Roof rack and roof rack system for a portable shelter

According to the present invention, a rook rack and a system of multiple roof racks of the present invention may be used to securely support equipment, such as, but not limited to, a satellite, to the roof of a portable shelter. The roof rack of the present invention generally comprises a crossbar and a pair of side supports coupled to each end thereof. A roof rack system of the present invention comprises at least two of these roof racks. The present invention further relates to a method of securing equipment to the roof of a portable shelter. This method comprises first providing a roof rack, and assembling and securing the same to the roof. After the roof rack system is secured to the roof of the portable shelter, the equipment, or an equipment platform, is placed on the crossbars and secured in its position by securing means, such as one or more clamps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a roof rack and a roof rack system for a portable shelter, and to a method of securing a satellite and other equipment to the roof of said shelter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a rook rack and a system of multiple roof racks of the present invention may be used to securely support equipment, such as, but not limited to, a satellite, to the roof of a portable shelter. Generally, the roof rack of the present invention comprises a crossbar and a pair of side supports coupled to each end thereof. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a roof rack is designed and configured to removably affix to the roof of an ISO (International Standards Organization) shelter.

Generally, the crossbar of the roof rack of the present invention is configured as a tube, and at least one of the side supports comprises a channel, a support structure, and a retaining structure, wherein: the channel of the side support is sized and configured to receive an end of the crossbar; the support structure is designed and configured to provide stability to the rack when resting on a portion of the roof; and the retaining structure is designed and configured to localize the position and restrain movement of the side support in relationship with the portable shelter. When assembled and positioned on the roof of a portable shelter, each of the side supports is coupled to opposite ends of the crossbar and securely engaged with opposite edges of the roof of the shelter.

To secure equipment, such as a satellite, to the roof rack or roof rack system of the present invention, and, thus, to the roof of a portable shelter, the rack or the system may further comprise at least one clamp, configured to form an enclosed opening to secure equipment to the crossbar of a roof rack by binding either the equipment itself or an equipment platform to the crossbar. This equipment or equipment platform is bound to the crossbar by passing the clamp over a portion of the equipment, or an arm of the equipment platform, and a portion of the crossbar, and forming the enclosed opening such that the clamp secures about both the equipment, or the arm of the equipment platform, and the crossbar.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of securing equipment to a roof of a portable shelter. This method comprises first providing at least one roof rack described above, and assembling and securing the same to the roof of the shelter. After the roof rack is secured to the roof of the shelter, the equipment, or an equipment platform, is placed on the crossbars and secured in its position by at least one clamp.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roof rack and a roof rack system that are compatible for use with an ISO or other portable shelter, and a method of securing equipment to a roof of said shelter. Other objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the figures, the present invention relates to a roof rack1and a roof rack system10for a portable shelter60, and to a method of securing a satellite70, or other equipment, to the roof62of said shelter60.

Some embodiments of the present invention are designed and configured to secure to an ISO shelter60, which comprises a roof62, a roof lip62A, and siding64. The roof lip62A is a structure that is affixed to the outer perimeter of the roof62and is configured to bind the perimeter of the roof62to the siding64of the ISO shelter60. As such, when binding the roof62to the siding64, the roof lip62A forms an edge protruding from where the roof62is bound to the siding64. In addition, the siding64of the ISO shelter60is preferably configured as angular corrugated siding that comprises parallel alternating grooves and ridges. Certain embodiments of the present invention are designed and configured to engage with said corrugated siding64, thereby securely affixing and restraining movement of a roof rack1.

A roof rack1, or a system10of multiple roof racks, may be used to securely support equipment such as, but not limited to, a satellite70, to the roof62of a portable shelter60. The roof rack1of the present invention, an embodiment of which is shown inFIG. 1, generally comprises a crossbar20and a pair of side supports30coupled to each end thereof. The roof rack system10of the present invention, an embodiment of which is shown inFIGS. 9 and 11, comprises at least two roof racks1.

As depicted inFIG. 2, the crossbar20of the present invention generally is configured as a hollow or solid tube. In addition, the cross-section of the crossbar may be configured in a curved, circular, angular, or multi-angular, or any combination thereof, fashion. The crossbar20is designed and manufactured from materials sufficient to support the equipment to be secured thereto. Preferably, the crossbar20is a hollow, straight tube, having a relatively square cross-section, manufactured from galvanized steel, with a thickness of ⅛″ and having dimensions 1¾″×1¾″×96″

The side support30of the present invention, an embodiment of which is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, typically comprises a channel32, a support structure36, and a retaining structure34. The channel32generally is sized and configured to receive an end portion of the crossbar20. The cross-section of this channel32may be configured in a curved, circular, angular, or multi-angular, or any combination thereof, fashion that corresponds with the cross-sectional configuration of the crossbar20. Preferably, the crossbar20and the channel32are provided with corresponding square cross-sections, the cross-section of the exterior of the crossbar20being at least slightly smaller than the cross-section of the interior of the channel32; however, one of the side supports30may extend from the crossbar20, in which case the crossbar20and the channel32may be manufactured as and constitute a single tube. In a preferred embodiment, the channel32is manufactured from galvanized steel, with a thickness of ⅛″ and having dimensions 2″×2″×12″.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the support structure36is configured to rest on the roof62of a portable shelter60. Preferably, the support structure36comprises a triangular, rectangular or, more preferably, a pentagonal plate37, which is affixed to or formed as part of, and extends from, a portion of the channel32at a first lateral edge of the plate. Extending perpendicularly from a second lateral edge of the plate is a plate foot38that is affixed to or formed as a part of the plate37. This plate foot38may be designed to rest on the roof lip62A to provide additional stability for the roof rack1by increasing the planar surface upon which the support structure36rests. The support structure36and its components are designed and manufactured from materials sufficient to support the crossbar20and any equipment intended to be supported by the roof rack1. In a preferred embodiment, the support structure36and its components are manufactured from galvanized steel, having a thickness of 3/16″.

As shown inFIGS. 3-7, the retaining structure34comprises a hollow or solid tube having a vertical surface along the exterior thereof, and first and second ends. The tube extends at its first end from the end of the channel32, and has a lower plate foot39extending perpendicularly from the second end of the tube. This lower plate foot39is preferably configured to correspond with the angular corrugated siding64of an ISO shelter60and extend within the lower edge of the roof lip62A. Specifically, the lower plate foot has a leading edge39A, with a portion of the extension including the leading edge being shaped as an isosceles trapezoid (as shown with broken lines inFIG. 6). This angular configuration of the lower plate foot39serves to localize the position of the side support30to the angular corrugated siding64of the ISO shelter60and, thus, restrains movement of the roof rack1. Preferably, the tube of the retaining structure34is manufactured from ⅛″ galvanized steel and has a square cross-section which is substantially similar to the cross-section of the channel32, whereby each concludes at a corresponding angle to abut against the other. Preferably, the lower plate foot is manufactured from 3/16″ galvanized steel. The retaining structure34may then be welded, affixed to, or formed as part of the channel32at said angle. Each upper plate foot38is in offset parallel configuration to a lower plate foot, as shown in the Figures.

In order to allow affixation of at least one side support30to the crossbar20, the crossbar20may further comprise at least one capped end24, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 8. This capped end24may have an aperture26and a weld nut28, or other similar device, affixed inside the crossbar20behind the aperture26, to secure the threads of a bolt40, or other similarly configured device, to the capped end24. The tube34of the side support30may be configured with at least one aperture35that corresponds with said aperture26in the capped end24of the crossbar20, when the same is positioned within said channel32. A bolt40, or other similarly configured device, is passed through the aperture35in the tube34and the aperture26and the weld nut28in the capped end24, to secure the capped end24and a length of the crossbar20within the channel32. The bolt40is adjustably secured in the weld nut28such that the length of the crossbar20present within the tube receiving channel32increases as the bolt40is secured.

It is contemplated that the roof rack1of the present invention will be partially pre-assembled, with the side supports30and crossbar20each being formed by welding, molding, or other similar techniques and, in an embodiment, with one of said side supports30being affixed to, or formed as an extension of, the crossbar20. To assemble the roof rack1of the present invention, using an embodiment thereof as an example, the crossbar20and side supports30are positioned on the roof62, and the bolts40or other affixation means are inserted into apertures26and35, and secured so that: the crossbar20is partially received within at least one channel32; the plate foot38of the support structure36rests on the roof lip62A of the shelter60; and the lower plate foot39of the retaining structure34extends under the lower edge of the roof lip62A, and the leading edge39A of the lower plate foot39rests along a portion of the corresponding portions of the corrugated siding64of the shelter60. To achieve this positioning, angles of the lower plate foot39(formed as part of the isosceles trapezoid) are aligned with the corrugated siding64of the shelter60, and the length of the crossbar20is adjusted within the channel32so that the length of the roof rack1corresponds to the width of the roof62of the shelter60.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 9, to secure equipment, such as a satellite70, to the roof rack1or the roof rack system10and, thus, to the roof62of a shelter60, the roof rack1or roof rack system10may further comprise at least one clamp50. The clamp50, in the depicted embodiments ofFIGS. 9,10, and11, is configured to form an enclosed opening51and generally comprises two rigid plates52and two bolts54, the rigid plates52having corresponding apertures to receive the bolts54. The clamp50may further comprise bolt sleeves56to cause the plates52to have at least a minimum separation, and bolt securing means, such as washer/nut assemblies58. As shown inFIGS. 9 and 11, this clamp50may be configured to secure equipment to the crossbar20of the roof rack1or roof rack system10by binding either the equipment itself or an equipment platform72to the crossbar20. This equipment platform72is configured to serve as a stable support for equipment and comprises a level base74, at least one arm76extending from this base74, and one or more apertures, or other securing devices for securing the equipment to the equipment platform72. Some satellite systems include a satellite base, which functions well as the equipment platform when the leveling feet thereof are removed. Preferably, the base74is provided in a rectangular configuration. As shown inFIG. 11, the equipment or equipment platform72are bound to the crossbar20by passing the clamp over a portion of the equipment, or an arm76of the equipment platform, and the crossbar20, and forming the enclosed opening51such that the clamp50secures about both the equipment, or the arm76, and the crossbar20.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of securing equipment to a roof62of a portable shelter60. This method comprises first providing a roof rack system10that comprises at least one roof rack1as described above and assembling and securing the same to the roof62. The use of multiple roof racks1provides stabilizing support for the equipment. After the roof rack system10is secured to the shelter60, the equipment, or the equipment platform72, is then placed on the crossbars20and secured in its position by securing means, such as one or more clamps50.

It is noted that terms like “preferably” and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the term “device” is utilized herein to represent a combination of components and individual components, regardless of whether the components are combined with other components.