Abstract: A ladder for a vehicle having a top surface vertically elevated to a height not easily accessible to a person, which ladder is capable of being integrated into elements of an adjustable and removable article carrier or a slat of a slat-type article carrier, comprising a pair of side members spanned by steps or braces having upper securement elements or retainers at one end of the side members insertable into engagement with the article carrier and lower securement elements, such as suction cups, engageable with the side of the vehicle to secure the ladder in place.

Abstract: A vehicle luggage carrier is disclosed which includes a plurality of four stanchion members located one at each of the four corners of the luggage carrier; each of the stanchion members comprises upper and lower stanchion parts which may be fabricated of the same or different materials and which are secured to the associated vehicle roof by fastening elements which extend generally vertically downwardly through the stanchion parts into the roof surface. A utility bar may be associated with laterally aligned pairs of stanchion members and be secured to the rack by means of the same fastening elements securing the upper and lower stanchion parts to the vehicle surface.

Abstract: An article carrier is mounted on an exterior automobile body surface. The carrier utilizes special decorative slats for supporting the weight of luggage or the like and also as a means for mounting cross bars, ski racks or tie-down members and similar article securing devices on the automobile body. The devices mounted on the slats are easily removed, interchanged or adjusted in position on the slats in accordance with the needs of the user.

Abstract: An automobile luggage carrier having spaced side members and spaced cross members in which the carrier is supported at the front and rear corners on stanchions and in which the stanchions form part of the carrier and are firmly secured to the roof of an automobile and including illuminating means provided in certain or all of the stanchions to illuminate the area of the carrier and facilitate its use in the dark. Such illumination, either direct or reflective, would be highly visable to oncoming traffic and would contribute to the safe loading or unloading of the carrier in the dark.

Abstract: A luggage or article carrying system for operative association with an automotive vehicle having an exterior generally horizontal surface, such as a trunk lid or roof, the system comprising a pair of elongated slats on the surface in respective positions on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the body and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, the slats being permanently secured to the body and being substantially rectangular in the vertical cross section with a width substantially greater than the height and presenting a low profile on the vehicle, the tops of the slats being substantially flat and parallel to the horizontal surface and providing longitudinally extending channels by which a pair of laterally extending cross slats may be secured their opposite ends to the longitudinally extending slats, the cross slats being adapted to underlie articles supported on the carrier so as to obviate the need for supplemental reinforcement of the vehicle trunk lid or roof, wit

Abstract: A vehicle luggage carrier is disclosed which includes a plurality of four stanchion members located one at each of the four corners of the luggage carrier; each of the stanchion members comprises upper and lower stanchion parts which may be fabricated of the same or different materials and which are secured to the associated vehicle roof by fastening elements which extend generally vertically downwardly through the stanchion parts into the roof surface. A utility bar may be associated with laterally aligned pairs of stanchion members and be secured to the rack by means of the same fastening elements securing the upper and lower stanchion parts to the vehicle surface.

Abstract: An automobile wind deflector assembly comprising a blade mounted on an automobile body by a pair of mounting brackets. The blade has at least one pair of alignment flanges and a pair of attachment flanges. Each mounting bracket has at least one flange cooperable with one of said blade alignment flanges and a mounting flange cooperable with one of said blade mounting flanges. The fasteners securing the brackets to the vehicle and the blade to the brackets are all obscured from view, providing the wind deflector blade with a smooth contoured outer surface uninterrupted by fasteners or the like while also providing a construction wherein the brackets can be mounted on the vehicle and then the blade mounted to the brackets. A pad may also be set between the bracket and the vehicle surface, which may have further alignment flanges to align said blade in cooperation with additional alignment flanges extending from the blade. The blade attachment flanges may comprise one set of the additional alignment flanges.

Abstract: A luggage carrier assembly is disclosed herein which is of the type adapted to be detachably secured to the roof or similar horizontally extending surface of an automotive vehicle or the like, the carrier assembly comprises a pair of spaced parallel article constraining members, such as crossrails or utility bars, and a pair of stanchion elements are associated with each end of each of the members; each of the stanchion elements is adapted to be secured to the roof of the associated vehicle by means of a generally vertically extending stud-like member having a lower end portion which is adapted for detachable engagement with a mounting device on the surface of the vehicle, with the upper ends of the stud-like members being cooperative with annular wheel-like members which may be manually grasped to move the stud-like member between engaged and disengaged relationship with the mounting devices on the vehicle, whereby the carrier may be selectively secured upon the vehicle surface and be conveniently removed th

Abstract: A license plate frame assembly is disclosed as consisting of a one-piece frame member which may be fabricated of a molded plastic material, a die stamped metal or the like. The frame is of a generally rectangular configuration and has a frontal wall that provides a decorative face which may be provided with a hot stamped complementary decorated surface. The frame member also includes rearwardly projecting outer enclosure walls and is adapted to be connected to an associated license plate and support bracket by having recesses formed along the rearward side of the upper and side sections of the frame member slipped or slid onto the upper and side edges of the associated license plate and support bracket in an envelope-like manner. The recesses may be formed by integral tabs formed on the rearward side of the outer enclosure walls.

Abstract: A container having a plurality of open-topped receptacles for supporting loaded shopping bags in an upright position. The container is particularly adapted for supporting loaded shopping bags during transportation thereof in a vehicle and comprises: a box which is movable between a first position and a second position and which has open-topped receptacles, each one of which is adapted to receive and support a loaded shopping bag in an upright position; and means for supporting the box between the first and second positions in a vehicle.

Abstract: An article carrier is mounted on an exterior automobile body surface. The carrier utilizes special decorative slats for supporting the weight of luggage or the like and also as a means for mounting cross bars, ski racks or tie-down members and similar article securing devices on the automobile body. The devices mounted on the slats are easily removed, interchanged or adjusted in position on the slats in accordance with the needs of the user.

Abstract: A speed responsive wind deflector comprises a flexible cantilever vane that is attached along one edge to a cross bar mounted on the roof of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: An automobile luggage carrier having a plurality, preferably for mounting receptacles permanently attached to the roof of the automobile to which other different types of primary luggage carriers may be selectively attached. For example, heavy-load utility bar assemblies may be attached to carry heavy loads, such as a boat, crate or large box; or standard luggage carrier assemblies may be attached to carry lighter and less bulky loads, such as travel cases, smaller boxes and the like.

Abstract: A luggage carrier assembly is disclosed herein which is of the type adapted to be detachably secured to the roof or similar horizontally extending surface of an automotive vehicle or the like, the carrier assembly comprises a pair of spaced parallel article constraining members, such as crossrails or utility bars, and a pair of stanchion elements are associated with each end of each of the members; each of the stanchion elements is adapted to be secured to the roof of the associated vehicle by means of a generally vertically extending stud-like member having a lower end portion which is adapted for detachable engagement with a mounting device on the surface of the vehicle, with the upper ends of the stud-like members being cooperative with annular wheel-like members which may be manually grasped to move the stud-like member between engaged and disengaged relationship with the mounting devices on the vehicle, whereby the carrier may be selectively secured upon the vehicle surface and be conveniently removed th

Abstract: A luggage carrier mounted on the exterior surface of an automobile body surface is particularly adapted for the removable attachment thereto of conventional pieces of personal luggage which in turn have been modified so that they may be readily and dependently secured on the carrier but may be easily removed for their customary use as personal pieces of luggage. Further, the construction and arrangement of the luggage are such that personal luggage of different sizes may be accommodated with equal security for all luggage.

Abstract: An automobile luggage carrier having spaced side members and spaced cross members in which the carrier is supported at the front and rear corners on stanchions and in which the stanchions form part of the carrier and are firmly secured to the roof of an automobile and including illuminating means provided in certain or all of the stanchions to illuminate the area of the carrier and facilitate its use in the dark. Such illumination, either direct or reflective, would be highly visable to oncoming traffic and would contribute to the safe loading or unloading of the carrier in the dark.

Abstract: An article carrier mounted on a generally flat exterior surface of an automotive vehicle and consisting of a plurality of spaced parallel slat assemblies which are fabricated, for example, of roll-formed sheet metal and are provided with fastening elements, such as tie-down members, having a body that is located at least in part within the interior of the slats; the slats being formed with openings which provide access to the fastening elements in order that containers, ropes, straps, or similar article securing devices may be cooperable with the elements in securing articles to the article carrier.

Abstract: A tie down assembly for use in a luggage carrier system having two or more slats which are fixedly secured to an exterior horizontal surface of a vehicle and which are permanently attached thereto and adapted to have ancillary article constraining members removably and adjustably secured thereto, comprising a slat, having a channel formed by its interior surfaces, a rotatable integral tie down element comprising a loop portion, an annular portion, and a threaded bolt, and a slidable plate operably fitting within said channel and detachably engageable with said a threaded bolt to detachably secure and immobilize said tie down element to said slat.