Patent ID: 8678256

Claim:
A roof rack system for a vehicle roof comprising: first and second longitudinal tracks mountable to the roof substantially parallel to one another; first and second roof rack assemblies each having: a cross member configured to span between the longitudinal tracks; and first and second support modules operatively connecting the cross member to the first and second longitudinal tracks, respectively, such that each of the support modules establishes a four bar linkage with the cross member; wherein each of the support modules has first and second support arms pivotally connected to the cross member; a biasing member; a locking mechanism that is configured to lock one of the support arms to the cross member to hold the support modules in a collapsed position in which the cross member is substantially flush with the support modules, and is releasable to allow the biasing member to urge the support modules to a deployed position in which the cross member is spaced further above the longitudinal tracks than when in the collapsed position; wherein the support modules are slidable along the longitudinal tracks to adjust a fore-aft position of the cross member when in the deployed position; first and second sliding tracks pivotally connected to the respective first and second support arms and configured to be slidable along one of the longitudinal tracks; wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring connected to one of the support arms and one of the sliding tracks and configured to bias said one of the support arms to pivot away from said one of the sliding tracks, thereby urging the cross member away from said one of the longitudinal tracks to the deployed position and causing the sliding tracks to slide toward one another; wherein the locking mechanism includes a first notch and a second notch in one of the support arms and a selectively releasable latch member connected to the cross member; and wherein the latch member is in the first notch when the cross member is in the collapsed position and is in the second notch when the cross member is in the deployed position.