Patent ID: 7926685

Claim:
A vehicle article carrier system comprising: first and second support rails adapted to be secured adjacent a vehicle outer body surface generally parallel to one another; a tubular cross bar having first and second end support assemblies at opposite ends thereof; said first end support assembly having a housing with a first pivotally mounted locking member supported therein, said first pivotally mounted locking member being adapted to engage with said first support rail; said second end support assembly having a housing with a second pivotally mounted locking member supported therein, said second pivotally mounted locking member being adapted to engage with said second support rail; a cable coupled at a first end thereof to a portion of said first pivotally mounted locking member, and at a second end thereof to said second pivotally mounted locking member, and extending through said cross bar; said first end of said cable further being coupled to said first pivotally mounted locking member at a point thereon that enables said cable to be pulled through said cross bar as said first pivotally mounted locking member is moved from a locked position to an unlocked position, to thus simultaneously urge said second pivotally mounted locking member from a locked position to an unlocked position, said cable further being coupled to said second pivotally mounted locking member at a location on said second pivotally mounted locking member that causes simultaneous rotational movement of said second pivotally mounted locking member in a rotational direction opposite to that of said first pivotally mounted locking member; and wherein each of said first and second pivotally mounted locking members includes: a jaw portion that moves rotationally within a plane parallel to said cross bar to engage with its said respective support rail; a cable receiving portion integrally formed with each said locking member that enables an associated one of said first and second ends of said cable to be secured directly thereto without external fastening components; and wherein said first pivotally mounted locking member includes a groove formed in a surface thereof that receives the cable when said first pivotally mounted locking member is in the unlocked position, wherein the cable is not located in the groove when said first pivotally mounted locking member is in the locked position.