US 12,281,510 B2
Load carrier for a vehicle
Tommy Andersson, Skeppshult (SE)
Assigned to Thule Sweden AB, Hillerstorp (SE)
Appl. No. 17/425,875
Filed by Thule Sweden AB, Hillerstorp (SE)
PCT Filed Feb. 4, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/052672
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 26, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/161098, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19155999 (EP), filed on Feb. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176884 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 9/055 (2006.01); E05D 3/18 (2006.01); E05F 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC E05F 1/12 (2013.01) [B60R 9/055 (2013.01); E05D 3/18 (2013.01); E05Y 2201/22 (2013.01); E05Y 2999/00 (2024.05)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load carrier for a vehicle comprising:
a lid; and
a base, said lid and base being connected along at least one edge by at least one hinge, said at least one hinge comprising:
a first connection member comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end, said first connection member being configured to be pivotably connected to said base or said lid at said first proximal end, by a first pivotable connection, with respect to a pivot axle being substantially parallel to said at least one edge, wherein said at least one hinge is releasably connected to said base or lid via said first pivotable connection by a lock member, and
a second connection member comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end, said second connection member being connected to the other one of said base or said lid at said second proximal end and connected to said first distal end at said second distal end via a second connection,
wherein said first connection member and said second connection member are biased toward a closed configuration, and wherein opening said lid by pivoting said first pivotable connection overcomes said bias, and
wherein said at least one hinge is configured such that while said lid is opened by pivoting said first pivotable connection, a distance between said first proximal end and said second proximal end increases, as seen in a sectional plane perpendicular to said pivot axle.