Vehicle Deck Rack With Pop-Up Tie-Downs

The present invention relates to vehicle article or luggage carriers and, more particularly, to a new and improved vehicle luggage carrier which is securable to the deck lid or a similar horizontally extending plane or surface of a vehicle to secure articles to the carrrier for transportation by the vehicle.

Slat-type luggage carriers such as those disclosed in, for example applicant's prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,099,658, 4,182,471, 4,239,139, 4,293,159, 4,295,587, 4,364,500, 4,427,141, 4,440,333, 4,431,123, 4,432,478, 4,460,116 and U.S. patent application No. 672,125, filed November 16, 1984 entitled "Molded Plastic Luggage Carrier Construction" have currently found favor among purshasers of automobiles due to their aesthetically appealing appearance and high degree of functionality as an accessory to carry additional cargo on an automobile vehicle to make the passenger compartment of the vehicle more comfortable for the driver and passengers in that compartment. The luggage carriers of the art comprises a series of low profile metal and plastic slats which reinforce the roof or deck lid, have upper article supporting surfaces to support cargo or luggage spaced from the vehicle surface, and may have additional tie down functions or functions to attach additional accessories to channels within slats fastened thereto by various fastening mechanisms. The slats may also have end caps fastened to the slats, which end caps have either a tie down mechanism, an abutment mechanism, or both. An insert may also be placed in the channel of the metal or plastic slat to provide a resilient member upon which cargo or luggage can be set upon the slats secured to the vehicle.

The present invention improves upon the slat-type luggage carries and provides a slat which includes a tie down mechanism and a wind deflection mechanism such as a spoiler which includes a retractable tie down mechanism. The slat and spoiler are generally manufactured from metallic and plastic materials, respectively. Not only is such a construction an improvement from the standpoint of durability and weight requirements, but also the aesthetic appealability of a luggage carrier can be improved since the plastic may be formed in a much greater variety of shapes and sizes and also, may be provided in a substantial variety of colors. The spoiler, including the retractable tie down mechanisms, may function as either a luggage carrier securement element or as a spoiler when luggage is not present on the carrier.

From the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage carrier in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a luggage carrier in accordance with the present invention with the retractable tie down mechanisms in an up position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of FIG. 1 through line 3--3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of FIG. 3 along line 4--4 thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of FIG. 1 along line 5--5 thereof.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of FIG. 1 along line 6--6 thereof.

Referring to the Figures, a luggage carrier is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. A luggage carrier 10 is positioned on the rear deck lid 12 of a vehicle 14. The luggage carrier 10 includes a series of slats 16 and a wind deflection mechanism such as a spoiler 18 positioned on the vehicle deck lid 12.

The slat elements 16 are generally metallic parts which include a channel 20 formed by two upwardly directed sidewalls 22 and 24 and, optional two flanges 21 and 23 opposing one another, to form the channel 20 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The slat element 16 includes an insert formed tie down 25. The tie down 25 is disposed at one end of the slat element 16 and a closure end insert 26 is disposed at the other end of the slat element 16. The tie down 25 comprises an upper portion 28 which has a configuration matching the upper design configuration of an insert 27 which is placed into the channel 20 of the slat element 16 and having an upper surface 30 co-planar with the upper supporting plane 29 of the insert 27. The tie down 25 further comprises a lower element 32, a vertically extending inclined end element 34 having a pair of wall elements 35, and a vertically extending end closure element 36 which closes off the end of the channel 20. The elements 28, 32, 34, 35 and 36 combine to form a recess 38 whithin which elements, such as ropes, hooked bungee cords, and the like, for tying down articles to be placed on the carrier can be inserted. The end portion 36 includes an extended solid cross sectional portion 40 having a threaded bore 42 (formed either directly with the end portion 36 or provided by means of an insert molded female fastening element [not shown]) therein to mate with a fastener (not shown). At the opposite extreme of the slat element 16 is the closure end insert 26 which has an upper portion having a design mating with the insert 27 and has an upper portion having a desing mating with the insert 27 and has an upper support plane or surface 46 co-planer with the upper support surface 29 of the insert 27. The end insert 26 also includes a vertically disposed end wall 52. Similarly, a solid cross section extended portion 54 having a threaded bore 56 (formed either directly within the end portion 26 or provided by an insert mold nut or the like), within the portion is disposed within the slat element 16 to secure the slat element 16 to the vehicle by means of a suitable fastener. Optionally, a pad 57 may be placed between the slat element 16 and the deck lid 12 as shown to diminish any marring of the painted surfact of the deck lid 12. The closed end 26 abuts the spoiler 18 or may project into an opening 59 in the spoiler 18.

The spoiler 18 is positioned on the vehicle deck lid 12 substantially perpendicular to the slats 16. The spoiler 18 generally includes a first wall 60, including openings 59, abutting the slat end insert 26. The first wall 60 projects substantially perpendicular to the vehicle deck lid 12. A concave arcuate wall 62 having a surface 63 is integral with and projects upward from the wall 60. A second wall 64 is integral with and projects downward from the upper most point of the arcuate wall 62. The second wall 64 is generally aligned with the end of the deck lid 12. The spoiler 18 also includes ends 66 and 68 to enclose the spoiler 18. Generally, the spoiler is a one-piece molded construction manufactured from a polymeric material.

The spoiler arcuate wall 62 includes openings 70 to couple retractable or pop-up tie down mechanisms 72 with the spoiler 18. The openings 70 are generally positioned adjacent to and are in alignment with the slat elements 16. The tie down mechanisms 72 are secured to the spoiler 18 in openings 70 and pivot from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the tie down mechanisms 72 are non-operable and a surface of the tie down mechanisms 72 is substantially flush with the spoiler arcuate surface 63. In this position, the spoiler 18 has a continuous appearance as seen in FIG. 1. In the second operable position, the tie down mechanisms 72 are substantially perpendicular to the arcuate surface 63 to accept ropes, hooked bungee cords, or the like, to secure articles (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) on the slat elements 16.

The tie down mechanisms 72, as best seen in FIG. 5, generally include an elongated body member 80 having a concave arcuate surface 82. The elongated body member 80 has a tail portion 84 at one end and a curved end portion 86 at the other. Apertures 88 and 90 are formed in the body member 80. The concave arcuate surface 82 has substantially the same curvature as the spoiler arcuate surface 63. Thus, the tie down arcuate surface 82 enables the tie down mechanisms 72 to be substantially flush with the spoiler arcuate surface 62 when the tie down mechanisms 72 are in their first non-operable position. The tail portion 84 enables the body member 80 to be easily manipulated from its first to second position. The aperture 88 is formed in the end portion 86 of the body member 82. The aperture 88 enables a pin 92 to project through the aperture 88 and body member 80 to secure the tie down mechanisms 72 to the spoiler 18. Aperture 90, formed adjacent to the tail 84, enables ropes, hooked bungee cords, or the like, to pass through the aperture 90 to secure luggage or the like onto the slat elements 16.

Turning to FIG. 6, a pin retaining element 96 is shown. The retaining elements 96 are formed on each side of the openings 70. Each slot 102, having an arcuate surface 102, positioned between the wall members 98 and 100. The wall members 98 and 100 are integrally formed with the under surface of the spoiler 18. The pin 92 is positioned through the tie down mechanism aperture 88 and has a portion of the pin 92 projecting out of both sides of the body member 80. The pin 92 is positioned in the slot 102 between wall members 98 and 100 on both sides of the opening 70. A plate member 106 is positioned and secured beneath the wall members 98 and 100 to secure the pin 92 in the slot 102. The pin 96 may nest on the arcuate surface 104 to enable rotation of the tie down mechanism 72 from their first to second position. Also, other retractable tie down mechanisms, like those of U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,116, the specification of which is herein incoporated by reference, may be utilized in the present invention.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the subjoined claims.