Patent ID: 8251267

Claim:
A vehicle article carrier for supporting articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a pair of rear support elements fixedly secured to said outer body surface adjacent a rear portion of said outer body surface; a pair of forward support elements fixedly secured to said outer body surface adjacent a forward portion of said outer body surface; a rear cross bar pivotally attached at a second end to a second one of said rear support elements, and removably attached at a first end thereof to a first one of said rear support elements; a forward cross bar having a first end pivotally secured at a first one of said forward supports elements, and removably attached at a second end thereof to a second one of said forward support elements; said second end of said forward cross bar being movable from a position attached to said second one of said forward support elements, wherein said forward cross is positioned in an operative position extending between the pair of forward support elements, to a position wherein said first end of said forward cross bar is attached to said first one of said rear support elements such that said forward cross bar assumes a stowed position; said first end of said rear cross bar being movable from a position attached to said first one of said rear support elements, wherein said rear cross bar is positioned in an operative position extending between said rear support elements, to a position wherein said first end of said rear cross bar is attached to said second one of said forward support elements such that said rear cross bar assumes a stowed position; wherein one of said forward and rear cross bars is longitudinally positionable and securable at a plurality of predetermined, spaced apart locations along said rear support elements; wherein one of said forward and rear cross bars includes a pair of pivotally mounted locking members and structure that enable its first and second ends to be simultaneously locked and unlocked through pivoting motions of said pivotally mounted locking members; wherein said ends of said first and second cross bars that are pivotally movable are pivotally secured to their respective ones of said support elements in a fashion that prevents removal from their respective said support element; and wherein each of said rear support elements includes a plurality of longitudinally aligned, spaced apart securing loops for engaging with portions of said pivotally mounted locking members when said rear cross bar is in an operative position and secured to said rear support elements.