Advanced Accessory Systems, LLC

Huron/st. Clair Incorporated

Sportrack LLC

Masco Corporation

Huron/st. Clair Company

Huron/st. Clair Company, a Division of Masco Industries, Inc.

Other

Chrysler Corporation

Mascotech, Inc.

Sportrack Automotive

Craig A Stapleton

Gary M Cronce

Curtis J Nordin

Mark C Towns

William A Rasor

Charles R Schriner

Terry L Obermesik

Jerald J Foster

Gregory L Eilers

Douglas Lee Wickham

William D Batterson

Kevin D Wilson

James A Lee, Jr

Robert Boulard

Robert S Zauner

Mark Denny

John Edward Klinkman

Robert R Lazarevich

Robert G Cronce

Craig R Prasatek

Curt Nordin

Stephen Peter Siivola

Ronald W Reid

Curtis J Morlin

Thomas R Corrente

Paul E Scapini

A support assembly for use with a vehicle article carrier comprises a one-piece support having a base portion and a rail portion, a first attachment mechanism associated with the support, and a cover. The cover has a second attachment mechanism engaging the first attachment mechanism to secure the cover to the support.

One-piece support with integrated rail attachment mechanism and interchangeable outer cover

An article carrier is described. The article carrier comprises a pair of side rails, an extendable article carrier, and at least one cross rail. The pair of side rails are affixed to a vehicle roof The extendable article carrier is adjustably positioned between the pair of side rails from a stowed position on a vehicle roof, to an extended position from the vehicle roof, and to a deployed position about a rear hatch. The extendable article carrier includes a first and a second pair of slider rail sections that are intermediately connected by a first pair of hinges, respectively. The extendable article carrier includes a third pair of slider rail sections. The second pair of slider rails and the third pair of slider rail sections are intermediately connected by a second pair of hinges. The first, second, and third pair of slider rail sections slide about a channel that is integrally formed in each of the side rails. The at least one cross rail is adjustably positioned between the first, second, and third pair of slider rail sections

Extendable article carrier

An article carrier assembly includes a pair of longitudinally laterally spaced siderails, each attachable to a vehicle roof panel, including a track and outboard corner portion. A pair of stanchions are attached to the tracks for slidable movement through a plurality of positions. A first crossrail is pivotally secured to a forward end of one of the siderails, and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the recessed position, the first crossrail is recessed in the siderail to which the first crossrail is attached. In the deployed position, the first crossrail is supported on both siderails. A second crossrail is pivotally attached to one of the stanchions opposite the siderail to which the first crossrail is attached. The second crossrail is rotatable between a stowed position, and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the second crossrail is recessed in the siderail and in the deployed position, the second crossrail is supported on both stanchions. When stowed, the crossrails generate a reduced amount of wind noise and vehicle drag.

Article carrier with stowing crossrails

A movable running board system which includes a running board which is supported by a movable under carriage. The movable under carriage is coupled to a motor wherein the motor is capable of moving the running board between a fully extended position and a retracted position. The motor is coupled to a motor controller which receives a signal from a door position switch. When the door position switch indicates that the vehicle door is opened, the motor controller commands the motor to manipulate the running board to a fully extended position. Once the vehicle door is closed the door position sensor sends the 'closed door' signal to the motor controller which, then in turn, commands the motor to retract the running board into the retracted position.

Motor powered running board

An article carrier assembly for a vehicle roof includes a pair of side rails adapted for attachment to the vehicle roof, each side rail forming an inboard edge portion or a series of indexing holes. In one embodiment, a latch on a stanchion includes tie loops for securing articles on one assembly with rope. The latch lever includes a distal end portion engageable with the inboard edge portion or with the indexing holes for securing the stanchion with respect to the side rail. The latch lever is pivotally secured to a foot portion of the stanchion which includes spring portions compressible against the side rails to prevent rattles. In another embodiment, a hook portion of the latch compressibly engages a resilient side rail portion to create a clamping action to immobilize the stanchion on a trim rail and reduce rattles.

Article carrier assembly for a vehicle roof

An article carrier includes a cross member rollingly engaging a pair of longitudinally extending side rails. The cross member has rollers that engage the side rails for reducing the amount of effort required to move the cross member along the side rails. A cross member lock mechanism is also disclosed having three distinct modes of operation: automatically re-locking, manually re-locking, and locked.

Article carrier having cross member with rollers

Front roof rack support

An article carrier assembly is partially recessed into a recessed roof panel joint channel. The article carrier assembly side rail is attachable to the vehicle roof panel, and includes a track and an outboard corner portion. A retainer includes a foot portion slidably disposed within the track for supporting the retainer on the side rails. A latch comprises a lever pivotally connected to the retainer for indexing the retainer at discrete positions along the side rail. A trim rail pad is secured with respect to the side rail, and extends from the outboard corner portion into the joint channel in a manner to substantially hide the side rail therebehind when viewed from a position alongside the vehicle. Alternative embodiments for the trim rail pad and latch are provided.

Article carrier assembly

A utility bar assembly for attachment to a roof rack, including an elongated utility bar, at least two clamp assemblies detachably engageable with the roof rack, at least two fastening devices for connecting the clamp assemblies to the utility bar. Optional support blocks may also be provided for positioning and supporting the utility bar on the roof rack.

Utility bar assemblies for a roof rack

Rear roof rack support

Roof rack support

Integrated side rail and tie loops

An article carrier for a motor vehicle comprises a stanchion latch operator for a stanchion that supports the end of a crossbar on a side rail of the luggage carrier. The stanchion latch operator comprises a stanchion body having a side rail jaw a crossbar holder and latch chamber. The latch body fits within the latch chamber and includes a button flange as well as a lever with a hooked end. A pivot mount supports the latch body in the latch chamber about a pivot axis and is biased toward a latched position by a spring. The latch body includes a cam surface meeting with a shoulder on an upper chamber to displace the hooked end perpendicular to the pivot axis as the button flange is pivoted about the pivot axis.

Push button stanchion latch operator with cammed hook

An article carrier for mounting to a vehicle body panel is formed by a crossbar connecting longitudinal rails. The crossbar is made of a cross rail and stanchions which support the cross rail for displacement along and locking engagement with the longitudinal rails. The split stanchions are formed of first and second jaw members, and one of the jaw members is carried by a shelf on the other jaw member and displaced along the shelf by a retainer. The retainer is manipulated by an actuator, preferably in the form of a rotary knob which is selectively engageable with a nut. The nut is threadably engaged on a threaded shaft that is engaged in an insert in the one of jaw parts and extending through the other jaw part. At least one of the jaw parts includes an engagement surface for locking the stanchion to the rail when the retainer has moved the jaws to the closed position. Conversely, the retainer separates engagement surfaces from the longitudinal rail when the jaw parts are moved to an open position, in which the cross rail is displaceable along or removable from the longitudinal rail.

Split stanchion article carrier

Growing community of inventors

Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Craig A Stapleton