Variably configurable securement arrangement in a load carrier

#The present invention relates generally to load carriers, and more specifically to securement arrangements for mounting a load carrier to a transporting vehicle.

#As may be appreciated from the Figures, vehicles are often provided with rack assemblies, often at their rooftops, that are configured to accept the attachment of load carriers. In conventional configurations, a roof-top rack assembly typically has rails that run in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle with cross bar(s) or member(s) connected therebetween. The rails are normally the components of the rack system that actually attach to the vehicle; the load carrier may be connected directly to the rails or to the cross bar(s). Across different vehicles, the rails and cross members are usually of different configurations. More recently, however, and especially with respect to the rail members, the variance in design amongst different make/model vehicles has become even greater. This is found to be especially true in sport utility type vehicles where the rack has actually become a styling component and often an important component of the visual impression made upon the consumer. In an effort to make the rack systems present an athletic or sportsmen-type impression, the construction of the rails on certain sport utility vehicles is from tubulars (typically chrome or brushed aluminum) of such substantial size that they cannot be readily mounted upon using conventional securement arrangements of known load carrier assemblies.

#In another aspect, the rack systems of many automobiles are different from one another, and even when similarly configured, the several racks of a particular configuration may be of differing sizes based on vehicle dimensions or other criteria established by the automobile manufacturer. As a result, load carrier manufacturers have had to produce a wide array of connectors in order to accommodate these different rail and cross bar configurations. This means that not only the manufacturer of the load carriers must produce many similar, but slightly customized connectors, but distributors and retailers must also stock a similarly wide array of product merely to accommodate the different vehicle rack systems which customers may desire to outfit with a load carrier. The necessity of providing such an array of mountings causes higher manufacturing costs and stocking costs, as well as a host of precipitated incidental costs and inconveniences.

#The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a sport utility vehicle having a rooftop rack assembly configured for connectively receiving a rooftop load carrier.

#FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a longitudinal side rail typical of a sport utility vehicle and as illustrated in FIG. 1.

#As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

#Referring to FIG. 1 a transporting vehicle is illustrated. More specifically, a sport utility-style vehicle 2 having a carrier rack system 6 provided at its rooftop 4. FIG. 2 is a more detailed illustration of the rack system 6 showing a relatively large tubular side rail 8 that is connected to the rooftop 4 of the vehicle 2.

#Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a securement arrangement 10 according to the present invention is illustrated. The securement arrangement 10 typically serves as a connector between a load carrier assembly, such as those configured for carrying cargo and those configured to carry sports equipment such as bicycles and skis. The roof rack system is typically more or less permanently mounted to the transporting vehicle.