Patent ID: 8387842

Claim:
A cargo box comprising a box having opposing lateral sides, a bottom portion and a lid portion pivotally connected to the bottom portion along each of the lateral sides, the box being equipped with clamp devices configured for clamping the box to a pair of crossbars on top of a vehicle, and a hinge/latch system that permits opening of the lid portion on each of the lateral sides of the box, the hinge/latch system including a hinge/latch assembly on each lateral side of the box, each hinge/latch assembly having a plurality of hinge/latch devices mounted along one of the lateral sides of the box, a bar connecting the hinge/latch devices, and a handle located outside the box for controlling substantially synchronized release and engagement of the hinge/latch devices, wherein the handle is operatively connected to the bar via a driver assembly including a bar driver that surrounds the bar, the bar driver having a tab projecting perpendicular to a bar rotational axis, the tab being driven to rotate around the bar rotational axis in response to rotational movement of the handle around a handle rotational axis, the handle rotational axis being substantially perpendicular to the bar rotational axis.