Abstract: A cargo management system for use with a motor vehicle cargo area having a floor. The system uses front, center are rear divider panels each configured to lay flat adjacent the floor when in a stowed position, and each is pivotally moveably into an upright, operative position. A first latching mechanism is used to releasably latch the front divider in the upright, operative position. The center divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position to an operative position. The rear divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position resting generally flat on the floor of the cargo area to an upright, operative position. A second latching mechanism is used to releasably hold the rear divider panel in the upright, operative position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle article carrier apparatus for securing articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. The apparatus may make use of a pair of low profile support rails fixedly secured generally parallel to one another on the outer body surface. A pair of cross bars may be configured to be coupled to the support rails in a stowed orientation extending parallel to the support rails, so as to be generally not visible from a side of the vehicle, and an operative orientation extending perpendicularly between the support rails and elevationally above the support rails for supporting articles thereon.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an article carrier system particularly adapted for use with a pickup truck. The system employs a first pair of support tracks secured to a roof surface of a pickup truck, and a rear spoiler portion coupled to each of the first support tracks and extending therebetween adjacent a rear area of the roof surface. A second pair of support tracks is secured to a pair of truck bed sidewalls. A combination spoiler/support subsystem is supported from the second pair of support tracks and is adjustably positionable to provide a variable spacing between the rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem, to thus tailor the system to support articles of various lengths thereon. The rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem provide an appearance of a single, integrated spoiler when positioned closely adjacent one another.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle article carrier apparatus for securing articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. The apparatus may make use of a pair of low profile support rails fixedly secured generally parallel to one another on the outer body surface. A pair of cross bars may be configured to be coupled to the support rails in a stowed orientation extending parallel to the support rails, so as to be generally not visible from a side of the vehicle, and an operative orientation extending perpendicularly between the support rails and elevationally above the support rails for supporting articles thereon.

Abstract: A cargo management system for use with a motor vehicle cargo area having a floor. The system uses front, center are rear divider panels each configured to lay flat adjacent the floor when in a stowed position, and each is pivotally moveably into an upright, operative position. A first latching mechanism is used to releasably latch the front divider in the upright, operative position. The center divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position to an operative position. The rear divider panel is pivotally moveable from a stowed position resting generally flat on the floor of the cargo area to an upright, operative position. A second latching mechanism is used to releasably hold the rear divider panel in the upright, operative position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an article carrier system particularly adapted for use with a pickup truck. The system employs a first pair of support tracks secured to a roof surface of a pickup truck, and a rear spoiler portion coupled to each of the first support tracks and extending therebetween adjacent a rear area of the roof surface. A second pair of support tracks is secured to a pair of truck bed sidewalls. A combination spoiler/support subsystem is supported from the second pair of support tracks and is adjustably positionable to provide a variable spacing between the rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem, to thus tailor the system to support articles of various lengths thereon. The rear spoiler portion and the spoiler/support subsystem provide an appearance of a single, integrated spoiler when positioned closely adjacent one another.

Abstract: A vehicle article may have cross bars that may be nestably secured together on a trunk lid of a vehicle when not in use, and yet quickly and easily attached to elements mounted in roof ditches on the roof of the vehicle when needed for use. In another embodiment the vehicle article carrier includes a pair of pivotally secured support rails that are supported from frame or body structure of the vehicle below and adjacent the rear bumper of the vehicle. The support rails may be pivoted into stowed positions when not needed to hide them from view, and then quickly and easily pivoted out when needed for use. Attachments such as a cargo box or a bicycle carrier may be easily secured to the support rails.

Abstract: An electromechanical connector is disclosed that may include a body portion and a threaded bolt. The body portion is made of an electrically conductive material and includes a flange and a deformable portion configured to bulge outwardly when the body portion is positioned in an opening in a wall-like structure and non-removably coupled, in a rivet-like manner, to the structure. The flange and the deformable portion secure the body portion to the wall-like structure. The body portion has a threaded bore, a first tab extending from a first end of the body portion, and a second tab extending from a second end of the body portion. The first tab, the body portion and the second tab form an electrically conductive path through the connector. The threaded bolt is threadably inserted into the threaded bore of the body portion and secures an independent component to the wall-like structure using the electromechanical connector.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier adapted to carry articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. A pair of support rails are used, each formed from a non-metallic material, and each further including a bottom wall having at least one cutout potion at an intermediate point along its length. At least one cross bar may be supported from the support rails. At least one bracket may be associated with each support rail. The bracket is dimensioned to fit within the cutout portion in its support rail. The cross bar may be secured directly to the brackets such that ends of the cross bar are fully supported only by the brackets and the outer body surface of the vehicle. Thus, the support rails experience substantially no load from the brackets and the cross bar attached to the brackets.

Abstract: A vehicle article may have cross bars that may be nestably secured together on a trunk lid of a vehicle when not in use, and yet quickly and easily attached to elements mounted in roof ditches on the roof of the vehicle when needed for use. In another embodiment the vehicle article carrier includes a pair of pivotally secured support rails that are supported from frame or body structure of the vehicle below and adjacent the rear bumper of the vehicle. The support rails may be pivoted into stowed positions when not needed to hide them from view, and then quickly and easily pivoted out when needed for use. Attachments such as a cargo box or a bicycle carrier may be easily secured to the support rails.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier adapted to carry articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. A pair of support rails are used, each formed from a non-metallic material, and each further including a bottom wall having at least one cutout potion at an intermediate point along its length. At least one cross bar may be supported from the support rails. At least one bracket may be associated with each support rail. The bracket is dimensioned to fit within the cutout portion in its support rail. The cross bar may be secured directly to the brackets such that ends of the cross bar are fully supported only by the brackets and the outer body surface of the vehicle. Thus, the support rails experience substantially no load from the brackets and the cross bar attached to the brackets.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system includes a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar has end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system having a pair of swingable cross bars. The cross bars can be placed in a first configuration in which they extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. They can easily be released and re-secured in a different configuration wherein they take the form of low profile side rails. A particular advantage is that when the cross bars are moved into their positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of the cross bars is raised to an elevated position. This provides additional clearance above the outer body surface for articles being supported on the cross bars.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle. The system includes a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface and at least one cross bar. The cross bar has end supports that are able to pivot. The end supports may be secured to the support rails to place the cross bars in an operative position extending generally perpendicularly between the support rails, and elevationally above the support rails. The end supports also enable the cross bar to be placed in a stowed position along the slats where each of the end supports lay generally co-linear with a central portion its respective cross bar.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier system having a pair of swingable cross bars. The cross bars can be placed in a first configuration in which they extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. They can easily be released and re-secured in a different configuration wherein they take the form of low profile side rails. A particular advantage is that when the cross bars are moved into their positions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of the cross bars is raised to an elevated position. This provides additional clearance above the outer body surface for articles being supported on the cross bars.

Abstract: A cargo management system for a motor vehicle. In one form the system includes a pair of side rails adapted to be secured in spaced apart relation to one another within a bed of a pickup truck. A cross bar assembly is supported at its opposite ends to the side rails so as to be suspended above a floor of the bed of the pickup truck. The cross bar assembly includes a cross bar component that has a plurality of parallel arranged channels extending along the length thereof. The channels can each be used to secure various forms of accessory attachments and/or tie down components to the cross bar assembly, thus significantly enhancing the utility of the cross bar assembly. In one form the cross bar component is rectangularly shaped when viewed in cross section, with a separate channel formed on each of the four distinct surfaces of the cross bar component.