Article carrier assembly
AssigneeAdvanced Accessory Systems LLC
InventorCraig Stapleton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article carrier assembly is partially recessed into a recessed roof panel joint channel. The article carrier assembly side rail is attachable to the vehicle roof panel, and includes a track and an outboard corner portion. A retainer includes a foot portion slidably disposed within the track for supporting the retainer on the side rails. A latch comprises a lever pivotally connected to the retainer for indexing the retainer at discrete positions along the side rail. A trim rail pad is secured with respect to the side rail, and extends from the outboard corner portion into the joint channel in a manner to substantially hide the side rail therebehind when viewed from a position alongside the vehicle. Alternative embodiments for the trim rail pad and latch are provided.
Claims4
An article carrier assembly for attachment to a vehicle roof panel having a recessed roof panel joint channel, the article carrier assembly comprising:
- a side rail attachable to the vehicle roof panel, said side rail having a track and having an outboard portion with an exposed surface and a trim rail pad receiving said side rail, and an exterior surface extending from an outboard comer portion into the joint channel in a manner to substantially hide the side rail track therebehind when viewed from a position alongside the vehicle;
- a cross rail,
- a retainer supporting said cross rail and having a foot portion slidably disposed within said track;
- and
- a latch connected to said retainer for securing said retainer in discrete positions along said side rail, wherein said pad comprises a plurality of indexing holes formed therealong and said latch comprises a hook lever for engagement with said indexing holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.