Deployable roof rack system
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorJames G. Gobart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rack system for a roof of a vehicle includes a pair of longitudinal bars extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a pair of transverse bars attached to the longitudinal bars and extending across the vehicle. A plurality of riser assemblies pivotably interconnects the longitudinal bars to the roof, to raise and lower both the longitudinal bars and the transverse bars between a deployed position and a stowed position. When in the stowed position, the longitudinal bars and the transverse bars are flush with an exterior surface of the roof. When in the deployed position, the longitudinal bars and the transverse bars are spaced from the exterior surface of the roof.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a roof having an exterior surface;
- and
- a rack system disposed on the exterior surface of the roof and including at least one longitudinal bar extending along and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body and at least on transverse bar extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body;
- wherein both the longitudinal bar and the transverse bar are moveable between a deployed position and a stowed position, with both the longitudinal bar and the transverse bar vertically spaced from the exterior surface of the roof when in the deployed position and substantially flush with the exterior surface of the roof when in the stowed position.
A rack system for a roof of a vehicle, wherein the roof includes an exterior surface, the rack system comprising;
- a first longitudinal bar and a second longitudinal bar spaced from and parallel with the first longitudinal bar;
- a first transverse bar and a second transverse bar spaced from and parallel with the first transverse bar, wherein the first transverse bar and the second transverse bar are attached to and extend between the first longitudinal bar and the second longitudinal bar;
- a plurality of riser assemblies configured for pivotably interconnecting the roof and each of the first longitudinal bar and the second longitudinal bar to raise and lower the first longitudinal bar, the second longitudinal bar, the first transverse bar and the second transverse bar between a stowed position and a deployed position, with the first longitudinal bar, the second longitudinal bar, the first transverse bar and the second transverse bar vertically spaced from the exterior surface of the roof when in the deployed position, and substantially flush with the exterior surface of the roof when in the stowed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.