Car top carrier and access ladder

Claim 2

A car top carrier and access ladder assembly, comprising a plurality of rails adapted to be supported above the roof of a car cross-wise of the same and spaced from each other in a direction longitudinally of the car, means for securing each of the rails to the car top, comprising a pair of bracket members for each rail, each bracket member being connected to a respective end portion of a rail and comprising a bracket body having a portion adapted to fit downwardly into the rain gutter of the car roof and a clamp secured to said bracket body and adapted to engage under the rain gutter, a pair of tracks connected cross-wise of said rails in spaced relation and adapted to extend longitudinally of and horizontally above the car roof, the connection between said rails and said tracks comprising rollers along which said tracks may be adjusted in a direction longitudinally of said car roof, and a ladder having portions at one end fitting within respective tracks and movable therealong to two positions, in one position said portions being disposed at one end of said tracks and permitting swinging of said ladder to depend upright from said tracks so that the other end of said ladder engagEs a ground surface, and in the other position said portions being disposed at the other end of said tracks and permitting swinging of said ladder whereby with said ladder other end may be elevated above the car roof and held in adjoining relation with said tracks.

Claim 3

The construction according to claim 1 wherein stop means limit adjustment of said tracks between two positions.

Claim 4

A car top carrier and access ladder assembly, comprising a pair of tracks adapted to be supported horizontally above the roof of a car to extend longitudinally of the car in spaced-apart relation, and a ladder including a pair of spaced side rails and steps therebetween, a step at one end of said ladder having outwardly extending spindles and a roller journalled on each spindle and fitting within a respective track and movable therealong to two positions, a locking dog journalled on each spindle and releasably fitting within slots formed in defining walls of said tracks to hold said ladder in either of its two positions, in one position said rollers being disposed at one end of said tracks and permitting swinging of said ladder so that it may depend upright from said tracks and so that the other end of said ladder may engage a ground surface, and in another position said rollers being disposed at the other end of said tracks and permitting swinging of said ladder so that the ladder other end may be elevated above the car roof and held in adjoining relation with said tracks.

Claim 5

A car top carrier and access ladder assembly, comprising a pair of tracks adapted to be supported horizontally above the roof of a car to extend longitudinally of the car in spaced-apart relation, and a ladder including a pair of spaced side rails and steps therebetween, a step at one end of said ladder having outwardly extending spindles and a roller journalled on each spindle and fitting within a respective track and movable therealong to two positions, a locking dog journalled on each spindle and releasably fitting within slots formed in defining walls of said tracks to hold said ladder in either of its two positions, in one position said rollers being disposed at one end of said tracks and permitting swinging of said ladder so that it may depend upright from said tracks and so that the other end of said ladder may engage a ground surface, and in another position said rollers being disposed at the other end of said tracks and permitting swinging of said ladder so that the ladder other end may be elevated above the car roof and held in adjoining relation with said tracks.

Claim 6

A car top carrier and access ladder assembly, comprising a pair of elongated rectilinear tracks, each U-shaped in cross-section, means for securing said tracks to the roof of a car whereby they are supported horizontally above the car roof on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the car and with the openings therein facing each other, a ladder comprising a pair of spaced side rails, a ladder step between said side rails at one end of said ladder, opposite ends of said ladder step having outwardly extending spindles, a roller journalled on each spindle, said rollers fitting within respective tracks so that said one ladder end is movable along said tracks from front to rear and vice versa, said rollers also providing a pivot about which the ladder may be swung vertically, said tracks being so supported that the rear ends overhang the rear of the car roof so that when said ladder one end is at the rear of said tracks the ladder may be positioned so that its opposite end rests on the ground with the ladder at a slight angle to the vertical but spaced from the rear of the car, the disposition of the tracks on opposite sides of the car longitudinal centerline providing stability so that a user may safely climb up the ladder to its very top, said ladder also having a stored position and being movable from its position of use by the user lifting said ladder opposite end to swing the ladder about the pivot provided by said rollers toward a horizontal position and simultaneously pushing the ladder to cause its said one end to move to the front of said tracks, and means for engaging said ladder opposite end and holding said ladder in horizontal stored position.

Claim 7

A car top carrier and access ladder assembly, comprising a pair of elongated rectilinear tracks, each U-shaped in cross-section, means for securing said tracks to the roof of a car whereby they are supported horizontally above the car roof on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the car and with the openings therein facing each other, a ladder comprising a pair of spaced side rails, a ladder step between said side rails at one end of said ladder, opposite ends of said ladder step having outwardly extending spindles, a roller journalled on each spindle, said rollers fitting within respective tracks so that said one ladder end is movable along said tracks from front to rear and vice versa, said rollers also providing a pivot about which the ladder may be swung vertically, said tracks being so supported that the rear ends overhang the rear of the car roof so that when said ladder one end is at the rear of said tracks the ladder may be positioned so that its opposite end rests on the ground with the ladder at a slight angle to the vertical but spaced from the rear of the car, the disposition of the tracks on opposite sides of the car longitudinal centerline providing stability so that a user may safely climb up the ladder to its very top, said ladder also having a stored position and being movable from its position of use by the user lifting said ladder opposite end to swing the ladder about the pivot provided by said rollers toward a horizontal position and simultaneously pushing the ladder to cause its said one end to move to the front of said tracks, and means for engaging said ladder opposite end and holding said ladder in horizontal stored position.