Patent ID: 7815405
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A tie-down apparatus for use in a vehicle article carrier system employing at least one support rail supported from a portion of a vehicle, wherein the support rail has a channel, the apparatus comprising: a frame portion comprising a base portion and a tie-down portion; said base portion adapted to at least partially reside within the channel of the support rail and shaped to be slidably movable in the channel, but not able to removed from the channel in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support rail; said tie-down portion shaped to facilitate connecting to an independent tie-down element; a locking subsystem operably associated with said base portion for locking said frame portion at a desired position along said support rail; said locking subsystem including: wherein said locking element is housed at least partially within said base portion when said locking element is in said retracted position and said manually engageable release element is positioned in said first position.