Abstract: An article carrier is described. The article carrier comprises a pair of side rails, an extendable article carrier, and at least one cross rail. The pair of side rails are affixed to a vehicle roof The extendable article carrier is adjustably positioned between the pair of side rails from a stowed position on a vehicle roof, to an extended position from the vehicle roof, and to a deployed position about a rear hatch. The extendable article carrier includes a first and a second pair of slider rail sections that are intermediately connected by a first pair of hinges, respectively. The extendable article carrier includes a third pair of slider rail sections. The second pair of slider rails and the third pair of slider rail sections are intermediately connected by a second pair of hinges. The first, second, and third pair of slider rail sections slide about a channel that is integrally formed in each of the side rails.

Abstract: A movable running board system which includes a running board which is supported by a movable under carriage. The movable under carriage is coupled to a motor wherein the motor is capable of moving the running board between a fully extended position and a retracted position. The motor is coupled to a motor controller which receives a signal from a door position switch. When the door position switch indicates that the vehicle door is opened, the motor controller commands the motor to manipulate the running board to a fully extended position. Once the vehicle door is closed the door position sensor sends the "closed door" signal to the motor controller which, then in turn, commands the motor to retract the running board into the retracted position.

Abstract: An article carrier assembly for a vehicle roof includes a pair of side rails adapted for attachment to the vehicle roof, each side rail forming an inboard edge portion or a series of indexing holes. In one embodiment, a latch on a stanchion includes tie loops for securing articles on one assembly with rope. The latch lever includes a distal end portion engageable with the inboard edge portion or with the indexing holes for securing the stanchion with respect to the side rail. The latch lever is pivotally secured to a foot portion of the stanchion which includes spring portions compressible against the side rails to prevent rattles. In another embodiment, a hook portion of the latch compressibly engages a resilient side rail portion to create a clamping action to immobilize the stanchion on a trim rail and reduce rattles.

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: A utility bar assembly for attachment to a roof rack, including an elongated utility bar, at least two clamp assemblies detachably engageable with the roof rack, at least two fastening devices for connecting the clamp assemblies to the utility bar. Optional support blocks may also be provided for positioning and supporting the utility bar on the roof rack.

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 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: 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: 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: An improved article carrier includes an article rack, a support and a mount. A pivot joint for displacing the support with respect to the mount provides access to the rear of the vehicle without removing the carrier. Preferably the carrier bracket guides the displaceable support and includes the pivot joint that permits the support to displaced with respect to the mount. The carrier also includes a latch for releasably overlapping a portion of the bracket to retain the support in an upright, load bearing position. The latch is responsive to an actuator carried at the top of the rack. An actuator preferably comprises a handle preferably in the form of a rotary handle, positioned atop the support. A rotary knob carrying an elongated threaded rod positions the clamping jaw of the latch. In one version, the clamping jaw is pivoted into and out of overlapping relation with a flange on the bracket.

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: 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

Abstract: An article carrier includes spaced longitudinal rails, at least one of the rails having an upper arm coupled by a hinge to a lower arm. A crossbar having an end portion adapted to be entrained between the upper and lower arm portions includes a conformingly shaped mating surface to one of the members of the longitudinal rail. Preferably, both ends of each crossbar include conforming surfaces that mate with corresponding configurations on the rail to fixedly position the crossbar along the longitudinal rail. The position of the crossbar is easily adjusted by opening the upper member of the longitudinal rail by displacement about the hinge, and the hinge axis may be transversely, longitudinally or vertically aligned as desired. Preferably, two upper arms are provided on a longitudinal rail, hinged at opposite ends of the longitudinal rails, and include overlapping portions retained by a single latch mechanism.

Abstract: A crossbar and article carrier are provided, the crossbar having stanchions at each end thereof. Each stanchion has a first jaw member affixed thereto and a second jaw member pivotally coupled thereto. The second jaw member includes a thumbwheel and stem, the stem having a cam follower surface thereon. The stanchion includes a ramped surface with a detent for receiving and locking the cam when the thumbwheel is rotated. In this manner, the crossbar may be detachably mounted to the longitudinal side rails. The design and location of the jaws and thumbwheel provide for easy attachment and detachment of the crossbar rail. The design of the second jaw member further provides mechanical advantage for clamping the first and second jaw members over a lip protruding from the side rails.

Abstract: The crossbar for an article carrier including a pair of side rails, each of the side rails having a lip, includes a bar having first and second ends for supporting the bar across the side rails. At least one of the ends includes a movable jaw and a fixed jaw, each jaw having a jaw surface engageable with the rail lip. The crossbar also includes a clamp for selectably urging the jaw surfaces against the rail, the clamp comprising a threaded stem carried by the movable jaw and extending through a slot in the fixed jaw. 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. Preferably, an actuator wheel for the clamp is exposed for access and ease of manipulation but within the contour of adjacent luggage carrier surfaces.