Patent Description:
In general, an interior of a vehicle and a space in a trunk are narrow. Therefore, a roof box having a separate accommodation space is widely used when a user travels long distances or carries items by using the vehicle. The roof box may be mounted on a roof panel and configured to carry the items. A rack or carrier is used as a fixing means for fixedly mounting the roof box on the roof panel of the vehicle.

The roof box is made of plastic or polycarbonate basically having a waterproof function. Because the roof box made of plastic or polycarbonate always has a predetermined shape, the roof box made of plastic or polycarbonate is suitable for easily accommodating items and maintaining an external shape thereof.

Meanwhile, the roof box affects a vehicle height in a structure such as an underground parking lot or a mart that limits the vehicle to a certain height. Therefore, a contact-type roof box is newly manufactured and released to the market. However, the contact-type roof box is designed to conform to the corresponding vehicle to manufacture the contact-type roof box. A large amount of cost is required to manufacture and develop a mold used for only one vehicle. In addition, the roof box purchased with a large amount of money cannot be mounted on a newly purchased vehicle after the previous vehicle is sold, which often causes an economic loss. Because a multitype roof box is mounted by means of a general horizontal bar, the multitype roof box may be mounted regardless of the shape and type of vehicle. However, secondary discomfort, such as wind noise, is caused by a high vehicle height and separation between the vehicle and the multitype roof box.

<CIT> discloses an installation structure of a vehicle roof rack installed for loading a load on the roof of a vehicle. The installation structure comprises two L-shaped brackets provided with circular holes for securing in a fixed position the load on the roof of the vehicle by means of bolts and nuts.

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a contact-type vehicle roof box that may be mounted on a vehicle roof panel while being in close contact with the vehicle roof panel regardless of the type of vehicle.

The present invention provides a contact-type vehicle roof box, which is configured to be mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the roof box including: an elastic pad configured as a plate-shaped elastic member having a shape corresponding to a bottom of the roof box, the elastic pad configured to be seated on an upper surface of a roof panel of the vehicle; a roof box body seated on the elastic pad and having two or more coupling grooves formed through two opposite surfaces of the roof box body and extending in a vertical direction; and L-shaped connection brackets each having an L-shaped frame including a vertical-side body and a horizontal-side body, in which a plurality of second coupling grooves each having a width corresponding to a width of the first coupling groove is formed in the vertical-side body and provided horizontally with respect to the horizontal-side body, a plurality of third coupling grooves is formed in the horizontal-side body and provided vertically with respect to the vertical-side body, the vertical-side body is connected to a position of the coupling groove of the roof box body, and the horizontal-side body is coupled to the roof of the vehicle.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, a roof rail is mounted on the roof of the vehicle, in which the contact-type vehicle roof box may further include a first binding bracket including a [-shaped inner body and an inverted [-shaped outer body that are coupled while facing openings thereof and holding a rail head portion of the roof rail, and the first binding bracket and the horizontal-side body of the L-shaped connection bracket may be coupled by bolting.

The [-shaped inner body may include: a first upper horizontal frame; a first lower horizontal frame; and a first vertical frame configured to connect an end of the first upper horizontal frame and an end of the first lower horizontal frame, a bolt rod B having a screw thread may penetrate the first upper horizontal frame upward and protrudes upward, a first bolt hole may be formed through a surface of the first upper horizontal frame that faces the outer body, and the inverted [-shaped outer body may include: a second upper horizontal frame and a second lower horizontal frame corresponding to the [-shaped inner body; and a second vertical frame configured to connect an end of the second upper horizontal frame and an end of the second lower horizontal frame. A second bolt hole may be disposed at an upper end of the second vertical frame, formed through the second upper horizontal frame, and provided at a position corresponding to the first bolt hole, and the bolt rod B of the [-shaped inner body may be inserted into and bolt-coupled to the third coupling groove of the horizontal-side body, such that the first binding bracket and the connection bracket are fixedly coupled.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a roof rack bar may be mounted on the roof of the vehicle, the contact-type vehicle roof box may further include a second binding bracket having a [ shape and including horizontal frames between which the roof rack bar is inserted, the horizontal frames having bolt holes formed through opening ends of the horizontal frames, the third coupling groove of the connection bracket and the bolt hole of the second binding bracket may be disposed to penetrate each other, and then a bolt and a nut may be coupled while penetrating the third coupling groove and the bolt hole, such that the connection bracket and the second binding bracket are fixedly coupled.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the contact-type vehicle roof box may further include: a third binding bracket including: a first coupling member including an upper horizontal frame having a shape corresponding to the horizontal-side body, a lower frame, and a connection frame, the first coupling member having a fourth coupling groove having a shape corresponding to the third coupling groove of the horizontal-side body of the connection bracket; and a door frame fitting member coupled to an outer surface of the connection frame of the first coupling member and configured to be fitted with a door frame of a vehicle door, in which the door frame fitting member is fitted with the door frame of the vehicle door, and a bolt and a nut are coupled while penetrating the third coupling groove and the fourth coupling groove, such that the connection bracket and the third binding bracket are fixedly coupled.

The contact-type vehicle roof box according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above may be mounted on the roof box while being in close contact with the vehicle roof panel regardless of the type of vehicle. Therefore, it is not necessary to develop different models in accordance with the type of vehicle, which makes it possible to reduce a large amount of cost. Further, the contact-type vehicle roof box may be installed on previous and changed vehicles, which makes it possible to reduce an economic loss and improve marketability.

The following description is to assist in easily understanding the embodiments of the present invention but not intended to limit the protection scope.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a contact-type vehicle roof box according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the contact-type vehicle roof box according to the embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an elastic pad according to another embodiment of the contact-type vehicle roof box.

As illustrated, a contact-type vehicle roof box according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a roof panel of a vehicle. The vehicle has a roof rail or a roof rack basically mounted on a vehicle roof. Alternatively, the vehicle having a naked roof on which the roof rail or the roof rack is not mounted is released to the market. The contact-type vehicle roof box according to the embodiment of the present invention may be mounted on all of a roof rail type vehicle, a roof rack type vehicle, and a naked roof type vehicle without changing models.

The contact-type vehicle roof box according to the embodiment of the present invention includes: an elastic pad <NUM> configured to be seated on a roof panel of a vehicle; a roof box body <NUM> seated on the elastic pad <NUM> and having through-grooves <NUM> penetratively formed in a lateral surface of the roof box body <NUM> and vertically elongated; L-shaped connection brackets <NUM> coupled to the coupling grooves <NUM> to couple the roof box body <NUM> to the roof panel of the vehicle; and binding brackets <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> configured to fix the connection brackets <NUM> to the roof panel of the vehicle.

The elastic pad <NUM> is provided in the form of an elastic member having a plate shape corresponding to a shape of a bottom of the roof box main body <NUM>. A compressive sponge, synthetic resin, or a rubber material may be applied to the elastic pad <NUM>. The elastic pad <NUM> may have a preset thickness so that the roof box is in close contact with the vehicle roof to disperse a load and define a close-contact shape. As illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic pad <NUM> may have a through-hole <NUM> to reduce a weight.

The roof box includes the roof box body <NUM> and a cover <NUM>. The pairs of coupling grooves <NUM> penetratively formed in two opposite surfaces of the roof box body <NUM> and disposed front and rear sides of the roof box. Two or more coupling grooves <NUM> extend in the vertical direction. The coupling groove <NUM> has a width corresponding to a diameter of a bolt rod.

The connection bracket <NUM> is configured as an L-shaped metal plate. Second and third coupling grooves <NUM> and <NUM> each having a width corresponding to the width of the first coupling groove <NUM> are formed in a vertical-side body 400v and a horizontal-side body <NUM> of the connection bracket <NUM>. A plurality of second coupling grooves <NUM> is formed in the vertical-side body 400v and provided horizontally with respect to the horizontal-side body <NUM>. A plurality of third coupling grooves <NUM> is formed in the horizontal-side body <NUM> and provided vertically with respect to the vertical-side body 400v.

The contact-type vehicle roof box according to the embodiment of the present invention uses the binding brackets <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, which are different in accordance with the type of vehicle roof. The binding brackets <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view for explaining a structure for installing the contact-type vehicle roof box on the vehicle having the roof rail. The first binding bracket <NUM> couples the roof rail and the connection bracket <NUM>. The first binding bracket <NUM> includes a pair of [-shaped bodies <NUM> and <NUM> that holds a rail head portion. That is, a [-shaped inner body <NUM> and an inverted [-shaped outer body <NUM> are coupled to each other while facing openings thereof. The [-shaped inner body <NUM> includes a first upper horizontal frame <NUM>, a first lower horizontal frame <NUM>, and a first vertical frame configured to connect an end of the first upper horizontal frame <NUM> and an end of the first lower horizontal frame <NUM>. Bolt rods B each having a screw thread penetrate the first upper horizontal frame <NUM> upward and protrude upward. A first bolt hole <NUM> is formed through a surface of the first upper horizontal frame <NUM> that faces the outer body <NUM>. The inverted [-shaped outer body <NUM> includes a second upper horizontal frame <NUM> and a second lower horizontal frame <NUM>, which correspond to the inner body <NUM>, and a second vertical frame configured to connect an end of the second upper horizontal frame <NUM> and an end of the second lower horizontal frame <NUM>. A second bolt hole <NUM> is provided at an upper end of the second vertical frame, formed through the second upper horizontal frame <NUM>, and disposed at a position corresponding to the first bolt hole <NUM>.

A process of installing the contact-type vehicle roof box by using the first binding bracket <NUM> will be described below. When the [-shaped inner body <NUM> and the inverted [-shaped outer body <NUM> are coupled to each other while facing the openings thereof, the head of the roof rail engages with a space defined by first and second upper horizontal frames <NUM> and <NUM> facing each other, first and second lower horizontal frames <NUM> and <NUM> facing each other, and first and second vertical frames facing each other. A bolt B is bolt-coupled to the first through-hole <NUM> through the second through-hole <NUM>. The bolt rods B formed to penetrate the first upper horizontal frame <NUM> upward are inserted into the third coupling grooves <NUM> formed in the horizontal-side body <NUM> of the connection bracket <NUM>. Nuts N are coupled to the bolt rods B, such that the connection bracket <NUM> is fixed to the roof rail. The vertical-side body 400v of the connection bracket <NUM> is in contact with a position of the first coupling groove <NUM> formed in the lateral surface of the roof box body <NUM>. The bolt and the nut are coupled while penetrating the second coupling groove <NUM> and the first coupling groove <NUM>, such that the connection bracket <NUM> is coupled to the lateral surface of the roof box body <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view for explaining a structure for installing the contact-type vehicle roof box on the vehicle including the general roof rack. The second binding bracket <NUM> has a [ shape, and a roof rack bar is inserted between horizontal frames. Bolt holes <NUM> are formed through opening ends of the horizontal frames. A process of installing the contact-type vehicle roof box by using the second binding bracket <NUM> will be described below. The bolt and the nut are coupled while penetrating the second coupling groove <NUM> in the connection bracket <NUM> and the first coupling groove <NUM> formed in the lateral surface of the roof box body <NUM>, such that the connection bracket <NUM> is coupled to the lateral surface of the roof box body <NUM>. The second binding bracket <NUM> is fitted with the roof rack bar, the third coupling groove <NUM> of the connection bracket <NUM> and the bolt hole <NUM> of the second binding bracket <NUM> are disposed to penetrate each other, and then a bolt and a nut are coupled while penetrating the third coupling groove <NUM> and the bolt hole <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view for explaining a structure for installing the contact-type vehicle roof box on the naked roof vehicle that does not have a roof carrier. The third binding bracket <NUM> includes: a first coupling member <NUM> including an upper horizontal frame having a shape corresponding to the horizontal-side body <NUM>, a lower frame, and a connection frame, the first coupling member <NUM> having fourth coupling grooves <NUM> each having a shape corresponding to the third coupling groove <NUM> of the horizontal-side body <NUM> of the connection bracket <NUM>; and a door frame fitting member <NUM> coupled to an outer surface of the connection frame of the first coupling member <NUM> and configured to be fitted with a door frame of a vehicle door. The door frame fitting member <NUM> is fitted with the door frame of the vehicle door. Bolts and nuts are coupled while penetrating the third coupling groove <NUM> and the fourth coupling groove <NUM>, such that the connection bracket <NUM> and the third binding bracket <NUM> are coupled.

Claim 1:
A contact-type vehicle roof box, which is configured to be mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the roof box comprising:
an elastic pad (<NUM>) configured as a plate-shaped elastic member having a shape corresponding to a bottom of the roof box, the elastic pad (<NUM>) configured to be seated on an upper surface of a roof panel of the vehicle;
a roof box body (<NUM>) seated on the elastic pad (<NUM>) and having two or more coupling grooves (<NUM>) formed through two opposite surfaces of the roof box body (<NUM>) and extending in a vertical direction; and
L-shaped connection brackets (<NUM>) each having an L-shaped frame including a vertical-side body (400v) and a horizontal-side body (<NUM>),
wherein a plurality of second coupling grooves (<NUM>) each having a width corresponding to a width of the first coupling groove (<NUM>) is formed in the vertical-side body (410v) and provided horizontally with respect to the horizontal-side body (<NUM>), a plurality of third coupling grooves (<NUM>) is formed in the horizontal-side body (<NUM>) and provided vertically with respect to the vertical-side body (400v), the vertical-side body (400v) is connected to a position of the coupling groove (<NUM>) of the roof box body (<NUM>), and the horizontal-side body (<NUM>) is coupled to the roof of the vehicle.