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

Claim 0:
1. 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 assembly being secured adjacent a first side of the vehicle, and the second support rail assembly being secured adjacent a second side of the vehicle;
a first 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 to the first and second support rail assemblies;
a second 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 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 sufficient to extend at least to an upper surface of its associated said first or second cross bar when its associated said first or second cross bar is positioned in the stowed position, to thus hide said first or second cross bar;
the horizontal shelf portion supporting said 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;
wherein the first cross bar, when in the stowed position, is not visible when viewing the first support rail from the first side of the vehicle, and the second cross bar is not visible, when in the stowed position, when viewing the second support rail assembly from the second side of the vehicle; and

wherein each of the first and second support rail assemblies includes a stretch formed main rail portion having a central portion and gradually curving end portions integrally formed with, and extending from opposing sides, of the central portion, and where the curving 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.