Patent US3722765A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3722765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Car top rack
Assignee: Beatrice Companies Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-19
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A rack for the top of the vehicle comprising longitudinally spaced parallel bars containing transversely spaced holes, spaced parallel bars situated between the longitudinally spaced bars non-rotatably received in said holes, spaced parallel rails having reversely bent ends mounted at opposite sides of the longitudinally spaced bars with the bent ends sprung into the holes in said longitudinally spaced bars, said rails being supported by said bent ends above the plane of the longitudinally extending bars and being rotatable into the plane of the longitudinally extending bars, and tie rods connecting the rails operable to hold them erect or to hollow them to be rotated into the plane of the longitudinally extending bars.
Inventors
- 👤 K Binding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R9/00; B60R9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An automobile top rack comprising longitudinally spaced parallel bars containing transversely spaced non-circular holes in their confronting sides, transversely spaced, longitudinally extending bars situated between the longitudinally spaced bars with their opposite ends non-rotatably received in said holes, said longitudinally spaced bars containing end openings and having near their opposite ends at their outer sides outwardly facing holes, a pair of rails having at their ends reversely bent portions, the distance between the ends of the reversely bent portions being less than the longitudinal spacing of the longitudinally spaced bars, said ends being sprung into said outwardly facing holes in the longitudinally spaced bars and rotatable therein, and fastening means telescopically engaged with said end openings of said longitudinally spaced bars for fastening said longitudinally spaced bars to the top of an automobile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automobile top rack comprising longitudinally spaced parallel bars containing transversely spaced non-circular holes in their confronting sides, transversely spaced, longitudinally extending bars situated between the longitudinally spaced bars with their opposite ends non-rotatably received in said holes, said longitudinally spaced bars containing end openings and having near their opposite ends at their outer sides outwardly facing holes, a pair of rails having at their ends reversely bent portions, the distance between the ends of the reversely bent portions being less than the longitudinal spacing of the longitudinally spaced bars, said ends being sprung into said outwardly facing holes in the longitudinally spaced bars and rotatable therein, and fastening means telescopically engaged with said end openings of said longitudinally spaced bars for fastening said longitudinally spaced bars to the top of an automobile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein said rails, when sprung into said outwardly facing holes, clamp the longitudinally spaced bars onto the ends of the longitudinally extending bars and wherein the portions of the rails intermediate the bent ends are situated above the plane of the longitudinally extending bars.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending bars have adjacent their ends outwardly divergent ears adapted to be sprung into said holes in the transversely extending bars to lock the ends of the longitudinally extending bars to the transversely extending bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rack according to claim 3, wherein said outwardly divergent ears are provided in the side walls of the longitudinally extending bars.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein tie rods connect the rails to each other at opposite ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein the rods and means at the opposite ends of the tie rods slidably receive the rails such that the tie rods are movable longitudinally along said rails to position them at the end or any desired intermediate position along the said rails.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A rack according to claim 6, wherein said tie rods are movable along the bent ends of the rails onto the reversely bent portions thereof such as to permit the rails to be rotated about said rearwardly bent ends into the plane of the longitudinally extending bars.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein said end openings are of non-circular configuration and wherein said fastening means comprise brackets having right-angularly disposed legs adapted, respectively, to be telescopically received in said end openings and to be clamped to the top of the automobile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A rack according to claim 8, wherein the legs, by means of which the brackets are attached to the top of the automobile, support the longitudinally spaced bars above the top.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein there are resilient blocks attached to the longitudinally spaced bars in transversely spaced relation for engagement with the top of the automobile.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A rack according to claim 10, wherein said block contains longitudinally disposed holes such that when clamped against the top of the automobile the blocks conform to the contour of the top.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinally spaced bars are hollow and contain longitudinally extending spaced slots in their lower sides and there are resilient blocks provided with attaching flanges adapted to be slidably received in said slots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending bars are of M-shaped cross-section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending bars are comprised of metal rolled to an M-shaped configuration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein the rails are of tubular metal stock and are flattened on their inner sides.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A rAck according to claim 5, wherein the tie rods have at their ends loops for slidably receiving the rails and there is means for clamping the loops on said rails.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
A rack according to claim 5, wherein the tie rods are hollow, plugs are fixed in their opposite ends, a screw-threaded pin is threaded into each plug with a portion extending from the rod, and a loop is fixed to the projecting ends of the pins, said screw-threaded pins at opposite ends of the rods being threaded left and right so that rotation of the rods draws the loops toward each other to hold the rails against the ends of the tie rods.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
A rack according to claim 14, wherein a U-shaped part is mounted on each screw-threaded pin between the end of the tie rod and the loop with its legs disposed at opposite sides of the loop for clamping engagement with the rail and the rails have flattened portions on their inner sides with which the ends of the legs are engaged for non-rotatably clamping the rails.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A rack according to claim 17, wherein said means for clamping the loops are engaged with the flattened portions of the rails.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A rack according to claim 1, wherein there are fastening members securing the ends of the longitudinally extending bars in the holes in the longitudinally spaced bars.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |