초록 ▼

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 on

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 comprising: a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface generally parallel to one another, and extending along a major long

1. 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 comprising: a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface generally parallel to one another, and extending along a major longitudinal axis of the vehicle;at least one cross bar having dimensions sufficient to extend between the support rails when the support rails are secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;said cross bar having a central portion and a pair of end supports at opposite ends of said central portion;each said support rail including a decorative cover and metallic support element, the decorative cover being positioned over the metallic support element to at least substantially cover the metallic support element, the metallic support element including: at least one aperture at each opposing longitudinal end thereof, the at least one aperture adapted to receive therethrough at least one fastening element fixedly associated with the outer body roof surface and projecting therefrom, such that said metallic support element is secured to said outer body roof surface only at said opposing longitudinal ends thereof;at least one key-shaped opening at a position intermediate the opposing longitudinal ends;each said end support further including: a base portion and a neck portion pivotally secured to the base portion to enable the neck portion to be articulated into a first position in which the neck portion is substantially planar with the base portion, and also into a second position in which the neck portion extends at an angle non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base portion;the cross bar and the end supports being positioned and secureable to one of the support rails in either a stowed configuration, where the cross bar and the end supports rest substantially flush on one of the support rails, or an operative position in which the end supports can be secured to different ones of the support rails such that the cross bar extends perpendicularly between the support rails;each said end support further including a securing component sized to fit through the key-shaped opening in the metallic support element, and a locking component adapted to engage the securing component and to secure the end support, using the securing component, to the metallic support element. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the securing component comprises a tap plate. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the locking component comprises a rotatable locking component that is threadably engaged with the tap plate. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said metallic support element includes a C-shaped track along a minor portion of its overall length, with the C-shaped track forming a channel adapted to receive the securing component therein, and further being adapted to enable longitudinal adjustable positioning of one of the end supports thereon. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said C-shaped track is fixedly secured to said metallic support element. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said metallic support element comprises a component that forms a C-shaped track over a major portion of its longitudinal length. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the opposing longitudinal ends of the metallic support element include projecting flat portions that do not include portions of the C-shaped track. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein each said end support includes a housing and wherein the locking component includes a rotatable locking component, and wherein the rotatable locking component is secured to the housing for rotational movement, one of the housing and the rotatable locking component having a biased implement projecting therefrom, and the other one of the housing and the rotatable locking component having a plurality of structural elements arranged in a circumferential pattern; and wherein the biased implement engages with at least one of the structural elements to provide an additional holding force to said rotatable locking component when said rotatable locking component has been tightened. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the biased implement comprises a ball plunger system that is supported in a surface of the rotatable locking component, and wherein the structural elements comprise grooves that are arranged to extend radially around a bore in the housing of the end support. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the securing component comprises a clamping element and the locking component comprises a pivotal locking member that is graspable with a hand of a user and moveable between locked and unlocked positions to cause movement of the clamping element between a clamped configuration, relative to the metallic support component, and an unclamped configuration relative to the metallic support component. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the securing component further comprises a pin, and the clamping element comprises a tap plate coupled to the pin, the pin further being coupled to the locking element. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking component comprises a rotatable locking component having a threaded locking post, and wherein the securing component comprises a tap plate having a threaded hole, the threaded locking post being engageable with the threaded hole in the tap plate to enable the rotatable locking component and the tap plate to cooperatively clamp onto the metallic support element when tightened. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the decorative cover includes a pair of removable panels that cover access holes to permit access to said holes in said opposing longitudinal ends of said metallic support element. 14. 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 comprising: a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface generally parallel to one another, and extending along a major longitudinal axis of the vehicle;at least one cross bar having dimensions sufficient to extend between the support rails when the support rails are secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;said cross bar having a central portion and a pair of end supports at opposite ends of said central portion;each said support rail including a decorative cover and metallic support element, the decorative cover being positioned over the metallic support element to at least substantially cover the metallic support element, the metallic support element including: a track portion located at an intermediate point along a longitudinal length of the metallic support element;a flattened portion at each opposing longitudinal end of the metallic support element, each one of the flattened portions including at least one aperture, the at least one aperture adapted to receive therethrough at least one fastening element fixedly associated with the outer body roof surface and projecting from the outer body roof surface, such that said metallic support element is secured to said outer body roof surface only at said opposing longitudinal ends thereof; andsaid decorative cover including a pair of removable panels to provide access to said apertures at said opposing longitudinal ends of said metallic support member;each said end support including: a securing element adapted to be inserted into an interior area of said track portion, and each said end support further including a locking component adapted to engage the securing element and to secure the end support, using said securing element, to the metallic support element;a base portion and a neck portion pivotally secured to the base portion to enable the neck portion to be articulated into a first position in which the neck portion is substantially planar with the base portion, and also into a second position in which the neck portion extends at an angle non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base portion; andthe cross bar and the end supports being positioned and secureable to one of the support rails in either a stowed configuration, where the cross bar and the end supports rest substantially flush on one of the support rails, or an operative position in which the end supports can be secured to different ones of the support rails such that the cross bar extends perpendicularly between the support rails, and such that the central portion of the cross bar is elevated above the support rails. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein each said locking component comprises a rotatable locking component having a manually graspable projecting portion to enable grasping engagement with a thumb and one or more fingers of an individual. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the rotatable locking components includes a threaded locking post fixedly secured thereto, and wherein each of the securing elements comprises a tap plate, with each said tap plate including a threaded aperture for threadably engaging with the threaded locking post of an associated one of the rotatable locking components. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein: each said rotatable locking component includes a ball plunger housed in a surface thereof, and a housing of the end support include a plurality of grooves formed in a surface thereof that extend radially from the threaded locking post; andwherein a ball element of the ball plunger is adapted to engage within one of the grooves to provide an additional degree of holding locking force when the rotatable locking component and the tap plate are cooperatively tightened down into clamping engagement on said track portion. 18. 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 comprising: a pair of support rails secured to the outer body surface generally parallel to one another, and extending along a major longitudinal axis of the vehicle;at least one cross bar having dimensions sufficient to extend between the support rails when the support rails are secured to the outer body surface of the vehicle;said cross bar having a central portion and a pair of end supports at opposite ends of said central portion;each said support rail including a decorative cover and metallic support element, the decorative cover being positioned over the metallic support element to at least substantially cover the metallic support element, the metallic support element including: at least one key-shaped opening;a flattened portion at each opposing longitudinal end of the metallic support element, each one of the flattened portions including a pair of apertures, each of the pairs of apertures adapted to receive therethrough a corresponding pair of fastening elements fixedly associated with the outer body roof surface and projecting from the outer body roof surface, such that said metallic support element is secured to said outer body roof surface only at said opposing longitudinal ends thereof; andsaid decorative cover including portions thereof permitting access to said apertures at said opposing longitudinal ends of said metallic support member;each said end support including: a securing element adapted to be inserted through the key-shaped opening, and each said end support further including a manually engageable locking component adapted to engage the securing element and to secure said end support, using said securing element, to the metallic support element;a base portion and a neck portion pivotally secured to the base portion to enable the neck portion to be articulated into a first position in which the neck portion is substantially planar with the base portion, and also into a second position in which the neck portion extends at an angle non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base portion; andthe cross bar and the end supports being positioned and secureable to one of the support rails in either a stowed configuration, where the cross bar and the end supports rest substantially flush on one of the support rails, or an operative position in which the end supports can be secured to different ones of the support rails such that the cross bar extends perpendicularly between the support rails. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the portions of said decorative cover that permit access to said apertures include openings formed in said decorative cover and removable panels that may be secured within said openings. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein said end support includes a housing to which said rotatable locking component is secured, and wherein one of said housing and a rotatable locking component include a ball plunger and the other one of the housing and rotatable locking component includes a plurality of grooves, and wherein a ball of the ball plunger is able to engage within one of the grooves as the rotatable locking component is tightened to provide an additional degree of holding force when the end support is clamped on to the metallic support element.