Abstract:
The present invention relates to a roof rack ( 10 ) for a vehicle ( 11 ). The roof rack ( ) comprises a load carrier bar ( 13 ), a first and a second load carrier foot ( 14 ), wherein at least the first load carrier foot ( 14 ) is displaceable with respect to the load carrier bar ( 13 ) to enable the roof rack ( 10 ) to be attachable to vehicles ( 12 ) of different sizes. The roof rack also comprises a readable indication device ( 30 ) enabling the determination of different appropriate positions of the load carrying foot ( 14 ). The indication device ( 30 ) is displaceable between different positions with respect to the load carrier bar ( 13 ) and adapted to be read with respect to a reference point on the roof rack ( 10 ), enabling repeatable readings at different positions. The present invention also relates to a method for assembling a roof rack. The roof rack is simple in construction yet easy to use for an end user and does not tend to produce air turbulence around the load carrier bar to any significant degree.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a national phase application of international application no. PCT/EP2012/053195, which has an international filing date of Feb. 24, 2012, and which claims priority to EP application no. 11156025.6, filed Feb. 25, 2011, both of which applications are entirely incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a roof rack for a vehicle having a load carrier bar, a first and a second load carrier foot attachable to a surface of the vehicle such as the roof or rails arranged on the roof. At least one load carrier foot is adjustable so that the distance between the first and the second load carrier foot can be adjusted enabling the roof rack to be positioned on vehicles of different sizes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Roof racks for vehicles are widely used for transporting goods and sports equipment such as skies, bags, suitcases, boxes, bicycles, etc. Roof racks generally comprise a load carrier bar extending across the roof, and a first and a second load carrier foot which is attachable to the roof. As there is a wide variety of vehicles on the market, the market requires adjustable roof racks with moveable attachment means so as to be compatible with different sizes and different types of vehicles. Roof racks commonly extend across the roof of the vehicle in the transverse direction perpendicular to the vehicles longitudinal direction. As such it is important that the distance between the first and the second load carrier foot can be adjusted. 
     One type of adjustable roof rack comprises a load carrier bar with a slot in which the load carrier foot can be releasably attached. The distance between the first and the second load carrier foot can thus be adjusted. One problem with these types of roof racks is that a user who mounts the roof rack to the vehicles roof needs to determine the appropriate length between the load carrier feet and adjust them accordingly during assembly with the vehicle. To simplify this, stickers can be positioned on the load carrier bar or printed e.g. on a plastic cover encompassing the load carrier bar. However, stickers can be wrongly attached and plastic covers can shrink, e.g. due to exposure to UV rays, and as a consequence, the position indication provided by a plastic cover or a sticker can be misleading or directly wrong. 
     When a vehicle is moving, turbulence can be created around openings, cavities and protruding forms of the load carrier bar. Such turbulence creates noise and also increases the air resistance of the load carrier bar. The solutions mentioned above are also known to increase the air turbulence around the load carrier bar and foot as they generally tend to leave parts of the apertures in which the load carrier foot is attached exposed to the passing air. As air passes the exposed aperture, turbulence is created around the aperture which can impart high levels of noise especially at high speed. 
     Another solution is a plastic strip which can be cut to a predetermined length. The predetermined length, appropriate for a specific vehicle, can be found in the paper manual for the product or on a corresponding web site on the internet. After the plastic strip has been cut, it is attached in a slot of the load carrier bar and subsequently the load carrier foot can be fastened at the position, in the same slot, which is physically indicated by the length of the pre-cut plastic strip. This solution is not very flexible in terms of enabling repositioning of the load carrier foot. Once the plastic strip has been cut, it offers small or no possibilities to be reattached again. As it requires a tool for cutting, it is not very user friendly. 
     There is thus a need for an adaptable solution, less sensitive of weather conditions and assembly parameters and which further provides for a simpler handling for the user. The solution should further strive towards low air turbulence to reduce noise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to solve, or at least to reduce or to provide a useful alternative to, the above mentioned drawbacks. These objectives are met by a roof rack for a vehicle. The roof rack comprises a load carrier bar with a longitudinal direction, a first and a second load carrier foot, wherein at least the first load carrier foot is displaceable with respect to the load carrier bar in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier bar to enable the roof rack to be attachable to vehicles of different sizes. The roof rack further comprises a readable indication device for enabling the determination of different positions of the load carrying foot. The indication device is displaceable between different positions with respect to the load carrier bar and adapted to be read with respect to a reference point on the roof rack, enabling repeatable readings at different positions. 
     The present invention provides for a roof rack which is easy to assemble at the manufacturing site or as an end user, and which further is easy to position on the vehicle in an easy manner. The present invention also provides for a versatile roof rack which can be used on many vehicles of different sizes while still permitting a good fit to each vehicle. 
     According to an aspect of present invention, the reference point is arranged on, or defined by, the load carrier bar. The reference point could be a part of the slot, as disclosed herein, used together with the indication device to determine an appropriate position of the load carrier foot. The reference point could alternatively be a protrusion or any other part of the load carrier bar appropriate to position the load carrier foot. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, to readily find the appropriate position of a load carrier foot with respect to the load carrier bar, the indication device is displaceable along the longitudinal direction of the load carrier bar. This enables a slim mechanism which can be fitted inside the load carrier bar and which can be displaced while still not exposing the slot or aperture to passing air, thus keeping air turbulence around the load carrier bar low. Such indication device is advantageously oblong in form so that it can be used with load carrier bars having chambers for improving the rigidity of the load carrier bar. 
     Hence, according to an aspect of the present invention, the indication device can be arranged at least partly inside of the load carrier bar. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention the load carrier bar comprises a slot and in the indication device is adapted to be displaceable in, or in the proximity of, the slot so as to be displayed in the slot. This aspect utilizes the slot as a reference point and requires no or little manipulation of the load carrier bar itself except for the slot. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the slot of the load carrier bar is an open ended slot arranged at one end of the load carrier bar. This enables an easy insertion of the indication device and the load carrier foot. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the indication device and the load carrier foot are both displaceably arranged in the slot. This construction is simple and cost efficient to manufacture. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the indication device is displaceable with respect to the first load carrying foot and the load carrier bar. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the indication device is a indication rod. The indication rid has an oblong form which can be used with load carrier bars which comprises chambers for increased rigidity. Such load carrier bars can carry more and heavier loads. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the indication rod comprises an upper section adapted to be displayed in a slot of the load carrier bar, and a support section adapted to be positioned against a support surface of the load carrier bar. The indication rod is protected inside of the load carrier bar while till sealing any opening of the slot reducing noise due to turbulent air. 
     To prevent the indication rod from accidental displacement, according to an aspect of the invention, the load carrier bar comprises guiding members to retain the indication rod from displacement in the transverse direction of the load carrier bar while permitting displacement in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier bar. In embodiments where the load carrier bar comprises wall defining different chambers inside of the load carrier bars, such walls could be used as guiding members for the indication rod. 
     The guiding members can according to an aspect of the invention, be formed by a first and a second flange or a plurality of protrusions extending from the interior surface of the load carrier bar. Optionally the guiding members can be formed by a recess in the wall of the load carrier bar. 
     The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a roof rack. The method comprises the steps of; 
     providing a load carrier bar; 
     arranging an indication device to the load carrier bar, advantageously inside of the load carrier bar, so that the indication device after assembly with the load carrier bar can be displaceable between different positions, wherein the different positions can be used to indicate an appropriate position for a load carrier foot. The method also includes the step of providing a load carrier foot which is attachable at the indicated position. 
     The method enables a roof rack having at least one adjustable load carrier foot to be manufactured in a simple yet effective manner. 
     The method can also comprise the step of fixing the load carrier foot at the indicated position. The terms “fixing” in this context is intended to mean that the load carrier foot is fixated to the load carrier bar enough for the roof rack to be used with a vehicle to transport an allowable amount of load attached on the load carrier bar. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the roof rack is a roof rack according to an embodiment described herein. 
     It should be noted that even if aspects of the present invention is described with respect to one load carrier foot and one end of the load carrier bar, the roof rack comprises a first and a second load carrier foot and a first and a second end of the load carrier bar. Consequently, one of the load carrier foot or both of them, can be provided with the described feature/features, and consequently, one end of the load carrier bar or both ends, can be provided with the described feature/features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which; 
         FIG. 1   a  shows parts of a roof rack with a load carrier bar and a first and a second load carrier foot attached to the rail of the roof of the vehicle, in the shown embodiment a car; 
         FIG. 1   b  shows parts of the roof rack from  FIG. 1  with a view towards the lower side, or underside, of the roof rack and the load carrier bar; 
         FIG. 2  shows a indication device in the form of a indication rod according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3   a - 3   b  show the indication rod shown in  FIG. 2  in different views; 
         FIG. 4   a  show parts of the load carrier bar without the indication rod and the load carrier foot from  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
         FIG. 4   b  shows parts of the load carrier bar from  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  with the indication rod and before assembly with the load carrier foot and; 
         FIG. 5  shows the cross section of the load carrier bar from  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1   a - 1   b  show parts of a roof rack  10  for a vehicle  11  with a roof  12 . In this case, the vehicle is a car. The roof rack  10  comprises a load carrier bar  13  and a first load carrier foot  14  mounted in the proximity of the first end  15  of the load carrier bar  13  on a rail  16  of the vehicle  11 . A second load carrier foot (not shown) retains the load carrier bar  13  to a second rail (not shown) at the other side of the vehicle  11 . The load carrier bar can carry different types of loads such as sports equipment e.g. bicycles, kayaks, skies or the like, travel equipment such as bags, suit cases or the like, or other vehicle accessories such as roof cargo boxes, bicycle racks or the like. 
     For directional purposes; the load carrier bar  13  has a longitudinal extension L and extends across the roof  12  of the vehicle  11  in the transverse direction of the vehicle  11 , visualized by the Y axis in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   b . The height of the vehicle  11 , the load carrier bar  13 , and the load carrier foot  14  is illustrated by the X axis, while the longitudinal direction of the vehicle  11  is illustrated by the Z axis in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   b .  FIG. 1   a  shows the roof rack  10  with a view towards the back side of the load carrier bar  13  while  FIG. 1   b  shows the underside of the load carrier bar  13 . The X, Y and Z axis are arranged perpendicular to each other. 
     The position of the first load carrier foot  14  can be adjusted, as indicated by the arrow A, in the longitudinal direction L of the load carrier bar  13 , and parallel with the Y axis in  FIG. 1   a - 1   b , between different positions. Dependent on the distance between the rails of the vehicle  11 , or more generally between two attachment points for the first and the second load carrier foot, the position of at least the first load carrier foot  14  can be adjusted along the longitudinal extension of the load carrier bar  13  to enable the roof rack  10  to be mounted on a variety of vehicles of different sizes. The second load carrier foot can also be adjusted if necessary although for the purpose of the present invention, the position of the first and/or the second load carrier foot can be adjustable. 
     The roof rack  10  comprises an indication device  30 . The indication device  30  is displaceably arranged on the roof rack  10 , and in the shown embodiment to the load carrier bar  13 , enabling the determination of a wide variety of different positions of the load carrier foot  14  with respect to a reference point, as will be described in greater detail herein. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the indication device  30  in the form of an indication rod  31 . The indication rod  31  has a longitudinal extension with a T-shaped cross section, also shown in  FIG. 3   a  and  FIG. 5 . An upper section  32  is substantially perpendicular arranged to a support section  33 . As is noticed, the upper section  32  comprises a ruler, or at least a plurality of reference points. In  FIG. 2  these reference points are visualized by a metric ruler as shown in the enlarged portion of  FIG. 2 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2-3   b , the indication rod  31  comprises a first and a second end  34 ,  35 . The first end  34  of the indication rod  31  is adapted to enable the indication rod  31  to be inserted in an easy and simple manner into the load carrying bar  13 . The first end  34  has in the shown embodiment an angled surface to simplify insertion. At the second end  35  of the indication rod  31  a stop surface  36  is arranged. The stop surface  36  is in the form of a protruding flange  37 . The stop surface  36  is adapted to cooperate with a surface of the load carrying bar  13  to prevent the indication rod  31  from entering the load carrying bar  13  too far while at the same time providing a grip surface for a user to displace the indication rod  31 . 
       FIG. 3   a  shows the indication rod  31  as seen towards the first end  34  of the indication rod  31 . Visible in  FIG. 3   a  is also the upper section  32 , the support section  33  and the stop surface  36  provided by the flange  37 . As is further noticed, the upper section  32  and the support section  33  have substantially flat plate like forms.  FIG. 3   b  shows the indication rod  31  as seen towards one of the longitudinal sides of the indication rod  31 . Visible in  FIG. 3   a  is also, the upper section  32 , the support section  33  and the stop surface  36  provided by the flange  37  extending out from the surface of the upper section  32 . 
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   b  show parts of the load carrier bar  13  and more specifically the first end  15  of the load carrier bar  13  with a view towards an underside  20  of the load carrier bar  13 . The underside  20  is intended to face the roof  12  of the vehicle  11  after being mounted to the rails  15  of the vehicle  11 . 
     The load carrier bar  13  is manufactured from extruded aluminum with a substantially wing like cross section, as shown in  FIG. 5 , however it can be manufactured from other materials such as steel, cast iron, carbon reinforced fiber material, plastics or the like, and with another cross section such as an oval cross section, a rectangular cross section, or the like. As is illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the load carrier bar  13  has an underside  20 , an upper side  21 , a forward side  22  and a backward side  23 . The load carrier bar  13  also has an interior  24 , defined by the peripheral wall, i.e. the lower, upper, forward and backward sides  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 , of the load carrier bar  13 . The interior  24  is separated into different chambers  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  which imparts rigidity to the load carrier bar  13 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b , the load carrier bar  13  comprises a void for receiving an attachment member of the load carrier foot  14  to attach the load carrier foot  14  to the load carrier bar  13  and adapted to receive the indication device  30  to enable the positioning of the load carrier foot  14  at a predetermined position. The void can be defined by parts of the load carrier bar  13  or by any other part attached thereto. The void is preferably defined by the load carrier bar  13  and more preferably by the interior  24 , or parts of the interior  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , and parts of the side walls of the load carrier bar  13 . The void can be an aperture, opening or cavity adapted to receive the indication device  30  to enable the positioning of the load carrier foot  14  at a predetermined position. 
     The indication device  30  enables a user to position the load carrier foot  14  by using the indication device  30  as will be described in greater detail below. 
     In the shown embodiment, the void is a slot  40  which extends from the first end  15  of the load carrier bar  13  in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier bar  13 . The slot  40  is adapted to display the indication device  30  as is illustrated in  FIG. 4   b , after the indication device  30  has been inserted into the load carrier bar  13  whereafter the first end  15  of the load carrier bar  13  is sealed by an end plug  60  attached at the first end  15  of the load carrier bar  13 . The slot  40  is in the shown embodiment open ended, i.e. it is not fully delimited by the wall of the lower side  20  of the load carrier bar  13 , and hence the end plug  60  also seals, or in other terms delimits, the slot  40  after assembly with the load carrier bar  13 . A cut out  41  in the lower side  20  at the slot  40 , in the proximity of the first end  15  of the load carrier bar  13 , provides for a lock arrangement  42  together with a flange member  61  of the end plug  60 . 
     The slot  40  has a first end  42 . The first end  42  of the slot  40  is open ended as mentioned above, but after assembly with the end plug  60  sealed and defined by the flange member  61  of the end plug  60 . A second end  43  of the slot  40  delimits the longitudinal extension of the slot  40  in a direction towards the second end (not shown) of the load carrier bar  13 . 
     The slot  40  is further delimited by a first and a second longitudinal side edge  44 ,  45  which defines a width W of the slot  40 . Instead of the slot  40  an aperture can be used. In such an embodiment, the aperture is fully delimited by the wall of the lower side  20  of the load carrier bar  13 . 
       FIG. 4   b  shows the indication device  30 , in the form of the indication rod  31 , after insertion into the interior  24  of the load carrier bar  13  and after the end plug  60  has been mounted to the load carrier bar  13 . The flange  37  extends into the slot  40 , between the first and the second longitudinal side edges  44 ,  45  and also prevents the indication rod  31  from being displaced from the slot  40 . After insertion, the indication rod  31  can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier bar  13  between different positions. Each position can be preset, or pre determined by the reference points on the upper section  32  of the indication rod  31 . The indication device  30  thus enables a user to position the load carrier foot  14  by using the indication device  30  as a position indicator directly or indirectly. It can be used directly if the indication device  30  is used to direct indicate the desired position of the load carrier foot  14  or indirectly if it is used to position a second member which in turn is used to directly or indirectly indicate the desired position of the load carrier foot  14 . After the indication device  30 , or the indication rod  31 , as shown in  FIG. 4   b , has been positioned, the load carrier foot  14  can be fixed to the load carrier bar  13  at the indicated position defined by the indication device  30  or the indication rod  31 . 
     The support section  33  of the indication rod  31  is positioned adjacent a support surface  50  of the load carrier bar  13  as can be seen in  FIG. 5 . The support surface  50  of the load carrier bar  13  assists the support section  33  of the indication rod  31  to retain the upper section  32  of the indication rod  31  towards an interior surface  20   a  of the lower side  20  of the load carrier bar  13  and thus be properly displayed in the slot  40 . The interior surface  20   a  of the lower side  20  of the load carrier bar  13  also comprises a first and a second flange  51 ,  52  which extends in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier bar  13 , parallel with the slot  40  of the load carrier bar  13 . The indication rod  31  is guided by the first and the second flange  51 ,  52  of the interior surface  20   a  of the lower side  20  of the load carrier bar  13  and retained in place with respect to the transverse direction, i.e. the Z axis, as illustrated in  FIG. 1   b , while being permitted to be displaced in the longitudinal direction L of the load carrier bar  13 . As an alternatively to a first and a second flange  51 ,  52 , which extend in the longitudinal direction L of the load carrier bar  13 , a plurality of separate flange members, protruding members, or a recess in the wall, can be arranged on the interior surface  20   a  of the lower side  20  of the load carrier bar  13 . 
     The indication device  30  can have a wide variety of forms. For example, the cross section of the indication rod  31  can be circular, square formed, triangular, or any other polygonal form, other forms are also possible. Other displaceable indication devices are also possible, it is however important that the indication device is adapted to enable repeatable readings at different positions. This enables the indication device to be operable for adapting the distance between a first and a second load carrier foot for different vehicles.