Strap-type vehicle-to-crossbar coupler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131288-B2
Application number	US-201615176116-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A rack for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle that may include a crossbar and a pair of coupler assemblies for connecting opposing ends of the crossbar to raised rails on top of the vehicle. Each coupler assembly may include a body, a securing assembly to secure the body to the raised roof rail, and a crossbar clamp, where the securing assembly and the crossbar clamp are independently adjustable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rack for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle, the rack comprising:
a crossbar for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle and a pair of coupler assemblies configured for securing the crossbar on top of the vehicle; wherein each coupler assembly includes
a body configured to rest upon an upper surface of a raised roof rail;
a securing assembly configured to secure the body to the raised roof rail, the securing assembly including
a resilient strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the body and the second end being selectively attachable to the body, such that an intervening portion of the resilient strap is configured to pass beneath the raised roof rail; and
a strap tightening mechanism configured to reversibly shorten an effective length of the resilient strap to secure the body to the raised roof rail; and

a crossbar clamp, including
a crossbar seat disposed on an upper surface of the body;
a crossbar connector that is complementary to the crossbar and movable relative to the crossbar seat; and
a crossbar clamp mechanism configured to urge the crossbar, via the crossbar connector, against the crossbar seat;

wherein the securing assembly and the crossbar clamp are independently adjustable.

2. The rack of claim 1 , wherein a long axis of the crossbar is substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the strap tightening mechanism includes a first actuator that is configured to reversibly shorten the effective length of the resilient strap when rotated.

6. The rack of claim 5 , wherein the crossbar clamp mechanism includes a second actuator that is configured to urge the crossbar against the crossbar seat when rotated.

7. The rack of claim 6 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are disposed on a same side of the body.

8. The rack of claim 6 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are disposed on an outboard side of the body.

9. The rack of claim 6 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be rotated using a single tool.

10. The rack of claim 1 , wherein the crossbar clamp mechanism includes
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
the crossbar connector is movable with the wedge follower;
so that repositioning the traveling wedge block along a first path causes the ramped first slide surface to urge the wedge follower along a second path substantially orthogonal to the first path, such that the crossbar connector is urged closer to the crossbar seat, thereby clamping the crossbar against the crossbar seat.

11. The rack of claim 10 , wherein the crossbar clamp mechanism includes a second actuator that includes a threaded screw inserted into an end of the traveling wedge block, such that rotation of the threaded screw causes repositioning of the traveling wedge block along the first path.

12. A coupler assembly configured to secure a crossbar on top of a vehicle, comprising;
a body configured to rest upon an upper surface of a raised rail;
a securing assembly configured to secure the body to the raised rail, the securing assembly including
a resilient strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the body and the second end being selectively attachable to the body, such that an intervening portion of the resilient strap is configured to pass beneath the raised roof rail; and
a strap tightening mechanism configured to reversibly shorten an effective length of the resilient strap when a first actuator is rotated and thereby secure the body to the raised roof rail; and

a crossbar clamp, including
a crossbar seat disposed on an upper surface of the body;
a crossbar connector that is movable relative to the crossbar seat; and
a crossbar clamp mechanism configured to urge a crossbar, via the crossbar connector, against the crossbar seat when a second actuator is rotated;

wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are independently adjustable.

13. The coupler assembly of claim 12 , wherein an axis of rotation of the first actuator and an axis of rotation of the second actuator are aligned in a vertical plane.

14. The coupler assembly of claim 13 , wherein the vertical plane is substantially parallel to a lateral axis of the crossbar.

15. The coupler assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be accessed at an outboard side of the body.

16. The coupler assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are threaded screws that are each configured to be rotatable with a single tool.

17. The coupler assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a locking feature configured to prevent unwanted access to at least one of the first and second actuators.

18. The coupler assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coupler assembly is configured so that the crossbar clamp mechanism can be loosened, and the crossbar connector can be replaced with a second crossbar connector that is complementary to a second crossbar without adjusting the securing assembly.

19. The coupler assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coupler assembly is configured so that the strap tightening mechanism can increase the effective length of the resilient strap, and the second end of the resilient strap can be detached from the body, without adjusting the crossbar clamp or the crossbar connector.

20. A rack for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle, the rack comprising:
a crossbar for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle and a pair of coupler assemblies configured for securing the crossbar on top of the vehicle; wherein each coupler assembly includes
a body configured to rest upon an upper surface of a raised roof rail;
a securing assembly configured to secure the body to the raised roof rail, the securing assembly including
a resilient strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the body and the second end being selectively attachable to the body, such than an intervening portion of the resilient strap is configured to pass beneath the raised roof rail; and
a strap tightening mechanism configured to reversibly shorten an effective length of the resilient strap when a first actuator is rotated and thereby secure the body to the raised roof rail; and

a crossbar clamp, including
a crossbar seat disposed on an upper surface of the housing;
a crossbar connector that is complementary to the crossbar and movable relative to the crossbar seat; and
a crossbar clamp mechanism configured to urge the crossbar, via the crossbar connector, against the crossbar seat when a second actuator is rotated;

wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are disposed in vertical alignment on an outboard side of the housing, and are configured to be independently adjusted using a single tool.

Assignees

• Yakima Products Inc

Inventors

• Elliott John Mark

Classifications

• 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

• B60R9/05 Primary

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

• B60R2011/0059

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

• B21C23/14

  Making other products · CPC title