초록 ▼

A clamp for use with a cross bar of an existing vehicle article carrier to allow accessory vehicle article carrier components to be secured to the cross bar. The clamp includes a base portion and a clamp element hingedly coupled to the base portion. A locking assembly allows the clamp element to be

A clamp for use with a cross bar of an existing vehicle article carrier to allow accessory vehicle article carrier components to be secured to the cross bar. The clamp includes a base portion and a clamp element hingedly coupled to the base portion. A locking assembly allows the clamp element to be secured to the base portion without any external tools. The locking assembly includes an over-center locking lever which can be pretightened before being moved from an unlatched into a latched position to thus allow a pre-tightening force to be applied to the clamp element. The clamp element also includes a C-shaped channel for receiving a tap plate or other similar component associated with an accessory article carrier component.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An adjustable clamp for use with a cross bar of a vehicle article carrier to enable accessory article carrier components to be secured to said cross bar, said clamp comprising:a base portion having a coupling portion and hinge portion;a clamp element having a first end and a second end, said firs

1. An adjustable clamp for use with a cross bar of a vehicle article carrier to enable accessory article carrier components to be secured to said cross bar, said clamp comprising:a base portion having a coupling portion and hinge portion;a clamp element having a first end and a second end, said first end being hingedly coupled to said hinge portion;said clamp element having an accessory attachment portion formed between said first end and said second end said accessory attachment portion adapted to couple to an external article carrier component;a locking assembly secured to said coupling portion of said base portion, said locking assembly including an over-center locking lever adapted to be rotated between a non-locking position and a locking position about said coupling portion of said base portion, said locking lever further being rotatable between an unlatched position and a latched position;said clamp element being movable pivotally about said first end away from said base portion into an open position to allow said clamp to be placed over said cross bar, and also into a clamping position disposed against a surface of said cross bar, wherein said second end can be engaged by said locking assembly;once said locking assembly is in said locking position engaged with said second end of said clamp element, said over-center locking lever is movable from said unlatched position to said latched position to clampingly secure said second end of said clamp element tightly and said base portion over said cross bar; andwherein said base and said clamp elements cooperatively form at least one of an oval shaped aperture, a modified oval shaped aperture, and a circular shaped aperture. 2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said coupling portion comprises a cylindrical bore; andwherein said locking assembly comprises a barrel member having a threaded aperture slidably and being disposed within said cylindrical bore. 3. The clamp of claim 2, wherein said locking assembly further comprises a T-shaped locking stud having a threaded end, said threaded end being secured to said threaded aperture of said barrel member. 4. The clamp of claim 3, wherein said over-center locking lever is coupled to a T-shaped head portion of said T-shaped locking stud for rotating said T-shaped locking stud. 5. The clamp of claim 4, wherein said second end of said clamp element includes a notch for engaging with said T-shaped locking stud, said over-center locking lever resting over said second end when said locking assembly is rotated into said locking position; andwherein said over-center locking lever can used to pre-tighten said clamp element against said cross bar prior to said over-center locking lever being moved into said latched position. 6. The clamp of claim 1, further comprising a resilient pad secured to an inside surface of said base portion. 7. The clamp of claim 1, further comprising a resilient, elongated pad disposed along an interior surface of said base portion and being sufficient in length to extend along an inside surface of said clamp element, to thereby substantially circumscribe an exterior surface of said cross bar and protect said exterior surface when said clamp is clamped to said cross bar. 8. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said clamp element includes an accessory attachment portion for enabling said accessory article carrier components to be secured to said clamp element. 9. An adjustable clamp for use with a cross bar of a vehicle article carrier to enable accessory article carrier components to be secured to said cross bar, said clamp comprising:a base portion having a coupling portion and hinge portion;a clamp element having a first end and a second end, said first end being hingedly coupled to said hinge portion;said clamp element having an accessory attachment portion formed between said first end and said second end said accessory attachment portion adapted to couple to an external article carrier component;a locking assembly includ ing:a stud assembly pivotally secured to said coupling portion of said base portion, said stud assembly being movable rotationally between an unlocked position and a locked position; andan over-center locking lever adapted to be rotated between an unlatched position and a latched position;said clamp element being movable pivotally about said first end away from said base portion into an open position to allow said clamp to be placed over said cross bar, and also into a clamping position disposed against a surface of said cross bar, wherein said second end thereof can be engaged a portion of said over-center locking lever;once said locking assembly is in said locked position engaged with said second end of said clamp element, said over-center locking lever can be moved from said unlatched position to said latched position to clampingly secure said second end of said clamp element tightly over said cross bar; andwherein said base and said clamp elements cooperatively form at least one of an oval shaped aperture, a modified oval shaped aperture and a circular shaped aperture. 10. The clamp of claim 9, wherein said stud assembly comprises a T-shaped stud having a threaded end portion, and an independent barrel member having a threaded aperture for engaging with said threaded end portion of said T-shaped stud;wherein said coupling portion includes a cylindrical bore; andwherein said barrel member is disposed within said cylindrical bore. 11. The clamp of claim 9, further comprising a resilient member secured to an inner surface of said base portion. 12. The clamp of claim 9, further comprising a resilient member secured to an inner surface of said base portion and having a length sufficient to substantially circumscribe said cross bar when said clamp is clamped to said cross bar. 13. The clamp of claim 9, wherein said first end of said clamp element includes a shoulder portion for limiting rotational movement of said clamp element. 14. The clamp of claim 9, wherein said clamp element includes an accessory attachment portion for enabling said accessory article carrier components to be attached to said clamp. 15. An adjustable clamp for use with a cross bar of a vehicle article carrier to enable accessory article carrier components to be secured to said cross bar, said clamp comprising:a base portion having a coupling portion and hinge portion;a clamp element having a first end and a second end, said first end being hingedly coupled to said hinge portion, and an accessory attachment portion formed in between said first and second ends;a locking assembly including:a stud assembly pivotally secured to said coupling portion of said base portion, said stud assembly being movable rotationally between an unlocked position and a locked position; andsaid stud assembly including a barrel member having a threaded aperture and a T-shaped stud having a threaded end portion engageable with said threaded aperture;an over-center locking lever coupled to said T-shaped stud and adapted to be rotated between an unlatched position and a latched position, and further operable to be rotated so as to pretighten said over-center locking lever against said second end of said clamp element;said clamp element being movable pivotally about said first end away from said base portion into an open position to allow said clamp to be placed over said cross bar, and also into a clamping position disposed against a surface of said cross bar, wherein said second end thereof can be engaged a portion of said over-center locking lever;once said locking assembly is in said locked position engaged with said second end of said clamp element, said over-center locking lever can be moved from said unlatched position to said latched position to clampingly secure said second end of said clamp element tightly over said cross bar; andwherein said base and said clamp elements cooperatively form at least one of an oval shaped aperture, a modified oval shaped aperture, and a circular shaped aperture. 16. The clamp of claim 15, further comprising a resilient pad secured to an inner surface of said base portion.