Abstract:
A rack strap extension system for a vehicle comprising a rack that is positioned adjacent a rear end of the vehicle, a strap coupled to the rack, a substantially rigid spanning member that is coupled to the strap and has at least two ends that fit around a protrusion positioned near a top rear surface of the vehicle, wherein the strap avoids tensional contact with the protrusion, and a connector mechanism proximate the strap and the substantially rigid spanning member engaged to a receiver of the vehicle, wherein the protrusion is interposed between the connector and the rack.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/066,689, filed Feb. 21, 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to rack strap extension systems including vehicle-body-accessory spanning members for vehicle racks and methods for using the same. 
         [0003]    Vehicle bike racks, or carriers, come in various configurations. For example, a common type of vehicle bike rack is described as a trunk rack and may be configured for installation at the rear of a vehicle, such as on, near, or adjacent the trunk of a sedan-type vehicle, or on, near, or adjacent the rear door of a hatchback- or minivan-type vehicle. Though generally described as trunk racks, they are not limited to being installed on vehicles with trunks. Often, a trunk rack is adjustable so that it can be configured to fit various vehicle types including both sedan- and hatchback-type vehicles. Trunk racks are generally installed using a series of straps, or webbing, that is secured to various points on the vehicle, such as one or more seams between a trunk or rear door and an adjacent portion of the vehicle&#39;s body, between a hinged window and an adjacent portion of a vehicle&#39;s body, or on another part of a vehicle body, such as an edge of a bumper. These straps are generally provided with a mechanism to tension the straps to secure the rack to the vehicle. The addition of one or more bikes or other equipment to the rack adds further tension to one or more of the straps. For example, Yakima sells a line of trunk racks under the YAKIMA JOE brand. Non-exclusive examples of trunk racks are also found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,997,116; 6,286,738; 6,386,407; and 6,422,443, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0004]    It is increasingly common for modern vehicles to include various aesthetic and/or functional body accessories or protrusions, such as (but not limited to) spoilers, fins, wings, ground effects, and the like. Such body accessories or protrusions may be designed, manufactured, and installed by the original vehicle manufacturer (i.e., the original equipment manufacturer or OEM), or they may be after-market products installed by the vehicle owner or a technician. Often, such body accessories or protrusions are non-structural, for example being constructed of nonstructural plastic. That is, they are often not designed to bear weight or to withstand forces other than typical wind forces created by normal driving conditions. Non-exclusive examples of vehicles that include OEM body accessories or protrusions on or adjacent the hatchback door of the vehicle include the 2008 MINI COOPER S manufactured by BMW and the 2005 SUBARU FORESTER 2.5 XT, both of which include what may be described as spoilers or fins. 
         [0005]    Vehicles having non-structural body accessories or protrusions on, near, or adjacent the rear of a vehicle often interfere or prevent the use of a typical trunk rack because the straps used to secure the rack to the vehicle, when tensioned, would impart excessive forces to the body accessory or protrusion. For example, a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion in the form of a spoiler adjacent the top portion of the vehicle&#39;s rear door would be subjected to forces from a tensioned strap that secures the trunk rack to the vehicle, and that force imparted from the strap may damage the vehicle-body accessory or protrusion. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]    Vehicle-body-accessory spanning members of a rack strap extension system that provide an extension mechanism for vehicle bike racks and vehicle bike racks incorporating the same according to the present disclosure include one or more members configured to span a body accessory or protrusion such as (but not limited to) a spoiler, fin, or wing that is installed proximate a strap securing point of a vehicle. The spanning members may be described as providing a mechanism for routing the straps of a vehicle bike rack around a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion. Additionally or alternatively, the spanning members may be described as preventing excessive forces from being applied to a vehicle-body accessory by a strap, or webbing, of a vehicle bike rack. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side-view illustration of a vehicle-body accessory spanning member according to the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side-view illustration of a vehicle having a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion, a trunk rack, and a vehicle-body-accessory spanning member according to the present disclosure, the rack and spanning member schematically shown installed on the vehicle. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is another schematic side-view illustration of a vehicle having a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion, a trunk rack, and a vehicle-body-accessory spanning member according to the present disclosure, the rack and spanning member schematically shown installed on the vehicle. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is another schematic side-view illustration of a vehicle having a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion, a trunk rack, and a vehicle-body-accessory spanning member according to the present disclosure, the rack and spanning member schematically shown installed on the vehicle. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5-7  are somewhat less schematic illustrations of the configurations of vehicle, trunk racks, and spanning members of  FIGS. 2-4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a portion of a vehicle having a spoiler adjacent the top portion of its rear door and three separate spanning members according to the present disclosure corresponding to the schematic illustrations of  FIGS. 2-4  and  FIGS. 5-7 , respectively. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of two spanning members according to the present disclosure shown secured together with a cross-bar, the pair of spanning members secured to a MINI COOPER. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side view of one of the spanning members of  FIG. 9  shown secured to the MINI COOPER. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of two spanning members according to the present disclosure shown secured together with a cross-bar, the pair of spanning members secured to a MINI COOPER. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a side view of one of the spanning members of  FIG. 11  shown secured to the MINI COOPER. 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a strap with glass hatch securement members that may be used with the spanning members of  FIG. 11  and bike racks according to the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 14A-F  illustrate non-exclusive examples of spanning members according to the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 15A-B  illustrate spanning members and bike racks according to the present disclosure secured to a hatchback vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION   
       [0020]    Vehicle-body-accessory spanning members of a rack strap extension system according to the present disclosure for use with trunk racks are schematically illustrated in  FIG. 1  and generally indicated at  10 . As illustrated, spanning members  10  may include a body  11  and two end portions  12 ,  14 . Body  11  may (but is not required to) include, or be constructed of, a material that allows body  11  to maintain a substantially rigid shape, including in an arcuate shape, such as a rectangular or circular shape, or any shape desired. Such materials may include a metal, a substantially rigid foam or rubber, or any material so desired. It will be appreciated that spanning members  10  can either be a fixed shape or can be adjustable. For example, body  11  may be configured so that the distance between end portions  12  and  14  can be lengthened or shortened as desired. Such a configuration can be achieved using a sliding pair of members as body  11  that can be latched, stopped, or locked at the desired distance between end portions  12  and  14 . 
         [0021]    End portions  12 ,  14  may take a variety of forms and may be configured to engage a surface or other portion of a corresponding vehicle. For example, an end portion of a spanning member may be configured to engage the outer surface of a window, door, roof, or other vehicle body portion. In such embodiments, the end portion may (but is not required to) include, or be constructed of, a material that generally prevents the spanning member from slipping on the vehicle body portion, such as a frictional material (e.g., rubber, plastic). Additionally or alternatively, an end portion of a spanning member may be configured to engage a crevice, seam, or other generally three-dimensional aspect of a vehicle body. For example, an end portion may be configured to engage a seam between a vehicle door or window and an adjacent portion of the vehicle&#39;s body. A non-exclusive example of such an end portion may take the form of a hook. Spanning members according to the present disclosure may include end portions that are configured differently. For example, a spanning member may include a first end portion  12  configured to engage a seam of a vehicle body and a second end portion  14  configured to engage the outer surface of a rear window of a vehicle. Other configurations are equally within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0022]    Spanning members according to the present disclosure may be described as having an outward-facing or routing surface  16  and an inward-facing surface  17 . When a spanning member is installed on a corresponding vehicle, the outward-facing surface will generally face away from the vehicle&#39;s body while the inward-facing surface will generally face toward the vehicle&#39;s body. The contour of the spanning member creates a cavity  19 , which conforms to the shape of inward-facing surface  17 . As an illustrative non-exclusive example, the contour of cavity  19  may have an arcuate shape, such as a rectangular or circular shape, or any shape desired. The shape or contour of cavity  19  may be configured to create space for insertion of a vehicle body accessory or protrusion into the cavity, in such a manner that ends portions  12 ,  14  can still be engaged to the vehicle. 
         [0023]    As mentioned above, trunk racks are generally secured to a corresponding vehicle using straps, or webbing, that are tensioned. Spanning members  10  are therefore provided to engage the straps of a corresponding trunk rack and route the straps around a vehicle-body accessory that otherwise may be damaged due to excessive forces, as discussed above. The tension to secure the rack, strap, and/or spanning member to the vehicle can be achieved in a variety of ways using a variety of securement structures or connector mechanisms. For example, a first connector piece, such as a male member, that is proximate the strap and spanning member, and mated to a second connector piece, such as a receiver or female piece, of the vehicle, can be used to secure the spanning member, strap, and/or rack to the vehicle as desired. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of connector mechanisms and securement structures include a hook or latch and catch mechanism, a buckle, a ladder-lock mechanism, and/or a glass hatch mechanism, any or a combination of which can be used as desired. It is appreciated that the male connector may be connected to either the strap or spanning member and mated to a female receiver of the vehicle, or vice-versa. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, surface  16  may directly engage a corresponding strap. Additionally or alternatively, as illustrated in dashed lines, spanning members may (but are not required to) include one or more channels  18  for receiving and engaging a corresponding strap. For example, a spanning member may include a channel  20  extending along at least a portion of surface  16 . Additionally or alternatively, a spanning member may include a channel  22  extending through a portion of the spanning member and having openings  24 ,  26  provided on surface  16  of the spanning member. Additionally or alternatively, a spanning member may include a channel  28  extending through a portion of the spanning member and having an opening  30  on outward-facing surface  16  and an opening  32  on inward-facing surface  17 . Other configurations are equally within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0025]    Additionally or alternatively, as schematically illustrated at  34 , spanning members according to the present disclosure may include a strap securement mechanism configured to engage a strap or webbing, which may be the same as, or different from, the connector mechanism described above. For example, a spanning member may have a ladder-lock mechanism or other structure configured to secure an end, or a portion of, a length of strap or webbing. Such structure may include the ability to adjust the strap or webbing, for example, to tension the strap or webbing after the spanning member and corresponding rack have been appropriately positioned on a vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the spanning member may include a coupling mechanism configured to cooperate with a corresponding mechanism attached to a length of strap or webbing. For example, a side-release buckle may be used. Other configurations of securing a length of strap or webbing to a spanning member are equally within the scope of the present disclosure. It is also appreciated that any of these mechanisms could also be used as the connector mechanism or securement structure, as described above, and vice-versa. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a non-exclusive example  100  of a spanning member  10  installed on a vehicle  50  in conjunction with a corresponding trunk rack  52 . Vehicle  50  includes a first securement structure or connector mechanism  54  and a second securement structure or connector mechanism  56 . The securement structures or connector mechanisms  54 ,  56  may take a variety of forms depending on the particular vehicle  50  being used. For example, the securement structures or connector mechanisms may be a hook that engages a seam between a trunk or rear door and an adjacent potion of the vehicle&#39;s body, a seam between a hinged window and an adjacent portion of a vehicle&#39;s body, or another part of a vehicle body such as (but not limited to) an edge of a bumper, or a catch of the vehicle. Both securement structures or connector mechanisms are not required to be of the same type, and more than two securement structures or connector mechanisms may be used to secure a rack to a vehicle. 
         [0027]    In the non-exclusive embodiment of spanning member  100 , two lengths of straps  58 ,  60  are illustrated, although additional straps or other securing mechanisms may additionally be used. It is understood that the term “strap” is intended to include straps, bungee cords, rope, tweed, webbing or any other material that can secure a rack and/or spanning member to a vehicle. As illustrated, spanning member  100  is configured to span or otherwise extend over or around a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion  62 . A first length of strap  58  is shown extending from the bike rack  52  around and engaging the spanning member  100  and secured to first securement structure or connector mechanism  54  of vehicle  50 . A second length of strap  60  is shown extending from the bike rack  52  to second securement structure or connector mechanism  56  of vehicle  50 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates another non-exclusive example  200  of a spanning member  10  installed on a vehicle  50 . As illustrated, spanning member  200  is configured to span or otherwise extend over or around a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion  62 . In this embodiment, spanning member  200  includes an end portion  12  configured to engage securement structure or connector mechanism  54  of vehicle  50 . In such an embodiment, a first length of strap  58  may be secured to spanning member  200 . Additionally or alternatively, the length of strap  58  may also engage a securement structure or connector mechanism of the vehicle in addition to the end portion of the spanning member. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates another non-exclusive example  300  of a spanning member  10  installed on a vehicle  50 . As illustrated, spanning member  300  is configured to span or otherwise extend over or around a vehicle-body accessory or protrusion  62 . In this embodiment, spanning member  300  further extends over the securement structure or connector mechanism  54 , so that its end portion  12  engages a surface of the vehicle&#39;s body, such as (but not limited to) the roof of the vehicle. In such an embodiment, the spanning member  300  may be configured so that the first length of strap  58  extends through the spanning member (for example, as discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1  and illustrated by channel  28 ), and secured to first securement structure or connector mechanism  54 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5-7  somewhat less schematically illustrate the embodiments  100 ,  200 ,  300  of  FIGS. 2-4 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  further illustrates non-exclusive examples of spanning members  100 ,  200 ,  300  secured to a vehicle  50  having a body accessory or protrusion  62  and a first securement structure or connector mechanism  54  engaged in a crack or seam  83  between a rear door or hatch  85  and an adjacent portion of the vehicle&#39;s body. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates a pair of spanning members  10  secured together with a cross-bar  70  and secured to a MINI COOPER. Accordingly, more than one spanning member  10  may be used without having to independently position each spanning member during installation. Any number of spanning members may be used depending on a particular configuration of rack or vehicle being used, and the present disclosure is not limited to the use of one or two spanning members. 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of one of the spanning members of  FIG. 9 . As shown, the illustrated spanning member is in the form of a spanning member  200  having an end portion  12  with a connector mechanism  54  in the form of a hook that is secured to the crack or seam formed between the rear door of the vehicle and the vehicle&#39;s roof. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  illustrates a pair of spanning members  300  secured together with a cross-bar  70 . As discussed above, spanning members  300  may include a channel for the straps to extend through and thereby permit securement of the straps to the vehicle. In this example, the straps incorporate glass hatch hooks, discussed in more detail below.  FIG. 12  is a side view of the spanning members  300  of  FIG. 11 . As mentioned above, various methods of attaching a strap associated with a bike rack to a vehicle using a connector mechanism or securement structure may be used. A non-exclusive example of one such mechanism or structure that may be used may be described as a glass hatch hook  80 .  FIG. 13  illustrates a non-exclusive example of a hook  80 . As shown, the hook may include a pair of soft (e.g., constructed of foam) cylindrical members  82  secured to a bar  84  extending perpendicular to the length of associated strap at the strap&#39;s end. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the embodiment of hook  80  may be installed by opening the rear door or hatch  85  of the vehicle, and positioning cylindrical members  82  and bar  84  within an inside cavity  86  of the vehicle and positioning a portion of strap  58  through the crack or seam  83  of the vehicle between the rear door or hatch  85  and inside cavity  86 . Once rear door or hatch  85  is closed, the strap (or pair of straps) can be pulled from the outside of the vehicle to seat and secure cylindrical members  82  and bar  84  within inside cavity  86 . The strap can then be coupled to a rack and a spanning member, as described above, such that cylindrical members  82  and bar  84  may anchor and secure the spanning member (or pair of spanning members), strap, and/or trunk rack to the vehicle. For example, a buckle, a ladder lock, or other securement structure or connector mechanism, such as the ones herein described, may be employed with the strap to maintain the desired tension of the strap to so secure the spanning member, strap, and/or trunk rack to the vehicle. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 14A-F  illustrate additional non-exclusive examples of spanning members according to the present disclosure. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 14E and 14F  illustrate additional non-exclusive examples of spanning members that have a mechanism  34  configured to engage an associated strap. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate additional non-exclusive examples of spanning members and bike racks according to the present disclosure secured to a hatchback vehicle. 
         [0039]    It is further appreciated that the spanning members of the present disclosure can be adopted for other uses beyond securing a trunk rack to the rear end of a vehicle. The spanning members can generally be used in association with straps to avoid damage to any structure that is desired to be protected against damage by tensioned straps, on a vehicle or otherwise. For example, the spanning members of the present disclosure could be used in association with straps securing objects to the roof of the vehicle to avoid damaging a rear spoiler or fin, such as the ones described herein. The spanning members could be positioned along or near the roof area adjacent either the passenger or driver side of the vehicle to protect non-structural accessories or protrusions (perhaps a rain shield located over the windows) from damage when using straps to secure objects to the roof of the vehicle. The spanning members could also be positioned in association with securing a strap to the bottom of a vehicle (such as strap  60  in  FIGS. 2-7 ) to avoid damaging a vehicle accessory or protrusion located near the bottom of a vehicle (perhaps ground effects). 
         [0040]    The disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a preferred form or method, the specific alternatives, embodiments, and/or methods thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, as numerous variations are possible. The present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, properties, methods and/or steps disclosed herein. Similarly, where any disclosure above or claim below recites “a” or “a first” element, step of a method, or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure or claim should be understood to include one or more such elements or steps, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements or steps.