Roof rack for a vehicle

A roof rack for a vehicle, comprising:

• a first and second spaced-apart support members adapted to be detachably secured to a roof of a vehicle;
• a first and second spaced-apart telescoping members respectively slidably attached to said support members and moveable between a retracted and an extended position, said telescoping members each including a first segment hinged to a second segment about a horizontal axis, said second segments being free from contact with said support member when said corresponding telescoping member is in said extended position, whereby said second segments selectively rotate about said horizontal axis;
• a first and second L-shaped members, said first L-shaped member having a first portion secured to an outer end of said second segment of said first telescoping member spaced from said first segment, said second L-shaped member having a first portion secured to an outer end of said second segment of said second telescoping member spaced from said first segment, each said L-shaped members having a laterally extending second portion respectively extending above and approximately parallel to said support members when said telescoping members are in said retracted position whereby said second portions of said L-shaped members are adapted to receive a load thereon and space the load above said support members and said vehicle roof when said telescoping members are in said retracted position;
• a support cross bar extending between said support members and attached to said support members, said support cross bar having a first member and a second member, said first member slidably attached to said second member;
• a telescoping member cross bar extending between and attached to said telescoping member second segments distal said telescoping member first segments, said telescoping member cross bar having a first member and a second member, said first member slidably attached to said second member;
• a first and second brace respectively fixed to said support members and supporting said telescoping members to limit the rotation about the horizontal axis of said second segments when in said extended position to prevent contact with the vehicle.

A roof rack for a vehicle, comprising:

• a support member adapted to be detachably secured to a roof of a vehicle;
• a telescoping member slidably attached to said support member for movement between a retracted and an extended position, said telescoping member including:
• a first segment hinged to a second segment about a horizontal axis, said second segment being free from contact with said support member when said telescopic member is in said extended position, whereby said second segment selectively rotates about said horizontal axis;
• an L-shaped member having a free end and a fixed end, said fixed end attached to an outer end of said second segment of said telescoping member, said free end extending above and approximately parallel to said support member when said telescoping member is in said retracted position for spacing receiving a load on said L-shaped member which spaces the load above said support member and the vehicle's roof;
• and
• a brace fixedly mounted to said support member adjacent a junction between said telescoping member and said L-shaped member, when in said retracted position;
• said brace presenting a triangular wedge which includes an angularly extending surface that supports said telescoping member when in said extended position to prevent said telescoping member from contacting the vehicle.