Load carrier for vehicles

Claim 1

A luggage carrier for vehicles comprising a support rod (2) and support legs (4) connected with the ends of the support rod, the support legs having fastening devices (8,10) for fastening the luggage carrier to a vehicle, the support rod (2) comprising two telescoping portions (18,20) which are telescopically displaceable in relation to each other in order to allow adjustment of the length of the support rod whereby the luggage carrier may be adapted to the width of the vehicle, and to allow the support rod to be dismounted or its portions to be pushed together to a space-saving relationship, the support rod also comprising a locking device (22) for securing the two portions of the support rod in the desired relative position, said locking device comprising two complementary, interengageable locking means (20, 30, 32), one of said locking means being on and belonging to each of the portions (18, 20) of the support rod, for securing the portions of the support rod in fixed relation to each other when the locking means are in engagement with each other and allowing the support rod to be dismounted or its portions to be pushed together when the locking means are out of engagement with each other, characterized by means for securing at least one (24-30) of the locking means of the locking device (22) to the portion (20) of the support rod (2) belonging thereto at any desired position within a range of positions along the length of the last-mentioned portion regardless of the relative positions of the two telescoping portions and regardless of whether or not the two portions of the support rod are secured together by the locking device, whereby the relative position of the portions of the support rod when the locking means of the locking device engage each other can be established by securing said one of the locking means to its portion of the support rod before installation of the luggage carrier on a vehicle.