Abstract: A clamp for use with a cross bar of an existing vehicle article carrier to allow accessory vehicle article carrier components to be secured to the cross bar. The clamp includes a base portion and a clamp element hingedly coupled to the base portion. A locking assembly allows the clamp element to be secured to the base portion without any external tools. The locking assembly includes an over-center locking lever which can be pretightened before being moved from an unlatched into a latched position to thus allow a pre-tightening force to be applied to the clamp element. The clamp element also includes a C-shaped channel for receiving a tap plate or other similar component associated with an accessory article carrier component.

Abstract: An article carrier for a motor vehicle having a cross bar with a pair of end supports at each end, where each end support can be simultaneously locked or unlocked by lifting an actuating member of either end support. A principal advantage of the construction of the end supports is that the actuating member thereof can be urged between its locked and unlocked positions without protruding significantly from the end support, and therefore without requiring a significant degree of clearance between the end support and the outer body surface of the vehicle. Thus, the cross bar can be placed closer to the outer body surface of the vehicle while still allowing the actuating member of each end support to be articulated between its locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: An article carrier adapted to hold cargo and other articles adjacent a liftgate of a vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle, a station wagon, or minivan. The vehicle article carrier includes a liftgate striker connectable to the liftgate of the vehicle and a bumper striker connectable to the bumper of the vehicle. A first link is pivotally connected to the roof support structure of the motor vehicle and a second link is pivotally coupled to the first link. A locking assembly is coupled to the second link and is operable in a closed position to couple the second link to the bumper striker. In an opened position, the locking assembly releases the bumper striker in response to contact from the liftgate striker to enable the quick and convenient raising of the liftgate without the need to first unlatch the article carrier from the bumper.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier specifically adapted for use on a roof of a cab of a pickup truck. The vehicle article carrier includes a slidably extendable article carrier sub-system which allows the overall length of the vehicle article carrier to be effectively increased to better support elongated items such as bicycles, kayaks, canoes and virtually any other item having a length such that would make it awkward to support on an otherwise conventional article carrier assembly having a longitudinal length short enough to be secured to the roof of the pickup truck.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier adapted for use with outer body surfaces of a vehicle that are curved or non-parallel to one another. The article carrier includes a pair of non-linear slats that are secured in spaced apart relation to one another on the outer body surfaces. A cross bar supporting assembly has a pair of connecting members that support a cross bar at its outermost ends. The connecting members are secured to slider members, and the slider members are adapted to be secured to the slats. The connecting members are secured to the outermost ends of the cross bar and each have bores that enable the outermost ends to be gradually received therewithin as the cross bar is moved along portions of the slats where the distance between the slats decreases, thus effectively shortening the cross bar. Conversely, this coupling enables the length of the cross bar to be effectively lengthened to accommodate increases in the distance between the slats.

Abstract: An article carrier adapted to hold cargo and other articles adjacent a liftgate of a vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle, a station wagon, or minivan. The article carrier includes a pair of supports which are fixedly secured to the roof of the vehicle. A cargo supporting structure having a pair of upper coupling links is pivotally and releasably coupled to the supports. The cargo supporting structure includes a pair of main support members which each include a pair of pivot assemblies. The cargo supporting structure is detachably and pivotally secured to a pair of anchor assemblies attached to the liftgate of the vehicle or the bumper of the vehicle. The three pivot points along each side of the cargo supporting structure enable it to be pivoted with the liftgate when the liftgate is lifted and closed such that the article carrier does not interfere with operation of the liftgate. The entire article carrier can be quickly and easily detached from the vehicle for storage when it is not needed.

Abstract: A clamp for use with a cross bar of an existing vehicle article carrier to allow accessory vehicle article carrier components to be secured to the cross bar. The clamp includes a base portion and a clamp element hingedly coupled to the base portion. A locking assembly allows the clamp element to be secured to the base portion without any external tools. The locking assembly includes an over-center locking lever which can be pretightened before being moved from an unlatched into a latched position to thus allow a pre-tightening force to be applied to the clamp element. The clamp element also includes a C-shaped channel for receiving a tap plate or other similar component associated with an accessory article carrier component.

Abstract: A bed extender apparatus adapted for use with a pickup truck bed to functionally enlarge the useable cargo area within the truck bed when a tailgate is in a lowered position. The bed extender includes a center wall which is pivotably mounted to an inner surface of the tailgate, and which can be pivoted into an upright position once the tailgate is moved into a lowered position. A pair of end walls are pivotably secured to opposite ends of the center wall. Each end wall can be pivoted out to a position extending perpendicular to the center wall once the center wall is in its raised or operative position. Each of the end walls can then be secured to an associated one of the vertical walls of the pickup truck bed. A principal advantage of the bed extender is that the end walls and center wall each include a plurality of members which, when the end walls are folded against the center wall, form an extremely compact arrangement which takes up virtually no appreciable cargo space within the pickup truck bed.

Abstract: An article carrier adapted to hold cargo and other articles adjacent a liftgate of a vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle, a station wagon or minivan. The article carrier includes a pair of supports which are fixedly secured to the roof of the vehicle. A cargo supporting structure having a pair of upper coupling links is pivotally and releasably coupled to the supports. The cargo supporting structure includes a pair of main support members which each include a pair of pivot assemblies at upper and lower ends thereof. The pivot assemblies at the lower end of the cargo supporting structure are detachably secured to a pair of anchor assemblies attached to the liftgate of the vehicle. The three pivot points along each side of the cargo supporting structure enable it to be pivoted with the liftgate when the liftgate is lifted and closed such that the article carrier does not interfere with operation of the liftgate.

Abstract: A bed extender apparatus for use with a truck bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck. The bed extender includes a center wall having a pair of uprights at opposite ends thereof. A pair of end walls are pivotably coupled to the uprights and can be folded down over the center wall when the bed extender is not in use, or attached to sidewalls of the truck bed to place the bed extender in a bed extending configuration. The center wall is secured to an inside surface of a tailgate of the vehicle by a pair of mounting assemblies. The mounting assemblies allow the bed extender to be quickly slidably detached from the truck bed when not needed. The bed extender can also be installed within the truck bed to provide an article restraining function.

Abstract: A cargo supporting apparatus adapted to be used within a bed of a pickup truck. The apparatus includes a frame which is pivotally mounted to a longitudinal sidewall of the bed such that it can be moved between a stowed position and an operative position. In the operative position the frame extends generally horizontally from the sidewall of the bed. A pivot assembly is used to support the frame in its operative position. A locking assembly is operatively associated with the pivot assembly for holding the frame in its operative position. The locking assembly also includes a user actuatable lever. The actuatable lever can be used to unlock the locking mechanism such that the frame can be pivoted from its operative position into its stowed position. The frame includes a plurality of openings which each have a cargo carrying element such as a net or flexible bag.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system having an elongated siderail which can be configured in a first configuration as a slat of the system or in a second configuration as a siderail of the system. The elongated support rail requires no modification before same can be used in either a slat-based or a siderail-based vehicle article carrier system. Either configuration can be used to support one or more cross bars and conventional bracket assemblies directly on the support rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier apparatus having a pair of elongated support rails which are used to support a pair of bracket assemblies of a cross bar thereon. Each of the support rails form a channel and include a pair of flanges which extend inwardly towards each other and towards a bottom wall of the support rail. A tap plate is disposed within the channel and includes a pair of angled edge portions. The angled edge portions are formed at angles which allow them to rest flush against the flanges when the tap plate is urged into a locked position. This arrangement prevents the support rail from being distorted in the event the tap plate is slightly overtightened. It also provides an extremely secure clamping arrangement when a bracketed member is in a locked orientation on its associated support rail.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier specifically adapted for use with a pickup truck. The article carrier includes a pair of elongated roof rails adapted to be fixedly secured to an outer body surface of the vehicle. Each roof rail has a first portion having a length adapted to extend over the roof of a cab portion of the vehicle, and a second portion adapted to extend down along the rear of the cab portion. A cross member is secured between the second portions of the roof rails. At least one clamping assembly is included which can be clamped to the cross member. The clamping assembly has a pair of posts which are adapted to support the outermost ends of the tines of the front fork of a bicycle once the front wheel of the bicycle is removed. The bicycle can thus be supported in an upright position within the bed of the pickup truck without external fastening cords. The vehicle article carrier further does not take up any appreciable cargo space within the bed area when it is not in use.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier apparatus for carrying a bicycle in an upright orientation within a cargo area of a vehicle such as a minivan, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. The apparatus includes a generally U-shaped or V-shaped, elongated lower rail which is fixedly secured to a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle. An upper U-shaped or V-shaped rail is slidably disposed on the lower rail. The lower rail includes a first pair of rollers and the upper rail includes an additional pair of rollers which cooperate to enable smooth sliding movement of the upper rail along the lower rail. A mechanism disposed on the upper rail is adapted to engage the front fork of a bicycle when the front wheel is removed and the remainder of the bicycle is placed on the apparatus. The rear wheel of the bicycle fits within the upper rail so that the bicycle can be held securely in an upright position once its front fork is secured to the upper rail.

Abstract: A multi-position, articulating, vehicle article carrier apparatus for use with various types of vehicles such as sport utility vehicles, station wagons, minivans, etc. The apparatus includes a pair of side rails which are adapted to be fixedly secured to a roof portion of a vehicle. A pair of articulating mechanisms allow a cargo supporting structure coupled thereto to be disposed over a liftgate of the vehicle and secured to latching assemblies mounted in a rear bumper of the vehicle. The articulating mechanisms maintain the cargo supporting structure fixedly secured against movement when the cargo supporting structure is in a lowered position over the liftgate. When the cargo supporting structure is lifted into an intermediate position, each of the articulating mechanisms automatically unlock, thus allowing the entire cargo supporting structure to be urged into a position over the roof of the vehicle. Upper locking assemblies allow the cargo supporting structure to be secured fixedly on top of the vehicle.

Abstract: An adaptor for securing a slat of a vehicle article carrier to an outer body surface of a vehicle without the need for drilling holes through the outer body surface. The adaptor comprises a main body portion having a channel formed along the entire length thereof. The channel has a cross-sectional shape which is designed to match the shape of an upwardly protruding lip portion formed within a roof ditch of the vehicle, such that the adaptor can be slid over the upwardly extending metal lip portion and thus attached thereto. At least one threaded bore is provided in the adaptor for enabling a slat to be secured thereto by an external threaded fastening element. A second threaded bore is included for enabling a set screw to be used to secure the adaptor to the metal lip portion so as to prevent sliding movement of the adaptor within the roof ditch. The adaptor thus allows a slat to be secured over a roof ditch without the need for drilling any holes in the roof of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier which enables a degree of adjustable spacing of the support members used to support a cross bar while preventing the generation of wind noise which might be otherwise caused by wind entering through openings in the support members while the vehicle is moving. The vehicle article carrier includes front and rear cross bar assemblies which are mounted on a pair of slats. The slats may be disposed such that they converge slightly. At least one bracket member of one of the cross bar assemblies includes an elongated slot formed therein and a neck portion of the support member. The neck portion receives one end of one of the cross bars and enables the cross bar to move inwardly or outwardly of the neck as needed, such as when the cross bar is repositioned on a pair of slats which are mounted on a vehicle such that they converge slightly.

Abstract: A blow molding method for use with tubular metal work pieces. The method involves placing a tubular metal component part into a molding tool having an internal molding cavity and at least one access passageway into which the component is inserted. The molding tool is then heated to a temperature between about 1000° F. and 1200° F. and a high pressure gas is injected into the tubular component. The high pressure gas causes the portion of the work component residing within the internal mold cavity of the molding tool to expand and assume the shape of the internal molding cavity. After a cooling period, the component is removed from the molding tool. The process is particularly well suited for forming the end support portions of side rails used with vehicle article carriers, but can be used to form a wide variety of complexly shaped forms from tubular metal workpieces.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier having a pair of side rails each including a channel, and an adjustable cross bar disposed between the side rails, wherein the cross bar includes structure for eliminating binding of the cross bar when same is moved along the side rails. The cross bar includes a pair of guide wheel assemblies disposed at opposite ends of a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly is secured to one outermost end of the cross bar. The guide wheel assemblies reside within the channel of the side rail and prevent binding of the structure of the bracket assembly that resides within the channel of the side rail as the cross bar is moved along the side rails and becomes non-perpendicular to the side rails. The guide wheels are disposed generally horizontally and do not perform any load bearing function, but rather enable the bracket assemblies to be moved easily along the side rails without binding.