Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-01-30
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
C224S326000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179179
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
This invention relates to vehicle article carriers, and more particularly to a vehicle article carrier having a pair of elevated side rails and a cross bar extending therebetween, in which the cross bar can be repositioned along the side rails from one side of the vehicle without binding of the cross bar as it is moved along the side rails.
DISCUSSION
Vehicle article carriers are used in a wide variety of applications to transport various forms of cargo thereon above an outer body surface of a vehicle. Typically, such vehicle article carriers incorporate a pair of elongated side rails which are disposed generally parallel to one another and fixedly secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle such that a major portion of each side rail extends above the outer body surface. One or more cross bars are positioned between the side rails. Each cross bar typically has some form of supporting structure at each outermost end thereof. The side rails further typically include channels which receive portions of the supporting structure at each end of the cross bar. In this manner the cross bar is supported by the side rails elevationally above the outer body surface.
Typically, at least one cross bar is adjustable on the side rails. This enables a user to reposition the cross bar as needed to suit various size loads or cargo items that need to be transported. Each supporting structure further typically includes some form of locking mechanism to allow each supporting structure to be secured at desired point along the side rails.
When repositioning a side rail such as described above, the user typically grasps the cross bar at one end thereof from one side of the vehicle and attempts to move the cross bar longitudinally along the side rails. However, the friction from the components of each supporting structure which are disposed within the channels of the side rails can cause “binding” of the cross bar. By “binding” it is meant that one end or the other of the cross bar periodically becomes momentarily jammed because of the slightly non-perpendicular positioning of the cross bar relative to the side rails, and the resulting friction caused by engagement of various surfaces of the supporting structures within the channels of the side rails. Thus, the user often cannot simply slide the cross bar easily from one end thereof along the side rails but must instead walk back and forth between both sides of the vehicle moving first one end of the cross bar and then the opposite end from the other side of the vehicle to gradually move the cross bar to the desired position on the side rails. Even when movement of the cross bar from one end thereof can be accomplished, such adjustment is not easily accomplished because the user has to exert a twisting force on the cross bar to compensate for the repeated binding that occurs at each end of the cross bar.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a vehicle article carrier having a pair of side rails which include at least one adjustable cross bar, where the cross bar may be repositioned easily from one side of the vehicle without encountering any binding or jamming of the support assemblies at the outer ends of the cross bar as they move slidably along the side rails.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle article carrier having a pair of side rails and at least one adjustable cross bar, where the cross bar includes structure capable of eliminating binding thereof as it is moved slidably along the side rails through the use of structure at each end of the cross bar, and where the structure does not significantly increase the cost, weight or complexity of the cross bar.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle article carrier having a pair of side rails and at least one adjustable cross bar, and where the cross bar can be used with a conventional side rail having a longitudinally extending channel formed therein without modification to the side rail, and which further eliminates binding as the cross bar is moved slidably along the side rails.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects are provided by a vehicle article carrier in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle article carrier comprises a pair of side rails which are adapted to be secured to an outer body surface of a vehicle and at least one cross bar which is disposed between the side rails. The side rails each incorporate channels which extend along a major portion of the length thereof. The cross bar includes a bracket assembly at each outermost end thereof. Each bracket assembly includes at least one guide wheel assembly incorporating one or more horizontally disposed wheels. A portion of the bracket assembly together with the wheels are disposed within the channel of an associated one of the side rails. The wheels do not bear any load but rather serve to prevent binding of the bracket assembly relative to its associated side rail as the cross bar is moved slidably along the side rails when being repositioned on the side rails.
In one preferred embodiment the bracket assembly includes a base which rides within a channel of an associated one of the side rails. The base includes a pair of guide wheel assemblies at opposite ends thereof. Each guide wheel assembly comprises a pair of horizontally disposed guide wheels which make contact with interior surfaces of an associated one of the side rails when the cross bar is moved along the side rails to prevent binding of the ends of the cross bar.
An advantage of the preferred embodiments described above is that regardless of the number of guide wheels incorporated, none of the guide wheels are used to bear the load of the cross bar and/or cargo being supported on the cross bar. Thus, no bearings are required for the guide wheels. Furthermore, because the guide wheels are not required to bear the weight of the cross bar and any objects positioned thereon, the guide wheels can be constructed from relatively inexpensive materials.
The preferred embodiments enable a cross bar to be slidably repositioned by a user wheel standing on one side of a vehicle and grasping one end of the cross bar without the objectionable binding that would otherwise occur with other forms of cross bars. The present invention further accomplishes this with a limited number of inexpensive, additional component parts and without requiring modifications to the side rails. Since the present invention is able to be used with conventional side rails, it can also be retrofitted to pre-existing vehicle article carriers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5715980 (1998-02-01), Blankenburg et al.
patent: 094010007 (1994-05-01), None
Aftanas Jeffrey M.
Potter Donald R.
Cronin Stephen K.
Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC
JAC Products Inc.
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