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US 4,995,538 AGranted
Motor vehicle roof rack
AssigneeFAPA S.p.A.
InventorOsvaldo Marengo
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFAPA S.p.A.
InventorOsvaldo Marengo
Estimating the term…
A rack for a motor-vehicle roof comprises a pair of bridges (10) each having a cross member (12), a pair of box-shaped feet (14) for bearing on the roof (T) and a connector for hooking and fixing each foot on to the edge (B) of the roof, such as the drainage channel or the upper edge of a door opening. Each cross member (12) is slidably inserted in respective transverse passages formed in the upper parts of the feet (14) and pressure members are associated with each transverse passage, respectively, for clamping the cross member (12) in an adjusted position. The hooking and fixing connector for each bridge (10) is comprised of an inextensible strap (18) which passes through each foot (14), through an opening in an outer wall of the foot and which is provided, outside this outer wall, with a rigid, shaped hook (20), which is replaceable by other similar hooks of different shapes, for hooking on the edge (B) of the roof (T). At least one of the two feet (14) incorporates a device for tensioning the strap (18).
A rack for a motor-vehicle roof having edge means comprising a pair of bridges each having a cross member, a pair of box-shaped feet for bearing on the roof and means for hooking and fixing each foot on to said edge means of the roof, said pair of feet having respective outer walls with an opening and upper parts with respective transverse passages, each cross member being slidably inserted in said respective transverse passages and pressure means being associated with each transverse passage for clamping the cross member in an adjusted position, wherein the hooking and fixing means of each said bridge is comprised of an inextensible strap which passes through said opening in said outer wall of each foot and which is provided, outside said outer wall, with a rigid, shaped hook which is replaceable by other similar hooks of different shapes, for hooking on said edge means of the roof and at least one of said pair of feet incorporating tensioning means for tensioning the strap, said tensioning means comprising first and second rollers with longitudinal axes, the first roller being mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, a support mounted for rotation about said fixed axis and the second roller being mounted on said support which is movable transversely with the movement of the support being controlled by an irreversible screw and female thread assembly, said strap extending along an S-shaped path around said first and second rollers.
A rack for a motor-vehicle roof having edge means comprising a pair of bridges each having a cross member, a pair of box-shaped feet for bearing on the roof and means for hooking and fixing each foot on to said edge means of the roof, said pair of feet having respective outer walls with a series of vertically spaced openings in the form of slots and upper parts with respective transverse passages, each cross member being slidably inserted in said respective transverse passage and pressure means being associated with each transverse passage for clamping the cross member in an adjusted position, wherein the hooking and fixing means of each said bridge is comprised of an inextensible strap which selectively passes through said openings in said outer wall of each foot and which is provided, outside said outer wall, with a rigid, shaped hook which is replaceable by other similar hooks of different shapes, for hooking on said edge means of the roof and at least one of said pair of feet incorporating tensioning means for tensioning the strap.
A rack for a motor-vehicle roof having edge means comprising a pair of bridges each having a cross member, a pair of box-shaped feet for bearing on the roof and means for hooking and fixing each foot on said edge means of the roof, said pair of feet having respective outer walls with an opening and upper parts with respective transverse passages, each cross member being slidably inserted in said respective transverse passages and pressure means being associated with each transverse passage for clamping the cross member in an adjusted position, wherein the hooking and fixing means of each said bridge is comprises of an inextensible stap which passes through said opening in said outer wall of each foot and which is provided, outside said outer wall, with a rigid, shaped hook which replaceable by other similar hooks of different shapes, for hooking on said edge means of the roof and at least one of said pair of feet incorporating tensioning means for tensioning the strap, wherein said pair of feet of each bridge have respective longitudinal passages in said upper parts thereof and wherein respective feet of each pair of feet are interconnected by respective side members which extend through said respective longitudinal passages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.