Decoma International Corporation

John D Michrina

James R Drouillard

Christopher John Kuntze

Jeffrey L Roberts

The present invention is an article carrier assembly for mounting on an exterior surface of a motor vehicle. The article carrier comprise a pair of elongated side rails constructed and arranged to be mounted on an exterior surface of the motor vehicle. The side rails extend generally parallel to one another in a spaced apart relation. Each of the side rails has a longitudinally extending deformable gripping structure. An elongated adjustable cross rail assembly is constructed and arranged to be mounted transversely between and releasably lockable along the side rails in an infinite range of operating positions. The cross rail assembly has rail locking structures mounted on opposite ends thereof for selectively engaging the gripping structure. An actuator assembly gangs the rail locking structures together for cooperative movement thereof between locked positions wherein the rail locking structures engage and compress the gripping structure to lock the cross rail assembly in one of the infinite range of operating positions and disengage positions permitting longitudinal travel of the cross rail assembly along the side rails.

Article carrier assembly having a cross rail assembly adjustable within

The present invention is an article carrier assembly for mounting on an exterior surface of a motor vehicle, the article including a pair of elongated side rails constructed and arranged to be mounted on an exterior surface of the motor vehicle. The side rails extend generally parallel to one another in a spaced apart relation and an elongated adjustable cross rail assembly constructed and arranged to be mounted transversely between and releasably lockable along the side rails in a range of operating positions. The cross rail assembly has rail locking structures mounted on opposite ends thereof for selectively engaging the side rails. An actuator is operatively connected to the rail locking structures. The actuator is positioned such that an operator standing on one side of the vehicle can manipulate the actuator and move the cross rail assembly between the operating positions. The actuator assembly includes a rod extending from a distal one of the rail locking structures and pivotally connected to the actuator and a camming member frictionally engaging a near one of the rail locking structures. The near one of the rail locking structures is biased into engagement with the camming member. Pivotal movement of the actuator effects cooperative movement of the rail locking structures between locked positions wherein the rail locking structures engage the side rails to lock the cross rail assembly in one of the operating positions and disengage positions permitting longitudinal travel of the cross rail assembly along the side rails.

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Irvine, CA, United States of America

John D Michrina