Load carrier system for a motor vehicle
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 ).
1 . 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.
2 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the load carrier tapers from a larger front end towards a smaller rear end.
3 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle of the bottom surface is inclined by about 5° to about 20° relative to the horizontal plane when the load carrier is mounted to the vehicle.
4 . The load carrier system according to claim 3 , wherein the first angle of the bottom surface is inclined by about 10° to about 15° relative to the horizontal plane.
5 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein a height of the load carrier tapers from a larger front end towards a smaller rear end.
6 . The load carrier system according to claim 5 , wherein a largest height of the load carrier at the front end is about 10 percent to about 50 percent larger than a smallest height of the load carrier at the rear end.
7 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the load carrier tapers from a larger front end towards a smaller rear end.
8 . The load carrier system according to claim 7 , wherein a largest width of the load carrier at the front end is about 5 percent to about 50 percent larger than a smallest width of the load carrier at the rear end.
9 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the load carrier further comprises an attachment for a rear light,
wherein a top exterior surface of the load carrier extends backwards beyond the rear light or wherein the rear light is arranged recessed in the load carrier exterior surface, or both.
10 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein a forward facing side of the load carrier is curved in a top-view of the load carrier with a left end section of the forward facing side extending more forward than a middle section of the forward facing side of the load carrier.
11 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the load carrier further comprises a first wall element and a second wall element, wherein the first and second wall elements are moveable relative to each other between a closed state and an open state.
12 . The load carrier system according to claim 11 , wherein the load carrier is configured to attach to the base with an interlocking engagement of an attachment element.
13 . The load carrier system according to claim 12 , wherein the attachment element is a protruding part of the interlocking engagement, or the attachment element is a screw element with a head protruding from a bottom of the load carrier, or both.
14 . The load carrier system according to claim 13 , wherein the attachment element is a bayonet joint or keyhole joint.
15 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of a top forward corner of the load carrier comprises a countersunk region configured to increase clearance between a trunk of the vehicle and the load carrier when the load carrier is mounted to the vehicle.
16 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the load carrier further comprises a bottom portion comprising an upper perimeter and a lid coupled to the bottom portion, and
wherein the upper perimeter is inclined relative to the horizontal plane when the base is coupled to the towing device of the vehicle.
17 . The load carrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the load carrier further comprises a left side and a right side, and
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.
18 . 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.
19 . The load carrier system of claim 18 , wherein the load carrier comprises a lid and a bottom portion, wherein the countersunk region is formed in the lid, and
wherein the countersunk region extends from the lid into a front surface of the bottom portion.
20 . 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.
21 . 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.
22 . The load carrier system according to claim 21 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of receiving elements, and wherein a plurality of recesses are formed in a bottom surface of the bottom portion of the load carrier and configured to receive the receiving elements.
23 . The load carrier system according to claim 21 , wherein the lid comprises a top surface having a portion extending at a declining angle relative to the bottom surface such that the top surface tapers toward the bottom surface.
24 . The load carrier system according to claim 21 ,
wherein a portion of the load carrier is arranged below the towing device of the vehicle.
25 . The load carrier system according to claim 21 , wherein the load carrier further comprises a left side and a right side, and
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.
26 . 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.
27 . The load carrier system according to claim 26 , wherein a bottom surface of the load carrier is inclined at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, and
wherein a portion of the load carrier is arranged below the towing device of the vehicle.
28 . The load carrier system according to claim 26 , wherein the load carrier further comprises a bottom portion comprising an upper perimeter and a lid coupled to the bottom portion, and
wherein the upper perimeter is inclined relative to a horizontal plane when the base is coupled to the towing device of the vehicle.