WO2001000450A1

WO2001000450A1 - Fastening device for vehicle load carriers

Info

Publication number: WO2001000450A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/001312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard Mann
Original assignee: Mont Blanc Industri Ab
Priority date: 1999-06-30
Filing date: 2000-06-21
Publication date: 2001-01-04
Also published as: SE9902482L; SE9902482D0; SE514392C2; AU6034600A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fastening a foot part intended for a roof-mounted load carrier for a vehicle, especially for fastening to the edge section of the roof. The device comprises a base part which is stationarily mounted on the roof and engaging means which engage with the base part. According to the invention, the engaging means comprises a projection, which fits into a depression on the top side of the base part and which is fixedly connected to the foot part, and a pivotable gripping arm which grips beneath a grip portion situated on one edge of the base part. Moreover the food part has vertically acting supporting stops which abut against the roof of the vehicle in front of as well as behind the grip portion.

Description

FASTENING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE LOAD CARRIERS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for fastening a foot part intended for a roof-mounted load carrier for a vehicle, especially for fastening to the edge section of the roof. The fastening device comprises a base part, which is adapted to be stationarily attached to the vehicle roof, and engaging means, which are connected to the foot part and are intended to engage with the base part .

Background

A device of the above-mentioned type is previously known, for example from patent document DE 40 27 452. The document describes a device which is intended to fasten a load carrier to a vehicle roof, the base part being mounted in a channel running along the side edges of the roof. In the foot part of the load carrier, two gripping arms are arranged in a jaw-like manner, which gripping arms enclasp the base part when the foot part is fastened to the vehicle roof. A similar construction is also described in patent specification DE 36 14 740. These constructions do however have a number of drawbacks. Because of the extension of the constructions in the vertical direction and because of their highly posi- tioned hinge points, the gripping arms can give way under load from the side. Because of the laterally unsupported engagement of the gripping arms in the base part, there is also a risk of lateral displacement of the entire load carrier. Furthermore, the gripping arms are subjected to a high torque when the vehicle, for example, brakes.

Object of the Invention

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a secure and stable fastening device which eli- minates the above-mentioned drawbacks and which achieves a stable fastening of the load carrier in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions.

Summary of the Invention

This object is achieved according to the invention by a fastening device which is essentially characterised in that the engaging means comprises a projection, which fits into a depression on the top side of the base part and which is fixedly connected to the foot part, and a gripping arm, which is pivotally arranged on the foot part and which, in the fastened position of the foot part, grips beneath a grip portion situated on one edge of the base part. The device is further characterised in that the foot part has vertically acting supporting stops situated respectively in front of and behind the grip portion. By making a projection on the foot part fit into a depression in the fixedly mounted base part, displacement motions of the foot part relative to the base part in both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction can be effectively avoided. The gripping of the arm beneath the grip portion of the base part prevents further motions in the vertical direction. By further arranging supporting stops for the foot part respectively in front of and behind the grip portion of the base part, the load on the engaging means is low when the vehicle accelerates or brakes, for example, since the supporting stops absorb these forces. These supporting stops, in combination with the gripping arm, thus contribute to a stable fastening of the foot part when subjected to load in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Preferably, the gripping arm, when this is in the position engaging with the base part, is connected to a locking device for locking the gripping arm in this posi- tion. Whilst the vehicle is in motion, the gripping arm is therefore prevented from losing its engagement with the base part, whereby the foot part would lose its fastening to the vehicle roof.

According to a preferred embodiment, the gripping arm is in abutting interaction with a second arm, which is also arranged pivotally on the foot part. The gripping arm and the second arm are arranged to interact during that motion of the gripping arm which achieves engagement with the base part, the second arm acting as a lever and facilitating the fastening motion. Furthermore, the above-mentioned abutting interaction is preferably constituted by a roller arranged on the second arm, at a distance from the pivot point of the latter, in abutting contact with a bearing surface arranged on the gripping arm. This produces an inter- changing effect, which further facilitates the engaging motion.

According to another preferred embodiment, a cap which can be applied on the foot part supports a locking device which can be introduced into the second arm. The second arm, and hence also the gripping arm, is thereby locked in the fastening position of the device.

Expediently, the grip portion of the base part is further arranged on the rear side edge of the base part relative to the direction of travel, which, owing to the grip of the gripping arm around the rear grip portion, secures a stable fastening of the foot .part, even when the vehicle brakes sharply.

Furthermore, the base part is expediently adapted to be attached to the vehicle roof, in channels running along the side edges of the vehicle roof.

Finally, the foot part is advantageously only provided with one gripping arm, which further increases the functional reliability. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a rear view of a vehicle having a load carrier fastened to the vehicle roof, according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the foot part shown in Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the fastening device is in a position not fully engaging with the vehicle roof,

Fig. 3 is a front view of the foot part in Fig. 1, in which the fastening device is in a position not fully engaging with the vehicle roof, Fig. 4 is a side view of the foot part shown in

Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the fastening device is in a position engaging with the vehicle roof, and

Fig. 5 is a front view of the foot part in Fig. 4, in which the fastening device is in a position engaging with the vehicle roof and a cap applied on the foot part is indicated by a dash-dotted line.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment The load carrier 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a load- carrier bar 2 , which extends over a vehicle roof 3 ' , transversely to the direction of travel A of the vehicle 3, and which, on both sides of the roof, is supported by and fixed to foot parts 4. The fastening between the load-carrier bar 2 and the foot parts 4 can be realised in a number of different ways and is not relevant to the invention and is not therefore illustrated. The foot parts 4 are fastened to the vehicle roof 3 ' by means of fastening devices according to the invention. The fastening device comprises a base part 5, which is attached to the vehicle roof 3' by means of a screw 8, rivet or the like, which runs through a recessed through- opening 7 in the base part 5. This base part 5 is mounted stationarily in a channel 23 running longitudinally along the edge of the vehicle roof 3 ' . For a stable fastening of the base part 5, the latter comprises a supporting block 9 arranged along its side. The base part 5 is provided on its top side with a depression 6 and, on its rear edge relative to the direction of travel A of the vehicle, with a grip portion 10, in this case in the form of a recess in the lower section of the base part facing the vehicle roof, see Fig. 2. On the foot part 4 there is further arranged a projection 27 or a pin, which fits into the said depression 6 and the fitting of which is intended to prevent displacement motions of the foot part relative to the base part in the lateral and longitudinal directions. The fastening device further comprises a gripping arm 11, which is pivotally mounted on the foot part 4 by means of a bearing 12. This gripping arm 11 further has at its one end a claw clutch 13, which is adapted to engage beneath a grip portion 10, defined by the said recess. This engagement is intended to prevent motions of the foot part in the vertical direction. The gripping arm 11 further has at its other end a bearing surface 14. The bearing surface 14 and the claw clutch 13 are situated on opposite sides of the bearing 12. The fastening device also comprises two supporting stops 15 and 16, which are integral with the foot part 4 and which, in this embodiment, are situated respectively in front of and behind the base part 5 relative to the direction of travel A of the vehicle, where they bear against the vehicle roof 3 ' , against the bottom of the said channel 23. The foot part 4 can also have supporting stops, intended to bear against the top side of the base part (not shown) .

Furthermore, a locking arm 17 is pivotally arranged in the foot part 4 by means of a second bearing 18. This locking arm 17 comprises a stop roller 19, arranged at a distance from the bearing 18, and a lock opening 20. The pivotable locking arm 17 has two main positions (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 respectively) between which the arm 17 is pivotable, firstly an engaging position (see Fig. 4) , in which the stop roller 19 bears against the bearing surface 14 of the gripping arm 11 and forces the claw clutch 13 of the gripping arm 11 into the edge recess 10 of the base part 5, and secondly an opening position (see Fig. 2) , in which the stop roller 19 does not bear against the gripping arm 11, the gripping arm 11 being pivotable about the bearing 12 so as to disengage from the grip portion 10.

In the upper part of the foot part 4, furthermore, a blocking means 21 is fastened by means of a bearing 22. This blocking means can be pivoted between a neutral position (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), in which the plane of the blocking means 21 lies essentially parallel with the load-carrier bar 2, and a blocked position (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) , in which the plane of the blocking means 21 lies essentially perpendicular to the load-carrier bar 2. In the blocking means 21, furthermore, there is arranged a recess, which, in the blocked position, surrounds the locking arm 17 and prevents undesirable rotation of the latter in order to lock the gripping arm 11 in the position engaging with the base part 5. In order further to prevent rotation of the said locking arm 17, a locking device can be introduced into the lock opening 20 of the locking arm 17, for locking the locking arm 17 in its position shown in Fig. 4. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, this locking device 26 is arranged in a protec- tive cap 25 which can be applied on the foot part and which is indicated by a dash-dotted line in Fig. 5. This protective cap 25 extends over essentially the whole of the side surface of the foot part 4 and shields the moving parts of the fastening device from, for example, rain and unauthorised access.

As stated above, the base part 5 is fixed station- arily in the channel 23 on the vehicle roof 3 ' . When the foot part 4 is fastened to the vehicle roof 3 ' , the foot part 4 is applied on the base part 5 in such a way that the projections 27 fixedly connected to the foot part 5 are fitted into the depressions 6 arranged on the base part. In this position, the supporting stops 15 and 16 bear against the bottom of the channel 23, respectively behind and in front of the base part 5 relative to the direction of travel A of the vehicle. After this, the claw clutch 13 of the gripping arm 11 is pivoted into the grip portion 10 of the base part 5. This is done manually by gripping the gripping arm 11 and pivoting it about the bearing 12, alternatively by gripping the locking arm 17, which is pivoted around the second bearing 18. In the latter case, the stop roller 19 comes into abutting con- tact with the bearing surface 14 of the gripping arm 11, whereby the gripping arm 11 pivots as the locking arm 17 is pivoted. As a result of this pivoting, the claw clutch 13 of the gripping arm 11 is introduced into the grip portion 10. The final part of the inward pivoting motion of the claw clutch 13, the clamping, is effected, however, in either case, through further turning of the locking arm 17. Next, the blocking means 21 is pivoted downwards about the blocking means bearing 22, whereupon the recess in the blocking means 21, in the downward pivoted position, surrounds the locking arm 17. The locking arm 17 is thus prevented from pivoting back and the engagement of the claw clutch 13 with the base part 5 is temporarily secured. A protective cap 25, indicated in Fig. 5 by a dash-dotted line, is then applied on the side edge of the foot part, and the locking device arranged in the protective cap (indicated in Fig. 5 by a dash-dotted key) is then introduced into the lock opening 20 arranged on the locking arm 17, whereupon the locking arm 17 is locked more permanently in its position. When the foot part is required to be taken off the roof, the locking device 26 is unlocked and the protective cap 25 is removed from the foot part 4. The blocking means 21 is then pivoted upwards, which thus releases the locking arm 17. The locking arm 17 is then pivoted to the extent that the stop roller 19 of the locking arm 17 loses its abutting contact with the bearing surface 14 of the gripping arm 11, whereupon the gripping arm 11 can be pivoted manually out of engagement with the base part 5. The foot part 4 can thus be removed from the vehicle roof 3 ' .

The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has been described above and shown in the drawings mere- ly by way of example, and can be modified in its details within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the basic concept of the invention. For example, the above-described locking arm or blocking means is not essential to the invention, but it is conceivable to pro- vide a locking device which acts directly on the gripping arm. These locking devices can also have a number of different design configurations, which are known per se . It is further realised, of course, that the foot parts and the load-carrier bars can have many different embodi- ments, depending on the vehicle type, field of application and design. For example, the load-carrier bars can be matched to the particular roof load, for example a roof box. Nor is it essential to the invention that the base part should be adapted to be mounted in a channel arranged on the vehicle roof, but rather the foot part with its associated base part can be configured for mounting on an essentially flat vehicle roof without channels or the like. Furthermore, the designs of the gripping arm and locking arm can be modified in many ways without departing from the basic concept of the invention. This also applies to the appearance of the abutting interaction between these arms. The number of interacting arms can also be allowed to vary. Furthermore, the base part can have a number of configurations. For example, the claw clutch grip portion can be arranged on the front side edge of the base part and a plurality of depressions can be arranged on the top side of

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Claims

1. A device for fastening a foot part (4) intended for a roof-mounted load carrier (1) for a vehicle (3), especially for fastening to the edge section of the roof

(3 ' ) , said fastening device comprising a base part (5) adapted to be stationarily attached to the vehicle roof

(3'), and engaging means (11, 27), which are connected to the foot part (4) and, in the fastened position of the foot part (4) , engage with the base part (5) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the engaging means (11, 27) comprise a projection (27) , which fits into a depression on the top side of the base part and which is fixed- ly connected to the foot part (4) , and a gripping arm

(11) , which is arranged pivotally on the foot part and which, in the fastened position of the foot part (4) , grips beneath a grip portion (10) situated on one edge of the base part (5) , and that the foot part (4) has vertically acting supporting stops (15, 16) situated respectively in front of and behind the grip portion

(10) .

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the gripping arm (11) , in its position engaging with the base part (5) , is connected to a locking device (26) for locking the gripping arm (11) in this position.

3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping arm (11) is in abutting interaction with a second arm (17) arranged pivotally on the foot part (4) , which arms interact during that motion of the gripping arm (11) which achieves engagement with the base part (5) .

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said abutting interaction is constituted by a roller (19) arrang- ed on the second arm (17) , at a distance from the pivot point (18) of the latter, in abutting contact with a bearing surface (14) arranged on the gripping arm (11) .

5. A device according to claims 2 and 3, wherein a cap (25) , which can be applied on the foot part (4) , supports a locking device (26) , which is introduceable into the second arm (17) , for locking the second arm (17) , and hence also the gripping arm (11) , in the fastening position of the device.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip portion (10) is arranged on the rear side edge of the base part (5) relative to the lon- gitudinal direction (A) of the vehicle.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base part (5) is adapted to be fastened to the vehicle roof (3') in channels (23) running along the side edges of the vehicle roof.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein this comprises one and only one gripping arm (11) .