Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
ROOF RACK EXTENSION DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/171844
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
This invention relates to an improved roof rack extension device, the device including two or more side rails adapted for attachment to a portion of a roof rack, two or more support arms adapted to connect at or proximate a first end of the support arm to a side rail and adapted to connect to a vehicle surface at or proximate a second end of the support arm and a cross bar portion adapted to span the two or more side rails.

Inventors:
MCNABB FIONA KATHERINE (NZ)
Application Number:
PCT/NZ2014/000070
Publication Date:
October 23, 2014
Filing Date:
April 17, 2014
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
MCNABB FIONA KATHERINE (NZ)
International Classes:
B60R9/042; B60R9/04
Foreign References:
US5904463A1999-05-18
EP1842728A12007-10-10
US4063659A1977-12-20
US2325762A1943-08-03
US5957350A1999-09-28
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
LUCAS, Jennifer, A et al. (Private Bag 3140Hamilton, 3240, NZ)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. A roof rack extension device, the device including; o two or more elongate side rails, each side rail having a first end adapted for attachment to a portion of a roof rack and a second end adapted to connect with a cross bar; o two or more support arms adapted to connect at or proximate a first end of the support arm to a side rail and adapted to connect to a vehicle surface at or proximate a second end of the support arm; and o a cross bar portion adapted to span and connect to the two or more side rails to provide a loading surface.

2. The extension device of claim 1 , wherein the side rails have a cross sectional shape selected from substantially; ovular, rectangular, triangular, circular, square or other polygon shape.

3. The extension device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the side rails are adjustable in length.

4. The extension device of claim 3, wherein the side rails are telescopic.

5. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side rails include a clamp mechanism at a first end.

6. The extension device of claim 5, wherein the clamp mechanism includes adjustable jaws.

7. The extension device of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the clamp mechanism includes a ratchet system.

8. The extension device of claim 6, wherein the adjustable jaws are adapted to move relative to each other and be locked into position and released via a cam lever.

9. The extension device of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least a portion of the

adjustable jaws includes an amount of rubber, foam or other compressive material.

10. The extension device of any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the clamp mechanism

includes a quick release mechanism.

11. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the side rails include a connection means at the second end adapted to receive a cross bar.

12. The extension device of claim 11 , wherein the connection means is in the form of a cradle adapted to receive a portion of the cross bar using an interference fit.

13. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the side rail is connected directly or indirectly at the second end to a cross bar.

14. The extension device of claim 13, wherein the side rail is connected to the crossbar using a hinge mechanism.

15. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the support arm is rotatably mounted to the side rail.

16. The extension device of claim 15, wherein the support arm(s) comprise a locking means for locking the support arm in a fixed position relative to the side rail.

17. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein each support arm is adapted to connect to a side rail using a moveable bracket.

18. The extension device of claim 17, wherein the support arm(s) are rotatably mounted to the moveable bracket.

19. The extension device of claims 17 or 18, wherein the moveable bracket comprises a means for locking the support arm in a fixed position relative to the bracket.

20. The extension device of claims 17 or 18, wherein the moveable bracket comprises a means for locking the support arm in a fixed position relative to the side rail.

21. The extension device of claim 20 wherein the support arms are adapted to connect to a vehicle surface using an interference fit mechanism.

22. The extension device of claim 20 wherein the support arms are adapted to engage a vehicle surface using a friction increasing means.

23. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the support arms are

adjustable in length.

24. The extension device of claim 23, wherein the support arms are telescopic.

25. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the support arm includes one or more pivot points.

26. The extension device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the cross bar portion of the extension device is directly associated with a friction reducing means.

27. The extension device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cross bar is directly or indirectly connected to one or more rollers.

28. The extension device of claim 26, wherein the one or more rollers include a substantially planar surface for supporting a load on the cross bar.

29. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the cross bar is removably attached to the side rails using an interference fit mechanism.

30. The extension device of claim 29, wherein the cross bar includes two flanges at each end, the flanges being sufficiently spaced apart such that the cross bar is attachable to the side rails at a point between the two flanges at each end of the cross bar.

31. The extension device of anyone of claims 1 to 230, wherein the cross bar is collapsible.

32. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 31 , wherein the cross bar includes

guides to aid loading of items of a specific shape.

33. The extension device of any one of claims 1 to 32, wherein the cross bar includes at least one hinged portion.

34. A method of manufacturing a roof rack extension device as claimed in any of the

preceding claims, the method including; providing two or more side rails adapted for attachment to a portion of a roof rack; providing two or more support arms adapted to connect at or proximate a first end of the support arm to a side rail and adapted to connect to a vehicle surface at or proximate a second end of the support arm; and providing a cross bar portion adapted to span the two or more side rails.

35. The extension device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 -5.

Description:
ROOF RACK EXTENSION DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a roof rack extension device. More specifically, the invention relates to a removable extension device that enables large and/or loads to be loaded and removed from a vehicle roof rack.

BACKGROUND ART

Vehicle roof racks are designed to allow the vehicle user to transport goods safely and securely on the roof of a car or other light vehicle. A typical roof rack on a car may be permanent or temporary and can take many forms such as basic rails or crossbars through to more complex rack systems designed for specific loads such as bicycles, kayaks or skis.

Once a roof rack system is on place on a vehicle, the goods to be transported need to be loaded. For smaller items, such as a pair of skis for example, this is not too difficult, even for a single person. For larger items however, it can often be difficult to mount items on to the roof rack from the ground. This is particularly a problem for those attempting to load a roof rack on their own.

There are a number of products available that can assist with the loading of larger items onto roof racks. Yakima™ produce a range of roof racks and accessories including a kayak loader called the "T-Load". This device attaches to the tow ball of a vehicle and provides an additional support bar at the rear of a vehicle to assist in raising a kayak from the ground, up on to the roof rack. One of the major limitations of this type of device is that it requires a vehicle to have a tow ball in order for the device to operate. It would be useful to have a loading device that can be used on a wide range of vehicles, with or without tow balls.

Other loading devices that enable a user to place heavy loads on to roof rack from the side of the vehicle are also known. These devices are usually designed to work with a particular brand of roof rack and are not easily interchangeable between vehicles of different sizes. Additionally, such rack loading accessories are often cumbersome and heavy, as well as often being time consuming to assemble and detach. A further issue with known loading devices is that they will often not be adaptable for use with a wide range of vehicle shapes and sizes, including small cars and SUVs. Many attachment mechanisms are adapted to fit a specific vehicle types and are therefore inflexible when needing to place loads on a variety of different vehicle types, or require the purchase of a same brand roof racking system in order to operate the loading accessory.

It would be useful to have a roof rack loading device that addressed the above problems or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this

specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprise", or variations thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a roof rack extension device, the device including;

- two or more elongate side rails, each side rail having a first end adapted for attachment to a portion of a roof rack and a second end adapted to connect with a cross bar;

- two or more support arms adapted to connect at or proximate a first end of the support arm to a side rail and adapted to connect to a vehicle surface at or proximate a second end of the support arm; and

- a cross bar portion adapted to span and connect to the two or more side rails to provide a loading surface. Preferably the side rails have a cross sectional shape selected from substantially; ovular, rectangular, triangular, circular, square or other geometric shape.

In preferred embodiments the side rails are adjustable in length.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention the two or more side rails are telescopic to allow them to be easily folded away and stored. In preferred embodiments the side rails include a clamp mechanism at a first end for attachment to a portion of a roof rack.

Preferably the clamp mechanism includes adjustable jaws.

More preferably the clamp mechanism may be operable via the use of a ratchet system allowing the adjustable jaws to be secured to a range of different sized roof racks.

Alternatively, the adjustable jaws are adapted to move relative to each other and are locked into position and released via a cam lever.

Preferably, at least a portion of the adjustable jaws includes an amount of rubber, foam or other compressive material. The compressive material provides grip and protection between the jaws and the contact point on a roof rack where the jaws attach.

Preferably, the clamp mechanism includes a quick release mechanism.

Preferably the side rails include a connection means at a second end adapted to receive a cross bar. More preferably, the connection means is in the form of a cradle adapted to receive a portion of the cross bar using an interference fit.

In alternative embodiments, the side rail is connected at the second end to a cross bar.

More preferably the side rail is connected to the crossbar using a hinge mechanism.

Preferably each support arm is adapted to connect to a side rail using a moveable bracket. In use, the movable bracket can be positioned at any point along the length of the side rail as required by the user. Preferably the support arms are adapted to connect to a vehicle surface using an interference fit mechanism.

More preferably, the support arms are adapted to engage a vehicle surface using a friction increasing means.

Preferably, the support arms are adjustable in length. More preferably, the support arms are telescopic and lockable at a number of positions along the telescopic sections.

Preferably, the cross bar portion of the extension device is associated with a friction reducing means.

More preferably, the cross bar comprises one or more rollers associated with the cross bar.

Even more preferably, the cross bar portion comprises one or more rollers surrounding the cross bar to aid the movement of a heavy load from the extension device on to a roof rack.

Preferably, the one or more rollers include a substantially planar surface for supporting a load on the cross bar.

In alternative embodiments, the one or more rollers include a "V" shaped roller or two or more rollers which form into a "V" shape. A "V" shaped roller or rollers may aid the loading of an item such as a kayak onto a roof rack.

In alternative embodiments, at least a portion of the cross bar comprises a friction reducing material. This material improves ease of sliding a load from the extension device to an existing roof rack on a vehicle.

Preferably, the cross bar is removably attached to the side rails using an interference fit mechanism.

Preferably, the cross bar is collapsible. This enables the cross bar to be stored away easily when not in use and to fit vehicles or a variety of different widths. More preferably, the cross bar may be collapsed using a telescoping mechanism.

In alternative embodiments the cross bar includes guides to aid loading of items of a specific shape.

In further alternative embodiments, the cross bar includes one or more winch guides. A winch system may be used to assist in placing a load onto to a vehicle, particularly by using a vehicle mounted winch system. Such a winch system may be employed to aid in lifting heavy loads, or for loading on to high vehicles such as campervans for example. One or more winch guides may be employed to ensure the load is mounted in the correct position. In further alternative embodiments, the cross bar includes at least one hinged portion. Preferably, the hinged portion in positioned centrally within the cross bar. This positioning may aid in folding and storage of the cross, bar, or may be used alter the shape of the cross bar to assist in loading of a "V" shaped item on to the roof rack. According to a second embodiment of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a roof rack extension device, the method including; providing two or more side rails adapted for attachment to a portion of a roof rack;

- providing two or more support arms adapted to connect at or proximate a first end of the support arm to a side rail and adapted to connect to a vehicle surface at or proximate a second end of the support arm; and

- providing a cross bar portion adapted to span the two or more side rails.

In preferred embodiments the side rails are adjustable in length.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention the two or more side rails are telescopic to allow them to be easily folded away and stored.

In preferred embodiments the side rails include a clamp mechanism at a first end for attachment to a portion of a roof rack.

Preferably the clamp mechanism includes adjustable jaws.

More preferably the clamp mechanism includes a ratchet system allowing the adjustable jaws to be secured to a range of different sized roof racks. Alternatively, the adjustable jaws are adapted to move relative to each other and are locked into position and released via a cam lever.

Preferably, at least a portion of the adjustable jaws includes an amount of rubber, foam or other compressive material. The compressive material provides grip and protection between the jaws and the contact point on a roof rack where the jaws attach.

More preferably, the clamp mechanism includes a quick release mechanism.

Preferably the side rails include a connection means at a second end adapted to receive a cross bar. More preferably, the connection means is in the form of a cradle adapted to receive a portion of the cross bar using an interference fit.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the support arms are telescopic.

More preferably, the telescoping mechanism further comprises a locking mechanism. Preferably each support arm is adapted to connect to a side rail using a moveable bracket. In use, the movable bracket can be positioned at any point along the length of the side rail as required by the user.

In further preferred embodiments, the support arm(s) are rotatably mounted to the moveable bracket. Preferably, the moveable bracket comprises a means for locking the support arm in a fixed position relative to the bracket.

In alternative embodiments the support arm is rotatably mounted to the side rail.

More preferably, the support arm(s) comprise a locking means for locking the support arm in a fixed position relative to the side rail. Preferably the support arm(s) are adapted to connect to a vehicle surface using an interference fit mechanism.

More preferably, the support arm(s) are adapted to engage a vehicle surface using a friction increasing means.

Preferably, the support arm(s) are adjustable in length. More preferably, the support arm(s) are telescopic and lockable at a number of positions along the telescopic sections.

Preferably, the support arm includes one or more pivot points. This enables the support arm to be folded up for storage purposes. Preferably, the cross bar includes one or more flanges.

More preferably, the cross bar includes one or more flanges at each end of the cross bar. These flanges are designed to maintain the position of the cross bar when counted on to the side rails for use.

Preferably, the cross bar portion of the extension device comprises one or more rollers associated with the cross bar. More preferably, the cross bar portion comprises one or more rollers surrounding the cross bar to aid the movement of a heavy load from the extension device on to a roof rack.

Preferably, the one or more rollers include a substantially planar surface for supporting a load on the cross bar. In alternative embodiments, the one or more rollers include a "V" shaped roller or two or more rollers which form into a "V" shape. A "V" shaped roller may aid the loading of an item such as a kayak onto a roof rack.

Preferably, the cross bar is removably attached to the side rails using an interference fit mechanism. Preferably, the cross bar is collapsible. This enables the cross bar to be stored away easily when not in use.

In alternative embodiments the cross bar includes guides to aid loading of items of a specific shape.

In further alternative embodiments, the cross bar includes one or more winch guides. A winch system may be used to assist in placing a load onto to a vehicle, particularly by using a vehicle mounted winch system. Such a winch system may be employed to aid in lifting heavy loads, or for loading on to high vehicles such as campervans for example. One or more winch guides may be employed to ensure the load is mounted in the correct position. In further alternative embodiments, the cross bar includes at least one hinged portion. Preferably, the hinged portion in positioned centrally within the cross bar. This positioning may aid in folding and storage of the cross, bar, or may be used alter the shape of the cross bar to assist in loading of a "V" shaped item on to the roof rack.

For the purposes of this invention the term "vehicle surface" should be taken to mean the outer body of a vehicle including any part of the body or windows of the vehicle.

The terms "side rail" and "cross bar" should be taken to mean any elongate member that is capable of acting as a support to the cross bar portion of the extension device and item(s) to be loaded on to a roof rack respectively. Brief Description of Drawings

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a roof rack extension device in a preferred form of the

invention;

Figure 2 shows a portion of a side rail with a clamp mechanism in a preferred form of the invention as shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a connection between the cross bar and side rail in a

preferred form of the invention as shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows a support arm attached to a portion of a side rail in a

preferred form of the invention as shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows the support arm and moveable bracket of Figure 4 in a folded position; and

Figure 6 shows a range of different vehicles with the extension device of the present invention mounted to the roof racks.

Brief Description of the Invention

The invention described in the current application relates to an extension device that can be attached to a wide range of vehicle roof racks in order to assist a user to load heavy and /or long objects on to the vehicle roof rack. The extension device may be easily attached to the cross bar portion of an existing vehicle roof rack to assist in placing a load on to the roof rack. The side rails extend towards the rear of the vehicle and support a cross bar positioned parallel to the rear of the vehicle. This cross bar is then used to assist loading of a kayak, for example onto existing roof racks. The device can then be easily removed and stored away once the load has been placed in the appropriate position.

The device in a preferred form of the invention is shown in Figures 1 - 6, each of which are discussed in further detail.

Figure 1 shows extension device 100 in a preferred form of the invention. Device 100 includes side rails 10, cross bar 20 and support arms 30.. Side rails 10 are preferably formed from a durable, lightweight material that can support the weight of a significant load. Materials that may be used are (but are not limited to) aluminium, plastic, titanium or carbon fibre for example. In preferred embodiments, side rails 10 have a substantially rounded rectangular in shape, although this is not intended to be limiting. Side rails 10 may be formed with square, circular or oval cross sections for example.

In one embodiment, side rails 10 may include one or more telescopic portions 1 1. The inclusion of a telescoping mechanism in the side rail 10 allows the length of side rail 10 to be altered to fit a range of different shaped vehicle. For example, a small hatchback car will require shorter side rails 10 compared to a large SUV in order to locate cross bar 20 in an effective position for loading assistance. In other embodiments, the side rails may be of a fixed length and available in a range of different sizes.

In use, side rails 10 are adapted to connect at a first end to the cross bar of a vehicle roof rack using clamp system 12. Clamp system 12 is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The body of clamp system 12 is preferably made from a durable plastic, rubber or other polymer based material, with the internal mechanisms made in known fashion. Clamp system 12 includes a pair of jaws 13 adapted to clamp over the cross bar of an existing roof rack as shown in Figure 6..

Jaws 13 may be set to a desired width to accommodate a wide range of roof rack sizes using known mechanical methods such as a ratchet system or similar. In embodiments shown, cam lever 14 may be depressed to allow jaws 13 to open to their full capacity. Once jaws 13 are in position, jaws 13 are automatically locked in the desired position around the roof rack. This quick release mechanism allows for fast and easy attaching and detaching of the extension device from a vehicle roof rack. Jaws 13 further include a compressible rubber lining on inner surface 13A of jaws 13. When device 100 is attached to a roof rack, the compressible rubber lining reduces friction between jaws 13 and the roof rack on which device 100 is mounted. Rubber located on surface 13A additionally provides protection to both jaws 13 and the roof rack from scratching and general wear and tear.

The compressible rubber may be a range of different thicknesses as would be clear to a person skilled in the art. In preferred embodiments the rubber is of a thickness that allows for at least an amount of compression of the rubber when jaws 13 are clamped around a portion of a roof rack such that a degree of protection is provided to both surface 13A and the roof rack.

The rubber thickness may also be altered to ensure a secure fit of jaws 13 to a particular roof rack shape or style. As would be clear to a person skilled in the art, the compressible rubber may be substituted for other compressible materials; in particular polymer based compressible materials, foam rubber for example.

Additionally, the inward sloping jaws 13 further prevents clamp 12 from lifting off the roof rack once weight comes onto the loader.

At a second end of side rails 10, distal from the roof rack when the device is attached to a vehicle, side rails 10 are adapted to include a means for connecting 15 to cross bar 20. This connecting means is shown in further detail in Figure 3.

The means for connecting 15 preferably includes a cradling mechanism 16.

Cradling mechanism 16 is designed to receive an end portion of cross bar 20 using an interference fit or similar connection. Cradling means 16 is designed to allow entry of cross bar 30 through opening 17. The position of opening 17 on the upper surface of side rail 10 when in use (see Figure 1) is such that the once the extension device is in use, any load placed on cross bar 20 will not result in cross bar 20 slipping or dislodging from the connection means.

Opening 17 further allows the simple removal of cross bar 20 when extension device 00 is to be removed from a vehicle after use, allowing simple disassembly of the device.

As would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, such connection means may be formed in a variety of different ways, for example a clamp system, clip mechanism or lock and key mechanism or any other mechanism that would be suitable for retaining cross bar 20 on side rails 10.

Cross bar 20 preferably includes flanges 21 and 22. Flanges 21 and 22 maintain the position of cross bar 20 relative to side rails 20 and prevent cross bar 20 from slipping sideways from within cradle 16. Cross bar 20 further includes a neck portion 23. Neck portion 23 enables cross bar 20 to be received within opening 17 of side rail 10. Neck portion 23 is rectangular in shape to resist rotation within cradle 16.

Cross bars 20 of different cross sections may achieve different ranges of movement of the cross bar 20. For example, a cross bar 20 that is rectangular shaped at neck portion 23 connecting with side rail 10 will ensure there is no rotation of the cross bar 20 itself when loading, while a circular cross-section of neck portion 23 will allow for rotation of the cross bar 20 as a load is mounted. These variations to the cross bar 20 may be made to suit different uses and embodiments of the present invention. As would be clear from the representation in Figure 1 , features of cross bar 20 shown in Figure 3 are replicated at the opposite end of cross bar 20.

Cross bar 20 may include a further number of features that assist in loading items on to existing roof racks that are not embodied in the accompanying figures. For example cross bar 20 may include one or more rollers surrounding the bar. These rollers would allow the user to more easily push a heavy load along the bar and onto the roof rack due to the reduction in friction. An alternative embodiment would be to incorporate a slippery or non-stick material onto the cross bar, again to reduce friction with a load placed on the bar. Any number of variations achieving this result may be applied as would be clear to a person skilled in the art. For loads that are of a specific shape, such as a kayak or boat, further adaptations may be made to cross bar 20 to accommodate the loading of an item of this specific shape. For example, cross bar 20 may incorporate a "V" shaped roller or two or more rollers which form a "V" shape to the cross bar in order to support the base of a kayak. Alternatively, the cross bar may include a further attachment that can be clipped on to act as an additional brace or support to an item.

The incorporation of friction decreasing materials is also envisaged. For example cross bar 20 may include a polyethylene sleeve to reduce friction on the bar when loading, or cross bar 20 itself may be include a range of surfaces formed from different materials to aid loading.

In further potential embodiments, winch guides may be associated with the cross bar to assist in loading an item using a winch system. In one example, which is not intended to be limiting, a cross bar roller may be split into two or more parts to accommodate a moulded groove in the cross bar. Such a moulded groove may be used to guide a winch cable that facilitates loading of an item onto the roof of a vehicle. A winch system may be employed when a vehicle roof is substantially raised above usual head height, for example with a campervan. The moulded groove may be adapted to act as a guide for the winch cable to maintain a defined point of contact with the cross bar and ensure the cable is retracted continuously without sliding across the width of the cross bar.

In one example, the moulded groove may have substantially raised sides which will extend no further vertically than the width of the roller so as to not interfere with contact of the kayak on the roller itself. This example is not however intended to be limiting and various different winch guide designs may be incorporated into the rack extension device, as would be understood by a person skilled in the art.

In other embodiments, cross bar 20 may be collapsible for ease of storage when not in use. This collapsibility may be any one of many known means for collapsing that are known in the art, for example folding, telescoping or concertina to name a few. Extension device 100 further includes support arm 30. Support arm 30 in a preferred form of the invention can be seen more clearly in Figure 4. Movable bracket 31 surrounds support rail 10, mounting support arm 30 in position beneath support rail 10. Bracket 31 is slidable along the length of side rail 10, allowing for different positioning of the support arm 30 relative to the vehicle to which it is being attached. Cam lever 33 allows for movement of the support arm to various positions along side arm 10 as needed to accommodate vehicles of different shapes and sizes.

In other variations not shown, support arm 30 may be pivotally connected to bracket 31 using known rotational connection means. In use, this mechanism will allow both movement of the bracket 31 along side arm 10, as well as rotation of the support arm 30 with respect to the side arm 10. This rotation will allow further options for placement of foot 32 on the roof or rear windscreen of a vehicle.

Foot 32 includes a rubber footing 32A similar to that located within jaws 13 of the side bar 10. This rubber footing both reduces damage to the vehicle surface, as well as applying a non-slip surface which provides a safe and secure contact between the footing and the vehicle when loads are placed on the extension device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, support arm 30 and foot 32 may be folded away and secured to side arm 10 as shown in Figure 5. In this embodiment pivot points 34 and 35 on side arm 30 allow for rotation of the side arm such that foot 32 wraps around side arm 10 and is secured by a strap 36.

Support arms 30 can be removed from the vehicle surface in known fashion by lifting the foot 32 away from the surface. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, other surfaces may be used in place of a rubber footing, for example a suction cups, removable adhesives or similar non-permanent connection means.

Support arm 30 is may be variable in length, either by way of a telescopic mechanism or similar. The flexibility in length allows the user to extend or retract the support arms as necessary in order to adapt the extension device to vehicles of differing shapes. Support arms 30 may also be provided as a fixed length, with varying lengths available to suit particular vehicle types or models. In use, extension device 100 is mounted onto existing roof racks of a wide variety of vehicles as shown in Figure 6.

Extension device 100 is mounted on a vehicle using clamp system 12 located at a first end of side rails 10. Clamp jaws 13 are fastened around a portion of the existing roof rack and extend out past the rear of the vehicle where they are joined at right angles by cross bar 20. Cross bar 20 is connected to side rails 10 using a cradle mechanism as described in more detail above.

Using telescopic mechanism 1 1 incorporated into side rail 10, side rails 10 and cross bar 20 may be extended near to or past the rear of the vehicle roof to any extent required by the user within the limits of the extension device's reach. When extended, side rails 10 are supported against the vehicle by support arms 30. One support arm 30 is located on each side rail 10, although more support arms may be used if necessary. The positioning of support arm 30 on the vehicle will be largely dependent on the shape of the vehicle on which extension device 100 is being used. Figure 6 shows a range of commonly available vehicle shapes and a possible positioning of the extension device 100 on each of these vehicles. In each scenario shown, support arm 30 is positioned in a location along side arm 10 to optimise the loading angle of an item to be placed on the roof rack of the vehicle. Varying positions or support arm 30 are shown as A, B, C and/or D as appropriate to the vehicle shown. As would be clear to a person skilled in the art however, the position, length and angle of the support arm may be customised as needed to any position required for a specific vehicle.

When used on a standard compact sedan with a sloped rear windscreen for example, support arms may rotate and extend down from the side rails 10 to connect against the rear windscreen. When used with a vehicle having a substantially flat back such as an SUV, support arms 30 may extend from side rails 10 downwards to connect to the roof of the vehicle. Support arms 30 are designed to bear the load placed on the side rails when a heavy item is placed on extension device 100.

There are a number of advantages of the present system over those known in the art. The device may be used on a wide variety of vehicle shapes, as well as a wide range of different roof rack systems currently available. This is in contrast to many load assisting devices that are designed to work with one specific rack system.

The device allows the user to position a heavy load on to a roof rack with minimal or no assistance, as the extension device extends the roof rack away from the vehicle, reducing the need or risk of the item contacting the vehicle as it is loaded, as is often the case when loading heavy loads without assistance.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.