Load and lift roof rack
View Patent ↗A roof rack for loading and unloading cargo to and from the roof of a motor vehicle is described. The roof rack is characterized by enabling the cargo to be loaded at an accessible height and then lifted onto the roof of the motor vehicle while the cargo is maintained in a fixed position. In another embodiment, the cargo is reoriented from a first orientation to a second orientation during the loading and unloading procedure.
1. A load and lift roof rack for loading and unloading cargo to and from a vehicle comprising:
base rail for attachment to the vehicle, the base rail having a first base rail end and a second base rail end;
lever bar having a first lever bar end and a second lever bar end, the first lever bar end operably and pivotably connected to the first end of the base rail at a pivot point allowing the lever bar to pivot between a loading position and a transport position;
an arm bar for operative support of the cargo, the arm bar having a first arm bar end and a second arm bar end, the first arm bar end operably and pivotably connected to the second lever bar end;
a base gear fixed to the first end of the base rail;
an arm gear fixed to the first end of the arm bar for rotating the arm bar with respect to the lever bar;
connection means operably connecting the base gear and the arm gear for maintaining or changing the orientation of the arm gear with respect to the base gear and base rail, wherein a gear ratio of the base gear to the arm gear determines the orientation of the arm bar with respect to the base rail during movement of the lever bar between the loading position and the transport position.
2. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 further comprising an actuation means operably connected to the base rail for assisting in the movement of the lever bar from the loading position to the transport position and vice versa.
3. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 2 wherein the actuation means includes a worm gear operably connected to the lever bar and a worm shaft operably connected to the base rail.
4. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 3 wherein the actuation means is manually actuable.
5. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 3 wherein the actuation means is electrically actuable.
6. The load and lift roof rack system as in claim 2 wherein the actuation means is a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder with a first end attached to the base rail and a second end attached to a lever operably connected to the lever bar for assisting in moving the lever bar.
7. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 6 wherein the lever moves a total of approximately 270 degrees between the loading and transport positions and wherein maximum torque is applied to the lever when the lever bar is substantially horizontal.
8. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 2 wherein the actuation means comprises a drive motor fixed to the base rail and operatively connected to the base gear for rotating the base gear.
9. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 8 wherein the base gear is a bevel gear.
10. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the gear ratio is 1:1 and the arm bar is maintained in a fixed orientation with respect to the base rail during movement between the loading and the transport position.
11. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 10 wherein the arm bar is oriented generally parallel to the base rail in the loading position, in the transport position, and during movement between the loading and the transport position.
12. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the base gear is smaller than the arm gear, enabling the arm bar to rotate with respect to the base rail as the lever bar moves between the loading and the transport position.
13. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 12 wherein in the loading position the arm bar is generally oriented at 90 degrees to the base rail, and in the transport position the arm bar is generally parallel to the base rail.
14. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the lever bar pivots from a downward orientation through a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation when moving from the loading to the transport position.
15. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the connection means is a continuous chain connecting the base gear and the arm gear.
16. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the load and lift roof rack includes two or more operative and interconnected sets of the base rail, lever bar and arm bar.
17. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the arm gear and base gear are different sizes such that pivotable movement of the lever bar with respect to the base rail allows the arm bar to vary in orientation with respect to the base rail during movement of the lever bar between the loading and the transport position.
18. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the arm bar includes at least one load carrying rail for supporting the cargo.
19. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 further comprising a protective guard operatively connected to the connection means to at least partially cover connection means components.
20. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the center of the base gear is coaxial with the pivot axis of the lever bar.
21. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 wherein the center of the arm gear is coaxial with the pivot axis of the arm bar.
22. The load and lift roof rack as in claim 1 further comprising a stabilizing bar connected to the lever bar and/or the arm bar.
23. A load and lift roof rack for loading and unloading cargo to and from a vehicle comprising:
base rail for attachment to the vehicle, the base rail having a first base rail end and a second base rail end;
lever bar having a first lever bar end and a second lever bar end, the first lever bar end operably and pivotably connected to the first end of the base rail at a pivot point allowing the lever bar to pivot between a loading position and a transport position;
an arm bar for operative support of the cargo, the arm bar having a first arm bar end and a second arm bar end, the first arm bar end operably and pivotably connected to the second lever bar end;
a base gear fixed to the first end of the base rail;
an arm gear fixed to the first end of the arm bar for rotating the arm bar with respect to the lever bar; and
a continuous chain or belt operably connecting the base gear and the arm gear, said continuous chain or belt constructed and adapted to maintain or change the orientation of the arm gear with respect to the base gear and the base rail, wherein a gear ratio of the base gear to the arm gear determines the orientation of the arm bar with respect to the base rail during movement of the lever bar between the loading position and the transport position.