.
Some vehicle article carriers are adjustable via one or more
cross bars which may be adjustably positioned along a pair of
raised side rails fixedly secured to an outer body surface of the
vehicle. Such vehicle article carriers are shown in, for
example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,684,048, 4,982,886 and 5,082,158, all
assigned to the assignee of the present application.
The vehicle article carriers in use at the present time
and those embodied in the above-mentioned U.S. patents have
proven to be very useful for the purpose of transporting articles
which are either too large or awkward to be transported within
the interior of a vehicle. Nevertheless, there still remains a
need for a vehicle article carrier having a means for adjusting
2 J 92 ~C/
the position of at least one cross bar of the carri~r in ~ ~anner
which is extremely simple in construction and requires only a
minimum number of parts to accomplish locking of an adjustable
cross bar at a desired location along a pair of side rails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects are provided by a vehicle
article carrier in accordance with preferred embodiments of the
present invention. In one preferred embodiment, the vehicle
article carrier of the present invention includes a pair of outer
side rails each having a channel formed therein, with each of the
outer side rails being fixedly secured to an outer body surface
of a vehicle and positioned generally parallel to one another.
A cross bar is provided which has at its outermost ends a pair
of bracket members fixedly secured thereto. The bracket members
releasably engage with the outer side rails to allow the cross
bar to be quickly locked in position on the side rails such that
the cross bar is not moveable longitudinally along the outer side
rails. The bracket members each also include a manually
actuatable control which releases each bracket member from its
outer side rails to allow the cross bar to be easily, slidably
positioned along the outer side rails at a desired position in
order to support articles of varying dimensions thereon.
2 1 ~230 1
In one preferred embodiment, each bracket member
includes a recess formed in an outer surface thereof and an
opening formed in a base portion. A neck portion of a locking
member extends through the opening in the base portion into the
recess. The locking member includes a base plate which is of
dimensions enabling it to reside within the channel of an
associated outer side rail and to move slidably within the
channel when the bracket member is in an unlocked position and
moved along the outer side rail. A rotator is positioned
partially within the recess and rotatably mounted within the
recess. The rotator includes a circumferential camming surface
which is positioned to abuttingly engage a head portion of the
locking member. A biasing member is also positioned within the
bracket member and is operably coupled to the neck portion to
cause the locking member to be urged into abutting (i.e.,
clamping) engagement with the channel of the associated side rail
when the rotator is in a "locked" position. When the rotator is
rotated into an "unlocked" position, the camming surface urges
the neck portion outwardly of the bracket member such that the
base plate becomes disengaged (i.e., unclamped~ within the
channel, thereby allowing the bracket member to be slidably,
adjustably positioned along the side rail while the rotator is
held in the unlocked position. The rotator is constructed such
that it may be engaged with two or more fingers of a hand of the
user and easily rotated with a minimal degree of effort. The
biasing member causes the locking member to be urged into locking
engagement within the channel of the side rail once the rotator
is released.
21 92331
- In the preferred embodiment, the channel of each outer
side rail includes a pair of overhanging ledge portions which
each have a plurality or holes formed therein in spaced-apart
fashion. The base plate of the locking member also includes a
pair of raised portions which are positioned to engage within a
corresponding pair of the notches in the overhanging ledge
portions when aligned with the corresponding pair of notches, and
when the locking member is urged into the locked position by
appropriate rotation of the rotator.
In the preferred embodiment, the rotator includes a
pair of depressions formed on opposite sides of a central member
and is positioned within the recess such that it is substantially
flush with an outer surface of the bracket member. The
depressions allow the fingers of a hand to easily grasp the
central member to rotate the rotator.
The preferred embodiments thus include a minimum number
of moving parts to accomplish locking and unlocking of the
bracket member at desired locations along the length of an
associated side rail. The clamping engagement provided by the
locking member of each bracket member and the engagement of the
raised surfaces with a corresponding pair of the notches in the
channel member serve to provide extremely secure clamping of the
cross bar at a large plurality of desired locations along the
side rails.
21 92301
~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The various advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the
following specification and subjoined claims and by referencing
the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a
vehicle showing a preferred embodiment of the vehicle article
carrier of the present invention secured to an outer body surface
of the vehicle;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bracket member;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in accordance
with section line 3-3 in Figure 1 showing the internal structure
of the bracket member and the side rail in cross-section with the
locking member in a locked position;
Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the bracket
member and the side rail showing the bracket member in an
unlocked position;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking member
of the present invention;
Figure 6. is a perspective view the biasing member of
the present invention;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken in accordance
with section line 7-7 in Figure 3 showing the bracket member in
the locked position;
Figure 8 is a bottom view of the rotator;
21 ~2301
~ Figure 9 is a view of the rotator taken in accordance
with directional line 9-9 in Figure 8 showing a portion of the
camming surface thereof; and
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the rotator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a vehicle 12
having an outer body surface 14 upon which a vehicle article
carrier 10 in accordance with the present invention is mounted.
The vehicle article carrier 10 comprises a pair of outer side
rails 16 fixedly secured to the outer body surface 14 and
positioned generally parallel to one another. The outer side
rails 16 are also positioned so as to extend along a major length
of the outer body surface 14. Optionally, a plurality of
intermediate slats 17 could be provided and secured to the outer
body surface 14. A fixed across bar 18 is provided as is an
adjustable cross bar 20. It will be appreciated, however, that
two adjustable cross bars 20 could just as readily be provided,
but that in most applications it is anticipated that only one of
the two cross bars will need to be adjustable. The adjustable
cross bar 20 has outermost end portions 22 to which are fixedly
secured a pair of bracket members 24. The bracket members 24 are
adjustably positionable along the length of each of their
respective outer side rails 16 to enable the cross bar 20 to be
positioned relative to the cross bar 18 as needed to support
variously sized articles thereon.
21 92301
- Referring to Figures 2 and 3, one of the bracket
members 24 is shown in greater detail. With specific reference
to Figure 3, each bracket member 24 includes a housing 26 having
an outer surface 28 and an inner surface 30. The outer surface
28 includes a hollowed out portion or recess 32 formed in part
by a generally circular opening 34. A rotator 36 is positioned
in the recess 32 and is of a generally circular configuration
having a diameter just slightly smaller than the circular opening
34 so as to fit within the circular opening 34 when assembled to
the housing 26.
With further reference to Figure 3, the inner surface
30 of the housing includes an integrally formed mounting post 38
which extends generally perpendicularly from the inner surface
30. The mounting post 38 includes a centrally disposed opening
in the form of a bore 40. Both the mounting post 38 and the bore
40 are disposed so as to be at the approximate geometric center
of the circular opening 34. The housing 26 further includes a
base portion 42 having an opening in the form of a bore 44
extending therethrough. A plurality of foot portions 46 (visible
in Figure 2) are also integrally formed with the base portion 42.
The cross bar 20 (Figure 1) is fixedly secured to the housing 26
via one or more threaded screws (not shown) in conventional
fashion such that the cross bar 20 and the bracket members 24
form a rigid, sturdy and unitary member.
21. q2301
With further reference to Figure 2, the rotator 36
includes an outer surface 48 having a pair of depressions or
recesses 50 formed on opposite sides of a central member 52.
Thus, the rotator 36 can be easily rotated manually by a user by
gripping the central member 52 with two or more fingers of a hand
and turning the rotator 36 either clockwise or counterclockwise.
Referring again to Figure 3, the bracket member 24 can
be seen in the locked position. The rotator 36 is secured to the
mounting post 38 by a threaded screw 54 or other similar
fastening member which extends through the bore 40 and threadably
engages within an opening 56 in the rotator 36. The rotator 36
also includes a centrally disposed boss portion 58 having an
opening 60 which receives the mounting post 38. In this manner,
the rotator 36 is free to rotate about the mounting post 38 while
being secured thereto. It will be appreciated that any form of
attachment of the rotator 36 to the mounting post could be used
provided it allows for easy rotation of the rotator 36.
With further reference to Figures 3 and 8-10, the
construction of the rotator 36 can be seen in even greater
detail. The rotator 36 includes a camming surface 62 extending
circumferentially around a portion of the opening 60. The
camming surface 62 includes a flat portion 62a (visible in
sections 8 and 10), the function of which will be described
momentarily. With specific reference to Figures 9 and 10, the
slope of the camming surface 62 is clearly apparent. It will be
appreciated also that while the camming surface 62 is shown as
extending approximately 180 around the opening 60, that the
camming surface 62 could be of a greater or lesser arc of travel.
21 923Cl
~'or example, the camming surface 62 could be formed to extend
over a 90 arc of travel, which would obviously require a more
pronounced (i.e., steeper) slope. It is anticipated that the
180 arc of travel of the camming surface, as indicated in Figure
8, will be most desired to provide a convenient and comfortable
locking and unlocking action of the rotator 36.
With further reference to Figure 3, the bracket member
24 can be seen to include a locking member 64 which extends
through the bore 44. With brief reference to Figure 5, the
locking member 64 includes a base plate 66, a neck portion 68 and
a head portion 70. The neck portion 68 includes a pair of
notches 72 which form an intermediate length 73. The base plate
66 includes a pair of raised surfaces 74 positioned directly
across from one another. The neck portion 68 and head portion
70 are integrally formed with the base plate 66 by being stamped
or cut-out of the base plate 66 and then bent so as to extend
generally perpendicularly from the base plate 66. Similarly, the
raised surfaces 74 are formed by being stamped from the base
plate 66. It will be appreciated, however, that the neck portion
68 and the raised surfaces 74 could be formed from independent
components if desired. It will be appreciated then that the
locking member 64 could take a variety of different designs
provided some form of base plate and some form of neck portion
are included.
With further reference to Figure 3, each outer side
rail 16 includes an outer wall 76, an inner wall 78 and a pair
of overhanging ledge portions 80 which help to form a channel 82.
The outer side rails are each supported on an optional mounting
21 92301
pad 84 and secured to the outer body surface 14 of the vehicle
12 (Figure 1) via threaded screws in the conventional manner.
Each outer side rail 16 is preferably roll-formed from a single
piece of suitably strong material such as steel, but it could
also be formed from multiple sections of material secured
together with suitable fastening elements.
With further reference to Figures 3 and 7, it can be
seen that the overhanging ledge portions 80 each include a
plurality of spaced-apart notches 86. The notches 86 are adapted
to engage with the raised surfaces 74 of the locking member 64
when the locking member 64 is urged into the locked position, as
shown in Figure 3. This feature of the present invention will
be described more fully in the following paragraphs. It will
also be appreciated that the notches 86 could alternatively be
formed so as to extend completely through the overhanging ledge
portions 80 if desired. It will also be appreciated that
conventional side rails without notches could also be employed
and still provide excellent securing of the cross bar 20 at a
desired location along the side rails 16.
With further reference to Figures 3 and 6, the bracket
member 24 also includes a biasing member 88. The biasing member
88, as shown in Figure 6, is formed from a length of spring steel
having a T-shaped cut-out 90 and a lip portion 92 resulting from
the cut-out 90. The lip portion 92 includes a V-shaped section
92a for engaging with the head portion 70 of the locking member
64. The biasing member 88 is formed with a slight curvature to
impart a biasing force on the locking member 64 when coupled to
the locking member 64 and positioned within the recess 32.
21 92301
With still further reference to Figures 3 and 6, the
intermediate length 73 of the locking member 64 engages within
the T-shaped cut-out 90 of the biasing member 88 such that a
portion 90a of the biasing member rests on shoulders 72a of the
locking member 64. As the biasing member 88 is moved slightly
longitudinally, the V-shaped portion 92a of the lip portion 92
slides over the head portion 70 such that the head portion 70 is
captured in the V-shaped portion 92a, as shown in Figure 7.
When the rotator 36 is in the "locked" position shown
in Figure 3, the base plate 66 is urged upwardly towards the
overhanging ledge portions 80 such that the raised surfaces 74
engage within a corresponding pair of notches 86 of the ledge
portions 80. When it is desired to reposition the cross bar 20,
the rotator 36 may be grasped with two or more fingers of a hand
and rotated into an "unlocked" position. This causes the camming
surface 62 to urge the head portion 70, and thus the entire
locking member 64, downwardly against the biasing force of the
biasing member 88 to cause the raised surfaces 74 to move out of
engagement with the notches 86, as shown in Figure 4. When the
rotator 36 is urged fully into the unlocked position, the head
portion 70 and V-shaped lip portion 92a move into contact with
the flat portion 62a of the camming surface 62. At this point,
the rotator 36 may be released and the flat portion 62a holds the
locking member 64 in its unlocked position. While the rotator
36 is in the unlocked position, the entire bracket member 24 may
be slid freely along its outer side rail 16 to a new desired
position. Once the rotator is repositioned, the rotator 36 may
be urged back into the locked position and the force provided by
21 92301
~he biasing member 88 again urges the head portion 70 of the
locking member 64 upwardly until the raised surfaces 74 engage
within a new pair of notches. In this regard, it will be
appreciated that if the raised surfaces 74 of the locking member
5 64 are not positioned directly underneath a pair of notches 86,
that a further degree of slight longitudinal adjustment will be
required of the bracket member 24 before the raised surfaces 74
will engage with a corresponding pair of notches 86.
The bracket members 24 of the vehicle article carrier
10 also form a gradually curving profile, as shown in Figure 3,
which is aerodynamically advantageous as well as aesthetically
pleasing when the bracket members 24 are secured to their
respective outer side rails 16. The rotator outer surface 48
remains substantially flush with the outer surface 28 of its
15 bracket member 24 regardless of the rotational position of the
rotator 36. Since each bracket member 24 is positively clamped
to its associated side rail, there is virtually no wobble,
vibration or other objectionable movement or noise generated as
the vehicle travels over rough terrain, which occurs with some
20 prior developed article carrier systems. The rotator 36 further
allows the bracket member 24 to be quickly and easily clamped and
unclamped from the outer side rails 16 to allow the cross bar 20
to be readily repositioned along the outer side rails 16 if
repositioning of the cross bar 20 is needed. The vehicle article
25 carrier 10 further accomplishes securing of the brackets 24 to
the outer side rails 16 with a minimum number of moving component
parts and without complex construction techniques. The bracket
21 92301
housing 26 is preferably molded from a suitable high-strength
plastic. The locking member 64 is preferably formed from a
single section of metal. The rotator 36 is also preferably
molded from a single piece of suitably strong plastic.
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the
foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present
invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore,
while this invention has been described in connection with
particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention
should not be so limited since other modifications will become
apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the
drawings, specification and following claims.
