Patent ID: 7503470
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A car top carrier comprising: a box having a lid and a bottom, a clamp device configured to attach the bottom of the box to a pair of crossbars on top of a car, one or more hinge devices releasably connecting the lid to the bottom, each hinge having a first portion secured to the lid, and a second portion secured to the bottom, the hinge being configured to permit pivotal rotation of the lid along an edge portion of the bottom, and being provided with a release mechanism so that the hinge device can also function as a latch allowing separation of the first and second portions of the hinge device in a release direction, wherein one of the first and second portions has a catch including a pawl mounted for rotational movement around an axis perpendicular to the release direction that is spring biased toward a constricted-passage position, and the other portion has an enlarged structure configured for receipt by the catch, and further wherein the pawl can be pushed aside by the enlarged structure upon entry but not upon exit of the catch, and wherein the enlarged structure is substantially spherical so that the hinge device permits the first and second portions to be mounted on various lid and bottom shapes.