Load carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof box 1 for mounting to a vehicle via roof racks 100. The roof box 1 includes a base section 3 mountable to a vehicle roof or roof rack 100 and a top section 2 that is movable relative to the base section 3 to allow the roof box 1 to be opened and closed. The roof box 1 includes no external protruding seam 4 with the seam 4 flush with the exterior of the roof box 1. The roof box 1 also includes a curved seam 4, double skinned top 2 and double acting action hinge 12 design that all combine to provide improved aesthetics, lower weight, reduced aerodynamic drag, better fuel efficiency and equivalent strength, rigidity and loadings to the art.

1 . A roof box for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle comprising
 a base section including clamps for mounting the roof box on cross bars on top of a vehicle, the base section having an outer surface including a main outer surface region and a perimeter edge surface region that bends inward from the main outer surface region to form an inward offset, and   a top section hinged to the base section and configured for opening and closing the roof box, the top section being fully double skinned.   
     
     
         2 . A roof box for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle comprising
 a base section including clamps for mounting the roof box on cross bars on top of a vehicle, and   a top section hinged to the base section and configured for opening and closing the roof box, the top section being fully double skinned and having a lip that extends from a left side to a right side of the roof box via a front end and a back end of the roof box,   wherein the base section has a rim that overlaps the lip of the top section to form an exterior seam at a perimeter of the roof box when the roof box is closed.   
     
     
         3 . The roof box of  claim 2 , wherein top section includes an outer skin and an inner skin, and wherein the outer skin and the inner skin are fastened to one another at the lip of the top section. 
     
     
         4 . The roof box of  claim 3 , wherein the outer skin and the inner skin are substantially flush with one another at a bottom boundary of the lip. 
     
     
         5 . The roof box of  claim 2 , wherein the top section includes an outer skin and an inner skin, and wherein the inner skin forms multiple transverse ribs at which the inner skin is spaced from the outer skin. 
     
     
         6 . The roof box of  claim 5 , wherein a cavity is formed in the top section between the outer skin and the inner skin, and wherein each of the transverse ribs adjoins the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The roof box of  claim 2 , wherein the base section has an outer surface including a main outer surface region and a perimeter edge surface region that bends inward from the main outer surface region to inwardly offset the rim of the base section. 
     
     
         8 . The roof box of  claim 2 , wherein the exterior seam is flanked by an exterior surface region of the top section and an exterior surface region of the base section that are substantially flush with one another. 
     
     
         9 . A roof box for carrying cargo on top of a vehicle comprising
 a base section including clamps for mounting the roof box on cross bars on top of a vehicle, and   a top section hinged to the base section and configured for opening and closing the roof box, the top section forming a lip and having an outer skin and an inner skin that are fastened to one another at the lip,   wherein the lip of the top section extends along a left side, a right side, a front end, and a back end of the roof box, and   wherein the base section forms a rim that overlaps the lip of the top section to form an exterior seam at a perimeter of the roof box when the roof box is closed.   
     
     
         10 . The roof box of  claim 9 , wherein the inner skin forms multiple transverse ribs at which the inner skin is spaced from the outer skin. 
     
     
         11 . The roof box of  claim 10 , wherein each transverse rib extends from a position near the left side of the roof box to a position near the right side of the roof box. 
     
     
         12 . The roof box of  claim 10 , wherein a cavity is formed in the top section between the outer skin and the inner skin, and wherein each of the transverse ribs adjoins the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The roof box of  claim 9 , wherein the top section is fully double skinned. 
     
     
         14 . The roof box of  claim 9 , wherein the outer skin and the inner skin are substantially flush with one another at a bottom boundary of the lip. 
     
     
         15 . The roof box of  claim 9 , wherein the base section has an outer surface including a main outer surface region and a perimeter edge surface region that bends inward from the main outer surface region to inwardly offset the rim. 
     
     
         16 . The roof box of  claim 9 , wherein the exterior seam is flanked by an exterior surface region of the top section and an exterior surface region of the base section that are substantially flush with one another.