Abstract:
A roof rack system for a vehicle is provided that has a vehicle roof rack and a storage bin connected to the vehicle roof rack. The storage bin has a bin portion with an opening and an interior portion and a closure member having a hinge portion such that the closure member selectively covers the opening and provides access to the interior portion of the bin portion. The hinge portion is positioned in an upwind location with respect to a presumed wind direction such that the closure member opens towards the presumed wind direction to allow access into the interior portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Roof rack systems are commonly used on some types of motor vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles. Such roof rack systems are typically used to carry a variety of items, such as luggage, boxes, bicycles, and other large sporting gear. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a roof rack system  8  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown and described. In  FIG. 1 , the roof rack system  8  generally includes a storage bin  12  connected to a roof rack  14 . As shown, the roof rack  14  is connected to a roof portion  9  of a vehicle  10 . Intricacies of the roof rack system  8  as well as the interrelationship between the storage bin  12 , roof rack  14  and roof portion  9  may include features as understood by one skilled in the art and may also include features disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,397 B1, issued on May 13, 2003 and assigned to Nissan Design America, Inc., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0012]     In  FIG. 1  and in the remaining Figures, the roof rack system  8  is shown oriented with respect to a presumed wind direction  54 . The presumed wind direction  54  is an assumed direction from which wind flows when the vehicle, on which the roof rack system  8  is attached, moves. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the described embodiments may have different orientations with respect to the wind direction  54  and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to that disclosed herein.  
         [0013]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the storage bin  12  is shown and described. In  FIG. 1 , the storage bin  12  is shown including a closure  16  adjacent to a windward portion  18 . The closure  16  is a door, hatch or other access panel that allows access into an interior portion of the storage bin  12 . The windward portion  18 , in an embodiment, is a sloped region, preferably positioned on the windward side of the vehicle  10 , that assists in aerodynamics and drag reduction of the storage bin  12 . In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the windward portion  18  has a larger slope with respect to the presumed wind direction  54  than does the closure  16  when in a closed configuration. Also, in an embodiment, the angular orientation of the windward portion  18  substantially matches an angular orientation of the windshield  34  of the vehicle  10 . In this fashion, the windshield  34 , windward portion  18  and closure  16  are able to cooperate to reduce an overall wind resistance of the roof rack system  8 . In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the closure  16  has a first portion  30  that is substantially parallel to the presumed wind direction  54  and a second portion  32  that has a steeper angle with respect to the presumed wind direction  54 . Of course, these angular orientations may include curved surfaces, non-aerodynamic surfaces or other configurations. The different configurations, described above, provide enhanced aerodynamic characteristics of the roof rack system  8 . One skilled in the art will also readily recognize other aerodynamic configurations and shapes that may be used in connection with the embodiments of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to that disclosed herein. Thus, it will be understood that the surfaces described above may also be constructed in a non-aerodynamic fashion.  
         [0014]     In an embodiment, the storage bin  12  is positioned between the bars of the roof rack  14  such that the closure  16  is flush with or set below the roof rack  14  with respect to a normal orientation of the roof rack  14  and the storage bin  12 . Of course, one skilled in the art will recognize that the positioning of the storage bin  12  with respect to the roof rack  14  may be any configuration and is not limited to that disclosed herein.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the closure  16  is shown positioned in an open configuration with respect to the storage bin  12 . As can be seen, in an embodiment, the closure  16  is connected to the bin  12  by hinges  22 . The hinges  22  allow the closure  16  to rotatably move between an open position shown in  FIG. 2  and the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . Cylinders  17  may be provided to assist in opening or resisting closure of the closure  16 . The open position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , allows access to an interior portion  26  of the storage bin  12 . Likewise, when in the closed position  16 , items are prevented from falling out of or being removed from the interior portion  26 .  
         [0016]     With reference to  FIG. 8 , one embodiment of hinges  22  is described in greater detail. In  FIG. 8 , hinges  22  and are generally formed by cooperation of extension  50 , closure  16 , windward portion  18  and an aperture  52  in the storage bin  12 . Movement of the extension  50  through the aperture  52  allows the closure  16  to rotate between the open and closed position. Similarly, interference between the closure  16 , windward portion  18  and an outer wall of the bin storage bin  12  provides a natural over travel stop when opening the closure  16 . Additionally, when in an open most position, closure  16  may be moved vertically upward to remove extension  50  from the aperture  52  and thereby remove the closure  16  from the storage bin  12 . One skilled in the art will readily recognize other hinging mechanisms that may be used with the present invention.  
         [0017]     In  FIGS. 1 and 3 , an embodiment of the closure  16  is shown when in a closed configuration. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the storage bin  12  includes a face  24 . The closure  16  includes a leeward side  20  and a handle  38  for a latching mechanism (as will be discussed). As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the closure  16  is in the closed position, the leeward side  20  is adjacent to the face  24 . When closed, the handle  38  can then be turned to actuate a latching mechanism (as will be discussed).  
         [0018]     With reference to  FIGS. 4-7 , the latching mechanism according to one embodiment of the invention is shown and described. Although the latching mechanism is depicted with respect to  FIGS. 4-7 , one skilled in the art will readily recognize that other latching mechanisms may be employed in connection with the embodiments of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to that disclosed herein.  
         [0019]     In  FIG. 4 , closure  16  is shown in a closed position with the handle  38  in an unlatched state. Here, the handle  38  is shown in an up-position, which places the latching mechanism in an unlatched state. Of course, it will be understood that other configurations for handle  38  may be used to place the latching mechanism in an unlatched state. Additionally, other mechanisms besides a handle may also be used in connection with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment for the latching mechanism while in an unlatched state. The mechanical components include a rotatable link, centered about the handle  38 , that is connected to arms  44  by pivot points  46 . The arms  44  are reciprocally disposed to move in and out of apertures  39 . In the unlatched state, rotatable link  42  is angled with respect to the Figure to position arms  44  in a retracted state from apertures  39 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates the handle  38  positioned to latch the latching mechanism. Similar to above description, other configurations may be used to latch the latching mechanism. In  FIG. 7 , an embodiment of the mechanical components of the latching mechanism is shown in the latched state. Here, rotatable link  46  is shown as horizontal with respect to the FIG. to position arms  44  in an inserted state with respect to apertures  39 .  
         [0022]     Of course, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that alternative latching mechanisms may be employed other than those described in the embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0023]     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the storage bin  12  includes a bottom surface  36  positioned adjacent to the roof portion  9 . Here, the bottom surface  36  is shaped to substantially match the shape of the roof portion  9 . In an embodiment, the roof portion  9  of the vehicle  10  has an elevated region which transitions into a lower region. For example, at a point along the elevated region, a shallow depth, such as depth  38 , is provided between the closure  16  and the bottom surface  36 . At a point along the lower region, a relatively deeper depth, such as depth  40 , is provided between the closure  16  and the bottom surface  36 . As can be seen, by providing a bottom surface  36  that is shaped to substantially match the shape of the roof portion  9 , an amount of space in the interior portion  26  is maximized. Also, it will be understood that depths  38  and  40  are merely representative depths and the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the specific depths, floor and roof shapes disclosed herein.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-8 , an operation of an embodiment of the present invention is described. When the closure  16  is to be opened to allow access to the interior portion  26 , handle  38  is operated as described with respect to  FIGS. 4-7 . The closure  16  is then lifted and moved to the position shown in  FIG. 2  for exposing the interior portion  26 . Cylinders  17  then act to support the closure  16  from falling closed. Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 8 , windward portion  18  storage bin  12  cooperate to prevent closure  16  from over travel. When closing, the closure  16  is moved back to the position shown in  FIG. 1  and the latching mechanism is actuated to latch the closure  16  into place.  
         [0025]     The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.