A LOAD CARRIER

Abstract: A load carrier which consists of a load carrier strut (1) which, at each end region, has a foot (2) with a support portion (3) and a clamping portion (4) for securing the load carrier transversely over a vehicle roof. At at least one end portion of the load carrier strut (1), the foot (2) is displaceable within a displacemetn range. By means of a rotary shaft disposed interiorly in the load carrier strut (1), the clamping portion (4) is manoeuvrable between an open position and a locking position for securing the load carrier on the vehicle. Suitably, one rotary shaft (5) is provided in each end region of the load carrier strut (1). In the open position of the clamping portion (4), the foot (2) is freely movable within its displacement range. The foot is fixable in any optional position within its displacement range by fixing means (6, 15, 21, 22) extending into the interior of the load carrier strut (1) for operation via the rotary shaft (5).

Description: A LOAD CARRIER TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a load carrier of the type which comprises a load carrier strut extending transversely over a vehicle roof and provided, at each end region, with a foot having a support portion and a clamping portion for securing the load carrier to the vehicle, the foot being displaceable within a displacement range at at least one end region of the load carrier strut, and the clamping portion being switchable between an open position and a clamping position for securing the load carrier onto the vehicle roof by means of a rotary shaft interiorly disposed in the load carrier strut. BACKGROUND ART A load carrier of the type intimated by way of introduction is described in US 5 226570. According to this publication, the load carrier has a shaft which is threaded in opposing turns and which extends in the longitudinal direction of the entire load carrier strut and which is, interiorly therein, in engagement with the feet disposed on the load carrier strut so that they, on rotation of the shaft in the one direction, are moved towards one another, while being shifted in the opposite direction on opposite rotation of the shaft. The design and construction according to this prior art publication are further such that the clamping portions of the feet are drawn upward towards clamping positions when the feet move towards one another and when such movement meets with resistance. The design and construction according to this publication suffer from a major drawback as a result of the long, through-going shaft disposed interiorly in the load carrier strut, since even a very slight downward flexing of the load carrier strut caused by a load may bring about seizure or result in permanent damage in the mechanism. Furthermore, since the load carrier according to this US publication is fixed exclusively from the one side of the vehicle, there is the risk of incorrect mounting in place, since it is not possible to monitor the fixing of both ends of the load carrier. The prior art design and construction are further such that tightening of the clamping portions only takes place as a result of the resistance to which the feet are subjected on tightening of the threaded shaft. This implies that the positions of the support portions and the feet in relation to the vehicle are not determined beforehand but depend upon the resistance to which the clamping portions are subjected, or their initial placing on the vehicle. PROBLEM STRUCTURE The present invention has for its object to design the load carrier intimated by way of introduction in such a manner that the drawbacks inherent in prior art versions are obviated. In particular, the present invention has for its object to realise a load carrier in which a downward flexing of the load carrier strut does not cause any problems. The present invention further has for its object to realise a load carrier in which the feet and support portions may be pre-set before mounting of the load carrier is put into effect. The present invention finally has for its object also to realise a load carrier which is simple and economical in manufacture, which is easily handled and which offers a very high degree of reliability. SOLUTION The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the load carrier intimated by way of introduction is characterized in that, in the open position of the clamping portion, the foot is freely movable within its displacement range, that the foot is provided with fixing means for its fixing in any optional position within the displacement range, the fixing means extending into the interior of the load carrier strut for operation via the rotary shaft. As a result of these characterizing features, a design and construction will be achieved in which the feet may be pre-set before the clamping operation proper is commenced. According to the invention, the load carrier is also suitably characterized in that a rotary shaft is provided in each end region of the load carrier strut. These characterizing features afford the advantages that a downward flexing or bending of the load carrier strut will not cause any problems, and that the risk of incorrectly mounting the load carrier in place is eliminated, because securing of the load carrier must be put into effect from both ends. The load carrier according to the present invention is further suitably characterized in that the fixing means comprise a fixing portion which has a projection in cooperation with a rotary eccentric- or cam portion, whereby the fixing portion is, by rotation of the eccentric- or cam portion, switchable between an open position and a preliminary locking position where the load carrier strut and the foot are pre-set in relation to one another. These characterizing features afford the advantage that the load carrier may be pre-set in response to the requirements of a given vehicle and that this pre-setting may be retained unchanged even after dismounting of the load carrier. Further advantages will be attained according to the present invention if the load carrier is also given one or more of the characterizing features as set forth in appended Claims 3 to 8 and 10. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with particular reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an end portion of a load carrier strut and a foot disposed thereat; Fig. 2 shows two different views of a fixing portion included in the load carrier according to the present invention; and Fig. 3 shows two views of an operating portion included in the load carrier according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 relates to a load carrier strut which extends transversely over a vehicle roof and which is intended to be secured at the opposing side edge regions thereof by means of feet 2 which include, first a support portion 3 for abutment against the vehicle roof and, secondly, a clamping portion 4 for clamping in place against an edge portion of the roof. According to the invention, the foot 2 is freely adjustable or displaceable within a displacement range in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut, this displacement range at least extending along one end portion of the load carrier strut. The right-hand end of the load carrier strut 1 is not shown in Fig. 1, since this may be designed in a plurality of different ways and, depending upon the position of the foot 2, may also extend a greater or lesser distance outside the foot. However, it will be apparent from the Figure that a rotary shaft 5 is disposed in the end region of the load carrier strut 1 and interiorly therein, the shaft being, in its right-hand end in the Figure, connected to a suitable knob or wheel. The purpose of the rotary shaft 5 is, by its rotation, to impart a clamping movement to the clamping portion 4 so that this will have a horizontal movement component, approximately parallel with the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut 1, in towards the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, and a vertical movement component upwards towards the load carrier strut 1. The rotary shaft 5 is further disposed for activation of fixing means, by which the foot 2 may be positionally fixed in any optional position within its displacement range. The design and construction are such that, on rotation of the shaft 5, the foot is first positionally fixed along the load carrier strut already on insignificant tightening by means of the shaft 5. Not until then is the clamping portion 4 subjected to any major force which, in the final phase, results in the clamping of the load carrier in place on the vehicle. The fixing means comprise a fixing portion 6 (see also Fig. 2) which has a projection 18 extending downwards from the load carrier strut 1 to cooperate with a rotary eccentric- or cam portion 7. By turning this to a preliminary locking position, the fixing portion is influenced so that the fixing means are thereby activated and at least preliminarily (in a pre-set position) positionally fix the foot 2 and the load carrier strut 1. For operating the clamping portion 4, the foot 2 includes an operating mechanism with an operating portion 8 which, with an upper part 25, extends up into the interior of the load carrier strut 1. The operating portion 8 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut 1 and has, in its lower part located interiorly in the foot 2, a vertically extending slot 9 in which is accommodated a pin 10 on a rocker 11. The rocker 11 is journalled in the foot 2 via a stub shaft 12 secured in the foot and about which the rocker is pivotal. The rocker 11 is approximately triangular in configuration, the stub shaft 12 being located in one corner, the pin 10 in the second corner and a further pin 13 in the third corner. The pin 13 pivotally connects the rocker 11 with the clamping portion 4. When the operating portion 8 is displaced from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut 1 to the left, the rocker 11 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the stub shaft 12. As a result, the pin 13 will first move substantially horizontally to the right, whereby the clamping portion 4 is pivoted with its lower end in the opposite direction, since the clamping portion is, in a central region, in contact with an abutment 14 in the foot 2. On continued displacement of the operating portion 8, the rocker 11 is rotated further, for which reason movement of the pin 13 will be more upwardly directed, whereby the clamping portion 4 will also be lifted upward for fixedly clamping the load carrier. On displacement of the operating portion 8 in the opposite direction, the pattern of movement will be the reverse. Interiorly in the load carrier strut 1, the fixing portion 6 has a pressure device 15 which abuts against a lower defining wall 17 in the load carrier strut. The fixing portion 6 is further provided with a neck portion 16 which extends through a slot-shaped longitudinal aperture in the lower wall 17 of the load carrier strut. On the underside of the load carrier strut 1, the fixing portion 6 has a part 18 of increased width which, at the top carries abutment surfaces 19 in the transitional region to the neck portion 16. The abutment surfaces 19 are intended, on longitudinal displacement of the fixing portion 6 along the load carrier strut 1, to abut against the underside of the lower defining wall of the load carrier strut. For positional fixing of the foot 2, the fixing portion 6 and the upper defining wall 20 of the foot 2 have mutually engaging cam or key members 21 and 22 which, on relative displacement of the fixing portion 6 and the foot 2 in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut 1, realise a downward drawing of the fixing portion 6 so that its pressure device 15 thereby presses the load carrier strut in a downward direction so that this may be locked in place against the upper wall 20 of the foot 2. Locking of the load carrier strut 1 and the foot 2 takes place in this instance by friction, on the one hand between the load carrier strut and the foot and, on the other hand, between the load carrier strut and the pressure device 15. The cam or key members include a key surface 21 on the side of the abutment surfaces 19 facing towards the load carrier strut. Correspondingly, the upper wall 20 of the foot 2 has corresponding key surfaces 22 which, in the above-mentioned relative displacement between the fixing portion 6 and the foot 2, realise the downward drawing of the fixing portion. The direction of the mutually engaging key members 21 and 22 is such that, when the fixing portion 6 is displaced in a direction out towards the end of the load carrier strut 1, the above-mentioned positional fixing of the foot 2 in relation to the strut 1 is realised. This also entails that, on drawing together of the fixing portion 6 and the operating portion 8, positional fixing of the foot 2 will be achieved on the load carrier strut 1, and a clamping movement will also be imparted to the clamping portion 4. In order to realise the above-considered drawing together of the fixing portion 6 and the operating portion 8 in a direction towards one another, the pressure device 15 of the fixing portion 6 has a threaded bore 26 running in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut and in which engages a screw 23 which, in its opposite end, has two radially projecting flanges 24 which are located on either side of the operating portion 8. Between the flanges 24, the screw has a narrower portion which is accommodated in a recess 27 in the part 25 of the operating portion 8 located interiorly in the load carrier strut 1. Hereby, the screw 23 is free to rotate relative to the operating portion 8 but is axially fixed in relation thereto. From this it follows that, when the screw 23 is rotated in the one direction, it will draw the fixing portion 6 and the operating portion 8 towards one another, which realises, on the one hand, a positional fixing of the foot 2 on the load carrier strut 1 and, on the other hand, a clamping movement in the clamping portion 4. On rotation of the screw in the opposite direction, the clamping portion 4 is set in motion towards an open position, at the same time as the urging of the pressure device 15 against the inside of the load carrier strut 1 ceases. Even though the pressure from the pressure device 15 has ceased to act against the inside of the load carrier strut, the fixing portion 6 may remain in the locked position since the key or wedge angle for both of the mutually engaging key member surfaces 21 and 22 is relatively flat. This implies that the positional fixing of the foot 2 on the load carrier strut 1 may, at least in certain cases, be retained even though the clamping portion 4 is located in its open position. In order to safeguard the positional fixing between the foot 2 and the load carrier strut 1, use is made as auxiliary of the above-described eccentric- or cam portion 7 which, in the activated position, draws the fixing portion 6 in a downward direction. The screw 23 has a longitudinal channel of non-rotational symmetric cross section, and the rotary shaft 5 is of corresponding cross section and is accommodated in the channel of the screw. There will hereby be achieved non-rotational interconnection between the shaft 5 and the screw 23, at the same time as axial relative displacement between these parts may be achieved. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS According to the invention, it is also possible to turn the screw 23 to face in the opposite direction compared to that mentioned above so that the screw is thereby in mesh with the operating portion 8 while, via the flanges 24, being axially interconnected with the pressure device 15 but at the same time rotary in relation thereto. In the foregoing, it has been assumed that the shaft 5 is to be a separate part which is longitudinally displaceable in the screw 23 and which, in its end, is provided with a suitable knob or wheel. It might also be possible to extend the screw 23 so that this replaces the shaft 5, in which event the movement capability which the screw must then have in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut 1 is provided for via the anchorage of the screw in the wheel. The present invention may be modified further without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended Claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A load carrier of the type which comprises a load carrier strut (1) extending transversely over a vehicle roof and provided, at each end region, with a foot (2) having a support portion (3) and a clamping portion (4) for securing the load carrier to the vehicle, the foot (2) being displaceable within a displacement range at at least one end region of the load carrier strut (1), and the clamping portion (4) being switchable between an open position and a clamping position for securing the load carrier onto the vehicle by means of a rotary shaft (5) interiorly disposed in the load carrier strut, characterized in that, in the open position of the clamping portion (4), the foot (2) is freely movable within its displacement range; and that the foot is provided with fixing means (6, 15, 21, 22), for its fixing in any optional position within the displacement range, said fixing means extending into the interior of the load carrier strut (1) for operation via the rotary shaft (5). 2. The load carrier as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that a rotary shaft (5) is provided in each end region of the load carrier strut (1). 3. The load carrier as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the foot (2) includes an operating mechanism (8, 10-13) intended for operating the clamping portion (4), and with an operating portion (8) which extends through a slot in the underside (17) of the load carrier strut (1), to the interior thereof; and that said fixing means extend, with a fixing portion (6), into the load carrier strut (1) where it is, via a screw arrangement (23, 24), connected to the operating portion (8), the screw arrangement being non-rotationally connected to the shaft (5) and disposed, for positionally fixing the foot (2) and for imparting clamping movement to the clamping portion (4), to draw the operating portion (8) and the fixing portion (6) towards one another. 4. The load carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing portion (6) has a pressure device (15) which abuts against the inside of the lower defining wall (17) of the load carrier strut (1); and that the fixing portion (6) and the foot (2) are provided with mutually engaging key or cam members (21, 22) which are disposed, on a relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut (1) between the fixing portion (6) and the foot (2), via the pressure device (15), to urge the load carrier strut against the foot in a positionally fixing manner. 5. The load carrier as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that the key members (21, 22) are designed, on drawing of the fixing portion (6) towards the operating portion (8), to realise the positional fixing. 6. The load carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the screw arrangement includes a screw (23) which is in mesh with either of the operating portion (8) or the fixing portion (6), and which is in rotatable but axially fixed engagement with the other. 7. The load carrier as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the screw (23) has a longitudinal channel of non-rotational symmetric cross section; and that the shaft (5) is of corresponding cross section and is longitudinally displaceable, but non-rotationally accommodated, in the channel. 8. The load carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the operating portion (8) is connected to the clamping portion (4) via a rocker (11) which is rotary about a stub shaft (12) fixedly disposed in the foot (2). 9. The load carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said fixing means include a fixing portion (6) which has a projection (18) cooperating with a rotary eccentric- or cam portion (7) whereby, by rotation of the eccentric- or cam portion, the fixing portion (6) is switchable between an open position and a preliminary locking position where the load carrier strut (1) and the foot (2) are located in a pre-set position. 10. The load carrier as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the eccentric- or cam portion (7) is journalled on the stub shaft (12) of the rocker (11).

Inventors: LUNDGREN ANDERS, LUNDGREN, ANDERS
Applicants: LUNDGREN ANDERS, THULE IND AB, INDUSTRI AB THULE, LUNDGREN, ANDERS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B60R9
IPC codes: B60R9