Load carrier

Abstract

A load carrier to be mounted in the body of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The load carrier includes a first load carrier element to form a first load carrying surface; and a second load carrier element, pivotally arranged with respect to the first load carrier element, to form a second load carrying surface, the second load carrying surface being located in front of the first load carrying surface, seen in the normal travelling direction of the motor vehicle. The second load carrier element is also pivotally arranged with respect to the first load carrier element to form a third load carrying surface, the third load carrying surface being located behind the first load carrying surface, seen in the normal travelling direction of the motor vehicle.

1 . A load carrier to be mounted in the body of a motor vehicle, comprising: 
 a first load carrier element to form a first load carrying surface;    a second load carrier element, pivotally arranged with respect to the first load carrier element, to form a second load carrying surface, the second load carrying surface being located in front of the first load carrying surface, seen in the normal travelling direction of the motor vehicle, the second load carrier element further being pivotally arranged with respect to the first load carrier element to form a third load carrying surface, the third load carrying surface being located behind the first load carrying surface, seen in the normal travelling direction of the motor vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the load carrier is adapted to be mounted at the rear edge of the roof of the body and the second load carrier element is adapted to be able to project from the rear edge of the roof to form the third load carrying surface.  
     
     
         3 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second load carrying surface are substantially in the same horizontal plane.  
     
     
         4 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third load carrying surface is located on a vertically lower level than the first load carrying surface.  
     
     
         5 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a first and a second support element to be mounted on opposite sides of the roof of the body, seen in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, the first and second load carrier elements extending between and being connected to the first and second support elements.  
     
     
         6 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first load carrier element includes a longitudinally extending recess for connecting fastening elements adapted to be able to fasten a load to the first load carrying surface.  
     
     
         7 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first load carrier element is movably arranged in the associated first and second support elements to position the first load carrying surface in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the second load carrier element includes a longitudinally extending recess for connecting fastening elements adapted to be able to fasten a load to at least one of the second and third load carrying surfaces.  
     
     
         9 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the second load carrier element comprises 
 a first and a second arm, pivotally connected to the first and second support elements, respectively, in a respective vertical plane, and    a transverse element arranged between the first and the second arm to form the second load carrying surface when the first and the second arm are in a front pivot position with respect to the first load carrier element, and to form the third load carrying surface when the first and the second arm are in a rear pivot position with respect to the first load carrier element.    
     
     
         10 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second arm each comprise a first and a second arm part, the first arm parts being pivotally connected to the support elements between the front and the rear pivot position, the second arm parts being, at one end, pivotally connected to the first arm parts, between an inwardly pivoted position and an outwardly pivoted position with respect to the first arm parts, and at an opposite end fixedly connected to the transverse element.  
     
     
         11 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first arm parts, when in the front pivot position, are adapted to be arranged substantially parallel to the body roof, and the second arm parts, when in the inwardly pivoted position, are adapted to abut substantially against the first arm parts.  
     
     
         12 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 10 , comprising a locking device adapted to be able to lock the first arm parts in a pivot position, between the front and the rear pivot position, in which pivot position a lid of the trunk of the motor vehicle is openable without colliding with the load carrier.  
     
     
         13 . A motor vehicle, comprising a load carrier as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second load carrying surface are substantially in the same horizontal plane.  
     
     
         15 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first load carrier element is movably arranged in the associated first and second support elements to position the first load carrying surface in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . A load carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , comprising a locking device adapted to be able to lock the first arm parts in a pivot position, between the front and the rear pivot position, in which pivot position a lid of the trunk of the motor vehicle is openable without colliding with the load carrier.