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:
Jun. 09, 1998
Filed:
May. 02, 1996
John S Cucheran, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Victor M Bogdan, Northville, MI (US);
JAC Products, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle article carrier 10 forming a low, aerodynamic profile when secured to an outer body surface of the vehicle. The vehicle article carrier includes a pair of slats each having channel portions which are adapted to reside at least partially within channels formed in the outer body surface of the vehicle during manufacture of the vehicle. The low profile of the slats serves to reduce the degree to which a pair of bracket members and at least one cross bar secured to the bracket members projects above the outer body surface, thereby enhancing the aesthetic appeal and improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle article carrier. In preferred embodiments each slat includes a plurality of tie-down loops integrally formed therewith. The bracket members each incorporate a manually movable locking member adapted to lockably engage with the slat to hold the bracket member at a desired position along the slat. When the locking member is in its unlocked position, the bracket members may be moved slidably along the slats and repositioned as desired.