Luggage rack

• US 5,170,920 A
• Filed: 02/15/1991
• Issued: 12/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sportrack, LLC (Advanced Accessory Systems, LLC), Chrysler Corporation 12000 Oakland Avenue Highland Park MI
• Original Assignee: Masco Corporation, Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Lazarevich, Robert R., Scapini, Paul E., Corrente, Thomas R., Stapleton, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US07/655,848
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 224/321, 224/325, 224/326, 224/309, 410/104, 410/105, 410/130, 410/132, 410/139, 410/143, 410/150
• US Class Current: 224/321
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/045 Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/058 characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof

Abstract

A luggage rack for an automotive vehicle comprising a pair of side rails adapted to be mounted on the roof of an automotive vehicle in laterally spaced apart relation. Each rail has an elongated slot extending lengthwise thereof. One or more cross members extending between the rails have stanchions at the ends slidably engageable in the slots. The slots open at an angle slanting away from the vehicle roof and toward one another to resist forces tending to separate the stanchions from the side rails. Each stanchion has a flange which hooks over a slot-defining flange of a rail to provide additional resistance to separation. The stanchions are releasably locked to the rails by locking pins engageable in apertures in the rails.

Claims

1. A luggage rack for an automatic vehicle having an exterior body surface, comprising a pair of elongated rails adapted to be mounted on said exterior body surface in laterally spaced apart, parallel relation, each of said rails having an elongated defining one side of said slot, said slots opening a rail flange defining one side of said slot, said slots opening at an angle sloping away from said exterior body surface and toward one another and said rail flanges also extending at an angle sloping away from said exterior body surface and toward one another when said rails are mounted on said exterior body surface as aforesaid, at least one cross member extending between said rails transversely thereof, stanchions at the ends of said cross member, said stanchions having body portions slidably engageable in said respective slots to permit said cross member to be adjusted longitudinally relative to said rails, each of said stanchions having a stanchion flange extending from said body portion thereof and forming therewith a generally U-shaped portion adapted to hook over said rail flange of one of said rails with said stanchion flange underlying said rail flange to resist separation of said stanchions from said rails, and means for releasably locking said stanchions in adjusted position longitudinally of said rails, said locking means comprising a plurality of apertures formed in said rail flange of each of said rails in spaced part relation along the length thereof, and an elongated locking pin mounted on each stanchion for straight-line longitudinal sliding movement from an extended position engageable in one of said apertures to a retracted position withdrawn therefrom, said locking pins being disposed with their axes extending at an angle sloping toward said exterior body surface and toward one another when said stanchions are engaged in said slots and said rails are mounted on said exterior body surface as aforesaid thereby reducing stress on said pins due to forces tending to separate said stanchions from said rails.

2. A luggage rack as defined in claim 1, including spring means urging each of said locking pins to the extended position thereof.

3. A luggage rack as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said locking pins has one end which is engageable in said apertures as aforesaid, and a cap at the opposite end of each said locking pin for use in withdrawing said locking pin to its retracted position, said caps having opposite edge portions and being pivotally connected intermediate said opposite edge portions to said opposite end of said locking pins so that when said locking pins are in their extended positions said caps are pivoted flat against said stanchions, said caps being adapted to be lifted away from aid stanchions and turned about one of the edge portions thereof as a fulcrum in slidable contact with said stanchions to withdraw said locking pins to said retracted positions while accommodating the straight-line movement thereof.

4. A luggage rack as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said locking pins has one end portion which is engageable in said apertures as aforesaid, said apertures and said one end portion of each of said locking pins being of matching non-circular cross-section.

5. A luggage rack as defined in claim 1, including a cap for each locking pin for withdrawing the same to its retracted position, said caps having opposite edge portions and being pivotally connected intermediate said opposite edge portions to the ends of said locking pins exteriorly of said chambers so that when said locking pins are in their extended positions said caps are pivoted flat against said stanchions, said caps being adapted to be lifted away from said stanchions and turned about one of the edge portions thereof as a fulcrum to withdraw said locking pins to said retracted positions, an opening in a wall of the chamber of each of said stanchions, each of said caps having a flexible latch extending from the said other of its edge portions into said chamber through said opening, and a retainer in the chamber of each of said stanchions for engaging and releasably retaining said latch when said caps are pivoted flat against said stanchions as aforesaid, said latches being released from said retainers by being manually flexed out of engagement therewith.

6. A luggage rack as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said chambers has a drain hole beneath said opening for draining said chamber of water entering through said opening.

7. A luggage rack as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said locking pins has one end which is engageable in said apertures as aforesaid, and a cap at the opposite end of each said locking pin for use in withdrawing said locking pin to its retracted position, each of said caps being in the form of a flap pivoted at one end to said opposite end of a locking pin and capable of being pivoted flat against said stanchion when said locking pins are in their extended positions, said stanchions having recessed portions for receiving said flaps when pivoted flat against said stanchions as aforesaid, said stanchions having relieved portions adjacent the free edge portions of said flaps to facilitate the lifting of said flaps away from said stanchions to withdraw said locking pins.

8. A luggage rack as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said locking pins has one end which is engageable in said apertures as aforesaid, and a handle at the opposite end of each said locking pin for use in withdrawing said locking pin to its retracted position, each of said handles being ring-shaped in the form of a half-circle with end portions turned toward one another and pivoted to said opposite end of a locking pin and capable of being turned flat against said stanchion when said locking pins are in their extended positions, said stanchions having recessed portions for receiving said handles when pivoted flat against said stanchions as aforesaid.

9. A luggage rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking pins are mounted on said stanchions for axial rotation, means for retaining each of said locking pins in extended position when axially rotated to a locking mode and for releasing the same when axially rotated away from said locking mode, and spring means urging said locking pins toward their retracted positions.

10. A luggage rack as defined in claim 9, including means for preventing withdrawal of each of said locking pins beyond said retracted position when axially rotated away from said locking mode.

11. A luggage rack as defined in claim 10, wherein said means for retaining said locking pins in extended position when in said locking mode comprises a stop projecting laterally from each of said locking pins, and abutment means on each of said stanchions engageable with said stop of the associated locking pin when said locking pin is in said extended position and in said locking mode, said abutment means clearing said stop when said locking pin is rotated away from said locking mode to permit withdrawal of said locking pin.

12. A luggage rack as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for preventing withdrawal of said locking pin beyond said retracted position when axially rotated away from said locking mode comprises a stop projecting laterally from each of said locking pins at right angles to said first-mentioned stop.

13. A luggage rack as defined in claim 1, wherein said stanchion flanges have clearance openings to clear said locking pins when said locking pins are in said extended position.

14. A luggage rack for an automatic vehicle having an exterior body surface, comprising a pair of elongated rails adapted to be mounted on said exterior body surface in laterally spaced apart, parallel relation, each of said rails having an elongated slot extending lengthwise thereof and having a rail flange defining one side of said slot, said slots opening at an angle sloping away from said exterior body surface and toward one another and said rail flanges also extending at an angle sloping away from said exterior body surface and toward one another when said rails are mounted on said exterior body surface as aforesaid, at least one cross member extending between said rails transversely thereof, stanchions at the ends of said cross member, said stanchions having body portions slidably engageable in said respective slots to permit said cross member to be adjusted longitudinally relative to said rails, and means for releasably locking said stanchions in adjusted position longitudinally of said rails, said locking means comprising a plurality of apertures formed in said rail flange of each of said rails in spaced apart relation along the length thereof, and an elongated locking pin mounted on each stanchion for straight-line longitudinal sliding movement from an extended position engageable in one of said apertures to a retracted position withdrawn therefrom, each of said locking pins having one end which is engageable in said apertures as aforesaid, and a cap at the opposite end of each said locking pin for use in withdrawing said locking pin to its retracted position, said caps having opposite edge portions and being pivotally connected intermediate said opposite edge portions to said opposite end of said locking pins so that when said locking pins are in their extended positions said caps are pivoted flat against said stanchions, said caps being adapted to be lifted away from said stanchions and turned about one of the edge portions thereof as a fulcrum in slidable contact with said stanchions to withdraw said locking pins to said retracted positions while accommodating the straight-line movement thereof.

15. A luggage rack as defined in claim 14, wherein each of said caps has a flexible latch extending from the other of said edge portions thereof, and a retainer on each of said stanchions for releasably engaging and retaining said latch when said caps are pivoted flat against said stanchions as aforesaid, said latches being released from said retainers by being flexed out of engagement therewith.