Lockable ski carrier for motor vehicles

Claim 1

A lockable ski carrier for automotive vehicles for holding at least two pairs of skis, the carrier comprising a substantially U-shaped carrying frame which rests in the rain gutters of the car roof, said carrying frame having clamps secured thereto which are lockable in a clamping position, a crossmember forming the bight of said carrying frame and mounted in a rotatable but axially nondisplaceable fashion in the legs of the carrying frame, the crossmember having a clamping position and an open position, said clamps being arranged fixed on the crossmember for urging the skis against the crossmember when said crossmember is rotated into its clamping position, thereby securing the skis on the carrying frame, and for relieving the force applied to the skis when said crossmember is rotated into its open position, thereby allowing insertion or removal of the skis from the ski carrier, each of said clamps comprising a clamping arm extending substantially parallel to said crossmember with at least one holding rod substantially perpendicular both to said clamping arm and said crossmember connecting the clamping arm to the crossmember, actuating means connected to said cross member of rotating said crossmember into its clamping position and into its open position, and locking means associating with said crossmember for locking said crossmember against rotation when in its clamping position.