Patent ID: 6112964
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle article carrier apparatus for supporting articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:a pair of slats adapted to be fixedly secured to said outer body surface;a cross bar;a pair of bracket members disposed at opposite ends of said cross bar for adjustably supporting said cross bar on said slats, one of said bracket members including an actuating member graspable by an individual;an elongated coupling member extending through an interior area of said cross bar and spanning between said bracket members;each of said bracket members including:a pivotably disposed locking member having a locking portion, said locking member further including a connecting portion for accepting and engaging with a portion of said coupling member;said locking portion of each said locking member pivotally engaging with its associated said slat when said locking members are in a locked position relative to their respective said slats; anda biasing member operably associated with at least one of said locking members for normally biasing both of said locking members into the locked position when no external force is being applied to said actuating portion of either locking member;wherein said actuating member of one of said bracket members is operably associated with at least one of said locking members to thereby rotate said one locking member into an unlocked position relative to its associated said slat when said actuating member is actuated by the individual, wherein rotation of said one locking member causes said elongated member to rotate the other one of said locking members substantially simultaneously into an unlocked orientation relative to its associated said slat; andwherein said biasing member causes both of said locking members to be simultaneously urged into locked positions relative to their respective said slats when said individual releases said one locking member.