Abstract: An article carrier apparatus for a vehicle includes a cross rail interconnected to an exterior surface of the vehicle, a heat sink positioned within the cross rail, and a light source positioned within the cross rail. The light source is thermally connected to the heat sink such that the heat sink will absorb at least a portion of the heat generated by operation of the light source. The cross rail will structurally support an article attached to the exterior of a vehicle.

Abstract: An article carrier includes a cross member rollingly engaging a pair of longitudinally extending side rails. The cross member has rollers that engage the side rails for reducing the amount of effort required to move the cross member along the side rails. A cross member lock mechanism is also disclosed having three distinct modes of operation: automatically re-locking, manually re-locking, and locked.

Abstract: An article carrier assembly is partially recessed into a recessed roof panel joint channel. The article carrier assembly side rail is attachable to the vehicle roof panel, and includes a track and an outboard corner portion. A retainer includes a foot portion slidably disposed within the track for supporting the retainer on the side rails. A latch comprises a lever pivotally connected to the retainer for indexing the retainer at discrete positions along the side rail. A trim rail pad is secured with respect to the side rail, and extends from the outboard corner portion into the joint channel in a manner to substantially hide the side rail therebehind when viewed from a position alongside the vehicle. Alternative embodiments for the trim rail pad and latch are provided.

Abstract: An article carrier assembly is partially recessed into a recessed roof panel joint channel. The article carrier assembly side rail is attachable to the vehicle roof panel, and includes a track and an outboard corner portion. A retainer includes a foot portion slidably disposed within the track for supporting the retainer on the side rails. A latch comprises a lever pivotally connected to the retainer for indexing the retainer at discrete positions along the side rail. A trim rail pad is secured with respect to the side rail, and extends from the outboard corner portion into the joint channel in a manner to substantially hide the side rail therebehind when viewed from a position alongside the vehicle. Alternative embodiments for the trim rail pad and latch are provided.

Abstract: An article carrier for a motor vehicle comprises a stanchion latch operator for a stanchion that supports the end of a crossbar on a side rail of the luggage carrier. The stanchion latch operator comprises a stanchion body having a side rail jaw a crossbar holder and latch chamber. The latch body fits within the latch chamber and includes a button flange as well as a lever with a hooked end. A pivot mount supports the latch body in the latch chamber about a pivot axis and is biased toward a latched position by a spring. The latch body includes a cam surface meeting with a shoulder on an upper chamber to displace the hooked end perpendicular to the pivot axis as the button flange is pivoted about the pivot axis.

Abstract: An article carrier for mounting to a vehicle body panel is formed by a crossbar connecting longitudinal rails. The crossbar is made of a cross rail and stanchions which support the cross rail for displacement along and locking engagement with the longitudinal rails. The split stanchions are formed of first and second jaw members, and one of the jaw members is carried by a shelf on the other jaw member and displaced along the shelf by a retainer. The retainer is manipulated by an actuator, preferably in the form of a rotary knob which is selectively engageable with a nut. The nut is threadably engaged on a threaded shaft that is engaged in an insert in the one of jaw parts and extending through the other jaw part. At least one of the jaw parts includes an engagement surface for locking the stanchion to the rail when the retainer has moved the jaws to the closed position.

Abstract: An article carrier assembly is partially recessed into a recessed roof panel joint channel. The article carrier assembly side rail is attachable to the vehicle roof panel, and includes a track and an outboard corner portion. A retainer includes a foot portion slidably disposed within the track for supporting the retainer on the side rails. A latch comprises a lever pivotally connected to the retainer for indexing the retainer at discrete positions along the side rail. A trim rail pad is secured with respect to the side rail, and extends from the outboard corner portion into the joint channel in a manner to substantially hide the side rail therebehind when viewed from a position alongside the vehicle. Alternative embodiments for the trim rail pad and latch are provided.

Abstract: A cross bar used in roof luggage carriers for vehicles including a shaft having first and second threaded segments which are threaded in opposite directions relative to one another. A first pair of gripping jaws includes first gripping jaws which are threadedly engaged to the shaft. The first gripping jaw is threadedly engaged to the first threaded portion of the shaft and the second gripping jaw is threadedly engaged to the second threaded portion of the shaft. When the shaft is rotated, the first and second jaws move relative to one another thereby gripping or releasing a side rail placed there between. The gripping jaws are adapted to slide on the shaft thereby allowing them to float independent of a second pair of gripping jaws located along the same shaft. Thus, the cross bar of the present invention can be used to accommodate vehicles having non-parallel side rails.

Abstract: An article carrier assembly for a vehicle body panel includes a pair of side rails adapted for attachment to the body panel, a pair of retainers engaging the side rails, and a cross rail extending between the retainers. Each of the pair of retainers includes a foot slidably disposed within the side rails, each foot forming a plurality of compression tubes therein for compressible engagement with the respective side rail to prevent rattles. The side rail assembly includes a roll-formed inner side rail for receiving the retainer and a roll-formed outer side rail secured to stand-off ribs extending from a side rail center support. An alternative side rail assembly provides a roll-formed side rail supported by a pad having an internal snap hook formed thereon, and an outer trim rail having a resilient snap tab for engagement with the snap hook for securing the trim rail to the pad in a manner to prevent rattles.

Abstract: An article carrier including a pair of side rails, each of the side rails having a styled arm and a lip, also includes a crossbar having first and second ends for supporting the bar upon the lip of the side rails. The ends can be a manipulated retainer or a clamp assembly with a moveable jaw. At least one of the ends includes a clamp with a movable jaw and a fixed jaw, each jaw having a jaw surface engageable with the rail lip. Preferably, the crossbar clamp includes a threaded stem carried by the movable jaw and extending through an opening in the fixed jaw and one of the jaws has an extension protruding beyond the lip. The movable jaw is movable in a plane parallel to the rail lip and between a position in registration with the lip surface and a retracted position out of registration with the lip. The side rail includes support structure including ribs extending across the lip and the styled arm, and the support structure preferably receives the jaw extension beyond the lip.

Abstract: A latch actuator assembly for use with an article carrier stanchion is attachable to a vehicle side rail, the stanchion having a latch chamber. The actuator assembly comprises a latching member carried by the stanchion for selective engagement with the side rail, and an actuating member carried in the latch chamber by the stanchion and manually movable along an actuating direction from a latched position to an unlatched position. The actuating member is operatively connected with respect to the latching member for disengaging the latching member. The stanchion forms an offset recess having a ledge which enables the actuating member to be displaced in a direction offset from the actuating direction for engaging the ledge when the actuating member is in the unlatched position to secure the actuating member in the unlatched position. A removable door is provided adjacent the latch chamber to facilitate installation of the latch assembly within the latch chamber.

Abstract: A pick-up bed rail assembly for a truck box includes a pair of elongate rails which are mounted to the sides of a truck box. A telescoping cross member is received in each elongate rail and moves along the rails by means of a plurality of rollers positioned between the cross member and the rails. A locking mechanism is provided for securing the cross bar to the rails in order to prevent cargo theft. The locking mechanism includes a knob which is freely rotatable when the mechanism is locked.

Abstract: A rack mounting support adapted for use with hitchless vehicles. The mounting support has a mount in the form of a receiving member and a socket member wherein the receiving member is attached onto a vehicle's frame members to minimize reduction of a vehicle's ground clearance. The socket member and frame member are dimensioned to allow the frame member to remain securedly inserted within the socket member and facilitate a person to attach the frame member to the socket member without having to simultaneously support the frame member.

Abstract: A utility rack is provided for attachment to a vehicle luggage carrier. The utility rack includes a utility rail with first and second stanchions secured to the rail. Each stanchion includes an upper bracket and a lower bracket pivotally secured with respect to each other by a pivot joint. Each lower bracket includes a clamp for attachment to a crossbar of the luggage carrier. Each pivot joint includes an adjuster, preferably, a gear tooth interlock between the upper and lower brackets, in order to secure the upper and lower brackets at desired pivotal positions with respect to each other to facilitate attachment to sloping luggage carrier crossbars. Preferably, the utility rail extends laterally beyond the side rails of the luggage carrier to facilitate carrying larger or bulkier loads.

Abstract: A latch for removably securing one of a plurality of different accessories to an automobile is described. The latch includes a mounting structure which is permanently installed on the vehicle in a manner which assures that the static and dynamic loading expected by reason of the differing accessories are supported by the vehicle. The latch also provides electrical feed-through for accessories that might need the same, and remote and/or locking securance.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to an automotive vehicle hitch rack and more particularly to a drawbar coupler that provides a connection to a tow hitch on an automotive vehicle. The coupler comprises a drawbar which interfaces with the tow hitch to provide opposed overlapping surfaces, and a tightener which applies force to maintain the opposed overlapping surfaces together. The invention significantly reduces play between the drawbar and the tow hitch.

Abstract: An article carrier for attachment to an automobile rooftop including a pair of luggage roof rails rhine to the rooftop, each roof rail having at least one detent disposed therein, an elongated crossbar having a first end and a second end, a pair of support members for slidably connecting the crossbar to the roof rails, one of the pair affixed to the first end of the crossbar and the other of the pair connected to the second end of the crossbar each support member including, a track follower on the support slidably engaging the track, a latch for releasably positioning the support member along the track at the at least one detent, the latch having a protrusion and a protrusion support that selectively positions the protrusion in a recessed position wherein the support member is freely slidable along the track, and a latched position wherein the protrusion is urged toward engagement with the at least one detent for securing the support at a fixed position along the track, means for resiliently urging the protru