Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a national phase application of international application no. PCT/EP2011/072442, which has an international filing date of Dec. 12, 2011, and which claims priority to EP application no. 10196605.9, filed Dec. 22, 2010, both of which applications are entirely incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle load carrier box having a flexible safety material inside of the vehicle load carrier box. The flexible safety material provides for increased safety as it is used to secure the load inside of the vehicle load carrier box. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicle load carrier boxes, such a cargo boxes or cargo trunks, are an effective way of transporting a load, e.g. luggage, on the roof of a vehicle. A vehicle load carrier box protects the cargo not only from the ambient environment, such as the wind, snow and rain but also from dirt such as dust and gravel. They are also relatively secure from theft and vandalism. 
     One advantage of the vehicle load carrier boxes are that they provide a confined storage void, or confined luggage compartment, as compared with conventional roof racks for example. Having a confined luggage compartment enables a user to simply load their luggage into the luggage compartment and close the lid of the vehicle load carrier box. No straps are generally required as with conventional roof racks. However, it has been found that the crash safety is readily improved if the load inside of the vehicle load carrier box is secured to the vehicle load carrier box itself. This can be done e.g. by straps, ropes or flexible nets. One such vehicle load carrier box is disclosed in the patent application No. US 2007/0205240 A1. In case of a severe crash, the load, such as a pointy object, skies for example, can penetrate the side wall of the vehicle load carrier box and in a worst case scenario escape the vehicle load carrier box. Such situations can very fast become very dangerous for people next to such crash incident. Ambient property and possessions could also be damaged. 
     Using a flexible net for securing load inside of the vehicle load carrier box often requires a user to first load the luggage and thereafter attaches the flexible net at predetermined points. This is time consuming and difficult as the procedure is usually practiced above the roof of the vehicle and inside the vehicle load carrier box were visibility is limited, especially for small users standing on the ground next to the vehicle. There is thus a need for an improved vehicle load carrier box which, if not solves, at least diminishes the drawbacks of the know solutions, or provides for a useful alternative to the known solutions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide for a solution to the above mentioned drawbacks or to diminish the drawbacks, or to provide for a useful alternative. More specifically, the objects of the present invention are met by a vehicle load carrier box attachable to a surface of a vehicle for transporting a load on the vehicle. The vehicle load carrier box comprises a base member defining a storage void, and a lid, preferably pivotally, connected to the base member and moveable between an opened and closed position. 
     A flexible safety material is arranged inside of the vehicle load carrier box and adapted to secure the load inside of the vehicle load carrier box by overlapping the load. The flexible safety material is attached to the lid thereby enabling the flexible safety material to be partly or fully displaced when the lid is moved between the opened and closed position. 
     The present invention provides for a vehicle load carrier box which is easy to use and handle while at the same time it provides for an increased crash safety should the vehicle collide. A user, such as the intended vehicle driver or a passenger, can easily load luggage into the vehicle load carrier box and thereafter close the lid. As the lid is closed, the flexible safety material is displaced and thus descends onto the luggage and secures the luggage to the vehicle load carrier box. 
     The present invention is particularly useful as a vehicle roof load carrier box, i.e. when the mentioned surface is a roof of the vehicle. The vehicle load carrier box is advantageously adapted to be arranged on a vehicle roof rack or a vehicle roof rack can be an integrated part of the vehicle load carrier box. 
     According to an aspect of the invention the flexible safety material is attached to both the base member and the lid thereby enabling the flexible safety material to only be partly displaced when the lid is moved between the open and closed position. It should be noted that the part attached to the base member is not considered to be displaced when the lid is moved between the opened and closed position. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the base member comprises a floor and surrounding side walls defining a load carrier void. In this embodiment, the base member has a substantially tub or bowl like form. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the base member has a first and a second transverse end and a first and a second longitudinal end. The base member thus has a substantially rectangular form. Likewise, the flexible safety material can have a first and a second transverse end and a first and a second longitudinal end, thus a substantially rectangular form. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the length of the first and the second longitudinal ends of the flexible safety material are longer than the length of the first and the second longitudinal ends of the base member, and preferably longer than the first and the second ends of the lid. This enables the flexible safety material to be effectively seal off the first transverse end of the base member while still effectively extend along the full length of the longitudinal direction of the lid and thus cover any luggage inside of the vehicle load carrier box. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the first transverse end of the flexible safety material is attached to, or in the proximity of, the first transverse end of the base member. Optionally the flexible safety material is attached to, or in the proximity of, the first transverse side wall of the base member, more preferably to the first transverse side wall of the base member. For example, the flexible safety material could be attached to reinforcement struts lid lifters, support hinges or the like, or to any item at the first transverse end of the base member which will be able to retain the flexible safety material at the first transverse end of the base member. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the second transverse end of the flexible safety material is attached to, or in the proximity of, the second transverse end, and/or preferably the side wall, of the lid. 
     According to an aspect of the invention the flexible safety material comprises at least a first, a second a third and a forth attachment point wherein at least the first attachment point is attached to the base member and at least the second, third and forth attachment points are attached to the lid. The attachment points can be more than just mentioned. It is advantageous that there is at least three attachment points to the base member, these three attachment points are preferably arranged at the first transverse end of the base member as this will provide for an improved crash safety. According to an aspect of the invention the first attachment point is attached in the proximity of the first transverse end of the base member. 
     According to an aspect of the invention the flexible safety material is attached to the base member at a plurality of attachment points. According to an aspect of the invention the flexible safety material is attached to the lid at a plurality of attachment points. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying figures in which; 
         FIG. 1  shows a vehicle with a vehicle load carrier box according to an embodiment of the present invention with the lid in an opened position and; 
         FIG. 2  shows the vehicle load carrier box shown in  FIG. 1  with the lid in an opened position and; 
         FIG. 3  shows a vehicle load carrier box according to a second embodiment of the present invention with the lid in an opened position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a vehicle  13 , in this case a car, with a vehicle load carrier box  10  mounted on cross bars  11  of a roof rack  12  of the vehicle  13 . The roof rack  12  is mounted on the roof  14  of the vehicle. The vehicle  13  has a longitudinal axis L 1  which extends in a direction perpendicular to a transverse axis T 1  of the vehicle. The cross bars  11  extends parallel with the transverse axis T 1  and across the roof  14  of the vehicle  13 . The vehicle  13  further has a forward end  15  and a backward end  16 . As noticed, the vehicle load carrier box  10  is opened and ready to be loaded with a load, such as luggage, skies, clothes, bags, suitcases, food or the like. 
     The vehicle load carrier box  10  comprises a base member  20  and a closeable lid  40  which together defines a confined storage void. The base member  20  and the closeable lid  40  are formed by a rigid material, e.g. thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and/or a carbon fiber reinforced polymeric material, carbon fiber, aluminum or the like. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the base member  20  includes a floor  21  surrounded by a side wall  22  which defines a load carrier void. The side wall  22  can be said to comprise a first and a second transverse side wall  23 ,  24  and a first and a second longitudinal side wall  25 ,  26 . In the shown embodiments, the first and the second transverse side wall  23 ,  24  and the first and the second longitudinal side wall  25 ,  26  are equivalent with a first and a second transverse end and a first and a second longitudinal end of the base member. The first transverse side wall  23  is positioned towards the forward end  15  of the vehicle  13  while the second transverse side wall  24  is positioned towards the backward end  16  of the vehicle  13 . The forward and backward ends  15 ,  16  of the vehicle are indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  with the reference numbers  15  and  16 . 
     A lid  40  is displaceable connected, in this case pivotally, to the base member  20 . The lid  40  can be positioned in an open position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , and a closed position (not shown). The lid  40  together with the base member  20  forms a confined storage void which dependent on the position of the lid  40 , can be defined as opened or closed. 
     The lid  40  is preferably pivotally connected to the base member  20  using hinges or a flexible material such as leather or a woven material. A first and a second hinge arm  41 ,  42  is arranged at each transverse end to support the lid  40  in an opened position with respect to the base member  20 . The hinge arms  41 ,  42  can in an embodiment be reinforcement strut lid lifters. 
     As mentioned, a confined storage void is formed by the lid  40  and the base member  20 . The lid  40  comprises a lid roof  50  and a side wall  51  surrounding the lid roof  50 , which together defines a load carrier void of the lid  40 . The surrounding side wall  51  includes a first and a second transverse side wall  53 ,  54  and a first and a second longitudinal side wall  55 ,  56 . In the shown embodiments, the first and the second transverse side wall  53 ,  54  and the first and the second longitudinal side wall  55 ,  56  are equivalent with a first and a second transverse end and a first and a second longitudinal end of the base member. As the vehicle load carrier box  10  is in the closed position, the surrounding side walls  51  of the lid  40  is positioned adjacent the side wall  22  of the base member  20  thus forming a confined storage compartment. The periphery of the lid  40  is just somewhat larger than the periphery of the base member  20  so that the surrounding side wall  51  of the lid  40  partly overlaps the surrounding side wall  21  of the base member  20  when the lid  40  is closed. 
     The vehicle load carrier box  10  thus further comprises at least one flexible safety material  60  attached to the lid  40 . If cargo or luggage, or any other load, is accidentally displaced inside of the vehicle load carrier box  20 , it could be a potential risk for damaging the vehicle load carrier box  20 . In a worst case scenario, the surrounding walls of the vehicle load carrier box  20  could be penetrated by the parts of the load accidentally, e.g. during a collision with another vehicle. After the vehicle load carrier box  20  is loaded, the load is thus secured inside of the vehicle load carrier box  10 , and thus substantially prevented from being accidentally displaced, simply by closing the lid  40 . 
     The flexible safety material  60  should preferably be a sheet like material, for example with a length to width ratio (length:width) of between 10:1 to 10:5. The flexible safety material is advantageously adapted to be positioned on any load, such as luggage, bags, suitcases, skies or the like which are positioned inside of the vehicle load carrier box. More specifically is it intended to cover any load positioned in the load carrier void of the base member  20 . The flexible safety material can be a cloth, woven, net or the like. In  FIGS. 1-3  the flexible safety material  60  is illustrated as a net  61 . The flexible safety material  60  can have elastic properties or substantially no elastic properties, or simply no elastic properties. Advantageously both flexible and elastic properties are present. The flexible safety material  60 , and the flexible net  61 , has in the shown embodiments in  FIGS. 1-3 , a first and a second transverse end  63 ,  64  and a first and a second longitudinal end  65 ,  66 , thus a substantially rectangular form. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the flexible safety material  60  is attached only to the lid  40 , and thus not to the base member  20 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has a flexible safety material  60  which is attached to the lid  40  at a plurality of attachment points  62 . The attachment points  62  can be fixed, i.e. permanent or be temporarily i.e. the flexible safety material  60  can be detachable. Optionally some of the attachment points  62  can be permanent and some of the attachment points  62  can be temporarily. The attachment points  62  can further be elastic or non elastic, although elastic is preferable. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the flexible safety material  60  is partly attached to the lid  40  of the vehicle load carrier box  20 . Because the flexible safety material  60  is partly attached to the lid  40 , a user which has loaded e.g. luggage into the vehicle load carrier box  20 , can simply close the lid  40  to superpose the flexible safety material  60  on the luggage. 
     An advantageous embodiment is shown in  FIG. 3 . Same features in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  are referred to with the same reference number. In  FIG. 3 , the flexible safety material  60  is partly attached to the lid  40  and partly to the base member  20 . To improve the safety of the vehicle load carrier box  20 , the flexible safety material  60  is at least attached in the proximity of the first transverse side wall  23  of the base member  20 . Advantageously the first transverse end  63  of the flexible safety material  60  is attached in the proximity of the first transverse side wall  23  of the base member  20  and preferably along the first transverse side wall  23  of the base member  20 . Advantageously the second transverse end  64  of the flexible safety material  60  is attached in the proximity of the second transverse side wall  54  of the lid  40  and preferably along the second transverse side wall  54  of the lid  40 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the flexible safety material  60 , in this case a net  61 , is attached to the first transverse side wall  23  of the base member  20 . The flexible safety material  60  is advantageously attached with at least three attachment points or preferably substantially along the whole length of the first transverse side wall  23  of the base member  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . From a crash safety perspective, it is very advantageous that the flexible safety material is attached at least in the proximity of the first transverse end  23  of the base member  20  as this will prevent any luggage or load from escaping the vehicle load carrier box  10  during a severe collision. 
     Optionally, the flexible safety material  60  is attached to the lid  40  at the second transverse side wall  54  of the lid  40  and at least partly along the first and second longitudinal side walls  55 ,  56  of the lid  40 , i.e. on the side walls or in the near proximity of the side walls. 
     The vehicle load carrier box  10  can be have a drag reducing outer surface structure to reduce the wind resistance imparted by the vehicle load carrier box  10 . The lid  40  or the base member  20  can of course be provided with a lock. 
     The load, e.g. luggage, is generally placed on the floor  21  of the base member  20  during loading of the vehicle load carrier box  10 . After placing the luggage on the floor  21  of the base member  20 , the lid  40  is closed, thus confining the luggage within the vehicle load carrier box  10 . Due to that the flexible safety material  60  is attached to the lid  40 , the flexible safety material  40  is positioned onto the luggage as the flexible safety material  60  as the lid  40  is closed, and can impart the luggage with a downwardly force component or optionally just be positioned over the luggage. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the flexible safety material  60  effectively prevents the luggage from escaping the confined luggage compartment within the vehicle load carrier box  10  in case of a collision or the like, without a user having to arrange the flexible safety material in any specific way after loading. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  has been found to the very effective in cases of frontal collisions between a vehicle, like the vehicle  13 , and another object such as another vehicle, as the flexible safety material  60  will effectively prevent or at least make it more difficult for any object to penetrate through the surrounding side wall  51  of the lid  40  due to its inherent inertia. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flexible safety net  60  is attached to both the lid  40  and the base member  20  thus enabling a user to displace parts of the flexible safety material  60  when moving the lid  40  between the opened and closed position. This improves the crash safety aspect to the vehicle load carrier box as the flexible safety net will better retain the objects inside of the vehicle load carrier box. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the flexible safety material  60  is attached at attachment points  62  and at selected locations along the length of the lid  40 , specifically along parts of the second longitudinal side wall  56  of the lid  40 . An elastic strap  63  is arranged in the proximity of the intersection between the first transverse side wall  53  and the second longitudinal side wall  56  of the lid  40 , to retain the flexible safety material  60  to the lid  40  in that section. This keeps the flexible safety net  60  to the lid  40  and enables a user to load the vehicle load carrier box  10  without being obstructed by the flexible safety material  60 .

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