Abstract:
The rooftop carrier of the present invention includes a guide member mounted to the roof of a vehicle, wherein the guide member defines a substantially horizontal first path, and a carriage movably mounted to and configured to follow the guide member along the first path. The carriage comprises a moveable support member configured to receive an object to be carried by the carrier. The carriage also comprises an elevating system for elevating the support member along a second path between a raised height and a lowered height.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of automobile rooftop luggage carriers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Roof racks for transporting luggage and other objects are common on automobiles. For greater certainty, when used herein “luggage” is not intended to be limited to suitcases, travel chests or similar objects for transporting clothing, but rather is intended to encompass all types of objects which might be transported on an automobile roof rack, including canoes, camping equipment, ladders, lumber etc.  
         [0003]     Loading luggage onto the roofracks of stationwagons or other “cars” with roofracks that are positioned approximately 4 feet off the ground can be difficult, particularly if the object is heavy. However, the difficulties of loading a roofrack are exacerbated on taller vehicles such as sport utility vehicles, minivans or regular vans, which may have a roof height of six feet or more off the ground.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, the inventor has recognized the need for a luggage carrier to assist in loading luggage onto an automobile rooftop for transportation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The rooftop carrier of the present invention includes a guide member mounted to the roof of a vehicle, wherein the guide member defines a substantially horizontal first path, and a carriage movably mounted to and configured to follow the guide member along the first path. The carriage comprises a moveable support platform configured to receive an object to be carried by the carrier. The carriage also comprises an elevating system for elevating the support platform along a second path between a raised height and a lowered height.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a rooftop carrier made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a rooftop carrier of  FIG. 1A , with a portion of the carrier cover removed;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an end view of the rooftop carrier of  FIG. 1A , with the carriage in the secure position;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the rooftop carrier of  FIG. 1A , with the carriage in the extended and raised position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the rooftop carrier of  FIG. 1A , with the carriage in the lowered position; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the rooftop carrier of  FIG. 1A , with a portion of the cover removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B  in combination with  FIGS. 2 &amp; 3 , illustrated therein is a rooftop carrier, referred to generally as  10 , made in accordance with the present invention. The carrier  10  includes a guide member in the form of first tracks  12  (preferably comprising telescoping track segments) mounted to a frame  13  which in turn is mounted to the rooftop  14  of a vehicle  16  and which define a first path substantially parallel to the line indicated generally as  20 , proximate the tracks  12 .  
         [0014]     The path  20  is preferably substantially horizontal and extends from a secured position intersecting the line indicated generally as A (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to an extended position beyond the edge of the rooftop  14  intersecting the line indicated generally as B (shown in  FIG. 3 ). A movable carriage  21  is provided which may be mounted to the free/movable end of the telescoping track  12 . One or more support rollers or wheels  23  may be mounted to the frame  13 , for supporting the carriage  21  and facilitating horizontal movement of the carriage  21  along the path  20 .  
         [0015]     The carriage  21  is also provided with a carrying member or luggage platform  22 , which is configured for receiving objects to be transported. The platform  22  may be provided with two support forks  24 , although other suitable configurations are possible. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a travel chest  26  capable of storing sports equipment and other luggage  28 , may be removably mounted to the support member  22  (typically by straps or bungee cords, or by using nuts and bolts).  
         [0016]     The carriage  21  is also provided with an elevating system  30  for elevating (ie. raising and lowering) the carrying member  22  along a second path  32 . The path  32  includes a vertical component and is preferably substantially vertical, extending from a raised position or height indicated generally as C which is approximately level with the rooftop  14  to a lowered height or position indicated generally as D. The path  32  may be angled from the vertical to accommodate the angled profile of the side of the vehicle  16 . As will be understood, when the platform is at raised position C, the carriage  21  is preferably coincident with extended position B.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the lowered height D is at an average person&#39;s waist height or other comfortable height for loading objects onto the carrier (eg. typically approximately 3-5 feet from the ground, although the lowered height may be higher or lower depending on the height of the vehicle  16 ). The elevating system  30  may be provided with second telescoping track  34  (which can be seen more easily in  FIG. 4 ), and the platform  22  may be mounted to the free end of the telescoping track  34 . The platform  22  may also be provided with one or more wheels  33  or other mechanism for facilitating movement along the tracks  34 , and being guided along the path  32 .  
         [0018]     The carrier  10  is also preferably equipped with means for powering or assisting the movement of the carriage  21  and the platform  22  along the respective paths  20 ,  32 . As can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 5 , this powering means  35  may include a winch  36  mounted to the frame  13  and having an electric motor  38  driving a wind-up reel  40  for winding up cabling  41  coupled to the carrying platform  22  (at its remote end  41 A). Preferably, the motor  38  is operatively coupled to and receives electrical power from the vehicle&#39;s  16  electrical system, although the carrier may be provided with its own separate battery or other power source. As well, preferably an “up” switch  42 A and a “down” switch  42 B will be provided for establishing the appropriate electrical connections to the motor  38  to drive the winch in a forward (up) and a reverse (down) direction, respectively.  
         [0019]     As will be understood, the winch  36  and cable  41  are able to provide an inward and substantially horizontal force on the carriage  21 , sufficient to move the carriage  21  along from the extended position B towards the secured position A. A pulley  43  is preferably mounted to the carriage  21 , for redirecting the cable&#39;s  41  force to include a substantially upward vertical component and enabling the winch  36  to raise the platform  22  from the lowered height D to the raised height C. The winch  36  and cable  41  form a powered lifting system for elevating the platform  22  from the lowered height D to the raised height C.  
         [0020]     The carrier  10  may also be provided with a resilient catch  44  configured to releasably engage the carriage  21  and secure it in the secure position A. A corresponding release lever  46  is provided to release the carriage  21  from the catch  44  when it is desired to move the platform  22  down to the lowered position D.  
         [0021]     It is also preferable for the powering means  35  to include a powered extension mechanism for moving or assisting the carriage  21  to be moved from the secured position A to the extended position B. In the carrier  10  as illustrated, extension bungee cords  48  may be provided which are coupled to the frame  13  at a first end  48 A and which wrap around a bar or pulley  50  located proximate the remote edge of the rooftop  14  (ie proximate the loading side of the vehicle  16 ) before being coupled to the inward side of the carriage  21  at a second remote end  48 B. The extension bungee cords  48  provide outward tension (ie. away from the secured position A and towards the extended position B), such that when the motor  38  is reversed (and the catch  44  released), the carriage  21  is drawn beyond the edge of the rooftop  14 . Alternatively, springs or other tension devices may be used to appropriately push or pull the carriage  21  towards the extended position B.  
         [0022]     Preferably, the platform  22  is of sufficient weight that gravity will provide enough downward force to lower the platform  22  from the raised height C to the lowered height D, when the motor  38  is reversed. However, as will be understood, if gravity is insufficient to move the platform  22  or to move the platform  22  downward at an acceptable pace, springs or other mechanical means may be provided to provide sufficient downward force on the platform  22 .  
         [0023]     Stabilizing bungee cords  52  may also be provided which are coupled to the carriage  21  at a first end  54  and which are coupled to the platform  22  at a second end  56 . The stabilizing cords  52  are placed under tension as the platform  22  descends from the raised position C to the lowered height D. The cords  52  provide stability to the platform  22  as it is raised and lowered, helping to prevent the telescoping track  34  from binding.  
         [0024]     A cover  48  for protecting the motor  38  and corresponding electrical connections from the outside environment, is preferably provided. Preferably, the cover  48  is streamlined to provide improved airflow over the carrier  10  and correspondingly reduced wind-resistance when the vehicle  16  is in motion.  
         [0025]     In use, the carriage  21  may first be secured in the secured position A (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The release lever  46  may be depressed, causing the catch  44  to disengage from the underside of the carriage  21 . As the catch  44  is disengaged, the down switch  42 B is activated by the user, completing the electrical circuit and causing the motor  38  to turn the wind-up reel  40  in reverse and unwind the cable  41 .  
         [0026]     As the cable  41  is unwound, the extension bungee cords  48  draw the carriage  21  towards the extended position B. As the carriage  21  travels toward the extended position, the telescoping track  34  is also drawn to its extended position. Additionally, as the platform  22  rolls horizontally it is supported by support wheels  23 . The carriage  21  reaches the extended position B once the platform  22  has been extended beyond the support of the wheels  23  (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0027]     As the carriage  21  reaches the extended position B and platform  22  is no longer supported by the support wheels  23 , gravity draws the platform  22  downward from the raised height C. As the platform  22  lowers to the lowered height D, the telescoping track  34  extends, and the stabilizing cords  52  are stretched, providing stabilizing tension to the platform  22 . Once the platform  22  reaches the lowered height D (illustrated in  FIG. 4 ), the down switch  42 B may be released, breaking the electrical circuit and causing the winch  36  to stop unwinding the cable  41 . Alternatively, the powering means  35  may be provided with a timing circuit or trip switch for discontinuing the power supply to the motor  38  once the platform  22  has been completely lowered.  
         [0028]     In the lowered position D, the travel trunk  24  may be loaded or unloaded, as necessary (as illustrated in  FIG. 1A ). Once the loading or unloading is complete, the user activates the up switch  42 A, completing the electrical circuit and causing the motor  38  to turn the wind-up reel  40  in forward direction and wind up the cable  41 . As the cable  41  is wound up by the winch  36 , the cabling  41  provides vertical force to the platform  22 , raising it from the lowered position D to the raised position C, and correspondingly causing the telescoping track  34  to retract.  
         [0029]     Once the platform  22  has been raised to the raised height C (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ), the cabling  41  provides inward horizontal force to the carriage  21 , drawing it in towards the secured position A. At the same time, the telescoping track  12  is retracted. As the carriage  21  reaches the secured position, the catch  44  resiliently engages the carriage&#39;s  21  underside, and is secured in place. Once the carriage  21  is secured in the secured position A (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), the up switch  42 A may be released, breaking the electrical circuit and causing the winch  36  to stop winding up the cable  41 . Alternatively, the powering means  35  may be provided with a timing circuit or trip switch for discontinuing the power supply to the motor  38  once the carriage  21  reaches the secured position.  
         [0030]     As will be understood, as an alternative to (or in part in addition to) the winch  36  and cable  41  and extension bungee cords  48 , the powering means  35  may include pneumatic or hydraulic pistons for moving the carriage  21  horizontally between the secured and extended positions A, B and the platform  22  vertically between the upper and lower heights C, D.  
         [0031]     Thus, while what is shown and described herein constitutes preferred embodiments of the subject invention, it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the subject invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.