Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
, CA 02209~84 1997-07-02
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ROOF RACR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a roof rack with a load platform
which is moveable to permit lowering of the platform to one
side of the vehicle to facilitate loading and unloading.
R~a~ouND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle roof racks are commonly employed to mount storage
containers or oversized items for transport such as
bicycles, skiis and the like, onto the roof of the vehicle.
Most prior art roof racks are attachable to the roof of
vehicles and extend horizontally between the sides of the
vehicle. They are generally rigidly attached to the
vehicle rain gutters or to existing factory-installed roof
racks. After the roof rack is mounted on the vehicle roof
the load must be lifted onto the roof rack and held there
until firmly attached to the rack. This can be a difficult
process, particularly with heavy or oversized loads which
can be difficult to lift and hold on the rack until firmly
secured. This problem is further exacerbated if the
vehicle has a relatively high roof line between the ground
and the roof of the vehicle or the user is not tall enough
to reach up to the roof. This problem is particularly
acute with the recent popularity of sport utility vehicles
having high roof lines.
In order to overcome this problem attempts have been made
to devise roof racks with a load bearing platform which may
be extended laterally from the side of the vehicle and
rotated downwardly towards the ground for loading and
unloading from the platform. The load may then be attached
to the platform at a low level at the side of the vehicle
and then the platform may be rotated upwardly and retracted
laterally to orient the platform with the load on top of
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the roof of the vehicle, for transport.
An example of such a roof rack is provided in U.S. Patent
No. 5,360,150 issued to Praz. The Praz roof rack provides
a relatively large tubular structure 11 with a pair of arms
3' attached to a horizontal platform 4. The arms and
platform are slidable within the housing in a lateral
direction outwardly away from the vehicle and then
rotatable downwardly to a lower position for loading and
unloading of a load on the platform. The platform and arm
can then be rotated upwardly and retracted laterally toward
the vehicle into the tubular structure 11 for transport of
that load. Because the Praz invention provides for
movement of the platform and arm into the tubular structure
11 difficulties can be encountered in moving the loaded
platform into structure 11 without causing the load to
impede internal movement of the platform within structure
11. Praz provides a slot in the upper side of structure
11, presumably to permit unimpeded movement of a loaded
platform to the fully retracted position although no
details are provided as to how this would be accomplished.
It appears that this requires attaching components (not
described in Praz) to enable a small diameter support to be
interposed between the load and the platform, the support
2s of sufficiently small diameter to slide along the slot. In
addition to the requirement of such additional components,
a small diameter support provides a weak link between the
load and the platform limiting the weight which can be
placed on the support and increasing the risk of failure of
the support as the roof rack is used. As well, the load
cannot be rigidly connected to the support structure 11
without impeding the ability of the platform to move when
the arm is moved between its retracted and extended
positions.
The entire load weight of the Praz roof rack is supported
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solely by the pair of arms 3' attached to slide 2, slidable
within structure 11. There is no direct support of the
load, only lateral support along the pivoting arms 3'. As
depicted in Figure 3 of Praz there is no teaching of any
direct support of the platform when the platform and arm
are in the retracted position. The only support being the
cantilevered connection of the platform to the arms 3'
which in turn are connected to slide 2 which supports the
platform and arm due to its close tolerance slidable fit
within tubular structure 11. This cantilevered support
increases the force on those components significantly as
the weight of the load on the platform increases and causes
considerable stress on those components as the platform
moves up and down with movement of the vehicle,
particularly as the vehicle moves over bumps and dips in
the road or in off-road conditions. Praz describes in
general terms only the latching of handle 5 in the position
shown in Figure 3, to retain the m~-hAn;sm in that position
when the vehicle is moved, but not to support it.
Furthermore tubular structure 11 with its relatively large
height provides significant wind resistance which can cause
difficulties in controlling the vehicle and in reduced fuel
economy. Large structure 11 also increases the weight of
the roof rack with the resultant difficulties in installing
the rack on the roof and with increased instability of the
vehicle.
The use of a longitudinal opening at the top of tubular
structure 11 to permit clearance of the load as the
platform is moved to the retracted position is also
disadvantageous as it permits dirt, snow, ice and other
foreign objects to fall through the slot into tubular
structure 11 thereby impinging on the ability of slide 2 to
move along tubular structure 11 preventing use of the roof
rack in the manner intended to facilitate loading and
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unloading.
As a result there is a need for a roof rack having a
slidable arm and platform for lateral movement to one side
of the vehicle and which pivots to permit lowering of the
platform along the side of the vehicle to facilitate
loading and unloading, wherein:
(i) the platform is directly supported from below
when in the retracted position to support and
secure the load for transport;
(ii) the sliding mechanism attached to the arm is
covered in its upper areas and the support beam
is open and accessible for cleaning, to prevent
foreign matter from dropping from above and
interfering with movement of the sliding
mechanism along the support beam; and
(iii) the roof rack may be made of light weight and
streamlined materials without detracting from
its ability to support relatively heavy loads,
to facilitate installation and use of the rack
on the vehicle and use of the rack on the
vehicle without adversely affecting the
operation of the vehicle.
~MNARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a roof rack having an arm
and platform slidable along a support beam to permit
lowering of the platform along the side of the vehicle for
loading and unloading. When the arm and platform are in
the retracted position the platform rests on the support
beam which supports the arm and platform. The load on the
platform is thereby directly supported by the support beam
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which is rigidly attached to the vehicle roof or existing
roof rack. A hollow support sleeve, pivotally connected to
the arm, is slidable along the support beam between the
extended and retracted positions. The support sleeve
substantially surrounds the support beam except for a lower
slot permitting movement of the support sleeves past the
supporting posts attaching the roof rack to the vehicle.
In a further embodiment the platform includes a hollow
longitudinal member which is also slidable along the
support beam to both support the platform on the beam and
prevent lateral movement of the platform off of the beam.
BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWING~
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the roof rack of the
present invention mounted on the roof of a vehicle showing
the housing member in its extended position and the arm in
its lowered position;
Figure 2 is a front elevation sequence view of the roof
rack of Fig. 1 showing the arm in its upper and lower
positions and showing the housing member in its extended
position;
Figure 2A is a front elevation view of the roof rack of
Fig. 1 showing the housing member in its retracted
position;
Figure 3 is a enlarged front elevation view, of the roof
rack of Fig. 1, partially in section showing the housing
member in its retracted position;
Figure 4 is a sectional view along 4-4 of Fig. 2A of the
roof rack of Fig. 1 showing the locking pin on the platform
hollow beam and the means for attaching a load to the
platform support beam;
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Figure 5 is a sectional view along 5-5 of Fig. 2A of the
roof rack of Fig. 1 showing the housing member slidably
attached to the support beam and the longitudinal member
rotatably attached to the housing member;
Figure 6 is a partial front view of the roof rack of an
alternate embodiment of the present invention with
alternate clamping means for clamping the roof rack to the
rain gutter of a vehicle roof and alternate orientation of
the platform;
Figure 7 is a sectional view along 7-7 of Fig. 6 of the
alternate embodiment of Fig. 6; and
Figure 8 is a front view of the alternative embodiment of
Fig. 6 showing the housing member in its retracted
position.
DE8CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT8
Referring initially to Fig. 1, roof rack 10 comprises front
portion 12 and rear portion 14 attached to bar 38 of an
existing pair of vehicle roof rack sections 30 attached to
vehicle 18. Portions 12 and 14 are removably attached to
respective bars 38 by means of clamp 42.
Clamp 42 includes U-shaped member 130 having curved portion
132 of similar contour to the lower curvature of bar 38.
Each end of U-shaped member 130 is threaded to receive a
pair of nut members 134 to threadingly engage the threads
of member 130. Support plate 136 is connected to resilient
pad 138. As nut members 134 are tightened, section 30 is
tightly sandwiched between pad 138 and portion 132.
Resilient pad 138 is deflectable to facilitate rigid
attachment of portions 12 and 14 to vehicle roof 19, as
best seen in Fig. 5.
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As depicted in Fig. 1, a pair of clamps 42 connect to front
portion 12 to one of a pair of roof rack bars 38 attached
to vehicle 18. Another pair of clamps 42 attach rear
portion 14 to the other of the pair of bars 38 attached to
vehicle 18. As best seen in Fig. 5, support plate 136 is
attached generally at its mid-point to one end of post 140.
The other end of post 140 is attached to rail 40 of
portions 12 and 14. Each of portions 12 and 14 includes
rail 40 extending in a lateral direction from one side 20
of vehicle 18 to the other side 21 of vehicle 18 (Figs. 2
and 2A). As best seen in Fig. 2A, rail 40 includes ends 52
and 54 extending outwardly beyond side edges of roof 19.
Each rail 40 has a housing member 41 slidable along
substantially the full length of rail 40 in the directions
of arrows 62 and 68 as depicted in Fig. 2. Housing member
is shown in its extended position adjacent side 20 of the
vehicle, in Fig. 2 and in its retracted position, adjacent
side 21 of vehicle 18, in Fig. 2A. When housing member 41
is in its retracted position, the roof rack 10 is in
position for movement of the vehicle allowing transport of
load 60, in this case a luggage container, supported by
portions 12 and 14.
Housing member 41 includes a lower support sleeve 50
connected to a pair of opposed side plates 78. As depicted
in Fig. 5, support sleeve 50 includes an opening of cross
sectional area slightly larger than the cross sectional
area of rail 40. This permits slidable movement of support
sleeve 50 along rail 40 between ends 52 and 54; i.e.
between the retracted and extended positions of housing
member 41. As well, sleeve 50 is retained in slidable
engagement with rail 40 as sleeve 50 substantially
surrounds rail 40, preventing lateral and upward movement
of sleeve 50 when engaged with rail 40.
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In order to enable support sleeve 50 to slide past posts
140 as support sleeve 50 is moved along rail 40, support
sleeve S0 includes slotted opening 51 along the bottom of
sleeve 50, of a width slightly larger than the diameter of
posts 140.
Arm 44 is rotatably attached to side plate 78 of housing
member 41. Arm 44 includes first longitudinal member 73
and second longitudinal member 74 rotatably attached at one
end between a pair of spaced upstanding parallel plates 78
by means of bolts 79 attached to nuts 80 (as best depicted
in Fig. 5).
As seen in Fig. 3, bolt 79 and nut 80 of first longitudinal
member 73 is offset in the direction of end 52 as compared
to bolt 79 and 80 attaching second longitudinal member 74
to plates 78. The distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 of
first longitudinal member 73 is equal to the distance
between bolts 79 and nuts 80 of second longitudinal member
74. This allows parallel motion of member 73 and 74 while
maintaining sufficient separation to facilitate
installation of strut 82.
Longitudinal member 74 extends outwardly past nut 79 and
bolt 80 attached to member 41 a sufficient distance to
contact rail 40, in the event that member 74 is pivoted
above a horizontal position along axis 53. This contact
prevents upward movement of members 73 and 74 beyond that
horizontal position and assists the user in aligning
platform 46 along axis 53.
The opposite ends of first and second longitudinal members
73 and 74 are rotatably attached between a pair of spaced
upstanding platform side plates 76 by means of respective
bolts 79 and nuts 80 in a similar manner to the attachment
of ends of members 73 and 74 to side plate 78. The
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distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 on plates 76 is equal
to the distance between bolts 79 and nuts 80 on plates 78
thereby maintaining members 73 and 74 in parallel spaced
alignment.
As best seen in Figure 3 the point of attachment of member
73 to plates 76 is offset in the direction of end 52, as
compared to the point of attachment of member 74 to plate
76. The offset is substantially equal to the offset of the
members 73 and 74 at their point of attachment to plates
78. This offset enables the positioning of biasing means
between members 73 and 74 as members 73 and 74 remain in
spaced parallel relationship throughout their range of
movement between upper and lower positions 44A and 44B.
A biasing means is provided between members 73 and 74, in
the preferred emhoA;ment, consisting of hydraulically or
pnuematically charged extendable strut 82. The base end 85
of cylinder 84 is rotatably connected to the lower side of
member 73. Rod 86 of strut 82 is rotatably connected to a
top side of member 74. Strut 82 is biased so that rod 86
is urged in an outward direction to cause member 73 to be
biased for movement in the direction of sleeve S0 and
member 74 to be biased for movement in the direction of
platform side plate 76. This causes platform 46 to bias in
an upward direction, in the direction of arrow 66 of Fig.
2. This assists in the lifting of platform 46 in the
upward direction of arrow 66 to assist the user in lifting
a load 60, together with platform 46 into the upper
position 44A of arm 44, in axial alignment with rail 40.
Plates 76 are rigidly connected to platform 46. Platform
46 is oriented with respect to plates 76 such that platform
46 is in a generally horizontal position as arm 44 is moved
between its lower position of 44B and its upper position of
44A, as depicted in Fig. 2. Members 73 and 74, pivotally
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connected to plates 76 and 78 as discussed above, act as
retaining means to retain the platform in a generally
horizontal position as arm 44 is moved between upper
position 44A and lower position 44B.
In order to retain platform 46 in lower position 44B,
against the opposite biasing force of strut 82, one of
platform side plates 76 includes hole 92 (Figs. 2 and 7)
and lower arm includes outward biased pin 90. As platform
46 is moved from the upper position 44A to the lower
position 44B, pin 90 moves toward hole 92, until platform
46 reaches the lower position 44B (depicted in Fig.7) when
hole 92 and pin 90 are aligned. Outward biasing force on
pin 90 caused by spring 93 forces pin 90 into hole 92
thereby securing platform 46 in lower position 44B.
Outward biasing force on pin 90 by spring 93 can be
overcome by applying manual inward pressure on pin 90 to
release pin 90 from hole 92 thereby enabling the biased
force of strut 82 to assist to move platform 46 in the
direction of arrow 66 to upper position 44A. Pin 90
secured in hole 92 also prevents further downward movement
of platform 46 beyond the lower position 44B, thereby
preventing contact of plates 76 against vehicle side 20 to
prevent damage to side 20.
Platform 46 includes hollow beam 70 having a cross
sectional opening similar to the cross sectional opening of
sleeve 50, thereby permitting beam 70 to engage with and
move slidably along rail 40 as arm 44 is in upper position
44A and as housing member 41 iS moved to the retracted
position, as depicted in Fig. 2A and 3. Beam 70 includes
a lower slot 100 (Fig.7) similar to slot 51 of sleeve 50.
This allows beam 70 to slide along beam 40 partially past
post 140. As shown in Fig.7, beam 70 includes side walls
94, upper wall 96 and lower flanges 98, parallel to upper
wall 96 to retain beam 70 when engaged with rail 40 as
CA 02209~84 1997-07-02
member 41 is moved toward the retracted position. The load
on platform 46 is directly supported from below when in the
retracted position as the weight of the load 60 forces
upper wall 96 against the top of rail 40 to rest thereon.
Little, if any, weight of load 60 is transferred to arm 44
or member 41 when member 41 is in or near its retracted
position. Side walls 94 prevent lateral movement of beam
70 off of rail 40 and flanges 98 prevent upward movement of
beam 70 off rail 40, when beam 70 is engaged with rail 40.
In order to prevent slidable movement of sleeve 50 beyond
the extended position depicted in Fig. 2, stop 102 is
attached to beam 40 adjacent end 52. Sleeve 50 includes
corresponding flange 110 with face 111 oriented to contact
stop 102 and prevent further movement of sleeve 50 in the
direction of arrow 62 (Fig. 2). Stop 102 includes a pair
of spacers 113 of height greater than the thickness of the
lower flanges 98 of beam 70 and sleeve 50 to allow flanges
98 to pass stop 102 without contacting stop 102.
Stop 102 includes a pair of bolts 112 which are removable
for assembly and disassembly of housing member 41 from rail
40 as desired by the user. When bolts 112 are removed stop
102 may be removed from rail 40 and sleeve 50 may slide off
of the end 52 of rail 40 for removal of housing member 41,
arm 44 and platform 46 from rail 40 and from vehicle 18.
This permits rail 40 to be used in a conventional
unarticulated roof rack if desired.
In order to prevent movement of support sleeve 50 when in
the retracted position as depicted in Fig. 2A, in
preparation for movement of the vehicle, hollow beam 70
includes opening 69 near end 52 and beam 40 includes
opening 75 near its outer end. Openings 69 and 75 are in
alignment when member 41 is in its retracted position. As
seen in Fig.4, pin 71 is dimensioned to slide through
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openings 69 and 75 when the openings are aligned. When
pin 71, is in openings 69 and 75 it secures platform 46 and
housing member 41 to beam 40 and it secures platform 46 and
member 41 in the retracted position. Pin retainer 72 is
attached to each end of pin 71 to retain pin 71 in
engagement with openings 69 and 75. When in this position
vehicle 18 may be moved with roof rack 10 and load 60
safely secured to vehicle roof 19. To release platform 46
and member 41 from rail 40 to enable member 41 to move from
its retracted position, pin 71 is removed from openings 69
and 75. Retainer 72 must be removed from one end of pin 71
in order to remove pin 71 from openings 69 and 75.
In order to prevent movement of beam 70 and member 41 in
the direction of arrow 68 beyond the retracted position,
plug 55 is dimensioned in length so that the outer end of
plug 55 contacts plate 120 attached to the outer end of
beam 70 when platform 46 is in the retracted position
depicted in Fig. 2A. This prevents further movement in the
direction of arrow 68 beyond the retracted position.
As discussed, when in upper position 44A as shown in Figure
2 hollow beam 70 is aligned with support sleeve 50 and rail
40 along axis 53. As sleeve 50 is slid along rail 40 in
the direction of arrow 68 toward the fully retracted
position as shown in Figure 2A, beam 70 will engage guide
rail 40 and slide along guide rail 40 as housing member 41
slides to the fully retracted position. The engagement of
hollow beam 70 with end 52 of rail 40 is facilitated by
tapered plug 55 attached to end 52 which is tapered to form
a rounded outer point. Tapered plug 55 is in axial
alignment along axis 53. As best depicted in Figure 6,
plug 55 of rail 40 contacts the lower side of member 74
when member 74 is in lower position 44B to prevent further
downward and inward movement of member 74 in the direction
of arrow 64 to assist in preventing contact between plates
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76 and the side of the vehicle 18.
Referring to Figures 1 and 4, in order to support and
secure a load 60 and to permit unimpeded sliding of beam 70
along rail 40 in the manner described above, a pair of
support bars 142 are provided, one each for positions 12
and 14. Support bars 142 are connected in parallel
horizontal alignment with hollow beam 70 by means of plates
120 and 121 at each end. Load 60 is rigidly attached to
bars 142 of portion 12 and 14 by mean of u-shaped bolt 144
and a pair of threaded nuts 146. Load 60 is not directly
attached to beam 70 which allows beam 70 to move along rail
40 without being impeded by load 60. Handle 48, attached
to end plates 120, connects platforms 46 of front portion
12 and rear portion 14 to provide uniform movement of
respective platforms 46 of portions 12 and 14 between upper
and lower positions 44A and 44B.
Operation
The operation and installation of roof rack 10 will now be
discussed with reference to Figs. 1-5 and 7.
Referring initially to Figs. 3 and 5, which depicts the
attachment of roof rack 10 onto vehicles having existing
vehicle roof rack sections 30. Rail 40 of each of front
portion 12 and rear portion 14 are rigidly attached to
corresponding bars 38 of the existing vehicle roof rack
sections 30. Clamps 42 are used to attach rail 40 by
sandwiching bar 38 between U-shaped member 130 and
resilient pad 138 by means of threaded nut members 134 on
each end of member 130.
Platform 46 and housing member 41 are rotatably attached to
first and second longitudinal member 73 and 74 by means of
bolts 79 and nuts 80. Strut 82 is pivotally connected to
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member 73 and 74 as previously discussed.
Stop 102 is not yet assembled at end 52 of rail 40 and
sleeve 50 is slid onto rail 40 starting at end 52 and moved
along rail 40 to the retracted position, as depicted in
Figs. 2A and 3. Pin 71 is inserted through openings 69 and
75 to retain member 41 in its retracted position. Stop 102
is then bolted to the underside of rail 40 with spacers 113
interposed between rail 40 and plate 114 of stop 102. As
previously discussed the end of slot 100 contacts stop 102
to prevent movement of housing member 41 in the direction
of arrow 68 when pin 71 is removed.
Support bars 142 are attached to hollow beams 70 by means
of plate 120. Handle 48, extending from the hollow beam 70
and support bar 142 of portion 12 to the hollow beam 70 and
support bar 142 of portion 14, is attached at the outer
ends of hollow beam 70 and support bars 142.
Attachment components (not shown) to facilitate attachment
of a desired load 60 to platform 46 may be attached to
support bar 142. This can include, for example, luggage
carrier attached by means of U-shaped bolt 144, or bicycle
attachment components, all of which are attached to support
bars 142 rather than beam 70. Note that much of the
assembly of the components can be undertaken while housing
member 41 is in its extended position and platform 46 is in
its lower position to facilitate assembly of those
components in a position convenient to the user.
Use
Once assembled, roof rack 10 will normally be positioned
with housing member 41 in its retracted position with
pin 71 in openings 69 and 75 to securely retain housing
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member 41 in its retracted position with hollow member 70
engaged about rail 40.
In order to load roof rack 10 with load 60, pin 71 is
removed and manual forces applied on handle 48 in the
direction of arrow 62 (Fig. 2). Housing member 41 is moved
until it reaches its extended position when face 111 of
flange 110 contacts stop 102. Downward and inward manual
force is then applied in the direction of arrow 64 and
against the biasing force of strut 82. This is continued
until platform 46 is in its lower position and outward
biased pin 90 self engages into hole 92 to secure
platform 46 in its lower position.
Load 60 may then be placed onto platform 46 and secured to
support bars 142 of portions 12 and 14. Alternatively, if
an existing luggage container has been previously fastened
to support bars 142, the container is opened and loaded.
It will be readily apparent that the loading of platform 46
or a luggage container is greatly facilitated by the
positioning of platform 46 in its lower position at the
side of the vehicle. The weight of load 60 is primarily
supported by member 74 resting on plug 55 of rail 40 and
sleeve 50 on stop 102. The user may adjust the height of
platform 46 above the lower position as member 74 rests on
plug 55 by raising platform 46 in the direction of arrow 66
and applying inward force to move member 41 in the
direction of arrow 68. The lower side of member 74 will
come to rest on plug 55 at a range of different positions
dependant on the position of member 41 along rail 40.
Preferably in installing roof rack 10 onto vehicle 18, the
roof rack is oriented such that the platform 46 slides to
the extended position to the passenger side of the vehicle,
rather than the driver side. This facilitates loading and
unloading in a safe position away from the traffic side of
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the vehicle when located at the side of a road. As well
the length of rail 40 and plug 55 extending beyond the
side 20 of the vehicle and the positioning of hole 92 with
respect to pin 90 is such that sufficient clearance exists
between the side of the vehicle and plates 76 to allow the
opening of sliding door 24 on vehicles 18 so equipped, as
depicted in Fig.l.
Once the load is adequately secured to support bars 142,
pin 90 is manually depressed against its bias to clear hole
92 and upward pressure is manually applied on platform 46.
With the assistance of strut 82, platform 46 is raised to
its raised position in alignment with rail 40 along
axis 53. Inward manual pressure is then applied on
platform 46 in the direction of arrow 68 and member 41 is
thereby slid along beam 40. The inner end of beam 70
contacts plug 55 and is guided onto rail 40 to engage
therewith. Further inward pressure causes housing 41 and
beam 70 to slide along rail 40 until end plate 120 of beam
70 contacts plug 55. Openings 69 and 75 are then in
alignment and pin 71 is pushed through those holes to
secure housing member 41 and platform 46 in the retracted
position depicted in Figs. 2A and 3. The roof rack 10 is
then ready for vehicle movement with the load rigidly and
directly supported from below by rail 40, along the entire
length of beam 70.
ALTBRNATE EMBODIMENT8
An alternate embodiment is shown in Figure 6 and 8. In that
embodiment support bars 141 are located in horizontal
alignment with adjacent sleeve portions 70. Support bar
141 may be rigidly attached to plates 76 at one end (best
seen in Fig. 6) and can be attached at its opposite end to
the outer end of beam 70 by means of plate 120. Load 60 is
attached to bar 141, as seen with respect to a baggage
CA 02209~84 1997-07-02
container in Fig.6. As best seen in Figure 8, this
provides a relatively flat co-planar surface comprising the
top of support bar 141 and the top of member 73, to permit
loading of large articles on top of roof rack 10 such as
plywood boards and the like. The retractable feature may
be used to assist in loading or unloading those large
items on top of roof rack 10, or the large items may be
lifted directly onto roof rack 10 while arm 44 is in the
retracted position. Otherwise the operation of this
embodiment is the same as that of Figures 1-5 and 7.
Figure 6 also depicts alternate clamping means 150 for
attachment of roof rack 10 to the rain gutter (not shown)
of vehicles 18 which do not have an existing vehicle roof
rack. Clamping means 150 includes a pair of lower vertical
post members 152 attached to beam 40, with one pair of post
152 adjacent end 52 and a second pair of posts 152 adjacent
end 54. Posts 152 are of a diameter less than the width of
slots 51 and 100 to enable housing member 41 and beam 70 to
pass posts 152 and move between the extended and retracted
positions of member 41. Horizontal cross member 154
extends between posts 152. Adjustable mount 156 is
connected for slidable movement along a substantial part of
the length of cross member 154. Clamp 158 is attached by
means of screw 160 to mount 156. As screw 160 is turned
inwardly, clamp 156 is moved inwardly to clamp against the
rain gutter of the vehicle. A similar, but opposed,
orientation of clamping means 150 adjacent end 54 permits
the user to clamp against the opposite rain gutter using
clamp 158 and screw 160. In this way roof rack lo may be
securely fastened to the rain gutter of vehicles not
equipped with an existing roof rack section 30.
Optionally, a key lock can be provided to lock platform 46
in the retracted position depicted in Fig. 2A. Stop 102
can incorporate a lock mechanism (not shown) in which a
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key pushes a pin upwardly into a hole in beam 70 and rail
40. Those holes are in co-axial alignment when platform 46
is in the retracted position. The lock mech~nism may be
unlatched when the key is inserted and turned to move the
pin from engagement with the holes in beam 70 and rail 40.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of
the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and
modifications are possible in the practice of this
invention without departing from the spirit or scope
thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be
construed in accordance with the substance defined by the
following claims.
