Patent ID: 6216928
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An article carrier for a vehicle having a generally horizontally extending exterior body surface, the article carrier comprising:a pair of spaced side rails mounted on the exterior body surface and extending longitudinally along the vehicle, each side rail having a longitudinally extending interior cavity formed therein of a predetermined cross section, the interior cavity opening exteriorly through the side rail;a cross rail extending laterally between the pair of side rails;a pair of stanchions, each extending from opposite ends of the cross rail and slidably engagable with the longitudinal interior cavity in the side rails through the opening therein;latch means, disengagingly coupled between each stanchion and each side rail, for selectively and adjustably latching each stanchion to each side rail in one of a plurality of spaced positions along the length of each side rail; andbiasing means, coupled between each of the stanchions and the side rails, for simultaneously normally moving the cross rail, the pair of stanchions and each latch means in a first transverse direction to a latch position in which the latch means fixedly engages each side rail, and wherein a manual lateral force on one of the cross rail and the stanchions in a second transverse direction opposite from the first direction overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means and moves the latch means to an unlatch position in which the latch means is disengaged from each side rail to permit longitudinal movement of the cross rail with respect to the pair of side rails.