A FASTENER DEVICE FOR VEHICLE-MOUNTED LOAD-CARRIERS

Abstract: A fastener device (8) for vehicle-mounted load-carriers to grip a preferably rod-like object to be fastened (9), such as a tubular metal frame of a bicycle (2) supported by the load-carrier, and comprising a support (11) to be applied against the object to be fastened from one side thereof, and a yoke element to be applied from the opposite side of said object, and means to urge said yoke element in the direction towards the support to clamp said tubular metal frame or the like between the support and the yoke element. In accordance with the invention, the yoke element is in the shape of a yoke straddling the object (9) to be fastened in an active condition, and gripping means (22, 23; 21, 28) releasable at least at one side of the object to be fastened (9) are provided to keep the yoke element (12) and the support (11) together on both sides of the object (9) to be fastened in the object-abutting relationship, tightening means (33, 37) additionally being provided to press the support and the yoke element under force-transmission ratio conditions against the object to be fastened in the activated position of the gripping means.

Description: A FASTENER DEVICE FOR VEHICLE-MOUNTED LOAD-CARRIERS The subject invention concerns a fastener device for vehicle-mounted load-carrier to grip a preferably rod¬ like object to be fastened, such as the tubular metal frame of a bicycle supported by the load-carrier, and comprising a support to be applied against the object to be fastened from one side thereof, and a cover to be applied from the opposite side of said object, and means to urge said cover in the direction towards the support to clamp said tubular metal frame between the support and the yoke member. Because objects that are transported on vehicle- mounted load-carriers, preferably load-carriers mounted on the vehicle roof, are exposed to very heavy load on account of the vehicle movements as well as on account of the wind force the requirements on reliability in the fastener devices are very demanding. The main purpose of the invention is to provide a fastener device improved over the prior-art technology and by means of which the fastened object may be retained firmly also after long periods of driving with the vehicle, without the grip on the secured object tending to become less efficient, and which device also makes it possible to retain the object to be fastened also if for some reason the tightening force exerted about the object to be fastened thereto ceases thus preventing the object to be fastened from falling off the load-carrier, which, were it to happen, could be the cause of very serious accidents. This purpose is achieved with the aid of a fastener device according to the invention which is essentially characterized in that the cover is in the shape of a yoke element straddling the object to be fastened in active condition, and in that gripping means releasable at least at one side of the object to be fastened are provided to keep the yoke element and the support together on both sides of the object to be fastened in the object-abutting relationship, tightening means additionally being provided to press the support and the yoke element under force-transmission ratio conditions against the object to be fastened in the activated position of the gripping means. Because the support and the yoke element straddle the object to be fastened and are secured by means of said gripping means, the object to be fastened is efficiently prevented from falling out of the grip engagement, also if the tightening devices were to give way unintentionally. Owing to the combination of said grip means and tightening devices to press the support and yoke element against the object to be fastened under force-transmission ratio conditions it becomes possible to retain the object to be fastened in an unloosable grip, also after long periods of driving under unfavour- able load conditions. Preferably, the gripping means are formed by mutually overlapping protruding portions formed on respectively the support and the yoke element, and by a blocking means designed to interlock said protruding portions in a position to which they have been displaced to fit the dimensions of the associated object to be fastened. In this manner an adaptation to the object to be fastened may be effected within widely varying dimensions. This is a considerable advantage because e.g. the tubular metal frame of mountain-bikes nowadays vary within very large limits. As a result, the load-carrier in question may be marketed with one single type of fastener device only, which could be used in connection with bicycles of all kinds. Preferably, the protruding portions are formed with laterally protruding grip teeth disposed in a row along the associated protrusion and with at least one locking means insertable into the path of ' movement of the grip teeth. Furthermore, in accordance with one preferred aspect of the invention the overlapping protruding portions on respectively the support and the yoke element are formed with a row of grip teeth together forming a pair of rows of interfitting and facing grip teeth, and the support and the yoke element, in their untightened condition, are moveable in the direction of the grip teeth between a locked position in which the grip teeth interact in engagement and a release position in which the grip teeth are mutually displaced, out of their position of interaction. Owing to this arrangement it becomes possible in a simple manner to adjust the device to fit the dimensions of the relevent object to be fastened, prior to securement thereof by means of the tightening devices. Preferably, the grip teeth have an inclining sawtooth profile configuration. Because of this configuration, the support and the yoke element may quickly and conveniently be brought together into abutment against the object to be fastened, whereupon the support and the yoke element are efficiently kept together because the teeth, having been displaced laterally with respect to each other, interengage in a barb-like manner. Preferably, only one of either the support of the yoke element, preferably the yoke element, has a clamping body which is movable into the space formed between said support and said element to receive said object to be fastened, when affected by an actuating means under force-transmission ratio conditions, and which thus may be pressed against the object when the support and the yoke element assume their mutually fixed position. Owing to this arrangement the object to be fastened may be efficiently secured after having been carefully set in its tightening position. Preferably, the clamping body is mounted for displacement in a linear guide directed towards the place of the object to be fastened. In addition, the actuating means consists of an actuating arm mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin in the clamping body receiving element, one end of said arm formed with an eccentric cam part resting against said clamping body. Owing to the combination including the devices for dimensional adjustment to the object to be fastened, the entire eccentric path may be made use of to efficiently clamp the object to be fastened in position. The result is that the force- transmission ratio may be high, and thus comparatively little manual force may result in a firm and steady anchorage because the entire path of movement obtained as a result of the eccentric effect may be made use of for the very tightening operation, without any part of said path having to be made use of for dimensional adaptation. Preferably, the faces of the support and of the yoke element that are turned towards the place of the object to be fastened are lined with a resilient protection material and the clamping body is positioned on an acts against the external face of said resilient protection material. In this manner, the object to be fastened is protected against mechanical damage. The rest of the load-carrier components preferably are carried via a pivot pin to allow adaptation of its angular position to the angular position of the desired place of attachment of the object to be fastened. Con- sequently, the load-carrier may be efficiently adapted to for instance various types of bicycles, which may vary largely with respect to the inclination of their tubular frame. One embodiment of the invention will be described in closer detail in the following the reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 illustrate a load-carrier mounted on a vehicle roof and carrying a bicycle secured thereto; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the part of the load-carrier that is arranged to grip the tubular metal frame of the bicycle, showing that part in its disconnected position; Fig. 3 is a lateral view of the part of the load- carrier illustrated in Fig. 2 but showing a position for adjustment to the metal frame dimensions; Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3 and illustrating the same part of the load-carrier in its position when clamped against the tubular metal frame; Fig. 5 illustrate partly in view and partly in cross-section a portion of the part illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a perspective and sectional view corre¬ sponding to Fig. 5 through a portion of the same part but corresponding to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 1 illustrates a load-carrier mounted on a vehicle roof and designated generally by 1. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated the load-carrier is adapted to retain a bicycle 2 standing in an upright position, resting on its wheels. Numeral reference 3 designates cross bars extending across the vehicle roof and numeral 4 designates a support foot member supporting the cross bars at the vehicle roof sides, wheras numeral reference 5 designates a carrier rail resting on the cross bar and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having at its front and its rear fasten¬ ing devices 6 for securement of the bicycle wheels to the carrier rail 5. Numeral reference 7 designates a fastener stay, one end of which is attached to one of the cross bars whereas its opposite end is provided with a fastening device 8 designed to secure the front tubular metal frame section 9 of the bicycle in a manner to be described in closer detail below. The holding stay 7 comprises two rod arms 7a spaced a considerable distance apart at the level of the cross bar 3 from which they converge towards the fastening device 8. In addition, the rod arms 7a are articulated about pivots 7b in the area of the cross bar 3 in order to allow adjustment of the vertical position of the fastening device 8. Owing to this arrangement the fastener device position may be adjusted to the shape of the tubular metal frame 9 of the associated bicycle and to any other equipment that may be mounted on the tubular metal frame. Preferably, the holding stay 7 is removably attached to the cross bar 3 by means of separate fastening devices 10. As most clearly apparent from Fig. 2-4 the fastener device 8 comprises a support 11 and a yoke element 12. The support 11 consists of a lower part 11a and an upper part lib. The lower part consists of a web piece 11a' and two pipe sockets 11a' ' interconnected by said web piece spaced a mutual distance apart. The pipe sockets are mounted on top of their respective one of the rod arms 7a. The upper part lib has a web portion lib' and mutually spaced-apart protruding portions lib' ' and lib' ' ' , respectively, interconnected by the web piece lib' . The web piece 11a' has a downwardly bent central portion 12 and the web piece lib' has a correspondingly downwardly bent central portion 13 which projects downwards so as to partly fit into the first-mentioned central portion. Numeral reference 14 designates a pivot pin which hingedly interconnects the lower support part 11a and the upper part lib thereof in such a manner that the upper part may be moved angularly about the pivot with respect to the lower part and thus with respect to the holding stay 7. The yoke element 12 has a web piece 12' and two-side pieces 12'' and 12''', respectively, which are interconnected and spaced apart by the web piece 12'. The side parts 12'' and 12''' are shaped as hollow profile guide sections. Numeral reference 15 designates an upright which is insertable into the cavity of side part 12'''. Numeral reference 16 designates a further upright which is insertable into the cavity of the side part 12' '. Numeral reference 38 designates an interconnection rod which may be inserted into the upright 15 and has an end stop means located inside the upright, preventing the interconnection rod from being pulled out of the upright. At its opposite end the interconnection rod is provided with a further abutment part 17 which is arranged to co-operate with a projection from the wall of the cavity 18 of the side part 12''', serving as an abutment, ensuring that the support 11 and the yoke element 12 are captively interconnected at this side, also when their two projecting portions are moved apart, as in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. Numeral reference 19 designates a locking tongue which by means of a pivot pin 20 is interconnected with the yoke element and which tongue is formed on its external face with grip-engagement teeth 21. On its opposite side the yoke element is provided with a further row of grip-engagement teeth 22. Numeral reference 23 designates a row of grip- engagement teeth formed on the support 11 in facing relationship with the grip-engagement teeth 22 on the yoke element. The grip-engagement teeth are arranged a distance a from the upright 16 adapted so as to ensure that the wall of the yoke element side part 12'' on which the grip-engagement teeth 22 are formed may be pushed into said space in a lateral position of displacement, i.e. a position wherein the inner face of the cavity 24 is close to the upright 16, without the engagement teeth 22 and 23 interfering with each other. Upon lateral displacement, i.e. to the right in Fig. 2, the teeth may be moved into engagement and on account of their inclination i.e. the slope downwards and to the left in the case of teeth 23 and the inclination upwards and to the right in the case of teeth 22, a barb-like engagement is created between them, resulting in the yoke element being firmly retained in the support. Numeral reference 25 designates a slide and support face on which the rear face of the grip tongue 19 may slide when the yoke element is fitted to the support. Numeral reference 26 designates a blocking arm which is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin 27 forms a double-arm lever one arm of which forms a blocking catch 28 which, in the inserted position of the yoke element, interacts in engagement with the grip- engagement teeth 22 of the locking tongue 19. The sleeve- shaped side parts of the yoke element are formed with slits, not visible in the drawings, in which are received respectively the projection 29 interconnecting the upright 15 and the outer part in which the blocking arm 26 is mounted, and the projection 30 interconnecting the upright 16 with the outer part on which the grip engagement teeth 23 are formed, when the yoke element and the support are in interfitted position. The part in which the slide and support face 25 is formed projects on either side of the blocking arm 26, and thus the pivot pin 27 is supported at both ends. One of the projecting parts is cut away in Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. Likewise, the wall portion of the yoke element side part 12''' is cut away at its lower part in Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. Numeral reference 31 designates a support pad provided on the support and numeral reference 32 designates a corresponding support pad on the yoke element. A tightening block 33 is disposed on the upper face of the support pad, said block being guided in the web part 12' for vertical displacement by means of an upright guide part 34 showing at its top a slide face 35 co-operating with a slide face 36 on a lever-like actuating means 37, latter being pivotally mounted about a pivot pin 38 in the web part 12' . In Fig. 2 the tubular metal frame piece 9 is indicated by dot-and-dash lines. The manner of guiding the tightening block 33 is most clearly apparent from Fig. 5-7, Figs. 5 and 6 illustrating the tightening block in the position corresponding to Figs. 2 and 3, wheras Fig. 7 illustrates the tightening block in the condition appearing from Fig. 4. The resilience of the support pad 32 which like support pad 31 is made from a resilient material, such as rubber or soft plastics, acts like a spring tending to return the tightening block 33 from the position illustrated in Fig. 7 to the position of Figs. 5 and 6. When a bicycle is to be fastened the holding stay 7 and the support 11 are placed in an angular position ensuring the bicycle tubular metal frame 9 is supported on the support pad 31. The yoke element 12 is then preferably in a swung away position from that illustrated in Fig. 2 to allow the tubular frame 9 to be freely inserted into the device to assume the position referred to. When the support has been positioned in an adequete position relatively to the metal frame, which position may depend e.g. on the position of the tubular frame, its shape or on equipment supported by the tubular frame, the yoke element is swung inwards, to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and is lowered over the support projections, which thus penetrate into the sleevelike side pieces of the yoke element. Fig. 3 illustrates the yoke element in a position wherein it is partly inter- fitted with the support. Further, the yoke element is moved closer to the support until the support pad 32 rests against the tubular frame. The blocking arm 26 is then pivoted to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, in which its blocking catch 28 arrives at its position of engagement with a corresponding grip-engagement tooth 21 on the locking tongue 19, urging the latter towards the slide och support face 25 while at the same time the grip-engagement teeth on the other side on the yoke element are moved into engagement with the support grip- engagement teeth 23. In this position the tubular metal frame is maintained loosely clamped between the yoke element and the support. Thereafter, the actuating means 37 is pivoted downwards, to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, which means that its eccentric cam surface 36 slides against slide face 35 on the tightening block 33, forcing the latter from the position illustrated in Fig. 5 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7. Because in this position the place of abutment of the eccentric face 36 against the support block is an over-center position, the tightening block is retained owing to the self-braking effect thus achieved. Because of the possibility to press the two support pads 31, 32 comparatively firmly against the metal frame already from the start, the entire path of movement of the tightening block will be made use of to efficiently clamp the tubular frame in position while taking advantage of the resiliency of the two pads, for which reason the risks for incomplete securement of the tubular frame, which could result in the latter gradually becoming dislodged during driving, have been reduced to a minimum. As a result, the tightening device in accordance with the invention is very reliable and retains the bicycle during the entire transport without the need to stop the vehicle for post-checks of the anchorage. Because the support as well as the yoke element straddle the tubular frame on both sides of the latter and are maintained in interlocked position owing to the engagement of the grip-engagement teeth, the bicycle is maintained in its upright position on the load-carrier, even if the tightening block were to come loose for some reason or other. This is so because the force to retain¬ ing the tubular frame in position still acts around the entire frame circumference, which efficiently prevents the bicycle from turning over. Release of the fastening device is effected in the reverse order. After the yoke element having been lifted and pivoted to the side it is retained efficiently and captively because of the inter- connecting rod 38 which owing to its abutment-type engagement with the upright 15 and the sleeve-shaped side portion 12''' is prevented from being pulled out of these parts, with the result that also when released the yoke element is linked to the support. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings but could be varied as to its details within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the devices ensuring the interengagement between the yoke element and the support could be differently than illustrated and for instance consist of other types of tightening devices that may be arranged on both sides. Likewise, the tightening device formed by the tightening block 33 and the actuating means 37 could be of a different kind, for instance in the shape of a clamping device, which by means of screw action may be pressed against the tubular frame by means of a handle, or some other device arranged in the yoke element and exerting a compelling force on the tubular frame. In accordance with the embodiment shown the fastening device described above is adapted to retain the tubular metal frame of a bicycle but a fastener device of the kind referred to could also be used in other applications together with other types of objects to be fastened. The fastener device in question could be used as a general coupling element for interconnection of two parts, one part of which assumes the same position as the tubular metal frame 9.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A fastener device (8) for vehicle-mounted load- carriers to grip a preferably rod-like object to be fastened (9), such as a tubular metal frame of a bicycle (2) supported by the load-carrier, and comprising a ■ support (11) to be applied against the object to be fastened from one side thereof, and a cover (12) to be applied from the opposite side of said object, and means to urge said cover in the direction towards the support to clamp said tubular metal frame between the support and the yoke element, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the cover (12) is in the shape of a yoke element straddling the object (9) to be fastened in an active condition, and in that gripping means (22, 23; 21, 28) releasable at least at one side of the object to be fastened are provided to keep the yoke element and the support together on both sides of the object to be fastened in the object-abutting relationship, tightening means (33, 37) additionally being provided to press the support and the yoke element under force-transmission conditions against the object to be fastened in the activated position of the gripping means. 2. A fastener device as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the gripping means are formed by mutually overlapping protruding portions (lib'', lib"', 12'', 12"') formed on respectively the support (11) and the yoke element (12), and by a blocking means (22, 23, 21, 28) designed to interlock said protruding portions in a position to which they have been displaced to fit the dimensions of the associated object to be fastened. 3. A fastener device as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the protruding portions are formed with laterally protruding grip teeth (21, 22, 23) disposed in a row along the associated protrusion and with at least one locking means (28) insertable into the path of movement of the grip teeth (21) . 4. A fastener device as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that at least one (lib' ' , 12' ' ) of the mutually overlapping protruding portions on respectively the support (11) and the yoke element (12) is formed with a row of grip teeth (22, 23) together forming a pair of rows of interfitting facing grip teeth, in that the support and the yoke element, in their untightened condition, are movable in the direction of the grip teeth between a locked position in which the grip teeth interact the engagement and a release position in which the grip teeth are mutually displaced, out of their interacting engagement position. 5. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the grip teeth have an inclining sawtooth profile configuration. 6. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that either the support (11) or the yoke element (12), pre¬ ferably the yoke element, has a clamping body (33) which is movable into the space formed between said support and said element to receive said object (9) to be fastened, when affected by an actuating means (37) under force- transmission ratio conditions, and which clamping body thus may be pressed against the object (9) when the support and the yoke element assume their mutually fixed position. 7. A fastener device as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the clamping (33) is mounted for displacement in a linear guide directed towards the place of the object (9) to be fastened. 8. A fastener device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the actuating means consists of an actuating arm (37) mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot pin (38) in the element (12) receiving said clamping body (33) , one end of said arm formed with and eccentric cam part (36) resting against said clamping body. 9. A fastener device as claimed in any one of claims 6 - 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the faces of the support (33) and of the yoke element that are turned towards the place of the object (9) to be fastened are lined with a resilient protective material (31, 32), and in that the clamping body (33) is positioned on and acts against the external face of said resilient protective material . 10. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it is carried by the rest of the load-carrier components via a pivot pin (14) to allow adaptation of its angular position to the angular position of the desired place of attachment on the object (9) to be fastened.

Inventors: MANN GERHARD, MANN, GERHARD
Applicants: MANN GERHARD, MONT BLANC IND AB, MANN, GERHARD, MONT BLANC INDUSTRI AB
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60R9
IPC codes: B60R9