Vehicle boat loading device

Abstract

An assembly for loading cargo on top of a vehicle includes at least one load bar oriented perpendicular to a pair of crossbars. The load bar is movable between stowed and loading positions in a direction parallel to the direction of vehicle travel. A rear end of the load bar is connected to a roller device for minimizing friction and avoiding contact with the vehicle when cargo is being elevated to the roof of the vehicle.

1 . An assembly for loading cargo on a roof of a vehicle, comprising:
 a crossbar mounted on the roof of a vehicle perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel,   a saddle mounted on the crossbar and configured to support a cargo item on the roof;   a load bar oriented substantially perpendicular to the crossbar and having a front end and a rear end;   a roller member connected to the rear end of the load bar, the roller member being configured to support the cargo item while loading; and   a clamp for coupling the load bar to the crossbar, the clamp having a gripping mechanism controlling freedom of the load bar to move forward and backward relative to the crossbar between stowed and loading positions, wherein the saddle is configured to be moved along the crossbar independent of the clamp and the load bar.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the roller member is slidingly connected to the rear end of the load bar allowing the roller member to move along an axis parallel to the crossbar relative to the load bar. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the roller member is pivotably connected to the rear end of the load bar allowing the roller member to pivot between stored and loading positions relative to the load bar. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the roller member includes a hoop structure having a linear support portion parallel to a linear roller portion, and a t-fitting connecting the rear end of the load bar to the linear support portion of the hoop structure. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the linear support portion of the hoop structure has a non-circular cross-section restricting rotation of the linear support portion within the t-fitting. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the load bar includes a telescoping pair of concentric tubes for permitting extension of the roller member to a loading position at the rear of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle includes a J-shaped cradle. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller pad mounted on the roller member. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly for loading cargo on a roof of a vehicle, comprising:
 first and second load bars each having a front end and a rear end;   front clamps for coupling the first and second load bars to a front crossbar on the roof;   rear clamps for coupling the first and second load bars to a rear crossbar on the roof; and   a roller member connected to the rear end of the first and second load bars and configured to support a cargo item while loading, wherein the front and rear clamps are configured to permit selective alternating among (i) a first mode in which the first and second load bars are secured to the front and rear crossbars, (ii) a second mode in which the first and second load bars are permitted to move along a first axis perpendicular to the front and rear crossbars relative to those crossbars, and (iii) a third mode in which one of the first and second load bars is permitted to move along a second axis parallel to the front and rear crossbars relative to the other of the first and second load bars.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein, in the third mode, the other of the first and second load bars is permitted to move along the second axis relative to the one of the first and second load bars. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the roller member includes a hoop structure having a linear support portion parallel to a linear roller portion, and a t-fitting connecting the rear ends of the first and second load bars to the linear support portion of the hoop structure. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the linear support portion of the hoop structure has a non-circular cross-section restricting rotation of the linear support portion within the t-fitting. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a roller pad mounted on the roller member. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly for loading cargo on a roof of a vehicle, comprising:
 first and second load bars each having a front end and a rear end;   front clamps for coupling the first and second load bars to a front crossbar on the roof;   rear clamps for coupling the first and second load bars to a rear crossbar on the roof;   a saddle mounted on the front and rear crossbars and configured to support a cargo item on the roof; and   a roller member connected to the rear end of the first and second load bars and configured to support the cargo item while loading, wherein the front and rear clamps are configured to permit selective alternating among (i) a first mode in which the first and second load bars are secured to the front and rear crossbars, (ii) a second mode in which the first and second load bars are permitted to move along a first axis perpendicular to the front and rear crossbars relative to those crossbars, and (iii) a third mode in which one of the first and second load bars is permitted to move along a second axis parallel to the front and rear crossbars relative to the other of the first and second load bars, wherein the saddle is configured to be moved along the front and rear crossbars independent of the front and rear clamps and the first and second load bars.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein, in the third mode, the other of the first and second load bars is permitted to move along the second axis relative to the one of the first and second load bars. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the roller member is slidingly connected to the rear end of the first and second load bars allowing the roller member to move along a third axis parallel to the front and rear crossbars relative to the first and second load bars. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the roller member includes a hoop structure having a linear support portion parallel to a linear roller portion, and a t-fitting connecting the rear end of the first and second load bars to the linear support portion of the hoop structure. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the linear support portion of the hoop structure has a non-circular cross-section restricting rotation of the linear support portion within the t-fitting. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a roller pad mounted on the linear roller portion. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the saddle includes a J-shaped cradle.