Abstract:
The present invention provides a roof rack including at least two forward recesses and at least two rear recesses within a roof panel; a vertically extending stanchion in each of at least two forward and rear recesses, a forward transverse recess starting at one forward recess and ending at an opposite forward recess; a forward transverse bar in said transverse recess having pivoting connections with said vertically extending stanchions; a rear transverse recess starting at one rearward recess and ending at an opposite rearward recess; and a rear transverse bar in said transverse recess having pivoting connections with said vertically extending stanchions in each of said at least two rear recesses, wherein said each of said rear transverse bar and said forward transverse bar having a stored position with a vertical height below an upper surface of said roof panel and a deployed position above said upper surface of said roof panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application 60/709,746 filed Aug. 19, 2005 the entire contents and disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as is fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to vehicle cargo racks, more particularly, to pop-up roof racks being stored within the roof panel when not deployed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Typically, automotive roof racks are rigidly mounted in a fixed position on the roof of a motor vehicle. Conventional roof racks suffer from many problems. Often, permanently fixed roof racks are bulky and somewhat unsightly, which can detract from the aesthetics of the vehicle and increase the wind resistance of the roof-line and may cause wind-induced noise. Moreover, some roof racks can be damaged and difficult to clean when passing through automatic car washes and the like (e.g., similar to large spoilers and powered antennas), which can restrict a car owner&#39;s ability to wash and wax his or her car.  
         [0004]     Removable roof racks, especially commonly available aftermarket add-ons, also suffer from many problems. While removable roof racks can be taken off, they are often difficult to install and remove. Often, several straps, hooks, snaps, clamps and other fasteners are used to securely fasten the roof rack to the vehicle, which may take considerable time to set up and may be difficult for an individual to perform alone. Furthermore, fasteners can scratch, dent, or otherwise damage the underlying paint or body panel, which can lead to accelerated corrosion, and generally detracts from the vehicle&#39;s appearance.  
         [0005]     Thus, a need exists for an aesthetically pleasing vehicle cargo rack that extends above the vehicles roofline when in a deployed position and is stored within the car&#39;s roof panel when not deployed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     One aspect of the present invention is a roof rack system that extends above the roof panel of the vehicle when in a deployed position and is collapsible within the roof panel to provide a continuous roofline profile when in a stored position. Broadly, the present roof rack includes: 
        at least two forward recesses and at least two rear recesses within a roof panel;     vertically extending stanchions in each of said at least two forward recesses and said at least two rear recesses;     a forward transverse channel starting at one forward recess and ending at an opposite forward recess;     a forward transverse bar extendably positioned in said forward transverse channel having pivoting connections with said vertically extending stanchions in each of said at least two forward recesses;     a rear transverse channel starting at one rearward recess and ending at an opposite rearward recess; and     a rear transverse bar extendably positioned in said rear transverse channel having pivoting connections with said vertically extending stanchions in each of said at least two rear recesses, wherein said each of said rear transverse bar and said forward transverse bar having a stored position with a vertical height below an upper surface of said roof panel and a deployed position above said upper surface of said roof panel.        
 
         [0013]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the forward transverse bar and the rear transverse bar have a fixed length. In another embodiment, the forward transverse bar and said rear transverse bar are constructed of a telescoping assembly that extends to a first length when the roof rack is in the deployed position and retracts to a second length when the roof rack is in a stored position.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, the forward transverse bar and the rear transverse bar have an upper surface that is aligned to a contour of the upper surface of the vehicle&#39;s roof panel when the forward transverse bar and the rear transverse bar are in the stored position. In a further embodiment, a cover is hingeably attached to the vehicle&#39;s roof panel and is positioned to maintain the contour of the upper surface of the vehicle&#39;s roof panel when the forward transverse. bar and rear transverse bar are in the stored position. In one embodiment, the roof rack system is actuated by a motor that is in communication to each vertically extending stanchion through an endless cable. In one embodiment, a unitary forward channel provides the forward recesses and the forward transverse channel, and a unitary rear channel provides the rear recesses and the rear transverse channel.  
         [0015]     In another aspect of the present invention, a roof rack is provided having detachable transverse bars for supporting cargo. Broadly, the roof rack includes: 
        at least two forward recesses and at least two rear recesses within a roof panel;     a vertically extending stanchion in each of said at least two forward recesses and said at least two rear recesses; wherein said each of said vertically extending stanchions having a stored position with a vertical height below an upper surface of said roof panel and a deployed position above said upper surface of said roof panel;     a forward transverse bar detachably connected to the vertically extending stanchions in the at least two forward recesses when in the deployed position; and     a rear transverse bar detachably connected to the vertically extending stanchions in the at least two rear recesses when in the deployed position.       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0021]     FIGS. l a -l b  (Perspective View) depicts a vehicle having a roof panel in which an extendable roof rack system is housed having a door system that maintains the roof panel&#39;s contour when the roof rack is in the stored position.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   c  (Perspective View) depict the sequence in which an extendable roof rack system in accordance with FIGS. l a -l b  of the present invention is actuated.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   b  (Perspective View) depicts a vehicle having a roof panel in which an extendable roof rack system is housed, wherein each transverse bar has an upper surface contoured to maintain the roof panel&#39;s contour when the roof rack is in the stored position.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  (Perspective View) depict the sequence in which an extendable roof rack system in accordance with  FIGS. 3   a - 3   b  of the present invention is actuated.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  (Perspective View) depicts one embodiment of the vertically extending stanchions of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 6   a - 6   e  (Perspective View) depict some embodiments of the engagement of the tower structure of the vertically extending stanchion to the transverse bar of the extendable roof rack system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  (Perspective View) depict a vertically extending stanchion having a tower sway support.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  (Perspective View) depicts one embodiment of a vehicle having an extendable roof rack system with telescoping vertically extending towers and detachable transverse bars.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  (Perspective View) depicts one embodiment of a cable system for actuating the extendable roof rack system of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  (Perspective View) depicts one embodiment of a modular extendable roof rack system in accordance with the present invention including storage provisions.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     The present invention is now discussed in more detail referring to the drawings that accompany the present application. In the accompanying drawings, like and/or corresponding elements are referred to by like reference numbers.  
         [0032]     Referring to FIGS. l a  and l b , a vehicle is depicted having a roof panel in which a roof rack system  100  is housed, wherein the contour  3  of the upper surface of the roof panel is maintained by doors  1  that are positioned to cover the roof rack system when in the stored position. The roof rack system includes a forward transverse bar  5  and a rear transverse bar  6  for supporting cargo. The forward transverse bar  5  is extended above the upper surface of the roof panel by at least two forward vertically extending stanchions  15  when in the deployed position, and is retracted below the upper surface of the roof panel into a forward transverse channel when in the stored position. The rear transverse bar  6  is extended above the upper surface of the roof panel by at least two rear vertically extending stanchions  16  when in the deployed position, and is retracted below the upper surface of the roof panel into a rear transverse channel when in the stored position.  
         [0033]     The sequence in which the roof rack system depicted in FIGS. l a  and l b  operates is now described with reference to  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c . It is noted that although  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c  depict only a single transverse bar, the following discussion is equally applicable to the actuation of forward transverse bar  5  and the rear transverse bar  6 . It is further noted that for the purposes of simplicity in describing  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c , the at least two forward vertically extending stanchions  15  and the at least two rear vertically extending stanchions  16  are collectively referred to as vertically extending stanchions  14 , and the forward transverse bar  5  and rear transverse bar  6  are collectively referred to as transverse bar  7 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 2   a , when in the stored position the contour  3  of the roof panel is maintained by a forward door  1  that corresponds to the forward transverse bar and a rear door  1  that corresponds to the rear transverse bar. The forward and rear doors  1  may be engaged to the roof panel by hinged attachment.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 2   b , in a first step the forward and rear door  1  are opened to expose the forward and rear transverse bars  7  that are positioned within the forward and rear transverse channels  17  and the vertically extending stanchions  14 . In a next step, the vertically extending stanchions  14  are pivoted into a deployed position. Each vertically extending stanchion  14  is in pivoting engagement with a corresponding transverse bar  7 .  
         [0036]     In one embodiment, the pivoting engagement includes a transverse bar  7  having an elongated slot disposed along a portion of the transverse bar&#39;s length and the vertically extending stanchion  14  includes a pin that is slideably engaged within the slot. In this embodiment, the overall length of the transverse bar  7  may be fixed and the length of the slot may be selected to allow for the pin to slide from a first interior position, when the transverse bar is in a stored position, to a second exterior position, when the transverse bar is in the deployed position.  
         [0037]     Still referring to  FIG. 2   b , in one embodiment, the pivoting engagement comprise a transverse bar  7  having in fixed pivoting engagement with the pin of the vertically extending stanchion  14 . In this embodiment, the transverse bar may include a telescoping structure  18 , wherein the transverse bar  7  is stored at a first length and extends by telescoping to a second length when in a deployed position.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 2   c , following the extension of the vertically extending stanchions  14  and the corresponding forward and rear transverse bars  7 , the doors  1  may be returned to their closed position. It is noted that the sequence is reversed to return the roof rack  100  from the deployed position to the stored position.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , in another embodiment of the present invention, the doors  1  may be omitted, wherein the contour  3  of the roof panel is maintained by the forward transverse bar&#39;s upper surface  19 , the rear transverse bar&#39;s upper surface  20 , and the exterior surfaces of the vertically extending stanchions  15 ,  16  when the roof rack system is in the stored position. The actuation of the roof rack system depicted in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , is illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c . It is noted that although  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  depict only a single transverse bar, the following discussion is equally applicable to the actuation of forward transverse bar  5  and the rear transverse bar  6 . It is further noted that for the purposes of simplicity in describing  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c , the at least two forward vertically extending stanchions  15  and the at least two rear vertically extending stanchions  16  are collectively referred to as vertically extending stanchions  14 , and the forward transverse bar  5  and rear transverse bar are collectively referred to as transverse bar  7 .  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 4   a , when in the stored position the contour  3  of the roof panel is maintained by forward transverse bar&#39;s upper surface, the rear transverse bar&#39;s upper surface, and the exterior surfaces of the vertically extending stanchions  14 . Referring to  FIG. 4   b , in a next sequence step the forward and rear transverse bars  7  are extended from their corresponding forward and rear transverse channels. It is noted that the engagement of the vertically extending stanchion  14  to transverse bars  7  in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  is similar to the engagement of the vertically extending stanchion  14  to the transverse bars  7  in the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   c .  
         [0041]     Still referring to  FIG. 4   b , in one embodiment of the present invention, the transverse bar  7  may include a telescoping structure  18 ′, wherein the transverse bar  7  having an upper surface aligned to the contour  3  of the roof panel employs a telescoping means similar to that described with reference to  FIG. 2   b . In one embodiment of the present invention, the telescoping transverse bars  7  may include at least two upper surfaces  25 ,  26 , which allow for the transverse bar to be extended to a deployed length in the deployed position and provides a contoured surface that maintains the roof panel&#39;s contour  3  when the roof rack is in a stored position. Referring to  FIG. 4   c , the roof rack having transverse bars with upper surfaces  25 ,  26  is depicted in the deployed position.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the vertically extending stanchions  14 ,  15 ,  16  may comprise a tower structure  30  having a base  31  and an engagement end  33  that provides pivoting engagement to a transverse bar. The base  31  of the tower structure  30  may further comprise a pivot gear  34  that intermeshes with a drive gear  32 . The drive gear  32  is in communication to a motor means (not shown). In one example, communication is provided by a cable  32 . Alternatively, communication maybe provided by a chain or equivalent. In operation, the motor produces rotational motion at the drive gear  32 . The drive gear  32  is in communication with the pivot gear  34  positioned at the base of the tower structure. Therefore, the rotational motion of the drive gear  32  actuates the pivot gear  34 , which in turn vertically translates the shock tower  30  by pivoted motion at a hinged engagement to the roof panel. Hence, actuation of the motor provides rotational motion to each of the drive gears  32 , wherein the rotational motion of the drive gears  32  is converted to translational motion in the tower structure  30  by the pivot gears  34 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment of the present invention, a tower sway support  50  provides greater rigidity to the vertically extending stanchions  14 ,  15 ,  16  when in the deployed position, wherein the tower sway support  50  is recessed within the roof panel when in the stored position.  
         [0043]     It is noted that any number of geometries may be utilized for a tower structure  30 , so long as the geometry provides for pivoting engagement to a transverse bar. Examples of tower structure geometries and corresponding transverse bar engagement portions are depicted in  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e . It is noted that the examples depicted in  FIGS. 6   a - 6   e  are provided for illustrative purposes only, and that the present invention is not deemed limited thereto.  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  depicts another embodiment of a roof rack system in accordance with the present invention, in which the vertically extending stanchions  15   a  are extended above the upper surface of the roof panel when in the deployed position, and are retracted below the upper surface of the roof panel when in the stored position. As opposed to the embodiments of the present invention including a transverse channel for housing the transverse bars, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , in this embodiment the transverse bars  7   a ,  7   b  for supporting cargo are detachable. More specifically, the transverse bars  7   a  may be inserted into the vertically extending stanchions  15   a  when in the deployed position, most preferably inserted into eyelets  65  positioned in an upper portion of the vertically extending stanchions  15   a . The transverse bars  7   a ,  7   b  may have a fixed length or may have an adjustable length, preferably adjustable by a telescoping mechanism.  FIG. 8  depicts a forward transverse bar  7   a  in the deployed position and a partially installed rear transverse bar  7   b . Preferably, the vertically extending stanchions  15   a  extend by a telescoping mechanism from at least two forward recesses and at least two rear recesses within the roof panel.  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in one embodiment of the present invention, each vertically extending stanchion may be connected by a communicating means  51  to a motor means  70 . In a preferred embodiment, the motor means  70  includes an electrical motor. Alternatively, the motor means may comprise pneumatic or hydraulic motors, or may be manually activated. In operation, the communicating means may substantially simultaneously actuate each vertically extending stanchion. In one embodiment, the communicating means  51  may comprise an endless cable or equivalent structure that is engaged to the motor means  70 . In one embodiment, the communicating means may be encased in a protective sheath. Additionally, guide rollers  60  may be employed to direct the communicating means to the vertically extending stanchions.  
         [0046]     In each of the above embodiments the roof rack system may be integrated into the roof panel of the vehicle as a modular assembly. The modular assembly may also be integrated into other roof panel systems, such as moon roof and sun roof systems. In one embodiment, a modular system  80  in addition to including vertical extending stanchions and cargo bearing transverse bars  71 ,  72  may also include increased storage capacity by integrating storage compartments  70  within the modular assembly, as depicted in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0047]     While illustrative embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments that come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.