Patent ID: 11912240
Assignee: JAC PRODUCTS, INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 17:
18. A vehicle article carrier system for carrying articles elevationally above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the system comprising:
first and second support rail assemblies fixedly supported on an outer body roof surface parallel to one another, the first support rail being secured adjacent a first side of the vehicle, and the second support rail being secured adjacent a second side of the vehicle;
a front cross bar configured to be secured in a stowed position on the first support rail assembly, and in an operative position extending parallel between the first and second support rail assemblies and secured at its opposing ends to the first and second support rail assemblies;
a rear cross bar configured to be secured in a stowed position on the second support rail assembly, and in an operative position extending perpendicularly between the first and second support rail assemblies and secured at its opposing ends to the first and second support rail assemblies;
each of the first and second support rail assemblies including:
a metallic main rail portion having an L-shape when viewed endwise;
the L-shape having a vertical wall portion and a horizontal shelf portion; and
the vertical wall portion having a height generally equal to an upper surface of its associated said front or rear cross bar when its associated said front or rear cross bar is positioned in the stowed position, such that said front cross bar rests behind the vertical wall portion of said first support rail assembly when placed in the stowed position, and the rear cross bar rests behind the vertical wall portion of the second support rail assembly when placed in the stowed position;
the horizontal shelf portion supporting said front and rear cross bars above the outer body surface such that a clearance exists between a lower surface of the metallic main rail portion and the outer body surface of the vehicle;
the horizontal shelf portion of the first support rail assembly having a length approximately equal to a width of the front cross bar, and the horizontal shelf portion of the second support rail assembly having a width approximately equal to a width of the rear cross bar; and
the horizontal shelf portions are positioned in a common horizontal plane; and

wherein each of said first and second support rail assemblies includes a main rail portion forming a single piece stretch formed rail including a central section and integrally formed, curving, opposing end portions, and wherein the curving, opposing end portions are configured to be secured via external fasteners to the outer body roof surface of the vehicle, and are visible along an entire length thereof when viewed from a side of the vehicle.