Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-10-30
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier associated with vehicle roof or trunk lid
C224S309000, C224S320000, C224S321000, C414S462000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308874
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a roof rack assembly and more particularly, to a roof rack assembly which is operatively deployed upon a vehicle and which is selectively movable to allow a user or operator of the assembly to, relatively easily and quickly, load and unload items to/from the assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Roof racks are generally deployed upon or secured to the roof of a vehicle, such as and without limitation a typical “sports utility vehicle”, and are effective to securely store and retain items, objects, and other cargo which are desired to be transported by the vehicle.
Roof racks typically include several elongated members or rails which may be selectively and removably connected to the vehicle and which cooperatively form a frame or support structure. Particularly, some or all of these members are normally adapted to be fixedly attached or coupled to the roof of the vehicle, and when properly deployed upon the roof and properly connected, are adapted to cooperatively provide a supporting structure upon which cargo, such as skis, bikes, luggage, and other items can be “tied down” or otherwise secured to the roof rack by one or more conventional fastening members.
One of the major drawbacks associated with many of these prior roof rack assemblies is that they are relatively difficult and inconvenient to access, thereby making the process of loading and/or unloading cargo and other items to/from the rack assemblies undesirably time-consuming and difficult. Particularly, in order to secure and/or remove items to/from these prior rack assemblies, a user typically is required to reside in or to achieve an elevated position (e.g., by use of a ladder), since these prior rack assemblies are fixedly coupled to the roof of the vehicle. Moreover, since the secured cargo and/or other items are generally located above a user's head and/or “eye level”, it is relatively difficult for a user to ensure that the retained cargo and/or other items are safely and properly secured upon the roof rack.
There is therefore a need for a new and improved roof rack assembly which overcomes many, if not all, of the previously delineated drawbacks of such prior roof rack assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a roof rack assembly which overcomes at least some, if not all, of the previously delineated disadvantages of prior roof rack assemblies.
It is second object of the invention to provide a roof rack assembly which includes a portion which is selectively removable from the roof, thereby allowing a user to access the assembly from “ground level” and without the use of an elevation mechanism and/or assembly.
It is a third object of the invention to provide a roof rack assembly which is further characterized by an attribute of allowing a user to relatively easily secure and/or remove cargo to/from the roof rack.
It is a fourth object of the invention to provide a roof rack assembly which does not substantially obstruct and/or hinder the ingress and/or egress to/from the vehicle passenger compartment.
According to one aspect of the present invention an assembly for use in combination with a vehicle of the type having a roof is provided. The assembly includes first and second elongated rails which are respectively and fixedly secured to the roof. The first elongated rail is substantially parallel to the second elongated rail and each rail includes a longitudinally extending slot. The assembly includes a rack member having first and second portions which each orthogonally project from the rack member and which are each movably disposed within a unique one of the slots, thereby allowing the rack member to be movable from a first position in which the rack member substantially overlays the roof, to a second position in which the rack member is remote from the roof.
According to a second aspect of the present invention a method for removably securing an item to a vehicle having a roof and a rear end portion is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a pair of elongated rails, each of the rails having a elongated slot; fixedly coupling the pair of elongated rails upon the roof in a substantially parallel relationship; slidably disposing a rack within the pair of elongated rails, effective to allow the rack to be movable from a first position in which the rack substantially overlays the roof and a second position in which the rack substantially overlays the end portion.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the subjoined claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Aidenbaum Steve
Kim Roger
Lee Minyong
Waskul Nicholas
Brevard Maerena W.
Cronin Stephen K.
Ford Global Tech. Inc.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
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