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. 12, 1995
Filed:
Apr. 04, 1994
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 Hills, MI (US);
MascoTech, Inc., Taylor, MI (US);
Abstract
An article carrier for an automotive vehicle includes a pair of elongated side members adapted to be mounted on an exterior body surface of the vehicle in spaced-apart parallel relation. At least one article securing member is adapted to be mounted for longitudinal movement on each side member and a mechanism is provided for selectively locking the article securing members in position along the side members. Each side member includes a plurality of apertures therein and the locking mechanism includes a latching member spring biased into self-locking engagement with one of the apertures when the latching member is aligned therewith. A push button and a cam are operative for moving the latching member against the bias of the spring and out of engagement with the apertures. The push button is movable laterally with respect to an outer surface of the article securing member and, in the preferred embodiment, an exposed manually engageable portion of the push button is disposed substantially flush with the outer surface when the latching member is engaged in one of the apertures.