Slidable bracket for luggage rack

Claim 2

A tie-down bracket for an automotive vehicle mounted article carrier comprising: a lower base section engageable with a track formed in the article carrier; an upper section interconnected to the base section; a bore formed in the upper section to nestingly receive a rotatable collar; a rotatable collar nestingly disposed in the base the collar having a coin or screwdriver engaging depression formed therein, a lower end of the collar projecting into an opening formed in the bracket, the lower end having a groove formed therearound proximate the opening formed in the bracket, the collar having an enlarged head to prevent axial downward displacement thereof; means for selecting locking the bracket in the track responsive to the rotation of the collar, comprising: a key member releasably engaging the track; a threaded shaft integrally formed with the key member and projecting upward therefrom, the shaft extending through a bore formed in the base section, the bore in registry with the bore of the upper section; a ring disposed in the groove to prevent upward movement of the collar.

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 a strap and being threadable through the first opening.

Claim 5

The bracket of claim 1 wherein the base section is provided with a recess in registry with the bore, the key member being nestable within the recess when the disc is rotated to release the key for movement of the bracket.

Claim 6

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 therefore, the bracket comprising: a base section engageable with the track formed in the slat, the base being slidable along the extent of the track; an upper section interconnected to the base section and disposed above the slat; a vertically open bore formed in the upper section to nestingly receive a rotatable collar; a collar nestingly disposed with the bore and contained entirely with the perimeter of said upper section; means for preventing vertical axial movement of the collar; means for selectively locking the bracket in the track responsive to rotation of the collar; means for rotating said collar with a coin or screwdriver to releasably lock said bracket in a pre-selected position along the length of a slot formed in the track, and wherein the collar is positioned in the bore, such that it is rotatable only with a coin or screwdriver, wherein the base is released from engagement from the track, and collar being rotatable by means of a coin or screwdriver engaging a mating depression in the collar.

Claim 7

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 therefore, the bracket comprising: a base section engageable with the track formed in the slat, the base being slidable along the extent of the track; an upper section interconnected to the base section and disposed above the slat; a vertically open bore formed in the upper section to nestingly receive a rotatable collar; a collar nestingly disposed with the bore and contained entirely with the perimeter of said upper section; means for preventing vertical axial movement of the collar; means for selectively locking the bracket in the track responsive to rotation of the collar; means for rotating said collar with a coin or screwdriver to releasably lock said bracket in a pre-selected position along the length of a slot formed in the track, and wherein the collar is positioned in the bore, such that it is rotatable only with a coin or screwdriver, wherein the base is released from engagement from the track, and collar being rotatable by means of a coin or screwdriver engaging a mating depression in the collar.

Claim 8

The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said means for releasably locking the bracket comprises: a key member for releasably engaging the track; a threaded shaft integrally formed with the key member and projecting upward therefrom, the shaft extending through a bore in the base section, the bore in communication with the bore formed in the upper section; and the collar being enclosed by the bore in the upper section threadably interconnected to the shaft, the collar having a coin or screwdriver engaging desression formed therein.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5, wherein the collar has an enlarged head having a diameter greater than that of the bore, the enlarged head defining means for preventing downward axial displacement of the collar.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 5 wherein: a lower end of the collar projects into a frontal opening formed in the bracket, the collar having a groove formed therearound proximate the frontal opening, the combination further including a retaining ring disposed in the groove which prevents upward axial displacement of the collar.