AU2005201852A1 - Vehicle roof top carrier - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention title: LIONEL COLIN FULLER LIONEL COLIN FULLER JOHN R.G. GARDNER SUITE 398 ALBERT AVENUE BROADBEACH QLD 4218 VEHICLE ROOF TOP CARRIER Details of Associated Provisional Applications No: 2004902312 filed 4 May 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:t 2 VEHICLE ROOF TOP CARRIER Technical Field This invention relates to a motor vehicle roof top carrier. The carrier is particularly suitable for carrying fishing rods and reels but may also be adapted for carrying surf skis, kayaks, ladders, bicycles, wheelchairs, luggage or any other article.

Background Art Since the introduction of four-wheel drive motor vehicles, the most accepted method of 1 transporting fishing rods fitted with reels on these vehicles has been by tube-like devices, mounted to the horizontal rail of a bull-bar fitted to the front of the vehicle. This method, which is still in use, has been accepted mainly due to its convenience in enabling quick and ease of loading and unloading of fishing rods and reels, while fully rigged and ready for immediate use. With the more recent introduction of air bags on motor vehicles, however, together with regulations introduced by the Department of Transport that limit the fitting of fishing rod holders to bull- bars for safety reasons, an alternative method is required. In particular there is a need to enable fishing rods to be transported on the roof of motor vehicles, in a manner which provides convenience of loading and unloading.

Surf skis, surfboards, kayaks and other similar watercraft are also commonly carried on the roof of a vehicle usually supported on racks on the vehicle. Again there is difficulty in not only loading these forms of watercraft on conventional roof racks and further in unloading such watercraft from the vehicle. In addition, when these forms of watercraft are supported on roof racks they are usually restrained by elastics straps or similar. Whilst these form of restraints normally are suited to holding the watercraft on the roof racks, they do not prevent or deter tampering with the watercraft or possible theft.

Where bicycle racks are to be transported on a vehicle, bicycle racks are commonly provided on the rear of a vehicle. Bicycles stored in this manner however can cause a safety hazard whilst driving. Furthermore, they often do not satisfy Transport authority requirements in that they can block the view of the vehicle number plate. Wheelchairs also provide a difficult transport problem.

O Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide in one aspect an improved load carrier for a vehicle which facilitates loading or unloading of loads to be carried on a vehicle. The load carrier is particularly suited to carrying fishing rods, surf skis, kayaks, ladders, bicycles and N wheelchairs but may be adapted to carrying luggage carriers or other forms of load. In a V further aspect, the present invention provides a carrier for fishing rods. In a further 00 aspect, the present invention provides a carrier for surf skis. In a further aspect, the N present invention provides a carrier for kayaks. In further aspects, the present invention provides a carrier for ladders. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a carnrier for bicycles. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a carrier for wheel chairs.

The present invention thus provides in one preferred aspect, a load carrier for use with vehicle roof racks of the type having a pair of cross arms secured to or above the roof of said vehicle, said load carrier including a pair of main elongated load supporting carriage members each associated with a respective said cross arm, means connecting said carriage member to its said associated cross arm for slidable movement of said carriage member therealong and pivotal movement of said carriage member relative to said cross arm, and latching means associated with at least one said carriage member and normally latching said carriage member to said cross arm in a load carrying position extending substantially parallel to said cross arm, and wherein when said latching means is released, said connecting means is slidable along said cross arm to permit said carriage member to pivot to a position on one side of said vehicle for loading or unloading of said load carrier.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent hereunder.

Preferably, the latching means is releasable by moving the load carrier inwardly towards the centre of the vehicle. Most preferably the latching means includes a hook member biased by biasing means into engagement with the cross arm. Most preferably, the hook member is biased into engagement with an end member of the cross arm by the biasing means. Preferably, the hook member is releasable from engagement with the end member by moving the load carrier against the bias of the biasing means. Preferably the biasing means comprises a spring. Preferably the biasing means can act against the connecting means to maintain the carriage member in a latched position.

The cross arms of the roof racks are normally of the type having a channel or track t extending longitudinally therealong and the connecting means is suitably slidably engageable with the channel or track. Preferably the connecting means includes retaining means retained to the channel or track. The biasing means suitably is located within the track for acting against the connecting means and suitably the retaining means of the connecting means. The biasing means suitably includes a stop adapted to be fixed at a 00 _selected position along the channel or track and the biasing means acts between the stop and a movable buffer which can engage the connecting means to apply a bias to the carriage member. The connecting means suitably comprises a slide member and a pivot pivotally connecting the carriage member to the slide member.

Preferably, an operating handle is fixed to and extends between the carriage members.

The operating handle can be grasped by a user to facilitate unlatching of the or each carriage member from the cross arm of the roof racks.

The present invention in a further preferred aspect provides a load carrier for use with vehicle roof racks of the type having a pair of cross arms secured to or above the roof of said vehicle, said load carrier including a pair of main elongated load supporting carriage members each associated with a respective said cross arm, connecting means intermediate opposite ends of each said carriage member and connecting said carriage member to its said associated cross arm for slidable movement of said carriage member therealong, said load carrier being movable between a first load carrying position in which said carriage members extend longitudinally of said cross arms and a second loading and unloading position in which said connecting means is positioned relative to said cross arms such as to permit said load carrier to pivot to a position on one side of said vehicle.

Preferably, the pivot means are positioned at or adjacent common ends of the cross arms in the loading and unloading position. By providing the pivot means intermediate the ends of the carriage members, the pivot axis of the load carrier is positioned to provide an effective leverage point for pivoting the load carrier back towards its load carrying position.

The load carrier may be adapted for carrying many different forms of load. One form of load may comprise one or more fishing rods. For carrying fishing rods, one carriage "1 member may be provided with one or more supports for the butt/s of the fishing rod/s and Sthe other carriage member may be provided with a corresponding number of supports for the tip/s of fishing rod/s. The supports are suitably slidably engaged with the carriage members. The support for the butt may comprise a tubular member into which the fishing rod butt may be inserted. Most preferably, the tubular member is provided with at least one longitudinally extending slot into which the support leg of the fishing reel may pass.

0 Usually the at least one slot is provided on the upper side of the holder such that the fishing reel is supported in an upright manner when the support leg or neck of the fishing reel is inserted into the slot. Most preferably, the slot tapers in width such that the support N leg or neck of the fishing reel may be wedged in position within the slot.

The slot in the tubular member may be of a stepped configuration such as to accommodate the support legs or necks of fishing reels of various widths. Each stepped portion of the slot may taper in width such that irrespective of the width of the support leg or neck of the fishing reel, it may be wedged in position in one of the stepped portions of the slot. Typically, the slot has three stepped portions.

The wall thickness of the tubular member in the region of the slot may also be of increased wall thickness relative to the remainder of the member to provide additional support to fishing reels located in the slots. The support for the tip of the fishing rod may comprise a gripper for resiliently gripping the tip of the fishing rod. The gripper may be formed of a resilient material such as rubber or an elastomer.

A retaining strap or straps may be provided for securing the fishing rods to the load carrier. The retaining strap may extend from one end of the carriage member and over the rods. The retaining strap may be connected at its opposite end to the track of the carriage member.

In another aspect, the carriage members can carry pairs of opposed supports adapted for engaging and gripping opposite sides of an object such as a surf ski or surfboard, kayak or other similar watercraft or ladder. The supports are suitably slidably engaged with the carriage members for slidable movement therealong and towards and away from each other. Means are suitably provided for urging the supports towards each other for O gripping opposite sides of the surf ski, kayak or ladder. Such means may comprise N adjustable straps. Retaining means may also be provided between the supports to extend adjustable straps.Rtiigmasays over the surf ski, kayak or ladder to retain the surf ski, kayak or ladder securely in position. The retaining means may also comprise adjustable straps.

Suitably, the supports are configured so as to be complementary to the load or object to be 00 carried. Thus where the load is a surf ski or board or kayak, the supports may be provided with recesses complementary to the opposite sides of the ski, board or kayak. For carrying a ladder, the supports may be of a L-shaped configuration including a generally horizontal supporting part upon which the ladder may seat and an upright part for engaging a side of the ladder.

Supports for a surf ski, board or the like may be configured for engagement with each other in a piggy-back like fashion whereby a plurality of surf-skis or boards may be supported one above the other. For this purpose, the upper portion of one support may be provided with a channel for slidable engagement by the lower portion of a further support.

The lower portion of respective supports suitably are provided with a configuration to enable them to be slidably engaged with the track or channel in the carriage member or channel in the upper portion of a further support. The configuration may comprise a member complementary to the channel or track.

In another aspect, the load carrier is adapted for carrying bicycles or wheel chairs. In this aspect, first and second arms are secured to extend transversely between the carriage members. Each arm carries supports adapted to engage with a bicycle or wheelchair. The supports may be configured for engagement with a wheel or wheels of the bicycle or wheelchair. Supports on one arm may engage a wheel on one diametric side and supports on the other arm may engage a wheel on the opposite diametric side thereof. The supports are suitably slid ably mounted for movement along the arms. The arms are also suitably mounted to the carriage members for slidable movement therealong for movement towards and away from each other.

Preferably the supports on one arm comprise opposing jaws which define a recess to receive a portion of a wheel of the bicycle or wheel chair. The supports on the other arm t 7 may comprise saddles to receive a further portion of a wheel of the bicycle or wheel chair Nor a frame portion thereof. Adjustable straps may be provided between the supports to t secure the bicycle or wheelchair to the carriage members.

The load supports referred to above are particularly suited to use with a load carrier according to the invention however they may be used with roof racks having channels or tracks with which they may slidably engage. Similarly the fishing rod carriers may be used with conventional roof racks in addition to the load carrier of the invention.

V) 10 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates a view from the rear of a load carrier according to an embodiment of the invention associated with a roof rack on a vehicle and shown in the loaded position; Fig. 2 illustrates a view from the rear of a load carrier in a loading and unloading position; Fig. 3 illustrates the main carriages of the load carrier adapted for carrying fishing rods; Fig. 4 illustrates the load carrier carrying fishing rods with associated fishing reels; Fig. 5 is an end view of the main carriage of the load carrier carrying the fishing rod holders; Fig. 6 is an end view of fishing rod tip clamps for use with the load carrier; Figs. 7 and illustrate in end view and plan view respectively an individual rod holder; Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. Fig. 9 illustrates the components of the load carrier according to the invention adapted for carrying a surf ski; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views along lines B-B, C-C and D-D of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 illustrates the load carrier adapted for carrying a kayak; Fig. 14 illustrates the load carrier adapted for carrying a ladder; O Fig. 15 illustrates the load carrier adapted for carrying a bicycle or wheel chair; NFig. 16 illustrates the load carrier carrying a bicycle; and Fig. 17 illustrates the load carrier carrying a wheel chair.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a load carrier 00for use in association with a set of vehicle roof racks 11 of the type having a pair of spaced apart horizontal cross bars 12, each supported on suitable brackets 13 on the roof of a vehicle 14 and extending transversely thereof. The cross bars 12 of the roof rack 11 Sare of the type which have a longitudinally extending re-entrant track or groove 15 (see Figs. 5 and 8) extending longitudinally thereof, the entrance to which is defined by a longitudinally extending slot 16. End stops 17 are provided at opposite ends of the cross bars 12. The cross bars 12 are typically of an aerofoil-like cross-section but may be of any cross section.

The load carrier 10 includes a pair of main elongated carriage member s18 in this embodiment of similar cross section to the cross bars 12 each of which are provided on its underside and intermediate its ends with a hook-like tongue 19. A slide assembly 20 is also mounted to each carriage member 18 at a position spaced from the tongue 19, the slide assembly 20 including a mounting plate 21 mounted via a hinge 22 to the carriage member 18 intermediate its ends for movement about a pivot axis which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the carriage member 18. The mounting plate 21 carries a pair of retainers 23 adapted for receipt within the groove 15 for sliding movement therealong. The retainers 23 are pivotally mounted to the plate 21 and have transversely extending fingers 24 which can locate on the underside of the slot 16 and extend to opposite sides thereof to be captured within the groove 15. The retainers 23 may however be in other forms including in the form of rollers Usually, retainers 23 are provided to match the track or groove of the cross bars 12.

A stop member 25 is adjustably located in the groove 15 to be adjustable for movement therealong. A screw 26 in threaded engagement with the stop member 25 can be tightened to lock the stop member 25 in a fixed position along the groove 15. A spring 27 is connected between the stop member 25 and a movable buffer 28 also located in the groove 15. The stop member 25 is adjusted to, and fixed in, a position along the groove such that the spring loaded buffer 28 will apply a biasing force to the adjacent retainer 23 to urge the carriage member 18 towards the end stop 17 as shown in Fig. 5. In this position, the tongue 19 carried by the carriage member 18 locates within a recess 29, to engage with the end stop 17 such that the carriage member 18 is retained in position extending substantially parallel to the cross bar 12.

Vt) 00 Each carriage member 18 includes at its end adjacent the tongue 19 a clamp 30 for N clamping onto a gripping handle 31. A pair of such carriage members 18 are provide on each cross bar 12 and the gripping handle 31 extends between each carriage member 18 to be clamped by a respective clamp 30 on each carriage member 18 as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Each carriage member 18 additionally includes a re-entrant track or groove 32 of similar form to the grooves 15 in the bars 12 and having a slot 33 leading into the track or groove 32 extending longitudinally of the carriage member 18.

One end of the carriage member 18 is closed by an end plug or stop 34 and the other end of the carriage member 18 is provided with a forked end member 35 for cooperation with a securing strap or cable in the manner described further below.

In the loaded position of Fig 1, a load 36 carried by the load carriers 10 is supported in a similar manner to support of a load on conventional roof racks with the load spanning the roof racks but in this case being supported on the carriage members 18 carried by each rack cross bar 12. To access the load 36, the gripping handle 31 may be gripped and urged inwardly towards the centre of the motor vehicle against the bias of the spring loaded buffers 28 until the tongues 19 are moved out of the recesses 29 and clear of the end stops 17. The carriage members 18 can then be pivoted slightly upwards at the handle end and slid outwardly along the roof rack bars 12.until the slide assembly meets the end stops 17. The carriage members 18 are usually pivoted downwardly during this movement to the inclined position of Fig. 2 where the carriage members 18 rest on the side of the vehicle 14. This thus lowers the load 36 to a position closer to the ground thereby facilitating easier unloading. This position is also the position for loading wherein the load 36 can be secured to the carriage members 18 in the Fig. 2 position and then pivoted upwardly to a substantially horizontal position and slid inwardly and against the bias of the springs 27 and so that the tongues 19 can again be hooked into the recesses 29 in the end stops 17. This locks both front and rear main carriages 18 to the roof rack 11 by the force exerted by the springs 27.

CAs the pivot axis defined by the hinge 22 is located intermediate the ends of the carriage members 18, the load 36 is at an elevated position. Further the positioning of the pivot axis provides a leverage point making it easier to pivot the carriage members 18 and attached load 36 back to a its substantially horizontal load carrying position. Usually, the pivot axis defined by the hinge 22 is located closer to the end of the carriage members 18 00 remote from the handle 31.

The carriage members 18 can be adapted to carry many different forms of load 36. In the N embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6, the load 36 comprises fishing rods 37 and one carriage member 18 carries a series of carriers or holders 38 for supporting the butt end 39 of respective fishing rods 37 and a series of aligned grippers 40 on the other carriage member 18 which support and clamp the tip ends 41 of respective fishing rods 37. The carriers 38 are normally located on the rear carriage 18 on the rear roof rack cross bar 12 and the clamps 40 are normally located on the carriage 18 of the front roof rack cross bar 12.

Each carrier 38 as shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 9 comprises a hollow tube 42 which includes a stepped slot 43 to accommodate various types and sizes of fishing reels 44 to hold a fishing reel 44 in a fixed generally upright position. Each stepped portion of the stepped slot 43 tapers in width inwardly from the outer end of the tube 42 into which the butt end 39 of the rod 37 is inserted. Thus when the supporting leg or neck of the fishing reel 43 passes into the slot 43, it will be wedged and held in position by cooperation with the taper in the slot portions. Different widths of legs or necks of fishing reels of various types and sizes can locate in the slot portions of different widths to be wedged therein.

Thus thinner fishing reel legs locate in the inner slot portions of the slot 43 and wider or thicker legs will locate in the outer slot portions. The wall thickness of the tubes 42 may also be increased on opposite sides of the slot 43 to provide additional support to the reel 44 to support it in an upright position.

A slide member 45 is fixed to and extends transversely of the tube 42, the slide member being of I- or inverted T-sectioned form for slidable engagement with, and capture in, the groove 32 of a carriage member 18. The grippers 40 are also provided with slide members 46 of similar form to the slide members 45 such that they may be slidably N engaged with the groove 32 of a carriage member 18. A series of carriers 38 may be slid into one carriage member 18 by firstly removing the end members 34 to provide access to the groove 32 to allow insertion of the slide members 45 into the groove 32. The carriers 38 may be slid along the carriage member 18 so as to abut one another and a corresponding number of grippers 40 may be slid onto the other carriage member 18 in a similar manner to be aligned with the carriers 38.

00 Slidable cleats 47 are also slidably engaged with the grooves 32 in each carriage members 18 on the outside of the carriers 38 and grippers 40. The cleats 47 are adapted for N cooperation with a tie strap 48 to positively secure fishing rods 37 in position. The tie straps 48 having end members 49 for example of spherical form for cooperation with the cleats 47 and forked end members 35 respectively in the manner shown in Figs. 4. The tie straps 48 may be elastic or similar straps or may comprise a combination of a cable such as a stainless steel cable provided with the stops 49 at each end and elastic straps 51 secured at opposite ends to the cable 50 at 52 between the stops 49. The cable 50 may be a plastic covered stainless steel cable whilst the elastics strap 51 may be a nylon covered rubber tensioner. The cleat 47 which suitably comprises a clam-cleat enables the tension to be adjusted as determined by the number and shapes of the fishing rods 37 and reels 44 being carried. The securing cable 51 can be locked on to the main carriage members 18 at the forked end member 35 by a padlock which can be applied so that the hasp thereof spans the ends of, and passes through openings in the ends of the end member 35 to minimise theft of the fishing rods and reels.

In use, the butt ends 39 of fishing rods 37 are located in the tubes 42 with fishing reels 44 held in a vertical position by the stepped slot 43 at the end of the holding tube 38. The tip end 41 of a fishing rod 37 is secured in position the gripper 40 which may be a split rubber clamp shaped to secure various tip diameters.

The main carriage members 18 and the tubular butt end carriers 38 can be fitted to either the right hand and/or the left hand side of the roof of a motor vehicle 14. The fishing rod and reel carrier system can carry up to five rods and reels on the left hand side of a motor vehicle and up to a similar number on the right hand side of a vehicle 14. For this 12 purpose, load carriers 10 can be fitted to either side of a vehicle 14 and engaged with the roof rack of the vehicle.

As the carriers 38 and grippers 40 can be removed completely from the carriage members 18 by removing the end members 34, the carriage member 18 is multi-functional allowing a variety of other items of equipment to be transported on the roof of a motor vehicle, which can be loaded and unloaded in the same convenient manner as described with i reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

00 10 Thus the load carrier 10 as shown in Figs. 9 to 12 can also be adapted to carrying surf Sskis. In this case a pair of surf ski supports 53 and 54 are provided on each carriage member 18 with each support 53 and 54 being provided with a tapering recess 55 and 56 with the recesses 55 and 56 opposing each other. The recesses 55 and 56 are shaped for complementary cooperation with the opposite outside edges of a surf ski and are suitably padded as at 57 to provide soft surfaces to prevent damage to the surf ski. The lower side of each support 53 and 54 is provided with a T- shaped runner 58 for cooperation with the track 32 on the main carriage member 18. This allows the supports 53 and 54 to slide independently along the carriage member 18 to cater for variations of surf ski widths.

The outer surf ski support 53 include a locking system consisting of a hand wheel or knob 59 fixed to a shaft 60 threaded at the opposite end and fitted with a square shaped nut 61 which is located and captured in the track or channel 32 of the main carriage member 18 (see Fig. 10). To lock the support 53 in position, the knob 56 is turned by hand resulting in friction between the square nut 61 and the inside of the grooved channel 32. Security locking can be achieved by a padlock attached through a hole 62 in the outer perimeter of the hand wheel or knob 59 and adjacent portion of the support 53 to prevent rotation of the wheel or knob 59.

The inner ski support 54 is fixed in position by a set screw 63 which passes through a stopper 64 and which is tapped into a nut 65 located in the groove 32. The setscrew 63 and stopper 64 are located on the in-board side of the surf ski support 54. This permits the inner surf ski support 54 to be slid into its correct position as determined by the width and shape of the surf ski, then locked by tightening the set screw 63.

O The upper portion of each support 53 and 54 is provided with a longitudinally extending N, channel 66 which extends parallel to the carriage member 18. An elastic strap or other restraining member 67 provided at each end with a T-shaped keeper 58 that can slide into the grooved channels 66 on top of both the inner and outer surf ski supports 53 and 54 to provide quick and easy fixing or release of the safety strap 57 which is stretched across the top of the surf ski on both front and rear surf ski supports to provide additional Nn securing of the ski in position.

00 A second ski may also be supported above the first ski by the use of additional sets of supports 53 and 54 (only one of which is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 9) identical to the N supports 53 and 54. The second set of ski supports 53 and 54 may be slidably engaged with the channels 66 of the lower ski supports 53 and 54 through the T-shaped runners 58 for receiving therebetween a second surf ski. This also provides for safety and security locking of the two surf skis to the main carriage members 18.

For support of a kayak 69 or other elongated watercraft (shown in dotted outline in Fig.

13), the supports 53 and 54 may be changed in design as shown at 70 and 71 so as to be profiled complementarily to the opposite sides of the hull of the kayak 69. The supports and 71 are slidably engaged with the front and rear carriage members 13 in a similar manner to the engagement of the supports 53 and 54. Adjustable straps 72 (shown in dotted outline) may be provided between the carriers 70 to enable the carriers 70 and 71 to be urged towards each other and kayak 69 located therebetween. Further straps 73 (shown in dotted outline) may be extended over the kayak 69 being secured to the upper ends of the supports 70 and 71 to further hold the kayak 69 in position.

Similar supports are also employed where other elongated articles are to be secured to the roof racks 11. For example where a ladder 74 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 14 is to be carried on the roof of a vehicle 14, supports 75 of a generally L-shaped configuration are provided. The supports 75 having T- or I-shaped members on their underside for slidable engagement with the channels 32 of the carriage members 18. The supports 75 may be moved towards or away from each other such that the opposite side rails of the ladder 74 may seat on the opposite supports 75. Straps 76 attached at opposite ends to the opposite supports 75 may be extended over the ladder and tightened to hold the ladder 74 in a secure position attached to the carriage members 18 and thus roof racks 11. The supports may be adjusted towards and away from each other for carrying ladders of different twidths.

Referring now to Fig. 15, there is illustrated a modification to the load carrier 10 to enable the load carrier 10 to carry bicycles of wheelchairs. In this case, elongated arms 77 which t are of I-shaped cross section in this embodiment extend substantially at right angles to the 00 carriage members 18 and are provided at each end with slides 78 which slidably engage 0 N with the tracks 32. The slides 78 may be locked in any position along the tracks 32 such as by thumbscrews 79 which can clamp the slides 78 and arms 77 to the carriage members N 18. Furthermore the arms 77 may also be adjusted longitudinally relative to the slides 78 by loosening the thumbscrews 79. A pair of arms 77 may be provided at spaced apart positions to span the respective carriage members 18 and extend substantially parallel to each other.

Two pairs of opposite U-shaped jaws 80 are slidably engaged with the one arm 77 by means of channels on their underside which receive the top flange of the I-sectioned arms 77, the jaws 80 of each pair facing each other. The jaws 80 may be slidably adjustable along the arm 77 and locked in a selected position by clamp screws 81 which can clamp the jaws 80 to the arms 77 in a selected position. The clamp screws 81 are threaded into the jaws 80 and can be advanced into engagement with the top flange of the arms 77. The jaws 80 are adapted to cooperate with the wheels of a bicycle of wheel chair in the manner described further below.

The other arm 77 can carry upright supports 82 and 83 which have channels on their underside for slidable engagement with the arm 77 in a similar manner to engagement of the jaws 80 with the arms 77. The supports 82 carry hook-like saddles 84 which are directed inwardly towards the other arm 77 and which may be located in one of a number of positions along the support 82 as defined by locating apertures 85. The saddles 84 have threaded pins which may be located in an aperture 85 and engaged with a thumbscrew or nut. In the other support 83, further hook-like saddles 86 are provided which in this case are directed longitudinally relative to the arms 77. The hook-like saddles 86 may be adjusted along the support 83 in a similar manner to adjustment of the saddles 84.

C For support of a bicycle 87 as shown in Fig. 16, the rear or inner arm 77 is provided with a pair of supports 82 and the arms 77 are adjusted relative to the carriage members 18 and the spacing of the jaws 80 as well as the spacing between pairs of jaws 80 is adjusted according to the diameter of the wheels 88 and 89 and the size of the bicycle 87. The bicycle 87 is loaded onto the carrier 10 usually when the carrier is in the Fig. 2 loading 00 position such that the front wheel 88 sits into one set of jaws 80 and seats on its opposite N diametrical side in the saddle 84 of the support 82. A similar procedure is adopted for the rear wheel 89. The positions of the saddles 84 along the supports 82 are also adjusted N such that when the bicycle 87 is loaded onto the vehicle 14, the handlebar (an/or seat and/or pedals) of the bicycle 87 does not contact the roof of the vehicle 14.

To retain the bicycle 87 in a secure position, adjustable straps 90 which are fixed at one end to the saddles 84 and at their other ends to one of the jaws 80 are looped over the front and rear wheels 88 and 89 and tightened. Other retaining means however may be provided to ensure the bicycle 87 stays in position.

Fig. 17 illustrates the manner in which the modified load carrier of Fig. 15 is adjusted and adapted for the carrying of a wheel chair 91. In this case, the jaws 80 are adjusted along one arm 77 such that one pair of opposed jaws 80 receive one of the large main wheels 92 of the wheel chair 91 and the other pair of opposed jaws 80 receive one of the smaller steerable wheels 93. The large main wheel 92 on its opposite diametrical side is seated on and supported on the saddle 84 of the support 82 which is adjusted along the rear or inner arm 77. In addition, the anrm 77 carries a support 83 which is adjusted along the inner arm 77 so that a normally upright frame member 94 of the wheel chair 91 seats on the saddle 86. An adjustable strap 95 similar to the strap 90 of Fig. 16 and connected between the saddle 86 and one of the jaws 80 is used to positively secure the main wheel 92 of the wheel chair 91 in position. Again other retaining means may be provide to ensure that the wheel chair 91 remains in position.

For loading of each of the above loads, the load carrier 10 is moved to the position of Fig.

2 which positions the carriages 18 in an inclined attitude leaning against the side of the 3 16 vehicle 14 providing easy access to the person or persons wishing to load the vehicle.

The load carrier 10 may then be elevated to the position of Fig. 1 by pivoting the load Scarrier 10 and sliding the load carrier 10 inwardly for latched engagement with the cross arms 12 of the roof rack 11 wherein the load is placed above the roof of the vehicle 14.

When standing at the side of the motor vehicle, the complete loading operation can be carried out without the user having to reach out over the roof.

0O 0The load carrier 10 may be fitted to and removed from the roof rack in a few seconds, without the use of tools, bolt, or screws. The load carrier 10 can be used in conjunction with all types of commercially available brand of roof racks that have a channel type cN groove running along the top of the horizontal cross bars. Furthermore, the rod holding arrangement of Figs. 3 to 8, the ski carrier of Figs. 9 to 13, the kayak carrier of Fig. 13, the ladder carrier of Fig. 14, the bicycle carrier of Figs. 16 and wheel chair carrier of Fig.

17 may be applied directly to commercially available roof racks of the type described above by cooperation with the tracks or channels of the cross bars of the roof rack.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the carriage of fishing rods, surf skis, kayaks, cycles, wheel chairs and step ladders, it may be adapted for carrying snow skis by varying the form of the supports on the carriage members and luggage carriers or any other load. The carrier 10 is also applicable to any high roof vehicle fitted with a roof rack.

The terms "comprising" or "comprise" or derivatives thereof as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. A load carrier for use with vehicle roof racks of the type having a pair of cross arms secured to or above the roof of said vehicle, said load carrier including a pair of main elongated load supporting carriage members each associated with a respective said cross arm, means connecting said carriage member to its said associated cross arm for slidable movement of said carriage member therealong and pivotal movement of said OO 00 carriage member relative to said cross arm, and latching means associated with at least Sone said carriage member and normally latching said carriage member to said cross arm in a load carrying position extending substantially parallel to said cross arm, and wherein (N when said latching means is released, said connecting means is slidable along said cross arm to permit said carriage member to pivot to a position on one side of said vehicle for loading or unloading of said load carrier.

2. A load carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latching means is releasable by moving the load carrier inwardly towards the centre of the vehicle.

3. A load carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said latching means includes a hook member biased by biasing means into engagement with the cross arm.

4. A load carrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hook member is biased into engagement with an end member of the cross arm by the biasing means. A load carrier as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hook member is releasable from engagement with the end member by moving the load carrier against the bias of the biasing means.

6. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.

7. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein said biasing means act against the connecting means to maintain the carriage member in a latched position.

8. A load carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said cross arms of the roof racks are of the type having a channel or track extending longitudinally 3 18 therealong and the connecting means is slidably engageable with the channel or track.

9. A load carrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein said connecting means includes retaining means retained to the channel or track. A load carrier as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said biasing means is located within the track for acting against the connecting means. 00 S11. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein said biasing means includes a stop adapted to be fixed at a selected position along the channel or track and a N movable buffer which can engage the pivot means to apply a bias to the carriage member.

12. A load carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including an operating handle fixed to and extending between the carriage members.

13. A load carrier for use with vehicle roof racks of the type having a pair of cross arms secured to or above the roof of said vehicle, said load carrier including a pair of main elongated load supporting carriage members each associated with a respective said cross arm, connecting means intermediate opposite ends of each said carriage member and connecting said carriage member to its said associated cross arm for slidable movement of said carriage member therealong, said load carrier being movable between a first load carrying position in which said carriage members extend longitudinally of said cross arms and a second loading and unloading position in which said connecting means is positioned relative to said cross arms such as to permit said load carrier to pivot to a position on one side of said vehicle.

14. A load carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said pivot means are positioned at or adjacent common ends of the cross arms in the loading and unloading position.

15. A load carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one carriage member is provided with one or more supports for the butt/s of fishing rod/s and the other carriage member is provided with a corresponding number of supports for the tip/s of fishing rod/s.

16. A load carrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein said supports are slidably engaged with the carriage members.

17. A load carrier as claimed in claim 15 or 16 wherein a said support for a butt comprises a tubular member is provided with at least one longitudinally extending slot into which the support leg of a fishing reel may pass, said slot being of tapering width. 00

18. A load carrier as claimed in claim 17 wherein said slot is of a stepped configuration comprising slot portions of different width. S19. A load carrier as claimed in claim 17 wherein the wall thickness of the tubular member in the region of the slot is increased relative to the remainder of the member. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein a said support for the tip of the fishing rod comprises a resilient gripper.

21. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said carriage members carry pairs of opposed supports adapted for engaging and gripping opposite sides of an object, said supports being slidably engaged with the carriage members for slidable movement therealong and towards and away from each other.

22. A load carrier as claimed in claim 21 and including means for urging the supports towards each other for gripping opposite sides of said object.

23. A load carrier as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 wherein said supports are complementary to the object to be carried.

24. A load carrier as claimed in claim 23 wherein said supports are provided with recesses complementary to the opposite sides of the object. A load carrier as claimed in claim 23 wherein said supports are of a L-shaped configuration including a generally horizontal supporting part and an upright part. t S26. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 25 wherein said supports are Nconfigured to engage each other in a piggy-back like manner.

27. A load carrier as claimed in claim 26 wherein the upper portion of one support is provided with a channel for slidable engagement by the lower portion of a further support. S28. A load carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 and including first and 00 second arms secured to and extending transversely between the carriage members, each Ssaid arm carrying a support adapted to engage with a bicycle or wheelchair. S29. A load carrier as claimed in claim 28 wherein said supports are configured for engagement with a wheel or wheels of the bicycle or wheelchair. A load carrier as claimed in claim 29 wherein said supports on one arm comprise opposing jaws which define a recess to receive a portion of a wheel of the bicycle or wheel chair and wherein the supports on the other arm comprise saddles to receive a further portion of a wheel of the bicycle or wheel chair or a frame portion thereof.

31. A load carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 2, 3 to 8, 9, to 12, 13, 14, and 15 to 17 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this fourth day of May 2005 LIONEL COLIN FULLER By His Patent Attorney RG.GRN JOHN R. G. GARDNER