Load carrier support assembly for vehicle bed frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022185394-A1
Application number	US-202117548113-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2021
Priority date	Dec 11, 2020
Publication date	Jun 16, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A support assembly for securing a load carrier to a bed structure of a vehicle includes a clamp assembly and a tensioning device. The clamp assembly for clamping the load carrier to the bed structure of the vehicle includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member opposite the first jaw member. The second jaw member includes a first hook member and a second hook member opposite the first hook member. The first hook member has a first concave portion facing towards the first jaw member. The second hook member has a second concave portion facing away from the first jaw member. The clamp assembly is attachable to a plurality of different vehicle bed structures. The tensioning device is coupled to the clamp assembly and is configured to tighten the clamp assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A support assembly for securing a load carrier to a bed structure of a vehicle, the support assembly comprising:
a clamp assembly for clamping the load carrier to the bed structure of the vehicle, the clamp assembly comprising:
a first jaw member; and
a second jaw member opposite the first jaw member, the second jaw member comprising:
a first hook member having a first concave portion facing towards the first jaw member; and
a second hook member opposite the first hook member and having a second concave portion facing away from the first jaw member,

wherein the clamp assembly is attachable to a plurality of different vehicle bed structures; and a tensioning device coupled to the clamp assembly and configured to tighten the clamp assembly.

2 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second jaw member is monolithic.

3 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hook members are interchangeably connected to the tensioning device such that the first hook member can be disposed between the first jaw member and the second hook member in a first configuration, and the second hook member can be disposed between the first jaw member and the first hook member in a second configuration.

4 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first concave portion comprises a U-shape.

5 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first hook member comprises:
a first hook leg configured to couple to the tensioning device; and a second hook leg spaced laterally from the first hook leg and configured to couple to the bed structure of the vehicle in a locked configuration.

6 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first hook member comprises a bevel configured to accommodate the plurality of different vehicle bed structures and to decrease a distance between the second jaw member and the bed structure in a locked configuration.

7 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second concave portion comprises a U-shape.

8 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second hook member comprises:
a first hook leg configured to couple to the tensioning device; and a second hook leg spaced laterally from the first hook leg and configured to couple to the bed structure of the vehicle in a locked configuration.

9 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second hook member comprises a bevel configured to accommodate the plurality of different vehicle bed structures and to decrease a distance between the second jaw member and the bed structure in a locked configuration.

10 . The support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hook members are separated from each other along a transverse edge.

11 . A jaw member for a clamp assembly for clamping a load carrier to a bed structure of a vehicle, the jaw member comprising:
a first hook member; a second hook member opposite the first hook member; and a gap disposed between the first and second hook members, wherein the gap is at least about 19.5 mm, wherein the jaw member is attachable to a plurality of different vehicle bed structures.

12 . The jaw member of claim 11 , wherein the first and second hook members are interchangeable with one another such that the first hook member can be disposed above the second hook member in a first configuration, and the second hook member can be disposed above the first hook member in a second configuration.

13 . The jaw member of claim 11 , wherein the first hook member comprises:
a first hook leg comprising a through hole for a tensioning device; and a second hook leg spaced laterally from the first hook leg and configured to couple to the bed structure of the vehicle in a locked configuration.

14 . The jaw member of claim 13 , wherein the second hook leg comprises a distal contact surface having a surface area of at least about 270 mm 2 to distribute a force between the first hook member and the bed structure along the distal contact surface in the locked configuration.

15 . The jaw member of claim 13 , wherein the first and second hook legs are spaced laterally from each other by an interior distance of about 19 mm.

16 . The jaw member of claim 11 , wherein the first hook member comprises a bevel at an angle of at least about 13 degrees.

17 . The jaw member of claim 13 , wherein the second hook member comprises:
a first hook leg comprising a through hole for a tensioning device; and a second hook leg spaced laterally from the first hook leg and configured to couple to the bed structure of the vehicle in a locked configuration.

18 . The jaw member of claim 17 , wherein the second hook leg comprises a distal contact surface having a surface area of at least about 360 mm 2 to distribute a force between the second hook member and the bed structure along the distal contact surface in the locked configuration.

19 . The jaw member of claim 11 , wherein a length of the second hook member along a longitudinal axis of the jaw member is greater than a length of the first hook member along the longitudinal axis.

20 . A system for securing a load carrier to a bed structure of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a load carrier foot; and a support assembly coupled to the load carrier foot, the support assembly comprising:
a clamp assembly for clamping the load carrier to the bed structure of the vehicle, the clamp assembly comprising:
a first jaw member; and
a second jaw member opposite the first jaw member,

wherein the clamp assembly is attachable to a plurality of different vehicle bed structures;
a first tensioning device coupled to the clamp assembly and configured to tighten the clamp assembly; and a second tensioning device coupled to the clamp assembly and configured to secure the load carrier foot to the clamp assembly.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the second jaw member comprises:
a first hook member having a first concave portion facing towards the first jaw member; and a second hook member opposite the first hook member and having a second concave portion facing away from the first jaw member.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first jaw member comprises a pad configured to contact the bed structure of the vehicle.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the pad comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the pad comprises an exterior surface that is substantially flat.

25 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the pad comprises an aperture for the second tensioning device.

26 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first jaw member comprises an L-shape.

27 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the first jaw member comprises an aperture for the second tensioning device.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Champa Calvin
• Settelmayer Joseph

Classifications

• B62D33/0273

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D33/0207 Primary

  Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms · CPC title

• F16B2/065 Primary

  using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B2/06

  external, i.e. with contracting action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R9/06

  at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} · CPC title