Vehicle with a Roof Rack System Under a Soft or Removable Roof

Abstract

A vehicle structure with an upper framework that consists of a driver side frame element, a passenger side frame element and possible lateral crossbars. An open area is interposed between the driver side frame element and the passenger side frame element. The vehicle has a roof system to selectively cover and expose the open area. When the roof system is closed, a gap space exists between the open area and the interior of the roof system. Removable mounts are bolted to the upper framework. At least two cargo bars are provided that attach to the mounts. The cargo bars extend across the open area and are supported by the mounts in the gap space under the roof system. In this manner, the roof system can be selectively opened and closed over the cargo bars.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle structure comprising:
 an upper framework having a driver side frame element, a passenger side frame element and an open area interposed between said driver side frame element and said passenger side frame element;   a roof system for selectively covering and exposing said open area, wherein a gap space exists between said open area and said roof system when said roof system covers said open area;   removable mounts bolted to said upper framework;   at least two cargo bars that attach to said mounts, wherein said cargo bars extend across said open area and are supported by said mounts in said gap space under said roof system.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper framework includes at least one lateral crossbar that extends between said driver side frame element and said passenger side frame element. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said mounts bolts to said at least one lateral crossbar. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounts have bar receptacles for receiving said cargo bars and brackets that extend between said bar receptacles and said upper framework. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 4 , wherein said cargo bars attach to said bar receptacles with removable mechanical fasteners, therein enabling said cargo bars to be selectively attached to and detached from said bar receptacles. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounts hold said cargo bars in parallel across said open area. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounts hold said cargo bars in a common plane in said gap space. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said removable mounts include mounts that bolt to said upper framework at a single point. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said removable mounts include mounts that bolt to said upper framework at multiple points. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said cargo bars supports a plurality of shaped openings. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 10 , further including mounting accessories that are configured to selectively engage any one of said plurality of shaped openings, wherein said mounting accessories extend beyond said gap space when engaged with one of said plurality of shaped openings. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 10 , wherein each of said cargo bars has a first end, an opposite second end, a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, wherein said plurality of shaped openings are periodically interposed between said first end and said second end. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said mounting accessories are varied in shape and are interchangeable in connecting to said plurality of shaped openings. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said mounting accessories include vertical shafts and at least one lateral arm that extends from said vertical shaft. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle structure comprising:
 an upper framework having a first side frame element, a second side frame element and an open area interposed between said first side frame element and said second side frame element;   a roof that selectively covers said open area, wherein a gap space exists between said open area and said roof when said roof covers said open area;   cargo bars detachably mounted to said upper framework, wherein said cargo bars extend across said open area in said gap space under said roof;   mounting accessories that attach to said cargo bars, wherein said mounting accessories extend above said cargo bars beyond said gap space.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 15 , wherein said upper framework includes at least one lateral crossbar that extends between said first side frame element and said second side frame element. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 15 , wherein said cargo bars mount in parallel across said open area. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 15 , wherein said cargo bars mount in a common plane in said gap space. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 15 , wherein each of said cargo bars supports a plurality of shaped openings. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle structure according to  claim 19 , wherein said mounting accessories selectively engage said plurality of shaped openings.