Abstract:
A cargo carrier is configured to be mounted on a vehicle roof. A lid is pivotally attached to a bottom portion forming an easily accessible enclosure for carrying and protecting cargo. The lid may be reinforced to provide desired stiffness and sturdiness characteristics.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/740,705 filed Nov. 29, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.  
         [0002]     This application incorporates by reference in their entirety for all purposes the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,053, issued Jun. 14, 2005; and No. 6,918,521, issued Jul. 19, 2005. This application also incorporates by reference in their entirety for all purposes the following U.S. patent applications: Ser. No. 10/767,398, filed Jan. 28, 2004; Ser. No. 11/152,674, filed Jun. 13, 2005; and Ser. No. 60/729,503, filed Oct. 21, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention relates to assemblies for carrying cargo items on a vehicle. In particular, the invention provides improvements for cargo boxes or cargo trunks designed for mounting on a roof of a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]     Vehicle top carriers, such as cargo boxes or cargo trunks, have become quite popular in recent years. Enclosed carriers may be preferable over conventional open racks for a variety of reasons. For example, enclosed carriers protect cargo items from the elements such as wind, rain, and snow. Additionally, enclosed carriers may be more secure from theft or vandalism.  
         [0005]     Some vehicle top carriers, however, have problems associated with their use and/or storage. For example, some plastic, semi-rigid cargo carriers include flexible tops or lids which may not be sufficiently stiff when a user manipulates the lid between open and closed positions. Consequently, the lid manifests inconsistent and/or “floppy” motions when a user opens and closes the carrier.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     A box configured for mounting on top of a vehicle includes a reinforced lid pivotally attached to a bottom portion, forming an easily accessible enclosure for carrying cargo.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a cargo carrier mounted on top of a vehicle  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partially cut away perspective view of a cargo box lid.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a stiffening member configured for reinforcing the lid of a cargo box.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through the lid and reinforcing structure illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate alternative lid reinforcing structures.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate net devices used to secure cargo items on the inner side of cargo box lid. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a vehicle top carrier  20  mounted on crossbars  22  of roof rack  24  on vehicle  26 . The long axis of vehicle top carrier  20  is perpendicular to crossbars  22 . Vehicle top carrier or box  20  includes top or lid  28  connected via hinges (not shown) to bottom portion  30 , including floor  32 . Four clamps  34  (only two are shown) secure vehicle top carrier  20  to crossbars  22 . Latch  36  keeps vehicle top carrier  20  closed, and may be operated to allow opening when desired. Latch  36  may be provided with a key device, combination operated device, and/or any suitable lock mechanism. Box  20  may have sets of hinges on one, two or more sides permitting opening of the box on one, two or more sides. Hinges for box  20  may be dual functioning alternately as a hinge or a latch. In a preferred design, each lateral side of the box is equipped with a set of latch/hinges so that the box may be opened from either side of the box.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an example of a preferred lid stiffening assembly. Lid  28  has three transverse stiffening members  40   a ,  40   b  and  40   c  bonded to a an interior surface of lid  28 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an isolated perspective view of lid stiffening member  40   b . Stiffening member  40   b  includes leg portions  42   a  and  42   b  connected to center beam portion  44 . Internal recess  46  spans from leg portion  42   a  through center beam portion  44  to leg portion  42   b . Flange  48  forms a continuous boundary around recess  46 , providing a parametric surface for bonding to the internal surface of lid  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , stiffening member  40   b  has a pre-formed semi-rigid shape substantially conforming to the shape of the inner surface of lid  28 . In a preferred lid configuration, adhesive is used to bond flange  48  to the inner surface of lid  28 . Any appropriate adhesive may be used along with appropriate clamping or curing techniques, as are well known in the art. Recess  46  also includes one or more, preferably two, cavities  50  for mounting accessories such as light device  52  by screws  54 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section through lid  28  and stiffening member  40   a . Flange  48  is bonded to inner surface  58  of lid  28 . Recess  46  creates angled walls  60   a ,  60   b  and  60   c  spaced away from inner surface  58  of lid  28  which creates a stiffening, torsion stabilizing effect on lid  28 . In a lid such as the one shown in  FIG. 2 , having a long axis, and being hinged at multiple points with respect to a bottom portion of the box, one or more, preferably three, substantially parallel, transverse stiffening members provide desirable stiffening benefits to the cargo box lid.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show alternative stiffening member configurations. In  FIG. 5 , lid  70  has a single, more extensive stiffening member  72  including three transverse components  74   a - c , connected by angular cross components  76   a - d .  FIG. 6  shows lid  80  including another stiffening member configuration  82 . Many different levels and/or orientations of stiffening, or torsion stability, may be achieved by using different stiffening member configurations. Selection of an appropriate stiffening member configuration may involve consideration of lid material composition, geometry, points of attachment to the bottom, functional goals relative to lid opening and closing, coordination with internal accessories or cargo items inside the box, etc.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show alternative embodiments in which cargo nets are integrated with stiffening members, providing various compartments for carrying selected cargo items. In  FIG. 7 , box  90  includes lid  92 , hinged at three locations to bottom portion  94 . Stiffening member  96  is bonded to interior surface of lid  92 . Nets  97  and  99  are at least partially attached to points along stiffening member  96 . The nets may include suitable opening and closing devices (not shown) for carrying selected cargo items. Similarly,  FIG. 8  shows box  110  including lid  112  hinged to bottom portion  114 . Transverse stiffening members  116   a - c  are bonded to lid  112 . Transverse stiffening members  116   a - c  are bonded to inner surface of lid  112 . Cargo nets  118  and  120  are secured to stiffening members  116   a - c  to provide compartments for carrying selected cargo items in internal spaces adjacent the surface of lid  112 .  
         [0019]     In addition to the examples discussed above, lid support structures may provide one or more mounting points for any suitable accessories and/or equipment, such as the accessories and/or equipment described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/729,503 entitled “Vehicle Top Carriers” filed on Oct. 21, 2005, the complete disclosure of that application has been incorporated by reference for all purposes.  
         [0020]     Support structures may be mounted to the underside of a lid by any suitable method. Support structures may be mounted by mechanical and/or chemical bonding. Support structures may also be formed as part of the lid.  
         [0021]     Lid support structures also may be any suitable shape. For example, support structures may have a generally elongate shape with a rectangular cross-section that conforms to the shape of the underside of a cargo box lid. Support structures may have curvilinear and/or other rectilinear cross-sections and/or surfaces.  
         [0022]     Support structures may include one or more content retention structures, which may include any suitable structure configured to retain and/or support cargo items in the lid of the carrier. For example, retention structures may include one or more cargo nets such as the ones described above. The cargo nets may be any suitable size and/or number. A single cargo net may span the support structures, and/or a cargo net may be included for each pair of support structures. Cargo nets also may be made of any suitable material, such as elastic and/or woven material. Cargo nets may be attached to one or more of the support structures via one or more attachment structures such as grooves, hooks, hook and loop devices, etc.  
         [0023]     In addition to the examples discussed above, lights may be mounted or incorporated on or between one or more of the support structures. The lights may include any suitable light emitting structures, such as incandescent and/or light emitting diodes (LEDs). The lights may be powered via any suitable means, such as one or more batteries and/or one or more solar panels. Illumination device switches may be operated manually, such as by user manipulation, and/or automatically, such as when the lid is raised and/or lowered. Illumination devices may be configured to be removable from the lid to allow a user to use those devices for illuminating other areas remote from the box. Illumination devices may be snap-in flashlights and/or stock flashlights held within the underside of the lid via one or more holders.  
         [0024]     Although vehicle top carriers and features of vehicle top carriers have been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. The present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations.