Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02852570 2014-05-29
DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to the cargo carriers of the vehicles
and in particular to
the cargo carrier system having a power lifting mechanism for loading and
unloading the cargo,
to and from the roof top of a vehicle. In another embodiment this invention
can also be used on
aircrafts to load and unload cargo as well as for lifting a handicap person
with a wheel chair.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is created because people love to travel with items, such as
bicycles, cargo boxes,
kayaks, canoes, skies, snowboards etc. or just for everyday needs like
wheelchairs, and go
through a lot of inconvenience of lifting or trying to lift heavy objects and
could get injured or
waste lots of time during the process. Many of us are Seniors now it is very
hard for them to lift
articles to the roof top, Many people have vehicles that have hard to reach
roof tops such as
vans and sport utility vehicles, which makes it even more difficult for anyone
to load up cargo
on the roof top, so with this invention, cargo is easily placed or removed to
and from the roof
top of a vehicle.
A large number of people use roof mounted cargo carriers. These carriers help
to increase the
carrying capacity of vehicles which is limited due to the shape and size of
various articles, hence
not only they save the interior space but also make it possible to carry
larger articles. A variety
of articles can be carried on the roof top of a vehicle, such as, bicycles,
cargo boxes, kayaks,
canoes, skis, wheel chair, etc., which needs to be loaded on the roof top of a
vehicle for
transportation.
The cargo carriers are becoming more and more popular because of the interior
space saving,
and also because of the possibility of carrying larger articles. There is also
a growing popularity
of vans and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles are of a significant height
which leads to roofs
that are beyond the reach of an average person. When a cargo box is mounted on
the rooftop
of a vehicle it is very hard for an average height person to put something
inside or take out
something from it, simply because of not having an easy access to it, either
the person has to
use a ladder, or climb up somehow or the person has to un mount the box and
bring it down for
an easy access.
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The prior art provides various systems where the designs have been developed
towards
convenience and functionality by using a number of methods and techniques in
an effort to
provide ease-of-use to the end user. A multitude of arrangements have been
designed to
provide easier loading and unloading the cargo to and from the top of a
vehicle. All of the
arrangements provide help to load and unload cargo to and from the roof top of
a vehicle, but
there is still a need for an improved roof rack system that eliminates the
strength and height
requirements of individuals to load and unload the cargo to and from the roof
top of a vehicle
and also minimizes the risk of injury to the individuals. That creates a
demand for a power
loading and unloading system that can help people to load and unload without
physical
exertion.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a power lift roof rack for loading and
unloading cargo to and
from the vehicle roof tops, with the help of electric motors, while
maintaining cargo's
orientation. System consists of horizontal travel Assembly A, vertical travel
Assembly B, and
load carriage Assembly C. Electric motors are used for Horizontal and Vertical
travels.
Assembly A sits on the top of existing roof rails of vehicle, or it can sit on
its own feet or rails
that can be attached to the vehicle. Assembly C travels on the arms of
vertical rails of Assembly
B. Vertical rails are mounted on vertical base bars, Top ends of these
vertical base bars are
connected to the ends of base bars of assembly A, and bottom of vertical base
bars are
supported by telescoping legs. These telescoping legs reach to the ground when
extended to
support the load, these telescoping legs are very important because they take
away the stress
that could damage the vehicle. These telescoping legs also increase the load
lifting capacity of
lift system. The loader (human) can bring the load to any convenient position
of height, by
pressing the button on control, for loading and securing the objects, to the
Assembly C.
The load is placed in the required orientation (vertical or horizontal) and it
keeps its position of
orientation (vertical or horizontal). This is specifically important when
loading tall objects like
bikes and equally important in case of cargo boxes etc., so that the articles
contained inside,
keep their position and don't get damaged or scattered inside.
When the load is placed and secured on the Assembly C, and a button is
pressed, Assembly C,
on the arms of Assembly B, rises to the required height and stops at the end.
Then the
Assembly C is shifted to the Assembly A, and it travels horizontally, and at a
predetermined
fixed point, the horizontal movement stops and the Assembly C gets secured. In
the transport
position the Assembly C sits in a secured position on assembly A, the cross
member is detached
and the assembly B collapses and rests secured on sides and or under Assembly
A.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
Assembly A consists of various parts, like: Base bars, horizontal rails,
middlebars, motors, motor
mounts, continuous chains, sprockets, pulleys, rope, etc. and some hardware to
join them.
Assembly A is responsible for horizontal travel and securing of the load
carriage.
Assembly B consists of various parts like: Base bars, base bar supports,
rails, toothed racks,
sliders ( equipped with rollers, slide bars, gears), collapsible arms, support
arms, telescoping
legs, housing for telescoping legs, telescoping leg supports, cross members
(equipped with
guide pins, tightening knobs, detachable bar, pulleys etc.), and some
hardware.
Assembly C consists of, a frame equipped with sliders to slide on assembly A
and assembly B, a
carriage that can hold the bikes, kayaks, canoe, skies, Wheel chair, etc. The
carriage is
converted into a cargo box when needed, it also has the capability to be
partly used as cargo
box and partly to hold other articles, it also hold the cross bars for
carrying and securing
objects. Assembly C has a towing eye that receives the hook mechanism from
assembly A, for
its horizontal movement.
In Assembly B the collapsible arms at one end are pivotally joined at the
upper end of a vertical
slider, and the other end of collapsible arm is free. The collapsible arms are
supported by
support bars and struts. One end of the support bar and strut are attached to
the collapsible
arm in the side and the other end of the support bar and strut are attached to
the vertical
slider. The vertical slider's movement is synchronized by the help of a cross
member, that is
attached to the vertical sliders with gears, at the time of loading and
unloading. The cross
member is equipped with pulleys for the vertical movements. Cross member is
attached at the
ends to the vertical sliders at the time of loading and unloading and is
detached at the time of
transportation. The detachable bars, of cross member, gets connected to the
gears of vertical
sliders, these gears ride on vertical racks, that are attached to the vertical
base bars of
Assembly B. The detachable bars along with these vertical racks and gears are
responsible for
the synchronized vertical movement of both vertical sliders. These vertical
sliders slide on the
vertical rails. Vertical rails are mounted on base bars that are equipped with
telescoping legs
that slide out and rest on ground to support the load of the cargo at the time
of loading and
unloading.
After securing the objects on the assembly C, the movement of the Assembly C,
between
loading/unloading, and roof top position, is a push button act for the user.
In the present embodiment the Assembly A consists of a frame (four base bars)
and two parallel
rails to carry the Assembly C, in another embodiment it is a single rail to
carry the Assembly C.
In another embodiment it is plural number of rails to carry the Assembly C.
Yet in another
embodiment the rails are placed directly on roof rails of vehicle. In another
embodiment rails
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are embedded in the frame. In another embodiment it is a single rail setup,
yet in another
embodiment it is plural number of rail setups.
Assembly A is equipped with two motors for vertical and horizontal travels, in
another
embodiment it is one motor for both travels, yet in another embodiment it is
plural number of
motors for these travels. In another embodiment hydraulic system is used, in
another
embodiment pneumatic system is used, in another embodiment electric actuator
system is
used yet in another embodiment magnetic system is used. In another embodiment
human
assistance is used, in another embodiment spring system is used, in another
embodiment gas
struts are used, in another embodiment gear system is used, in another
embodiment any
combination of above mentioned systems are used.
Assembly A is equipped with rope for vertical travel and chain for horizontal
travel, in another
embodiment these arrangements are used vice versa, in another embodiment a
combination of
two are used, in another embodiment only rope is used, in another embodiment
only chain is
used, in another embodiment belts are used, in another embodiment magnetic
forces are used
for these movements, In another embodiment gears system is used, in another
embodiment
hydraulic cylinders are used, in another embodiment pneumatic cylinders are
used, in another
embodiment electric actuators are used, in another embodiment gas struts are
used, in another
embodiment springs are used, In another embodiment any combination of above
mentioned
articles are used.
Base bars of Vertical Assembly B are pivotally connected at the upper ends to
the ends of base
bars of assembly A, in another embodiment they have a hinge mechanism that
connects them,
in another embodiment it is a universal joint that connects them, in another
embodiment it is a
flex joint that connects them, in another embodiment they are male and female
parts
responsible for making connection, in another embodiment they are welded, in
another
embodiment it is a combination of any of above mechanisms.
Assembly C travels horizontally on two rails mounted on the two base bars of
assembly A. In
another embodiment it is one rail on top of single base bar, in another
embodiment the rail is
embedded in the base bar, in another embodiment it is one part that does both
jobs. In
another embodiment it is plural number of base bars and rails, in another
embodiment it is
plural number of embedded rail and base bar and or any combination of these.
Assembly C travels vertically on two rails mounted on the two base bars of
assembly B. in
another embodiment it is one rail on top of single base bar, in another
embodiment the rail is
embedded in the base bar, in another embodiment it is one part that does both
jobs. In
another embodiment it is plural number of base bars and rails, in another
embodiment it is
plural number of embedded rail and base bar and or any combination of these.
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In another embodiment assembly C is equipped with a car wash mechanism. In
winters cars get
very dirty, especially all the windows because of the splashes from other
vehicles, and it is very
hard to see through them for the driver hence driving becomes dangerous. The
washer will help
to clean the windows every time before driving the vehicle. It will also be
helpful in summer for
a great car wash without going to the commercial car wash.
The two sliders of assembly B have a detachable joining cross member that has
detachable rod
that is attached to the gears of the sliders at the time of loading/unloading,
these gears travel
on toothed rack, attached to the base bars of assembly B, is responsible for
synchronized
movement of these sliders to keep the balance of two arms. In another
embodiment the
balance is achieved by the help of motors, in another embodiment it is
achieved by gyroscope
system. In another embodiment the detachable cross member is part of assembly
B, so that at
the time of transport it stays attached to the assembly B.
Assembly B has two base barswith the rest of setup, in another embodiment it
is one base bar
with the appropriate set up, yet in another embodiment it is a plural number
of base bars with
appropriate setups, in another embodiment rails and toothed racks areembedded
and or
integrated in the base bars, in another embodiment a different slide system is
used, in another
embodiment folding legs are used to support the load, In another embodiment a
combination
of telescoping and folding legs are used. In another embodiment base bars
extend to reach the
ground for support. In another embodiment the rails reach to the ground, in
another
embodiment the integrated part is used, in another embodiment any external
item is used for
the support. In another embodiment a combination of the above is used. In
another
embodiment vehicle it's self is used for the support. In another embodiment
another means of
supporting used.
In another embodiment assembly B rises from the bottom end, along with
assembly C after
Assembly C gets loaded/unloaded, and gets horizontal to the same height as
assembly A, to a
point where ends of base bars and rails of assembly B faces ends of base bars
and rails of
assembly A. After that the Assembly C travels horizontally from assembly B to
Assembly A and
gets secured. Then the Assembly B collapses and slides under and or on a side
of Assembly A
and gets secured.
In another embodiment it is a continuous track that starts vertically and
bends and become
horizontal, this way it is a vertical to horizontal continuous movement.
In another embodiment it is a horizontal track and a track slides out and
becomes a vertical
track, and at the end the vertical track slides in.
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This rise of Assembly B is achieved by one or more electric motors, in another
embodiment
hydraulic system is used, in another embodiment pneumatic system is used in
another
embodiment electric actuator system is used yet in another embodiment magnetic
system is
used. In another embodiment spring system is used, in another embodiment gas
struts are
used, in another embodiment gears are used, in another embodiment human
assistance is used
solely or with any of above mentioned combinations, in another embodiment any
combination
of above mentioned systems are used.
In the transport position, Assembly B collapses and rests on one side of
assembly A. In another
embodiment the assembly B rests under assembly A. In another embodiment the
assembly B is
detached and stored on side and or under the assembly A.
The collapse of Assembly B is achieved by loader(human), in another embodiment
it is carried
out by electric motors, in another embodiment it is carried out by out by
electric actuators, in
another embodiment it is carried out by pneumatic system, in another
embodiment it is
carried out by hydraulic system, in another embodiment it is carried out by
springs, in another
embodiment it is carried out by struts, in another embodiment it is carried
out by gears, in
another embodiment it is carried out by magnetic system, in another embodiment
it is carried
out by any single or a combination of above mentioned systems.
Although the invention has been described in connection with preferred
embodiments, it is
understood that various modifications, additions and alterations can be made
to the invention
by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined
in the appended claims.
The description of the invention has been provided with its embodiments, yet
it is understood
that with some alterations or changes, the scope of the invention can be
achieved, so it is
intended that the invention may not be limited to the disclosed embodiments,
but it also
include the embodiments that fall within the scope of claims.
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