DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to roof rail assembly in vehicles and more particularly but not exclusively to single piece roof rail assembly for a passenger vehicle and a method for mounting the roof rail assembly.
BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, a roof rail is a bar like structure mounted on top of roof of a vehicle for carrying luggage. The roof rails facilitate the mounting of luggage on the roof of the vehicle. Conventionally roof rails are mounted in the vehicle by providing cut-outs or openings in body panel and roof structure of the vehicle which leads to leakage issues.
[003] Single-member rails comprise an elongated connecting member having at its end bolted to the vehicle roof. This type of construction requires complex fabrication steps to manufacture the rail so as to ensure that the required properties and geometries of a particular design and the necessary mechanical strength and stiffness are obtained.
[004] Multiple-member rails consist of substantially two mounting members and a central connecting member inserted between the mount members. Similarly with a multiple-member rail, the mount members are bolted to the vehicle roof and in addition there can be provided intermediate supports likewise bolted to the vehicle roof and suitably attached to the central connecting member.
[005] The conventional rail systems have the significant disadvantage that the vehicle roof has to be provided with appropriate apertures and/or holes to enable the mount members to be fixed to the vehicle roof. When holes are drilled in the vehicle roof, any inadequacy in sealing creates the risk of corrosion, which further leads in breakage of mount members. Also, conventional rails have to be fabricated in separate manufacturing steps which have the disadvantage of making the roof carrier system more expensive.
[006] Therefore, there exists a need for a roof rail assembly for a vehicle which is less expensive and easy to assemble. Furthermore, there exists a need for a roof rail assembly that can eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[007] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a single piece roof rail assembly for a vehicle.
[008] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a roof rail assembly for a vehicle which is easy to assemble.
[009] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a roof rail assembly which includes less number of parts and manufacturing steps, thus decreasing total manufacturing cost of the roof rail assembly.
[0010] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a roof rail assembly having structural rigidity, and outer surface quality similar to rail assemblies having metal bracket attachments, while simultaneously providing a weight reduction.
[0011] Still another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a method for mounting a roof rail assembly in a vehicle.
[0012] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a roof rail assembly mounted to a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the roof rail assembly in conjunction with the vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a roof rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of a roof rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of locator clip of the roof rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0019] FIG. 6 depicts a sectional view of the locator clip along the line A-A as shown in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0020] FIG. 7 depicts a sectional view of the locator clip along the line B-B as shown in FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0021] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of mounting clip of the roof rail assembly according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0022] FIG. 9 depicts a sectional view of the mounting clip along the line C-C as shown in FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0023] FIG. 10 depicts a sectional view of the mounting clip along the line D-D as shown in FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0024] FIG. 11 depicts a flow chart of a method for mounting a roof rail assembly to a vehicle roof according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0026] The embodiments herein achieve a roof rail assembly for a vehicle. Further, embodiments herein achieve a method for mounting a roof rail assembly in a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 10, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0027] FIGS. 1 and 2 depicts a roof rail assembly 100 mounted to a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the roof rail assembly 100 includes a roof rail 102 having a front end 104 and a rear end 106, a plurality of securing members (not shown) having a mounting clip 108, and at least one locator clip 110 provided at front end 104 and at rear end 106 of the roof rail 102 respectively, a plurality of attaching members 112 coupled at predetermined attachment point of the vehicle roof to receive the plurality of securing members.
[0028] In an embodiment, the roof rail 102 is configured to be a single part as shown in FIG. 3. The roof rail 102 is made up of plastic material. The plastic material offers a weight reduction in the roof rail assembly 100. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of material for fabricating roof rail 102 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the carrying luggage as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings. In an embodiment, the roof rail 102 provides structural rigidity, and includes an outer surface having a smooth finish similar to roof rail assemblies having metal bracket attachments.
[0029] In an embodiment, the roof rail 102 is a single part having plurality of locking members 114 as shown in FIG. 4. The locking members 114 are made of dog house shaped construction to accommodate the securing members. The dog house is configured to receive the securing members and lock them at the same position. The number of locking members 114 depends on length of the roof rail 102. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of construction of locking member 114 for the roof rail 102 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the locking and fixing as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0030] In an embodiment, the roof rail assembly 100 includes the plurality of securing members. The plurality of securing members include at least one mounting clip 108 disposed between the front end 104 and the rear end 106 of the roof rail 102, and the locator clip 110 provided at front end 104 and the rear end 106 respectively, as shown in FIG. 4. In an embodiment, the mounting clip 108, and the locator clip 110 are inserted to the roof rail 102 to provide a unitary structure.
[0031] In an embodiment, the roof rail assembly includes a plurality of attaching members 112 coupled to the roof of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the attaching members 112 are studs having a body projecting in opposite direction of the vehicle roof. The body of the studs includes a threaded section to engage with the corresponding threads provided in the mounting clip 108 and the locator clip 110. The plurality of securing members is configured to couple with the attaching members 112 of the vehicle roof to support the roof rail 102. In an embodiment, the plurality of securing members is coupled to the attaching members 112 by press fit. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment between the securing members and the attaching members 112 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the locking as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0032] In an embodiment, the attaching members 112 are welded on to the roof of the vehicle with the help of any suitable welding method. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of connection for attaching members 112 on the vehicle roof without otherwise deterring the intended function of the fixing the attaching members 112 on the roof of vehicle as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0033] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 depicts a perspective view, a sectional view along a line A-A, and a sectional view along a line B-B of the locator clip 110 respectively according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the locator clip 110 is provided at front end 104 and the rear end 106 respectively. The locator clip 110 is configured to be inserted to the locking member 114 by press fit. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment between the locking member 114 and the locator clip 110 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the locking and fixing as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0034] The locator clip 110 engages with the attaching member 112 provided on the vehicle roof. In an embodiment, the locator clip 110 is configured to lock with the threaded section provided on the attaching member 112 by snap features provided integrally on the locator clip 110. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment between the locator clip 110 and the attaching member 112 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the locking and fixing as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0035] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 depicts a perspective view, a sectional view along a line C-C, and a sectional view along a line D-D of the mounting clip 108 respectively according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the mounting clip 108 includes float to hold the attaching member 112 provided in a predefined position of the vehicle roof. In an embodiment, the mounting clip 108 is made up of two sections (not shown). The two sections of the mounting clip 108 include a first section having a fixed body (not shown) and a second section having a movable body (not shown). In an embodiment, the movable body is inserted into the fixed body and is locked by snap features provided on the fixed body.
[0036] In an embodiment, the mounting clip 108 is inserted to the locking member 114 provided on roof rail 102 by press fit. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment between the mounting clip 108 and the locking member 114 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the locking and fixing as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0037] In an embodiment, the mounting clip 108 engages with the stud provided on the vehicle roof. The movable body slides to a predetermined distance within the fixed body to hold the stud in a predetermined position. The mounting clip 108 is configured to lock with the threaded section provided on the attaching member 112 by snap features provided integrally on the mounting clip 108. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any type of attachment between the mounting clip 108 and the attaching member 112 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the locking and fixing as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
[0038] In an embodiment, the mounting clip 108 with movable body is configured to facilitate for holding the stud having small variations in the position during mounting of the roof rail assembly 100 on the vehicle roof.
[0039] In an embodiment, a method 200 for mounting a roof rail assembly 100 for a vehicle roof is shown in FIG. 11. The method includes providing at least one roof rail 102 having a front end 104 and a rear end 106 (step 201). The method further includes defining a plurality of securing members on the roof rail 102 (step 203). The plurality of securing members include at least one mounting clip 108 disposed between the front end 104 and the rear end 106 of the roof rail 102, and at least one locator clip 110 at front end 104 and at least one locator clip 110 at rear end 106 of the roof rail 102 respectively. Further the method includes providing a plurality of attaching members 112 at predetermined attachment point of the vehicle roof to receive the plurality of securing members (step 205). The plurality of securing members is coupled with the attaching members 112 of the vehicle roof to support the roof rail 102.
[0040] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Referral numerals:
Roof rail assembly 100
Roof rail 102
Front end of roof rail 104
Rear end of roof rail 106
Mounting clip 108
Locator clip 110
Attaching member 112
Locking member 114
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A roof rail assembly 100 for a vehicle roof comprising:
at least one roof rail 102 having a front end 104 and a rear end 106;
a plurality of securing members defined in the roof rail 102; and a plurality of attaching members 112 coupled at predetermined attachment point of the vehicle roof to receive the plurality of securing members;
wherein
the plurality of securing members are configured to couple with the attaching members 112 of the vehicle roof to support the roof rail 102;
the plurality of securing members include;
at least one mounting clip 108 disposed between the front end 104 and the rear end 106 of the roof rail 102;
at least one locator clip 110 at front end 104 of the roof rail 102; and at least one locator clip 110 at rear end 106 of the roof rail 102.

2. The roof rail assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roof rail 102 is configured to be single piece having a plurality of locking members 114 to accommodate the locator clip 110 and the mounting clip 108.

3. The roof rail assembly 100 as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of locking members 114 is configured to receive the mounting clip 108 and the locator clip 110 and lock the mounting clip 108 and the locator clip 110 at predetermined positions.

4. The roof rail assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing members of the roof rail assembly 100 is coupled to the attaching members 112 on the vehicle roof by at least one of press fit and snap fit.

5. The roof rail assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting clip 108 includes;
a fixed body; and
a moving body configured to be inserted into fixed body.

6. The mounting clip 108 as claimed in claim 4, wherein the moving body is locked inside the fixed body by at least one of press fit and snap fit.

7. The roof rail assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching members 112 are stud having thread means to lock the securing members.
8. The mounting clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the movable body of the mounting clip 108 is configured to slide to a predetermined distance to hold the stud provided in a predefined position and lock with the threads provided on the stud.

9. The mounting clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mounting clip 108 includes float to hold the stud provided in a predefined position of the vehicle roof.

10. A method 200 for mounting a roof rail assembly for a vehicle roof, said method comprising steps of:
providing at least one roof rail 102 having a front end 104 and a rear end 106;
defining a plurality of securing members in the roof rail 102; and providing a plurality of attaching members 112 coupled at predetermined attachment point of the vehicle roof to receive the plurality of securing members;
wherein
the plurality of securing members are configured to couple with the attaching members 112 of the vehicle roof to support the roof rail 102;
the plurality of securing members include;
at least one mounting clip 108 disposed between the front end 104 and the rear end 106 of the roof rail 102;
at least one locator clip 110 at front end 104 of the roof rail 102; and
at least one locator clip 110 at rear end 106 of the roof rail 102.