Slat assembly for vehicle article carriers

Abstract: The present invention is a slat (24) for a vehicle article carrier adapted to be mounted in a longitudinally extending recess (32) in a generally horizontal extending exterior vehicle body surface (21). The slat (24) includes a channel member (40) adapted to be disposed in the recess (32). The channel member (40) has an upper surface (50,150,250) adapted to be disposed substantially flush with the vehicle body surface (31).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an article carrier for vehicles, and more particularly, to a slat assembly for an article carrier on an automotive vehicle. 2. Description of the Related Art Vehicle article carriers frequently employ two separate subassemblies or portions: a rectangular framework which surrounds the load to be carried and a plurality of slats which rest on the roof or other vehicle body portion and carries the weight of the load. In such constructions, the framework and the slats are often secured to the vehicle body independently of one another. In still another vehicle article or luggage carrier, a crossbar replaces the framework as a means for confining the articles upon the slats. In prior U.S. Patent 4,182,471, an article carrier for vehicles was disclosed having slats extending above the vehicle body surface and crossbars which can be adjusted on the slats. The crossbars are easily removed, interchanged or adjusted in position on the slats in accordance with the needs of the user. This construction has achieved significant commercial success. Nevertheless, a need exists to provide a slat which is more aesthetically pleasing and easy to assemble. Therefore, it is believed that a need exists for a slat which does not extend above the vehicle body surface. More specifically, it is believed that a need exists for a slat which can be assembled and mounted substantially flush with the vehicle body surface. EP-A-0 325 876 discloses a slat assembly in accordance with the prior art portion of claim 1. With this prior arrangement, no means are provided for adjusting the vertical height of the upper surface of the channel relative to the upper surface of the vehicle and the only protection against ingress of material to the recess is provided by a member in the form of an embellishment strip, spanning the channel and the recess, and not permitting longitudinal adjustment of a supporting bracket lengthwise of the channel. The present invention includes the provision of means to adjust the vertical height of the upper surface of the channel relative to the adjacent surface portion of the vehicle such that the upper surface can be maintained substantially flush with the surface portion with the channel being available to provide immediate support for a vehicle article or carrier. With the arrangement of the present invention, as defined in claim 1, a slat is provided which, while being easy to assemble, is aesthetically pleasing and need not extend noticeably above the vehicle body surface in that it can be mounted at a desired height substantially flush with the vehicle body surface. A further advantage of the present invention is that the slat channel allows a crossbar to be locked or secured in place wherever required along the length of the slat. The latter advantage is not possible with the construction of EP-A-0 325 876 since the channel is designed to support a cross-bar supporting bracket at set locations only in respect of the channel whilst with the present invention, the bracket can be positioned as required lengthwise of the channel. The seal means provided in the present invention, because it fits around the channel frictionally to engage the side surfaces of the recess and the side walls of the channel leaves the top of the channel exposed for engagement by the bracket whilst sealing the space between the channel and the walls of the recess in the vehicle roof. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood when viewed in light of the following description and accompanying drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle illustrating an article carrier mounted thereon which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrated in circle 2 for the article carrier of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2 taken along line 3-3 thereof. FIG. 4 is a view of the structure similarly illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a view of the structure similarly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) FIG. 1 depicts a vehicle 20 such as an automobile having a generally horizontal roof 22 on which are mounted a pair of identical, parallel, transversely spaced side rails, slats or slat assemblies, generally indicated at 24. Although the slat assemblies 24 are shown mounted on the roof 22, the slat assemblies 24 of the present invention which form an article carrier may be mounted with equal utility on a truck lid or any other generally horizontal exterior body portion of the vehicle 20. Mounted on the roof 22 are a plurality of identical, parallel, transversely spaced support slats 26. The support slats 26 are disposed between the slat assemblies 24 such that the support slats 26 are transversely spaced between the slat assemblies 24. The slat assemblies 24 and support slats 26 may be secured on the roof 22 by means such as sheet metal screws (not shown), pop rivets, rivet nuts or the like. Mounted on the slat assemblies 24 are a pair of raised tubular restraining bars or crossbars 28 which are fitted at their opposite ends onto stanchions, bracket members or brackets 30. The brackets 30 include a locking structure (not shown) for locking the crossbars 28 into position along the slat assemblies 24. The locking structure may comprise a clamp lock with an adjustable wheel, a pin lock into apertures of the slat assemblies 24, or a clamp disposed within the slat assemblies 24. The locking structure allows the crossbars 28 to be positioned operably at any location or at predetermined locations along the length of the slat assemblies 24. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, only a portion of the slat assembly 24 and roof 22 are illustrated. The roof 22 has a vehicle body surface 31 including a plurality of transversely spaced and inwardly directed recesses 32. Preferably, the vehicle body surface 31 has a pair of recesses 32 with each recess 32 being disposed near the outermost side of the roof 22. Each recess 22 extends generally longitudinally along the vehicle body surface 31 and is defined by a bottom surface 34 being generally horizontal and a pair of side surfaces 36 and end surfaces 38 extending upwardly from edges of the bottom surface 34 at an angle or incline to the vehicle body surface 31. It should be appreciated that the surface 34,36 and 38 are integral and may form a weld ditch of the roof 22. The slat assembly 24 includes a channel member, generally indicated at 40, which extends generally longitudinally and is adapted to be received in each recess 32. The channel member 40 includes a generally horizontal bottom wall 42 and a pair of generally inclined upwardly and outwardly extending side walls 44. The bottom wall 42 has a transverse width less than a transverse width of the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 to form a transverse space 45 between the side walls 44 and side surfaces 36 of the recess 32. The channel member 40 also includes generally horizontal side ledges 46 extending inwardly at the upper ends of the side walls 44. The side ledges 46 include an outer article supporting surface 48 and an inner upper surface 50 spaced generally vertically below the article supporting surface 48. The channel member 40 further includes a generally inclined end wall 52 extending upwardly and outwardly at an angle from a longitudinal end of the bottom wall 42 and a generally horizontal end ledge 54 extending longitudinally from the end wall 52. The end ledge 54 includes an outer article supporting surface 48 and an inner upper surface (not shown). The bottom wall 42 and side walls 44 and ledges 46 form an upwardly opening channel 56 which is wider at its bottom than at the top and closed at the longitudinal end by end wall 52 and ledge 54. It should be appreciated that the bottom wall 42, side walls 44 and ledges 46 are integral. It should also be appreciated that the article supporting surfaces 48 extend generally in the same plane. It should further be appreciated that the bottom wall 42 terminates before the end surface 38 to form a longitudinal space between the end wall 52 and end surface 38. The slat assembly 24 may include an elastomeric mounting pad 58 interposed between the bottom surface 34 of the recess 32 and a lower surface 59 of the bottom wall 42 of the channel member 40. The mounting pad 58 is generally planar and extends longitudinally. Preferably, the mounting pad 58 has a transverse width less than a transverse width of the bottom wall 42. The thickness or height of the mounting pad 58 may be varied such that the inner upper surface 50 is substantially flush with the vehicle body surface 31. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner upper surface 50 is disposed slightly below the vehicle body surface 31. It should be appreciated that the side walls 44 may have a vertical height less than, substantially flush or greater than a vertical height of the side surfaces 36. The slat assembly 24 includes a sealing strip, generally indicated at 60, disposed between the side surfaces 36 of the recess 32 and the side walls 44 of the channel member 40 and between the end surfaces 38 and end walls 52 thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sealing strip 60 includes side portions 62 extending longitudinally to close or seal the transverse space 45 and an end portion 64 extending transversely to close or seal a longitudinal space between the channel member 40 and recess 32. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the side portions 62 have a top surface 66, an outer surface 68 and an inner surface 70. The top surface 66 is adapted to be substantially flush with vehicle body surface 31 and the article supporting surface 48. The outer surface 68 is adapted to engage the intersection of the vehicle body surface 31 and side surface 36 of the recess 32 and the inner surface 70 is adapted to engage the upper end of the side walls 44 of the channel member 40. The inner surface 70 extends downwardly and partially along the side wall 44. Preferably, the sealing strip 60 is made of an elastomeric material and frictionally secured between the recess 32 and channel member 40. The sealing strip 60 is adapted to prevent foreign matter such as dirt, water or the like from entering the recess 32. The sealing strip 60 also provides an aesthetic appearance. Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment 124 of the slat assembly 24 according to the present invention is shown. Like parts of the slat assembly 24 have like numerals increased by one hundred (100). The channel member 140 includes a downwardly and generally vertical extending flange or lip 171 at the inner or free end of each side ledge 146. The flange 171 may include a plurality of notches (not shown) defined therein and spaced along the longitudinal length thereof. The slat assembly 124 may eliminate the separate mounting pad 58 by incorporating it as a bottom portion 172 of the sealing strip 160. The thickness or height of the bottom portion 172 may be varied such that the inner upper surface 150 is flush with the vehicle body surface 31. The bottom portion 172 extends transversely and longitudinally along the bottom wall 142. The sealing strip 160 includes generally inclined upwardly extending side portions 174 from the bottom portion 172 extending along the side walls 144 end cap portions 176 at the upper end of the side portions 174. The cap portions 176 include the top surface 166 which extends transversely such that the outer surface 168 overlaps the vehicle body surface 31 and the inner surface 170 overlaps the article supporting surface 48. It should be appreciated that the bottom portion 172, side portions 174 and cap portions 176 are integral and frictionally fit about the channel member 140. Referring to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment 224 of the slat assembly 24 according to the present invention is shown. Like parts of the slat assembly 24 have like numerals increased by two hundred (200). The channel member 240 has a downwardly and generally vertical extending flanges or lip 280 at the inner or free end of each ledge 246. The flange 280 may include a plurality of notches (not shown) defined therein and spaced along the longitudinal length thereof. The sealing strip 260 includes the top surface 266 which is adapted to extend transversely substantially flush with the article supporting surface 248 at the inner surface 270 and to overlap the vehicle body surface 36 at the outer edge 268. The inner surface 270 is adapted to engage the upper end of the side wall 244 and extend downwardly partially therealong. The slat assembly 224 includes the mounting pad 258 having a thickness or height which may be varied such that the inner upper surface 250 is disposed slightly above the vehicle body surface 31.

Claims: A slat assembly (24) including a channel member (60) adapted to be mounted in a longitudinally extending recess (32) in a generally horizontally extending vehicle body surface (31) of a roof (22) of a vehicle for allowing slidable positioning and securing of a bracket (30) and a cross bar (28) along the length of said slat assembly (24), the channel member (40) comprising a bottom wall (42), a pair of side walls (44) extending upwardly from said bottom wall (42), and ledges (46) extending inwardly from said side walls which terminate to define a channel (56), said ledges (46) each including an upper surface (48), a member (60) engaging the channel member (40) and the edges of the recess (32), characterised in that means (58) are provided for adjusting a vertical height of said upper surface (46) relative to the vehicle body surface (31) such that said upper surface (48) is at a desired height relative to said vehicle body surface (31) of the vehicle, said means (58) for adjusting the vertical height being positioned within said recess (32) inbetween a bottom surface (34) of said recess (32) and said bottom wall (42) of said channel member (40); and in that said member (60) comprises sealing means (60) abuttingly engaging and frictionally secured between a side surface (36) of said recess (32) and one of said side walls (44) thereby to seal the space (45) therebetween. A slat assembly according to claim 1, wherein said ledges have an article supporting surface (48) as said upper surface spaced generally vertically from said surface (31) of said vehicle. A slat assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said height adjusting means comprises a mounting pad (58) disposed between said bottom wall (42) of said channel member (40) and a bottom surface (34) of the recess (32). A slat assembly according to claim 3, wherein said mounting pad (58) has a transverse width less than a transverse width of said bottom wall (42). A slat assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said upper surface (48) is flush with the surface (31) of the vehicle. A slat assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said upper surface (48) is disposed below the surface portion (31) of the vehicle. A slat assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said upper surface (48) is disposed above the surface portion (31) of the vehicle. A slat assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said sealing means (60) comprises side portions (62) extending longitudinally and an end portion (64) extending transversely between said side portions at each end thereof. A slat assembly according to claim 8, wherein said side portions (62) have an outer surface (68), an inner surface (70) and a top surface (66) extending transversely between said outer surface (68) and said inner surface (62). A slat assembly according to claim 9, wherein said inner surface (70) so engages said side wall (44) as to extend downwardly and partially therealong. A slat assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said top surface (66) of said sealing means (60) is substantially flush with the surface portion and said ledge. A slat assembly according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein said outer surface (68) overlaps the surface portion (31) of the vehicle. A slat assembly according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein said sealing means comprises a bottom portion (172) extending along said bottom wall (142), side portions (174) extending along said side walls (144) and cap portions (176) at an upper end of said side walls (144), said cap portions including said upper surface (148), inner surface (130) and outer surface (168). A slat assembly according to claim 13, wherein said outer surface (168) overlaps the surface portion (31) and said inner surface (170) overlaps said ledge (146).

Inventors: CUCHERAN JOHN STEPHEN, CUCHERAN, JOHN STEPHEN
Applicants: BOTT JOHN ANTHONY, BOTT, JOHN, A.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B60R9
IPC codes: B60R9