Roof rack

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a roof rack capable of improving load-securing stability regardless of the load size, shape or quantity. [Solution] A roof rack 10 having a frame section 12, vertical beam parts 14 and horizontal beam parts 16, said roof rack being characterized in that a plurality of belt through-holes are formed therein by segmenting an enclosed space formed from vertical beam parts 14 and horizontal beam parts 16, by positioning an angled beam part 18 between the vertical beam parts 14, between the horizontal beam parts 16, and / or between the vertical beam parts 14 and horizontal beam parts 16.

Description

Roof rack

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof rack, and particularly to a roof rack having excellent restraint stability during loading.

[0002] Various roof racks have been proposed for loading and holding luggage etc. on the roof of a vehicle. For example, the roof rack disclosed in Patent Document 1 is basically composed of a lower frame formed in a rectangular shape, an upper frame arranged overlapping this lower frame, and a plurality of bottom plates spanned over the lower frame. And the upper frame is divided along the vehicle traveling direction, and is configured to be foldable with the divided part as a base point. Each frame piece constituting the upper frame is fixed to the lower frame by locking means. Therefore, by releasing the locking means of either one of the upper frames, the upper frame on the side where the locking means is released can be folded.

[0003] By folding a part of the upper frame stacked in a frame shape with respect to the lower frame, the lower frame and the bottom plates spanned over the lower frame remain at the part where the upper frame is flipped up, and a snowboard-shaped rack without a frame surrounding the bottom plates is formed. Therefore, even long objects such as ski boards can be loaded.

[0004] However, in the roof rack disclosed in Patent Document 1, the only parts for looping a belt etc. for locking the load are the bottom plates arranged along the traveling direction and the frame parts constituted by the lower frame and the upper frame. Therefore, when the load is small, small, or has a special form, the restraint state of the load may become unstable.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-183398

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a roof rack capable of improving the restraint stability of a load regardless of the amount, size, and shape of the load.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the roof rack according to the present invention is a roof rack having a frame portion, a vertical beam portion, and a horizontal beam portion, characterized in that an inclined beam portion is placed between the vertical beam portions, between the horizontal beam portions, or between the vertical beam portions and the horizontal beam portions, thereby subdividing the surrounding space including the vertical beam portions and the horizontal beam portions and forming a plurality of belt pass-through holes.

[0008] Furthermore, in a roof rack having the above-described features, it is desirable to integrate the frame, vertical beams, horizontal beams, and inclined beams by resin molding. Having these features makes it easier to form the roof rack, and by making it a hollow structure, the weight of the roof rack itself can also be reduced.

[0009] Furthermore, the roof rack according to the present invention for achieving the above objectives also includes a roof rack having a frame portion, a vertical beam portion, and a horizontal beam portion, wherein a plurality of surrounding spaces formed by the vertical beam portion and the horizontal beam portion are each used as belt passage holes, and the frame portion, the vertical beam portion, and the horizontal beam portion are integrated by resin molding.

[0010] Furthermore, in a roof rack having the above-described features, it is preferable that, among the multiple belt pass-through holes, adjacent belt pass-through holes are provided with at least one pair of parallel sides. Having such features makes it possible to avoid situations where the tightening belts become twisted when tightening them.

[0011] Furthermore, a roof rack having the above-described features may be composed of multiple rack panels having frame sections along the vertical or horizontal beam sections. Having such features can reduce transportation costs when transporting the roof rack itself and reduce storage space when storing it.

[0012] Furthermore, a roof rack having the above-described features may be configured by connecting two or more of the aforementioned rack panels of different sizes. Having these features makes it possible to configure roof racks of different sizes to suit various applications.

[0013] A roof rack with the features described above can improve the restraint stability of cargo, regardless of its quantity, size, or shape.

[0014] This is a plan view showing the configuration of the roof rack according to the basic embodiment. This is a right side view showing the configuration of the roof rack according to the basic embodiment. This is a bottom view showing the configuration of the roof rack according to the basic embodiment. This is a front view showing the configuration of the roof rack according to the basic embodiment. This is a perspective view showing the roof rack according to the basic embodiment fixed to the roof bars. This is a perspective view showing the roof rack according to the basic embodiment with tires mounted and secured by fastening belts. This is a perspective view showing the roof rack according to the first modified example in a divided state. This is a plan view showing the roof rack according to the first modified example connected together. This is a plan view showing the pattern of the roof rack according to the second modified example, which is composed of rack panels of different sizes. This is a perspective view showing the roof rack according to the third modified example in a folded state.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the roof rack of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are some of the preferred forms for carrying out the present invention, and even if some of the configuration is changed, they can still be considered part of the present invention, as long as the effects are achieved.

[0016] [Configuration] First, the configuration of the roof rack according to the basic embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of the roof rack according to the basic embodiment, Figure 2 is a right side view thereof, Figure 3 is a bottom view thereof, and Figure 4 is a front view thereof. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the roof rack according to the basic embodiment fixed to the roof bar.

[0017] The roof rack 10 according to this embodiment is basically composed of a frame portion 12, a vertical beam portion 14, a horizontal beam portion 16, and an inclined beam portion 18. The frame portion 12 is an element that forms the outer periphery of the roof rack 10, and the vertical beam portion 14, horizontal beam portion 16, and inclined beam portion 18, which will be described in detail later, are arranged inside the frame portion 12. The frame portion 12 in this embodiment is mainly rectangular with chamfered corners, specifically formed to form an octagon, and each corner is filled to form an arc shape. In this embodiment, the side along the direction of vehicle travel (direction indicated by arrow A in Figure 1) is called the side side 12a, the side on the front side in the direction of vehicle travel (upper side in Figure 1) is called the upper side 12b, and the side on the rear side in the direction of vehicle travel is called the lower side 12c. Furthermore, the diagonal edges connecting the upper edge 12b, the lower edge 12c, and the side edge 12a are referred to as inclined edges 12d.

[0018] The vertical beam section 14 is a beam section arranged along the direction of travel of the vehicle, and in this embodiment, it is arranged parallel to the side edges 12a that constitute the frame section 12. Multiple vertical beam sections 14 are arranged between pairs of side edges 12a, and do not necessarily have to span between the upper edge 12b and the lower edge 12c. A gap is provided between each vertical beam section 14, and in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, seven vertical beam sections 14 are provided, namely vertical beam sections 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, and 14g. Furthermore, in the roof rack 10 according to this embodiment, a fitting installation section 20 for installing fittings (mounting fittings 24) for attachment to the roof bar 30 is provided on a part of the vertical beam section 14. This configuration makes it possible to securely fix the roof rack 10 to the roof bar 30.

[0019] The horizontal beam sections 16 are elements that connect adjacent vertical beam sections 14, or vertical beam sections 14 to the frame section 12, and are arranged parallel to the upper edge 12b and lower edge 12c that constitute the frame section 12. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, six horizontal beam sections 16, namely 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, and 16f, are provided. Naturally, gaps are provided between adjacent horizontal beam sections 16.

[0020] The inclined beam section 18 is an element that diagonally connects the vertical beam sections 14, the vertical beam sections 14 and the horizontal beam sections 16, or the vertical beam sections 14 and the frame section 12, etc. The inclined beam section 18 is provided in two types: one in which the beam extending toward the center of the roof rack 10, starting from the end of the side edge 12a of the roof rack 10, is inclined toward the upper edge 12b, and another in which it is inclined toward the lower edge 12c. By providing inclined beam sections 18 with opposite inclination directions in this way, the degree of freedom in tightening with the tightening belt 40 (see Figure 6) used to secure the cargo is improved. Furthermore, although there are two types of inclined beam sections 18 with different inclination directions, the inclination angle of each inclined beam section 18 is the same, and it is configured so that the tightening belt 40 does not twist when it is wrapped around between the inclined beam sections 18. Since gaps are provided between each inclined beam section 18, the resulting roof rack 10 is a porous type with various through holes (belt pass-through holes) between each beam section.

[0021] In a roof rack 10 with this configuration, the frame section 12, vertical beam section 14, horizontal beam section 16, and inclined beam section 18 are each configured to have parallel sides when viewed from above. This allows the tightening belt 40 to be tightened without twisting the tightening belt 40, even when the beams are individually attached. Furthermore, it is desirable that the frame section 12, vertical beam section 14, horizontal beam section 16, and inclined beam section 18 of the roof rack 10 with the above configuration be integrated by resin molding. This is because it eliminates the assembly process during product manufacturing. In addition, when resin molding is performed, it is possible to lighten the roof rack 10 itself by creating a hollow structure inside, such as by twin sheet molding. Furthermore, if the molding method is not specified, it may be made of a combination of resin and fiber material such as FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics). This is because it is possible to achieve both weight reduction and strength by forming it with such material.

[0022] Furthermore, the roof rack 10 according to this embodiment may also be provided with an accessory joint portion 22 along the frame portion 12. The accessory joint portion 22 can be a groove or hole for engaging with railings or protrusions (neither of which are shown) (in the example shown in Figure 1, it is a groove). By arranging and fixing railings or protrusions to the accessory joint portion 22, it is possible to improve the stability of the cargo and to give it a unique appearance.

[0023] [Function and Effects] The roof rack 10 with the above configuration is attached to the roof bars 30 via mounting brackets 24, as shown in Figure 5. In the roof rack 10 according to this embodiment, multiple beams (vertical beams 14, horizontal beams 16, and inclined beams 18) are provided vertically, horizontally, and diagonally on the frame 12, so there are many through holes for inserting the tightening belts 40 for securing the cargo, and the spacing between the beams for wrapping the tightening belts 40 is narrow. Therefore, the tightening belts 40 can be wrapped around the cargo at a comfortable angle and tightened, making it unlikely that the tightening state of the tightening belts 40 will loosen. For this reason, as shown in Figure 6, even items with shapes that are difficult to tighten, such as tires 50, can be stably loaded and tightened.

[0024] [First Modification] In the above embodiment, the roof rack 10 was described as being composed of a single porous panel. However, the roof rack 10 according to the present invention may be of a segmented type, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. In the example shown in Figures 7 and 8, the segmentation is such that the segmented portion is aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0025] The shape of each divided panel (rack panel 10a, 10b) is symmetrical left to right, and the structure of each panel (rack panel 10a, 10b) can be configured based on a frame portion 12, a vertical beam portion 14, a horizontal beam portion 16, and an inclined beam portion 18, similar to the basic embodiment described above.

[0026] It is preferable that the rack panels 10a and 10b have grooves or the like in at least two places for arranging joint plates 26 to connect the two panels (rack panels 10a and 10b). In the example shown in Figures 7 and 8, the joint plates 26 are arranged in the accessory joint section 22. By arranging the joint plates 26 in this accessory joint section 22 and fixing them with bolts 26a and nuts 26b, it becomes possible to connect the two divided panels (rack panels 10a and 10b). In this embodiment, accessory joint sections 22 are provided in two places, on the upper edge 12b and the lower edge 12c. Note that there are many means for connecting divided panels, and the method using joint plates 26 is just one example. For example, the shape of the divided section may be a concave and concave shape, and the connection may be made by fitting them together.

[0027] By making the roof rack 10 divisible in this way, it can be separated for transport or when not in use. This reduces transport costs and storage space. In this modified example, the roof rack is described as consisting of two panels, rack panel 10a and rack panel 10b. However, the roof rack 10 may also be composed of multiple panels combined together.

[0028] [Second Modification] In the first modification described above, it was stated that the rack panels 10a and 10b constituting the roof rack 10 are symmetrical. However, by preparing rack panels 10a and 10b of different widths, it is also possible to construct roof racks 10 of different sizes.

[0029] For example, as shown in Figure 9, if narrow rack panels (small panels 10c) and wide rack panels (large panels 10d) are available, it becomes possible to construct three different sizes of roof racks 10: a roof rack 10 made by combining two small panels 10c as shown in Figure 9(A), a roof rack 10 made by combining a small panel 10c and a large panel 10d as shown in Figure 9(B), and a roof rack 10 made by combining two large panels 10d as shown in Figure 9(C). Naturally, increasing the variety of rack panels with different widths will increase the size of the roof racks 10 that can be formed.

[0030] [Third Modification] In the above modification, when the roof rack 10 is in a split form, it was stated that the split rack panels 10a and 10b are simply connected using a joint plate 26. However, when the roof rack 10 is in a split form, as shown in Figure 10, the joint plate 26 connecting the split rack panels 10a and 10b is made into a hinge, and a folding portion is provided that takes into account the thickness of the rack panels 10a and 10b, so that the roof rack 10 can be folded without splitting it. Even with this configuration, in addition to the same effects as the roof rack 10 according to the basic embodiment described above, it is also possible to obtain effects such as reduced transportation costs and reduced storage space, as described in the first modification.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the roof rack 10 is described as being made of resin or FRP, etc. However, the constituent material does not necessarily have to be resin, etc., as long as it can be formed and its strength can be ensured when loading cargo. In other words, it may be made of light metal such as aluminum, or an alloy, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, it has been stated that the roof rack 10 according to the above embodiment is basically composed of a frame portion 12, a vertical beam portion 14, a horizontal beam portion 16, and an inclined beam portion 18. However, in terms of improving the restraint stability of the load regardless of the amount, size, or shape of the load, the frame portion 12, the vertical beam portion 14, and the horizontal beam portion 16 may be integrated by resin molding and provided with a plurality of belt pass-through holes.

[0033] 10...Roof rack, 10a, 10b...Rack panel, 10c...Small panel, 10d...Large panel, 12...Frame section, 12a...Side edge, 12b...Top edge, 12c...Bottom edge, 12d...Inclined edge, 14 (14a-14g)...Vertical beam section, 16 (16a-16f)...Horizontal beam section, 18...Inclined beam section, 20...Fitting bracket installation section, 22...Accessory joint section, 24...Mounting bracket, 26...Joint plate, 26a...Bolt, 26b...Nut, 30...Roof bar, 40...Tightening belt.

Claims

1. A roof rack having a frame, vertical beams, and horizontal beams, characterized in that a plurality of belt pass-through holes are formed by subdividing the surrounding space, which includes the vertical beams and horizontal beams, by arranging inclined beams between at least one of the vertical beams, between the horizontal beams, or between the vertical beams and the horizontal beams.

2. The roof rack according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame portion, the vertical beam portion, the horizontal beam portion, and the inclined beam portion are integrated by resin molding.

3. A roof rack having a frame, vertical beams, and horizontal beams, wherein a plurality of surrounding spaces formed by the vertical beams and horizontal beams are each used as belt passage holes, characterized in that the frame, vertical beams, and horizontal beams are integrated by resin molding.

4. The roof rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, among the plurality of belt pass-through holes, adjacent belt pass-through holes are provided with at least one pair of parallel sides.

5. The roof rack according to claim 4, characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of rack panels having frame portions along the vertical beam portions or the horizontal beam portions.

6. The roof rack according to claim 5, characterized in that one roof rack is formed by connecting two or more of the aforementioned rack panels of different sizes.

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