Railing bracket

• US 6,112,965 A
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industri AB Thule
• Original Assignee: Industri AB Thule
• Inventors: Lundgren, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brevard, Maerena W.
• Application Number:
  US09/264,397
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 224/329, 224/330, 224/331, 224/323, 224/319, 224/321, 224/322, 248/230.3, 248/231.4, 248/229.22
• US Class Current: 224/322
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/045 Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38

Abstract

An apparatus or bracket for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The apparatus includes two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding or parallel to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which the two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged. The clamping device is arranged to lock the two clamping jaws in variable, different or optional positions along a load carrier strut and the two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing. A guide portion is connected to the clamping device for displacement along such a load carrier strut and has a guide surface that is disposed for cooperation with a first of the two clamping jaws for moving the first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut. A second of the two clamping jaws has a ramp surface extending substantially in the clamping direction at an angle to horizontal. The ramp surface is disposed for cooperation with the first clamping jaw and for displacement of the first clamping jaw transversely of the clamping direction upon mutual relative movement of the first and the second clamping jaws in the clamping direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along a load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing; and

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut.

2. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along a load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing;

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut; and

a second of said two clamping jaws has a ramp surface extending substantially in said clamping direction at an angle to horizontal, said ramp surface being disposed for cooperation with said first clamping jaw and for displacement of said first clamping jaw transversely of said clamping direction upon mutual relative movement of said first and said second clamping jaws in the clamping direction.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein an end of said ramp surface facing said first clamping jaw is located more proximal such a load carrier strut than an opposite end of said ramp surface.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein an upper end of said ramp surface extends in a direction toward said first clamping jaw and said upper end of said ramp surface is oriented for more proximal location to such a load carrier strut than a lower end of said ramp surface.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein an angle between said ramp surface and said clamping direction lies in a range of 10°

to 35°

.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said angle between said ramp surface and said clamping direction is approximately 20°

.

7. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along a load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing;

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut; and

said guide portion is approximately U-shaped in a horizontal cross section taken substantially perpendicular to said clamping direction, a bottom of said U-shape forms a support surface against which said first clamping jaw abuts and is slidable upon tightening of said first and second clamping jaws toward one another.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said support surface is substantially obliquely inclined with respect to vertical so that a lower end of said support surface is located more distal from a longitudinal center line of a carrying vehicle of the apparatus than is an upper end of said support surface.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

an anchorage mechanism for securing said first clamping jaw to said support surface in variable positions along a length of said support surface.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

an anchorage mechanism for securing said first clamping jaw to said support surface in variable positions along a length of said support surface.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

said guide portion and said first clamping jaw are interconnected and each of said guide portion and said first clamping jaw have mutually engaging guides arranged for directing sliding movement of said first clamping jaw along said support surface.

12. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along a load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing;

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut;

said clamping device having a screw axially fixed and rotatable with respect to one of said two clamping jaws; and

a nut in mesh with said screw, said nut being connected to the other of said two clamping jaws.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said nut is secured in said guide portion.

14. A load carrier adapted to be mounted upon a transporting vehicle, said load carrier comprising:

a load carrier strut configured to be transversely positioned over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of said load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along said load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with the railing and said clamping device is disposed interiorly in said load carrier strut; and

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along said load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from said load carrier strut.

15. A load carrier adapted to be mounted upon a transporting vehicle, said load carrier comprising:

a load carrier strut configured to be transversely positioned over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of said load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along said load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing;

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along said load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from said load carrier strut;

said clamping device having a screw axially fixed and rotatable with respect to said second clamping jaw;

a nut in mesh with said screw, said nut being connected to said first clamping jaw and secured in said guide portion; and

said second clamping jaw and said guide portion each having a neck portion and each of said neck portions being located in an elongate aperture in a lower defining wall of said load carrier strut.

16. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along a load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing;

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut; and

,

said clamping surfaces are configured to define therebetween an accommodation space for a railing, said accommodation space being substantially triangular, with an apex of said substantially triangular accommodation space being directed upward.

17. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws, each of said two clamping jaws movable toward and away from the other under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which said two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged, said clamping device being arranged to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along a load carrier strut and said two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing; and

a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut.

18. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws, each movable in a longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut towards and away from the other for clamping a railing therebetween;

a clamping device for urging said two clamping jaws one toward the other upon actuation thereof, said clamping device and said two clamping jaws being movable together in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier strut and said clamping device also being arranged, when activated, to lock said two clamping jaws in variable positions along the load carrier strut;

and a guide portion connected to said clamping device for displacement along a load carrier strut, said guide portion having a guide surface disposed for cooperation with a first of said two clamping jaws for moving said first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut.

19. An apparatus for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another along the load carrier strut under the action of a clamping device and said two clamping jaws each having clamping surfaces for engagement with the railing;

said clamping device being adapted for locking said two clamping jaws in optional positions along the load carrier strut;

a guide portion which, for displacement along the load carrier strut, is connected to said clamping device and which has guide surfaces for cooperation with one of said two clamping jaws for accommodating movement of said clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut.