GB2191747A

GB2191747A - Load-bearing slat for vehicle luggage carriers

Info

Publication number: GB2191747A
Application number: GB08713255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig A Stapleton
Original assignee: Masco Industries Inc
Current assignee: Masco Industries Inc
Priority date: 1986-06-16
Filing date: 1987-06-05
Publication date: 1987-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-05
Also published as: KR900007525B1; JPS6346940A; AT395133B; GB8713255D0; AU7346687A; AU601188B2; DE3720025C2; ATA153287A; GB2191747B; CA1289919C; SE8702385L; DE3720025A1; SE8702385D0; KR880000270A

Description

1 GB 2 191 747 A 1 SPECIFICATION The slat according to the present

invention includesan elongated channel membermountedto Load-bearing slat for vehicle luggage carriers an exterior surface of the vehicle and to which is mounted an elongated rubstripwhich isfixedly

Background of the invention 70 retained within the channel member. The channel

Field of the invention member is preferably constructed of stainless steel

This invention relatesto vehicle mounted luggage and includes opposing side walls which define a top carriers and, in particular, to a construction for a slat opening of the channel member. Retaining which forms the load-bearing surface of the luggage shoulders which form an extension of these side rack. 75 walls are disposed inwardlyfrom the walls. These retaining shoulders are formed bytwo perpendicular Description of thepriorart portions, one of which extends downwardlyfrom the

Longitudinal load-bearing slats have been widely top of the side wall and the other of which extends utilized to form the support surface of a vehicle horizontally inwardlyfrom the first portion. Thus, luggage carrier. Generally, these slats are mounted 80 these two portions form a perpendicular retaining flush with the surface of the vehicle and extend shoulder regardless of the overall shape of the longitudinally to minimize wind resistance. Many of channel member.

the past known slats are constructed of stainless The rubber or plastic rub strip, which is mounted steel and secured to the vehicle by a series of within the top opening of the channel member, mounting screws. However, it has been found that 85 includes a wedge- shaped lower portion and vertical thefull stainless steel construction can cause side walls extending upwardly from the lower damageto luggage and the like from the frictional portion. The tapered lower portion of the strip rubbing between the slat and cargo. In addition, facilitates assembly of the strip within the channel.

movement of the luggage can cause damageto the Formed in the side walls of the strip are horizontal slat itself. 90 grooves which extend substantially the length of the In order to overcome this, a ru b strip was added to strip and cooperatingly engage the inwardly the stainless steel slat to protect the cargo f rom extending portion of the retaining shoulder. The damage. This rub strip is generally made of a rubber interaction of the inwardly extending f langes with or plastic material and is mounted to the top of the the horizontal grooves positively locks the strip into slat. In a known embodiment, the stainless steel slat 95 the channel member. With the rub strip mounted in isformed by a channel member having an elongated thetop opening of the channel member,the upper opening on itstopface. This channel member is portion of the strip extends abovethe stainless steel secured to thevehicle surface by mounting screws channel memberto prevent contact between the disposed within the channel member. Once cargo and the steel channel member.

mounted, the rub strip is placed within the top 100 Thus, the present invention provides a simple and opening of the channel memberto form the convenient construction for a longitudinal slat of a load-bearing surface of the luggage carrier. luggage carrierwhich is easy to assemble yet is not However, in orderto facilitate assembly of the slat, subjectto vertical displacement of the rub strip the rub strip has a substantially wedge-shaped cross under heavy loads.

section which interactswith a downwardly angled 105 Other objects, features, and advantages of the extension of the side walls of the channel memberto present invention will be apparentfrom the maintain the position of the rub strip in the opening following detailed description taken in connection of the channel member. In this position, an upper with the accompanying drawings.

surface of the rub strip extends abovethe channel member. 110 Brief description of the drawing

Despitethe ease of assembly provided bythe The present invention will be morefully wedge-shaped rub strip and the inwardly angled understood by referenceto thefollowing detailed walls of the channel member, the rub strip has a description of a preferred embodiment of the tendencyto be pushed down insidethe channel present invention when read in conjunction with the member under heavy loads. Thus, when heavier 115 accompanying drawing, in which like reference luggage is placed upon the slats, the load can expose characters referto like parts throughoutthe views, the top surface of the stainless steel channel member and in which:

to the luggage causing damage to both the luggage Figure 1 is an elevated perspective of one of the and the support slat. Moreover, under extreme loads load-bearing slats embodying the present invention; portions of the rub strip may be pushed completely 120 Figure2 is a cross- sectional perspective of a within the channel member requiring removal of the preferred embodiment of the present invention entire strip or specialized tools for removal of the taken along line 2-2 of Figure 11; and vertically displaced portion. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional perspective of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

Summary of thepresent invention 125

The present invention overcomes the Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of disadvantages of the prior known load-bearing slats thepresent invention by providing a slat construction which eliminatesthe Referring firstto Figure 1, a load-bearing slat 10 vertical displacement of the rub strip relativetothe embodying the present invention isthereshown. The channel member. 130 slat 10 is adapted to be mounted to the exterior 2 GB 2 191747 A 2 surface 12 of a motor vehicle in order to form a facilitates insertion of the rub strip 34 by permitting luggage carrier or rack. The slats 10 which form the compression of the lower portion of the strip 34.

luggage rack may be mounted to the rooftop of the The alternative embodiment of the present vehicle or a rear deck in either a longitudinal or invention shown in Figure 3 utilizes substantially the transverse alignment. As with conventional 70 same components. However, a widerchannel load-bearing slats, the slat 10 of the present mem ber 20 is utilized to broaden the support base of invention generally comprises an elongated the slat 10 such that greater loads can be supported longitudinal 14 and end caps 16 secu red to the ends thereon. Thus, the side wal Is 28 of the channel of the longitudinal 14. 1 n orderto protect the surface member 20 have a substantial slope while the 12 of the vehicle from prematu re corrosion, a 75 bottom wal 132 is sig nificantly widerthan the bottom protector strip 18 is disposed between the slat 10 and wal 1 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

the vehicle surface 12. Despite this difference in configuration, the retaining Referring nowto Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal shoulders 36 remain substantially perpendicularto 14 of the slat 10 includes an elongated channel the vehicle surface with the portions 38 extending member 20 mounted to the vehicle surface 12 by 80 downwardlyfrom thetop of the walls 28 and the securing means 22. In the preferred embodiment, flanges 40 extending horizontally inwardlyfrom and the channel member 20 is secured to the vehicle by a perpendicularto the first portions 38. As with the plurality of screws 24 spaced along the channel embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inwardly member 20 and disposed within a support member extending flanges 40 cooperate with the horizontal 26 which enhancesthe structural strength of the slat 85 groove 48 of the rub strip 34 to preventvertical 10. An example of such a fastening assembly is displacement of the rub strip 34through the opening disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,501,386. Alternatively, 30 of the channel member 20.

the channel member 20 may be secured to the Referring nowto Figures 2 and 3, the configuration vehicle surface 12 in any mannerwhich provides of the rub strip 34facilitates assembly of theslat 10 secure positioning of the slat 10, including rivets or 90 while also preventing vertical displacement thereof adhesives. once assembled. The channel member 20 isfirst The channel member 20 includes a pair of side secured to the vehicle surface 12 bythe securing walls 28, which define an elongated top opening 30, means 22. Alignment and access to the securing and a bottom wall 32. Disposed within the top means 22 is readily accomplished since thetop opening 30 is an elongated rub strip 34 which is 95 opening 30 of the channel member 20 is exposed.

mounted within the opening 30 to preventdirect Once proper positioning is accomplished,the rub contact between the cargo and the metal channel strip 34 may be mounted within the top opening 30 member 20. Preferably,the rub strip 34 is made of of the channel member 20. In orderto insert the rub rubber or plastic although any material may be strip 34, the strip 34 is first placed on top of the utilized which provides the necessary flexibility and 100 channel member 20 with the lower portion of the rub strength yetwill not damage cargo placed on the slat strip extending partially into the opening 30.

10. Thereafter, the rub strip 34 is forced into the channel Integral ly formed with the side walls 28 of the member 20 utilizing a mallet or similartool. Asthe channel member 20 are retaining shoulders 36 which rub strip 34 is displaced downwardly,the retaining preventthe vertical displacement of the rub strip 34 105 shoulders 36 of the channel member 20 cause the through the opening 30. These retaining shoulders lower portion of the rub strip 34to compress 36 are disposed inwardlyfrom the sidewalls 28 and inwardly aboutthe compression groove 50 until the are preferably merely an extension of the sidewalls flanges 40 of the retaining shoulders 36 engagethe 28. Each of the retaining shoulders 36 areformed by opposing horizontal grooves 48. in this position,the a downwardly depending portion 38 disposed 110 top surface 42 of the rub strip 34 extends completely inwardlyfrom the wall 20 and a flange portion 40 across the channel member 20 to prevent any cargo extending horizontally inwardlyfrom and placed on the slat 10 from rubbing againstthe metal perpendicularto the downwardly depending portion channel member20.

38.Ashasbeen noted,inthe preferred embodiment, Thus, the present invention provides a the downwardly depending portion38andthe 115 load-bearing slatof a luggage rack which isdesigned inwardly extending flange 40 arean extension ofthe to preventvertical displacement of the rub strip respective side wall 20. relative to the channel membereven underextreme The rub strip 34, which is fixedly retained within loads. Because of the horizontal engagement thetop opening 30 of the channel member 20, has an between the retaining shoulders 36 and the grooves arched top surface 42 upon which the cargo rests. 120 48 of the rub strip 34, the rub strip 34 is locked within Thetop surface 42 includes a plurality of grooves 44 the channel member 20.

which enhancethe frictional engagement between The foregoing detailed description has been given the rub strip 34 and any cargo. Formed in the vertical for clearness of understanding only and no sidewalls 46 of the rub strip 34 are opposing unnecessary limitations should be understood horizontal grooves 48 which extend substantially the 125 therefrom as some modifications will be obviousto entire length of the rub strip 34. These grooves 48 are those skilled in the artwithout departing from the adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges 40 scope of the appended claims.

of the retaining shoulders 36 as will be subsequently described. Finally, the lower portion of the rub strip 34 includes a compression groove 50 which 3 GB 2 191 747 A 3

Claims

CLAIMS opening of said channel member, said means

1. A load-beari ng slat fora surface mounted comprising the engaging cooperation of said vehicle luggage carrier, said slat comprising: retaining shoulders of said channel memberw!thin an elongated channel member mounted to said said opposing grooves of said rub strip.

vehicle surface, said channel member having a pair 70 10. The slat as defined in claim 9 wherein said of side walls defining atop opening; retaining shoulders of said side walls are formed by an elongated rub strip mounted within said top a downwardly depending portion disposed inwardly opening of said channel member; and from said wall and a flange portion extending means forfixedly retaining said rub strip within horizontally inwardlyfrom said downwardly said top opening thereby preventing vertical 75 depending portion, said flange portion extending displacement of said rub strip relative to said top perpendicularto said downwardly depending opening of said channel member. portion.

2. The slat as defined in claim 1 wherein said side 11. The slat as defined in claim 10 wherein said walls include retaining shoulders disposed inwardly flange portion of said sidewalls extends into said from said side walls. 80 groove of said rub strip to fixedly restrain said rub

3. The slat as defined in claim 2 wherein said stri p.

retaining shoulders of said side wal Is are formed by 12. The slat as defined in claim 11 wherein said a downwardly depending portion disposed inwardly downwardly depending portions and said inwardly from said wall and a flange portion extending extending flanges form an extension of said side horizontally inwardlyfrom said downwardly 85 walls of said channel member.

depending portion. 13. A load-bearing slat fora vehicle luggage

4. The slat as defined in claim 3 wherein said carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with retaining shoulders are integrally formed with their reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or respective side wall, said downwardly depending Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

portion and said inwardly extending flange forming 90 14. A vehicle luggage carrier including a an extension of said side wall. load-bearing slat as in any preceding claim.

5. The slat as defined in claim 2 wherein said rub strip includes opposing horizontal grooves Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by extending substantially the length of said strip, said Croydon Printing Company (L) K) Ltd, 11187, D8991685.

grooves having a substantially rectangular Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 'I AY, cross-section. from which copies may be obtained.

6. The slat as defined in claim 5 wherein said retaining means comprises said retaining shoulders of said channel member engagingly cooperating with said opposing grooves of said rub strip, said horizontal flange portions extending into said grooves of said rub strip.

7. The slat as defined in claim 2 wherein said rub strip includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion having a tapered cross-section to facilitate insertion of said rub strip into said channel member and said upper portion extending above said channel memberto form the load-bearing surface of said slat.

8. The slat as defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical dimension of the channel member is greater than the horizontal dimension of the channel member.

9. Aload-bearing slatfora surface mounted vehicle luggage carrier, said slat comprising:

an elongated channel member mounted to said vehicle surface, said channel member having a pair of side walls defining a top opening and retaining shoulders substantially perpendicularto thevehicle surface integrally formed with and disposed inwa rd ly from said side wa 1 Is; an elongated rub strip having an upper portion, a lower portion and vertical side walls extending therebetween, said rub strip mounted within said top opening of said channel member and including opposing horizontal grooves formed in the side walls of said rub strip; and meansforfixedly retaining said rub strip within said top opening thereby preventing vertical displacement of said rub strip relative to said top