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, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 20, 1999
Amesh De Silva, Richmond Hill, CA;
Dennis D Noonan, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Robert D Worley, Fenton, MI (US);
Decoma International Inc., Ontario, CA;
Abstract
The present invention relates to an article carrier assembly for installation on a generally upwardly facing surface of a motor vehicle. The assembly comprises first and second elongated side rails each having locking member engaging portions. Preferably, the locking member engaging portions are spaced apart apertures, although the present invention is not intended to be limited in such a manner. The side rails mount on the generally upwardly facing surface of the motor vehicle in spaced apart, generally parallel relation. An adjustable cross rail assembly has an elongated cross rail for supporting articles of cargo, a fixed locking member fixedly mounted on one opposing end portion of the cross rail, and a selectively movable locking member movably mounted on the other opposing end portion of the cross rail. The movable locking member is selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The cross rail assembly mounts in an operative position with the cross rail extending transversely between the side rails, the fixed locking member engaging the engaging portion of the first side rail, and the movable locking member being moved to the locked position thereof and engaging the engaging portion of the second side rail. Together, the fixed and movable locking members cooperate with the locking member engaging portions to prevent longitudinal movement of the cross rail assembly with respect to the side rails. The cross rail assembly can be repositioned longitudinally with respect to the side rails from one side of the vehicle by manually affecting movement of the movable locking member to the unlocked position thereof so as to disengage it from the engaging portion of the second side rail, then moving the cross rail assembly so as to disengage the fixed locking member from the engaging portion of the first side rail, then moving the cross rail assembly longitudinally with respect to the cross rail, and thereafter re-engaging the fixed locking member with the engaging portion of the first side rail and manually affecting movement of the movable locking member into the locked position thereof into engagement with the engaging portion of the second side rail.