Load carrier foot for clamping a load carrier at a roof of a vehicle.

Technical area

The present invention refers to a load carrier foot for clamping a load carrier at an edge portion or a border of a roof of a vehicle, comprising a support plate, which abuts against the roof of the vehicle and having a downwardly bent gripping edge, which grips around one side of the edge portion or the border of the roof of the vehicle, a clamping jaw and a tightening means, which is arranged to move the clamping jaw against the other side of the edge portion or the border of the roof of the vehicle, such that the load carrier foot being firmly clamped around the border of the roof, between said clamping jaw and the gripping edge of the support plate.

State of the art

A load carrier of introductory described kind is previously known through SE 522 883, which shows a support device to fasten a load carrier to the roof of a vehicle. The support device comprises an essentially rigid hook, which is connected with a load carrier foot and being formed to grip around an edge portion, in shape of a body fold in the area of transition of the roof of the vehicles to the side of the vehicle or the opening of a door. By aid of a screw, the hook is tightened against the load carrier foot to fasten the foot to the vehicle. A support means is fastened to the side of the vehicle in the area beneath the edge portion, wherein the hook having an elongation, which extends from the edge portion and downwardly along the side of the vehicle, where it cooperates with the support means. Thus, the support means forms a gap between itself and the side of the vehicle, which cooperating with the elongation of the hook.

The previously known load carrier functions satisfactory, but requires that said support means being firmly mounted at the vehicle, which result in increased costs.

Problem

The problem with a load carrier of known kind is that it can be difficult to fit the load carrier, in such way that the load carrier foot, at each end of the load carrier tube, grips around respective border of the roof. An adjustment screw is commonly used to adapt the load carrier to different tolerances in the roof, which result in a huge cost for the product. In addition, there is a risk that the roof become unnecessary deformed at a possible crash with the vehicle.

Solution

The purpose with the present invention is to reduce the cost for a load carrier and to reduce the risk for deformation of the roof of the vehicle at a possible crash.

The present invention overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages with a load carrier foot of introductory mentioned kind, which is characterised in that said clamping jaw is designed of spring steel with high tensile yield limit, wherein the clamping jaw absorbs occurring tolerances of the border of the roof.

Brief description of the figures

A load carrier foot according to the present invention will hereafter be described with references to the enclosed figures, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective of a load carrier foot, according to the present invention, in a non-tightened position,

figure 2 is a schematic view in perspective of the load carrier foot, according to figure 1, at tightening, and

figure 3 is a schematic view in perspective of the load carrier foot, according to figure 1, in a tightened position and being provided with a load carrier tube.

Preferred embodiment

The load carrier foot 1 shown in figure 1 to 3 is intended for clamping of a load carrier around a firm edge portion or a border 2 of the roof. The border 2 is commonly shaped by a body folding of the roof in the area of the transition of the roof to the side of the vehicle or to the opening of the door of a vehicle (not shown). In the figures, only one load carrier foot 1 is shown and to clearly illustrate the invention it is shown without any covering casing. A load carrier comprises, as is commonly known, a load carrier tube 3, which extends across the roof of the vehicle between two along with the roof of the vehicle firmly arranged borders 2 of the roof, with one in each end arranged load carrier foot 1, for clamping of the load carrier around the two essentially parallel borders 2 of the roof. The load carrier tube can of course have optional cross-section, as an example square-shaped or oval profile.

The load carrier foot 1 is formed by bending a plate, preferably made of metal or similar rigid material. The foot is attached at the load carrier tube 3, with a mounting means 4 comprising a fastening plate 5 and a screw (not shown). The mounting means 4 is intended to be moved, in a known manner, into a corresponding opening in the load carrier tube 3 and by aid of a screw firmly clamp the load carrier tube 3 between the fastening plate 5 and the load carrier foot 1. The load carrier foot 1 is slidable along the opening in the load carrier tube 3 and being fϊxable in the right position related to the essentially parallel borders 2 of the roof. An important part of the invention is that the load carrier tube 3 is turnable fixed at the load carrier foot 1, i.e. only one screw or other similar mounting means being used, simultaneously as the load carrier foot 1 do not have any support surfaces, which may obstruct turning of the load carrier tube 3 relative to the load carrier foot 1. Thus, the load carrier foot 1 having an upper flat support surface for the load carrier tube 3. Contrary to known load carriers, which have a relatively firm fixation of the load carrier tube to the load carrier foot, the load carrier tubes of a load carrier according to the present invention, will bend and twist relative respective load carrier foot at a possible crash, when the load carrier support heavy load. Thereby the damages on the roof of the vehicle will decrease and consequently the repair cost will also decrease.

The load carrier foot 1 comprises a support plate 6, in shape of a bracket, which rests against the roof of the vehicle and having a downwardly bent gripping edge 7, which grips one of the side edge portion or the border 2 of the roof of the vehicle, and two upwardly bent sides 8, which have an upper projection 9 which extend into a corresponding recess 10 in the load carrier foot 1, to fix the support plate 6 to the load carrier foot 1. Through an easy cutting of the two upwardly bent sides 8, it is possible to adapt the height of the support plate, at a low cost, to the design of the roof and the border of the roof of different car models. Preferably, the support plate is made of a steel plate, but naturally, it could also be designed of other material, such as a plastic material or similar.

The load carrier foot 1 also comprising a clamping jaw 11 and a tightening means 12, which is arranged to move the clamping jaw against the other side of the edge portion or the border 2 of the roof of the vehicle, such that the load carrier foot 1 being firmly clamped around the border 2 of the roof, between said clamping jaw 11 and the gripping edge 7 of the support plate 6.

The tightening means 12 comprises in the embodiment shown a lever 13, in shape of a shackle or an handle, with at least one turnable plate 14, having essentially two side edges 15 and 16, which

are intended to alternating support against the load carrier foot 1 in a first non tightened position and in a tightened position, respectively. An axle 17 is arranged in the end of the side edge 15, for a turnable fixation of the clamping jaw 11. Preferably, the tightening means 12 comprises two plates 14 and the axle 17 arranged therebetween. The plates 14 are thus designed mainly as right-angled triangles, with the axle 17 located in one acute angle and in which a turning of the plates 14 around the right angle moves the axle 17 from a non tightened position adjacent the support plate 6, where the side edge 15 abuts against the load carrier foot 1, to a tightened position on distance from said support plate 6, where the side edge 16 abuts against the load carrier foot 1.

The clamping jaw 11 is according to the present invention designed of spring steel and having a high tensile yield limit, typically above 800MPa, that is the material admits a huge elastic deformation. By the use of spring steel, it will become possible to absorb occurring tolerances of the border 2 of the roof.

The clamping jaw 11 is movable attached at the load carrier foot 1 and having a groove 18, along which the clamping jaw 11 can move relative the load carrier foot 1. The fixation can be designed of a bayonet joint, a screw or in other known manner. Preferably, the clamping jaw 11 comprises a pin 19, which is intended, in a known manner, to fit into a corresponding hole in the vehicle. At tightening of the lever 13, the axle 10 and the elastic clamping jaw 11 are moved in direction against the support plate 6.