Support leg to be fastened in roof gutters of automobiles

Claim 1

A support device adapted to be attached in a roof gutter of an automobile comprising: a leg plate having an upper end for supporting a load and having a lower end which is insertable in the gutter to engage the bottom surface thereof; a clamping plate movable between an unlocking position and a locking position, said clamping plate having a lower hook-shaped portion disposed on the outside of said leg plate and engageable with the lower surface of the gutter so as to clamp said lower end of said leg plate in the gutter when said clamping plate is in its locking position, said clamping plate having an arm which extends upwardly from said hook-shaped portion and which passes through an opening in said leg plate so that the upper portion of said arm is disposed on the inside of said leg plate; mounting means at the upper end of said arm mounting said clamping plate for limited displacement between an upper position and a lower position with respect to said leg plate and for swinging movement with respect to said leg plate in a direction such that the portion of the arm disposed on the inside of said leg plate swings between an inner position near said leg plate and an outer position more remote from said leg plate while simultaneously said hook-shaped portion swings between an unlocking position spaced from said leg plate and a locking position closer to said leg plate; and adjusting means for applying a swinging force to said arm at a location below said mounting means in a direction to swing said arm toward its locking position; and a spring biasing said arm towards its unlocking position; and guide means for cooperating with said arm during swinging movement of the latter toward its locking position to guide said arm upwardly so that said hook-shaped portion engages the lower surface of the gutter.