Abstract: A roof rack mountable to a vehicle to secure a load over a surface expanse of the vehicle. The rack includes at least one crossbar adapted to extend substantially across the surface expanse. Each end of the crossbar is secured to the vehicle by a tower assembly. Each tower assembly includes a base adapted to be independently locked in place on the vehicle in a position generally adjacent an edge of the surface expanse. A tower body is adapted to be disposed near an end of the crossbar and includes an upper portion configured to secure the tower body to the crossbar and a lower end adapted to be attached to and removed from the base while the base remains locked in place on the vehicle. The base thereby pre-establishes the position of the tower body on the vehicle. A quick release mechanism is adapted to selectively extend between and interconnect the base and tower body when the tower body is attached to the base to allow a user to selectively lock and release the tower body in place on the base.

Abstract: A tower assembly for detachably mounting a crossbar to the rail of a vehicle roof-mounted rack. The tower assembly includes a body having a selectively operable clamping mechanism housed in the tower body and includes a wedge-shaped portion adapted to be disposed generally between the rail and the crossbar when the rail and the crossbar are received in the tower body. The clamping mechanism urges the bar and the rail away from each other and against the tower body to thereby secure the bar and the rail to the tower simultaneously.

Abstract: A tower assembly for detachably mounting a crossbar to the rail of a vehicle roof-mounted rack. The tower assembly includes a body having a first lever or lifter pivotally mounted to the body about an axis to clamp the crossbar to the body. A second lever is pivotally mounted to the body about the same axis but pivots in the opposite direction to clamp the rail to the body. An actuator is provided for forcing the lifter into engagement with the crossbar and for forcing the second lever into engagement with the rail.

Abstract: An article-carrying rack with a lockable mount for securing the rack to a vehicle is described. The lockable mount includes a first half and a second half connected to the first half for movement relative thereto between an opened and a closed position. A lock-carrying member is mounted on the first half and includes a first and second end. A lock is mounted adjacent the first end of the lock-carrying member and is movable along the lock-carrying member for varying the distance between the lock and the first half. The lock-carrying member may be locked to restrict such movement. The lock-carrying member also includes an engagement member mounted adjacent the second end for selectively engaging the first and second halves when the second half is in the closed position and confining the second half in such position when the lock is locked.

Abstract: A closure for the two hinged bars of a vehicle roof-mounted ski mount is formed from a rotatable catch or pawl secured to one of the bars and a toothed harpoon extending from the other. Engagement and disengagement of the pawl with the teeth on the harpoon is governed by a manually operated button, the pawl being spring-biased toward engagement with the harpoon. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the pawl and button are part of a removable insert which fits into an end cap on the upper bar of the ski mount, and the spring is a spring clip which holds the insert in place in the end cap while permitting it to rotate to engage or disengage the pawl with the harpoon which is on the lower bar, the spring clip also urging the pawl into engagement with the harpoon as well as immobilizing the harpoon once it has been engaged by the pawl.