# US 10,766,428 B2 · Rail system for roof rack fastening

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- Number: US 10,766,428 B2
- Document ID: US10766428B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/240,381
- Filed: 2019-01-04
- Published: 2019-07-11
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-05
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Daniel Hahnenberg; Michael Otte; Thomas Benderoth
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766428B2

## CPC

- B60R 9/058: characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A fastening rail for a vehicle roof serves for the assembly of a roof rack. The fastening rail includes an assembly region for the assembly of the roof rack and fastening regions for fastening the fastening rail to the vehicle roof. The fastening regions include rear engagement means configured integrally with the fastening rail, that serve for securing the fastening rail to the vehicle roof by means of a bayonet-type displacement movement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fastening rail for a vehicle roof that serves for assembly of a roof rack, comprising:
an assembly region for assembly of a roof rack;
fastening regions for fastening the fastening rail to a vehicle roof, wherein the fastening regions include a rear connector configured integrally with the fastening rail and adapted to secure the fastening rail to the vehicle roof by means of a bayonet-type displacement movement, said rear connector including a support leg connected to the fastening rail and a retaining leg depending from the support leg and oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fastening rail;
a roof plate; and
a lock engaging the retaining leg and the roof plate captured between the retaining leg and the fastening rail.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fastening rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lock comprises screw-like devices.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fastening rail as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear connector is configured to be substantially hook-like.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A motor vehicle, comprising at least one fastening rail as set forth in claim 1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A roof arrangement of a vehicle, comprising a roof structure having at least one fastening rail as set forth in claim 1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The roof arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein insertion openings are provided in the roof structure for inserting the rear connector of the fastening rail and locking openings are provided for producing a positive locking of the fastening rail to the roof structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A motor vehicle, comprising the roof arrangement as set forth in claim 5.

### Claim 8

A method for fastening a fastening rail to a roof structure of a vehicle, comprising:
inserting in a first direction a rear connector of said fastening rail into a receiver provided in said roof structure;
displacing said fastening rail by a bayonet-type displacement movement in a second direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fastening rail; and
engaging a lock with the rear connector and the roof structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, including positioning an engagement surface on the rear connector fully behind the roof structure before engaging the lock with the rear connector and the roof.

### Claim 10

An apparatus, comprising:
a fastening rail including a rail base body and at least one hook projecting from said rail base body wherein said hook includes a support leg connected to the rail base body and a retaining leg that depends from the support leg and is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fastening rail;
a roof plate including at least one receiver wherein said at least one hook engages said at least one receiver; and
a lock engaging the retaining leg and the roof plate wherein the roof plate is captured between the retaining leg and the fastening rail.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said roof plate is captured between said rail base body and said retaining leg.