Load carrier system for a motor vehicle
AssigneeThule Sweden AB
InventorsGustav Kvarnvik, Filip Nyström, Renee Slagter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a load carrier system for a vehicle comprising a base (12) and a load carrier (10). The load carrier (10) is configured for mounting to the rear of the vehicle. The load carrier (10) is configured to improve aerodynamics of the vehicle with the mounted load carrier as compared to the vehicle without the mounted load carrier, in particular by reducing an aerodynamic drag. The system may be configured for attachment of the load carrier (10) to the base (12) with an interlocking engagement of an attachment element (66). The invention further relates to a load carrier (10) and a method for attaching a load carrier (10) to a baser (12).
Claims28
A load carrier system for a vehicle comprising:
- a base configured to couple to a towing device of the vehicle;
- and
- a load carrier mounted to the base,
- wherein a bottom surface of the load carrier is inclined at a first angle relative to a horizontal plane and configured to reduce aerodynamic drag of the vehicle with the load carrier mounted to the vehicle as compared to the vehicle without the load carrier mounted to the vehicle, and
- wherein a portion of the load carrier is arranged below the towing device of the vehicle.
A load carrier system for a vehicle comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a load carrier,
- wherein the load carrier is configured to mount to a rear of the vehicle via the base, and
- wherein a countersunk region is formed in a top surface and a forward surface of the load carrier such that a left end section of a forward facing side or a right end section of the forward facing side, or both, are arranged closer to a rear of the vehicle when the load carrier is mounted to the vehicle than a middle section of the forward facing side of the load carrier.
A load carrier system for a vehicle comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a load carrier,
- wherein the load carrier is configured to mount to a towing device of the vehicle via the base, and
- wherein a curved shape of a forward facing side extending from a left side to a right side of the load carrier reduces an average distance of the forward facing side of the load carrier to a rear of the vehicle as the forward side extends from the left side to the right side, when the load carrier is mounted to the towing device of the vehicle as compared to a load carrier with a substantially forward facing side that is substantially straight in a top view.
A load carrier system for a vehicle comprising:
- a base configured to couple to a towing device of the vehicle;
- and
- a load carrier comprising:
- a bottom surface coupled to the base and inclined relative to a horizontal plane when the base is coupled to the towing device of the vehicle,
- a bottom portion comprising an upper perimeter, and
- a lid coupled to the bottom portion,
- wherein the upper perimeter is inclined relative to the horizontal plane when the base is coupled to the towing device of the vehicle.
A load carrier system for a vehicle comprising:
- a base configured to couple to a towing device of the vehicle;
- and
- a load carrier comprising a forward side, a left side, and a right side, wherein the forward side is spaced apart from a rear-most end of the vehicle,
- wherein the left side extends at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and the right side extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis such that a width of the load carrier tapers from a larger front end towards a smaller rear end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.