Article carrier

• US 5,207,365 A
• Filed: 10/01/1991
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JAC Products Incorporated (JAC Holding Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John A. Bott
• Inventors: Bott, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US07/769,867
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 224/325, 224/326, 224/309, 224/321, 224/324, 224/327, 224/315, 224/329, 224/330, 224/331, 224/323, 224/316, 410/104, 410/105, 410/113, 410/150, 296/180.1, 296/90, 248/503
• US Class Current: 224/316
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/045 Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/05 Carriers characterised by wind deflecting means wind deflectors for open roofs B60J7/22

Abstract

The present invention is an article carrier for an automobile including two side rails fixedly secured on a generally horizontal extending exterior automobile body surface. The side rails extend generally longitudinally of the automobile. A pair of bracket members are disposed on the side rails and a cross bar extends laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to the bracket members. A means on each of the article securing members cooperates with the side rails for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting the cross bar upon the side rails.

Claims

1. An article carrier for an automobile comprising:

a plurality of slats fixedly secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile;

said slats extending generally longitudinally of the automobile;

certain of said slot having an upper article supporting surface;

said supporting surfaces being located between the body surface and the lower side of articles on said carrier;

a plurality of bracket members disposed upon said certain of said slats;

a plurality of restraining bars, each of said restraining bars extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to a pair of said bracket members;

means on at least one of said pair of said bracket members and cooperable with one of said certain of said slats for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting said pair of said bracket members and restraining bars along said certain of said slats;

each of said restraining bars being operable to enable a pair of said restraining bars to nest together and define an airfoil; and

each of said restraining bars including an elliptical outer end portion, upper and lower surfaces, said upper and lower surfaces terminating at a smooth, inclined planar portion, said smooth, inclined planar portions of said restraining bars being inclined at mating angles relative to each other, said mating angles being operable to enable said pair of restraining bars to nest abuttingly together to form an overall elliptical cross-sectional shape, said mating angles further forming an angle when said restraining bars are abuttingly engaged which is not perpendicular to a longitudinal plane extending between said elliptical outer end portions, said nesting abuttingly together of said inclined planar portions being operable to help prevent movement of each of said restraining bars relative to the other when said automobile is in motion.

2. An article carrier for an automobile comprising:

a plurality of slats fixedly secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile body surface;

said slats extending generally longitudinally of the automobile;

certain of said slats having an upper article supporting surface;

said supporting surfaces being located between the body surface and the lower side of articles on said carrier;

a plurality of bracket members disposed upon said certain of said slats and a plurality of restraining bars, each of said restraining bars extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to a pair of said bracket members;

said restraining bars being operable to enable a pair of said restraining bars to nest together and define an airfoil having an elliptical cross-section;

each of said pair of restraining bars having an elliptical outer end portion, upper and lower surfaces, and a relatively smooth, inclined planar portion, said inclined planar portions being inclined at mating angles relative to to each other to nestably, abuttingly engage to thereby help prevent movement of said pair of restraining bars relative to each other;

said mating angles further forming an angle when said restraining bars are abuttingly engaged which is not perpendicular to a longitudinal plane extending between said elliptical outer end portions;

means on at least one of said pair of said bracket members and cooperable with said one of said certain of said slats for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting said pair of said bracket members and said restraining bars toward and away from each other along said certain of said slats; and

said means comprising a locking member being manually moveable between a closed and open position for locking and unlocking said at least one of said pair of said bracket members at a position along said certain of said slats.

3. An article carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket member includes means forming a pocket, said locking member being disposed in said pocket.

4. An article carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking member has a wall portion with an upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of said bracket member and a base portion at one end of said wall portion.

5. An article carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said inclined planar portions of said restraining bars has a relative smooth, continuous surface exclusive of recesses and cavities.