Abstract: A roof rail 10 for a vehicle article carrier, the roof rail consisting of a rail portion 12 and a pair of end supports 14. The end supports 14 or 14′ consist of the same metallic material as the rail portion 12 and are produced from bent tubular metal pieces, which are formed into the end supports 14 or 14′ by an internal high pressure forming process. The forming process does not require prior heating of the bent tubular metal pieces or the forming tool used in the forming process. The end supports (14) each have a neck portion (14a) which includes a connecting peg (16) and a clamping member (18), wherein the clamping member (18) is inserted into a longitudinal groove (20) in the connecting peg (14a) to functionally secure the neck portion to the rail portion (12).

Abstract: A roof rail for vehicles is described, having a strut (3), which is carried by at least two supporting feet (2), and having a fastening assembly, which is assigned to each supporting foot (2), for fastening it to a non-removable bearing structure (5) on the vehicle, such as a roof channel bottom (6), roof frame, bow or the like. The fastening assembly has a bolt (7) which is arranged on the supporting foot (2), and which is inserted through a hole (8) in the bearing structure (5) and is secured on the bearing structure (5) via a spring element of the fastening assembly. For the purpose of obtaining a simple installation having a snap lock, the bolt (7) to has a radial groove (9) and the spring element (10), which is arranged on the bearing structure (5) and which can be latched into the radial groove (9), to be provided as the fastening means.

Abstract: An asbestos-free friction material for brake linings and clutches comprising at least one binder and a reinforcing material, at least a portion of the reinforcing material being sepiolite in the form of short fibers.