Patent ID: 8096454

Claim:
A vehicle article carrier system for use on an outer body surface of a vehicle to removably support articles above the outer body surface, the system comprising: a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface generally parallel to one another, and extending along a major longitudinal axis of the vehicle; said support rails each including a first attachment point and a pair of second attachment points; at least one cross bar having dimensions sufficient to extend between the support rails when the support rails are secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle; said cross bar having: a central portion; a pair of end supports at opposite ends of said central portion; each said end support having a portion that is hingedly secured to its respective end of said central portion for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal pivot axis, and moveable between a first position substantially parallel with said central portion, and a second position extending non-parallel to said central portion such that said central portion is elevated above said end supports; each said end support including an attachment component adapted to extend into said first attachment points of said support rails when said cross bar is in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between said support rails; and said attachment components of said end support adapted to engage at said pair of second attachment points on one of said support rails when in a non-operative position so as to be stowed closely against and generally parallel to said one support rail.