Load carrier system

A strap for securing cargo on a vehicle includes a strap and a buckle. The buckle has a releasable strap gripping device, and a cushioning material at least partially surrounding the buckle without obstructing accessibility to the gripping device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to buckles and more particularly to buckles used with straps to secure loads to vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Loads are often secured to vehicles by straps that use a buckle to allow the length of the strap to be adjusted. Load carrier straps are often used to secure heavy loads. The buckles must be sturdy and capable of reliably gripping a strap under high tension. Thus, buckles are typically made of metal which creates a risk of damaging the finish of a vehicle on which the strap is used. Metal buckles may also damage the finish on the load being secured by the strap.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,821 discloses a buckle cover adapted to slide over a buckle for protecting adjacent objects. Unfortunately, this cover interferes with normal use or adjustment of the buckle. The cover must be slid onto and off of the buckle with each use and is therefore cumbersome to use. The cover is also subject to being dislodged or inadvertently left off, leaving the metal buckle exposed. In addition, the cover is rather bulky and unstylish in appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides strap and buckling devices that combine rigid high-strength materials with elastomeric compressible materials in rugged, sturdy designs that are easy to use without damaging the surface of a vehicle or cargo carried on the vehicle.

A buckle constructed according to the present invention is depicted generally at 10 in FIG. 1 . Buckle 10 includes a metal frame 12 and a metal cam 14 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 . Buckle 10 includes side plates 16 , 18 and front and rear cross-members 20 , 22 . Cross-members 20 , 22 support side plates 16 , 18 in a spaced-apart rigid relationship to each other. Each side member includes at least one bore 24 through which a cam pivot pin 26 fits. The cam pivot pin also passes through a bore 28 in cam 14 to pivotally hold the cam in place relative to the side plates and front cross-member.

A spring 30 biases a front face 32 of cam 14 against front cross-member 26 . Cam 14 includes lever portion 34 opposite the front face that a user depresses to move the front face away from cross-member 26 . Cross-member 26 includes serrations 36 that cooperate with teeth 38 formed on front face 32 to grip strap 40 . When the lever portion is depressed, the strap is free to move between the cam and the frame. When the lever is released, any tension on the strap in a first direction 42 pulls the front face toward the cross-member, thereby firmly pinching the strap and preventing movement. Tension on the strap in the other direction 44 pulls the cam face away from the cross-member, allowing the strap to be tightened, as shown in FIG. 3 .

A bumper, protector or cushion 50 is formed on each side plate 16 , 18 . The cushion is typically affixed to the side by overmolding. The cushion is typically made of a flexible or resilient material, for example TPE, that is soft enough to avoid damaging the surface of a vehicle or cargo being carried by the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 4 , pivot pin 26 includes an enlarged portion head 52 at each end. Heads 52 help to mechanically retain the cushions on the frame of the buckle. The cushions may be interconnected by a bridge or web portion 54 , which further stabilizes the cushions on the buckle. When utilizing some thermoplastic elastomer materials that do not have direct adhesion to metal parts, it is generally necessary to provide for a mechanical interconnection between the elastomer and the frame.

It should be noted that the cushions extend sufficiently above the side plates of the buckle to shield the cam lever from hitting an adjacent surface such as the surface of a vehicle or load. Although the cushion may not extend around the front or back of the frame, it projects outward sufficiently from the side plates to shield cross-members and other metal parts of the buckle from contact with the vehicle. The cushion is preferably thick and resilient enough to absorb impacts of the buckle on a vehicle without denting or damaging the surface of the vehicle. The cushions are typically formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material, for example, TPE.

FIGS. 5-10 show an alternate buckle 100 according to the present invention. Buckle 100 includes structural components similar to those of buckle 10 . However, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 10 , side plates 16 , 18 include auxiliary plates 102 , 104 , respectively. The auxiliary plates are mounted to the side plates on pillars 106 , 108 , respectively. Preferably, the frame includes both side plates and auxiliary plates molded as a single unit. Cushions 120 are then overmolded onto the frame.

Cam 14 includes a cushion 60 disposed over the lever portion. Cushion 60 includes a depression 62 that provides a comfortable location for a user to place their finger to operate the cam. In instances where the cam lever projects beyond the edges of the side plates and or side plate cushions, the cam cushion serves to provide additional protection against damage to the vehicle finish.

Another buckle constructed according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 11 at 200 . Buckle 200 incorporates structural components similar to buckle 10 . However, side plates 16 , 18 on buckle 200 are formed with mushroom-shaped retainers 202 at the front and rear. The retainers provide a mechanical grip for cushions 50 . In addition or alternatively, side plates 16 , 18 may include one or more holes 204 , 206 that allow a small amount 208 , 210 of cushion material to flow through and form a mechanical connection to the side plate.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another buckle constructed according to the present invention at 300 . Buckle 300 incorporates a structural member similar to buckle 10 . The main difference is that cushions 50 on buckle 300 are formed separately and attached to the structural member with rivets 302 , 304 , which pass through the front and rear cross-members. The cushions may also be connected by a piece of elastomer or web portion 54 as with buckle 10 .

The various buckles as described herein are useful for attaching loads to vehicles, particularly to roof racks and rear mounted racks. One example of a roof-mounted device that is suitable for use with the disclosed buckles is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/280,504, which is incorporated herein by reference.