Rack assembly particularly for all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and the like

Abstract: Ski rack particularly for all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and the like, including a frame (1,2,10,11) for supporting a tray (4) for the resting of rear ends of skis and a lock-operated ski retainer (3). The tray and the retainer are fixed to opposite longitudinal ends of the frame. The particularity of the present invention resides in the fact that it comprises pins (5,6) which protrude respectively from each upright on the side opposite to the tray and to the retainer and rest on a spare tire (7) fixed to the outside of a motor vehicle. A respective tension element (8,9) is fixed to the end of each pin. Each tension element is passed around the spare tire. The uprights (1,2) are mutually connected by cross-members (10,11) which support a central upright (12) on which elements (17,18) for tightening the tension elements are slidingly mounted; the tension elements can be releasably fixed to pins arranged on the tightening elements.

Description: The present invention relates to a rack assembly on motor vehicles, particularly for all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and the like having a spare tire attached outwardly on the vehicle body as disclosed, for example, in the US-A-3 972 457. As is known, ski racks fixable by means of an appropriate plate to the bolts for fixing the spare tire to the motor vehicle are currently manufactured for all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and generally for any vehicle in which the spare tire is located on the outside of the vehicle, usually in its rear part. The above-mentioned types of fixing therefore entails the manufacture of assembly kits having various plates according to the different models, with evident problems in production, distribution and sales. Furthermore, the type of fixing currently used entails, for the disassembly of the ski rack, the loosening and re-tightening of all the spare tire supporting bolts, with the evident time losses caused by this operation. These same problems also arise if it is necessary to replace a wheel due to a flat tire or to other similar problems. A rack assembly as defined in the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed, for example, in US-A-4 392 597. A principal object of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a rack particularly for all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and the like which allows rapid and simple assembly and disassembly without the aid of any tool. A further object of the present invention is to provide a ski rack which can adapt automatically to any externally-mounted spare tire, thus eliminating the need for diversified production of assembly kits. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski rack provided with anti-theft means for preventing its unlawful removal from the motor vehicle. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ski rack which is highly reliable, relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs. With these and other objects in view, there is provided, according to the invention, a rack as claimed in the independent claim 1. The rack according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective view of a ski rack according to the present invention; figure 2 is a perspective view of a ski rack according to the present invention, installed on a tire; figure 3 is a lateral elevation view, with a possible embodiment of the tightening means in open position; and figure 4 is a lateral elevation view, with the tightening means in closed position. With reference to the above figures, a ski rack particularly for all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and the like according to the present invention comprises a supporting frame which is composed, for example, of two uprights 1 and 2 ending, at the top and bottom, with bracket-like portions respectively designated by the reference numerals 1a, 2a, 1b and 2b. A key-operated ski retainer 3 of a per se known type is fixed on the brackets 1a and 2a, whereas a conventional tray 4 for resting the rear ends of skis is mounted on the brackets 1b and 2b. A pair of pins 5 and 6 protrudes from the uprights 1 and 2 on the side opposite to the tray 4 and to the retainer 3; said pins can rest, figure 2, on the peripheral region of a spare tire 7 fixed to the outside of a motor vehicle. A respective flexible tension element 8 and 9 is fixed to the ends of each pin 5 and 6; each tension element can be passed, as shown in figure 2, around the spare tire 7 with an approximately diametrical arrangement. The tension elements 8 and 9 can be constituted by chains, cables made of plastics or metal, bands, straps and the like, and must always have good flexibility in order to adapt to the shapes of the spare tire 7. The uprights 1 and 2 are mutually joined by cross-members 10 and 11 which support, between them, a central upright 12 on which means for tightening the tension elements 8 and 9 are mounted; said tension elements can be removably fixed to mushroom-shaped pins 13 and 14 arranged on the tightening means. The tightening means comprise a slider 15 which can slide along the central upright 12 and on which a plate 16 for supporting the pins 13 and 14 is fixed. The tightening means are constituted for example by an actuation lever 17 which is articulated to the plate 16 and, in a median portion, to an engagement lever 18 provided with coupling means, such as raised portions 19, which are directed toward the upright 12 and coupleable to complementarily shaped accommodation seats 20 formed on the upright 12. The accommodation seats 20 are constituted by holes which are shaped complementarily with respect to the raised portions 19 and position the plate 16 along the upright 12 by cooperating with said raised portions, consequently fastening the tension elements 8 and 9. Each tension element 8 and 9 is provided with an eyelet 8a and 9a in the respective free end portion for coupling to the respective pins 13 and 14 arranged on the plate 16. A lock 21, operated by a key 22, is inserted in the first lever 17; the lock blocks the first lever 17 on the plate 16, which is provided with a blocking opening 23 coupleable to the lock 21. Operation is as follows: once the pins 5 and 6 have been rested on the wheel 7, the tension elements 8 and 9 are passed between the wheel and the motor vehicle until they are engaged, from below, with the mushroom-shaped pins 13 and 14. Then the slider 15 is moved until initial manual tightening is obtained. Then the raised portion 19 is engaged in one of the holes 20. Finally, tightening is performed by moving the first lever 17 onto the plate 16, thus moving the slider 15, and by locking the assembly by closing the lock 21 with the key 22 in the seat 23. Practical tests have shown that the present invention achieves the intended objects, constituting a ski rack which can be adapted perfectly to different motor vehicles and to different wheel diameters without having to manufacture different plates for coupling to the spare tire supporting bolts. Furthermore, the fixing means as described above may be replaced with tightening devices of a different kind, such as worm-screw tighteners, jacks and the like. In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: A rack assembly for supporting items on a motor vehicle having a spare tire (7) fixed to the outside of the vehicle body, particularly all-terrain vehicles, closed vans and the like, said rack comprising a frame (1,2,10,11,12) with pin means (5,6) for resting on the spare tire (7) attached outwardly on the vehicle and two flexible tension elements (8,9) for wrapping substantially diametrically around the spare tire and having first ends fixedly connected to said pins or frame, characterized by a movable slider (15) of a tightening means (13-20) directly movably slidably connected to said frame for releasably tightening said tension elements which both have second ends (8a,9a) connected to said tightening means such that operation of said tightening means including slidably moving said slider with respect to said frame releasably tightens simultaneously both of said tension elements. Rack assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said frame (1,2,10,11) supports a tray (4) for the resting of the rear ends of skis and a ski retainer (3), and said pins (5,6) protrude from said frame on the side opposite to said tray and to said retainer. Rack assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said tightening means comprise said movable slider (15) suitable to slide along a central upright (12) of said frame, a plate (16) for supporting connecting pins (13,14) for said tension elements being rigidly coupled to said slider, an actuation lever (17) being articulated on said plate, a coupling lever (18) being articulated to a median position of said actuation lever and being provided with means (19) for coupling to complementarily shaped accommodation seats (20) formed on said central upright. Rack assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said coupling means comprise raised portions (19) which protrude from said coupling lever (18) and are insertable in the accommodation seats (20) to position said slider (15) on said central upright (12). Rack assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims 3 to 4, characterized in that each one of said tension elements (8,9) has an eyelet (8a,9a) in its respective free end portion suitable to fit on said pins (13,14) arranged on said plate (16). Rack assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises key-operated means (21-23) for releasably blocking the actuation of said tightening means Rack assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a key-operated lock (21) is inserted on said actuation lever (17) and is suitable to lock said actuation lever on said plate (16), which is provided with a locking opening (23) coupleable to the lock.

Inventors: FABBRI CORSARINI LUCIANO, FABBRI CORSARINI, LUCIANO
Applicants: FABBRI SRL, FABBRI S.R.L.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B60R9
IPC codes: B60R9, B62D43