Load carrier

Abstract

A load carrier to be mounted in the body of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The load carrier includes a first load carrier element to form a first load carrying surface; and a second load carrier element, pivotally arranged with respect to the first load carrier element, to form a second load carrying surface, the second load carrying surface being located in front of the first load carrying surface, seen in the normal travelling direction of the motor vehicle. The second load carrier element is also pivotally arranged with respect to the first load carrier element to form a third load carrying surface, the third load carrying surface being located behind the first load carrying surface, seen in the normal travelling direction of the motor vehicle.

Description

PRIORITY STATEMENT [0001] The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on Swedish patent application number SE 0501652-2 filed Jul. 11, 2005, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [0002] The present invention generally relates to a load carrier. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Load carriers to be separately mounted in the body of a vehicle are previously known. They are usually mounted in the body of the vehicle by way of a clamp joint. When they are not intended to be used, they can either remain mounted in the body or easily be dismounted and, for instance, be placed in the trunk of the vehicle or in some other convenient storage place. The drawback of letting the load carrier remain mounted in the body in periods when not in use is that while travelling it may cause noise nuisance in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This is due to the fact that this type of load carrier is normally not adjusted to the geometry of a gi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In at least one example embodiment, the load carrier is adapted to be mounted at the rear edge of the roof of the body and the second load carrier element is adapted to be able to project from the rear edge of the roof to form the third load carrying surface. This makes it possible to use a separate roof rack / roof box arranged on the roof of the vehicle, in front of the load carrier, and at the same time place a load on the first and the third load carrying surface.

[0019] In at least one example embodiment, the first arm parts, when in the front pivot position, are adapted to be arranged substantially parallel to the body roof, and the second arm parts, when in the inwardly pivoted position, are adapted to abut substantially against the first arm parts. This allows a compact design of the load carrier in a position of non-use, which improves the wind resistance of the vehicle while travelling.

Problems solved by technology

The drawback of letting the load carrier remain mounted in the body in periods when not in use is that while travelling it may cause noise nuisance in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Storing the load carrier in the trunk may many times be experienced as bulky, whereas storing in some other place than in the vehicle causes a risk of it not being available when needed.

However, existing load carriers of this type are associated with various drawbacks.

However, this load carrier can only form one load carrying surface and must therefore be supplemented with another load carrier if more load carrying surfaces are required.

However, this construction has a limited field of application since it is mainly adjusted to relatively compact loads.

Moreover, it will be difficult to open the lid of the trunk when a load has been placed on the front and rear load carrying surfaces.

However, this construction is mainly adjusted to compact loads since the load carrying surfaces are located behind the rear part of the vehicle and cannot utilise the space offered by the roof of the vehicle.

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