Patent ID: 7370780

Claim:
A rack assembly for mounting to a vehicle, said rack assembly comprising: a rail secured between first and second stanchions; wherein said first stanchion comprises a base for connection to the vehicle and a cover releasably secured over the base, said cover having an interior surface with a loop extending therefrom, said loop having an inner leg, an outer leg, and a cross member, said cross-member joining a distal end of the inner leg to a distal end of the outer leg to thereby define a passage between the cross-member and the interior surface of the cover, and said base having an interior surface with a tongue extending therefrom, said tongue extending into the passage to help secure the cover to the base, wherein the passage extends in the direction of the rail, wherein the tongue is generally planar and has a beveled edge, and wherein the base further comprises a rear wall and a bottom wall with an opening formed therein, and wherein the tongue extends from the rear wall, over the opening.