Patent ID: 7806306

Claim:
A vehicle article carrier apparatus for supporting articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: first and second support rails secured fixedly to said outer body surface and parallel to one another, each of said support rails including at least one hole formed therein; a cross bar assembly having a pair of outer ends, and being supported by said support rails at said outer ends above said outer body surface for supporting articles thereon, said cross bar assembly including: a cross bar component having opposite ends; first and second end supports coupled to said opposite ends of said cross bar component; said first end support including a first locking pin and moveable between extended and retracted positions, relative to said first end support; said second end support including a second locking pin moveable between extended and retracted positions relative to said second end support, and when in said extended position being adapted to engage, said hole in said second support rail; said first end support including a circumferential opening; a trigger shaped actuating lever having a trigger portion, the trigger portion projecting into said circumferential opening and adapted to be engaged with at least one finger, and the actuating lever being pivotally coupled to said first end support and moveable within a horizontal plane relative to said first end support, said locking pin further being pivotally coupled to said actuating lever such that pivotal movement of said actuating lever in a first direction moves said first locking pin linearly into said extended position, wherein said first locking pin engages said hole in said first support rail to secure said first end support stationary relative to said first support rail, and wherein pivotal movement of said actuating lever in a second direction moves said first locking pin linearly into said retracted position to withdraw said first locking pin from said hole in said first support rail, to enable said first end support to be moved relative to said first support rail; a flexible, elongated cable for coupling said actuating lever with said second locking pin so that movement of said actuating lever enables both of said locking pins to be moved simultaneously between said retracted and extended positions; said first locking pin including a neck portion; and a spring disposed on said neck portion for biasing said first locking pin into said extended position, said spring being compressible when said first locking pin is moved into said retracted position by movement of said actuating member in said second direction.