Patent Publication Number: US-2023150437-A1

Title: Fixed glass roof rack system

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     The subject disclosure relates to vehicle roof rack systems, and in particular to roof rack systems for a vehicle with a fixed glass roof 
     In a typical vehicle with a metal roof panel, the roof includes a plurality of stiffeners that extend longitudinally along the roof beneath the roof panel. A typical roof rack has attachment points that engage with the stiffeners to secure the roof rack to the vehicle, and/or includes utilize longitudinally extending rails on each lateral side of the vehicle. Recently, however, vehicles are being developed which have roofs with fixed glass panels, and such roof assemblies do not utilize such roof stiffeners. As such, the art would readily appreciate an effective and aesthetically appealing attachment of roof rack components to vehicles, especially those vehicles having fixed glass roof panels. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a roof and rack assembly for a vehicle includes a roof assembly including a roof panel extending laterally from a first side panel to a second side panel of the vehicle, defining a recess between the each of the first side panel and second side panel, and the roof panel. One or more pedestal brackets are secured to the roof assembly at the recess. A rack assembly includes a pedestal located at each recess and secured to the pedestal bracket, and a crossbar extending between the pedestals and secured thereto. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal bracket includes a base portion secured to the roof assembly at the recess, and a tab portion extending upwardly from the base portion, the tab portion defining a tab end opening between the tab portion and the base portion. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal includes opposing end arms that are installed into opposing ends of the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal includes a tightening mechanism to urge the opposing end arms into the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the opposing end arms rotate about respective arm pivots into the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal further includes a center leg inserted into an upper tab opening of the pedestal bracket. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal bracket is secured in the recess via welding. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the roof panel is a fixed glass roof panel. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the roof panel is secured in the roof assembly by an adhesive. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal includes a crossbar opening into which the crossbar is installed. 
     In another embodiment, a roof rack attachment apparatus for a vehicle includes a pedestal bracket securable to a roof assembly, the pedestal bracket including a base portion configured for securing to the roof assembly and a tab portion extending upwardly from the base portion. The tab portion defines a tab end opening between the tab portion and the base portion. A pedestal is securable to the pedestal bracket. The pedestal includes opposing end arms that are installed into opposing ends of the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal includes a tightening mechanism to urge the opposing end arms into the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the opposing end arms rotate about respective arm pivots into the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal further includes a center leg inserted into an upper tab opening of the pedestal bracket. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the pedestal bracket is secured to the roof assembly via welding. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the tab end opening is substantially C-shaped. 
     In another embodiment, a method of installing a roof rack to a vehicle roof includes securing two pedestal brackets at opposing lateral sides of a roof assembly of a vehicle. Each pedestal bracket includes a base portion configured for securing to the roof assembly, and a tab portion extending upwardly from the base portion. The tab portion defines a tab end opening between the tab portion and the base portion. A pedestal is installed to each pedestal bracket, and a crossbar is installed to the pedestals to extend between the opposing lateral sides of the roof assembly. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments installing the pedestal to each pedestal bracket includes installing opposing end arms of the pedestal into opposing ends of the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments the opposing end arms rotate about respective arm pivots into the tab end opening. 
     Additionally or alternatively, in this or other embodiments a center leg of the pedestal is installed into an upper tab opening of the pedestal bracket. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an embodiment of a roof rack assembly installed to a roof assembly of a vehicle; 
         FIG.  2    is a plan view of an embodiment roof assembly, viewed from an underside of the roof assembly, showing locations for installation of a roof rack; 
         FIG.  3    is an illustration of an embodiment of a pedestal bracket installed to a roof assembly; 
         FIG.  4   . is an illustration of an embodiment of a pedestal of a roof rack; 
         FIG.  5    is a first illustration of installation of an embodiment of a pedestal to a pedestal bracket; and 
         FIG.  6    is a second illustration of installation of an embodiment of a pedestal to a pedestal bracket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2    is an embodiment of a roof assembly  10  of a vehicle  12 . The roof assembly  10  includes a roof panel  14  formed from glass or other translucent material. The roof panel  14  is secured to a forward stiffener  16  and a rearward stiffener  18 , shown in  FIG.  2   , that each extend laterally across the vehicle  12  at a forward end  20  and a rear end  22 , respectively, of the roof panel  14 . The roof panel  14  is further secured to a first side panel  24  and a second side panel  26  of the vehicle, located at a first lateral side  28  and a second lateral side  30  of the roof panel  14 . In some embodiments, the first side panel  24  and the second side panel  26  are body side outer panels of the vehicle  12 . In some embodiments, the roof panel  14  is secured to the stiffeners  16 ,  18  and the side panels  24 ,  26  by a bead of adhesive  32  extending around the roof panel  14 . The roof assembly  10  may have a rack assembly  34  installed thereto, configured to carry goods on the roof of the vehicle  12 , the good including, for example, bicycles, boats, luggage carriers or the like. The rack assembly  34  includes two or more cross bar assemblies  36 , with each crossbar assembly  36  having two pedestals  38  secured to the roof assembly  10  and disposed at opposite lateral sides of the roof panel  14 , and a crossbar  40  extending between the two pedestals  38 . Each pedestal  38  is secured to the roof assembly  10  as will be described below. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , the first side panel  24  and the second side panel  26  each include a panel recess  42  where the roof panel  14  is installed as shown in  FIG.  1   . The panel recess  42  extends longitudinally along the length of an interface between the roof panel  14  and the side panels  24 ,  26 . A pedestal bracket  44  is secured to the side panel  24 ,  26  by, for example, welding. The pedestal bracket  44  includes a base portion  46  and a tab portion  48 . The tab portion  48  extends upwardly from the base portion  46  and is wrapped or folded to define a tab end opening  50  between the tab portion  48  and the base portion  46 . In some embodiments, the tab end opening  50  is substantially C-shaped. Further, the tab portion  48  includes a tab upper opening  52  through a top surface  54  of the tab portion  48  when folded. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 ,  5  and  6   , once the pedestal brackets  44  are secured in the panel recesses  42 , each pedestal  38  is installed to a respective pedestal bracket  44 . The pedestal  38  includes a crossbar attachment  56  where the crossbar  40  is installed, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , and a roof attachment mechanism  58  to secure the pedestal  38  to the roof assembly  10 , in particular to secure the pedestal  38  to the respective pedestal bracket  44 . The roof attachment mechanism  58  includes a center arm  60  and two opposing end arms  62 . The center arm  60  includes a center arm tab  64  that is installed to the tab upper opening  52  of the pedestal bracket  44  to locate the pedestal bracket  44  in a longitudinal direction. The opposing end arms  62  each include an arm finger  66  that are installed into the tab end opening  50  of the pedestal bracket  44 . A first arm finger  66   a  of the first end arm  62   a  is installed in the tab opening  50  at a first opening end  68   a , and a second arm finger  66   b  of the second end arm  62   b  is installed in the tab end opening  50  at a second opening end  68   b , and the first arm finger  66   a  and the second arm finger  66   b  extend substantially toward each other when installed in the tab end opening  50 . The end arms  62  are each rotatable about a respective arm pivot  70 , and are urged into the tab end opening  50  by a tightening mechanism, which in one exemplary embodiment is a cam  72 . As illustrated in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the cam  72  is operated by a bolt  74  extending through a bolt opening  76  in the pedestal  38  and into a cam opening  78  in the cam  72 . When the bolt  74  is loosened from the cam opening  78 , the cam  72  moves downward and urges the end arms  62   a ,  62   b  away from the tab end opening  50  by rotation of the end arms  62   a ,  62   b  about the arm pivots  70 . To engage the end arms  62   a ,  62   b  to the pedestal bracket  44 , as shown in  FIG.  6   , the bolt  74  is tightened into the cam opening  78  and the cam  72  moves upward and urges the end arms  62   a ,  62   b  into the tab end opening  50  by rotation of the end arms  62   a ,  62   b  about the arm pivots  70 , thus securing the end arms  62   a ,  62   b  to the pedestal bracket  50  by insertion of the arm fingers  66   a ,  66   b  into the respective opening ends  68   a ,  68   b.    
     The use of the pedestal bracket  44  secured to the side panels  24 ,  26  and the roof attachment mechanism  58  of the pedestal  38  disclosed herein secures the rack assembly  34  to the roof assembly  10  without using the typical longitudinal rails, and the ease of installation of the pedestals  38  avoids a false positive attachment of the pedestal, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to the roof panel  14 , which is especially important for vehicles  12  having a roof panel  14  formed from glass. 
     While the above disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from its scope. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope thereof.