Vehicle article carrier

An article carrier slat comprised of at least one part, adapted to be fixedly secured to a motor vehicle adjacent to a generally horizontal extending body surface of said vehicle, said body surface having arcuate edges along the longitudinal length thereof, said slat extending generally parallel to a longitudinally extending line on said motor vehicle, comprising:

• a bottom surface adapted to rest on one of the arcuate edges of the vehicle surface;
• a first external surface aerodynamically conformable to said one arcuate edge of the vehicle surface such that said upper external surface blends in with the curvature of the arcuate edge of the vehicle surface with a curvature having a slope continuously varying in the same direction in transverse cross-section of said slat;
• a second external surface extending upwardly from the other side of said bottom surface and toward said first external surface;
• and
• elongated means for slideably attaching article securing means at any point along the length of said slat including an elongated channel disposed between said first and second external surfaces, said elongated means being offset from a centerline formed by the outer edge of said first external surface and the outer edge of said second external surface;
• said slat having a width larger than its height.

An article carrier adapted to be secured to a vehicle adjacent to a generally horizontally extending exterior body surface of the vehicle having a generally central area and externally spaced outer edge surface extending outwardly from said central area toward the lateral outer sides of said vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of parallel slats adapted to be independently fixedly secured on said generally horizontally extending exterior body surface,
• at least certain of said slats having a bottom surface adapted to be disposed in generally facing relation toward said body surface, extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle along said outer edge surface, and defining an outer edge, an upper and outer side portion curving gradually upwardly and inwardly in diverging relation to said bottom portion from said outer edge with a curvature continuously varying as the curvature of the arcuate contour shape of the adjacent outer edge surfaces of said vehicle body surface, each of said pair of slat members having a third portion extending between said bottom and side portions with an elongated channel disposed therein in offset relation to a longitudinal centerline between the inner and outer edges of said bottom portion;
• and
• a pair of bracket members disposed at least in part upon said upper and outer side portion of said certain of said slats, and a restraining bar extending laterally between and secured adjacent its opposite ends to said bracket members;
• wherein at least one of said bracket members has an outer surface aerodynamically conformable to said upper and outer side portion of a corresponding slat and having a curvature continuously varying in the same direction in transverse cross-section of said bracket as the curvature of the arcuate contour shape of the adjacent outer edge surface of said vehicle body surface, and including means cooperable with said channel for longitudinally adjusting said restraining bar at various positions along said certain of said slats.

An elongated article carrier member to which article securing members may be secured, adapted to be fixedly secured to an automotive vehicle lying directly upon a generally horizontally extending exterior body surface of said vehicle, said member being mounted to extend generally longitudinally of the automotive vehicle, and comprising:

• a bottom portion adapted to be disposed in generally facing relation toward the surface of the vehicle body surface and defining an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein a longitudinal centerline for said member coincides with the longitudinal centerline of said inner and outer edges;
• an upper and outer side portion curving gradually upwardly and inwardly in diverging relation to said bottom portion from said outer edge;
• elongated means for permitting sliding movement of at least one article securing member along the length of the elongated article carrier member, said elongated means for permitting sliding movement of said article securing members including a channel spaced from said upper and outer side portion;
• and
• a second external side portion disposed adjacent the opposite side of and extending substantially from said body surface to said channel of said elongated means for permitting sliding movement;
• wherein said channel of said elongated means for permitting sliding movement is offset from said longitudinal centerline of said article carrier member.