Article carrier

Claim 2

An article carrier for an automobile comprising: at least two side rails fixedly secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile body surface; said side rails extending generally longitudinally of the automobile; said side rails each including means forming a channel member; a pair of bracket members disposed upon said side rails and at least one restraining bar extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to said bracket members; each said channel member further including locking means for enabling said bracket members to be detachably secured at an infinite number of positions along said side rails; means on each of said bracket members and cooperable with each said locking means of each said channel member for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting said bracket members and said restraining bar at infinite positions along said channel members; and each said channel member including integrally formed means for cooperating with said securing and adjusting means to enable fixed, locking engagement of said bracket members and said restraining bar at a plurality of predetermined positions along each said channel member; wherein each said channel member includes inwardly extending ledges which terminate to define a channel and flanges extending downwardly from said ledges; and wherein said means for cooperating with said securing and adjusting means of each said channel member includes a plurality of notches defined in one of said flanges and longitudinally spaced along said one of said flanges.

Claim 3

An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means of said channel member comprises a locking member being manually moveable between a closed and open position for locking and unlocking and said bracket member at a position along said side rail.

Claim 4

An article carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bracket member includes means forming a pocket, said locking member being disposed in said pocket.

Claim 5

An article carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking member has a wall portion with an upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of said bracket member and a base portion at one end of said wall portion.

Claim 6

An article carrier as set forth in claim 4 including means for allowing said locking member to rotate between said open and closed positions.

Claim 7

An article carrier as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for allowing said locking member to rotate between said open and closed positions comprises at least one shaft, said base portion being disposed about said shaft.

Claim 8

An article carrier as set forth in claim 6 including retaining means for retaining said shaft to said bracket member.

Claim 9

An article carrier as set forth in claim 7 including spring means being flexible for engaging and disengaging said flange of said channel member.

Claim 10

An article carrier as set forth in claim 8 wherein said spring means comprises a spring member having one end disposed about said shaft and another end having an L-shaped portion for engaging said flange and said notches of said channel member.

Claim 11

An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel member has a cross-sectional height greater than its width.

Claim 12

An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel member has a cross-sectional width greater than its height.

Claim 13

An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel member is fabricated of a roll-formed material.

Claim 14

An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said notches are rectangular in shape.

Claim 15

An article carrier as set forth in claim 1 wherein said notches are arcuate in shape.

Claim 16

An article carrier as set forth in claim 7 including spring means operatively connected to said locking member and being flexible for engaging and disengaging said flange of said channel member.

Claim 17

An article carrier as set forth in claim 8 wherein said spring means comprises a spring member having one end with an L-shaped portion for engaging said notches of said channel member.

Claim 18

An article carrier for an automobile comprising: a pair of parallel channel members secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile body surface; said pair of parallel channel members extending generally longitudinally of the automobile; a pair of bracket members disposed upon said pair of parallel channel members and at least one restraining bar extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to said bracket members; means on each of said bracket members and cooperable with said pair of parallel channel members for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting said bracket members and said restraining bars infinitely along said pair of parallel channel members; each one of said pair of parallel channel members including inwardly extending ledges which terminate to define a channel and flanges extending downwardly from said ledges and integrally formed means forming a plurality of notches in at least one of said flanges and longitudinally spaced therealong to cooperate with said securing and adjusting means to enable fixed, locking engagement of said bracket members at a plurality of predetermined positions along said channel; wherein said means comprises a locking member being manually moveable between a closed and open position for locking and unlocking said bracket member at a position along said slat; spring means operatively connected to said locking member and being flexible for engaging and disengaging said flange of said channel member; and wherein said spring means comprises a spring member having one end with a width less than a width of said notches engaging said notches of said channel member.

Claim 19

An article carrier for an automobile comprising: a pair of parallel channel members secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile body surface; said pair of parallel channel members extending generally longitudinally of the automobile; a pair of bracket members disposed upon said pair of parallel channel members and at least one restraining bar extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to said bracket members; means on each of said bracket members and cooperable with said pair of parallel channel members for detachably securing and longitudinally adjusting said bracket members and said restraining bars infinitely along said pair of parallel channel members; each one of said pair of parallel channel members including inwardly extending ledges which terminate to define a channel and flanges extending downwardly from said ledges and integrally formed means forming a plurality of notches in at least one of said flanges and longitudinally spaced therealong to cooperate with said securing and adjusting means to enable fixed, locking engagement of said bracket members at a plurality of predetermined positions along said channel; wherein said means comprises a locking member being manually moveable between a closed and open position for locking and unlocking said bracket member at a position along said slat; spring means operatively connected to said locking member and being flexible for engaging and disengaging said flange of said channel member; and wherein said spring means comprises a spring member having one end with a width less than a width of said notches engaging said notches of said channel member.

Claim 20

An article carrier for an automobile comprising: at least two side rails fixedly secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile body surface; said side rails extending generally longitudinally of said automobile; said side rails each including means forming a channel member; a pair of bracket members disposed upon said side rails and at least one restraining bar extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to said bracket members; said channel member further including inwardly extending ledges which terminate to define a channel and flanges extending downwardly from said ledges for enabling said bracket members to be detachably secured at an infinite number of positions along said channel member; one of said flanges further having a plurality of notches integrally formed therewith and longitudinally spaced therealong for cooperating with said securing and adjusting means to enable fixed, locking engagement of said bracket members and said restraining bar at a plurality of predetermined positions along said side rails.

Claim 21

An article carrier for an automobile comprising: at least two side rails fixedly secured on a generally horizontally extending exterior automobile body surface; said side rails extending generally longitudinally of said automobile; said side rails each including means forming a channel member; a pair of bracket members disposed upon said side rails and at least one restraining bar extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to said bracket members; said channel member further including inwardly extending ledges which terminate to define a channel and flanges extending downwardly from said ledges for enabling said bracket members to be detachably secured at an infinite number of positions along said channel member; one of said flanges further having a plurality of notches integrally formed therewith and longitudinally spaced therealong for cooperating with said securing and adjusting means to enable fixed, locking engagement of said bracket members and said restraining bar at a plurality of predetermined positions along said side rails.

Claim 22

An article carrier as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means comprises a locking member being manually moveable between a closed and open position for locking and unlocking and said bracket member at a position along said side rail.

Claim 23

An article carrier as set forth in claim 19 wherein said bracket member includes means forming a pocket, said locking member being disposed in said pocket.

Claim 24

An article carrier as set forth in claim 20 wherein said locking member has a wall portion with an upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of said bracket member and a base portion at one end of said wall portion.

Claim 25

An article carrier as set forth in claim 21 including means for allowing said locking member to rotate between said open and closed positions.

Claim 26

An article carrier as set forth in claim 22 wherein said means for allowing said locking member to rotate between said open and closed positions comprises at least one shaft, said base portion being disposed about said shaft.

Claim 27

An article carrier as set forth in claim 23 including retaining means for retaining said shaft to said bracket member.

Claim 28

An article carrier as set forth in claim 24 including spring means being flexible for engaging and disengaging said flange of said channel member.

Claim 29

An article carrier as set forth in claim 25 wherein said spring means comprises a spring member having one end disposed about said shaft and another end having an L-shaped portion for engaging said flange and said notches of said channel member.

Claim 30

An article carrier as set forth in claim 26 wherein said notches are rectangular in shape.

Claim 31

An article carrier as set forth in claim 27 wherein said notches are arcuate in shape.