Abstract:
There is disclosed a door-frame hook, for enabling a load strap, attached to a vehicle rooftop load carrier, to engage a door frame of the vehicle to secure the load carrier when the load strap is tightened. The hook may be anchored onto a frame ridge of the door frame and in part, covered by a sealer attached to the door frame. The door-frame hook of the invention may, advantageously, remain in position, between the frame-ridge of the door frame and the sealer potter, regardless of the degree of tightness of the load strap or the degree of its pull on the hook, as well as when the load strap is unattached. Moreover, it does not harm the door sealer nor does it interfere in any way with its sealing function or with the shutting action of the door.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application is a U.S. national stage entry from co-pending International Patent Application Ser. No. PCT/IL2014/50350, filed Apr. 10, 2014. This Application is related to and claims priority also from U.S. provisional patent application 61/813,657, filed Apr. 19, 2013, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Roof-top load carriers for vehicles are well known. They typically include general-purpose racks, rigid enclosures, flexible racks or enclosures and a variety of special-purpose carriers, designed for specific types of equipment, such as bicycles, boats, ski boards etc. A load carrier may be referred to in the sequel interchangeably also as a “load” or a “carrier”. These terms are also to be understood as including baggage not specifically designed to be carried on vehicle roof-tops, such as suitcases, bags and cartons. 
         [0003]    All roof-top carriers and loads have a fundamental common need, namely to be safely secured to the body of the vehicle so that they remain in place during vehicle motion. 
         [0004]    Generally such securing involves load straps that (a) are attached to the carrier or pulled over the load, (b) engage some holding part of the vehicle and (c) may be tightened and held tight by means of suitable buckles or the like. The particular holding part of the vehicle and the manner in which it is engaged by the load straps may be broadly classified into three types: (a) The holding parts are rails permanently attached to the roof-top and the load straps are simply wound around the rails or around special anchors attached to the rails; (b) the holding part is the entire roof and the load straps run through the vehicle&#39;s doorways and span the top of its interior space; (c) The holding parts are the tops of the vehicle&#39;s door-frames and the load straps engage them by means of special door-frame hooks. 
         [0005]    Of the aforementioned three types, type ‘a’ is applicable only to vehicles that are equipped with suitable rails. Type ‘b’ has several drawbacks, including interference with the operation of side airbags, obtrusive presence of the load straps inside the vehicle and a predisposition to sideway slippage. Type ‘c’, to which the present invention relates, is applicable to practically all personal passenger vehicles (e.g. so-called sedans), as well as many other vehicle types, and generally overcomes the drawbacks enumerated above with regard to type ‘b’. However the configuration of the special hooks and the manner in which they engage the doorframes, according to prior art, have several disadvantages, to be discussed below. It is noted that a vehicle doorframe is generally lined with a flexible strip, known as door sealer or “potter”, which is fixedly attached to the door frame and serves to seal the doorway from outside air and water when the door is shut. According to prior art, the door-frame hook (which is attached to the load strap) is configured to engage the door sealer as part of the door frame; in other words, the hook is wide enough to fit over the sealer and is designed to press against it when the load strap is tightened. 
         [0006]    The disadvantages of a door-frame hook of prior art and of the manner in which it engages the door frame include: (1) If the load strap becomes loose, for any reason, the hook may slip from the sealer and thus become disengaged, particularly if the door is opened even momentarily; this may cause the entire load to become unstable or even fall off the rooftop. (2) The considerable pressure exerted by the hook on the sealer may damage it, at least gradually, thus reducing its effectiveness. (3) The relatively large width of the hook, combined with its structurally-necessitated greater massivity, may interfere with the tightness of contact between the sealer and the door, thus again reducing sealing effectiveness, or even necessitating greater force to shut the door. 
         [0007]    Thus there is a need for, and it would be advantageous to have, a means for engaging the load straps of roof-top load carriers to the door frame of a vehicle that will be devoid of the aforementioned disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The principal objective of the present invention is to improve the manner in which a load carrier is secured onto a vehicle roof-top, by providing means for a load strap, attached to the load or load carrier, to engage a door-frame of the vehicle in a manner that avoids the drawbacks of prior art. According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided a door-frame hook, attachable to a load strap that is configured to be directly anchored, or mounted, onto the frame-ridge of the door frame and to be covered by the door sealer (“rubber potter”). The door-frame hook may remain in position, between the frame-ridge of the door frame and the rubber potter, regardless of the degree of tightness of the load strap or the degree of its pull on the hook, as well as when the load strap is unattached. The door-frame hook of the invention may be easily mounted on, or removed from, the frame-ridge of the door frame and does not interfere in any way with the sealing function of door sealer or with the shutting action of the door. 
         [0009]    More specifically, there is provided according to the present invention a door-frame hook, for enabling a load strap, attached to a roof-top load carrier, on a vehicle, to engage a door frame of the vehicle so as to secure the load carrier onto the vehicle when the load strap is tightened, the hook being configured so that it may be anchored onto a frame ridge of the door frame and thereafter be, in part, covered by a sealer attached to the door frame and further configured so that the load strap may be attached thereto. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments the door-frame hook includes a slot for threading the load strap therethrough. In other embodiments the door-frame hook includes a tying strap or a tying ring for threading the load strap therethrough. A feature of a door-frame hook according to the invention is that it remains anchored onto the frame ridge even when the load strap is loose or absent. Other features of the door-frame hook are that, while anchored onto the frame ridge, it essentially does not interfere with shutting of the corresponding door of the vehicle; it may be totally invisible when the corresponding door of the vehicle is shut and it causes no damage to the sealer nor does it interfere with its sealing function. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration and example only and thus not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front-top perspective view illustration of a door-frame hook, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustration of the door-frame hook shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flat layout of the door-frame hook shown in  FIG. 1 , before being bent into its shape. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view illustration of a variation of the door-frame hook shown in  FIG. 1 , having a tying strap attached thereto. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a flat layout of the door-frame hook shown in  FIG. 4 , before being erected. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of a vehicle door frame, having door-frame hook, as shown in  FIG. 4 , anchored onto the frame-ridge of the door frame and covered by a rubber potter. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates two versions of mediating buckles, having a generally U-shaped body. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates an oblong mediating buckle, having an enclosed oblong shape ring and a locking arm. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustration of another variation of a door-frame hook, having a tying loop integrated therein. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross section view of a vehicle door frame, having door-frame hook, as shown in  FIG. 9 , anchored onto the frame-ridge of the door frame of a vehicle. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 11   a - 11   f  demonstrate the sequence of steps for anchoring a door-frame hook of the present invention onto the frame-ridge of the door frame. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate examples of securing a suitcase or a large bag onto the roof top of a vehicle, according to embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thoroughly and completely understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0025]    An embodiment is an example or implementation of the invention. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. 
         [0026]    Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. 
         [0027]    Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only. 
         [0028]    Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as those to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention can be implemented in testing or in practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. 
         [0029]    Reference is now made to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a front-top perspective view illustration of a door-frame hook  200 , according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a side view illustration of door-frame hook  200  and  FIG. 3  is a flat layout of door-frame hook  200 , before being bent into shape. 
         [0030]    Door-frame hook  200  is U-shaped and includes an external wall  210 , an internal wall  220  and a base  230 , interconnecting the generally parallel external wall  210  and internal wall  220 . Base  230  may be a flat spacer, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a pointing edge (not shown), rounded or a combination thereof.  FIG. 4  is a side view illustration of a door-frame hook  201 , according to variations of the present invention, having a rounded base  230 , and  FIG. 5  is a flat layout of door-frame hook  201 , before being bent into shape. 
         [0031]    External wall  210  has a slot  212  formed therein, configured to accommodate a load strap inserted therethrough.  FIG. 4  illustrates a door-frame hook  201  having a tying strap  240  attached thereto. The tying strap  240  is generally shaped as a loop and may be made of any suitable flexible material; preferably its length is relatively short. One end-loop  244  of tying strap  240  is permanently threaded through slot  212 , while its seconded-loop  246  is left open so as to accommodate the load strap, reaching from the vehicle roof-top carrier or load, as further explained below. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of a vehicle door frame, having a door-frame hook  201  (depicted in  FIG. 4 ) anchored onto the frame-ridge  18  of the door frame and covered, in part, by the sealer (rubber potter)  16 . Typically, door-frame hook  201  is anchored onto the portion of the frame-ridge  18 , at least part of which is a continuous extension of the vehicle roof  12 . After assembly, door-frame hook  201  is disposed adjacent to frame-ridge  18 , stopped by base  230 , and rubber potter  16  is placed back adjacently to the external surfaces of door-frame hook  201 . In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , tying strap  240  is disposed in the space between the upper section of the vehicle door  14  and the door frame. Load strap  160  passes through the second end-loop  246  of the tying strap or is tied thereto. 
         [0033]    There are a number of alternative ways to attach strap  160  to end-loop  246 . In one embodiment, a mediating buckle is used.  FIG. 7  illustrates two versions of a mediating buckle  280 , having a generally flat U-shape body, including a first arm  282  and a second arm  284  or  286 . According to the version marked  280   a,  the end-loop is wrapped about one arm and the load strap is wrapped about the other arm. In version  280   b,  a slot  288  is formed within arm  286 , through which the load strap may pass. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a mediating buckle  290  includes an oblong ring  292  and an anchor  296 , which is longer than of the opening formed inside oblong ring  292 . Second-end-loop  246  is threaded through oblong ring  292 . In one variation, strap  160  includes a loop (not shown) that is also inserted through oblong ring  292 , and then anchor  294 , is inserted through the strap  160  loop, which strap is then pulled back to interlock it with tying strap  240 . 
         [0035]    In another variation, load strap  160  has no loop at its leading end. The leading end is inserted through the opening inside oblong ring  292 , and then inserted back through the opening inside oblong ring  292 , in the other direction, to form a loop, anchor  294 , is inserted through the just formed loop, and then strap  160  is pulled to interlock it with oblong ring  292  and thereby with tying strap  240 . It should be noted, for the sake of clarity, that other ways and devices known in the art may be used to interlock load strap  160  with tying strap  240 . 
         [0036]    In other embodiments, a door-frame hook  200  (as described above and illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) may be attached to load strap  160  by running the latter through slot  212  and tightening it by any provided means. 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustration of another embodiment of a door-frame hook according to the present invention, namely door-frame hook  300 , having a tying ring  350  integrated therein. Door-frame hook  300  is generally U-shaped and, similarly to hooks  200  and  201  ( FIGS. 1-5 ), includes an external wall  310 , an internal wall  320  and a base  330 , interconnecting the generally parallel, external wall  310  and internal wall  320 . Base  330  may be a flat spacer, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a pointing edge (not shown), rounded or a combination thereof. Internal wall  320  further includes a tubular connector  340  adapted to securely enclose a bearing  354 . Tying ring  350  is pivotally attached to bearing  354  and is configured to accommodate a load strap threaded 
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a cross section view of a vehicle door frame, having a door-frame hook  300  anchored onto the frame-ridge  18  of the door frame and covered by the rubber potter  16 . Typically, door-frame hook  300  is anchored onto the portion of the frame-ridge  18 , at least part of which is a continuous extension of the vehicle roof  12 . After assembly, door-frame hook  300  is disposed adjacent to frame-ridge  18 , stopped by base  330 , and rubber potter  16  is placed back adjacently to the external surfaces of door-frame hook  300 . In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , load strap  160  is passed through tying ring  350 , forming a loop  180 . 
         [0039]    The operation of mounting a door-frame hook according to the present invention onto a vehicle door frame and using it to secure any roof-top load or carrier onto the roof-top of the vehicle Will now be described, with reference to  FIGS. 11   a - 11   f,  in terms of a sequence of steps, by way of example. The sequence is applicable essentially to any door-frame hook according to the invention, such as those described above ( 200 ,  201  and  300 ) with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , although, by way of example, the description is in terms of, and the illustrations depict, the configuration of door-frame hook  201 . 
         [0040]    Operation begins by grabbing the rubber potter  16  at a selected location (step  410 , see  FIG. 11   a ), whereabouts the door-frame hook is to be anchored. It then proceeds with the following steps: Step  420 : pulling down rubber potter  16 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 11   b,  the user pulls rubber potter  16  down slightly, to expose a section of frame-ridge  18 , whereabouts the door-frame hook is to be anchored. 
         [0042]    Step  430 : holding door-frame hook/strap  240  in position. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 11   c,  the user holds the door-frame hook in a position facing the frame ridge at the selected location, wherein strap  240  faces the exterior of the vehicle. 
         [0044]    Step  440 : placing door-frame hook/strap  240  in position. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 11   d,  the user pushes the door-frame hook upwardly to engage the frame ridge until stopped by its base  230  or by the door frame. 
         [0046]    Step  450 : replacing rubber potter  16 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 11   e,  the user pushes rubber potter  16  back to its normal position, typically covering the door-frame hook. 
         [0048]    The operation ends with step  460 , as shown in  FIG. 11   f,  wherein second end-loop  246  of tying strap  240  (or, alternatively, slot  212  in the case of door-frame hook  200  or tying ring  350  in the case of door-frame hook  300 ) is now exposed and ready for attachment thereto of load strap  160 . Thereupon the load strap is typically passed through or tied to second end-loop  246  (or the alternatives mentioned above) and tightened, to secure the load or load carrier onto the roof top. 
         [0049]    It is noted that, advantageously, door  14  may be closed normally and that, further advantageously, no damage is inflicted on rubber potter  16 . It is also noted that the doorframe hook may, advantageously, be left anchored onto the frame-ridge of the door frame even when the load strap becomes loose or when no load strap is attached thereto (for example, when the load carrier is removed). 
         [0050]    Tying strap  240  of door-frame hook  201  may be designed so that second end-loop  246  is left behind the closed door  14 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , or may be kept outside the vehicle, when door  14  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 11   f,  or any other design or usage. Similarly, outside wall  210  of door-frame hook  200 , as well as tying ring  350  of door-frame hook  300 , remains generally hidden behind closed door  14 . 
         [0051]    Using door-frame hooks of the present invention, a variety of roof-top loads and load carriers can be secured to the roof-top  12  of a vehicle  10 , including, but not limited to, a roof-rack, a bicycle rack, a ski rack, a tent, rigid or soft stowage containers and luggage items, such as bags and suitcases.  FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate examples of securing a suitcase or a large bag ( 20 ,  22 ) onto roof top  12  of a vehicle  10 . Bag  20  is held tight using external load straps  160  while bag  22  has load straps  160  attached to, or integrated with the bag. In these examples, load straps  160  are tightened to loops  246  of tying straps  240 . In variations of the present invention, the door-frame hooks ( 200 ,  201  or  300 ) are an integral part of load straps  160 , which also include each a tightening mechanism. 
         [0052]    The invention has thus been described in terms of embodiments and examples, but it will be obvious that these may be varied in many other ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as represented by the claims hereunder.