LOAD CARRIER FOOT

• US 20060091170A1
• Filed: 06/18/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thule Sweden AB (Thule Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Thule Sweden AB (Thule Group AB)
• Inventors: ALMHIL, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US11/160,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/325
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/058 characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof

Abstract

A load carrier foot (5) for attaching a load carrier bar (6) to the roof edge area (4) of a vehicle (1) which is primarily a roof edge area above a door (3) of the vehicle. The roof edge area is provided with a first and a second mounting stud (38, 39). The load carrier foot (5) is provided with a foot part (8) to whose upper section (11) the load carrier bar (6) is attached and whose base section (13) is provided with a first and a second gripping device (14, 15) which are arranged so that they can be adjusted relative to each other between a first, retracted position (FIG. 5) in which they are fitted to the mounting studs for mounting the load carrier foot (5) on the roof edge area and a second, extended position (FIG. 4) in which they are moved into secure engagement with the mounting studs. The gripping devices are adjusted between the first and the second position by means of a tightening device (21) provided on the foot part (8) and in which at least one of the gripping devices (14, 15) is attached to a first link arm (16) that is pivotably mounted on the foot part (8) by means of a pivot pin (17).

Claims

1. A load carrier foot (5) for attaching a load carrier bar (6) to the roof edge area (4) of a vehicle (1), primarily at a roof edge area above a vehicle door (3) and in which the roof edge area is provided with a first and a second mounting stud (38, 39), said load carrier foot (5) comprising:

a foot part (8) having an upper section (11) configured to be attached to a load carrier bar (6) and a base section (13) having a first and a second gripping device (14, 15) configured for adjustment relative to one another between a first, retracted position in which the first and second gripping devices (14, 15) are fitted to the mounting studs for mounting the load carrier foot (5) at the roof edge area of the vehicle, and a second, extended position in which the first and second gripping devices (14, 15) are adjusted to engage securely with the mounting studs. said the first and second gripping devices (14, 15) being adjusted between the first and the second positions by a tightening device (21) provided on the foot part (8); and

at least one of the gripping devices (14, 15) being attached to a first link arm (16) that is pivotably mounted on the foot part (8) by a pivot pin (17).

2. The load carrier foot (5) as recited in claim 1, wherein each gripping device (14, 15) is attached to a link arm (16, 18) which are individually mounted pivotably on the foot part (8).

3. The load carrier foot (5) as recited in claim 1, wherein an actuating device (31) for the tightening device (21) is accessible only from the underside (34) of the foot part (8).

4. The load carrier foot (5) as recited in claim 1, wherein tightening device (21) further comprises a linkage arrangement (22-33).

5. The load carrier foot (5) as recited in claim 1, wherein each link arm passes through a slot (20) in the base section (13) of the foot part (8).