Abstract:
A load-carrying system for vehicles comprises a secondary load support member adapted to be spaced above and extending over at least a portion of the primary load support member. Support means are provided to support the secondary load support member in a first position above the primary load and in a second position where the secondary load support member is moved relative to the primary load to enable access to the primary load or part thereof. The secondary load support member may be hinged to the support means to allow rotation between the first and second positions. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary support member may be moved on tracks between the first position and second position. In one embodiment, the secondary support member may comprise two portions hingedly engaged and rotatable one onto the other. The support means may include telescopic posts and struts, rams or links providing a lifting and/or rotating capacity in movement from the first position to the second position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    THIS INVENTION relates to a load-carrying system for vehicles. 
         [0003]    The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, such a system applicable to vehicles such as utilities, sport utility vehicles (SUV&#39;s), small traytop vehicles (with or without drop sides/gates), box trailers and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    The use of so-called “roof racks” on vehicles to carry loads which cannot otherwise be carried within the vehicles is well-known. While such roof racks increase the effective load-carrying capacity of the vehicles, they have a number of practical limitations, including: 
         [0006]    a) they usually require the load to be carried thereon to be loaded and unloaded with raised arms, or for someone to climb up on the vehicle, with the potential for personal injury; 
         [0007]    b) the load raises the effective centre of gravity (C.G.) of the loaded vehicle, thereby reducing its stability; 
         [0008]    c) the load increases the wind-induced drag of the vehicle, thereby increasing fuel consumption; and 
         [0009]    d) it is usually difficult to effectively secure the load to the roof racks. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a load-carrying system for vehicles, where a secondary (or supplementary) load can be carried above the primary load on the vehicle. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments of the present invention there is provided such a system where the secondary load does not extend above the height, or beyond the sides, of the vehicle to minimise any increase in wind drag. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a system which enables ready access to the primary load without requiring the secondary load to be unloaded from the vehicle. 
         [0013]    It is a still further preferred object to provide a system where additional load(s), eg., ladders, pipes, can be supported on extensions above the secondary load. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments of the present invention the load-carrying system can be easily mounted onto, or de-mounted from, the vehicle as required. 
         [0015]    Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. 
         [0016]    In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a load-carrying system for vehicles, to support a secondary (or supplementary) load above a primary load on the vehicle, the system including: 
         [0017]    at least one secondary load support member spaced or adapted to be above, and extending over at least a portion of, a primary load support member operable to support the primary load; and 
         [0018]    support means to support the at least one secondary load support member in a first position to support the secondary load above the primary load and in a second position where the at least one secondary load support member is moved relative to the primary load support member to enable access to the primary load. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the primary load support member is an open-topped compartment, with optional hinged side and/or end wall(s) or gate(s). Examples include a utility body, a tray with a tailgate and/or hinged sides, a box trailer or the like. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the secondary load support member has a load-supporting floor and may have hingedly mounted side and/or end walls; and may include at least one hinged cover movable between open and closed positions, eg., for a box-like compartment. 
         [0021]    While the load-supporting floor and/or wall(s) may be solid, the secondary load support member may be in the form of a basket, eg., having a perforated floor and/or wall(s). 
         [0022]    While the secondary load support member preferably extends substantially over the full area of the primary load support member, it may extend overonly a portion such as one-third or one-half thereof. 
         [0023]    The secondary load support member may be hingedly mounted to the support means along, for example, one side or end, or at one corner. 
         [0024]    Alternatively, the support means may include a support track assembly to allow the secondary load support member to be moved to the second position preferably extending from one side or end of the primary load support member; or the support means may include a linkage and/or ram system to enable the secondary load support member to be raised above, or to one side or end of the primary load support member. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the support means is provided with suitable safety means to secure the secondary load support member in the second position while the primary load is being accessed from the primary load support member. The safety means may include telescopic (eg., hydraulic or pneumatic) struts or links between the primary and secondary load support members. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0027]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are respective side and rear elevational views of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views of portions of the support means for the first embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side elevational view of the second embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a similar view of the third embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6A  is a sectional side view of a portion of the support means of a fourth embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic top plan view of the fourth embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic respective top plan and side views of a fifth embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic side elevational views of a sixth embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are respective top plan and rear elevational views of a seventh embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A and  3 B, the load-carrying system  10  of the first embodiment is designed to be used with a vehicle  20  of the type known in Australia as a “utility” or “dual cab utility” or in the U.S.A. as a “pick-up”, where a primary load (not shown) is carried on a load compartment floor (not shown) defined by the vehicle cab  21 , fixed side walls  22 ,  23  and hinged tailgate  24 . While the description is principally directed to these types of vehicles, it is to be understood that the invention may have application to a wider range of vehicle types including trailers, especially box trailers, and trucks. It is generally preferred for the secondary load to be carried below a top line of a carrying or towing vehicle. 
         [0037]    The system  10  has a secondary load support member  30 , in the form of a rectangular open-topped basket with a floor (not shown). The side walls  31  and end walls  32  formed of suitable mesh material, eg., metal such as aluminium or steel (which may be coated or have an anti-corrosive protective treatment), plastics (including fibre-reinforced plastics), composite materials, carbon fibre or other suitable materials (or a combination of such materials). The secondary load support member  30  is supported above the load tray (and any primary load carried thereon) by a pair of spaced support means  40  to be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
         [0038]    Each support means  40  has a main (preferably square) tubular beam  41  which receives respective end beams  42 ,  43 . 
         [0039]    One of the end beams,  43 , is mounted on a post  44  which is hingedly connected to the side walls  23  of the vehicle  20  via a hinge assembly  45 . 
         [0040]    The second of the end beams,  42 , is supported by a similar post  46  which is releasably secured to the other side wall  22  of the vehicle  20  via a latch mechanism  47  which co-operates with a striker hook  48  fixed to the side wall  22 . By releasing the latch mechanism  47 , the end beam  42  may be released from its support post  46  to allow the main beam  41  to be swung upwardly above a pivotal axis defined by the hinge assembly  45 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , this allows the secondary load support member  30  to be swung from a first position, shown in solid lines, above any primary load supported on the load tray and to a secondary position around a horizontal axis, shown in dashed lines, enabling access to the primary load without removing the secondary load from the secondary load support member. 
         [0042]    In this embodiment, the secondary load  50  is releasably secured in the secondary load support member  30  via a cargo net  51  or other suitable restraint means, eg., ropes, cargo straps, so-called “octopus” straps or the like. (If preferred, a tarpaulin or other suitable cover may be placed over the secondary load  50  before the load restraint means are applied.) It could be a rigid cover. 
         [0043]    It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the secondary load  50  is supported at a much lower height than if it were supported on roofracks above the vehicle cabin  21 , thereby maintaining a lower centre of gravity; the secondary load  50  is below the height of, and behind, the vehicle cabin  21  to minimise any increased wind-induced drag. The secondary load  50  can easily be loaded onto, or unloaded from, the secondary load support member  30 ; ready access is still available to the primary load when the secondary load  50  is supported by the secondary load support member  30 ; and the support means  40  can be easily de-mounted (or removed) from the vehicle when the secondary load support member  30  is not required. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in the second embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the secondary load support member  130  may be hingedly mounted to the support means  140  at its forward end to enable it to be moved between the first and second positions illustrated around a horizontal axis. Once again, the secondary load  150  is readily accessible and does not need to be removed from the secondary load support member  130  to enable access to the primary load. 
         [0045]    In the third embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the load system  210  has the secondary load member  230  separated into a forward portion  230 A and a rearward portion  230 B, where the rearward portion  230 B is hingedly mounted on the forward portion  230 A and/or the support means  240  to provide access to the primary load. 
         [0046]    In the embodiment shown the support means includes spaced tracks mounted on or adjacent the side walls. In this case, the track  245  is mounted to side wall  222 . A corresponding arrangement is provided on the opposite side wall (not shown). In operation, the rearward portion  230 B is rotated onto the forward portion  230 A and combined forward and rearward portions may be slid along the tracks to allow variable access to the primary load. In an alternative arrangement, the forward portion may be rotated onto the rearward portion. The tracks may be supported on sub-frame legs fixed to, or demountable from, the primary load support. The sub-frame legs may be screwed, clipped, bolted or otherwise releasably connected to the primary load support. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a fourth embodiment where the secondary load support member  330  of the load system  310  is hingedly mounted at one corner—in this embodiment, the left rear corner—to enable it to be swung to one side of the vehicle  320  around a vertical axis to enable substantially unimpeded access to the primary load (not shown). 
         [0048]    The rearward support means  340  has a transverse beam  341  releasably mounted on the side walls  322 ,  323  of the load compartment of the vehicle  320 . 
         [0049]    A tubular support post  344  has a base flange secured to the transverse beam  341  by suitable bolts or clamps  342  and has an upper peripheral flange  343  to provide an annular load-bearing surface to be hereinafter described. 
         [0050]    The secondary load support member  330  has a support beam  331  with a hinge pin  332  welded or otherwise fixed thereto. The hinge pin  332  has a peripheral flange  333  operable to engage, and be supported by, the load-bearing surface of the peripheral flange  343  of the support post  344 , eg., in the manner of a turntable. 
         [0051]    A removable locking pin  345  can pass through aligned holes in the support post  344  and the hinge pin  332  to lock the secondary load support member  330  in the first position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6B ; or can be removed to enable the second load support member  330  to be swung to the second position shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0052]    In an alternative version, each corner of the secondary load support member  330  may be provided with a pin  332  releasably securable in a respective support post  344 , where the secondary load support member  330  can be mounted on, or de-mounted from, the vehicle  320 . 
         [0053]    The fifth embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  shows a system  410  where the support means  440  for the secondary support member  430  has parallel tracks  441  mounted on the vehicle  420  to enable the secondary load support member  430  to be moved to a secondary position (shown in dashed lines and in the direction of the arrow) rearwardly of the vehicle  420  in the manner of a drawer. 
         [0054]    In an alternative embodiment not shown, a secondary basket may be hingedly connected to a primary basket of the secondary support member  430  and is inverted relative thereto. The secondary basket can be removed if required; can be used to “encapsulate” the secondary load (leaving half the primary load uncovered); or can be swung down to give a full length secondary load support above the primary load. 
         [0055]    The parallel tracks  441  can be mounted on sub-frame legs fixed to, or demountable from, the primary load support. The sub-frame legs may be screwed, clipped, bolted or otherwise releasably connected to the primary load support. This is apparent in  FIG. 7B  where the sub-frame legs  442  support the parallel tracks  441  as shown on a drop side vehicle  420 . The secondary load support  430  may be varied in size as required with consequent amendments in the size and strength of components including the attachment to the primary load support member. In a fixed side vehicle, the tracks may be permanently mounted to an upper edge of the side walls; they may even be recessed into the hard sides. Alternatively, the tracks may be demountably fixed to the side walls. In a preferred embodiment, the tracks co-operate with roller bearings, fixed to the bottom of the support member  430  (not shown). Alternatively, the arrangement may include wheels, castors, or a slide block or similar. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a sixth embodiment where the load system  510  has the secondary load support member  530  mounted on a scissor-like linkage system providing the support means  540 , the support means being supported by the load tray  525  of the vehicle  520  which supports the primary load (not shown). 
         [0057]    As with all the previous embodiments, the secondary load  550 , when in its first (transport) position—shown in FIG.  8 A—remains below the height of the cab  521  to minimise any wind-induced drag and maintain a lower centre of gravity. 
         [0058]    In a modified embodiment, not shown, the scissor-like linkage  540  can be rotated through 90°, ie., transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, to allow side access to the primary load. In certain applications, the operator can elect to extend the secondary load  550  above the height of the cab  521 . 
         [0059]    The seventh embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  shows a load system  610  where the support means comprises a ram/linkage system enabling the second load support member  630  to be moved to a secondary position, eg., at ground level, to one side of the load tray  625  of the vehicle  620 . 
         [0060]    In this case, the support means  640  includes a forward post  650  and rearward post  651 . Both posts are pivotally connected to corresponding support brackets of which only rearward support bracket  652  is apparent. This arrangement allows rotation of the posts transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle  620 . Each post is linked to a corresponding pair ( 653 ,  654  respectively) of co-operating rams. The posts  650 ,  651  may also be telescopic. The secondary load support member  630  is in turn slung from upper ends of the posts by stays  655 ,  656 ,  657 ,  658 . 
         [0061]    In the travel position, feet  659 ,  660  are locked in corresponding channels  661 ,  662  on support posts  663 ,  664  at the rearward end and in a similar arrangement forwardly. 
         [0062]    To access the primary load, the locked feet are disengaged to allow the secondary load support member (and load)  630  to sit suspended on stays  657 ,  658 . The paired rams  653 ,  653  are then operated to lift the secondary load support member  630  and extend the posts. This may be sufficient to provide access to the primary load. Additionally or alternatively, differential operation of forward and rearward unilaterally paired rams may allow lateral displacement of the secondary load support member  630  to clear the primary load. 
         [0063]    The stays  657 ,  658  may be variable in length to allow the secondary load support member  630  to be lowered to the ground. Any suitable powered or even hand operated winching system may be suitable in this regard. 
         [0064]    In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the hydraulic or pneumatic ram operating the linkage system may be substituted by a winch/cable system, an electric or hydraulic motor or other suitable operating system. 
         [0065]    Although not illustrated, vertical extensions can be provided to enable items such as ladders, pipes, electrical conduit or other long loads to be supported above the secondary load. The vertical extension can be mounted on, or demounted from, the primary load supports or the secondary load supports. 
         [0066]    The skilled addressee will readily appreciate that other support means can be used to support the secondary load support member above the primary load in its first (transport) position and allow it to be moved to a second position enabling ready access to the primary load supported by the primary load support member. 
         [0067]    As hereinbefore described, the secondary load support member may be in the form of an open-topped basket, as illustrated; a load support tray with or without hinged sides and/or end wall(s) or gate(s); a closable box or compartment or other suitable member to support/enclose the secondary load. 
         [0068]    Preferably, the carrying system enables the secondary load support member to be de-mounted from the vehicle when not required. 
         [0069]    Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.