Crossbar clamp actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040403-B2
Application number	US-201615167774-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A crossbar clamp actuator of a crossbar-to-vehicle coupler may include a horizontally traveling wedge block having a ramped, downward-facing first slide surface, and a wedge follower having a second slide surface in frictional contact with the first slide surface of the traveling wedge block. Substantially horizontal repositioning of the traveling wedge block may cause the ramped first slide surface to urge the wedge follower downward, thereby actuating a crossbar clamp.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rack for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle, the rack comprising:
a crossbar and a pair of couplers configured to mount the crossbar on top of a vehicle such that a long axis of the crossbar is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
wherein each coupler includes:
a crossbar clamp having a crossbar seat and a crossbar connector movable relative to the crossbar seat; and
a crossbar clamp actuator comprising
a horizontally traveling wedge block having a ramped, downward-facing first slide surface, and
a wedge follower coupled to and movable with the crossbar connector, the wedge follower having a second slide surface in frictional contact with the first slide surface of the traveling wedge block, such that horizontal repositioning of the traveling wedge block causes the ramped first slide surface to urge the wedge follower downward, moving the crossbar connector downward relative to the crossbar seat.

2. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the first slide surface of the traveling wedge block is a planar surface.

3. The rack of claim 2 , wherein the ramped first slide surface defines a first ramp angle, and the second slide surface is ramped at a second ramp angle complementary to the first ramp angle.

4. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further includes a threaded screw passing through a housing of the actuator and inserted into an end of the traveling wedge block, such that rotation of the threaded screw is configured to cause the horizontal repositioning of the traveling wedge block.

5. The rack of claim 1 , wherein each coupler further includes a vehicle interface configured to releasably secure the coupler to a corresponding feature of the vehicle.

6. The rack of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle interface includes at least one clip configured to grasp the feature of the vehicle.

7. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the crossbar connector includes a sleeve shaped to slide onto and generally conform to an outer shape of the crossbar.

8. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the crossbar connector includes a flange configured to slide into a slot of the crossbar, such that the flange spans a pair of opposing lips of the slot.

9. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the traveling wedge block is horizontally repositionable parallel to the long axis of the crossbar.

10. A coupling device for mounting a cargo rack to a vehicle, the coupling device comprising:
a coupler having a vehicle interface clamp configured to releasably secure the coupler to a vehicle feature, and a crossbar clamp actuator including a traveling wedge block having a ramped first slide surface, and a movable wedge follower having a second slide surface in frictional contact with the first slide surface of the traveling wedge block; and
a crossbar clamp having a first clamping portion operatively connected to and movable with the wedge follower and a second clamping portion fixed relative to the coupler;
wherein repositioning of the traveling wedge block along a first path causes the ramped first slide surface to urge the wedge follower along a second path orthogonal to the first path, such that the first clamping portion moves closer to the second clamping portion.

11. The coupling device of claim 10 , wherein the first path is in a horizontal, outboard direction when the coupler is mounted on a vehicle.

12. The coupling device of claim 10 , wherein the ramped first slide surface defines a first angle, and the second slide surface is ramped at a second angle complementary to the first angle.

13. The coupling device of claim 12 , wherein the second slide surface and the first slide surface are planar.

14. The coupling device of claim 10 , the crossbar clamp actuator further including a threaded screw passing through a structural plate and into an end of the traveling wedge block, such that rotation of the screw causes repositioning of the traveling wedge block along the first path.

15. A method for attaching a crossbar to a vehicle, the method comprising:
connecting a crossbar clamp to a clamp actuator of a coupler assembly, the clamp actuator having a traveling wedge block operatively connected to a movable wedge follower, such that a first portion of the crossbar clamp is attached to and movable with the wedge follower;
capturing a crossbar with the first portion of the crossbar clamp; and
clamping the crossbar to the coupler assembly by repositioning the traveling wedge block in a first direction across the movable wedge follower, such that the movable wedge follower is forced in a second direction, urging the first portion of the crossbar clamp into a clamping position;
wherein the first direction is parallel to a long axis of the crossbar.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein urging the first portion of the crossbar clamp into the clamping position includes urging the first portion toward a second portion of the crossbar clamp.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein capturing the crossbar with the first portion of the crossbar clamp includes inserting the crossbar into a sleeve portion of the crossbar clamp.

19. The method of claim 15 , further including selecting the crossbar clamp from a plurality of different crossbar clamps.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein connecting the crossbar clamp to the clamp actuator includes bolting the first portion of the crossbar clamp to the clamp actuator.

Assignees

• Yakima Products Inc

Inventors

• Mcfadden Scott A
• Kraeuter Charles
• Elliott John Mark
• D'Angelo Gian-Marco

Classifications

• B60R2011/0059

  using clips, clamps, straps or the like · CPC title

• B60R9/05 Primary

  Carriers characterised by wind deflecting means (wind deflectors for open roofs B60J7/22) · CPC title

• B60R9/058 Primary

  characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof · CPC title

• B60R9/052

  Carriers comprising elongate members extending only transversely of vehicle (B60R9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B21C23/14

  Making other products · CPC title