Patent ID: 6050467
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An article carrier assembly for mounting on an exterior surface of a motor vehicle, said article comprising:a pair of elongated side rails constructed and arranged to be mounted on an exterior surface of the motor vehicle, said side rails extending generally parallel to one another in a spaced apart relation, each of said side rails having opposing longitudinal ends, a longitudinally extending groove, and a longitudinally extending resiliently deformable gripping structure disposed in said groove; andan elongated adjustable cross rail assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted transversely between and releasably lockable along said side rails in an infinite range of operating positions between the opposing longitudinal ends of said side rails, said cross rail assembly having rail locking structures mounted on opposite ends thereof for selectively engaging a respective one of said gripping structures, andan actuator assembly ganging said rail locking structures together for cooperative movement thereof between locked positions wherein the rail locking structures engage and compress the gripping structures to lock said cross rail assembly in one of said infinite range of operating positions and unlocked positions wherein the rail locking structures disengage the gripping structures to permit longitudinal travel of said cross rail assembly along said side rails.