Abstract
A load carrier foot for attaching a load carrying portion, preferably a profile element, to a vehicle. The load carrier foot includes a base portion, a cover portion, a lock for locking the cover portion to the base portion at a first position, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the cover portion to the base portion at a second position spaced from the first position. The fixing mechanism is releasable by opening the lock.
Claims
1.-15. (canceled)
16. A load carrier foot for attaching a load carrying portion to a vehicle, comprising: a base portion; a cover portion; a lock configured to lock the cover portion to the base portion at a first position; and a fixing mechanism configured to fix the cover portion to the base portion at a second position spaced apart from the first position, wherein the fixing mechanism is configured to be released by opening the lock.
17. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein the fixing mechanism comprises a hook and a latch, wherein the hook is configured to engage with the latch when the fixing mechanism is engaged, and wherein the hook is configured to disengage from the latch by opening the lock.
18. The load carrier foot according to claim 17, wherein the hook is provided at the cover portion, and wherein the latch is provided at the base portion.
19. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein the first position and the second position are provided at opposite side portions of the load carrier foot in a width direction of the load carrier foot.
20. The load carrier foot according to claim 19, wherein the first position and the second position are provided at a bottom portion of the cover portion, the cover portion having an increasing width from a top portion to the bottom portion in a height direction of the load carrier foot.
21. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein the cover portion is configured to be shifted in a width direction of the load carrier foot to release the fixing mechanism by opening the lock.
22. The load carrier foot according to claim 21, wherein the lock is rotatably supported in the cover portion, wherein the lock comprises an eccentric portion and the base portion comprises a guide surface, and wherein the eccentric portion of the lock is configured to be guided by the guide surface of the base portion to shift the cover portion in the width direction of the load carrier foot to release the fixing mechanism by opening the lock.
23. The load carrier foot according to claim 22, wherein the eccentric portion of the lock is configured to be guided by the guide surface of the base portion to shift the cover portion in an opposite direction of the width direction to engage the fixing mechanism by closing the lock.
24. The load carrier foot according to claim 21, further comprising a linkage configured to guide the movement of the cover portion when opening or closing the lock.
25. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein the lock is closed to align the cover portion with the base portion.
26. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein a top portion of the cover portion and the base portion are stationary with respect to each other in a width direction of the load carrier foot when the cover portion is attached to the base portion.
27. The load carrier foot according to claim 26, wherein one of the top portion of the cover portion and the base portion is configured to slide into the other one of the top portion of the cover portion and the base portion to prevent a relative movement of the top portion of the cover portion and the base portion in the width direction of the load carrier foot.
28. The load carrier foot according to claim 27, wherein the top portion of the cover portion and the base portion, when slid into each other, are configured to accommodate an end portion of the load carrying portion.
29. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein one of the base portion and the cover portion comprises a protrusion and the other one of the base portion and the cover portion comprises a complementary groove, and wherein the protrusion is configured to be inserted into the complementary groove to prevent a relative movement of the base portion and the cover portion in a height direction of the load carrier foot.
30. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, wherein the cover portion is configured to be detached from the base portion when the lock is opened by a translational movement in a longitudinal direction of the load carrier foot.
31. The load carrier foot according to claim 16, further comprising an adjustment mechanism with an actuation device, wherein the load carrier foot is configured to be secured to the vehicle by operating the adjustment mechanism, and wherein the cover portion covers the actuation device when attached to the base portion.
32. The load carrier foot according to claim 31, further comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion, wherein a roof rail of the vehicle is configured to be clamped between the first clamping portion and second clamping portion by operating the adjustment mechanism with the actuation device.
33. A load carrier for a vehicle, comprising: a load carrying portion; and at least one load carrier foot comprising: a base portion, a cover portion, a lock for locking the cover portion to the base portion at a first position, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the cover portion to the base portion at a second position spaced apart from the first position, wherein the fixing mechanism is releasable by opening the lock.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a load carrier foot in a first perspective side view according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the load carrier foot of FIG. 1 in a further perspective side view.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the cover portion attached.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the cover portion removed.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows the cover portion of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a perspective side view.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows the base portion of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a perspective side view.
[0024] FIGS. 7a and 7b schematic show a partial sectional view of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2 for explaining the locking mechanism of the cover portion.
[0025] FIG. 8 shows a lock of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0026] FIG. 9 shows a fixing mechanism for fixing the cover portion to the base portion of the load carrier foot of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0027] FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a load carrier 100 comprising a load carrier foot 1 and a load carrying portion 2. In the present embodiment, the load carrier 100 comprises two load carrier feet 1, one load carrier foot 1 being respectively attached to an end portion of the load carrying portion 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, only one load carrier foot 1 is shown. The load carrying portion 2 constitutes a cross bar for extending from the right to the left side across the roof of a vehicle. To the cross bar 2, a bike carrier, a roof box and/or other auxiliary equipment may be attached. The load carrier foot 1 comprises an adjustment mechanism 30, which is shown in FIG. 4. By operating the adjustment mechanism 30, the load carrier foot 1 can be mounted to the roof of a vehicle. In the present embodiment, the load carrier foot 1 comprises first and second clamping portions 4, 5, which may be moved relatively to each other by operating the adjustment mechanism 30 to clamp a roof rail (not shown) provided on top of the roof of the vehicle therebetween. In the height direction H of the load carrier foot 1, the first and second clamping portions 4, 5 are provided at the bottom and an opening for accommodating the load carrying portion 2 is provided at the top of the load carrier foot 1.
[0028] The load carrier foot 1 exhibits a substantially L-shape with a long leg substantially extending in the length direction L of the load carrying portion 2, and a short leg substantially extending in the height direction H of the load carrier foot 1. The load carrier foot 1 comprises a base portion 6, 7 and a cover portion 8, 9, which respectively exhibit a substantially L-shape. The base portion comprises a long leg 6, which extends in the length direction L of the load carrying portion 2, and a short leg 7, which substantially extends in the height direction H of the load carrier foot 1, when the load carrier 100 is mounted to the roof of the vehicle in its intended fashion. Likewise, the cover portion exhibits a long leg 8, which extends in the length direction L of the load carrying portion 2, and a short leg 9, which substantially extends in the height direction H of the load carrier 100, when the load carrier 100 is mounted to the roof of the vehicle in its intended fashion. As derivable from FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6, the base portion 6, 7 and the cover portion 8, 9 are formed complementary to each other to allow for a joining of both elements to form a free space for accommodating the clamping portions 4, 5 and the adjustment mechanism 30 within the short legs of the base portion 7 and the cover portion 9, and for accommodating the load carrying portion 2 within the long legs of the base portion 6 and the cover portion 8.
[0029] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the short leg of the base portion 7 forms a free space for accommodating the adjustment mechanism 30 and the first and second clamping portions 4, 5, wherein said free space is bordered by side walls and a top wall, which together form an abutment surface 18. Furthermore, on the inside of the short leg of the cover portion 9, an engagement surface 19 is formed, said engagement surface 19 being configured to engage with the abutment surface 18 to close the free space formed by the side walls and the top wall of short leg of the base portion 7. In addition, the long leg of the base portion 6 exhibits at the end, which is situated away from the short leg of the base portion 7, a groove 13 on each side of the base portion 6 in width direction Q of the load carrier foot 1, the grooves 13 opening up towards the short leg of the base portion 7 and extending in the length direction L of the load carrying portion 2 when the load carrier 100 is mounted to the roof of the vehicle in the intended fashion. The cover portion, namely the long leg of the cover portion 8, exhibits a protrusion 12 on the inside of each side surface of the long leg of the cover portion 8. The protrusions 12 of the cover portion 8 are formed complementary to the grooves 13 of the base portion 6.
[0030] By moving the cover portion 8, 9 in the length direction L of the load carrying portion 2, the protrusions 12 of the long leg of the cover portion 8 can be inserted into the grooves 13 of the long leg of the base portion 6 while bringing the engagement surface 19 of the short leg of the cover portion 9 into engagement with the abutment surface 18 of the short leg of the base portion 7. Furthermore, in this assembled state, an opening for accommodating the load carrying portion 2 is formed at the end of the long leg of the load carrier foot 1 facing away from the short leg of the load carrier foot 1. This opening is formed between a bottom surface formed by the long leg of the base portion 6, a top surface formed by the long leg of the cover portion 8 and two side surfaces formed by the grooves 13 of the long leg of the base portion 6 engaged with the protrusions 12 formed by the long leg of the cover portion 8.
[0031] As described above, the top portions of the base portion and the cover portion can be slid into each other via the grooves 13 and the protrusions 12 to fix a positional relationship of both parts with respect to each other in height direction H. Furthermore, the cover portion, namely the long leg of the cover portion 8, exhibits side surfaces which abut with side surfaces of the long leg of the base portion 6 to fix a positional relationship of the top portions of both parts in width direction Q of the load carrier foot 1.
[0032] The load carrier foot 1 further comprises a lock 10 and a fixing mechanism 11 for locking the cover portion, namely the short leg of the cover portion 9, to the base portion, namely the short leg of the base portion 7. The lock 10 and the fixing mechanism 11 are provided at opposite sides of the load carrier foot 1 in width direction Q. As derivable from FIG. 3, they are provided at the bottom portion of the load carrier foot 1 in height direction H thereof. Specifically, the short leg of the base portion 7 and the short leg of the cover portion 9 exhibit an increasing width (extension in direction Q) from the top portion towards the bottom portion of the load carrier foot 1. The lock 10 is provided at the bottom right hand corner and the fixing mechanism 11 at the bottom left hand corner of the load carrier foot 1. Via the lock 10, the cover portion 9 may be fixed to the base portion 7 at a first position P1 and via the fixing mechanism at a second position P2.
[0033] The load carrier foot 1 is configured such that the fixing mechanism 11 may be released by merely opening the lock 10. More precisely, by unlocking the lock 10, the fixing mechanism 11 is disengaged such that the cover portion 8, 9 can be detached from the base portion 6, 7 by a translational pulling movement in the length direction L of the load carrying portion 2. Specifically, no twisting movement of the cover portion for detachment thereof is necessary, thereby simplifying exposure of the adjustment mechanism 30 for an operator.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the fixing mechanism 11 of the load carrier foot 1 comprises a latch 17, which is provided at the bottom left hand corner of the short leg of the base portion 7. The short leg of the cover portion 9 exhibits a hook 15 at the bottom left hand corner, as derivable from FIG. 5. Furthermore, as derivable from FIG. 9, the latch 17 of the base portion 7 and the hook 15 of the cover portion 9 are engageable with each other for preventing a movement of the cover portion 9 with respect to the base portion 7 in the longitudinal direction L of the load carrying portion 2. The load carrier foot 1 is configured such that the fixing mechanism 11 is an engaged state when the base portion 6, 7 and the cover portion 8, 9 are aligned with respect to each other and the lock 10 is in a locked state. By turning the lock 10 to an unlocked state, the cover portion, namely the bottom portion of the short leg of the cover portion 9, is shifted sideways in the width direction Q with respect to the short leg of the base portion 7, while the top portions of the base portion and the cover portion, namely the long legs of the base portion and the cover portion 6, 8, are not moved with respect to each other. By the sideways movement of the bottom portion of the cover portion 9, the latch 17 and the hook 15 are disengaged, thereby allowing for a translational backwards movement of the cover portion 9 with respect to the base portion 7 in the length direction L.
[0035] As derivable from FIG. 8, the lock 10 comprises a cylindric main body 20 and an eccentric top portion 21, wherein a step 22 is formed therebetween. At the end of the cylindric main body 20 facing away from the cylindric top portion 21, a keyhole for a key 23 is provided. The eccentric top portion 21 exhibits a substantially rectangular shape with two long and two short sides. The short sides are formed in a convex manner to exhibit a curvature bulging outwards. The eccentric top portion 21 is formed symmetrically with respect to two symmetry axes oriented perpendicular to each other. As derivable from FIG. 5, the bottom right hand corner of the short leg of the cover portion 9 exhibits an opening 14 for accommodating the lock 10, namely the cylindric main body 20 of the lock 10. At the same time, the bottom right hand corner of the short leg of the base portion 7 comprises a guiding section 16 for accommodating and guiding the eccentric top portion 21 of the lock 10. The guiding section 16 of the short leg of the base portion 7 exhibits a space 27 having a top wall 24 and two opposing side walls 25 and 26, which are formed parallel to each other, as derivable from FIGS. 7a and 7b. The top wall 24 is divided in two sections, which exhibit approximately the same extension in widthwise direction Q. A first section 24.1, which is provided at the right-hand side, exhibits a first height, and a second section 24.2, which is provided at the left-hand side, exhibits a second height, wherein the second height is higher than the first height. At the interface between the two section of the top wall 24 a curvature 29 is formed.
[0036] FIG. 7a shows the lock 10 in the locked state. In this configuration, the fixing mechanism 11 on the opposite side of the bottom portion of the load carrier foot 1 is engaged, as shown in FIG. 9. The eccentric top portion 21 of the lock 10 is accommodated in the space 27 of the guiding section 16 of the base portion 7, wherein the convex portion of a short side of the eccentric top portion 21 of the lock 10 is engaged with section 24.2 and curvature 29 of the top wall 24. By turning the lock 10 around its rotational axis C to transfer it to the unlocked state shown in FIG. 7b, the convex portion of the short side of the eccentric top portion 21 engages with the left-hand side wall 26 while being disengaged from the top wall 24. Due to the eccentric configuration of the top portion 21 of the lock 10 and the above-described configuration of the guide surface 24, 25, 26 of the guiding section 16 of the base portion, the opening of the lock results in a shifting in width direction Q of the bottom portion of the short leg of the cover portion 9 with respect to the bottom portion of the short leg of the base portion 7. By this sideward movement, the hook 15 of the cover portion 9 is disengaged from the latch 17 of the base portion 7 (see FIG. 9) to release the fixing mechanism 11. Furthermore, by turning the lock 10 around its rotational axis C from the unlocked state shown in FIG. 7b back to the locked state shown in FIG. 7a, the eccentric top portion 21 of the lock 10 engages with the curvature 29 formed between the two sections 24.1, 24.2 with different height of the top wall 24 to shift the bottom portion of the short leg of the cover portion 9 in width direction Q with respect to the bottom portion of the short leg of the base portion 7 to engage the hook 15 of the cover portion 9 with the latch 17 of the base portion 7 and close the fixing mechanism 11. In other words, by closing the lock 10, the bottom portion of the short leg of the cover portion 9 is aligned with the bottom portion of the short leg of the base portion 7, while these two portions are brought into misalignment for disengaging the fixing mechanism 11 by opening the lock 10.
