Load carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12054124-B2
Application number	US-202217748671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2022
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

A roof rack foot for securing a cross bar to a roof of a vehicle. The roof rack foot includes a clamping portion and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism includes an actuation element with an actuation device, and an engagement element. The actuation element is movably engaged with the engagement element in an engagement zone. The roof rack foot is configured to be secured to the roof or the cross bar by the clamping portion by operating the adjustment mechanism with the actuation device. The actuation device and the engagement zone are at least partially provided on opposite sides of the clamping portion in at least one operating condition of the roof rack foot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A roof rack foot for securing a cross bar to a roof of a vehicle, the roof rack foot comprising:
a clamping portion; and
an adjustment mechanism comprising:
an actuation element with an actuation device, and
an engagement element,

wherein the actuation element is movably engaged with the engagement element in an engagement zone,
wherein the roof rack foot is configured to be secured to the roof or the cross bar by the clamping portion by operating the adjustment mechanism with the actuation device,
wherein the actuation device and the engagement zone are at least partially provided on opposite sides of the clamping portion in at least one operating condition of the roof rack foot,
wherein the actuation element is a nut and the engagement element is a threaded bolt, and
wherein the nut is coupled with the threaded bolt in the engagement zone.

2. The roof rack foot according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation device and the engagement zone are provided on opposite sides of the clamping portion in all operating conditions of the roof rack foot.

3. The roof rack foot according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation device comprises a mechanical interface for a tool or a grip portion for turning by hand.

4. The roof rack foot according to claim 3 , wherein the mechanical interface is a hexagonal hole.

5. The roof rack foot according to claim 3 , wherein the nut comprises a clearance hole, and
wherein the mechanical interface is provided at a first end portion of the clearance hole and an internal thread is provided at a second end portion of the clearance hole.

6. The roof rack foot according to claim 5 , wherein the clearance hole does not include a mechanical interface or internal thread between the first and second end portions.

7. The roof rack foot according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation element is integrally formed.

8. The roof rack foot according to claim 7 , wherein the actuation element is formed by cold forming.

9. The roof rack foot according to claim 1 , wherein the roof rack foot comprises a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion configured to clamp the roof rack foot to the roof of the vehicle, and
wherein the actuation device is provided on a side of the second clamping portion facing away from the first clamping portion and the engagement zone is provided between the first and second clamping portions.

10. The roof rack foot according to claim 9 , wherein the first clamping portion and second clamping portion are configured to clamp a roof rail therebetween.

11. A roof rack comprising:
a roof rack foot comprising:
a clamping portion; and
an adjustment mechanism comprising:
an actuation element, and
an engagement element,

wherein the actuation element is movably engaged with the engagement element,
wherein the actuation element comprises a shoulder configured to engage with the clamping portion,
wherein the roof rack foot is configured to be secured to a roof or a cross bar of a vehicle by the clamping portion by operating the adjustment mechanism, and
wherein operating the adjustment mechanism causes the shoulder of the actuation element to be brought into engagement with the clamping portion to displace the clamping portion.

12. The roof rack according to claim 11 , wherein the actuation element is a nut and the engagement element is a threaded bolt.

13. The roof rack according to claim 11 , wherein the roof rack foot comprises a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion configured to clamp the roof rack foot to the roof of the vehicle,
wherein the actuation element comprises an actuation device, and
wherein the actuation device is provided on a side of the second clamping portion facing away from the first clamping portion.

14. The roof rack according to claim 13 , further comprising a cross bar, wherein when the roof rack foot is secured to the roof by the clamping portion, operating the adjustment mechanism moves an anchoring portion of the second clamping portion to bring the anchoring portion into engagement with the cross bar of the roof rack.

15. The roof rack according to claim 11 , wherein the actuation element is movably engaged with the engagement element in an engagement zone, and
wherein the actuation device and the engagement zone are at least partially provided on opposite sides of the clamping portion in at least one operating condition of the roof rack foot.

16. A roof rack foot for securing a cross bar to a roof of a vehicle, the roof rack foot comprising:
a clamping portion; and
an adjustment mechanism comprising:
an actuation element with an actuation device, and
an engagement element,

wherein the actuation element is movably engaged with the engagement element in an engagement zone,
wherein the actuation element comprises a shoulder configured to engage with the clamping portion,
wherein the roof rack foot is configured to be secured to the roof or the cross bar by the clamping portion by operating the adjustment mechanism with the actuation device, and
wherein the actuation device and the engagement zone are at least partially provided on opposite sides of the clamping portion in at least one operating condition of the roof rack foot.

17. The roof rack according to claim 16 , wherein the shoulder engages with the clamping portion on a side where the actuation device is located.

18. The roof rack according to claim 16 , wherein the shoulder is provided substantially centrally in a length direction of the actuation element.

19. The roof rack foot of claim 16 , wherein operating the adjustment mechanism with the actuation device causes the shoulder of the actuation element to be brought into engagement with the clamping portion to displace the clamping portion.

20. The roof rack foot of claim 16 , wherein the clamping portion comprises an opening through which the actuation element extends.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Olaison Hannes
• Nordangård Markus
• Andersson Joakim
• Persson Joakim
• Wikström Peter
• Bolmstam Johan
• Millberg Victor

Classifications

• B60Y2200/14

  Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses · CPC title

• B60Y2200/11

  Passenger cars; Automobiles · CPC title

• B60R2011/0059

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

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R9/058 Primary

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