WO2009071262A1

WO2009071262A1 - Assembly for fastening an accessory to a load carrier for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2009071262A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/010193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anders Lundgren
Original assignee: Thule Sweden AB
Current assignee: Thule Sweden AB
Priority date: 2007-12-03
Filing date: 2008-12-02
Publication date: 2009-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly (1 ) for fastening an accessory (2) to a load carrier (3) for vehicles, comprising at least one projecting first part (4) arranged on the load carrier (3) or the accessory (2) and at least one second part (5) arranged on the accessory (2) or the load carrier (3), said second part (5) substantially surrounding said first part (4) and having a spring-loaded locking element (6) for removably securing said first part (4) to said second part (5). The main feature of the invention is that said first part (4) comprises a sub¬ stantially circular cylindrical body (7) with a neck portion (9) and a head por¬ tion (10), the head portion (10) having a larger diameter than the neck portion (9), and that the locking element (6) extends substantially around said neck portion (9), whereby the head portion (10) being fixed in the axial direction by the locking element (6).

Description

ASSEMBLY FOR FASTENING AN ACCESSORY TO A LOAD CARRIER

FOR VEHICLES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an assembly for fastening an accessory to a load carrier for vehicles, comprising at least one projecting first part arranged on the load carrier or the accessory and at least one second part arranged on the accessory or the load carrier, said second part substantially surrounding said first part and having a spring-loaded locking element for removably securing said first part to said second part.

Technical Background A previously known fastening assembly disclosed in US 54 84 240 comprises a post or knob element of substantially rectangular cross-section which projects from a vehicle and a housing adapted thereto, which has a recess for receiving the post or knob element by sliding the housing in the lateral direction over the post or knob element. The top portion of the post or knob ele- ment has a head with conically shaped lateral surfaces, which are intended to form sliding surfaces for a locking pin arranged in the upper portion of the housing. The locking pin is spring-loaded and adapted to project down into a recess in the head to secure the post or knob element in the housing.

Another fastening assembly is known from FR 27 94 702, which describes a vehicle having a plurality of attachment points on the roof of the vehicle and various associated accessories, which are adapted to fit said attachment points and be secured to said attachment points by screwing.

Problem

The problem with previously known fastening assemblies is that they are secured at fixed positions to the vehicle and have a design that requires thorough mounting of the assemblies. The cost of prior art fastening assemblies is high and different accessories cannot be used on different vehicles, which is why none of the previously known fastening assemblies have been used to any significant extent.

Solution to the Problem

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastening assembly, which at a low cost may be adapted to different load carriers and different accessories for safe and easy mounting of the accessories on various vehicles.

The present invention overcomes the above stated disadvantages by means of an assembly of the kind described by way of introduction, which is characterised in that said first part comprises a substantially circular cylindrical body with a neck portion and a head portion, the head portion having a larger diameter than the neck portion, and that the locking element extends substan- tially around said neck portion, whereby the head portion being fixed in the axial direction by the locking element.

Preferably, the second part is aligned with the body and axially in engagement with said first part, and the head portion has an upper conical envelope surface. Furthermore, the locking element comprises a metal plate with a keyhole-shaped opening. Suitably, the side edges of the keyhole-shaped opening extend conically away from one another, said side edges sliding along the upper conical envelope surface during insertion of said first part in said second part. Suitably, the head portion also has a lower conical surface and a spring provided in the locking element returns the metal plate to its initial position after mounting, said side edges sliding along the lower conical surface and wedging the neck portion so that the first part and the second part are fixedly secured to one another.

In addition, the first part having means for a movable fixation at a desired position on the load carrier or the accessory, and preferably the first part is movable along a C-shaped groove or the like, and adapted to be fixed in the desired position by a bolt or similar fastener. Alternatively, the head portion may have an upper conical envelope surface and the locking element may comprise a bracket with two mutually resilient legs, said legs sliding along the upper conical envelope surface during inser- tion of said first part in said second part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A fastening assembly according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fastening assembly according to the present invention in unassembled state;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fastening assembly according to the present invention in assembled state.

Preferred Embodiment

Figures 1 and 2 show an assembly 1 for fastening an accessory 2, such as a bicycle carrier, ski carrier, kayak carrier, case, basket, box or the like, to a load carrier 3, such as a load carrier bar or rail for vehicles, which is mounted on the roof of the vehicle, on a towing hook, on a loading platform, in the cargo space or at the side of the vehicle. The fastening assembly 1 comprises at least one projecting first part 4 arranged on the load carrier 3 or the accessory 2 and at least one second part 5 arranged on the accessory 2 or the load carrier 3, said second part 5 substantially surrounding said first part 4 and having a spring-loaded locking element 6 for removably securing said first part 4 to said second part 5.

The first part 4 is suitably made of metal or a substantially rigid plastic material and comprises a substantially circular cylindrical body 7 with an inner, threaded hole 8, a neck portion 9 and a head portion 10, the head portion 10 having a larger diameter than the neck portion 9. By circular cylindrical body is meant an elongate body of circular cross-section. The head portion 10 has an upper conical envelope surface 11 , which is relatively heavily inclined, and a lower conical surface 12, which is relatively weakly inclined in the opposite direction. The inclination determines the force applied when using the fastening assembly according to the present invention. Of course, the head portion may also have a spherical shape, in which case it may be difficult, however, to achieve the desired difference between the upper surface and the lower surface in terms of said force. The first part 4 is fastened to the load carrier 3 by means of a bolt 13, which, for example, is intended to fit in a C-shaped groove 14 and which extends into the hole 8. A washer 15 is arranged between the load carrier 3 and the first part 4. Upon rotation of the first part 4, the bolt 13 is tightened and, together with the washer 15, it clamps the first part 4 to the groove 14. Alternatively, the bolt 13 may be attached to an openable clamp, which extends around a bar of the load carrier and which is locked in the tightened position by a U-shaped washer projecting down into each of the legs of the clamp. This alternative is used when the load carrier bar lacks a C-shaped groove. Naturally, the first part 4 may also be fixedly secured to the load carrier by means of a bolt extending through a hole in the load carrier.

The second part 5 is suitably made of plastic or metal and comprises a cylin- drical or square block 16 with a cylindrical recess 17 for receiving the first part 4. At the bottom of the recess 17 a hole 18 is suitably provided for attaching the second part 5 to the accessory 2 by means of a bolt 19 or the like. The second part 5 may, of course, be mounted in any optional position and be permanently attached to the accessory 2 with the aid of freely positioned bolts or in any other known manner. Adjacent the opening of the recess and transversely to said recess 17, said locking element 6 extends in a cavity provided for this purpose. The locking element 6 may consist of a metal plate with a keyhole-shaped opening 20 and a spring 21. The side edges of the keyhole- shaped opening 20 suitably extend conically away from one another and are dimensioned so that the distance between them corresponds to the diameter of the neck portion 9, at one end of the opening 20, and to the diameter of the head portion 10, at the other end of the opening 20. A release mechanism is provided, in the form of a push button or pull rod, to move the metal plate manually to the side, whereby the larger diameter of the opening is moved to a position matching the mouth of the recess. The release mechanism may be lockable in previously known manner to prevent any undue opening of the fastening assembly. The spring 21 exerts a force in the opposite direction to return the metal plate, so that the smaller diameter of the opening is moved to a position matching the mouth of the opening. The choice of push button or pull rod, to counteract the spring force, depends on whether a compression spring or a tension spring is used. In the embodiment shown, a push button and a compression spring are used. It may be preferable to use a pull rod if several fastening assemblies are to be controlled at the same time. Naturally, the locking element 6 may also be made of spring steel and provided in the form of a bracket with two mutually resilient legs or of two separately resilient legs.

During mounting, the accessory 2 is arranged in a position against the load carrier 3 such that the recess 17 of the second part 5 is aligned with the head portion 10 of the first part 4, whereupon the parts are moved together in the axial direction so that the envelope surface 11 of the head portion 9 is brought into engagement with the side edges of the keyhole-shaped opening 20 and slides thereon, the spring element 6 being moved to the side to let the head portion 9 pass. The spring element 6 is returned by the action of the spring 21 and is wedged around the neck portion 9, such that the two parts 4 and 5 are fixedly secured to one another at least in the axial direction relative to the first part 4. When using two or more fastening assemblies 1 , also the accessory 2 is fixedly secured in a non-rotating manner relative to the load carrier 3. The lower conical surface 12 of the first part 4 will absorb tolerances, if any, and counteract any loose fit that may occur in the mount.

Claims

1. An assembly (1) for fastening an accessory (2) to a load carrier for vehicles, comprising at least one projecting first part (4) arranged on the load car- rier (3) or the accessory (2) and at least one second part (5) arranged on the accessory (2) or the load carrier (3), said second part (5) substantially surrounding said first part (4) and having a spring-loaded locking element (6) for removably securing said first part (4) to said second part (5), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said first part (4) comprises a substantially circu- lar cylindrical body (7) with a neck portion (9) and a head portion (10), the head portion (10) having a larger diameter than the neck portion (9), and that the locking element (6) extends substantially around said neck portion (9), whereby the head portion (10) being fixed in the axial direction by the locking element (6).

2. An assembly (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the second part (5) is aligned with the body (7) and axially in engagement with said first part (4).

3. An assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the head portion (10) has an upper conical envelope surface (1 1), that the locking element (6) comprises a metal plate with a keyhole-shaped opening (20), and that the side edges of the keyhole-shaped opening (20) extend conically away from one another, said side edges sliding along the upper conical envelope surface (11 ) during insertion of said first part (4) in said second part (5).

4. An assembly (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the head portion (10) has a lower conical surface (12) and that a spring (21) of the locking element (6) after mounting returns the metal plate, said side edges sliding along the lower conical surface (12) and wedging the neck portion (9) such that the first part (4) and the second part (5) are fixedly secured to one another.

5. An assembly (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein the head portion (10) has an upper conical envelope surface (11 ), that the locking element (6) comprises two mutually resilient legs, said legs sliding along the upper conical envelope surface (11) during insertion of said first part (4) in said second part (5).

6. An assembly (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the legs form part of a common spring steel bracket.

7. An assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the first part (4) having means for a movable fixation at a desired position on the load carrier (3) or the accessory (2).

8. An assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the first part (4) is movable along a C-shaped groove (14) or the like, and adapted to be fixed in the desired position by means of a bolt (13) or similar fastener.