Abstract:
A support assembly to support a bar ( 11 ) of a roof rack assembly for a motor vehicle includes a base ( 12 ) to which the bar ( 11 ) is attached. The bar ( 11 ) includes a longitudinal cavity ( 46 ) that provides for the attachment of articles to the bar ( 11 ). The support assembly further includes a cover ( 24 ) that is captively attached to the base ( 12 ) but movable relative thereto between a lock position preventing access to a threaded shaft ( 18 ) that is used to secure the support assembly to the vehicle and the cavity ( 46 ), and a displaced position providing access to the cavity ( 46 ) and threaded shaft ( 18 ).

Description:
This is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Patent Application Ser. No. PCT/IB2004/003379 filed Oct. 15, 2004, which claims priority to Australian. Provisional Patent Application No. 2003905761 filed on Oct. 20, 2003. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to support assemblies to secure a roof bar to a vehicle roof mounting, and more particularly but not exclusively the present invention relates to end supports of vehicle roof rack assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Available roof rack assemblies include an end support that engages a gutter, roof channel or mounting rail of the vehicle roof. Typically, a strap or other device is tensioned to securely attach the end support to the vehicle. The apparatus that tensions the strap is exposed and is vulnerable to unauthorised manipulation to release the mounting. Accordingly, previously known roof racks are vulnerable to theft. 
     Roof rack assemblies that address the above problem are either difficult to operate or are aesthetically unattractive. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is disclosed herein a support assembly to secure a roof bar, having a longitudinal mounting portion via which articles are secured to the bar, to a vehicle roof mounting so that in use the bar extends generally transversely across the vehicle, said assembly including: 
     a base to which the bar is to be secured; 
     a user manipulated part mounted in the base and operated by a user to secure and release the assembly with respect to the vehicle mounting; 
     a movable cover mounted on the base to inhibit access to said part and longitudinal mounting portion, the cover being releasable relative for movement to the base to expose said part and mounting portion; and 
     a lock operatively associated with the base and cover to secure the cover to said base to inhibit access to said part and longitudinal mounting portion, and operable to release the cover for the movement relative to said base. 
     Preferably, said cover is captively attached to said base. 
     Preferably, said movement includes pivoting movement about an axis and movement along a predetermined path. 
     Preferably, said axis is generally horizontal when said assembly is secure to said vehicle. 
     Preferably, said path is located generally in a vertical plane when said assembly is secured to a vehicle. 
     Preferably, said movement is provided by projections on said cover slidably engaged in tracks in said base. 
     Preferably, said lock includes a lock cylinder mounted in said cover and operable to engage said base. 
     Preferably, said base has a cavity via which the user has access to said part, with said cover being movable relative to said base to close said cavity to inhibit said access. 
     Preferably, said part is a threaded shaft having a longitudinal axis, with the user causing angular movement of said shaft to secure and release the assembly with respect to the vehicle, with said shaft being slidably supported in said base for angular movement about said longitudinal axis. 
     Preferably, said longitudinal axis is generally vertically extending when said assembly is mounted on the vehicle. 
     Preferably the assembly includes a securing member mounted in the base and to engage the vehicle mounting, which securing member is tensioned by said part to inhibit relative movement between the vehicle and assembly. 
     Preferably, said securing member is a strap assembly including a strap body to extend between the base and vehicle mounting, and a threaded portion threadably engaged with said shaft so that movement of said threaded portion changes the tension in said strap when said strap is engaged with the vehicle mounting. 
     Preferably, said strap includes an eyelet. 
     Preferably, said lock cylinder is key operable and includes a projection that is angularly movable between a first position engaged with said base to retain the cover in a position covering said cavity, and a second position releasing the cover with respect to the base. 
     Preferably, said assembly includes a mounting adaptor that is to be secured to the vehicle mounting, and wherein said part threadably engages said adaptor and is tensioned to secure the assembly to the vehicle. 
     Preferably, said assembly includes a securing member attached to the base to secure the bar to the base, and wherein said securing member is accessible only when said cover is positioned to provide access thereto. 
     Preferably, said securing member is a threaded fastener threadably engaged with said base and is to pass through said bar. 
     There is further disclosed herein in combination, the abovementioned support assembly and the roof bar, and wherein said mounting portion includes at least one longitudinal flange. 
     Preferably, said mounting includes two longitudinally extending flanges and an associated cavity via which said articles are secured to said bar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic part sectioned isometric view of an end mounting and roof bar of a vehicle roof rack assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side elevation of the end mounting and bar of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of the mounting and bar of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic parts sectioned isometric view of a modification of the end mounting of  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 3  of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted portion of a roof rack assembly that would normally extend transversely across the roof of a vehicle and engage the mounting rails of the vehicle roof. More particularly in the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an end support assembly  10  to which there is attached a bar  11  of the roof rack assembly. Typically, the bar  11  would have a support assembly  10  at each extremity, with lock support assembly  10  engaging a respective one of the vehicle mounting rails. The bar  11  has a longitudinal cavity  46  associated with mounting flanges  47 . 
     The assembly  10  includes a base  12  to which the bar  11  is attached. More particularly the base  12  has a projection  13  that is received within the bar  11  so as to be secured thereto. Typically the bar  11  would be a hollow aluminium extrusion and would be provided with a resilient strip  14  that is to abut objects to be supported on the bar  11 . 
     The base  12  has a cavity  15  at the lower end of which there is provided a platform  16 . The platform  16  has a passage  17  within which a threaded shaft  18  is slidably supported. The shaft  18  has at its upper end a head  19  with a shaped aperture  20 . The threaded shaft  18  is operatively associated with a strap assembly  31 . The strap assembly  31  is fixed to the base  12  and engages the vehicle mounting rail so that the end support assembly  10  is secured thereto. More particularly, the strap assembly  31  includes a strap  32  having an eyelet portion  21  to engage a securing tag of the vehicle mounting rail. The assembly  31  further includes a threaded portion  22  threadably engaged with the shaft  18  so that upon angular movement of the shaft  18 , about its longitudinal axis  23 , the strap  32  is tensioned to securely attach the base  12  to the vehicle roof. More particularly the threaded part  22  is fixed to the strap  32 . Accordingly, the assembly  31  is movable by operation of the shaft  18  longitudinally of the axis  23 . When the shaft  18  is moved angularly in a first angular direction the strap  32  is tensioned while angular movement in the opposite direction releases the strap  32  to enable removal of the end support assembly  10 . The axis  23  is generally vertical. 
     The bar  11  is secured to the projection  13  by a securing member  41  (preferably a threaded fastener). 
     Preferably, the projection  13  has an aperture  44  within which the securing member  41  is threadably engaged to attach the rail  11  thereto. The rail  11  is provided with a passage  45  through which the securing member  41  passes. 
     Pivotally mounted on the base  12  is a cover  24 . More particularly the cover  24  is pivotally attached by means of a pivot assembly  25  for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal axis  33 , that is an axis generally transverse relative to the axis  23  although displaced therefrom. The cover  24  is movable relative to the cavity  15  between a first position at which it closes the cavity  15 , and a second position displaced therefrom so that a user has access to the cavity  15 . Preferably, the second position is a raised position at which the cover  24  abuts the base  12  so as to be retained by gravity in the second position. When the cavity  15  is exposed a user is able to insert a tool in the shaped aperture  20  to operate the shaft  18 , that is to cause angular movement of the shaft  18  about its axis  23 , as well as access to the longitudinal cavity  46  and flanges  47  of the bar  11 . 
     The cover  24  is movable to a third position when released, which position exposes the ends of the flanges  47  and the end of the cavity  46  so that objects may be mounted on the bar by having portions thereof moved along the cavity  46  and engage the flanges  47 . This is accomplished via removal of all or part of the resilient strip  14  and replacement of at least a portion thereof when the article is secured to the bar  11 . The cover  24  remains captively attached to the base  12 . 
     The resilient strip  14  has longitudinally extending grooves that receive the flanges  47  so as to be secured thereto. 
     Mounted in the cover  24  is a cylinder lock  26  that is operated by key  34 . The cylinder lock  26  includes a projection  27  that is movable angularly between a first position at which the projection  27  engages behind the lip  28  to secure the cover  24  to the base  12  so as to close the cavity  15 , and a position spaced from the lip  28  so that the cover  24  may be pivoted to an open position, that is a position exposing the head  19 . 
     Preferably, a mounting gasket  29  is positioned between the base  12  and the vehicle roof, while the base  12  further has projections  30  that project into the vehicle mounting to aid in securing the end support  10  in position. 
     Preferably, the cover  24  in the closed position abuts the surface  35  of the base  12 . 
     In  FIG. 4  of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a modification of the end support assembly  10  of the previous Figures. In this embodiment, the assembly  10  includes a mounting adaptor  36  that is secured to the vehicle mounting  37  of the vehicle roof  38  by means of threaded fasteners not illustrated. More particularly, the threaded fasteners engage with threaded passages  39  of the mounting  37  and pass through apertures  40  in the mounting adaptor  36 . 
     The mounting adaptor  36  has a further threaded passage  41  that is engaged by the threaded shaft  18 . 
     Again the shaft  18  and securing member  41  are only accessible when the cover  24  is pivoted to a position at which they are exposed. Accordingly, removal of the shaft  18  and/or removal of the securing member  41  are only possible by operation firstly of the key  34 . 
     The pivot assembly  25  of  FIGS. 1 and 4  includes pivot projections  42  on opposite sides of the cover  24 , with each projection  42  being slidably received within a respective track  43  in the base  12 . Accordingly, the cover  24  is movable relative to the base  12  along a path defined by the tracks  43 , as well as being pivotable about the axis  33 , which axis  33  is movable due to movement of the projections  42 . Preferably, said path is in a generally vertical plane. 
     Preferably the projections  42  are captively located within the tracks  43  so that the cover remains attached to the base  12 . In an alternative configuration the projections are removable from the tracks  43  to enable removal of the cover  24 .