AU2011202608A1

AU2011202608A1 - Roof Rack

Info

Publication number: AU2011202608A1
Application number: AU2011202608A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jonathan Lloyd Mcewen
Original assignee: JARAM PRODUCTS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: JARAM PRODUCTS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-25
Filing date: 2011-05-25
Publication date: 2011-12-15

Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides a roof rack (11) for attachment to a vehicle. The roof rack comprises at least two side supports (13) which support a plurality of cross members (15) therebetween. The cross members are adapted to support a 5 payload. Each end of each cross member is releasably retained by respective side supports whereby the cross members may be readily repositioned relative to the side support without detaching the cross member therefrom. 1-3

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Jaram Products Pty Ltd Actual Inventor Jonathan Lloyd McEwen Address for service is: WRAYS Ground Floor, 56 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Roof Rack The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2 Roof Rack Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to roof racks which may be adjusted according to the limitations of the vehicle it is to be fitted and/or the load it must 5 support. Background Art Roof racks are used to increase the payload a vehicle may carry. Typically a roof rack is fitted to the roof of a vehicle using fixing points incorporated in the vehicle at the time the vehicle is manufactured. These may be in the form of a gutter 10 which extends along all or part of the roof, or specific latches to which specific roof racks may be secured. Unfortunately, these fixing points vary from vehicle to vehicle. As roof racks are a rigid structure it is therefore necessary to manufacture a roof rack for each different configuration of fixing points. This requires a stockist to store significant inventory to cater for the many different 15 models. A type of roof rack commonly used for more industrial or rigorous applications comprises two side frames having several cross members extending therebetween. The cross members are either welded to the side frames or are bolted thereto such that the bolt extends from one side of the side frame to the 20 other side for threading engagement with the cross member. This type of construction does not allow for flexibility in relation to the width of the roof rack nor the position or adjustability of the cross members. The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that 25 the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

3 SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a roof rack which is more readily adapted to different configurations. The present invention provides a roof rack adapted to be attached to a vehicle, 5 the roof rack comprises at least two side supports which support a plurality of cross members therebetween, the cross members being adapted to support a payload, each end of each cross member being releasably retained by respective side supports whereby the cross members may be readily repositioned relative to the side support without detaching the cross member therefrom. 10 In contrast to the prior art the present invention allows the roof rack to be adjusted such that the elongate elements can be positioned to accommodate different payload requirements. With the prior art this would require cutting the cross members from the side support and welding them at the required position, or drilling new holes in the side support and reconnecting the cross members relative 15 to the new holes. Either way the cross members will need to be detached from the support before it may be repositioned. It also allows roof racks of different lengths to be created more readily rather than storing a large inventory of fixed roof racks. Each end of each cross member may be slidingly retained with respect to 20 respective side supports. Each end of each cross member may be slidingly retained with respect to a channel incorporated in the inner side of each side support. This allows the cross member to be loosened with respect to the side support and moved to the required position. Preferably each side support comprises two elongate elements positioned in 25 parallel orientation. The elongate elements may be interconnected at each end by an end cap. Ends of each end cap may be received and retained in cavities located in each end of the elongate element, whereby one end of the end cap is received in a cavity of a first end of the elongate element, and the other end of the same end cap is received in a first end of the other elongate element such that 4 when both end caps are assembled the elongate elements are held in spaced apart, parallel relation to form a side support. Preferably the side support also comprises one or more brackets extending between the two elongate elements to provide rigidity to the structure. Each 5 bracket may be releasably retained to the side support so as to be easily repositioned. Preferably each bracket may be slidingly repositioned without requiring removal from the side support. The elongate elements may incorporate a further channel incorporated in the outer side of each side support. The bracket may be releasably retained with 10 respect to each further channel. Preferably the further channels of the elongate element enable the side supports to support other accessories thereon. Preferably the channel incorporated on the inner side of the side support and the further channel incorporated in the outer side of each side support are of the same dimension and configuration. 15 Preferably the cross sectional profile of each channel comprises an opening and a receiving portion, the opening being of narrower dimension than the receiving portion. The receiving portion may be adapted to receive and retain a first fixing means, such as a nut or bolt head, having at least one dimension greater than the 20 channel opening. The first fixing means may also have at least one dimension smaller than the channel opening. Each end of the cross member and the bracket may have at least one aperture therein whereby a second fixing means complementary to the first fixing means, such as a bolt or a nut, may pass through the aperture and engage with the first 25 fixing means to retain the cross member/bracket with respect to the side support. The cross member/bracket may then be slidingly positioned along the support member before the fixing means is tightened to secure the cross member/bracket in position. In order to reposition the cross member/bracket the fixing means 5 need only be loosened to allow the cross member/bracket to slide to its new position. The fixing means may incorporate a quick release, cam lock type arrangement. Preferably two of the cross members are adapted to receive a mounting bracket 5 for mounting the roof rack relative to a fixing point on the vehicle, such as a roof gutter. As to the cross member may be repositioned relative to the side support, the roof rack may be assembled such that the cross members are not completely tightened. The roof rack may then be positioned on the vehicle and those cross members having a mounting bracket fixed thereto may be slidingly adjusted such 10 that the mounting bracket aligns with the gutter. The cross members may be adapted such that they may be cut according to the width of the roof rack required. In such a configuration the roof rack may be provided in kit form whereby the purchaser may cut the cross members according to the type of vehicle the roof rack is to be installed prior to assembling the roof 15 rack. This will reduce the number of different sized cross members which will need to be made and enable to stockist to require only an inventory of two or three sizes based on the length of the side support required. The same may also apply to the elongate elements in order to provide a roof rack of shorter length. Brief Description of the Drawings 20 The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of a specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views of a roof rack according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an end of the roof rack in figure 1; 25 Figure 5, 6 and 7 are front perspective view of an end side portion of the roof rack in figure 1; 6 Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a cross member of the roof rack in figure 1; Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of a side support of the roof rack in figure 1; 5 Figures 10 and 11 are side and front views of a bracket; Figure 12 is a photograph of the roof rack in figure 1 on a vehicle; Figure 12 is a photograph showing the mounting of the roof rack in figure 1 on the vehicle; and Figure 14 is a photograph of an end of the roof rack in figure 1 on the 10 vehicle. In the figures like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The figures shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention. 15 Best Mode(s) for Carrying out the Invention Referring to the figures the invention according to a first embodiment is in the form of a roof rack 11 comprising two side supports 13 in spaced relation and a plurality of cross members 15 extending between the two side supports 13. In this embodiment each of the side supports 13 are constructed from two 20 elongate elements 17 held in parallel arrangement by end caps 19 and a plurality of brackets 21 extending therebetween. In assembling each side support 13 one end of the end cap is received in a cavity of a first end of the elongate element 17, and the other end of the same end cap is received in a first end of the other elongate element 17. 25 Brackets 21 assist in providing rigidity to the side support 13.

7 Each elongate element 17 comprises a channel 23 on each side. It is to be understood, however, that the elongate element 17 which provides the upper part of the side support 13 does not require a channel 23 on its inner side. Referring to figure 9, each channel 23 has an opening 25 which is narrower in 5 width than a receiving portion 27. With this configuration the channel 23 is able to retain a first fixing means, such as a nut (not shown), therein. The nut may either be introduced into the channel at the end of the elongate element 17 prior to the end caps 19 being secured thereon, or more, preferably, the first fixing means will have one dimension smaller than the width of the 10 opening 25 and at least one dimension larger. The first fixing means may then be inserted into the receiving portion 27 and then turned such that the larger dimension prohibits it from being removed through the opening 25. As best shown in figures 5 to 7 each cross member 15 has a hole in a tab 29 extending from each side at each end of the cross member 15. The hole is 15 adapted to receive a second fixing means, which in this case is a bolt 31. To assemble the roof rack 11 the cross members 15 need to be secured to the side supports 13. In so doing the bolts 31 are placed through the holes on the tabs 31 of each cross member 15. The nut having a least one dimension smaller and one larger than the opening 25 of the channel 23 is then threadingly received 20 on each bolt 31. The nut is then aligned with and received through the opening 25, passing into the receiving portion 27 in the channel. The nut may then be rotated such that its larger dimension retains it in the channel. Once the cross member 15 is retained on the side support 13 the cross member 15 can slide along the side support 13 to be positioned where required. 25 Once in position each bolt 31 at the end of the cross member 15 may be tightened to secure the cross member 15 in position. If the cross member 15 needs to be later moved all that is required is to loosen each bolt 31 and slide the cross member 15 to the required position before retightening.

8 Each bracket 21 is slidingly received relative to the channel 23 in the same manner as the cross members 15, and is also repositionable in the same manner as the cross members 15. Referring to figures 12 to 14 the roof rack is shown secured to the roof of a car 5 using mounting brackets. These mounting brackets 33 clamp the roof rack 11 to a gutter 35 on the roof of the vehicle. Each mounting bracket 33 is secured to an underside of the cross members 15. This enables each mounting bracket 33 to be readily repositioned by moving the cross member 15 to the required location. As a result the roof rack 11 of the present invention may easily be reconfigured to 10 suit a different vehicle as well as different payloads. It also allows easy transport when in a disassembled state. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word 15 "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A roof rack adapted to be attached to a vehicle, the roof rack comprises at least two side supports which support a plurality of cross members therebetween, the cross members being adapted to support a payload, 5 each end of each cross member being releasably retained by respective side supports whereby the cross members may be readily repositioned relative to the side support without detaching the cross member therefrom.

2. The roof rack according to claim 1 wherein each end of each cross 10 member is slidingly retained with respect to respective side supports.

3. The roof rack according to claim 2 wherein each end of each cross member is slidingly retained with respect to a channel incorporated in the inner side of each side support.

4. The roof rack according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each side support 15 comprises at least two elongate elements positioned in parallel orientation.

5. The roof rack according to claim 4 wherein the elongate elements are interconnected at each end by an end cap.

6. The roof rack according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the side support also 20 comprise one or more brackets extending between the two elongate elements to provide rigidity to the structure.

7. The roof rack according to claim 6 wherein each bracket is releasably retained to the side support so as to be easily repositioned.

8. The roof rack according to claim 6 or 7 wherein each bracket is slidingly 25 repositioned without requiring removal from the side support. 10

9. The roof rack according to any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the elongate elements incorporate a further channel incorporated in the outer side of each side support.

10.The roof rack according to claim 9 wherein the bracket is releasably 5 retained with respect to each further channel.

11.The roof rack according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the channel incorporated on the inner side of the side support and the further channel incorporated in the outer side of each side support are of the same dimension and configuration. 10

12.The roof rack according to claim 11 wherein the cross sectional profile of each channel comprises an opening and a receiving portion, the opening being of narrower dimension than the receiving portion.

13.The roof rack according to claim 12 wherein the receiving portion is adapted to receive and retain a first fixing means, such as a nut or bolt 15 head, having at least one dimension greater than the channel opening.

14.The roof rack according to claim 13 wherein the first fixing means also has at least one dimension smaller than the channel opening.

15.The roof rack according to claim 12 or 13 wherein each end of the cross member/bracket has at least one aperture therein whereby a second 20 fixing means complementary to the first fixing means, such as a bolt or a nut, may pass through the aperture and engage with the first fixing means to retain the cross member/bracket with respect to the side support, whereby the cross member/bracket may then be slidingly positioned along the support member before the fixing means is tightened to secure the 25 cross member/bracket in position.

16.The roof rack according to claim 15 wherein the first and second fixing means incorporates a quick release, cam lock type arrangement. 11

17.The roof rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein two cross members are adapted to receive a mounting bracket for mounting the roof rack relative to a fixing point on the vehicle.

18.The roof rack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 5 cross members are adapted such that they may be cut according to the width of the roof rack required.

19.A roof rack as substantially herein described with reference to the drawings. 10