Article carrier for automotive vehicles

Abstract

An article carrier is mounted on an exterior automobile body surface. The carrier utilizes special decorative slats for supporting the weight of luggage or the like and also as a means for mounting cross bars, ski racks or tie-down members and similar article securing devices on the automobile body. The devices mounted on the slats are easily removed, interchanged or adjusted in position on the slats in accordance with the needs of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, .Iadd.at least two of said slats being fixedly secured directly to said body surface independently of one another by separate primary fastening means for each slat which primary fastening means directly secures each of said at least two slats separately to said trunk lid, said plurality of parallel slats .Iaddend.extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, each of said slats having a generally horizontal transverse cross-sectional width greater than its cross-sectional vertical height, and each said slat having an upper article supporting surface, extending the length thereof; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and .Iadd.separately formed .Iaddend.end cap means including integral tie down means .Iadd.formed separately of any of said slats, .Iaddend.directly fixedly secured to said body surface.Iadd., .Iaddend..[.and.]. operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier.Iadd., .Iaddend.and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface. 
     
     
       2. An article carrier in accordane with claim 1, wherein said end caps include an integral raised abutment portion to position and further restrain articles disposed on said slats. 
     
     
       3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said end cap means associated with each of said slats are disposed at the same longitudinal ends of said slats. 
     
     
       4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein said end cap means are secured to the forward longitudinal ends of each of said slats. 
     
     
       5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of said intermediate slats is provided with end cap means at both the forward and rearward ends thereof. 
     
     
       6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the height of the upper surface of said end cap means is disposed approximately the same distance above said exterior body surface as said supporting surfaces of said slats. 
     
     
       7. The invention as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of three intermediate slats disposed between a pair of generally parallel outer slats. 
     
     
       8. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said brackets comprise first portions having an outer exterior surface that blends generally into the shape of the outer ends of the associated of said slats, and second portions directed upwardly from said first portions toward the horizontal plane of said elevated restraining bar. 
     
     
       9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second portions of said brackets comprise an outer peripheral portion which blends generally into the cross sectional shape of said restraining bar. 
     
     
       10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein the cross sectional shape of said second portion of each of said brackets is of the same general cross sectional shape as the adjacent end of said restraining bar. 
     
     
       11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second portion of each of said brackets is telescopically engageable with the adjacent end of said restraining bar. .Iadd. 
     
     
       12.  An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured independently of one another on said horizontally extending exterior body surface by primary vertically extending fastening means for each slat which primary fastening means directly secures each said slat to said exterior body surface, each said slat extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, each slat having means for supporting articles on said slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means separately formed for each slat, directly fixedly secured to said body surface, operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier, secured with a corresponding slat, and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats being fixedly secured independently of one another by separate primary fastening means for each slat, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of each of said slats, at least one of said slats including at least one upper article supporting surface operably associated with said slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost of said slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of each of said outermost slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across the intermediate slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means separately formed for each slat, directly fixedly secured to said body surface, operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier, and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another solely by primary vertically extending fastening means, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means separately formed for each slat, directly fixedly secured to said body surface, operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier, and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another solely by primary fastening means extending perpendicular to said respective upper article supporting surface of said respective slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means separately formed for each slat, directly fixedly secured to said body surface, operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier, and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another by primary fastening means arranged entirely within the space defined between the laterally opposite edges of each said respective slat, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means directly fixedly secured to said body surface and operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another solely by primary fastening elements which project from above the surface of said trunk lid downwardly through openings in the surface in the trunk lid into respective second fastening elements subjacent the trunk lid surface, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, and at least one upper article supporting surface operably associated with each said slat and extending substantially the length thereof; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means directly fixedly secured to said body surface and operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.18. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another by primary fastening means which permits totally uninterrupted view of the trunk lid surface between adjacent slats and at the laterally outer sides of the deck rack assembly, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, and an upper article supporting surface operably associated with each said slat and extending substantially the length thereof; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means directly fixedly secured to said body surface and operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the 
     
     
        leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another by primary fastening means, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, and at least one upper article supporting surface operably associated with each said slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means directly fixedly secured to said body surface and operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend. .Iadd.20. An article carrier for the trunk lid of an automobile, said trunk lid extending horizontally as an exterior body surface and having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and laterally disposed side edges, including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on said horizontally extending exterior body surface, at least two of said slats bearing directly upon and being fixedly secured directly to the body surface independently of one another by primary fastening means which does not extend laterally outwardly beyond the laterally outer edges of the laterally outermost of said slats, said plurality of parallel slats extending from adjacent said leading edge to adjacent said trailing edge, and lying closely against said surface in a low profile configuration throughout the entire length of said slat, and at least one upper article supporting surface operably associated with each said slat; a bracket secured to the laterally outermost slats disposeable adjacent said side edges at the end of said slats adjacent the trailing edge of said body surface; an elevated restraining bar supported by said brackets and extending laterally across said slats and said body surface; and end cap means including integral tie down means separately formed for each slat, directly fixedly secured to said body surface, operably associated with at least the intermediate slats of said carrier, and cooperable with said slats to restrain articles disposed on said slats substantially out of contact with said body surface, said end cap means disposed at least at the ends of said slats adjacent the leading edge of said body surface..Iaddend.