Variable position wind deflector

Claim 1

A combination luggage carrier and wind deflector assembly adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a generally flat roof portion terminating adjacent its rearward end adjacent a transversely extending, rearwardly facing window, said assembly comprising a luggage constraining structure mounted on said roof portion and including a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending side rails and an elongated deflector element extending generally transversely of said vehicle adjacent the rearward ends of said side rails and operable to direct at least a portion of the air flowing over said roof portion during forward movement of the vehicle toward said window, said side rails lying in a common generally horizontal plane spaced above and arranged generally parallel to said vehicle roof portion, and means supporting said deflector element on said rearward ends of said side rails for swinging movement about an axis lying generally in said imaginary horizontal plane and extending transversely of said side rails at a position directly rearwardly of the rearward ends thereof, said last mentioned means being located in general longitudinal alignment with said side rails and comprising a pair of bracket assemblies associated one with each of said side rails, each of said bracket assemblies comprising, a first bracket member including a mounting portion telescopically engageable with the rearward end of the associated side rail, and a support portion extending rearwardly of said associated side rail, a second bracket member having a rearwardly projecting portion fixedly secured to one end of said deflector element and a support portion extending forwardly of said deflector element, pivot means pivotably connecting said support portions whereby said deflector element is pivotably movable about said axis relative to said vehicle roof portion, and control means for controlling relative pivotal movement of said deflector element between a deflecting position wherein a portion of said flow of air over the vehicle is directed downwardly toward said window, and a relatively non-deflecting position wherein said element extends generally horizontally rearwardly of the vehicle so as to have relatively no affect in directing said flow of air downwardly toward said window.