Patent ID: 9694756
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B60R

Claim:
1. A ladder rack comprising: a first assembly and a second assembly configured to be mounted on a top of a vehicle, the first assembly and the second assembly being operatively coupled to a connecting rod, wherein the first and second assemblies are configured to move between a first, raised position and a second, lowered position, an extension rod coupled to a drive rod of the first or second assemblies; an elongated handle secured to the extension rod, the elongated handle being configured to aid in the raising and lowering of the first and second assemblies; wherein each of the first and second assemblies comprises: a support member configured to be fixedly secured to the vehicle, the support member having a first end and a second end; a load carrying member configured to be slideably engaged with the first end of the support member; an actuation member having a first and a second end, the first end of the actuation member being connected to the drive rod, the second end of the actuation member being connected to the load carrying member, the actuation member being configured to enable the load carrying member to move with respect to the support member; and the drive rod being coupled to the connecting rod; wherein the ladder rack system further comprises a coupler for securing the elongated handle to the extension rod, the coupler interacting with the extension rod to limit the rotation of the handle when the first and second assemblies move between the first, raised position and the second, lowered position; and wherein the first assembly further comprises a downwardly extending arm attached to the load carrying member and configured to lower the first assembly from the second, lowered position to a third, fully extended position.