Adjustable and removable cross rail

Claim 1

An article carrier of the type adapted to be mounted on an exterior vehicle surface that extends generally horizontally, said carrier including a pair of side rails supported above the generally horizontal vehicle surface, each side rail having an outer surface, a cross rail extending between said side rails, and a pair of bracket devices for supporting the ends of the cross rail for longitudinal adjustment along said side rails, the improvement wherein each bracket device includes; a first member non-movably fixed to said cross rail and adapted to overlay a portion of the associated side rail outer surface to support all vertical loads imposed on the cross rail; a second member movable with respect to the first member and adapted to underlay a portion of the associated side rail outer surface in an opposed relationship to the first member; and means for adjustably connecting said first and second members to adjustably clamp said members to said side rail, and said connecting means permitting said second member to move out of its underlaying position relative to said side rail whereby the cross rail can be removed from the side rail; and wherein each side rail is provided with a lip portion projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof substantially throughout the length thereof, and the first and second members of the bracket device associated with each side rail clampingly engaging the lip thereof to secure the cross rail to the side rail.