Patent ID: 6131782
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An article carrier assembly for installation on a generally upwardly facing exterior surface of a motor vehicle, said article carrier assembly comprising:a pair of elongated side rails constructed and arranged to be mounted on the exterior surface of the motor vehicle in spaced apart and generally parallel relation to one another;an elongated cross rail assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted transversely with respect to said side rails in an operative position;each of side rails having a longitudinally extending recessed groove positioned and configured such that said grooves face generally inwardly towards one another when said side rails are mounted on the motor vehicle exterior surface;said cross rail assembly having a locking assembly comprising a pair of locking structures and a pair of rail supporting structures, each of said locking structures and said supporting structures being disposed at opposing end portions of said cross rail assembly;said locking structures being movable between (1) unlocked positions wherein said locking structures are disengaged from said side rails to allow said cross rail assembly to be moved longitudinally along said side rails through a range of operating positions and (2) locked positions wherein said locking structures are engaged with said side rails to releasably lock said cross rail assembly in a selected one of said range of operating positions;said supporting structures being movable between (1) extended positions wherein said supporting structures extend into said grooves to prevent said cross rail assembly from being moved generally upwardly out of said operating position thereof and (2) retracted positions wherein said supporting structures are withdrawn from said grooves to allow general upward movement of said cross rail assembly out of said operative position thereof and removal from said side rails;said locking assembly further comprising (a) a manually actuable knob accessible from one side of the vehicle when said cross rail assembly is mounted transversely with respect to said side rails, and (b) a pair of linking members each operatively connecting said knob with an associated one of said locking structures;said knob being turnable in (1) a locking direction to cause linking members to push said locking structures into said locked positions thereof and (2) in an unlocking direction to cause said locking structures to be moved to said unlocked positions thereof, thereby allowing longitudinal movement of said cross rail assembly along said side rails through said range of operating positions;said locking assembly being movable by turning said knob in said locking and unlocking directions thereof between (1) a locked position wherein said locking structures are in said locked positions thereof and said supporting structures are in the extended positions thereof, (2) an adjusting position wherein said locking structures are in said unlocked positions thereof and said supporting structures are in said extended positions thereof, and (3) a release position wherein said locking structures are in said unlocked positions thereof and said supporting structures are in said retracted positions thereof, thereby allowing general upward movement of said cross rail assembly out of the operative position thereof and removal of said cross rail assembly from the side rails.