Load carrier foot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148606-B2
Application number	US-201816954360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Dec 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed are a load carrier foot for supporting a load bar on a vehicle, a load carrier bracket for coupling a load carrier foot to a vehicle and a load carrier comprising such a load carrier foot and a load carrier bracket. The load carrier foot comprises a holder adapted to receive the load carrier bracket. The holder comprises a sleeve portion defining an accommodating space which is configured to partially accommodate the load carrier bracket.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A load carrier foot for supporting a load bar on a vehicle, said load carrier foot comprising:
a holder adapted to receive a load carrier bracket for coupling said load carrier foot to said vehicle,
wherein said holder comprises a sleeve portion defining an accommodating space which is configured to at least partially accommodate said load carrier bracket,
wherein said sleeve portion comprises an overlap section at which a first joining section and a second joining section are overlapped and
wherein said sleeve portion is formed by bending a metal sheet.

2. The load carrier foot according to claim 1 , wherein said joining sections are joined by material forming at least two joining portions.

3. The load carrier foot according to claim 1 , wherein said sleeve portion has an upper edge portion at least partially defining an upper opening of said sleeve portion, wherein said upper edge portion is configured for an engagement with said load carrier bracket.

4. The load carrier foot according to claim 3 , wherein said upper edge portion is convexly formed.

5. The load carrier foot according to claim 3 , further comprising an urging member configured to apply a pushing force on a holder engaging section of said load carrier bracket towards said upper edge portion.

6. The load carrier foot according to claim 1 , wherein said holder comprises a lower edge portion at least partially defining a lower opening of said sleeve portion, wherein said lower edge portion is configured to contact said load carrier bracket and to transfer a pushing force on said load carrier bracket.

7. The load carrier foot according to claim 1 , wherein said overlap section is quadrangular.

8. A load carrier, comprising:
a load carrier foot comprising a holder adapted to receive a load carrier bracket for coupling said load carrier foot to a vehicle,
wherein said holder comprises a sleeve portion defining an accommodating space which is configured to at least partially accommodate said load carrier bracket,
wherein said sleeve portion comprises an overlap section at which a first joining section and a second joining section are overlapped,
wherein said sleeve portion is formed by bending a metal sheet, and
wherein said load carrier bracket comprises a vehicle engaging section and a trough-shaped coupling portion, said trough-shaped coupling portion extending from said vehicle engaging section in a longitudinal direction of the load carrier bracket and comprising a holder engaging section engageable with said holder of said load carrier foot.

9. The load carrier according to claim 8 , wherein said trough-shaped coupling portion is funnel-shaped with said holder engaging section being formed at a narrow end or wherein said trough-shaped coupling portion is continuously convexly formed in its longitudinal direction and comprises an outer surface adapted to receive a force from said holder of said load carrier foot.

10. The load carrier according to claim 8 , wherein said trough-shaped coupling portion extends over the entire length of the load carrier bracket or at least partially comprises a box-like shape having two side walls and a bottom wall which is arranged substantially perpendicular to said side walls.

11. The load carrier according to claim 8 , wherein a free end of said vehicle engaging section protrudes from said load carrier bracket on one side in a direction which is angled with respect to or is perpendicular to a longitudinal extension direction of said trough-shaped coupling portion and wherein said trough-shaped coupling portion provides a bulging which is provided on a side of said load carrier bracket opposite to the side where said free end of the vehicle engaging section protrudes from said load carrier bracket, or wherein said trough-shaped coupling portion provides said bulging in only one direction.

12. The load carrier according to claim 8 , wherein said holder engaging section is configured such that said load carrier bracket can be hooked on said holder.

13. The load carrier according to claim 12 , wherein said holder engaging section comprises two hooks, and wherein said hooks and a free end of said vehicle engaging section protrude from a same side of said load carrier bracket or wherein said hooks are configured such that they can be engaged with an upper edge portion of said sleeve portion.

14. The load carrier according to claim 8 , wherein said load carrier bracket is partially accommodated in said accommodating space and releasably engaged with said holder.

15. The load carrier according to claim 14 , wherein said load carrier foot further comprises a tightening member having a tightening member operating portion arranged in said accommodating space between an inner wall of said holder and said load carrier bracket.

16. The load carrier according to claim 15 , wherein said holder and said load carrier bracket comprise access openings configured to provide tool access to said tightening member operating portion.

17. A load carrier foot for supporting a load bar on a vehicle, said load carrier foot comprising:
a holder adapted to receive a load carrier bracket for coupling said load carrier foot to said vehicle,
wherein said holder comprises a sleeve portion defining an accommodating space which is configured to at least partially accommodate said load carrier bracket,
wherein said sleeve portion is formed such that said accommodating space is tapered in a longitudinal direction towards an upper portion of said holder,
wherein said sleeve portion further comprises an inner wall and two side walls, wherein at least said side walls are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction in order to form said tapered accommodating space,
wherein said sleeve portion comprises an overlap section at which a first joining section and a second joining section are overlapped, and
wherein said overlap section defines an outer wall of said sleeve portion.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Andersson Stefan
• Larsson Fredrik

Classifications

• B60R2011/0052

  using screws, bolts, rivets or the like · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R9/058 Primary

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

• B60R9/05

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