Patent ID: 7513730

Claim:
A rack for a vehicle roof, comprising: a pair of horizontal support frame members rigidly mounted to the roof of the vehicle; a pair of traveling support arms, each of the traveling support arms releasably engaging a respective one of the horizontal support frame members; a cargo carrying rack for supporting equipment, the cargo carrying rack being slidably mounted on the pair of traveling support arms; a pair of horizontal cargo carrier arms, said cargo carrying rack being mounted on the pair of horizontal cargo carrier arms; a first rod mounted to, and extending between, the pair of horizontal cargo carrier arms, the first rod being positioned between respective rear ends of the pair of horizontal carrier arms; a second rod mounted to, and extending between, the pair of horizontal support frame members; and at least one hook member pivotally mounted on the second rod, the at least one hook member selectively engaging the first rod to releasablv and selectively lock the first rod to the second rod; a lower axle pivotally mounted to, and extending between, respective lower ends of said pair of traveling support arms; a pair of rear support arms, each of the rear support arms having opposed forward and rear ends, the rear end of each of the rear support arms being pivotally mounted to said lower axle adjacent a respective one of said traveling support arms; and a pair of forward support arms, each of the forward support arms having opposed forward and rear ends, the rear end of each of the forward support arms being pivotally joined to the forward end of a corresponding one of the rear support arms, the forward end of each of the forward support arms being slidably mounted to a respective one of said horizontal cargo carrier arms; wherein a user controls the lowering and raising of the traveling support arms and the cargo carrying rack, whereby the user may easily load or unload the equipment onto the cargo carrying rack and control lifting of the cargo carrying rack to safely and securely store the equipment on the roof of said vehicle.