Article carrier comprising slotted side rail with slidable cross-rail and bracket therefor

A slotted side rail and cross-rail receiving bracket for association with an article carrier, such as a luggage carrier, is disclosed. A slidable cross-rail is supported between a pair of cross-rail receiving brackets and is movable with the brackets. Each bracket includes a disc for locking the bracket anywhere along the length of an associated side rail. The disc prevents unintended loosening of the bracket and resultant movement of the bracket along the side rail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
The present invention pertains to a slotted side rail configuration which 
receives an adjustable bracket. More particularly, the present invention 
pertains to a slotted side rail and an adjustably positionable bracket 
associated therewith for vehicle-related article carriers. Even more 
particularly, the present invention concerns a side rail configured to 
receive an adjustably positionable bracket for vehicle-associated luggage 
racks. 
II. Prior Art 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,454 discloses a luggage rack employing a movable 
cross-rail releasably interconnected at its ends to a pair of spaced apart 
longitudinal rails. The cross-rail ends are releasably interconnected to 
the longitudinal rail by means of a slide block slidingly retained in a 
recess within the longitudinal rail. A threaded fastener passes through an 
aperture in a cross-rail support and threadingly engages an aperture 
formed in the slide block. Tightening the fastener forces the cross-rail 
support against a wall of the longitudinal rail to retain the support in a 
fixed position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,180 discloses a cross-rail movable 
along a side rail and releasably attached thereto. A recess spaced in from 
an end of the cross-rail is formed to be slidingly received by a 
longitudinal opening formed along an inside wall of the side rail. The 
cross-rail is threaded inward from the recess to threadingly engage a 
rotatable collar. Tightening of the collar forces the collar against the 
inside wall of the side rail to retain the cross-rail. 
Both of the above listed United States Patents disclose a means for 
releasably locking the cross-rail to the side rail by pinching or 
squeezing a wall of the side rail. The present invention, as will be 
disclosed more fully hereinbelow, urges a key into abutment with a wall of 
a track formed in the side rail to lock the cross-rail in position. The 
present invention employs the bracket of U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,335, as well 
as those disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 015,327, 
filed Feb. 26, 1979, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by 
reference. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a slotted side 
rail configured to receive an adjustably positionable bracket for an 
article carrier, wherein the bracket is locked or prevented against 
unintended movement. The slotted side rail hereof gnerally comprises: 
(a) an elongated member including an inside wall and an upper wall; 
(b) a slot formed along the inside wall of the rail and configured to 
slidingly receive an adjustably, positionable bracket; and 
(c) an interior wall for locking engagement with the bracket. 
The side rail may, also, include: 
(a) a rub strip receiving projection along the upper wall of the rail; 
(b) a rub strip engageable with the rub strip engaging projection; and 
(c) a stanchion engaging recess formed at the ends of the side rail. 
The bracket hereof generally comprises: 
(a) means for variably and adjustably positioning the bracket along the 
slot provided in the side rail; 
(b) an inner section interconnected to the positioning means; 
(c) a locking means for locking the bracket in position; and 
(d) means for receiving a cross-rail. 
The stanchion hereof generally comprises: 
(a) a bottom wall mounted to and conforming to the vehicle surface; 
(b) a vertical structure having one open side and a front and rear wall 
curving gently toward the rail, tapering to a narrowed top; and 
(c) a rail engaging projection extending from the top portion of the 
stanchion to slidingly engage and support an end portion of the side rail. 
An opposed pair of stanchions support the rail longitudinally along a 
surface of the vehcile. 
The inner section of the bracket may, optionally, include an opening 
through which is laced a tie-down strap or the like. 
As contemplated by the practice of the present invention, the bracket 
hereof comprises a slide plate or base adapted to be slidingly disposed in 
a slot formed in the side rail. 
The bracket locking means hereof, preferably, includes a key or wedge which 
is threadably secured to a rotatable disc and which extends through the 
positioning means. As the disc is rotated in a first direction, the key is 
urged into engagement with the interior wall of the side rail to lock the 
bracket in position. Rotation of the disc in a counter or second direction 
disengages the key from the wall to permit movement of the bracket. 
For a more complete understanding of the present invention reference is 
made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing. In 
the drawing like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the 
several views, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawing and, in particular, FIGS. 1-3, there is depicted 
therein a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In accordance 
herewith, there is provided a vehicle body section 10 having an article 
carrier 12 disposed and affixed thereon. The article carrier depicted in 
the drawing may comprise a plurality of optional slats 14. The slats 14 
are, generally, longitudinally extending members which are affixed to the 
vehicle body by any suitable mode, such as threaded fasteners (not shown) 
or the like. 
As defined by the present invention, the article carrier 12 comprises at 
least one side rail 16 adapted to receive a cross-rail receiving bracket 
18 in accordance with the present invention. An inner surface 22 of the 
side rail 16 is provided with bracket receiving means 24. The bracket 
receiving means 24 comprises a channel 26. The channel or track 26, in a 
preferred embodiment, includes a longitudinal slot 28 formed substantially 
along the extent of the inner surface of the side rail. The slot 28 is in 
registry with and opens up into an enlarged guide path 30. The guide path 
is coextensive with the slot 28. The guide path 30 includes an interior 
wall 32 which defines a seat for the bracket 18 in a manner to be 
described subsequently. The junction between the slot 28 and the guide 
path 30 is defined by a pair of opposed, inwardly directed shoulders 34,36 
respectively. The shoulder 36 is integral with a top wall 23, and the 
shoulder 34 is integral with a bottom wall 25. The top and bottom walls 
are integral with an outer wall 27 which encloses the side rail to form an 
integral structure. A flange 29 projects horizontally inward from the 
outer wall 27 and supports the interior wall 32 along the inside end 
thereof. As will subsequently be described, the wall 32 and the shoulders 
34,36 cooperate to retain the bracket 18 in a fixed position when the 
bracket is placed in a locked position. A rub strip receiving projection 
51 comprises a horizontal flange 53 joined to the rail upper wall by a 
narrow neck 55. A rub strip 57, which, comprises an arcuate upper surface 
and a recess 59 complementary to the rub rail receiving projection 51, is 
adapted to envelope the projection 51 to hold the rub strip in place. 
The side rail 16 further comprises means for limiting the longitudinal 
movement of the bracket 16 in the track 26. For example, the limiting or 
stop means can comprise a stanchion 20 journalled onto one end of the side 
rail 16. It should be noted that the side rail 16 can comprise a formed 
sheet metal member, a solid or hollow interior extrusion or the like, as 
desired. The criticality to be attached to the side rail is that it be 
provided with the longitudinally extending channel 26. 
Where used, each stanchion 20, generally, comprises a bottom wall 
conforming to and mounted to the vehicle surface. A front and rear wall 
extend upward from the bottom wall, curving gently toward the rail and 
tapering toward the upper portion thereof. A projection at the top of the 
bracket is journalled into an opening or recess formed at each end of the 
rail. The recess defines a support for an associated stanchion. 
As heretofore noted, the side rail 16 receives the bracket 18. The bracket 
18 generally, comprises: 
(a) a base section 44 for adjustably positioning the bracket along the 
extent of the track 26; 
(b) an inner section 46 integral with the base; and 
(c) means for selectively locking the bracket in position. 
The bracket hereof, also, comprises means 52 for detachably mounting an 
article carrier cross-rail 54 thereto. The inner sections may also 
comprise means 48 for receiving an article carrier tie-down strap or the 
like. 
With more particularity, the base section 44 is slidably movable in the 
track 26. Thus, the base section is configured to fit and slide in the 
track 26. Preferably, the base section includes an inner body 56 
analogously configured to, but being dimensionally slightly less than that 
of the guide path 30. This dimensioning enables the inner body 56 to be 
slid, with facility, along the length of the guide path. The body 56 can 
have other configurations as long as it can slide within the track. 
A shank 58 projects inwardly from the inner body 56 and is integrally 
formed therewith. The shank 58 is disposed substantially perpendicular to 
the inner body and centrally thereof. The shank 58 is coextensive with the 
inner section along the longitudinal extent thereof. The shank 58 has a 
width slightly less than that of the slot 28 and projects therebeyond, as 
shown. 
It is to be appreciated that the base defines means for variably adjustably 
positioning the bracket, per se, along the extent of the track. 
The inner section 46 is integrally formed with the base section 44 and is 
united therewith at the junction of the shank 58 with the lower end of the 
inner section 46. The inner section is substantially equal in length to 
the base. As shown in the drawing, the inner section has an irregular 
configuration any may include the means 48 for receiving an article 
carrier tie-down device. A projection 49 extending inward from the bracket 
provides the means for mounting a cross rail 54. 
Referring again to the drawing, as heretofore noted, in order to set the 
bracket in any position along the length of the associated side rail, the 
present invention further comprises means 50 for releasably locking the 
bracket 18 in position. The locking means 50 generally comprises a locking 
key 80 and a rotatable disc 82 threadably interconnected to the key. 
The key 80 is defined by a solid body 84 and a threaded shaft 86. The shaft 
86 has a threaded profile formed about the periphery thereof. The shaft 86 
is integrally formed with the solid body 84 and projects outwardly 
therefrom. 
The disc 82 has a central bore 88 passing through the center of the disc. 
The disc 82 is configured to be slidingly received by a frontal opening 72 
in the bracket 18 with portions of the periphery of the disc 82 projecting 
radially outward from the frontal opening 72. The internal periphery of 
the disc about the central bore 88 is provided with a threaded profile. 
The threaded profile of the shaft is complementary to that of the 
periphery of the bore 88. Furthermore, the diameter of the bore 88 is 
substantially equal to that of the shaft. Thus, the shaft and the bore 88 
cooperate to define means for threadably interconnecting the disc 82 and 
the key 80. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the lower body 44 has an inwardly directed recess 
forming a keyway 90 therein. The keyway has a height substantially equal 
to that of the body 84 to enable the body to nest therewithin. The keyway 
90 projects inward communicating with the frontal opening 72, thus 
providing a space through which the shaft 86 projects. This type of 
bracket is more particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,335. 
Optionally the disc 82 is ratcheted against rotation by means of a spring 
94 including a pair of legs 96, 97 biased into a plurality of openings 83 
formed radially in the disc 82. As shown in FIG. 3 a recess 93 formed in 
the frontal opening nestingly receives the spring 94. Above identified 
copending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 015,327 filed Feb. 26, 1979, 
discloses and more completely describes the ratcheted disc, and is hereby 
incorporated by reference. 
The locking mechanism functions by implacing the bracket in the slot and 
sliding same to the desired position. Thereafter the disc is rotated in a 
first direction. Rotation of the disc urges the key outward into 
engagement with a wall 32 of the track guide path 30. This action wedges 
and locks the lower body between the bottom wall 32 and the opposed 
shoulders 34, 36. Rotation of the disc in the opposite direction against 
the detent withdraws the key into the keyway, thereby releasing the key 
from engagement with the bottom wall 32. Thus, the bracket is free to be 
slid in the track. When the shaft 86 and the disc 82 have been assembled 
and implaced in the track, the disc and shaft are trapped in the bracket 
and cannot be disassembled. 
Referring again to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 4 wherein there 
is illustrated at 100 another embodiment of the bracket of the present 
invention. As illustrated in FIG. 4 a rotatable disc 102 is offset from a 
cross-rail receiving projection 104 which lowers the profile of the 
bracket. A shaft 106 projecting outward from the disc is rotatably 
supported by a bore 108 interiorly of the bracket. A groove 110 formed in 
the shaft and a rivet 112, aligned to engage the groove, cooperate to 
rotatably retain the rotatable disc 102. A threaded bore (not shown) 
formed in the shaft threadingly engages the threaded shaft 86 of the key 
80. Rotation of the disc 102 in a first direction urges the key 80 into 
engagement with a wall of the side rail to retain the bracket in position, 
and rotation of the disc 102 in a counter direction releases the bracket 
for movement along the side rail. 
It should also be noted that other wedging arrays can be used with equal 
efficacy. For example, the base 44 can be urged into engagement with the 
shoulders via a screwjack effect between the disc and the base to thereby 
close up the bracket about the shoulders 34,36. This variation is within 
the scope hereof. 
It is to be appreciated that there has been described herein a slotted side 
rail with a bracket supported slidable cross-rail for an article carrier 
that can be readily locked in any desired position in a slot formed in the 
side rail. No unauthorized movement of the bracket is permitted without 
the hand rotation of a disc mounted in the bracket for locking and 
unlocking the bracket.