Abstract: A bicycle carrier adapted to be secured to an article carrier portion of an existing vehicle article carrier so as to carry the bicycle supported thereon in a vertical orientation over a liftgate of a vehicle, and normal to an outer surface of the liftgate. The bicycle carrier includes a wheel supporting member for engaging one wheel of a bicycle when the bicycle is placed in a vertical orientation. A frame supporting assembly engages a portion of the frame to hold the bicycle to the bicycle carrier. The bicycle carrier permits a single individual to load and unload a bicycle from the bicycle carrier without being required to lift the bicycle up onto the roof of a vehicle. Since the bicycle is supported at an angle generally normal to the liftgate, visibility through the rear window of the liftgate is also improved when a bicycle is being supported on the bicycle carrier.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier includes a pair of laterally spaced apart siderails. A pair of crossbars are removeably coupled to the siderails. Each crossbar is operable in a first or stowed mode axially aligned with a siderail and in a second or carrying mode laterally spanning the space between the side rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier apparatus having bracket assemblies that include a locking mechanism requiring no independent springs or biasing elements. The bracket assemblies are secured to opposite ends of a cross bar member and each of the bracket assemblies are coupled to a respective support rail secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. Each bracket assembly generally includes an actuating lever and a locking clamp that are each pivotable between closed and open positions. When the actuating lever is placed in the closed position, interaction between the actuating lever and the locking clamp forces the locking clamp closed and maintains the locking clamp in the closed position. When the actuating lever is moved from the closed position to the open position, the interaction between the actuating lever and the locking clamp permits the locking clamp to open and disengage the support rail.

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 roof includes a roof panel having at least one longitudinal side, an upward extending bead integrally formed along the longitudinal side, at least one claw fixedly attached to the bead, and at least one cross member attached to and extending from the claw, across an upper surface of the roof panel. The bead preferably extends along a substantial length of the longitudinal side, and includes an inward relief formed therein to enable attachment of the claw. A roofliner may also be fixedly attached to and run across a lower surface of the roof panel. The vehicle roof, and roofliner preferably define a prefabricated unit.

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: Vehicle roof of an automobile such as a sedan or the like, with a top panel (2), a longitudinal beam (8) along each side of the vehicle serving as the connecting element between the top panel (2) and the side panels or side-wall posts (4-7), and a roof rail (3) protruding from the top panel (2) along either side of the vehicle for fastening top carrier cross members or similar elements. The longitudinal beam (8) and the roof rail (3) together constitute an integrated single-unit module (9) made from the same material.

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: Described is a vehicle roof for a passenger car or the like with a roof panel (1), whose longitudinal edges (2) can each be fastened to a frame side rail (3) of the roof frame of the vehicle body. On this vehicle roof it is provided according to invention, that the roof panel (1), on the longitudinal edge of each side, carries a leg (4) of an angle sheet (5) in a permanent fitting arrangement for additional support and for a fastening arrangement onto the frame side rails (3) of the roof frame and that its respective other leg (6) can be fastened to one of the frame side rails (3).

Abstract: A vehicle roof assembly includes a roof panel having longitudinal edges, each of which define a rim, structural bars disposed within and running along at least a portion of the rims, and frame rails running along at least a portion of each of the longitudinal edges. The rims abut the frame rails, and the structural bars are fixedly attached to the frame rails. Preferably, the rims are glued to the frame rails. The structural bars each include a web portion disposed between a contact surface abutting the roof panel, and a contact surface abutting the frame rails. Top-carriers including top-carrier cross braces are selectively attachable to the roof panel, and the structural bar. A roof liner is attached to a bottom surface of the roof panel, and an intermediate layer of plastic foam is disposed between the roof liner and the roof panel.

Abstract: A roof component adapted to be secured to a vehicle body which includes a pair of roof rails secured to a roof module such that the roof component forms a single piece component. The roof module, in one embodiment, includes a openings for receiving therethrough each outermost end of each roof rail. The outermost ends are secured to separate body pillars of the vehicle body. The roof rail is secured by welding, adhesives or by threaded fasteners to the roof module. The roof component thus forms a modular component of the vehicle and eliminates the need for attaching the roof rail components in a subsequent manufacturing step after the assembly of the vehicle is completed.

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.