Industri Ab Thule

Thule Sweden Ab

Thule IP Ab

Anders Lundgren

Fredrik Larsson

Jan-Ivar Arvidsson

Anders Nilvius

Henrik Kax

Urban Stark

H&aring;kan Thulin

Simon Strath

Thomas Svensson

A carrier frame for a child carrier is disclosed. The carrier frame includes a first frame element and a second frame element hingedly coupled to the first frame element about a hinge axis. The first frame element includes a main frame and an adjustable support. The adjustable support extends in a first direction substantially parallel to the hinge axis and is movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis. The second frame element comprises a transition portion and a backrest portion. An angle is formed between the backrest portion and the transition portion. The transition portion has a width in the first direction smaller than a maximum width of the carrier frame.

Carrier frame for a child carrier

A load carrier foot, and a load carrying roof rack for a vehicle having at least one such load carrier foot. The load carrier foot has a lock arrangement for locking a load carrying bar to the load carrier foot comprising a wedge member, a tensioning member. The wedge member is adapted to cooperate with the tensioning member so that upon operation of the tensioning member. A clamping member is further arranged in working cooperation with the tensioning member. The present invention provides for a load carrying foot having a lock arrangement which requires little space inside of the load carrying bar to lock the load carrying bar to the load carrying foot, it permits the load carrier foot to be attached to the load carrying bar in a plurality of positions and it enables the load carrying bar to be attached to the load carrying foot while at the same time attach to the vehicle using the same tensioning member.

Load carrier foot and a load carrying roof rack for a vehicle comprising a load carrier foot

The present invention relates to an extendable vehicle rack arrangement () comprising a first and a second load carrier foot () and comprising a stationary part () attached to said first and second load carrier foot () and a displaceable part (). The stationary part () is pivotally connected to at least one of the load carrier feet (). The extendable vehicle rack arrangement () is advantageously an extendable vehicle top rack arrangement. The present invention provides for a solution which effectively reduces or neutralizes the intrinsic forces which can be imparted to an extendable vehicle rack arrangement during or after attachment to a vehicle, thereby providing an easier extension of the displaceable part ().

Extendable vehicle rack arrangement

The present invention relates to a load carrier foot () for mounting at least a part of a load carrier to a first surface () of a vehicle. The load carrier foot () comprising a support member (), arranged to abut the first surface (), a gripping member () having a first part () arranged to abut the vehicle at a distance from the support member (), an intermediate member () between the support member () and a second part () of the gripping member (), and an adjustment member () acting on the intermediate member () to adjust a clamping force between the support member () and the first part () of the gripping member (). The intermediate member () cooperates with the second part () of the gripping member () at a first working point () and the intermediate member cooperates with the support member () at a second working point () located at a distance (D) from the first working point (). The distance (D) between the first and the second working points () can be changed by moving at least a part of the intermediate member () via the adjustment member (), to thereby vary the clamping force between the first part () of the gripping member () and the support member (). The present invention provides for a space saving arrangement and an arrangement which has improved safety aspects.

Load carrier foot

A load carrier foot arrangement comprising a load carrier foot ( ) which is mounted on a rail profile ( ) which exhibits a mounting opening ( ), wherein the load carrier foot is secured to the rail profile by means of a locking device having a locking spindle ( ) which actuates a locking plate ( ) and locks the foot to the rail profile, and wherein a retaining catch ( ) is eccentrically and rotatably disposed on the locking spindle, which retaining catch interacts with notches ( ) in the rail profile to prevent unwanted movement of the load carrier foot along the rail profile when the locking device is in locked position, the retaining catch having for this purpose a stop face ( ) and a sensing element ( ), that the retaining catch is prestressed by a tensioning element ( ) to a position such that the stop face interferes obstructively with an edge region ( ) of the load carrier foot ( ) when the sensing element is not actuated, and that the mounting opening ( ) is of such a size that the sensing element is not actuated when the load carrier foot is mounted in the mounting opening.

Load carrier foot arrangement

A load carrier foot adapted for releasable securement upon an edge portion of a vehicle roof. The load carrier foot includes a support member for abutment against a vehicle roof. A clamping member is coupled to the support member by a retainer member and the clamping member is operable between a clamping configuration and a released configuration upon an edge portion of a vehicle roof. The clamping member has a first connection piece and the retainer member has a second connection piece for interconnecting the clamping member and the retainer member. One of the connection pieces forms an insertion space and the other of the connection pieces forms an insertion member for insertion into the insertion space. A latching device releasably latches the insertion member within the insertion space for facilitating the installation of different clamping members into the load carrier foot. The latching device is adapted for snapping engagement into a latching position for coupling together the retainer member and the clamping member. The latching device also includes a latching pin upon which the clamping member is pivotable relative to the retainer member. The retainer member has a substantially C-shaped cross sectional shape interiorly defining the insertion space and the first connection piece of the clamping member is insertable longitudinally within the insertion space for relative longitudinal movement between the retainer member and the clamping member until the latching device is engaged to prevent the relative longitudinal movement.

Arrangement in a load carrier foot

A load carrier which consists of a load carrier strut which, at each end region, has a foot with a support portion and a clamping portion for securing the load carrier transversely over a vehicle roof. At at least one end portion of the load carrier strut, the foot is displaced within a displacement range. By means of a rotary shaft disposed interiorly in the load carrier strut, the clamping portion is maneuverable between an open position and a locking position for securing the load carrier on the vehicle. Suitably, one rotary shaft is provided in each end region of the load carrier strut. In the open position of the clamping portion, the foot is freely movable within its displacement range. The foot is fixable in any optional position within its displacement range by fixing means extending into the interior of the load carrier strut for operation via the rotary shaft.

Load carrier

A load carrier strut adapted to be secured to a vehicle roof. The load carrier strut includes a slot with an opening extending into an interior portion of the load carrier strut. The slot opening being formed by at least one defining edge and adapted to be engaged with an engageable member. A protective skin covers at least a portion of the load carrier strut. The protective skin extends over the slot opening and covers at least a portion of the at least one defining edge of the slot opening. The load carrier strut includes a notch located in the at least one defining edge of the slot proximate an end of the load carrier strut. The protective skin engages in the notch thereby securing the protective skin longitudinally with respect to the load carrier strut.

Load carrier strut and a method for its manufacture

An apparatus or bracket for securing a load carrier strut that extends transversely over a vehicle roof on railings disposed along opposing side edge regions of the vehicle roof in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The apparatus includes two clamping jaws reciprocally movable in relation to one another under the action of a clamping device in a clamping direction substantially corresponding or parallel to a longitudinal centerline of a load carrier strut with which the two clamping jaws are adapted to be engaged. The clamping device is arranged to lock the two clamping jaws in variable, different or optional positions along a load carrier strut and the two clamping jaws each having a clamping surface for engagement with a railing. A guide portion is connected to the clamping device for displacement along such a load carrier strut and has a guide surface that is disposed for cooperation with a first of the two clamping jaws for moving the first clamping jaw transversely toward and away from such a load carrier strut. A second of the two clamping jaws has a ramp surface extending substantially in the clamping direction at an angle to horizontal. The ramp surface is disposed for cooperation with the first clamping jaw and for displacement of the first clamping jaw transversely of the clamping direction upon mutual relative movement of the first and the second clamping jaws in the clamping direction.

Railing bracket

A device for laterally translating the force vector between a load carrier foot and the upper surface of a vehicle roof according to the slope of the contour of the vehicle roof at the location of the foot upon the vehicle roof. The device includes a load carrier foot for attachment of a load carrier to the vehicle roof and the load carrier foot has a first foot support portion and a second foot support portion. A foot plate for engaging the upper surface of the vehicle roof is provided that is pivotally attached to the load carrier foot and has a first foot plate support portion adjacent the first foot support portion to form an inner support pair and a second foot plate support portion adjacent the second foot support portion to form an outer support pair. The foot plate is rotatable about its pivotal attachment to the load carrier foot between a first position wherein the force vector between the load carrier foot and the upper surface of the vehicle roof is directed through the inner support pair and a second position wherein the force vector between the load carrier foot and the upper surface of the vehicle roof is directed through the outer support pair. The foot plate is adapted to take the first position when placed adjacent vehicle roofs of steep contour and to take the second position when placed adjacent vehicle roofs of shallow contour.

Growing community of inventors

Grimsås, Sweden

Anders Lundgren