Vehicle article carrier

Claim 1

In an article carrier for an automotive vehicle, an article supporting slat mounted on a surface of the vehicle, said slat being of a generally inverted U-shaped cross-sectional shape and having a pair of laterally spaced side walls and an upper wall extending between and connecting said side walls, said upper wall defining an article supporting surface on the upper side thereof adapted to have articles supported and including a preselected area to which said articles may be tied down thereon, said side walls defining a pair of laterally aligned openings, directly below said preselected area, said slat being fabricated of a relatively thin-walled material and being of uniform cross section substantially the entire length thereof and defining a uniform cross section internal cavity coextensive thereof, a tie down element having a body portion disposed substantially within said cavity and arranged longitudinally in line with said openings, said body defining a laterally extending eyelet opening that is disposed in registry with said openings and extends between said side walls, and at a position directly below and parallel to said supporting surface, whereby a tie-down rope or the like may extend through said openings and said eyelet opening and securely affix articles to said surface directly above said tie down element, said tie down element including a depending portion extending toward said vehicle surface, said depending portion being entirely disposed within said cavity and being supported on said vehicle surface thereby enabling said body portion to provide additional support to said article supporting surface.