Folding roof rack for cars

Claim 1

A folding car roof rack comprising: (a) first and second rigid side members of channel shape, each having first and second ends; (b) first and second rigid end members, each of which has at least one elongate flat surface and first and second ends; (c) a first articulated joint connecting the first ends of said first side and first end members in such a way that first end member can swing by 270 degrees about said first end of said first side member from a first position in which said flat surface of said first end member is parallel and close to the outer bottom surface of said first channel shaped side member to a second position in which said first end member forms a right angle with said first side member; (d) a second articulated joint connecting the first ends of said second side and second end members in such a way that said second end member can swing by 270 degrees about said first end of said second side member from a first position in which said flat surface of said second end member is parallel and close to the outer bottom surface of said second channel shaped side member to a second position in which said second end member forms a right angle with said second side member; (e) first separable fastening means for securing the second ends of said first side and second end members together while said roof rack is in use and said second end member is in said first position thereof relative to said first side member; (f) second separable fastening means for securing the second ends of said second side and first end members together while said roof rack is in use and said first end member is in said second position thereof relative to said second side member; and (g) a plurality of cargo support members, each cargo support member being articulated approximately midway between its ends and having ends which are respectively articulated to said first and second side members in such a manner that the open sides of said channel shaped side members face each other and each cargo support member can fold up, without interference with any other cargo support member, within a box-like split tube formed by said facing side members brought close to each other, when said separable fastening means are separated for placing said end members in their respective first positions.