Abstract:
A method and arrangement for providing a load carrying apparatus for securing an elongate article, such as a canoe of kayak, to a vehicle generally includes a plurality of load bars, a guide pivotally secured to each of the load bars, an aperture disposed along a length of each guide, and at least one retaining strap threadably received by each aperture. The at least one retaining strap is disposed about the elongate article and is secured to the load bars such that the elongate article may be secured between the retaining strap and the guide. In a preferred aspect, the retaining strap is disposed through the aperture, about the elongate article, about the load bars, and is secured to itself under a tensioning force.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/159,125 filed Jun. 23, 2005 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/522,055 filed Aug. 7, 2004 and 60/582,388 filed Jun. 23, 2004. Said applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for securing elongate articles to a vehicle load carrier. More specifically the invention relates to an apparatus for preventing damage that may occur during mounting and transport of watercraft, such as kayaks or canoes, upon vehicle load carriers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Vehicular mounted sports equipment racks are well known as load carriers for carrying equipment from storage facilities to locations provided for a variety of recreational activities. Suitable vehicle mounting points for sports equipment racks optionally include the rear or the roof of a carrier vehicle. Rear mounted racks and roof racks may be used to transport bicycles, snow skis, snowboards, surfboards, and small water craft such as canoes and kayaks. Depending on the size of a piece of equipment, it may be possible for a single person to lift and load an item without the need of assistance. The loading of larger, heavier items, such as canoes and kayaks, however, typically requires more than one individual to raise the craft onto the equipment rack and to secure it in place using multiple retaining devices.  
         [0004]     For sports such as kayaking, there may be a need to transport more than one craft depending on the number of kayak enthusiasts occupying a single vehicle. The need to carry more than one kayak increases the difficulty of loading and securing these craft onto the transporting vehicle. Attachment of kayaks to a load carrying sports equipment rack on a vehicle requires a rack structure that holds a first craft in place during loading of additional watercraft. Rack structures that support one watercraft while another is being loaded are presently readily available. Such devices typically use retaining straps wrapped around the kayaks between a pair of roof-mounted supports and the load bars of the vehicle roof rack which is mounted on the roof of a vehicle. It is possible, during loading of these devices, for a retaining strap to become entangled with the roof rack itself or for a portion of a strap to be trapped under a kayak previously loaded onto the sports equipment rack. While the application of tension to such entangled or trapped retaining strap may appear to sufficiently secure the craft to the vehicle, during transit it is possible for one or more of the retaining straps to become untangled or loosened. This is undesirable as untangled or loosened retaining straps can result in the shifting of the watercraft during transport, damage or loss of the watercraft, damage or loss to the transporting vehicle, damage or loss to other vehicles, or result in severe injury to nearby persons.  
         [0005]     In view of the above-described deficiencies associated with known rack structures, there is a longfelt need to provide an improved rack structure for transporting elongate articles, such as canoes and kayaks, that overcomes these and other deficiencies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides an apparatus for securely attaching elongate objects, such as canoes and kayaks, to vehicle-top load carriers. As described herein, the present invention alleviates the drawbacks described above with respect to conventional vehicle-top carriers.  
         [0007]     An apparatus according to the present invention provides secure fastening of one or more elongate articles, e.g., watercraft, to a roof rack for transportation on a vehicle. The apparatus includes a hinged guide, also referred to herein as a lean support, having an aperture in a strap retention head to receive a retaining strap used to secure a watercraft, such as a kayak, to the roof rack. As configured, the hinged lean support provides rotation of the strap retention head relative to the roof rack.  
         [0008]     A process for mounting a kayak or similar watercraft on a vehicle&#39;s roof rack includes passing a first strap through the aperture of the strap retention head and around a first, forward load bar, of a load carrier, so that the bow portion of the kayak leans against the lean support and rests on the load bar. After routing the retaining strap the kayak may be secured in place by drawing the free end of the retaining strap through a first buckle, which exerts a gripping force to prevent slippage of the forward retaining strap. Use of a second lean support with a second retaining strap secures the stern portion of the kayak to a second, rear load bar of a roof rack mounted on a vehicle. When not in use, hinged lean supports may be rotated about the hinge, for substantially flat storage against the roof of the vehicle. In preparation for loading a kayak, rotation of the lean supports places them at a desired orientation, typically close to vertical. The lean support includes a gripper or set device that exemplarily applies a frictional force by tightening the gripper to set and maintain the required angle and restrict movement of a lean support relative to a load bar.  
         [0009]     A distinguishing feature of the present invention is the accurate pre-positioning of retaining straps wherein the aperture in the strap retention head holds a retaining strap so that tensioning forces produce a tight strap free of slack portions. Unlike prior devices, the height of a retaining strap above a load bar does not change between pre-positioning and tensioning of either the first retaining strap or the second retaining strap, while loading a kayak onto a vehicle&#39;s roof rack. Each retaining strap may encircle one or two kayaks prior to secure attachment of the kayaks to a load carrier by increasing the tension in the retaining straps as described previously.  
         [0010]     More particularly, the present invention provides a guide for a strap used to secure an elongate object to a load carrier attached to the surface of a vehicle. The guide comprises (includes, but is not limited to) a mounting plate held against the carrier; and a strap retention head coupled to the mounting plate by a hinge having at least one elongate bar for joining the strap retention head to allow rotation of the strap retention head about the hinge, the strap retention head having an aperture formed therein for threading the strap therethrough. A guide further includes a gripper to prevent rotation of the at least one elongate bar when securing the elongate object to the carrier.  
         [0011]     The present invention uses an apparatus for securing an elongate object to a load bar of a load carrier attached to the surface of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a guide including a mounting plate held against the load carrier and a strap retention head, hingedly coupled to the mounting plate. The strap retention head has an aperture formed therein. A gripper prevents rotation of the strap retention head and at least one retaining strap threaded through the aperture, around the elongate object and the load bar provides secure attachment of the elongate object to the load carrier by application of tension to tighten the at least one retaining strap around the elongate object.  
         [0012]     A method for securing an elongate object to a load carrier having a load bar attached to the surface of a vehicle comprises a number of steps including providing a guide including a mounting plate held against the load carrier and having a strap retention head, coupled to the mounting plate by a hinge. The strap retention head also has an aperture formed therein. Activating a gripper, that operates on the hinge, prevents rotation of the strap retention head so that the guide extends outwardly of the surface of the vehicle. Threading at least one retaining strap through the aperture, around the elongate object and the load bar of the load carrier and applying tension to tighten the at least one retaining strap around the elongate object, secures the elongate object to the load carrier.  
         [0013]     The beneficial effects described above apply generally to the exemplary devices and mechanisms disclosed herein of a lean support according to the present invention and associated equipment used for securing watercraft, such as at least one kayak to a load carrier, typically a roof rack, of a transporting vehicle. Specific structures through which these benefits are delivered will be described in detail herein below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view illustrating a watercraft; e.g., a kayak, held by an apparatus according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lean support according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view illustrating the topside of a kayak secured to the load bars of an equipment rack by means of retaining straps according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view illustrating the bottomside of a kayak secured to the load bars of an equipment rack by means of retaining straps and lean supports according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the use of lean supports and retaining straps according to the present invention to secure a number of watercraft against the load bars of a vehicle-mounted equipment rack;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an elevational view illustrating a bracket used to attach a mounting plate according to the present invention to a load bar of an equipment rack; and  
         [0021]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   b  are elevational views illustrating attachment of a mounting plate according to the present invention to differently shaped load bars. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.  
         [0023]     Referring now to the figures, wherein like numbers refer to like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates watercraft  10 , e.g. a kayak, held by roof mounted apparatus  12 , which is attached to vehicle  14 . First, forward retaining strap  16  and second, rear retaining strap  18  provide means for securing kayak  10  to roof mounted apparatus  12 , which may also be referred to herein as a roof rack. Kayak  10 , after loading on roof rack  12 , may further be stabilized using first tie  17 , disposed between the bow of kayak  10  and the front of vehicle  14 , and second tie  19  disposed between the stern of kayak  10  and the rear of vehicle  14 .  
         [0024]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate an assembly according to the present invention for securely fastening of one or more watercraft  10  to roof rack  12  of vehicle  14 . The assembly broadly includes lean support  20 , comprising mounting plate  22  and strap retention head  24  having aperture  32  for receiving retaining strap  16 ,  18 , which may be threaded through aperture  32  before securing a watercraft, such as kayak  10 , to roof rack  12 . Mounting plate  22  according to the present invention supports hinge  26  that has first elongate connecting bar  28  extending outwardly from hinge  26  to provide first connection  36  to strap retention head  24 . Second connecting bar  30  extends outwardly from hinge  26 , substantially parallel to first connecting bar  28 , to provide second connection  38  to strap retention head  24 . As configured, hinged lean support  20  allows rotation of strap retention head  24  relative to mounting plate  22 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the use of retaining straps  16 ,  18  and lean supports  20  according to the present invention to secure a watercraft, for example a kayak, to the transverse load bars of an equipment rack; i.e., a roof rack mounted on a vehicle. The figures illustrate the use of lean support  20  with first strap  16  passing through aperture  32  of strap retention head  24  and around first, forward load bar  40  to hold the bow portion of kayak  10  against lean support  20  and load bar  40 . After routing retaining strap  16 , as described, kayak  10  may be secured in place by drawing the free end of retaining strap  16  through first, front buckle  44 , which exerts a gripping force to prevent slippage of forward retaining strap  16 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the keel side of kayak  10  to illustrate the use of second lean support  20  with second, rear retaining strap  18  that secures the stern portion of kayak  10  to second, rear load bar  42  of roof rack  12  mounted on vehicle  14 . It will be appreciated that lean supports  20  according to the present invention, when not in use, may be rotated about hinge  26 , for substantially flat storage proximate the roof of vehicle  14 . After rotation to a desired position, lean support  20  may be set at the desired orientation by tightening gripper  34  (See  FIGS. 7   a - 7   b ). Tightening gripper  34  acts to apply a frictional force and restrict movement of the lean supports relative to load bars  40 ,  42  such that the lean supports may be arranged at a desired angle.  
         [0027]     For convenience, during loading of kayak  10  onto roof rack  12 , forward retaining strap  16  and rear retaining strap  18  may be pre-threaded through apertures  32  of lean supports  20 . Pre-threading places retaining straps  16 ,  18  in position from which they may be readily tensioned around the bow or stern of kayak  10 . Previously known kayak securing devices have generally been incapable of pre-positioning retaining straps, for example, at least one known device utilizes an arrow or dual-barb style top hook, whereas the present invention utilizes strap retention head  24  having strap retaining aperture  32 . Further, known kayak lean supports may include coated steel posts that have arrow top hooks extending out from a load bar of an equipment rack. Retaining straps, pre-positioned around these known types of kayak lean support, initially rest on the base of the post, away from the arrow top hook. Consequently, loading and securing of a kayak with these known devices requires that the retaining strap slide up along the length of the post, from the base to the arrow top hook, where it may be held by interference with the hook. Thereafter, application of tension upon the strap acts to adjust its length around the arrow top hook and a load bar to draw the strap against the surface of the kayak, thereby holding the kayak between the arrow top hook and the load bar of an equipment rack.  
         [0028]     The description immediately above illustrates a conventional process for loading a kayak on a roof rack using a known kayak lean support. It should be appreciated, however, that this known method requires changing the position of the retaining straps between a first location, at the base of a steel post, and a second location, at the top or opposite end of the steel post. In these types of devices, as the position of the retaining strap changes, i.e., when the retaining strap rides up the post during tensioning, it is possible for the strap to encounter obstacles, or become trapped between the surface of the kayak and the steel post. As a result, the retaining strap may not reach its intended location around the arrow top hook. Despite the fact that the retaining straps of these types of devices may not be correctly positioned with respect to an arrow top hook, it is possible to apply tension to the strap. This can suggest to the individual loading the kayak that the kayak is suitably secured to the equipment rack. As a result, if the straps of the aforementioned known devices have not been correctly installed and become untangled or loosened during transport, the kayak may no longer be safely loaded and can, as previously discussed, can present multiple safety hazards.  
         [0029]     Accurate pre-positioning of retaining straps is a distinguishing feature of the present invention because maintaining the height of the retaining straps  16 ,  18  prevents the retaining straps from becoming entangled or loosened and allows a proper tension force to be applied to the retaining straps, which produces a tight strap connection free of slack. Unlike the above-described known devices, there is generally no change in the height of the retaining straps above the load bars after the retaining straps have been pre-positioned by threading through apertures  32  of strap retention heads  24 . In sum, the height of first retaining strap  16  and second retaining strap  18  above respective mounting plates  22  is fixed by the position of apertures  32  in strap retention heads  24  and remains substantially unchanged between pre-positioning and tensioning of either first retaining strap  16  or second retaining strap  18 .  
         [0030]     It is also preferred, during transportation of watercraft, to protect the surfaces of both the watercraft and the transporting vehicle from damage such as dents and scratches. For this reason, materials selected to fabricate an apparatus according to the present invention include those that have sufficient structural rigidity to support items to be secured; i.e., a kayak, in combination with cushioning characteristics that are likely to reduce the incidence of damage to the article being transported or the transporting vehicle. Suitable materials can include metals and relatively rigid rubbers and plastics. As needed, these materials may also be provided with soft covers for added protection over components that could have sharp projections, such as front and rear buckles  44 ,  46 , which are required to maintain retaining straps  16 ,  18  under requisite tension to secure watercraft  10  to roof rack  12 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a schematic cross section, viewed from the front of a transporting vehicle showing lean support  20  attached to load bar  40  and having four kayaks  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104  secured to opposite sides of the load bar using a pair of forward retaining straps  116 ,  118 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , lean supports  20  are configured to accommodate a plurality of watercraft held securely against load bars  40 ,  42  of vehicle-mounted equipment rack  12 . As similarly described with regard to retaining straps  16  and  18 , retention of a given object utilizing retraining straps  116  and  118  involves passing retaining straps  116  and  118  through apertures  32  of a strap retention heads  24  of lean supports  20  then and around load bars  40  and  42  before joining the free ends of retaining straps  116  and  118  using a fastening device, e.g., a buckle (not shown), to form a loop between the strap retention heads and load bars  40  and  42 . The hull of kayak  10 , for example, placed inside the loop may be secured against lean supports  20  and load bars  40  and  42  by applying tension to the loop to reduce its size so that retaining straps  116  and  118  fit snugly around the hull of kayak  10 .  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7   a - 7   b,  which are partial cross-sectional views of assemblies for mounting lean supports  20  to the load bars of a roof rack; bracket  60  attaches mounting plate  22  to load bars  40 ,  42  of an equipment rack. A load bar is held between mounting plates  22  and brackets  60  by inserting fasteners  62 , e.g., bolts, through each of several throughbores  64  in mounting plates  22  and through throughbores  66  at each end of brackets  60 . The application of knobs  68  to each of bolts  62  passing through opposing openings  66  in each of brackets  60  provides connection assembly  70  connecting the brackets to the mounting plates. Tightening the knobs to the bolts increases the gripping force between brackets  60  and mounting plates  22  for firm attachment of lean supports  20  to load bars  40  and  42 . Preferably, mounting plates  22  includes four throughbores  64  and require two brackets  60  and two connection assemblies  70  for firm attachment to load bars  40  and  42 .  
         [0033]     Alternatively, as illustrated in  FIG. 7   b,  the invention may be configured to comprise load bars  48 , which have a different cross-sectional shape than that of load bars  40  and  42 . It is seen however, that load bars  48  may be configured to utilize the same brackets  60  and connection assemblies  70  for attaching mounting plate  22 .  
         [0034]     A lean support according to the present invention and an apparatus used for securing watercraft such as kayaks to a load carrier of a transporting vehicle and related components have been described herein. These and other variations, which will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, are within the intended scope of this invention as claimed below. As previously stated, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms.