Patent ID: 8136709

Claim:
A rack for carrying skis or a snowboard comprising a pair of cross bars equipped for mounting on the roof of a vehicle, a pair of clamp devices, each clamp device having a base equipped for mounting on one of the crossbars, and a top portion, the base and top portion being connected by a hinge at one end, the base having a rigid part and at least one flexible inner strip member and the top portion having a rigid part and at least one flexible inner strip member that compliments the at least one flexible inner strip member of the base for cooperatively gripping skis or snowboards, wherein the hinge is expandable, wherein the at least one flexible inner strip member of one of the base and top portion at least partially forms a linear cavity, and the at least one flexible inner strip member of the other of the base and top portion is (a) directly connected to the rigid part of the other of the base and top portion and (b) completely received in the linear cavity when the clamp devices are not being used to carry skis or snowboards.