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 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 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 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 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 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 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: An adjustable hose-type clamping device fabricated entirely of a polymeric material, the device comprising an elongated flexible strap element having a thread form provided integrally along a portion of one side thereof; an enclosure member is fixedly secured adjacent one end of the strap element and includes spaced apart end wall portions and an arcuate-shaped side wall portion, a gear element disposed within the enclosure member and includes a double enveloping worm gear form adapted for engagement with the thread form on the strap element, one end of the gear is provided with a tool engaging portion whereby the gear element may be selectively rotated to effect advancement of the strap relative to the enclosure member.