Slidable bracket for article carrier

Claim 2

A tie-down bracket for an automotive vehicle mounted article carrier having at least one slat affixed to the vehicle, the improvement comprising: (a) a base section engageable with the slat; (b) an upper section for facilitating securement of articles carried on the carrier; (c) the upper section being interconnected to the base section, (d) means for releasably locking the bracket in a pre-selected position along the length of a track formed in the slat and comprising a member which is urgeable into engagement with a base formed in the track.

Claim 3

The bracket of claim 1 which further comprises: a cross-strap mounting member disposed on the upper section.

Claim 4

The bracket of claim 1 wherein: the upper section is provided with a first opening therethrough, the opening defining the means for receiving the strap, the strap being threadable through the first opening.

Claim 5

The bracket of claim 1 wherein the releasable locking means comprises: (a) wedge member, (b) a threaded shaft integrally formed with the wedge member and projecting upwardly therefrom, the shaft extending through a bore formed in the base, the bore being in registry with a slot formed in the upper section, (c) a disc disposed in the slot and threadably interconnected to the shaft, and wherein rotation of the disc in a first direction urges the wedge into locking engagement with a wall of the track and rotation of the disc in a second direction opposite to that of the first direction withdraws the wedge member from locking engagement.

Claim 6

The bracket of claim 4 wherein the base is provided with a recess in registry with the bore, the wedge member being nestable within the recess when the disc is rotated in the second direction.

Claim 7

The bracket of claim 1 wherein the releasble locking means comprises: (a) a wedge member engageable with a track wall, (b) means for normally biassing the wedge member away from the track, the biassing means being connected to the wedge member and housed within a bore formed in the lower section, (c) a rotatable clasp pivotally connected to the upper section and engageable with the wedge member, and wherein rotation of the clasp in a first direction into contact with the wedge member urges the wedge member against the normal bias of the biassing means and into locking contact with the track wall.

Claim 8

The bracket of claim 1 which further comprises: (a) a shaft integrally formed with the base section and projecting upwardly therefrom, (b) the upper section includes a bore formed therein and a slot in registry with the bore, the shaft extending through the bore, (c) a disc disposed in the slot and threadably interconnected to the shaft, and the disc and the shaft cooperating to define the means for releasably locking, and wherein rotation of the disc in a first direction urges the base section into engagement with the track wall to lock the bracket in position and rotation of the disc in a second direction opposite to the first direction withdraws the base section from engagement with the track wall.

Claim 9

In combination with an article carrier for an automotive vehicle of the type comprising an elongated slat adapted to be affixed to the vehicle exterior the slat having a longitudinally extending track formed therein, a tie-down bracket therefor, the bracket comprising: (a) a base section engageable with the track formed in the slat, the base being slidable along the extent of the track, an upper section for facilating securement of articles carried on the carrier (b) the upper section being interconnected to the base section and disposed above the slat, (d) means for releasably locking the bracket in a pe-selected position along the length of the track and comprising a member which is urgeable into engagement with a base formed in the track.

Claim 10

In combination with an article carrier for an automotive vehicle of the type comprising an elongated slat adapted to be affixed to the vehicle exterior the slat having a longitudinally extending track formed therein, a tie-down bracket therefor, the bracket comprising: (a) a base section engageable with the track formed in the slat, the base being slidable along the extent of the track, an upper section for facilating securement of articles carried on the carrier (b) the upper section being interconnected to the base section and disposed above the slat, (d) means for releasably locking the bracket in a pe-selected position along the length of the track and comprising a member which is urgeable into engagement with a base formed in the track.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 which further comprises: a cross-strap mounting member disposed on the upper section.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8 wherein: the upper section is provided with a first opening therethrough, the opening defining the means for receiving the strap, the strap being threadable through the first opening.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 8 wherein the releasable locking means comprises: (a) a wedge member, (b) a threaded shaft integrally formed with the wedge member and projecting upwardly therefrom, the shaft extending through a bore formed in the base, the bore being in registry with a slot formed in the upper section, (c) a disc disposed in the slot and threadably interconnected to the shaft, and wherein rotation of the disc in a first direction urges the wedge into locking engagement with a wall of the track and rotation of the disc in a second direction opposite to that of the first direction withdraws the wedge member from locking engagement.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein: the base is provided with a recess in registry with the bore, the wedge member being nestable within the recess when the disc is rotated in the second direction.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 8 wherein the releasable locking means comprises: (a) a wedge member engageable with a track wall, (b) means for normally biassing the wedge member away from the track, the biassing means being connected to the wedge member and housed within a bore formed in the lower section, (c) a rotatable clasp pivotally connected the upper section and engageable with the wedge member, and wherein rotation of the clasp in a first direction into contact with the wedge member urges the wedge member against the normal bias of the biassing means and into locking contact with the track wall.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 8 which further comprises: (a) a shaft integrally formed with the base section and projecting upwardly therefrom, (b) the upper section includes a bore formed therein and a slot in registry with the bore, the shaft extending through the bore, (c) a disc disposed in the slot and threadably interconnected to the shaft, and the disc and the shaft cooperating to define the means for releasably locking, and wherein rotation of the disc in a first direction urges the base section into engagement with the track wall to lock the bracket in position and rotation of the disc in a second direction opposite to the first direction withdraws the base section from engagement with the track wall.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 8 which further comprises: a stop associated with track for limiting the extent of travel of the bracket along the track.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 8 wherein the track has a substantially inverted T-shape configuration.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 8 wherein a slat comprises: a substantially solid body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, the slot being in registry with a guidepath formed in the body, the guidepath being defined by (a) a bottom wall formed in the body, (b) a pair of opposed parallel sidewalls formed in the body, (c) a pair of opposed inwardly extending shoulders integrally formed with the sidewalls, the junction between the guidepath and the slot being defined by the shoulders.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 8 which further comprises: (a) a pair of spaced apart parallel slats, (b) a tie-down bracket associated with each slat, (c) a cross-strap extending between the brackets, the ends of the strap being connected to the associated bracket, and wherein the cross-strap is movably positionable in response to movement of the bracket.

Claim 21

A tie-down bracket for an article carrier, comprising: (a) a base section engageable with a track formed in the carrier, (b) an upper section interconnected to the base section, and (c) means for releasably locking the bracket in a pre-selected position along the length of a track formed in the carrier, the means comprising: (1) a wedge member, (2) a threaded shaft integrally formed with the wedge member and projecting upwardly therefrom, the shaft extending through a bore formed in the base, the bore being in registry with a slot formed in the upper section, (3) a disc disposed in the slot and threadably interconnected to the shaft, and wherein rotation of the disc in a first direction urges the wedge into locking engagement with a wall of the track and retation of the disc in a second direction opposite to that of the first direction withdraws the wedge member from locking engagement.

Claim 22

A tie-down bracket for an article carrier, comprising: (a) a base section engageable with a track formed in the carrier, (b) an upper section interconnected to the base section, and (c) means for releasably locking the bracket in a pre-selected position along the length of a track formed in the carrier, the means comprising: (1) a wedge member, (2) a threaded shaft integrally formed with the wedge member and projecting upwardly therefrom, the shaft extending through a bore formed in the base, the bore being in registry with a slot formed in the upper section, (3) a disc disposed in the slot and threadably interconnected to the shaft, and wherein rotation of the disc in a first direction urges the wedge into locking engagement with a wall of the track and retation of the disc in a second direction opposite to that of the first direction withdraws the wedge member from locking engagement.