Patent ID: 8028875

Claim:
An article carrier apparatus for supporting articles above an outer body surface of a motor vehicle, the article carrier apparatus comprising: a first pair of support feet positionable on said outer body surface; a second pair of support feet positionable on said outer body surface; one of said first pair of support feet including a first pivot mechanism and one of said second pair of support feet including a second pivot mechanism; a pair of cross bars coupled via said pivot mechanisms to selected ones of said support feet; said cross bars being pivotally moveable via said pivot mechanisms into first positions extending generally parallel to one another, and parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle, so as to be supported at a first elevation; said cross bars further being pivotally moveable from said first positions into second positions in which said cross bars extend generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said vehicle, such that said cross bars are supported at a second elevation above said first elevation; and wherein each said pivot mechanism includes: a pivot member having a pivot pin arranged along a first direction, and pivotally coupled to a respective one of said support feet; a shaft coupling an end of a respective one of said cross bars to said pivot member, the shaft being arranged generally perpendicular to the pivot pin to permit a first pivoting movement of said respective one of said cross bars about an axis extending through the shaft only after a free end of said respective one of said cross bars has been lifted through a second pivoting movement to a predetermined position.