JP7649763B2 - Roof box clamping device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a roof box clamping device for vehicles.

A roof box is used that is fixed onto the roof of a vehicle. More specifically, a roof carrier is fixed to the roof of the vehicle, and the roof box is fixed to the crossbar of the roof carrier. There are various possible methods for fixing the roof box to the crossbar, but it is common to place clamp devices at two locations in the front and two locations in the rear of the roof box. The following Patent Document 1 discloses a clamp device. A crossbar extending laterally at the front of the roof is clamped by two clamp devices at the front, and a crossbar extending laterally at the rear of the roof is clamped by two clamp devices at the rear.

The clamp device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of first and second clamp claw members arranged opposite each other. An operating rod extends from the first clamp claw member to the second clamp claw member. The base ends of the first and second clamp claw members are respectively formed with a first screw portion and a second screw portion that screw into a male screw portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the operating rod. The female screw portion of the first screw portion and the female screw portion of the second screw portion are in opposite spiral directions to each other. A knob member is attached to the center of the operating rod for rotating the operating rod around its central axis when opening and closing the first and second clamp claw members. By rotating the operating rod around the central axis with the knob member, the first and second clamp claw members are swung symmetrically to open and close their tips.

Russian Utility Model Certificate No. 193498 (RU193498U1)

The above-mentioned knob member is placed inside the roof box. For this reason, there is a risk that the knob member may be unintentionally rotated by luggage stored inside the roof box. This may result in the clamp device loosening, causing the roof box to become loosely fastened to the roof carrier. Vehicles may also travel at high speeds, and the air resistance acting on the roof box when traveling at high speeds is quite large. Therefore, it is dangerous if even one of the multiple clamp devices loosens the fastening of the roof box to the roof carrier.

Therefore, the objective of this disclosure is to provide a roof box clamp device for vehicles that can reliably prevent loosening of the fastening to the roof carrier.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a roof box clamp device for a vehicle, comprising: a case that can slide on the bottom of a bottom case of a roof box; a pair of first and second clamp claw members that are provided facing each other inside the case; an operating rod that extends from the first clamp claw member to the second clamp claw member along the sliding direction of the case ; a knob member that is attached to one end of the operating rod and that rotates the operating rod around its central axis when opening and closing the first and second clamp claw members; and a lock mechanism that is provided on the case and locks the rotation of the knob member. The first clamp claw member and the second clamp claw member are each attached to the case so as to be able to swing. The base end of the first clamp claw member and the second clamp claw member are each provided with a first screw portion and a second screw portion that screw into a male screw portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the operating rod. The female screw portion of the first screw portion and the female screw portion of the second screw portion are screwed in opposite directions to each other.

This disclosure provides a roof box clamp device for vehicles that can reliably prevent loosening of the roof carrier.

1 is an external perspective view of a roof box equipped with a clamp device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is an internal perspective view of the roof box. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clamp device (clamp claw members in an open and unlocked state). FIG. 4 is a rear view of the clamp device. FIG. 2 is an internal side view of the clamp device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clamp device. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a locking mechanism of the clamp device (locked state).

The following describes the vehicle roof box clamp device according to the embodiment, with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a roof box 1, seen from the bottom side. The left side in Figure 1 is the front of the vehicle. A roof carrier (not shown) is fixed to the vehicle, and the roof box 1 is fixed to two crossbars of the roof carrier by its four clamp devices 2. The crossbars extend laterally of the vehicle, one located at the front part of the roof and the other located at the rear part of the roof. The crossbar extending laterally at the front part of the roof is clamped by two clamp devices 2 at the front, and the crossbar extending laterally at the rear part of the roof is clamped by two clamp devices 2 at the rear.

The roof box 1 comprises a bottom case 1a and a cover 1b that closes the top opening of the bottom case 1a. In this embodiment, the roof box 1 can open the cover 1b upward from either the right or left side of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, four metal rails 20 are attached to the bottom of the resin bottom case 1a by rivets to match the four clamp devices 2. The clamp devices 2 are slidably attached to the rails 20. A slit is formed in each rail 20, and a slit is also formed in the bottom case 1a to match the slits in the rails 20. Clamp claw members 21 (21X and 21Y) of the clamp devices 2, which will be described later, protrude from the slits below the bottom case 1a (see FIG. 1).

Since the four clamp devices 2 have the same configuration, one clamp device 2 will be described as an example. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the clamp device 2 has a resin case 22. The case 22 is formed into a box shape by fitting the right side panel and the left side panel together, and the lower part is open to allow the clamp claw members 21 (21X and 21Y) to extend. The upper surface of the case 22 is formed with an attachment portion 22a for a strap 1c (see Figure 2) that prevents the load inside the roof box 1 from collapsing. The attachment portion 22a has a gate shape that protrudes upward to form a hole through which the strap 1c can pass.

A locking claw 22b is formed at the front and rear of the bottom of each side panel of the case 22 to prevent the case 22 from falling off the rail 20. The rail 20 is fixed to the bottom case 1a at its front and rear ends with rivets. The case 22 abuts against the protruding portion of the rivet at the front or rear end of the rail 20, preventing the clamp device 2 from slipping off the rail 20 in the sliding direction. The rail 20 also has a rubber packing 20a (see Figure 4).

Each side panel of the case 22 is formed with a pair of shaft holes to which the shafts 23 that hold the clamp claw members 21 (21X and 21Y) in a swingable manner are attached. The shaft holes are formed in the center of the circular recesses 22c. Each shaft 23 is composed of a plug member 23a with a flange formed on one end and a flange member 23b that is fixed to the other end of the plug member 23a by crimping. Therefore, when the clamp device 2 is assembled, the shaft 23 has flanges on both ends. The flanges are located on the outside of the side panels and are stored inside the recesses 22c. The recesses 22c that store the flange members 23b are deeper than the recesses 22c that store the flanges of the plug members 23a.

The clamp device 2 of this embodiment is attached to the roof box 1 so that the knob member 24, which will be described later, faces the rear of the roof box 1. That is, in FIG. 3, the right side is the rear. A slide member 22d is slidably attached to the upper part of the rear end (one end) of the case 22 as a locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the knob member 24. An engagement protrusion 22e protrudes from the slide member 22d toward the knob member 24. The operation of the slide member 22d as a locking mechanism will be described in detail later.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a pair of clamp claw members 21, i.e., a first clamp claw member 21X and a second clamp claw member 21Y, are provided facing each other inside the case 22. In Figure 4, the flange member 23b is fixed to the plug member 23a, but one side panel has been removed to show the inside of the case 22. The cross-sectional view in Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view including the central axis of the shaft 23 on the right side in Figure 3 (Figure 5), seen from the knob member 24 side. The first clamp claw member 21X and the second clamp claw member 21Y are formed from a metal plate having a crank shape and are the same part.

The tip of the clamp claw member 21 extending from the case 22 is curved toward the opposing clamp claw member 21. A resin protective cover 25 is attached to the tip of the clamp claw member 21 to prevent damage to the cross member of the roof carrier being clamped. The clamp claw member 21 is positioned in the left-right direction by the left and right panels of the case 22 (see Figure 6). The left-right positions of the first clamp claw member 21X and the second clamp claw member 21Y are offset.

A fulcrum hole through which the above-mentioned shaft 23 is inserted is formed in the center of the crank shape of the clamp claw member 21. The clamp claw member 21 is supported by the case 22 via the shaft 23 so as to be able to swing. A force point hole is formed at the base end of the clamp claw member 21 to which an actuating plug 26 (26X and 26Y) is attached, which serves as a force point when swinging the clamp claw member 21. The actuating plug 26 is attached to the clamp claw member 21 so as to be able to rotate around its central axis. The actuating plug 26 has a shape in which a flange is formed at one end of a cylinder, and a female screw hole 26a into which the operating rod 27 is screwed is formed in the cylindrical portion (see FIG. 6). A female screw portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the female screw hole 26a.

A male screw portion 27a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the operating rod 27 to screw into the female screw portion of the female screw hole 26a of the operating plug 26 (26X and 26Y) (see FIG. 5). That is, the operating plug 26 is a screw portion that screws into the male screw portion 27a of the operating rod 27. The helical direction of the male screw portion 27a that screws into the female screw portion of the first operating plug (first screw portion) 26X of the first clamp claw member 21X is opposite to the helical direction of the male screw portion 27a that screws into the female screw portion of the second operating plug (second screw portion) 26Y of the second clamp claw member 21Y.

In other words, the helical direction of the female thread portion of the first actuating plug (first screw portion) 26X and the helical direction of the female thread portion of the second actuating plug (second screw portion) 26Y are opposite to each other. Therefore, as described above, the first clamp claw member 21X and the second clamp claw member 21Y are the same part, but the first actuating plug 26X and the second actuating plug 26Y are separate parts that differ from each other only in their helical directions. With this structure, when the operating rod 27 is rotated around its central axis, the first actuating plug 26X and the second actuating plug 26Y move in opposite directions along the operating rod 27. In other words, when the operating rod 27 is rotated, the tip portions of the first actuating plug 26X and the second actuating plug 26Y are opened and closed.

A pair of male threaded portions 27a formed on the operating rod 27 are each formed to the end so that the operating plug 26 can be screwed in. A metal hexagonal bolt 27b is fitted into the plastic knob member 24. The knob member 24 is fixed to the rear end of the operating rod 27 so as not to rotate by screwing the hexagonal bolt 27b from the opposite side into a slide restriction nut 27c (see FIG. 5) screwed into the end of the male threaded portion 27a on the second clamp claw member 21Y side. The knob member 24 is used when rotating the operating rod 27 around the central axis, and has three outwardly protruding extensions that are evenly spaced in the circumferential direction to facilitate rotation.

A locking recess 24a is formed on the back side of each extension (see FIG. 7). The slide restriction nut 27c described above is disposed immediately in front of the knob member 24. The end of the male threaded portion 27a of the operating rod 27 and the tip of the hexagonal bolt 27b are screwed into the slide restriction nut 27c from opposite sides, and a thread locking agent is used when screwing them together. The slide restriction nut 27c and the knob member 24 restrict the axial sliding of the operating rod 27 relative to the case 22. When the knob member 24 is rotated clockwise, the tips of the pair of clamp claw members 21 close, and when the knob member 24 is rotated counterclockwise, the tips of the pair of clamp claw members 21 open.

The knob member 24 of the operating rod 27 and the slide restriction nut 27c are housed in a rod hole 22f formed in the case 22. The above-mentioned operating plug 26 moves along the operating rod 27 while tracing a circular trajectory centered on the shaft 23 relative to the case 22. Therefore, the operating rod 27 moves slightly up and down relative to the case 22. For this reason, the rod hole 22f is made into an elongated hole that is long vertically. In addition, a restriction protrusion 22g that restricts the first clamp claw member 21X from falling off the operating rod 27 is also formed on the right panel of the case 22 (see FIG. 5).

The locking mechanism described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7. The slide member 22d that constitutes the locking mechanism is slidably fitted to the upper rear end of the case 22. A number of protrusions are formed on the side of the slide member 22d to facilitate sliding of the slide member 22d. Although not visible in FIG. 7, an engagement protrusion 22e protrudes from the slide member 22d toward the knob member 24 (see FIG. 3).

When the slide member 22d is slid to the frontmost position (left position in FIG. 7), the engagement protrusion 22e does not enter the locking recess 24a formed on the back side of the knob member 24, and the slide member 22d and the knob member 24 do not engage. On the other hand, when the slide member 22d is slid to the rearmost position (the state shown in FIG. 7), the engagement protrusion 22e enters the locking recess 24a, the slide member 22d and the knob member 24 engage, and the rotation of the operating rod 27, i.e., the opening and closing of the clamp claw member 21, is locked. The slide member 22d will not fall off the case 22 in its sliding direction due to interference with the knob member 24, regardless of the rotation position of the knob member 24.

The cross-sectional shape of the engagement protrusion 22e is trapezoidal to match the shape of the locking recess 24a. Also, holes 22h are formed in the case 22 to create a clicking sensation when the sliding position of the sliding member 22d is at the frontmost position and the rearmost position. Although not visible in FIG. 7, a protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the sliding member 22d that engages with the hole 22h to create a clicking sensation. The hole 22h and the protrusion also have the effect of maintaining the sliding position of the sliding member 22d.

When locking, the correct operation is to insert the engagement protrusion 22e into the locking recess 24a. However, even if the engagement protrusion 22e is mistakenly inserted between two adjacent extensions of the three extensions of the knob member 24, the rotation of the operating rod 27 is restricted to the range between the two extensions (120°). Therefore, even in such a case, loosening of the clamp of the pair of clamp claw members 21 that clamp the crossbar of the roof carrier is restricted.

The clamp device 2 of this embodiment is equipped with a locking mechanism (slide member 22d and locking recess 24a) that locks the rotation of the knob member 24. Locking the rotation of the knob member 24 with the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the operating rod 27, i.e., restricts the opening and closing of the clamp claw member 21. Therefore, the locking mechanism can reliably prevent the roof box 1 from being loosened when fixed to the roof carrier.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operating rod 27 is arranged parallel to the rail 20 on which the clamp device 2 is slidably mounted, i.e., parallel to the bottom of the bottom case 1a of the roof box 1. Furthermore, a knob member 24 for opening and closing the clamp claw member 21 is attached to one end of this operating rod 27. Therefore, the knob member 24 itself hardly reduces the capacity inside the roof box 1. In addition, the rotation of the knob member 24 is hardly hindered by luggage inside the roof box 1.

For example, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the knob member is attached to the center of the operating rod to be rotated, so the knob member is operated by pinching it. In this case, it is difficult to apply a rotational force to the operating rod that is strong enough to clamp with the knob member. Also, for example, in the case of a clamp device constructed so that the rotation plane of the knob member that operates the clamp claw member is parallel to the bottom of the bottom case, the rotation plane of the knob member becomes horizontal, so the placement of the knob member reduces the capacity inside the roof box. Furthermore, if the rotation plane of the knob member becomes horizontal, the rotation operation of the knob member will be hindered by the luggage inside the roof box.

Here, in this embodiment, the locking mechanism is composed of a slide member 22d slidably provided on one end side of the case 22. The slide member 22d has an engagement protrusion 22e that engages with the knob member 24 only when it is slid toward the knob member 24 to lock the rotation of the knob member 24. By configuring the locking mechanism in this way, it is possible to construct the locking mechanism in a space-efficient manner. In other words, in addition to the fact that the capacity inside the roof box 1 is not reduced by providing the knob member 24 as described above, the capacity inside the roof box 1 is hardly reduced by providing a locking mechanism. In addition, the locking mechanism of this structure is easy to understand how to operate, and the operation can be easily performed. And, like the rotation operation of the knob member 24 described above, the locking and unlocking operations are hardly hindered by luggage inside the roof box 1.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper part of the case 22 is provided with an attachment portion 22a for a strap 1c that prevents the load inside the roof box 1 from shifting. Therefore, the clamp device 2 can also be used to prevent the load inside the roof box 1 from shifting. In addition, in this case, since the strap 1c extends from the upper part of the case 22 of the clamp device 2, the strap 1c is less likely to become buried in the load and the strap 1c is easier to find, making it easier to tie down the load with the strap 1c. Furthermore, since the strap 1c is held by the roof carrier via the clamp device 2, the load inside the roof box 1 can be held more securely.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the embodiments can be modified or varied based on the above disclosure. All components of the above embodiments and all features described in the claims may be extracted and combined individually, as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. For example, in the above embodiment, the knob members 24 are located at the rear of each clamp device 2, but they may be located at the front.

1 Roof box 1a Bottom case 1c Strap 2 Clamp device 20 Rail 21 Clamp claw member 21X First clamp claw member 21Y Second clamp claw member 22 Case 22a (of strap 1c) Mounting portion 22d Slide member (locking mechanism)
22e Engagement protrusion (lock mechanism)
24 Knob member 26 Operating plug (threaded portion)
26X First operating plug (first screwed portion)
26Y Second operating plug (second screw-in portion)
26a Female screw hole (female screw portion of screw-in portion 26)
27 Operating rod 27a (operating rod 27) male thread portion

Claims (2)

A roof box clamping device for a vehicle, comprising:
A sliding case at the bottom of the roof box bottom case,
A pair of first and second clamp claw members provided facing each other inside the case;
an operating rod extending from the first clamp claw member to the second clamp claw member along a sliding direction of the case;
a knob member attached to one end of the operating rod for rotating the operating rod about its central axis when opening and closing the first clamp claw member and the second clamp claw member;
a lock mechanism provided in the case for locking rotation of the knob member,
The first clamp claw member and the second clamp claw member are each attached to the case so as to be able to swing,
a first screw portion and a second screw portion are respectively provided at base ends of the first clamp claw member and the second clamp claw member, the first screw portion and the second screw portion being screwed into a male screw portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the operating rod;
The spiral direction of the female thread portion of the first screw thread portion and the spiral direction of the female thread portion of the second screw thread portion are opposite to each other,
A roof box clamp device for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the locking mechanism is slidably provided on the one end side of the case and includes a slide member having an engagement protrusion that engages with a locking recess formed on the back side of the knob member only when slid toward the knob member to lock the rotation of the knob member . 2. The roof box clamp device for mounting on a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the case is provided with an attachment portion for a strap for preventing collapse of the contents of the roof box.