The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 27, 1994
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1993
Ralph J Mandarino, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (US);
Jon D Sparham, Pontiac, MI (US);
Thomas C Nanney, Warren, MI (US);
Robert C Kogelschatz, Marine City, MI (US);
Con J Nolan, Bloomfield Hill, MI (US);
MascoTech, Inc., Taylor, MI (US);
Abstract
An article carrier for an automotive vehicle or the like includes a pair of elongated side rails adapted to be mounted on an exterior body surface of the vehicle in spaced-apart parallel relation with the inboard sides thereof facing toward the longitudinal center line of the vehicle. Each of the side rails is formed with a transverse cross-section having a height greater than its width and an upper surface including a substantial portion thereof sloping downwardly and outwardly with respect to the vehicle center line. At least one article securing member is adapted to be mounted for longitudinal movement on each side rail and a mechanism is provided for selectively locking the article securing members in position along the side rails. A longitudinal molding element is adapted to be mounted on the exterior body surface along the outboard side of each side rail from adjacent the sloping upper surface portion thereof downwardly and outwardly to the exterior body surface for substantially filling the space defined therebetween to provide a streamlined aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing appearance to the outboard sides of the side rails.