Adjustable cross rail for a vehicle article carrier

A vehicle article carrier comprising:

• a pair of side rail members extending longitudinally along a major length of an outer body surface of a vehicle, said side rail members being disposed generally parallel to one another;
• at least one bracket member associated with each one of said side rail members for supporting each said side rail member elevationally above said outer body surface of said vehicle;
• a cross bar disposed generally transversely of and between said side rail members for supporting articles thereon above said outer body surface;
• a channel associated with each one of said bracket members for defining a continuous path providing a first position at which said cross bar is positioned above said outer body surface, and a second position vertically below said first position at which said cross bar is positioned closely adjacent said outer body surface of said vehicle to present a low profile for said cross bar relative to said outer body surface of said vehicle;
• and
• a manually engageable locking assembly associated with at least said cross bar for releasably securing said cross bar at each of said first and second positions.

A vehicle article carrier comprising:

• a pair of elongated side rail members positioned parallel to one another and extending longitudinally along a major length of an outer body surface of a vehicle;
• a channel formed in each one of said side rail members;
• at least one bracket member associated with each one of said side rail members for fixedly supporting each one of said side rail members above said outer body surface;
• each one of said bracket members including a channel formed therein, said channel extending from a first position generally in line with said channel of its associated said side rail member to a second position closely adjacent said outer body surface and elevationally below said side rail member, said channel of each one of said bracket members having a generally curving, continuous shape;
• a cross bar positioned between said side rail members and extending transversely of each of said side rail members;
• and
• a locking assembly associated with each outermost end portion of said cross bar for permitting said cross bar to be moved slidably along said channels of said bracket members and said channels of said side rail members and for releasably securing said cross bar in said first and second positions.

A vehicle article carrier comprising:

• a pair of laterally spaced apart side rails adapted to be fixedly secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle;
• at least one bracket member associated with each of said side rails and adapted to support its associated said side rail above said outer body surface;
• and
• a cross bar moveable slidably longitudinally along said side rails in a generally horizontal plane and moveable slidably along portions of said bracket members from a position along said generally horizontal plane into a storage position disposed vertically below said horizontal plane such that said cross bar is disposed closely adjacent said outer body surface of said vehicle.