Load carrier

• US 5,560,525 A
• Filed: 05/18/1994
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industri AB Thule
• Original Assignee: Industri AB Thule
• Inventors: Christiansson, Magnus, Grohmann, Hubert
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US08/245,637
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 224/310, 224/321, 224/309, 224/42.03 R, 224/281, 224/282, 224/29.5, 224/42.06, 224/42.07, 224/42.08, 224/319, 224/325, 224/329, 224/330, 224/331, 414/462, 414/466
• US Class Current: 224/310
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041

Abstract

A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle. The vehicle includes a roof and a rear door and/or a trunk lid. The load carrier includes a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle and fastened at a rear portion thereof. A carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device is also provided. The carrier device is pivotally arranged about a substantially horizontal pivot axis directed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the carrier vehicle. The pivot-arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack allows the carrier device and a load holder to be pivoted upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interferring with the opening of the rear door and/or the trunk lid.

Claims

1. A load carrier with a load holder adapted to be mounted behind a vehicle and being a part of a carrier device disposed behind the vehicle, the carrier device having at least one arm which extends up over the vehicle roof and which is, about a pivot shaft, pivotally secured in a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, the pivot shaft being substantially horizontal and transversely directed in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the carrier device with the load holder being pivotal upwards, one of the carrier device and the holder having support members rotatably mounted therein for abutment against a rear portion of the vehicle, the support members being rotatable with respect to said one of said carrier device and said holder about a generally vertical axis when the load carrier is located behind the vehicle;

and the support members having angled portions which are provided with portions intended for abutment of the support members against the vehicle.

2. The load carrier as claimed in 1, wherein the support members are raisably and lowerably secured in the one of said carrier device and said holder relative to the vehicle.

3. A load carrier arrangement for a load holder which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof and one of a rear door and a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle and fastened at a rear portion thereof;

a carrier device including the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device; and

a pivot arrangement having a substantially horizontal pivot axis directed transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack so that the carrier device and the load holder pivot upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door and the trunk lid;

the rack including at least one forward and rear strut extending over the vehicle roof, the at least one strut being mutually interconnected in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via at least one longitudinal portion.

4. A load carrier arrangement for a load holder which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof and one of a rear door and a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle and fastened at a rear portion thereof;

a carrier device including the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device; and

a pivot arrangement having a substantially horizontal pivot axis directed transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack so that the carrier device and the load holder pivot upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door and the trunk lid;

the carrier device further including at least one arm that extends from behind up over the rear portion of the vehicle roof, said at least one arm being pivotably connected to the rack, a forward end of the at least one arm being pivotably connected to the rack;

the rack including at least one rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said at least one arm being provided and being connected to said forward end of said at least one rail and at least partially received in said at least one rail in the load carrying position of the carrier device and the holder; and

spring means acting between the rack and the carrier device for holding the carrier device in the load carrying position.

5. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack to permit the carrier device and the load holder to be pivoted upwardly from the load carrying position to a temporary, elevated position for permitting opening of the rear door or the trunk lid of the vehicle; and

spring means acting between the rack and the carrier device for holding the carrier device in the temporary, elevated position.

6. A load carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the carrier device comprises at least one arm that extends from behind up over the rear portion of the vehicle roof, said arm being pivotably connected to the rack.

7. The load carrier as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of the carrier device or the holder support members is arranged for abutment against a rear portion of the vehicle.

8. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack to permit the carrier device and the load holder to be pivoted upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid of the vehicle; and

spring means acting between the rack and the carrier device for holding the carrier device in the elevated position;

the carrier device comprising at least one arm that extends from behind up over the rear portion of the vehicle roof, said arm being pivotably connected to the rack; and

said rack including at least one rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, at least one arm being provided, said at least one rail having upwardly open recesses for receiving, in the load carrying position of the carrier device, a front end portion of at least one arm.

9. A load carrier arrangement for a load,holder which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof and one of a rear door and a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle and fastened at a rear portion thereof;

a carrier device including the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement having a substantially horizontal pivot axis directed transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack so that the carrier device and the load holder can be pivoted upwardly from the loads carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door and the trunk lid;

spring means, disposed between a portion of the rack located behind the pivot shaft and one of the arms of the load carrier and the support member, said spring means being arranged to hold the carrier device in its raised position;

the spring means being arranged such that, when the carrier device is pivoted downwardly, a line through the anchorage points of said spring means passes through the plane of the pivot shaft.

10. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack, the carrier device and the load holder being pivotal upwardly from the downward load carrying position behind the vehicle to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid; and

spring means acting between the rack and the carrier device for holding the carrier device in the downward load carrying position.

11. A load carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the carrier device comprises at least one arm that extends from behind up over the rear portion of the vehicle roof, said at least one arm being pivotably connected to the rack.

12. A load carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein said rack comprises rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, two arms being provided, said rails having upwardly open recesses for receiving, in the load carrying position of the carrier device, at least partially front end portions of respective ones of said arms.

13. The load carrier as claimed in claim 10, wherein one of the carrier device or the holder support members is arranged for abutment against a rear portion of the vehicle.

14. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising;

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a generally horizontal pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack, the carrier device and the load holder being pivotal upwardly from the downward load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid;

spring means acting between the rack and the carrier device for holding the carrier device in the load carrying position; and

said spring means arranged such that, when the carrier device is pivoted downwardly, a line through anchorage points of said spring means passes through a plane of the pivot arrangement.

15. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having that load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack, the carrier device and the load holder being pivotal upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid;

spring means acting between the rack and the carrier device for holding the carrier device in the load carrying position; and

said rack comprising at least one rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, at least one arm being provided, said at least one rail having upwardly open recesses for receiving, in the load carrying position of the carrier device, at least partially a front end portion of said at least one arm.

16. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting to the rack, the carrier device to the rack, the carrier device and the load holder being pivotal upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid; and

spring means provided for holding the carrier device in the load carrying position of the carrier device, for assisting in the upward pivotal movement of the load carrier once this movement has passed the lowermost portion thereof and for holding the carrier device in the elevated position.

17. A load carrier arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the carrier device comprises at least one arm that extends from behind up over the rear portion of the vehicle roof, said arm being pivotably connected to the rack.

18. The load carrier as claimed in claim 16, wherein the holder is, about a substantially horizontal axis, pivotally secured in the carrier device whereby it is pivotal between an approximately horizontal position projecting from the carrier device, and a raised position along the carrier device.

19. The load carrier as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rack is connected to side edge portions of the roof of the vehicle and extends freely bearing over the roof.

20. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack, the carrier device and the load holder being pivotal upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid;

spring means provided for holding the carrier device in the load carrying position of the carrier device, for assisting in the upward pivotal movement of the load carrier once this movement has passed the lowermost portion thereof and for holding the carrier device in the elevated position;

the carrier device comprising at least one arm that extends from behind up over the rear portion of the vehicle roof, said arm being pivotably connected to the rack; and

said rack comprising at least one rail extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, at least one arm being provided, said at least one rail having upwardly open recesses for receiving, in the load carrying position of the carrier device, at least partially a front end portion of said at least one arm.

21. A load carrier arrangement for mounting a load holder on a vehicle, said vehicle having a roof and a rear door or a trunk lid, comprising:

a rack disposed across the roof of the vehicle, said rack being fastened to the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle;

a carrier device having the load holder for carrying a load behind the vehicle in a load carrying position of the carrier device;

a pivot arrangement connecting the carrier device to the rack, the carrier device and the load holder being pivotal upwardly from the load carrying position to an elevated position not interfering with the opening of the rear door or the trunk lid;

spring means provided for holding the carrier device in the load carrying position of the carrier device, for assisting in the upward pivotal movement of the load carrier once this movement has passed the lowermost portion thereof and for holding the carrier device in the elevated position; and

the rack including forward and rear strut extending over the vehicle roof, the strut being mutually interconnected in the, longitudinal direction of the vehicle by at least one longitudinal portion.