Vehicle equipped with modular and tamper-proof roof bars
The modular and tamper-proof roof bar system for vehicles addresses the challenges of reconfiguration and security by using a mounting pin and pivoting handle system, enabling easy position changes and secure access only to the vehicle owner.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023005129
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-05-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing roof bars on vehicles are difficult to reconfigure between longitudinal and transverse positions, often requiring specialized tools and effort, and are vulnerable to theft as they can be accessed and removed without breaking into the vehicle.
The vehicle is equipped with modular and tamper-proof roof bars that can be easily switched between longitudinal and transverse positions using a simple manipulation requiring no specific tools. This is achieved through a mounting pin system with an elongated fixing handle that pivots to secure or release the bar, and a compact lock accessible only with a personal key.
The solution allows for quick and easy reconfiguration of roof bars without tools, enhancing usability and security by making the bars tamper-proof, accessible only to the vehicle owner.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: vehicle equipped with modular and tamper-proof roof bars
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle equipped with modular and tamper-proof roof bars.
[0002] In order to better understand the positioning of the various parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is carried out with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.
[0003] In the following description, the terms “bar” and “roof bar” are equivalent.
[0004] Currently, some motor vehicles have two parallel roof bars, extending on each side of the roof along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, and fixed to said roof. For some of these vehicles, these bars can be dismantled and / or moved so that they can then be fixed to the roof so as to extend along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. In other words, for this new configuration, the two bars are on the roof parallel to each other, and placed one behind the other, each extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. This new arrangement of the bars appears to be an additional solution making it possible to expand the possibilities for securing objects on the roof of the vehicle, such as, for example, luggage, bicycles, etc.
[0005] However, changing roof bars from one configuration to another is often complicated, because it involves the implementation of complicated manipulations which more often require specific tools and certain restrictive efforts. In addition, these roof bars are accessible by anyone from outside the vehicle, and can be easily stolen without having to break into the vehicle.
[0006] A vehicle according to the invention has roof bars designed to occupy either a longitudinal position for which they extend along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, or a transverse position for which they extend along a transverse axis Y of the latter, by means of simple manipulations requiring no specific tools.
[0007] The subject of the invention is a vehicle comprising a roof, a first bar and a second bar each fixed on said roof, said two bars being movable between a longitudinal position for which they each extend along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and a transverse position for which they extend each following a transverse Y axis of the vehicle.
[0008] According to the invention: -each of the bars is fixed to the roof by means of at least one mounting pin secured to the roof and extending vertically, an upper zone of said mounting pin ending in two parallel and spaced walls extending horizontally, said upper zone emerging from said roof, -each bar comprises an elongated fixing handle, one rounded connecting end of which is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation of the bar, said rounded connecting end comprising two peripheral and parallel lips in the shape of an arc of a circle, said two lips having a height varying progressively between a first end for which the height is minimal and a second end for which the height is maximal, the fixing handle cooperating with the mounting pin so that the two lips are inserted into a receiving space provided between the two parallel walls of the upper zone of the pin, said fixing handle being able to pivot about the axis of rotation to a locking position for which a section of the two lips between the first end and the second end is force-fitted into the receiving space,to an unlocking position for which the two lips have pivoted around said axis of rotation until the first ends of said two lips are outside said reception space.
[0009] The principle of a vehicle according to the invention is to implement a mounting pin secured to the roof of the vehicle and a fixing handle mounted in rotation in a roof bar, said handle having a rounded connecting end which is comparable to an eccentric. Indeed, the radius of this rounded connecting end, considered between the center of the axis of rotation and an upper edge of the peripheral and parallel lips, is variable along the circumference of this connecting end. When the fixing handle is in the locking position, the two lips are inserted between the two parallel and horizontal walls of the mounting pin, at a section fully occupying the receiving space located between said two parallel and horizontal walls of the mounting pin.In other words, said section of said two lips is wedged between these two parallel and horizontal walls allowing the roof bar to be securely fastened to the roof. When the fixing handle begins a rotation from this locking position to reach the unlocking position, the two peripheral and parallel lips move simultaneously since they are secured to the rounded connecting end, said movement taking place relative to the two parallel and horizontal walls of the mounting pin. As this movement progresses, the height of the lips located between said two horizontal and parallel walls gradually decreases so that . said two lips no longer occupy the entire reception space located on said two parallel and horizontal walls. The rotational movement of the fixing handle continues until the first end of said two lips leaves said reception space, signifying that the unlocking position has been reached. Nothing then holds the bar against said roof, said bar then being able to be removed easily and effortlessly from said roof.
[0010] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the two parallel and spaced walls of the upper zone of the mounting pin consist of an upper wall and a lower wall which is placed below the upper wall, said two walls being of cylindrical shape, the diameter of the upper wall being less than that of the lower wall.
[0011] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each lip has a rectangular cross-section.
[0012] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the fixing handle is rectilinear, and in the locking position said fixing handle extends horizontally, flush with an upper surface of the bar without leaving any play with said upper surface. In this way, once the fixing handle is in the locking position, it is no longer possible to slide the fingers between said handle and the roof bar to try to grasp it in order to unlock the roof bar. The fact that the fixing handle is flush with an upper surface of the bar means that the fixing handle is in perfect continuity with said upper surface without introducing any relief between the two. When the handle is in the locking position, an individual cannot grasp said handle, since there is no space between this handle and the roof bar on which it is mounted.This handle locking position makes the roof bar tamper-proof.
[0013] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the handle comprises a striker and the bar comprises a lock in the form of a rotating cylindrical part extended by a curved wall forming a hook, a specific and personal key introduced into the lock making it possible to pivot the cylindrical part so that the curved wall comes to be placed on said striker when the handle is in the locking position, before said key is removed. The striker and the lock are intended to make the roof bar tamper-proof. Indeed, once the curved wall of the lock is placed above the striker of the fixing handle, the specific key is removed from the lock leaving the fixing handle blocked in the locking position. The term "personal" attributed to the key means that only the owner of the vehicle holds said key.
[0014] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the movable cylindrical part forming the lock has an end which emerges from the bar, the specific key and per ring being designed to cooperate with said emerging end to release or lock the fixing handle in the locking position. In fact, the key will make it possible to cause a rotation of the movable cylindrical part in one direction or the other, to release or lock the fixing handle in the locking position.
[0015] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the rounded connecting end of the handle has an extension of material designed to come into contact with one of the two parallel walls of the upper zone of the pin, so as to limit the travel of the fixing handle from the locking position and therefore to mark the unlocking position of the fixing handle. The unlocking position is reached when the extension of material of the rounded connecting end comes into contact with one of the two horizontal and parallel walls of the upper zone of the mounting pin.
[0016] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, each of the two bars is elongated and has at each of its two ends considered along a longitudinal axis of said bars, a fixing handle each cooperating with a mounting pin secured to the roof.
[0017] According to a possible characteristic of the invention, the amplitude of rotation of the fixing handle to move from the locking position to the unlocking position is between 90° and 135°. In other words, the fixing handle must undergo a high amplitude rotation from its locking position to reach the unlocking position. In this way, a person manipulating said fixing handle cannot reach the unlocking position without realizing it.
[0018] Another subject of the invention is a method for unlocking a roof bar of a vehicle according to the invention, while the fixing handle is in the locking position.
[0019] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: - a step of cooperation between a specific key and an emerging end of the rotating cylindrical part forming the lock, to release in rotation the fixing handle located in the locking position, - a step of manually rotating the fixing handle around the rotation axis, causing rotation of the two lips which were forcibly inserted into the reception space delimited by the two parallel walls of the upper zone of the pin, - a step of continuing the rotation of the fixing handle in the same direction, said step being facilitated by the fact that the height of the two lips which are inserted into said reception space gradually decreases, - a step of stopping the rotation of the fixing handle when the extension of material of the rounded connecting end of said fixing handle comes into abutment against one of the two parallel walls of the upper zone of the mounting pin, this stopping step occurring when the two lips are outside the receiving space, -a bar removal step.
[0020] A vehicle according to the invention has the advantage of having a roof bar locking and unlocking mechanism that is simple and quick to use, since it does not require specific tools or complicated manipulations requiring force and / or precision. In addition, this locking and unlocking mechanism has the advantage of being tamper-proof thanks to the judicious presence of a compact lock with a simple geometry, which can be unlocked using a specific and personal key that only the owner of the vehicle has.
[0021] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention is given below, with reference to the following figures:
[0022] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a side view of a roof bar of a vehicle according to the invention,
[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic sectional view of an area of a vehicle according to the invention, showing a point of attachment of a roof bar on the roof of said vehicle, said point of attachment being in a locked position,
[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is the view of [Fig.2], with the fixing point in an unlocked position,
[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a side view of a fixing handle of a roof bar of a vehicle according to the invention, in three different positions,
[0026] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view of the fixing handle of [Fig.4],
[0027] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of an area of a roof bar of a vehicle according to the invention, showing the fixing handle in an unlocked position,
[0028] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of one end of a roof bar of a vehicle according to the invention, the fixing handle being in a locked position,
[0029] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of one end of a roof bar of a vehicle according to the invention, the fixing handle being in an unlocked position.
[0030] Referring to [Fig.l], a vehicle according to the invention comprises two roof bars 1 fixed to a roof of said vehicle, said two roof bars 1 being able to occupy essentially two positions: - a longitudinal position for which they are parallel and extend along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, and -a transverse position for which they are parallel and extend along a transverse Y axis of the vehicle.
[0031] These two possible positions of the roof bars 1 on the roof of the vehicle increase the storage configurations of objects, luggage and / or goods on said roof. To move from one position to the other, at least one end of the roof bars 1 must first be detached from the roof, before the roof bars are positioned and then fixed in the other position.
[0032] Referring to [Fig.l], each roof bar 1 is elongated and has two fixing points 2, 3 to the roof, placed at the ends of said roof bar 1 considered along a longitudinal axis thereof.
[0033] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, each attachment point 2, 3 of the roof bar 1 on the roof of the vehicle comprises a attachment handle 4 mounted to rotate about an axis 5 of the bar 1, and a mounting pin 6 fixed to the roof of the vehicle. The mounting pin 6 has an elongated main body 7, a first end 8 of which is free and a second end 9 of which ends in a first cylindrical wall 10 extending in a plane which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main body 7. This first cylindrical wall 10 is extended by an elongated secondary body 11, which is in perfect continuity with the main body 7, and ending in a second cylindrical wall 12 extending in a plane which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the secondary body 11 and whose diameter is less than that of the first cylindrical wall 10. In other words, -the first cylindrical wall 10 and the second cylindrical wall 12 are parallel, and extend perpendicular to the main body 7 and to the secondary body 11, -the first cylindrical wall 10 separates the main body 7 and the secondary body H, -the second cylindrical wall 12 constitutes one end of the secondary body 11 and therefore one end of the mounting pin 6, -the first cylindrical wall 10 and the second cylindrical wall 12 are placed coaxially on the main body 7 and on the secondary body 11,
[0034] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, each mounting pin 6 is fixed to the roof of the vehicle, so that: -the main body 7 and the secondary body 11 extend in a vertical direction, and -the first cylindrical wall 10 and the second cylindrical wall 12 extend horizontally, said second cylindrical wall 12 being placed above the first cylindrical wall 10. In this way, the first cylindrical wall 10 constitutes a lower wall and the second cylindrical wall 12 constitutes an upper wall.
[0035] More precisely, the mounting pins 6 are fixed in support parts which are themselves fixed to the roof. In this way, if the owner of the vehicle decided to remove the roof bars 1 to drive without said roof bars 1, he would remove said support parts and the mounting pins 6 would not emerge from said roof.
[0036] Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the fixing handle 4 is elongated and has a first rounded connecting end 13, which is mounted in rotation around the axis of rotation 5 of the roof bar 1, and a second free end 14, said two ends 13, 14 being considered along a longitudinal axis of said fixing handle 4. The rounded connecting end 13 comprises two peripheral and parallel lips 15, 16 in the shape of an arc of a circle, said two lips 15, 16 having a finite length. In other words, the two lips 15, 16 do not extend over 360° around the rounded connecting end 13. The two lips 15, 16 are identical and each have a variable height, said two lips 15, 16 extending between a first end 17 for which the height is minimal and a second end 18 for which the height is maximum.Between the first end 17 and the second end 18, the height of each lip 15, 16 increases progressively, the height representing the dimension of said lips 15, 16 considered along a radial axis passing through the center of the axis of rotation 5 of the fixing handle.
[0037] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, each fixing handle 4 cooperates with a mounting pin 6, so that the two lips 15, 16 are placed on either side of the secondary body 11 while being inserted between the first cylindrical wall 10 and the second cylindrical wall 12 of said mounting pin. The fixing handle 4 can thus rotate around the axis of rotation 5: - a locking position as illustrated in figures 2 and 7, and for which it tightly secures the roof bar 1 to the roof of the vehicle, - to an unlocking position as illustrated in figures 3 and 8 and for which it allows the removal of said roof bar 1 from said roof.
[0038] Referring to Figures 2 and 7, in the locking position, the fixing handle 4 extends horizontally and is fully inserted into the roof bar 1, so that an upper surface 19 of said fixing handle 4 is flush with an upper surface 20 of said roof bar 1. In this locking position, the height of the section of the two lips 15, 16 which is inserted between the first cylindrical wall 10 and the second cylindrical wall 12 of the mounting pin 6, is sufficient for said two lips 15, 16 to come into close contact with said two cylindrical walls 10, 12 of the mounting pin 6.
[0039] Referring to Figures 3 and 8, rotating the fixing handle 4 around the axis of rotation 5, from the locking position, causes the two lips 15, 16 to move relative to the first cylindrical wall 10 and to the second cylindrical wall 12 of the mounting pin 6, in a direction for which the height of the section of said lips 15, 16 which is inserted between said cylindrical walls 10, 12, gradually decreases. In this way, the two lips 15, 16 gradually lose contact with the first cylindrical wall 10 while they always remain in contact with the second cylindrical wall 12. The rotation of the fixing handle 4 continues until the fixing handle 4 reaches the unlocking position, for which the first end 17 of each lip 15, 16 is out of a space delimited by the two cylindrical walls 10, 12 of the mounting pin 6. This unlocking position is reached after a rotation of more than 90° of the fixing handle 4 from the locking position.Since in the unlocked position the fixing handle 4 is no longer held by the mounting pin 6, the two lips 15, 16 no longer being inserted between the two cylindrical walls 10, 12 of the mounting pin 6, the roof bar 1 can then be moved away from the roof before being removed therefrom.
[0040] It should be noted that the movement of the fixing handle 4 is reversible to allow it to move from the unlocking position to the locking position. A certain amount of effort is required to place the fixing handle in the locking position, because during the rotational movement thereof, the height of the section of said lips 15, 16 which is inserted between the two cylindrical walls 10, 12 of the mounting pin 6, increases progressively. The section eventually comes into contact with said cylindrical walls 10, 12, reaching the locking position being achieved at the cost of a certain amount of effort to wedge said section, the height of which increases, between these two cylindrical walls 10, 12.
[0041] Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, each fixing handle 4 of the roof bar is associated with a lock 21 in the form of a substantially cylindrical part 22 capable of pivoting around its axis of revolution. This cylindrical part 22 is secured to the roof bar 1 by extending in a transverse direction of said roof bar 1, considered relative to a longitudinal axis thereof. Once mounted in the roof bar 1, the cylindrical part 22 materializing the lock 21 has an end 23 which emerges from said roof bar 1. The cylindrical part 22 forming the lock 21 has a protrusion 24 in the form of a curved wall forming a hook originating on an upper zone of said cylindrical part 22. The fixing handle 4 has a striker 25 in the form of a rod extending in a transverse direction of said handle 4 considered relative to a longitudinal axis thereof.
[0042] When the fixing handle moves from the unlocking position as illustrated in Figures 3, 6, 8 to the locking position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 7, the latch 25 is placed next to and under the hook 24 of the cylindrical part 22 forming lock 21. A specific and personal key, which only the owner of the vehicle has, is manually entered into an opening in the emerging end 23 of the cylindrical part 22 forming the lock 21, allowing said cylindrical part 22 to be pivoted until the curved wall 24 catches on the latch 25 of the fixing handle 4, as illustrated in [Fig.2]. The specific key is then removed from the emerging end 23 of the cylindrical part 22 forming the lock 21, while said lock 21 blocks the fixing handle 4 in the locking position. The fixing handle 4 is then locked in the locking position, without the possibility of being manipulated to bring it into the unlocking position, since said fixing handle 4 leaves no play with the roof bar 1 when it is in the locking position.To release the fixing handle 4 in rotation, it is sufficient to reinsert the specific key into the opening of the emerging end 23 of the cylindrical part 22 forming the lock 21, then to cause a rotation of said cylindrical part 22 in the opposite direction in order to release the latch 25 from the curved wall 24 forming a hook. The fixing handle 4 can then be rotated again to reach the unlocking position.
[0043] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the rounded connecting end 13 of the fixing handle 4 comprises a material protrusion 30 designed to abut against the second cylindrical wall 12 of the mounting pin 6, when the fixing handle 4 is rotated from the locking position to reach the unlocking position. Indeed, abutment of said material protrusion 30 against the second cylindrical wall 12 means that the unlocking position has been reached by the fixing handle 4.
[0044] A method of unlocking a roof bar 1 of a vehicle according to the invention, while the fixing handle 4 is in the locking position, comprises the following steps: - a step of introducing the specific key into an opening of the emerging end 23 of the cylindrical part 22 forming the lock 21, to disengage the latch 25 from the hook 24 and release in rotation the fixing handle 4 located in the locking position, - a step of manually rotating the fixing handle 4 around the rotation axis 5, causing rotation of the two lips 15, 16 which were inserted by force between the two cylindrical walls 10, 12 of the mounting pin 6, - a step of continuing the rotation of the fixing handle 4 in the same direction, said step being facilitated by the fact that the height of the section of the two lips 15, 16 which is inserted between said cylindrical walls 10, 12 gradually decreases, - a step of stopping the rotation of the fixing handle 4 when the extension of material 30 of the rounded connecting end 13 of said fixing handle 4 arrives in abutment against one of the two cylindrical walls 10, 12 of the mounting pin 6, this stopping step occurring while the two lips 15, 16 are outside the space between said cylindrical walls 10, 12, - a step of withdrawal of the bar.
Claims
Claims
1. Vehicle (1) comprising a roof, a first bar (1) and a second bar (1) each fixed on said roof, said two bars (1) being movable between a longitudinal position for which they each extend along a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and a transverse position for which they each extend along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle, characterized in that: -each of the bars (1) is fixed to the roof by means of at least one mounting pin (6) secured to the roof and extending vertically, an upper zone of said mounting pin (6) ending in two parallel and spaced walls (10, 12) extending horizontally, said upper zone emerging from said roof, -each bar (1) comprises an elongated fixing handle (4) of which a rounded connecting end (13) is mounted in rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation (5) of the bar (1), said rounded connecting end (13) comprising two peripheral and parallel lips (15, 16) in the shape of an arc of a circle, said two lips (15, 16) having a height varying progressively between a first end (17) for which the height is minimal and a second end (18) for which the height is maximal, the fixing handle (4) cooperating with the mounting pin (6) so that the two lips (15, 16) are inserted into a receiving space provided between the two parallel walls (10, 12) of the upper zone of the mounting pin (6), and in that said fixing handle (4) can pivot about the axis of rotation (5) from a locking position for which a section of the two lips (15, 16) between the first end (17) and the second end (18) is forcibly inserted into the receiving space, to an unlocking position for which the two lips (15, 16) have pivoted about said axis of rotation (5) until the first ends (17) of said two lips (15, 16) are outside said receiving space.
2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the two parallel walls (10, 12) and spaced from the upper zone of the mounting pin (6) consist of an upper wall (12) and a lower wall (10) which is placed below the upper wall (12), and in that said two walls (10, 12) are cylindrical in shape, the diameter of the upper wall (12) being less than that of the lower wall (10).
3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each lip (15, 16) has a rectangular cross-section.
4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing handle (4) is rectilinear, and in that in the locking position said fixing handle (4) extends horizontally, leveling an upper surface (20) of the bar (1) without leaving any play with said upper surface (20).
5. Vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that the fixing handle (4) comprises a latch (25) and the bar (1) comprises a lock (21) in the form of a cylindrical part movable in rotation and extended by a curved wall (24) forming a hook, and in that a specific and personal key introduced into the lock (21) makes it possible to pivot the cylindrical part (22) so that the curved wall (24) comes to be placed on said latch (25) when the handle (4) is in the locking position before said key is removed.
6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the movable cylindrical part (22) forming the lock (21) has an end (23) which emerges from the bar (1), and in that the specific and personal key is designed to cooperate with said emerging end (23) to release or block the fixing handle (4) in the locking position.
7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rounded connecting end (13) of the handle (4) has an extension (30) of material designed to bear against one of the two parallel walls (10, 12) of the upper zone of the mounting pin (6) so as to limit the travel of the handle (4) from the locking position and therefore to mark the unlocking position of the handle (4).
8. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the two bars (1) is elongated and has at each of its two ends considered along a longitudinal axis of said bars (1), a fixing handle (4) each cooperating with a mounting pin (6) secured to the roof.
9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the amplitude of rotation of the fixing handle (4) to move from the locking position to the unlocking position is between 90° and 135°.
10. Method for unlocking a roof bar (1) of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9 while the fixing handle (4) is in the locking position, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of cooperation between a specific key and an emerging end (23) of the cylindrical part (22) movable in rotation forming the lock, to release in rotation the fixing handle (4) located in the locking position, - a step of manually rotating the fixing handle (4) around the rotation axis (5), causing rotation of the two lips (15, 16) which were forcibly inserted into the reception space delimited by the two parallel walls (10, 12) of the upper zone of the mounting pin (6), - a step of continuing the rotation of the fixing handle (4) in the same direction, said step being facilitated by the fact that the height of the two lips which are inserted into said reception space gradually decreases, - a step of stopping the rotation of the fixing handle when the material extension (30) of the rounded connecting end (13) of said fixing handle (4) comes into abutment against one of the two parallel walls (10, 12) of the upper zone of the mounting pin (6), this stopping step occurring when the two lips (15, 16) are outside the receiving space, - a bar removal step (1).