AN APPARATUS IN LOAD CARRIERS

Abstract: A load carrier intended for vehicular use, for example for skis, is provided with a strut (1) fixed over the vehicle roof, on which strut at least one ski holder (2-5) is secured. The ski holder (2-5) has a retainer stirrup (12) which, in a closed position, encloses the strut (1) and secures the ski holder (2-5) thereon and which, in an open position, permits removal of the ski holder (2-5). The ski holder is further provided with a locking unit (3, 4) which, in the locked position, prevents removal of the skis. According to the present invention, in order to permit simple mounting and dismounting of the ski holder (2-5) on the strut (1), the retainer stirrup (12), itself, or with a first catch member (19) secured thereon, extends, in the closed position of the retainer stirrup (12), into locking engagement with the locking unit (3, 4) or a second catch member (8) secured thereon. In one embodiment, the locking unit is provided with a pivotal shank (15) with the first catch member (19) which cooperates with an interior locking heel on the second catch member which is pivotally secured in the locking unit (3, 4) and which is designed as a locking cap (8).

Description: AN APPARATUS IN LOAD CARRIERS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus in load carriers of the type which has a load carrier strut extending transversely across a vehicle roof, and on which at least one holder device de¬ signed for cooperation with the load is fixable, the holder device having an openable retainer element which, in a closed position en¬ closes the carrier strut and secures the holder device thereon, and which, in an open position, permits removal of the holder device from the carrier strut, the apparatus including a movable locking portion which, in its locked position, prevents removal from the ve- hide of a load carried on the load carrier. BACKGROUND AST Various models of load carriers of the type mentioned by way of in- troduction are previously known in this Art. These may, for example, be designed so as to transport, on a vehicle roof, skis, bicycles, windsurfing boards, optional elongate loads or other objects. A load carrier which has holder devices specifically designed for the transport of skis will be discussed hereinbelow by way of non- restrictive typical example. Such a load carrier includes the above- -mentioned carrier strut extending transversely across the vehicle roof and secured in the side edge areas of the vehicle roof by means of feet which, as a rule, are lockable on the vehicle. These feet are often provided with a movably disposed locking cap which is in¬ strumental in or caters for the locking process of the foot on the vehicle. The holder device proper designed for fixedly retaining the skis has previously been provided with retainer elements which sur¬ round the load carrier strut and are permanently anchored in the holder device. This implies that, for mounting the ski holder, i.e. the holder device, on the carrier strut, it is necessary to remove at least one of the lockable feet before the ski holder with its re¬ tainer elements can be slid over the strut. This is perceived by users as being impractical and circumstantial. Furthermore, a ski holder of the above-considered type is previously known in this Art, the holder having retainer elements designed as openable stirrups which, in the closed state, surround the carrier strut and which, in the open state, permit securement on or removal from the carrier strut of the ski holder without requiring the dis- mounting of any of the feet of the carrier strut. These retainer elements thus include a pivotal portion which is fixedly lockable in the ski holder proper with the aid of handwheels provided with locks. This design of the holder device is also impractical in that at least one extra cylinder lock must be provided in addition to the lock which is employed for fixedly locking the skis in the ski holder and the lock which is employed for fixedly locking the foot on the vehicle. In such a case, there is an obvious risk of con- fusion or misplacement of all of the requisite keys. PROBLEM STRUCTURE The present invention has for its object to realise an apparatus of the type mentioned by way of introduction, the apparatus being de¬ signed in such a manner that the problems considered above are ob¬ viated. The present invention further has for its object to realise an apparatus which is more universally applicable than has been dis¬ closed above for the ski holder under discussion. Furthermore, the present invention has for its object to realise an apparatus which is simple and economical in manufacture and which provides a safe and reliable locking effect. SOLUTION The objects forming the basis of the present invention are attained if the apparatus intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that the retainer element itself or a first catch member disposed thereon extends, in the closed position of the retainer element, into engagement with the locking portion or a second catch member connected therewith, which, in the first position of the locking portion, secures the retainer element in its locked position. As a result of this design, it is possible for the second catch mem¬ ber disposed on the retainer element - and possibly the retainer element itself - to be designed either for cooperation with a mov¬ able locking portion on the holder device proper, or with one such locking device on that foot by means of which the carrier strut is secured on the vehicle. In both cases, no separate lock is required for easy secure ent of the holder device on the carrier strut. One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is charac¬ terised in that the retainer element has a fixed portion which is secured in the holder device, and a portion which is pivotal in re¬ lation to the fixed portion by means of a hinge arrangement, the pivotal portion being provided with engagement members which, by pivoting of this portion, are movable into engagement with the holder device, and that the pivotal portion is provided with a pro¬ jection which extends to the region of the locking portion designed as a movable locking cap on the holder device in order to be held by the locking portion in a locking position in which the engagement members engage with the holder device, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the ac¬ companying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a holder device (ski holder) designed according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation (seen from the right in Fig. 1) of the ski holder according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a partial view corresponding to Fig. 1 of an alter¬ native embodiment of the ski holder; Fig. 4 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 2 of a further alternative embodiment of a ski holder; and Fig. 5 shows a partial view corresponding to Fig. 1 of yet a further modified embodiment of the ski holder. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Even though the present invention will be described hereinbelow in connection with a ski holder which is fixedly securable on a so- -called roof rack which includes a carrier strut extending across a vehicle roof, it is self-evident that the same anchorage principle and locking principle may also be applied to other types of holder devices, such as holder devices intended for windsurfing boards, bi¬ cycles, elongate objects in general, load baskets and the like. The complete apparatus according to the present invention includes a carrier strut which extends transversely across a vehicle roof and which is anchored in the side edge portions thereof by means of gen¬ erally lockable feet. These feet may, for their locking purpose, in¬ clude a movable locking device, a fixedly lockable security cap or the like. The holder device proper, hereinafter represented by a ski holder, is then secured in a suitable manner on the carrier strut and, for fixedly locking the skis in the ski holder, the ski holder is openable by means of a movable locking portion disposed at its one end, in this case a pivotal locking cap. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 refers to the carrier strut (shown by broken lines) extending transversely across the vehicle roof. Furthermore, reference numerals 2 and 3 refer to the bottom rail and upper rail, respectively, of the ski holder, the upper rail 3 being, by means of a joint 6, pivotal according to the arrow A in relation to the bottom rail 2. In the upper rail 3, more precisely in its outer end which, when the ski holder is in use, is located out to¬ wards the side edge of the vehicle, there is disposed a joint 7 by means of which a locking cap 8 is pivotally secured according to the arrow B in relation to the upper rail 3. The upper rail 3 has an up- per rubber bead 4, while the bottom rail 2 has a lower rubber bead 5, these rubber beads being employed to fixedly clamp therebetween the skis which are held by the ski holder. On placing of the skis in the ski holder, the locking cap 8 is pres- sed in a downward direction, a catch (not shown) being released from a locking edge 9 (see Fig. 2), whereafter the locking cap 8 may be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction according to the arrow B, and thereafter the upper rail 3 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction according to the arrow A. In this position, the skis may be both placed in the ski holder and removed therefrom. On closing of the ski holder, the upper rail 3 is first pivoted in a clockwise direction, whereafter the locking cap 8 is pivoted in the same di¬ rection, at the same time as the locking cap or the upper rail is pressed in a downward direction so that the catch may enter into en- gagement with the locking edge 9. In this position, the locking cap 8 may be fixedly locked in relation to the bottom rail 2 by means of a cylinder lock 10. If there is to be any point in locking the skis in the ski holder, the ski holder itself must, of course, be securely mounted in the carrier strut 1 such that it cannot inadvertantly be removed therefrom. According to the present invention, the ski holder is provided on its bottom rail 2 with two retainer elements 11 and 12 which are switchable from a closed position where they enclose the carrier strut 1 and thereby fixedly retain the ski holder thereon. To improve this anchorage of the ski holder on the carrier strut, use may be made, in addition to the retainer elements 11 and 12, of clamping screws disposed in the lower defining walls of the retainer elements, or situated elsewhere, which are tightened towards the carrier strut 1 so that all clearance and rattling will thereby be eliminated. Such locking screws are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The retainer elements 11 and 12 are also switchable to an open pos¬ ition in which they per se allow insertion of the carrier strut 1 so that, in the open position of the retainer elements, the ski holder may, in its entirety, be removed from the carrier strut 1 or mounted in place thereon. In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, the retainer elements consist of a fixed, angular stirrup with a side portion 13 and a bottom portion 14. This stirrup is secured in the bottom rail 2, for example by riveting or welding. In addition, each retainer element is provided with a further side portion 15 which, by the inter¬ mediary of a joint arrangement 16, is pivotally secured in the bot¬ tom portion 14. In Fig. 2, the retainer element 12 is shown in the open state and by solid lines, and in the closed state by broken lines. It will be apparent from this Drawing Figure that the side portion 15 has an extension with at least one, but preferably two projections 17 which, in the closed state of the retainer element, are insertable through apertures 18 in the side wall of the bottom rail 2. The projections 17 are designed so as to enter into engage- ment with an edge in the aperture 18 in order, by this engagement, to be fixedly secured in relation to the bottom portion 14 and the bottom rail 2. However, this engagement is no harder than pivoting of the side portion 15 can be effected by hand without the employ¬ ment of any tools or aids when the screw 26 (not shown on these Figures) is not tightened. It will further be apparent from Fig. 1 that the side portion 15 in its upper edge in Fig. 1 is provided with a fowardly directed arm 19 which serves the function of a catch member for locking the retainer element 12 in its locked position. The arm 19 extends laterally to¬ wards the end of the bottom rail 2 and extends in under the locking cap 8 in the locked position thereof (according to Fig. 1). As is apparent from Fig. 2, the locking cap 8 is interiorly provided with at least one engagement portion 20 directed at right angles to the plane of the Drawing in Fig. 1, the engagement portion being, in Fig. 2, parallel with the plane of the Drawing. This engagement portion 20 is, in the locked position of the locking cap 8, located in the region outside the catch member or arm 19 so that a pivoting of the side portion 15 and the catch member 19 disposed thereon in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 2 is prevented in that the catch member 19 comes into contact with the engagement portion 20 on the locking cap 8. When the locking cap 8 is in the open position (Fig. 2 shows, by solid lines, a partly opened position), the catch member 19 is free from the engagement portion and consequently the side portion 15 may be pivoted according to the arrow C from the locked position illus¬ trated by broken lines to the open position illustrated by solid lines. In this position, the carrier strut 1 accommodated interiorly in the retainer element 12 may, of course, be freely removed there- from and, naturally, re-inserted if required. In order to eliminate the risk that the ski holder be removed in its entirety from the carrier strut 1, it is sufficient to render one of the retainer elements 12 lockable. Consequently, the second retainer element 11 need not be provided with any counterpart to the catch member 19. It should, however, be pointed out that the side of the bottom rail 2 in Fig. 1 facing away from the observer is provided with apertures corresponding to the apertures 18 and that the counterpart to the side portion 15 in the retainer element 11 is also provided with projections corresponding to the projections 17 in Fig. 2. Since these projections are directed obliquely downwardly in the closed position of the retainer element 11, they will not be disengaged from the bottom rail as long as the locking screw prefer¬ ably employed on the retainer element 11 in Fig. 1 is tightened. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS In certain cases, the foot which is employed for fixedly securing the carrier strut 1 may be provided with a movable locking portion such as a movable or pivotal security cap which has an open position in which the foot may be removed from the vehicle roof and a closed position in which the foot cannot be removed. In certain cases, it may be more expedient to cause the retainer element 12 to engage, with its catch member 19 or a counterpart hereto, with the locking cap of the foot instead of with a locking cap 8 possibly disposed on the ski holder. Hence, the present invention is not restricted to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the ski holder is provided with a locking cap of the type illustrated on the Draw¬ ings. Naturally, the design and construction of the ski holder may also realise locking of its upper rail in a completely different manner. In particular in such cases when the holder device does not consist of a ski holder but may be intended for fixedly retaining other types of loads, the above-disclosed locking principle with en¬ gagement with the movable locking portion of the foot may be es¬ pecially advantageous. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention which is somewhat modified in relation to that of Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the fundamental construction of the ski holder is identical to that described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The difference vis- -a-vis the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 primarily resides in the fact that the side portion 15 is not pivotally connected to the bottom portion 14 of the retainer element 12. Instead, the bot¬ tom portion 14 is provided with an engagement sleeve 21 or other suitably designed engagement member which permits a connection bet- ween the bottom portion 14 and the side portion 15 by a displacement of the side portion 15 in the direction of the arrow D. Correspond¬ ingly, the side portion 15 is provided in its lower end-with an en¬ gagement pin 22 or similarly designed engagement device for inter¬ connecting with the bottom portion 14 as a result of the above- mentioned displacement movement. In the embodiment according to Fig. 3, the side portion 15 may be permanently connected to the bottom rail 2 in that it is provided with counter-directed projections 23 extending into the interior of the bottom rail 2, the projections passing into the bottom rail through a slot-shaped opening 24. Hereby, the side portion 15 may, without risk of falling away from the bottom rail 2, be displaced according to the arrow D in the longitudinal direction of the slot 24. In its position shifted furthest left in Fig. 3, the ski holder may be placed over a load carrier strut and, by a turning movement, be located such that the bottom rail 2 becomes positioned directly above the carrier strut. In this position, the side portion 15 is shifted to the position shown on the Drawing so that the engagement members 21 and 22 engage with one another and interconnect the side portion 15 with the bottom portion 14. Analogous with the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, the side portion 15 is provided with a catch member 19 which extends into the region in beneath or behind the locking cap 8 and which may engage, with a deflected region, with the engagement portion 20 of the locking cap 8 so that release of the side portion 15 is hereby prevented. Fig. 3 intimates by broken lines the deflected projection at the end of the catch member 19. In order that this does not prevent pivoting of the locking cap 8 in the direction of the arrow B when the ski holder is to be opened, the engagement portion 20 on the locking cap 8 should be provided with a recess which is located slightly above the deflected projection of the catch member 19 so that the pre¬ viously mentioned pivoting of the locking cap 8 is possible when the locking cap is located in its depressed position. In the embodiment according to Fig. 4, use is made of retainer ele¬ ments 12 of a somewhat different type in that these are designed as flexible spring clamps 25. These spring clamps 25 are provided with the above-indicated locking screw 26 in their lower defining wall and are further provided with upwardly directed shanks 27 on either side of the side walls of the bottom rail 2. At the upper ends of the shanks 27, these are provided with inwardly directed projections 17 which extend through openings in the side walls of the bottom rail 2. The material properties of the spring clamp 25 are such that this may be urged over the carrier strut 1 from beneath, whereafter its upwardly directed shanks 27 are placed one on either side of the bottom rail 2 so that the projections or catches 17 snap into their openings in the bottom rail 2, whereafter the screw 26 is tight¬ ened. In this position, the spring clamp will enclose the carrier strut and secure the ski holder thereon, in that the catches 17 are fixedly retained in the openings in the bottom rail 2. To prevent unintentional removal of the shanks 27 and the catches 17 from the ski holder, the security cap 8 is, in analogy with the other embodiments according to the present invention, provided with engagement portions 20 which, in the locked position of the security cap 8, prevent disengagement of the catches 17 from their openings in the bottom rail 2 by engagement with the shanks 27. In a modification of the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the re- tainer element 12 is designed with a considerably more rigid con¬ struction and has, in one of its corners, a joint arrangement cor¬ responding to the joint arrangements 16 in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2. In such cases when the retainer element 12 cannot be positioned so far out as partly to be covered by the locking cap 8, the construc¬ tional variation illustrated in Fig. 5 may be employed. This embodiment differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 4 pri- marily in that the spring clamp 25 or the articulated clamp is placed further in than is the case in Fig. 4. It will be clearly ap¬ parent from Fig. 5 how the upper ends of the shanks 27 .extend with their catches in through openings 28 in the side walls of the bottom rail 2. To prevent release of the shanks 27 and their catches from the bottom rail 2, use is made of a pivotal locking arm 29 which, by means of a joint 30, is fixedly secured in the bottom rail 2. In its lowered position (shown in Fig. 5), the pivotal locking arm 29 covers both a portion of the shanks 27 and the openings 28 and thereby prevents the retainer elements 12 from being removed from the bottom rail 2. The pivotal locking arm 29 is of such length as to extend into the region behind or inside the locking cap 8 and is also of such con¬ figuration at its end located there that, by engagement with the en¬ gagement portion 20 of the locking cap, it is prevented from being pivoted in the opening direction, i.e. in a counter-clockwise di¬ rection in Fig. 5. Pivoting in the opposite direction is prevented by engagement with the upper defining walls 31 (see Fig. 4) of the retainer element 12. In a modification of the embodiment according to Fig. 5, use may be made of considerably longer pivotal locking arms 29, such that one and same locking arm may preferably be used for locking both of the retainer elements 11 and 12. If, in this case, the long locking arm 29 is of such vertical extent that it might, already when pivoting is commenced, come into engagement with skis fixedly clamped in the ski holder, the desired locking function will be achieved. As a pos¬ sible variant of this construction, it is conceivable that the piv¬ otal locking arm is of U-shaped cross-section and that, in its closed position, it embraces both the upwardly directed shanks 27 on the retainer elements 11 and 12 and the greater portion of the bot¬ tom rail 2. In this design, the locking arm is suitably secured in the joint 6 and, furthermore, the lower rubber bead 4 will not be secured to the bottom rail 2, but instead on the counterpart to the extended locking arm 29. This U-shaped and extended locking arm may possibly be provided, in the proximity of the joint 6, with a down¬ wardly directed cam surface which, on clockwise pivoting of the locking arm to the locking position engages, through an opening in the lower wall of the bottom rail 2, with the carrier strut 1 and thereby achieves securing of the ski holder such that the screws 26 will be superfluous. Such an extended U-shaped locking frame may be held in its locking position either by the skis secured in the ski holder or by the mov¬ able locking portion of the ski holder or the foot.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus in load carriers of the type which has a carrier strut (1) extending transversely across a vehicle roof, on which strut at least one holder device designed for cooperation with the load is fixable, the device having an openable retainer element (12) which, in a closed position, encloses the carrier strut and secures the holder device thereon and which, in an open position, permits removal of the holder device from the carrier strut, the apparatus including a movable locking portion which, in its locked position, prevents removal from the vehicle of a load carried on the load car¬ rier, characterised in that the retainer element (12) itself or a first catch member (19) disposed thereon extends, in the closed pos¬ ition of the retainer element, into engagement with the locking portion or a second catch member (20) connected therewith, which, in the locked position of the locking portion, secures the retainer element in its locked position. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the retainer element (12) has a fixed portion (13, 14), which is an¬ chored in the holder device, and a portion (15) which is pivotal by means of a hinge joint (16) in relation to the fixed portion and is provided with engagement members (17) which, by pivoting of this portion, are movable into engagement with the holder device; and that the pivotal portion is provided with a projection (19) which extends to the region of the locking portion on the holder device designed as a movable locking cap (8), in order to 'be secured thereby in a position in which the engagement members (17) engage with the holder device.

Inventors: ARVIDSSON JAN-IVAR, ARVIDSSON, JAN-IVAR
Applicants: THULE IND AB, INDUSTRI AB THULE
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B60R9
IPC codes: B60R9