Description ROOF CARRIER FOR VEHICLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a roof carrier for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a roof carrier for a vehicle that prevents a cross bar moved along rails from being tilted and minimizes a friction between the cross bar and the rail to realize a smooth movement of the cross bar. Also, the present invention relates to a roof carrier for a vehicle which can easily lock a cross to rails and release a locked cross bar from the rails. Background Art

[2] In general, a roof carrier is the device installed on an upper side of a roof panel of a vehicle to enable leisure or sports articles and other packages to be loaded thereon so as to solve an inconvenience of accommodating baggage or other articles and the like caused by a narrow interior space of a vehicle.

[3] Such conventional roof carrier comprises rails provided at both sides of the roof panel in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle and cross bars intersecting the rails. The cross bars can be slid along the rails, and so a distance between the cross bars can be adjusted according to a size of package.

[4] Below, a structure and function of the above roof carrier are described with reference with FlG. 1.

[5] A roof carrier 10 is provided on a roof panel P of a vehicle. The roof carrier 10 comprises a pair of rails 21 and 22 installed at both sides of the roof panel P in a first direction (i.e., lengthwise direction of the vehicle) and cross bars 11 and 12 disposed between the rails 21 and 22 in a perpendicular direction to the rails. Both end portions of each of the cross bars 11 and 12 are movably coupled to the rails 21 and 22, respectively.

[6] According to a size of package, the user slides the cross bars 11 and 12 on the rails

21 and 22 in the direction of arrow, and so a distance between the cross bars 11 and 21 can be adjusted. On the other hand, both end portions of each of the cross bars 11 and 12 are secured to and released from the both rails 21 and 22 through a securing means (not shown).

[7] In the roof carrier 10 constituted as described above, however, both sides of each of the cross bars 11 and 12 should be moved by the same force and the same rate. Due to this conditions, there is an inconvenience that two persons should seize both sides of each cross bar 11 (or 12), respectively and then apply a force simultaneously to the cross bar.

[8] In addition, while the cross bars 11 and 12 are moved, if a magnitude of force applied to one side of the cross bar differs from that of a force applied to the other side of the cross bar, one end portion of the cross bar 11 (or 12) may be tilted at an angle with respect to the rails 21 and 22 as shown in FlG. 2. Under this situation, each of the cross bars 11 and 12 can not be moved normally on the rails 21 and 22.

[9] In particular, in a case where only one person moves the cross bars 11 and 12, a force is applied to only one end portion of each cross bar, and so the cross bars 11 and 12 are severely tilted.

[10] On the other hand, an additional cross bar-locking device is required for preventing the cross bar 11 (or 12) from being moved by an external force after the cross bar 11 (or 12) is moved along the rails 22 and 22. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems of the conventional roof carrier, an object of the present invention is to provide a roof carrier in which guide devices are provided at both sides of each cross bar moved on the rails to apply a force uniformly to both end portions of each cross bar, thereby enabling both end portions of the cross bar to move uniformly along the rails.

[12] Another object of the present invention is to provide a roof carrier in which a friction between a cross bar and a rail may be minimized to move smoothly a cross bar and only one user can move conveniently a cross bar.

[ 13] Further another object of the present invention is to provide a roof carrier which can prevent a cross bar from moved although an unintentional external force is applied thereto after the cross bar is moved along the rails. Technical Solution

[14] In order to achieve the above objects, the roof carrier for the vehicle according to the present invention comprises a pair of rails provided at both sides of a roof panel of a vehicle, each rail having a channel defining an upper rail jaw and a lower rail jaw formed in a lengthwise direction of the rail, the channel of one rail being faced to that of the other rail; at least two cross bars provided between the rails and being perpendicular to the rails; a locking device provided at both end portions of the cross bar for locking the cross bar to the rails and releasing the cross bar from the rails; and guiding devices mounted to both end portions of each cross bar for guiding a movement of the cross bar along the rails.

[15] The guiding device constituting the roof carrier according to the present invention comprises a housing mounted to an end portion of the cross bar; an extension plate

extended from the housing toward the rail and having a plurality of engaging jaws formed on a lower surface thereof and contacted with an inner surface of the lower rail jaw of the rail; and at least two rollers provided rotatably on the housing and being contacted with an outer surface of the lower rail jaw of the rail.

[16] Here, the extension plate has a plurality of engaging jaws formed on an upper surface thereof and contacted with an inner surface of the upper rail jaw of the rail, and the rollers are mounted on a front side and a rear side of the housing, respectively.

[17] In particular, the rollers are installed such that a length (height) of a portion of one roller exposed out of the housing is the same as that of the other roller.

[18] In the roof carrier according to the present invention, the locking device includes a first module and a second module provided symmetrically on both end portions of each cross bar and a cable connecting the first and second modules, each module comprises a base mounted in the housing; a lever member provided rotatably on the base; a lever member provided rotatably on the base; a guiding shaft passed through the lever member and fixed to the base through one end thereof; and a pulley receiving member moved slidably along the guiding shaft passed therethrough and having a pulley provided in a space formed therein and a locking pin fixed to a front end thereof and being extended to a hole formed on a vertical wall of the corresponding rail. Also, the cable is placed in the cross bar and wound on the pulleys of the first and second modules and both ends of the cable are fixed to the lever members of the first and second modules, respectively, to move the pulley receiving members toward each other according to a rotation of the lever member of one of the first and second modules.

[19] Each of the first and second modules further comprises a spring surrounding an outer circumference of the guiding shaft between the base and the pulley receiving member, and the lever member comprises an upper horizontal member, a lower horizontal member and first and second vertical members connecting the first and second horizontal members, the lever member is rotated about a shaft fixed to the base and passed through upper sides of the first and second vertical members, the guiding shaft is placed in a space between the first and second vertical members and one end of the cable is secured to a front end of the lower horizontal member. Advantageous Effects

[20] The roof carrier for the vehicle according to the present invention as described above has the advantages in that the cross bar is not tilted with respect to the rails by the rollers when the cross bar is moved and a friction between the cross bar (i.e., the housing of the guiding device coupled to an end portion of each cross bar) and the rail is minimized so that only one user can move smoothly and stably the cross bar along

the rails.

[21] In addition, the cross bar can be locked to the rails and released from the rails by manipulating only one of the first and second modules provided at both end portions of each cross bar. Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[23] FlG. 1 is a partial plane view showing a conventional roof carrier for a vehicle;

[24] FTG. 2 is a view showing a state where a cross bar is tilted while a cross bar is moved along rails;

[25] FlG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cross bar-guiding device constituting the roof carrier according to the present invention;

[26] FTG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where rollers shown in FlG. 3 are mounted to a housing of the cross bar-guiding device;

[27] FlG. 5 is a view showing a state where the cross bar-guiding device is coupled to the rails;

[28] FlG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5

[29] FlG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a cross bar-locking device constituting the loop carrier according to the present invention;

[30] FlG. 8 is a perspective view of a lever member shown in FlG. 7;

[31] FlG. 9 is a perspective view of the first module showing a state where a lever is fixed to the lever member shown in FlG. 7; and

[32] FlG. 10 and FlG. 11 are cross sectional views of the loop carrier according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[33] Hereinafter, the roof carrier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[34] A roof carrier according to the present invention comprises a pair of rails provided at both sides of a roof panel of a vehicle and being parallel with to each other, each rail having a channel formed in a lengthwise direction thereof, at least two cross bars provided between the rails, and guiding devices mounted to both end portions of the cross bar, respectively, each guiding device being slidably coupled to the rail for guiding a movement of the cross bar along the rails. Also, the roof carrier according to the present invention furthercomprises a cross bar-locking device for locking the cross bar to the rails and releasing the cross bar from the rails.

[35] Below, the cross bar guiding device and the cross bar-locking device are separately described.

[36] FlG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cross bar-guiding device constituting the roof carrier according to the present invention and FlG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where rollers shown in FlG. 3 are mounted to a housing of the cross bar-guiding device.

[37] In FlG. 3, on the other hand, only one end portion of one of two cross bars constituting the roof carrier and the guiding device mounted to an end portion of each cross bar are illustrated, and FlG. 4 shows a portion of one of two rails constituting the roof carrier and the guiding device to be coupled with the rail.

[38] Below, the rails 200, the cross bar 300 and the guiding device 400 which are the structural elements constituting the roof carrier 100 of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[39]

[40] Rail 200

[41] The rail 200 is the hollow member having an inner space 200A and mounted on the roof panel of the vehicle. The channel 210 is formed on one side of the rail 200 in a lengthwise directionof the rail 20. Due to this channel 210, an upper rail jaw 211 and a lower rail jaw 212 are formed on an upper side and a lower side of one side of the channel 210. On the other hand, on a vertical wall 220 corresponding to the channel 210, a plurality of holes (not shown) are formed. Two rails 200 having the above structure are disposed in parallel such that the channels 210 formed on one side of the rails, respectively, are faced to each other.

[42]

[43] Cross bar 300

[44] Two cross bars 300 are disposed between the rails 200 (see FlG. 1 and FlG. 2), and each cross bar is perpendicular to the rails 200. The guiding devices are mounted to both end portions of each cross bar 300, respectively, and are slidably coupled with the rails 200. Accordingly, the cross bar 300 can beslid along the rails 200 through the guiding devices 400.

[45]

[46] Guiding device 400

[47] Each guiding device 400 comprises a housing 401 mounted to each end portion of the cross bar 300; an extension plate 402 extended horizontally from the housing 401; upper engaging jaws 403B and lower engaging jaws 403A formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the extension plate 402, respectively; and rollers 404A and 404B installed rotatably at a front side and rear side of the housing 401.

[48] In FlG. 3 and FIG. 4, sixengaging jaws 403A and 403B are formed at a front side, a

mid portion and a rear side of the upper surface and the lower surface of the extension plate 402. In the present invention, however, the number and location of the engaging jaws 403A and 403B are not limited thereto.

[49] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, on the other hand, recesses having a certain depth are formed on a front and rear sides of the housing 401 corresponding to the rail 200, and the rollers 404A and 404B are received in the recesses, respectively. Each of the rollers 404A and 404B may be rotated in the recess about a pin 405 passed through the housing 401.

[50] A relation between the guide device 400 and the rail 200 constructed as above is described with reference the drawing.

[51] FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where the guiding device is coupled to the rail and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the rail 200 is illustrated by an imaginary line.

[52] The extension plate 402 formed at one side of the housing401 of the guiding device

400 is entered in an inner space 200A of the rail 200 through an end of the channel 210. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the upper and lower engaging jaws 403B, 403 A formed on the extension plate 402 are also placed in the inner space 200A of the rail 200.

[53] In this state, first surfaces (that is, surfaces corresponding to the cross bar 300) of the lower engaging jaws 403A of the extension plate 402 are contacted with an inner surface of the lower rail jaw 212 ofthe rail 200. Also, the rollers 404A and 404B installed rotatably at one side of the housing 401 are contacted with an outer surface of the rail jaw, preferably, the lower rail jaw 212, of the rail 200. Accordingly, the rollers 404 A and 404B are rotatedand moved on the lower rail jaw 212 of the rail 200 without deviating from the rail 200 when an external force is applied to the cross bar 300.

[54] As described above, since the lower engaging jaws 403 A and the rollers 404A and

404B are contacted with both surfaces of the lower engaging jaw 212, the housing, i.e., the cross bar 300 is not tilted, but can be maintained to be perpendicular to the rail 200. To make all the rollers 404A and 404B contact with an outer surface of the lower rail jaw 212 of the rail 400 in a state where the cross bar 300 is not tilted, a length (height) of a portion of one roller (for example, 404A) exposed out of the housing 401 should be equal to that of the other roller (for example, 404B).

[55] In addition, first surfaces (that is, surfaces corresponding to the cross bar 300) of the upper engaging jaws 403B of the extension plate 402 are contacted with an inner surface of the upper rail jaw 211 of the rail 200.

[56] After coupling the guiding devices 400 mounted to end portions of the cross bar 300 with the rails 200 as described above, the user exerts a force to the cross bar 300 so as to move the cross bar 300.

[57] A process of moving the cross bar 300 is as follows.

[58] First, the user manipulates the lever 570 provided on the housing 401 of each guiding device 400 to pull the locking pin 506 inserted in the hole 220-1 (see FIG. 6) of the vertical wall 220 of the rail 200, and so the locking pin 506is drawn out of the hole 220-1.

[59] On the other hand, a relation between the lever 570 and the locking pin 506 and the functions the above members will be described in a description on the cross bar- locking device below.

[60] Under such condition, once the user exerts a force to the cross bar 300, the cross bar

300 is moved along the rails 200. At this time, although a force is applied to only one end portion of the cross bar 300 or a magnitude of force applied to one end portion of the cross bar 300 differs from that of a force applied to the other end portion, since the rollers 404A and 404B of the guiding device 400 mounted to each end portion of the cross bar 300 are contacted with an outer surface of the lower rail jaw 212 of the rail 200 and the lower engaging jaws 403 A are contacted with an inner surface of the lower rail jaw 212, the cross bar 300 is not tilted, and can be smoothly and stably moved on the both rails 200.

[61] In the above process, since the rollers 404A and 404B are contacted with an outer surface of the lower rail j aw 213 of each rail 200 and rotated, when the cross bar 300 is moved, a friction between the housing 400 and the rail 200 is minimized. Consequently, only one user can move conveniently the cross bars 300.

[62] Furthermore, since each roller, a portion of which being protruded out of the housing

401 by a certain height, is contacted with an outer surface of the lower rail jaw 212 of the rail 200, the housing 401 is spaced apart from the rail 200 (that is, an outer surface of the lower rail jaw 212). Accordingly, the housing 401 is not contacted directly with the rail 200 by the rollers 404A and 404B so that the cross bar 300 can be smoothly moved without a generation of tilt.

[63] A structure and function of the cross bar-locking device (hereinafter, referred to as

"locking bar") for locking the cross bas 300 to the rail 200 are illustrated below.

[64]

[65] Ticking device

[66] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the lockingdevice constituting the loop carrier according to the present invention, the locking device comprises a first and second modules 500 and 600 installed at both end portions of each cross bar (not shown in FIG. 7, but indicated by reference numeral "300" in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG 400), respectively, and a cable 710 connecting the first and second modules 500 and 600. Each module is mounted in the housing 401 (in FIG. 5) installed at the cross bar 300, and the cable 710 is placed in an inner space of the cross bar 300.

[67] On the other hand, a structure of the first module 500 is the same as that of the second module 600, and two modules are symmetrically installed at both end portions of the cross bar 300, respectively. Accordingly, the structure of only the first module 500 placed at a right side in FlG. 7 is illustrated as an example.

[68] The first module 500 comprises a base 510, a lever member 520 installed rotatably at the base 510 and a horizontal guiding shaft550 penetrating the lever member 520.

[69] The U-shaped base 510 is installed fixedly in the housing 401 provided at an end portion of the cross bar 300 and has a space 511 formed at a central portion. Extension pieces 512 having a certain height are formed at a front side of the base 510, that is, at both sides corresponding to a front side of the space 511. A through hole 512A is formed on each extension piece 512.

[70] FlG. 8 is a perspective view of the lever member 520 shown in FlG. 7, the lever member 520 comprises an upper horizontal member 523, a lower horizontal member 524 and first and second vertical members 521 and 522 connecting a front side of the upper horizontal member 523 and a rear side of the lower horizontal member 524.

[71] Through holes 521 A and 522A are formed at upper sides of the first and second vertical members 521 and 522 adjacent to the upper horizontal member 523, a shaft can be inserted and received in the through holes 521 A and 522A, and a portion of the shaft is exposed to an exterior. A cable-fixingpin 525 is provided at a front end of the lower horizontal member 524, and a portion of the cable-fixing pin 525 is also exposed to an exterior.

[72] The first and second vertical members 521 and 522 of the lever member 520 is located in the space 511 of the base 510 described above. At this time, the through holes 521A and 522A formed on the first and second vertical members 521 and 522 of the lever member 520 correspond to the through holes 512A formed on the extension pieces 512 of the base 510.

[73] A shaft 590 is inserted and received in the through holes 521A and 522A of the first and second vertical members 521 and 522 and the through holes 512A of the extension pieces 512 formed on a front end of the base 510, and so the lever member 520 is hingeably coupled to the base 510.

[74] The guiding shaft550 is located in a space 526 formed between the first and second vertical members 521 and 522 and the space 511 of the base 510. One end of the guiding shaft 550 is fixed to a rear surface forming the space 511 of the base 510, and the other end is exposed on a front side of the lever member 520.

[75] A pulley receiving member530 is provided at a front side of the guiding shaft 550 and may be slid along the guiding shaft 550. That is, a space 531 is formedon a central portion of the pulley receiving member530, a through hole (not shown) is formed on a rear side, and a portion of the guiding shaft 550 is passed through the through hole and

placed in the space 531 of the pulley receiving member 530. Here, a spring 560 surrounds an outer circumference of the guiding shaft 550 between the rear side of the pulley receiving member 530 and the base 510.

[76] On the other hand, a pulley 540 is rotatably provided in the space 531 of the pulley receiving member 530, and the locking pin 506 mentioned above is fixed to a front end of the pulley receiving member 530. As shown in FlG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the locking pin 506 is passed thorough a central portion of the extension plate 402 of the housing 401, and so a portion of the locking pin 506 is exposed to an exterior.

[77] The cable 710 as described above is gone through the base 510 and the lever member

520 and wound on the pulley 540, and one end of the cable is fixed to the cable-fixing pin 525 provided at a front end of the lower horizontal member 524 of the lever member 520. At this time, the cable 710 is placed in the cross bar 300 and the other end of the cable 710 is fixed to the cable-fixing pin provided in the second module 600. Accordingly, the first module 500 and the second module 600 are connected to each other via the cable 710.

[78] FTG. 9 is a perspective view of the first module 500 showing a state where an additional lever 570 is fixed to the lever member 520 shown in FIG. 7, the cable is not shown in FIG. 9. Once the module (for example, the first module 500) as shown in FIG. 7, the upper horizontal member 523 of the lever member 520 is located in the housing 401, and so it is difficult to manipulate the lever member 520 (i.e., the upper horizontal member 523).

[79] To solve the above mentioned problem, the lever 570 having a relatively large area is secured to the upper horizontal member 523 of the lever member 520 and this lever 570 is exposed to an exterior through an opening (not shown) of the housing 401, and so the user can operate more easily the locking device through the lever 570.

[80] A functionof the locking device is described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[81] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are cross sectional views taken along the line B-B in FIG. 7,

FIG. 10 shows a state where the locking pin 506 is coupled to the rail 200 and FIG. 11 shows a state that the locking pin 506 is released from the rail 200.

[82] In an initial state (that is, in a state shown in FIG. 10), in order to move the cross bar

300 along the rails 200, the locking pin 506 should be drawn out of the hole 220-1 (in FIG. 6) formed on the vertical wall 220 of the rail 220.

[83] In order to draw the locking pin out of the hole, the user lifts up a rear side of the lever 570 secured to the lever member 520 of the first module 500 (in the arrow direction in FIG. 3 and FIG. 10), and so the lever member 520 is rotated (in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7) about the shaft 590 penetrating the upper horizontal member 523 of the lever member 520.In response to a rotation of the lever member 520, the cable 710 fixed to the cable-fixing pin 525 of the lower horizontal member

524 of the lever member 520 is pulled in the arrow direction shown in FlG. 7.

[84] By pulling the cable 710 as described above, a reaction force is exerted on the pulley

540 received in the pulley receiving member 530 of the first module 500 in the direction opposed to the direction in which the cable 710 is pulled, and a force is exerted on the pulley received in the pulley receiving member of the second module 600 in the direction in which the cable is pulled.

[85] Accordingly, the pulley receiving members of the first and second modules 500 and

600 in which the pulleys are secured, respectively, are moved toward each other along the guiding shafts. At this time, the spring 560 surrounding on an outer circum- ferenceof the guiding shaft 550 is compressed by a movement of the pulley receiving member 530.

[86] According to the movement of the pulley receiving member 530 of the first module

500 as described above, the locking pin 506 fixed to a front end of the pulley receiving member 530 is moved toward the base 510, and so the locking pin 506 is drawn out of the hole 220-1 formed on the vertical member 220 of the rail 200 as shown in FlG. 11. The abovemovement of the licking pin is simultaneously performed in the second module 600.

[87] In this state, the user can move easily the cross bar 300 a long the rails 200. The above process is achieved by manipulating only one of the first and second modules 500 and 600 (that is, the lever 570).

[88] After the cross bar 300 is moved, once the locking pin 506 of the first module 500 corresponds to another hole formed on the vertical member 220 of the rails 220, the pulley receiving member 530 is moved to the rail 200 along the guiding shaft 550 by a restorationforce of the spring 560, and so the locking pin 506 is inserted and received in another hole formed on the vertical member 220 of the rails 220 (a state of FlG. 10). Of course, in the second module 600, the same operation is generated. Industrial Applicability

[89] In the roof carrier for the vehicle according to the present invention as described, the cross bar is not tilted with respect to the rails by the rollers when the cross bar is moved and a friction between the cross bar (i.e., the housing of the guiding device coupled to an end portion of each cross bar) and the rail is minimized.

[90] In addition, the cross bar can be locked to the rails and released from the rails by manipulating only one of the first and second modules provided at both end portions of each cross bar.

[91] In particular, the present invention comprising the cross bar guiding device and locking device has the advantage in that only one user can lock the cross bar to the rails and release the cross bar from the rail and can move smoothly and stably the cross

bar along the rails.

[92] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[93]

[94]