Patent ID: 8789732

Claim:
A vehicle article carrier system for securing articles above an outer body roof surface of a vehicle, wherein the outer body roof surface includes a pair of roof ditches formed therein that extend generally parallel to one another along a major longitudinal length of the vehicle, the vehicle article carrier system comprising: a pair of support rails adapted to be secured to the outer body roof surface within respective ones of the roof ditches; at least one cross bar configured to be secured to the support rails to extend generally perpendicularly between the support rails, the at least one cross adapted to support articles thereon above the outer body roof surface; each one of said pair of support rails being formed from a stamping process and including: a bottom wall; a pair of sidewalls extending from the bottom wall; an upper wall extending from the pair of sidewalls; a cross bar mounting portion extending from at least one of the sidewalls and the upper wall, the cross bar mounting portion forming a structural component to which a portion of the cross bar may be attached to support the cross bar in an operative position; at least the bottom wall and portions of the sidewalls being formed with a cross sectional shape in close accordance with a cross sectional shape of its respective said roof ditch to nest within its respective said roof ditch; and a fastener for securing the bottom wall to its respective said roof ditch, and wherein the cross sectional shape of the support rail and its nested mounting within its respective said roof ditch serves to enhance a structural strength of the outer body roof surface.