Patent ID: 8074851

Claim:
A car top carrier comprising a box having opposing lateral sides, a top, a bottom, a front end, and a rear end, the bottom having a floor, the floor having an inner surface and an outer surface, the top and the bottom being connected via a hinge mechanism, strut members connecting the top to the bottom on the front and rear ends of the box to assist in holding the box open, a plurality of preassembled clamp devices mounted to the floor configured to secure the box to a pair of crossbars on top of a vehicle, each clamp device including first and second jaw portions moveable relative to each other and from the outer surface of the floor defining a curved opening for receiving a crossbar, each clamp device further including a corresponding tightening mechanism mounted on the inner surface of the floor for controlling movement of corresponding jaw portions relative to each other on the outer surface of the floor between open and closed positions, the tightening mechanism including a threaded member connected to a screwable handle located inside the box, screwing rotation of the handle causing adjustment of the opening between the jaw portion.