Patent ID: 6179179
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
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 side rails adapted to be secured to said outer body surface and disposed generally parallel to one another along said outer body surface, each said side rail having a channel extending along at least a major portion of the length thereof:a cross bar having a length substantially sufficient to span the distance between said side rails;a support bracket assembly disposed at each end of said cross bar, at least one of said support bracket assemblies including:a base having a portion adapted to be secured to one outermost end of said cross bar; anda guide wheel assembly operably associated with said base and adapted to be disposed within an associated one of said channels of said side rail, said guide wheel assembly comprising at least one wheel mounted for generally horizontal rotational movement relative to said base at an outermost end of said base, the rotational movement of said wheel being disposed against either opposing interior wall surface of the channel so as to prevent binding of said cross bar when said cross bar is moved along said side rails.