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:
Jan. 26, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 28, 1997
Michael Moliner, Kingsbury, CA;
SportRack International Inc., Granby, CA;
Abstract
A utility rack provided for carrying loads on vehicles, such as skis, snowboards, bicycles, watersport equipment, lumber, etc., comprises an elongated carrier bar, legs at each end of the carrier bar and adapted to take support on the vehicle, strap and hook assemblies for removably securing the utility rack to the vehicle, a rack-and-pinion ratchet adjustment and locking mechanism in the carrier bar for selectively withdrawing the straps towards the legs and into the carrier bar such as to tighten the hooks to the vehicle until the utility rack is in a firmly mounted position thereof on the vehicle, and for locking the straps in place thereby retaining the utility rack in its mounted position. The thin hooks are made of high strength tempered steel and are PVC coated. The carrier bar defines accessory receiving channels. The legs are provided with swivel feet. A lockable lever actuates the ratchet adjustment and locking mechanism. The straps are angled at about 30.degree. to 40.degree. to the horizontal, preferably around 30.degree., and are flexible yet solid for substantially following the contour of the roof line of the vehicle at the lateral curved edges thereof.