Slat assembly for vehicle article carriers

Claim 2

A slat assembly adapted to be mounted to a surface portion of a vehicle, comprising: means forming a generally vertically opening channel member extending longitudinally and fixedly secured on the surface portion of the vehicle, said channel member means including means forming one or more apertures therealong in a side portion thereof; tie-down means having an inclined portion and a horizontal portion for cooperating with said one or more apertures in said channel member means such that said horizontal portion extends inwardly through said side portion of said channel member means and partially underneath a bottom wall of said channel member means to enable a load to be removably secured to said vehicle, said tie-down means being disposed closely adjacent said surface portion of said vehicle such that a lower surface of said horizontal portion is positioned generally flush with a lower edge of said side portion of said channel member means; said horizontal portion having a first end and second end; said second end of said horizontal portion ending substantially as said one or more apertures; said inclined portion being connected to said second end and extending away from said first end; and fastening means extending through said tie-down means and said bottom wall of said channel member in a direction generally transverse to said surface portion of said vehicle to secure said horizontal portion of said tie-down means and said channel member means to said surface portion of said vehicle.

Claim 3

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tie-down member is made of a plastic material.

Claim 4

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel member is made of a roll formed metal material.

Claim 5

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said channel member comprises a bottom portion, inner and outer side portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion, said one or more apertures extending transversely through said inner side portion.

Claim 6

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tie-down means comprises a tie-down member having a horizontal portion and an inclined portion extending upwardly at an angle relative to said horizontal portion.

Claim 7

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said inclined portion includes means forming an aperture extending therethrough.

Claim 8

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 6 including fastening means for securing said channel member and tie-down member to the surface portion.

Claim 9

A slat assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said channel member includes means forming a channel, said channel means having at least one side wall formed with a pluratlity of apertures longitudinally spaced therealong.

Claim 10

A slat assembly adapted to be mounted to a surface portion of a vehicle, comprising: means forming a channel member extending longitudinally and fixedly secured on the surface portion of the vehicle, said channel member means including a bottom wall, a channel side wall and an upper wall, extending upwardly from said bottom wall forming a channel, and an inner wall, and means forming a first plurality of apertures along said channel side wall, and means forming a second plurality of apertures in said inner wall, each one of said second plurality of apertures extending down to a lower edge surface of said inner wall; tie-down means for cooperating with said one of said pluralities of apertures, said tie-down means comprising a tie-down member having a horizontal portion and an inclined portion extending upwardly at an angle relative to said horizontal portion, said inclined portion including means forming an aperture extending therethrough, said horizontal portion being adapted to extend through one aperture of said second plurality of apertures and underneath said bottom wall; said horizontal portion having a first end and a second end; said second end of said horizontal portion ending substantially at said one aperture of said second plurality of apertures; said inclined portion being connected to said second end and extending away from said first end; and fastening means extending through said bottom wall and said horizontal portion of said tie-down means for securing said channel member means and said tie-down means to the surface portion.

Claim 11

A slat assembly adapted to be mounted to a surface portion of a vehicle, comprising: means forming a channel member extending longitudinally and fixedly secured on the surface portion of the vehicle, said channel member means including a bottom wall, a channel side wall and an upper wall, extending upwardly from said bottom wall forming a channel, and an inner wall, and means forming a first plurality of apertures along said channel side wall, and means forming a second plurality of apertures in said inner wall, each one of said second plurality of apertures extending down to a lower edge surface of said inner wall; tie-down means for cooperating with said one of said pluralities of apertures, said tie-down means comprising a tie-down member having a horizontal portion and an inclined portion extending upwardly at an angle relative to said horizontal portion, said inclined portion including means forming an aperture extending therethrough, said horizontal portion being adapted to extend through one aperture of said second plurality of apertures and underneath said bottom wall; said horizontal portion having a first end and a second end; said second end of said horizontal portion ending substantially at said one aperture of said second plurality of apertures; said inclined portion being connected to said second end and extending away from said first end; and fastening means extending through said bottom wall and said horizontal portion of said tie-down means for securing said channel member means and said tie-down means to the surface portion.

Claim 12

A slat assembly adapted to be mounted to a surface portion of a vehicle, comprising: means forming a channel member extending longitudinally and fixedly secured on the surface portion of the vehicle, said channel member means including means forming one or more first apertures along said channel member means; said channel member means including a bottom portion, inner and outer side portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion, and a channel side wall and an inner wall extending downwardly from upper ends of said inner and outer side portions to a bottom wall to define a channel, said channel inner side portion including means forming one or more second apertures extending transversely therethrough and opening along said bottom portion; at least one tie-down member including a horizontal portion and an inclined portion extending upwardly at an angle relative to said horizontal portion, said inclined portion including means forming an aperture extending therethrough, said horizontal portion of each said tie-down member extending through one of said second apertures of said channel inner side portion and partially underneath said bottom wall, and being adapted to be placed closely adjacent said surface portion of said vehicle and to protrude through one of said first apertures; said horizontal portion having a first end and a second end; said second end of said horizontal portion ending substantially at said one of said second apertures; said inclined portion being connected to said second end and extending away from said first end; and fastening means for securing both said channel member means and said tie-down member to the surface portion of said vehicle when said horizontal portion of said tie-down member is inserted through said one of said second apertures, said fastening means extending through said bottom portion of said channel member and said horizontal portion into engagement with said surface portion of said vehicle.

Claim 13

A slat assembly adapted to be mounted to a surface portion of a vehicle, comprising: means forming a channel member extending longitudinally and fixedly secured on the surface portion of the vehicle, said channel member means including means forming one or more first apertures along said channel member means; said channel member means including a bottom portion, inner and outer side portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion, and a channel side wall and an inner wall extending downwardly from upper ends of said inner and outer side portions to a bottom wall to define a channel, said channel inner side portion including means forming one or more second apertures extending transversely therethrough and opening along said bottom portion; at least one tie-down member including a horizontal portion and an inclined portion extending upwardly at an angle relative to said horizontal portion, said inclined portion including means forming an aperture extending therethrough, said horizontal portion of each said tie-down member extending through one of said second apertures of said channel inner side portion and partially underneath said bottom wall, and being adapted to be placed closely adjacent said surface portion of said vehicle and to protrude through one of said first apertures; said horizontal portion having a first end and a second end; said second end of said horizontal portion ending substantially at said one of said second apertures; said inclined portion being connected to said second end and extending away from said first end; and fastening means for securing both said channel member means and said tie-down member to the surface portion of said vehicle when said horizontal portion of said tie-down member is inserted through said one of said second apertures, said fastening means extending through said bottom portion of said channel member and said horizontal portion into engagement with said surface portion of said vehicle.