Patents by Inventor Jan-Ivar Arvidsson

Jan-Ivar Arvidsson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6409062
    Abstract: A load carrier strut adapted to be secured to a vehicle roof. The load carrier strut includes a slot with an opening extending into an interior portion of the load carrier strut. The slot opening being formed by at least one defining edge and adapted to be engaged with an engageable member. A protective skin covers at least a portion of the load carrier strut. The protective skin extends over the slot opening and covers at least a portion of the at least one defining edge of the slot opening. The load carrier strut includes a notch located in the at least one defining edge of the slot proximate an end of the load carrier strut. The protective skin engages in the notch thereby securing the protective skin longitudinally with respect to the load carrier strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventors: Anders Lundgren, Jan-Ivar Arvidsson, HÃ¥kan Thulin
  • Patent number: 5865356
    Abstract: A device for fastening onto a vehicle a load carrier of the type provided with a strut extending transversely across the vehicle roof, support feet disposed at the ends of the strut and abutting against the vehicle roof, and clamping units which, for fastening the load carrier to the vehicle roof, are movable in clamping directions substantially transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle. The device includes securement means having engagement members which are designed for interconnection with corresponding engagement members on the clamping units. The securement means have narrow neck portions which extend behind decoration or sealing strips on the vehicle. The securement means are provided with anchorage portions which are anchored on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 5775557
    Abstract: An arrangement for carrying a craft such as a kayak or a surfboard. The arrangement includes a carrier bar extending across a vehicle roof which is fastened to opposite edge portions thereof. Holders are provided for engagement with the carrier bars. The holders are provided with arrangements for fixing the holders in selected positions along the carrier bars. Support members for the craft are made from a flexible material and are fastened to the holders pivotally about axes extending lengthwise of the vehicle. At least two arms are provided with each arm being fastened at a first end thereof to each holder and being pivotable about a pivot axis extending lengthwise of the vehicle. The arms have their free ends connected to the support member pivotally above an axis extending lengthwise of the vehicle such that pivoting of the arms adjusts the shape and position of the support members for a particular craft to be carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Industri Ab Tlzule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 5556016
    Abstract: A device for fastening a load carrier (3) preferably a so-called roof railing, on a vehicle roof (1) comprises a hollow housing portion (5) which, with its one end, connects to the vehicle body and, with its other end, carries the load carrier (3). An adapter (4) is secured on the vehicle roof (1) and has, on its upper side, an abutment (6) which is accommodated by the opening portion of the housing portion (5). The adapter (4) has a catch (7) in which engages a loop of wire (8) which is anchored in a nut (10) interiorly in the housing portion (5). A screw (9) engages in the nut (10) and, with its head (16), abuts against a support surface (17) at the end of the housing portion (15) facing towards the load carrier (3). The head (16) of the screw is accessible for tightening via an opening in the wall of the load carrier (3) whereby the loop (8) is drawn up into the housing portion (5) and this securely to the adapter (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Industri Ab Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 5524803
    Abstract: A load carrier for vehicles has two longitudinal load supports adapted to be fixed to a roof of a vehicle and transverse load supports which are movably disposed between the longitudinal supports. One end of a transverse load support is pivotally connected to a movable joint provided in each of the longitudinal load supports and a movable locking member is provided in the opposing longitudinal support. The transverse load supports may be folded into the longitudinal load supports when not in use, and pivoted to a load carrying position extending between longitudinal supports and secured by the locking member. The load carrying position of the transverse load supports along the longitudinal supports may be changed by moving the joint and locking members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 5516017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for carrying a craft such as a kayak or a surfboard. The arrangement includes a carrier bar extending across a vehicle roof which is fastened to opposite edge portions thereof. Holders are provided for engagement with the carrier bars. The holders are provided with arrangements for fixing the holders in selected positions along the carrier bars. Support members for the craft are made from a flexible material and are fastened to the holders pivotally about axes extending lengthwise of the vehicle. At least two arms are provided with each arm being fastened at a first end thereof to each holder and being pivotable about a pivot axis extending lengthwise of the vehicle. The arms have their free ends connected to the support member pivotally above an axis extending lengthwise of the vehicle such that pivoting of the arms adjusts the shape and position of the support members for a particular craft to be carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 5402925
    Abstract: A load carrier for vehicles has two longitudinal carrier profiles (4) fixed on the roof of the vehicle, the carrier profiles being of cross sections which are open in a direction towards one another and which are curved so as to be adapted to the curvature of the vehicle roof. The carrier profiles (4) are provided with covering profiles (5) on their open sides, these profiles being curved in a manner corresponding to that of the carrier profiles (4). The covering profiles (5) may be opened by pivoting by means of elastic and/or resiliently yieldable connecting devices (10) which, with short lengths, are distributed along the length of the carrier profiles. The carrier profiles (4) and the covering profiles (5) are provided, along their edges facing away from the connecting devices (10), with snap fasteners (7, 9) for fixedly retaining the covering strips in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventors: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson, Claes-Goran Linden
  • Patent number: 5366195
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for affixing a load-bearing element to the roof of a vehicle such that the load-bearing element extends transversely over the roof. The device has a supporting and fixing element for engaging the vehicle. A contact support member is generally rigidly attached to an end part of the load-bearing element and extends downward from the element. The supporting and fixing element is swingably attached to the load-bearing element or the contact support member such that the lower end of the supporting and fixing element can be moved toward or away from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle. A clamping device is disposed on the contact support member and, in an activated locked position of the clamping device, the clamping device presses the lower part of the supporting and fixing element into locking engagement with a holding arrangement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: 5104020
    Abstract: A load carrier for a vehicle is provided with a strut (1) disposed transversely over the roof (6) of the vehicle, and with a foot member (2)in each end. The foot members are provided with a support member (3) and a gripping member (4) which, by way of an operating device (20, 21), are mountable against edge portions (5, 6) of the vehicle roof, for fixedly securing the load carrier. In order to render such fixed securement extra reliable, both the support member (3) and the gripping member (4) are disposed on a pivotal arm (17) which, by way of a pivot (16), is fixedly secured in an upper portion of the foot member (2). The arm (17) is pivotal with its lower portion in towards the center of the vehicle so that both the under gripping portion (19) of the gripping member (4) and the support member (3) accompany the arm in this movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventors: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson, Willis Thulin
  • Patent number: 4993615
    Abstract: An anchorage device for a load carrier intended for a vehicle roof (3) includes a strut (1) which extends across the vehicle roof (3) and has, in each end, an anchorage foot (2). The anchorage foot is provided with a support arrangement (4) for transferring loading to the vehicle roof, and also with anchorage members for fixedly retaining the anchorage foot (2) to the vehicle. According to the invention, the support arrangement is provided with two support members (17) which are pivotally retained in the anchorage foot (2) so as to pivot towards and away from one another, and have obliquely inclined grooves (22) for locking accommodation of projections or pins (14) secured in the vehicle. The support members are of platelike configuration so as to be able to extend down into narrow spaces (9, 10, 12) in the vehicle and there engage with the projections or pins (14) and are provided, in their lower edges, with support surfaces (16) for abutment against the bottom (10) of the space (9, 10, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: D299913
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: D300914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson
  • Patent number: D302000
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Jan-Ivar Arvidsson