Patent ID: 8235264

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 adapted to be 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 plurality of 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 and moveable between a first position substantially parallel with said central portion, and a second position extending non-parallel to said central portion; each said end support including an attachment component adapted to extend into specific ones of said plurality of attachment points of said support rails when said cross bar is in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between said support rails, and such that said central portion is elevated above said end supports; and said attachment components of said end supports of said cross bar adapted to engage an associated one of said support rails when said cross bar is in a non-operative position, such that said cross bar is stowed closely against and generally parallel to said associated support rail.