Abstract: A one piece end support for use with a cross bar of a vehicle article carrier system. The one piece end support may have a hollowed out neck portion adapted to receive an end of a cross bar. A hollowed out intermediate portion is provided which extends non-parallel to, but is integrally formed with, the neck portion. A flange portion is adapted to be secured to a support rail of the vehicle article carrier system. The flange portion may be integrally formed with the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system that may have a pair of support rails and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have an end support at each opposing end thereof. Each of the support rails may include an elongated recess extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, where the elongated recess may be shaped generally in accordance with the cross bar, for receiving the cross bar when the cross bar is placed in a stowed orientation. Each of the support rails may further have at least one primary locking bar for supporting said cross bar in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and at least a pair of secondary locking bars for supporting the cross bar in said elongated recess when the cross bar is placed in the stowed orientation in one of the support rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier apparatus for supporting articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle that has a pair of support rails fixedly secured to the outer body surface. Each support rail may have at least one structural feature in a wall portion thereof. At least one cross bar having a pair of end supports may be supported on the support rails. At least one of the end supports may have a pivotally mounted locking lever and a pivotally mounted locking member operatively coupled together. The locking member may have an element adapted to engage the at least one structural feature in the support rail. Structure associated with each of the locking lever, a housing of the end support, and the locking member cooperate to prevent the locking lever from being moved into a seated position in a recess of the housing if the end support is not aligned with the structural feature in the support rail.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier adapted to be mounted to an outer body surface of a motor vehicle. The carrier has a pair of cross bars that can each be stowed on corresponding pairs of support elements when the cross are not needed for use without the need to completely detach either of the cross bars from their associated support elements. A rear one of the cross bars has a single sided release feature that enables both end supports at opposite ends of the rear cross bar to be simultaneously unlocked or locked from a rear pair of support elements from either end support. The rear cross bar can also be slidably positioned along the rear pair of support elements to better configure the cross bars to support variously sized articles thereon.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system is adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system may include a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports may also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system includes a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar has end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system having a pair of swingable cross bars. The cross bars can be placed in a first configuration in which they extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. They can easily be released and re-secured in a different configuration wherein they take the form of low profile side rails. A particular advantage is that when the cross bars are moved into their positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of the cross bars is raised to an elevated position. This provides additional clearance above the outer body surface for articles being supported on the cross bars.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system incorporating at least one single sided release cross bar assembly. The cross bar assembly includes first and second end support assemblies. Detachment or adjustable positioning of the cross bar assembly is made by a user engaging a locking element in a first one of the end support assemblies and moving a cross bar of the cross bar assembly linearly, telescopically slidably into a second one of the end support assemblies. This causes a release of tension provided by a biasing element in the second end support assembly, thus enabling the entire cross bar assembly to be removed from the side rails. The single biasing element in the second cross bar assembly provides a constant tension on latching elements mounted in each of the first and second end support assemblies, which maintain each of the assemblies in locking engagement with the side rails.

Abstract: A bed divider apparatus for use in a bed of a pickup truck. The divider apparatus includes a frame that supports first and second parallel disposed divider members each in the shape of a panel. The divider members are secured to one another so that one of the divider members is slidable relative to the other. A pair of user engageable fastening members can be used to secure the second divider member at a desired height relative to the first divider member. The frame is secured by end supports to a pair of tracks that are mounted on inside walls of the pickup truck bed. Thus, the divider apparatus can be positioned at various points along the lengths of the tracks. The apparatus enables larger cargo items to be restrained within the bed, while still enabling elongated items such as lumber planks, tubing, etc. to be supported on the full length of a floor of the bed without interference from the divider apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system for use on an outer body roof surface of a vehicle to removably support articles above the outer body roof surface. The system may use a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface generally parallel to one another. The system may also include at least one cross bar having a pair of end supports. Each support rail may include a decorative cover and metallic support element, with the decorative cover being positioned over the metallic support element, and secured thereto, to at least substantially cover the metallic support element. The metallic support element may include at least one aperture at each opposing longitudinal end thereof that allows the support rail to be secured to the outer body roof surface at only its opposing longitudinal ends, and to use pre-existing fastening elements mounted in the outer body roof surface as attachment points for the support rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system having at least one single side releasable cross bar. The cross bar includes end support assemblies at opposite ends thereof. Each end support assembly includes a pivotally mounted locking member which can be locked and unlocked relative to an associated side rail. Both of the locking members can be locked and unlocked by a user manually engaging one of the locking members and pivotally moving it into an unlocked position. This causes simultaneous pivoting movement of the locking member at the opposite end of the cross bar so that both the locking members are simultaneously locked and unlocked from their respective side rails. When in the unlocked position, the cross bar can be lifted directly off of the side rails, thus eliminating the need for any disassembly of the side rails when the user desires to remove the cross bar entirely from the side rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system employing a pair of support rails adapted to be secured to the sidewalls of a bed of a pick-up truck. Attached to the sidewalls are a pair of tie-down assemblies that can be fixedly secured at various points along each of the support rails. A load bar assembly is also included that can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the tie-down assemblies. When the load bar is not in use, the tie-down assemblies can be used in connection with external bungee cords, nylon straps or other fastening implements to help restrain articles within the bed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system that may have a pair of support rails and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have an end support at each opposing end thereof. Each of the support rails may include an elongated recess extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, where the elongated recess may be shaped generally in accordance with the cross bar, for receiving the cross bar when the cross bar is placed in a stowed orientation. Each of the support rails may further have at least one primary locking bar for supporting said cross bar in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and at least a pair of secondary locking bars for supporting the cross bar in said elongated recess when the cross bar is placed in the stowed orientation in one of the support rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system is adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system may include a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar may have end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports may also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system employing a pair of support rails adapted to be secured to the sidewalls of a bed of a pick-up truck. Attached to the sidewalls are a pair of tie-down assemblies that can be fixedly secured at various points along each of the support rails. A load bar assembly is also included that can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the tie-down assemblies. When the load bar is not in use, the tie-down assemblies can be used in connection with external bungee cords, nylon straps or other fastening implements to help restrain articles within the bed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system for use on an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system may have a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface. At least one cross bar having a pair of end supports extends between the support rails. Each end support has a housing and a rotatable locking component secured to the housing for rotatable movement. One of the housing and the rotatable locking component has a biased implement projecting therefrom, and the other has a plurality of structural elements arranged in a circumferential pattern. The biased implement engages with at least one of the structural elements to provide an additional holding force to the rotatable locking component when the rotatable locking component has been tightened.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a vehicle article carrier having a single side release crossbar assembly. The crossbar assembly includes a trigger style, horizontally arranged actuating lever that simultaneously locks and unlocks a pair of locking pins at opposite ends of the crossbar assembly from their respective support rails. The support rails are fixedly secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle such that the crossbar assembly is supported above the outer body surface. The single side release feature eliminates the need for the operator to walk back and forth to both sides of the vehicle to unlock and lock the crossbar assembly when the crossbar assembly needs to be repositioned on the support rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier apparatus and method incorporating a single side releasable crossbar assembly. In one embodiment the crossbar assembly includes a pair of end supports that each includes an actuating member. In one embodiment the actuating member is formed by a pivotally mounted actuating lever. In another embodiment the actuating member is formed by a rotationally mounted, trigger style actuating member. In either embodiment, the actuating member is movable between locked and unlocked positions. Each end support also includes a locking pin having a pivot wheel carried thereon. A cable is entrained around the pulley wheel of each locking pin, and the ends of the cable are coupled to the actuating members. Either actuating member can be used to simultaneously lock and unlock the locking pins of both end supports from a pair of support rails on which the cross bar assembly is supported.

Abstract: A mounting system for supporting solar panel cells above a support surface. The system may have a frame including a plurality of frame sections that are secured to a solar panel cell. At least one of the frame sections may include a pair of walls forming a first channel for receiving an edge portion of the solar panel cell, and a second channel spaced apart from the first channel. The second channel may have a curving inner wall. The at least one frame section may also have a base portion. The mounting system may also include a mounting bracket having a pair of flanges and forming a third channel therebetween. One of the flanges of the third channel may form a curving flange. The curving flange and the second channel of the frame section may cooperatively secure the frame section and the mounting bracket together.

Abstract: A grounding system for a solar panel system having a plurality of solar panel cells. The system may have an electrically conductive first frame section adapted to be secured to a first solar panel module having a first channel, the first frame section also having a hole that opens into the first channel. An electrically conductive second frame section is adapted to be secured to a second solar panel module which has a second channel, the second frame section also having a hole that opens into the second channel. An electrically conductive grounding splice member is positioned in the first and second channels. A pair of electrically conductive fasteners is disposed in the holes of the first and second frame sections and engages the electrically conductive grounding splice member, to electrically and mechanically couple the first and second frame sections together.