CA1067049A - Article carrier for automotive vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

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.

Description

~067049 .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automobile luggage racks frequently employ two separate subassemblies or portions: a rectangular framework which surrounds the load to be carried and a plurality of slats which rest on the roof or other automobile body surface and carry the weight of Ithe load. In such constructions the framework and the slats are often secured to the automobile body indepcndent~ of one another or the slats are connected to the body through the framework by means of special cross straps. In still another automobile luggage or article carrier, the means of confining the luggage and support.llg its weight are formed into one unitar~ welded tubular assembly.
Some luggage racks or article carricrs havc becn designed to be sccurc(l on all automobilc body by flcxiblc straps or the likc and arc rclativcly casily removablc from thc automol~ilc.

``~uch carriers, however, have not enjoycd great popularity. They have generally been quite unsightly and their bulk and weight have made their removal and storage raliher difficult. Accordingly, most automobilc owners desiring a luggage rack have favoreà the type of luggage rack which is permanently mounted on the ~ehicle. The one type of article carrier of the removable type which is in common use is a so-called "ski rack". Ski racks have traditionally been somewhat awkward to install on and remove from an automobile.
Also, the presence of a luggage rack on an automobile has frequently interferred with the use of a ski rack.
I~ my prior United States Patent No. Re. 26, 539, I
disclosed a luggage carrier having cross bars which can be adjusted to accommodate loads of varying size. This construction has achieved significant commercial success. Nevertheless, some problems have been experienced in adapting this type of luggage - carrier to the carrying of certain types of loads, including skis.
While this type of carrier does provide an ~nproved degree of flexibility in its use, it is believed that a need exists for a luggage rack which has the attractive appearance of modern permanently mounted luggage carriers but which possess a degree c` removability and greater adaptability to varying loads.

SUMl\'l~RY OF TI-lE INVE:NTION
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The prescnt invention is distinguisl-cd l~y its use of spccially constru(:ted lo;lcl supportillg sl;lts ~vhicll also provicle thc --2~

means of attachmcnt of the article securing mcmbcr to thc automobile i~ody. Such article securing member may consist of ~ rectan~ular framework, raised cross bars, ski racks, tie-down members or any other desired article securing device. 'rhe slats are decorative in appearance and perform the usual slat functions of reinforcing the roof, trunk lid or other body surface on which they are mounted and holding luggage or other objects to be carried out of contact with .
the painted finish of the automobile. However, they serve the added function of providing an attachment location for one or more article securing members. The slats maintain a low profile on the automobile surface and are designed to be left on the auto~nobile by themselves without any remaining portion of the carrier> if desired. Special end caps may be used to cover up the ends of me slats. These end caps may incorporate eyelets by which straps or ropes can be attached to the automobile for tying down luggage.
In one form of the invention the slats are formed with upwardly facing channels in which a nut is slidable. The means of attachment of the article securing member to the slat includes a screw which is threaded into the nut so as to draw the nut against a clamping surface of the slat. The slat is of greater width than height, providing a broad article supporting surface. These surfaces may be used cooperatively with the clamping surfaces of the slats for locking an article securing member in place.
Among the objects of the present invention are the provision of an article carricr for an automobile in which all portions ~f the article carrier which project to any appreciable degree above the body surface on which it is mounted may be conveniently removed, adjusted in position, interchanged and/or reinstalled. It is another object of the present invention to provide an article carrier of the foregoing type which is adapted for use with a wide variety of article securing members such as a ski rack, a cross bar, an article confining framework, tie-down eyelets and the like. It is still another object of the present invention to provide an article carrier of the foregoing type which helps to protect the finish of *he automobile body, is attractive in appearance, structurally reinforces the surface of the automobile body to which it is secured, may be manufactured at a reasonable cost and is highly convenient to use and is readiiy adapted to carrying a wide variety of loads.
In one particular aspect the present invention provides an article carrier for an automobile including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on an exterior body surface of the automobile and lying closely against said surface, supporting surfaces on the upper sides of said slats and upwardly open channel means providing clamping surfaces in other locations of said slats, each of said slats having major and minor dimensions in transverse cross section, with said major dimensions being parallel to said body surface and said supporting surface, an article supporting member mounted on at least one of said slats and projecting upwardly therefrom and clamping means connecte~ to said article supporting member and engageable with the clamping surface of said at least one slat to secure said member thereto, said clamping means being movable longitudinally along substantially the entire length of said slat and being readily loosened for the removal of said member from said carrier.

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., ~067049 BRIE_F DESCRIPTION~OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile showing an article carrier mounted thereon which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig~tre 1 taken along line 3-3 thereof;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 3 taken along the line 4-4 thereof;

~ ; . ~,;, ~, 4a-~ ~06qo49 Figure 5 is a sectional vicw of thc structur~ illustratcd in Figure 1 taken along the line 5-5 thercof;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5 taken along the line ~-6 thereof;
S Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view oE the structure illustrated in Figure 1 taken along the line 7-7 thereof;
Figure 8 is a view of structure similarly illustrated in Figure 7 showing a modified form of the invention, Figure 9 i8 a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 8 taken along the line 9-9 thereof;
~ Figure 10 is a view of structure similarly illustrated in Figure 7 showing still another form of the present invention;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of structure similarly iLlustrated in Figure 7 showing a still further form of the present invention;
Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the cross bar removed and a pair of ski carriers installed on the slats;
E'igure 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 12 taken along the line 13-13 thereo~;
Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the present invention illustrating an alternative slat con-~truction and an alternative method of attaching an article securing member on the slats;
Figure 15 is a sectional vicw of the structure illustratcd . 25 in Figure 14 tal;cn along thc line 15-15 thcrcoî;

1`067C~49 ~i~urc 1~ is a vicw of structure similarly illustratccl in Figurc 1~ 8howing another modified slat construction and still further arrangement for sccuring the cross bar to the slats;
~igure 17 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 16 taken along the line 17-17 thereof; and E igure 18 is a view of structure similarly illustrated in Figure 4 showing a further modified form of the present in~7ention.
~hroughout the various modifications of the present invention identical parts are identified hy the same reference numerals.
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DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PREFERRED EMBODII\~ENTS

Figure 1 depicts an automobile 20 having a trunk lid 22 on which are mounted a plurality of identical parallel; transversely spaced slats 24. Although the slats 24 are shown mounted on the 15 . trunk lid 22 the article carrier of the present invention may be mounted with equal utility on an automobile roof or any other generally horizontal exterior body portion of an automobile. Interposed between the slats 24 and the trunl; lid 22 are elastomeric mounting pads 26 on which flat bottom surfaces 27 of the slats rest. The slats 24 are secured on the trunk lid 22 by means of shect metal screws 30 which also pass through thc mounting pads 26. Mounted on a pair of the slats 24 is a raised tubular cross bar 32 ~Yhich is fittcd at its oppositc cnds onto brackcts 3~. A cylindrical boss 5~ on each brackct 3~ is hclcl in an en(3 of the b;lr 32 by a screw G0. ~3ach brac1ict 3~ rests on a bro;-d .Ipwardly facin~ supporting surface 36 on the top ~f onc of the slats 24. The surface 36 is interrupt~d by an upwardly open dove-tail ~haped groove 38 extending th.e length of each slat 24. Extruded plastic trim members 28 are frictionally fitted in the channels 38 of the slats 24, one trim member 28 being broken away in Figure 1 for illustrative purposes. It will be seen that the groove or charmel 38 is wider at its bottom than at.its top to define upwardly and inwardly inclined clamping surfaces 40. Conformably but slidably fitted within the channel 38 of various slats 24 are one or more nuts 42 of dove-tailed cross sectional shape. 'rhe nuts 42 have upwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 44 which corformably engage the clamping surfaces 40 of the slats 24. A screw 46 is illustrated in Figure 2 as passing through the bracket 34 from the top thereof into threaded engagement with a nut 42. The screw 46 is formed with an enlarged head 48 which may be manually gripped for the tightening and loosening of the screw 46. When the screw 46 is tightened, its associated nut 42 is drawn upwardly into clamping engagement with t~ie channel clamping surfaces 40. This action also draws the bracket 34 down against the supporting surfaces 36, locking 20 , the bracket 34 firmly in place on its slat 24.
One or both ends of each of the slats 24 is fitted with a decorative end cap 50 having a dove-tail shaped tongue 52 fitted into the end of the channel 38. l~ach tongue 52 has a tapped hole 54 for the rcceptioll of a setscrew se. When thc sctscrcw 56 is tightened, its pointcd end bears a~ainst thc bottom oî thc cl)anllcl 3~ to locls tllc end cap 50 to its slat 24.

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~ 1067049 Possible rotation of the brackets 34 r~lative to th~
61ats 2~ is prevented by th~ formation of a dove-tail shape~l boss 6i on the bottom of each bracket. 34. Each boss 61 is conformably fitted within the channel 38 of its slat 24 as shown in Figurc 3.
~he nut 42 and boss 61 being longitudinally spaced, the bracket 34 is thereby kept from rotating about a vertical axis~ .
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate still another form of article securing member which is shown in Figure 1 mounted on the outer slats 24. ~his article supporting member is in the form of a tie-down member 62 having an eyelet 64 for the reception of a rope, strap or other device intended to tie-down luggage on the slats 24~ The tie down member 62 has a dove-tail tongue 66 which is conformably fitted in the channel 38- of its slat 24. The tie-down member 62 is further provided with a peripheral ledge 68 surrounding the tongue 66 and resting on the slat supporting surface 36. :A screw 70 passes through the tie-down member 62 into threaded engagement with a nut 42 by means of which the tie-down member may be clamped in any desired position along the length~ of its slat 24.
Another tie-down member 72 is illustrated in detail in

2~ Figure 7 as being located at one or more ends of selected slats 24.
Each tie-down member 72 has an eyelet 74 adapted to receive rope, a strap or the like. A shoulder portion 76 of the tie-down member 72 rests on the slat supportin~ surface 36 while a depending tongue 78 of thc tic-down mcmbcr 72 is conformably fittcd in the channel 38.
'rhe tie-do~vll mcml~cr 72 is cI;~mpcd into pOSitiOIl l~y a screw 70 `` 106~049 nd nut ~2. From Fi~urc 7 it will ~c sccn that thc tic-down membcr 72 overlies the tonguc 52 of one o~ thc end caps 50 thereby coop~rating with the end cap 50 to hide its. retaining means.
Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the present invention in which a member 80 serves the combinecl functions of an end ca~ and tie-down. The member 80 will be seen to have an upstanding eyelet 82 and a tongue 84 which is fitted within the channel 38 of a slat 24-. An end wall 86 of the rnember 80 covers the end of the slat 24. A screw 88 has its head exposed to the upper surface of the member 80 and passes through the slat 24, through the subjacent mounting pad 26 and into the trunk lid 22. Thus the screw 88 serves the combined function of securing both the member 80 and a slat 24 on the automobile, Figure 10 illustrates stiLI another form of the present invention in which an end member 90 has a raised eyelet 92 and is held in place on a slat 24 by means of a setscrew 94 bearing against the bottom of the c~annel 38. The screw 9~ is threaded into an opening in a dove-tail shaped tongue 96 of the member 90 closely fitted in the channel 38. An end wall 98 of the member 90 covers the slat 24 at the one end thereof ~roviding a smooth decorative end finish to the slat 24. ~he slat 24 illustral;ed in Figure 10 is secured on the trunk lid 22 by means of an adhesive strip 100. 'rhe strip 100 is provided with adl~csivc on both sidcs thercof and takcs the place of screws for hol(ling tllc slat in placc on thc trunk lid 22, Figlirc 11 illllstratcs tllc use of a tic-dowtl membcr 102 llaving an eyclct 104. A dovc-tail sllaped ton~uc 10(; of tllc mcmhcr 102 - is fittecl in thc ch~nnol 3n of the sl~t 24. Thc tie-down member 102 is securcd in plac~ on the slat 24 by means of a screw 70 and nut 42.
The tie-down member 102 is uscd in cooperation with an end cap member 108 which underlies the rear portion of the tie.-down member 102 and has a slat coverin~ end wall 110. The end cap 108 has a dove-tail tong~e 112 fitted in the channel 38 and held in place by a sheet metal screw which passes through the slat 24 at the bottom of the channel 38 and into the trunk lid 22.
It will be readily apparent that the cross bar 32 and its mounting brackets 34 are easily removed from the slats 24 by the _ 8~nple unthreading of the screws 46. This can be done for the purpose of installing another type of article securing device on the ~;latæ 24 and the nuts 42 will remain in the slats 24 for that purpose.
Figure 1~ illustrates the slats 24 on the trunk lid 22 but with the cross bar 32 removed and a pair of ski rack clamps 116 installed on the outermost slats 24. The clampsll6 are of identical construction and include a lower supporting bar 118 to which is pivoted an upper clamping bar 120. The lower bar is fitted to a slat 24 through a pair of adapters 122 resting on the slat supporting surface 36. A
cushion 124 is frictionally held on the top of the lower bar 118 through a spring clip 130 while a pair of screws 128 pass through the lower bar 118 and adapters 122 into threaded engagement with a pair of nuts 42. The hcads of the screws 128 are normally covered by thc cushion 124. The upper clamping bar 120 carries a rubbcr bumper 12G which is adapted io clamp the sl;is to bc carricd against the cushion 124, Thc bumpcr 12G is sccurcd to thc uppcr clamping bar 120 by mcans of scrcws 13~ which also hold polc rct;linillg lip~ 132 on thc top of the upper clampin~ bar.
It will be seen that a ~ingle ski rack clamp 116 is mounted on a singlc slat 24. It will therefore be apparent that any article securing member to be utilized in conjunction with an article carrie of the present invention may be positioned entirely on a single slat 24 or on two or even more of the slats 24.
The removal of the slci rack clamps 116 is accomplished by sirnply pulling the cusmon 124 out of each lower bar 118 and unthreading the screws 128. The ski carriers are, thus, easily detached from the vehicle and stored when not being used. In order to prevent the skis and/or ski carrier clamps 116 from being stolen when in use, the clamps may be provided with locks in the we~l known manner. Such locks keep the upper clamping bar 120 from being ~pened relative to the lower bar 118. So long as this is prevented, access to the heads of the screws 128 is precluded, thereby preventing the removal of the gki carriers 116 from the vehicle.
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a somewhat modified form of slat 136 which will be seen to be used in connection with a bracket 138 for supporting a cross bar 32. The slat 136 is positioned on a rubber mounting pad 140 and is provided with downwardly facing clamping surfaces or shoulders 142 running along the opposite sides thereof. ~he shoulders 142 are raised with respect to a flat bottom surface 144 of the slat 136. l~n upwardly facing groove 14~ is formed in a broad load supporting surface 147 on the top of the slat 136~ A
hardcncd scat 148 is pOSitiOlleCl ~vitl~in the groovc 14~ îor coopcration -` 1067049 ~vith a scrcw 150 threadcd through the braclcet 138. 'rhe ~crew lS0 has an cnlarged head 152 which may be grippcd to rotate the screw into clamping engagement witll the seat 148, ~he bracket 138 ha~
a channel 149 on its ~ower surface and receives a slat 13~. A pair of inturned lips formed on the opposite sides of the channel are drawn up against the clamping shoulders 142 to secure the bracket 138 in place on the slat 136 when the screw 150 is tightened. It will thus be apparent that the clamping surfaces of a slat of the present invention need not be necessarily located within a channel formed in the slat but may be located exteriorly of the slat.
Another form of the present invention is ;11ustrated in Figllres 16 and 17 which makes use'of exterior slat clamping surfaces.
Figures 16 and 17 show a slat 154 used in cooperation with a bracket 156. The slat 154 has a flat bottom 158 resting on a mounting pad' 140.
~he slat 154 is also formed with a load supporting top surface 160, although the bracket 156 does not rest on the supporting surface 160.
As seen in Figure 17 the bracket 156 is formed in two parts: 156a and 156b. ~hese two parts define inwardly projecting rails 164 which are received in external grooves 162 running longitudinally along the opposite sides of the slat 154. When the two halves ,156a and 156b are drawn together by means of a screw 166, the rails 164 are caused to clampingly engage in the grooves 162 and secure the braclcet 156 in a .selcctcd position.
~he slats illustratcd in the foregoing cmbodimcnts of the invcntion arc dcsiral)ly manufacturcd as alllmi~ cxtru~sion~s and i067C~49 :e of substantially uniform cross sectional shapc. Thc slats of the present invention are not necessarily made as extrusions, however.
Another form of slat 170 is illustratcd in Figurc 18 which is made from a roll formed steel. The slat 170 will be seen to have a flat bottom wall 172, upwardly inclined sidewalls 174 defining interior clamping surfaces and upper supporting surfaces 176. The slat 170 defines an upwardly open channel 178 within which a nut 180 is positioned. Figure i8 illustrates the use of the slat 170 in con- -junction with the bracket 34. The slat 170 is used and functions in a manner similar to the slat 24.
It will be apparent that it is not necessary to keep the cross bar 32 and its supporting brac,ket 34 or the ski rack clamps 116 on the slats. Any such raised article securing members may be left off the vehicle unless desired for a particular purpose. Ibe removal of such members may be desired to prevent interference with the function-ing of an automatic car wash machine, for appearance reasons or any other purpose. The various tie-downs iLlustraled herein are of very low height and are quite ,inconspicuous. LeavLng them on the carrier .
has little influence on either the appearance of the carrier or its use for any other purpose.
It will be apparent that the slats 24, 136, 154 and 170 illustrated herein may be utilized for the mounting of a wide variety of article securing mcmbers and their use is not limited to the particular article securin~ members illustratcd hcrein. For cxample, a complctc rcctangular framcwork of fol~r bars can bc mounted on thc s1ats instead of the single cross bar 32. Such a framework would use four brackets 34, with two brackets mounted on each of two slats. Specific article securing devices can be designed for various other objects a car owner might wish to carry (e. g., small boats, golf club bags, etc. ). The installation and removal of all such devices is easily accomplished without drilling special holes or in any way detracting from the appearance of the car.

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Claims (54)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An article carrier for an automobile including a plurality of parallel slats fixedly secured on an exterior body surface of the automobile and lying closely against said surface, article supporting surfaces on the upper sides of said slats and upwardly open channel means providing clamping surfaces in other locations of said slats, each of said slats having major and minor dimensions in transverse cross section, with said major dimensions being parallel to said body surface and said supporting surfaces, an article supporting member mounted on at least one of said slats and projecting upwardly therefrom and clamping means connected to said article supporting member and engageable with the clamping surface of said at least one slat to secure said member thereto, said clamping means being moveable longitudinally along substantially the entire length of said slat and being readily loosened for the removal of said member from said carrier.

2. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said slats are of greater width than height.

3. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which each of said slats is provided with an upwardly facing channel defining said clamping surface on the interior thereof, and a nut in said channel engageable with said clamping surface and comprising a portion of said clamping means.

4. The structure set forth in Claim 1 wherein said article securing member comprising a load constraining bar mounted on a pair of said slats and located above the level of said slats.

5. The structure set forth in Claim 3 including end cap means having tongues fitted in the ends of at least some of said channels.

6. The structure set forth in Claim 5 including an eyelet formed on said end cap means.

7. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said member is longitudinally adjustable on said at least one slat.

8. The structure set forth in Claim 3 including screw means passing through said slats at the bottoms of said channels and into engagement with the automobile body surface.

9. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said slats are secured on said body surface by means of an adhesive tape.

10. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said member comprises an eyed tie-down.

11. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said member comprises a ski rack clamp.

12. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said slat is made from an extrusion.

13. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said slats are made from roll formed metal.

14. The structure set forth in Claim 1 in which said clamping surfaces are formed on the opposite side of said slats.

15. The structure as set forth in Claim 1 which includes a nut in the channel means of at least one of said slats, an article se-curing member mounted on at least one slat, a screw passing through said member into one of said nuts and threadably engageable for drawing said nut against the clamping surface thereof and thereby clamping said member in a selected position on its slat.

16. The structure set forth in Claim 15 including end cap means secured to the ends of at least some of said slats and operable to close said channels at ends thereof.

17. The structure set forth in Claim 16 in which said end cap means are provided with tongues fitted in said channel means.

18. The structure set forth in Claim 15 in which said channels are of dove-tail cross sectional shape and are of greater width at the bottom thereof than at the upper ends thereof.

19. The structure as set forth in Claim 1 which includes a bracket mounted on at least one of said slats and secured to an upwardly facing surface thereof and an article restraining bar having an end portion fitted to said bracket and extending above the level of said slats,

20. The structure set forth in Claim 19 in which said bar has a bent end portion fitted over a tongue formed on said bracket.

21. The structure set forth in Claim 19 including a pair of brackets engaging opposite ends of said bar,

22. The structure set forth in Claim 19 including an upwardly groove on said at least one slat, and means associated with said bracket fitted in said groove and engageable with a wall thereof to resist upward movement of said bracket relative to said at least one slat.

23. The structure as set forth in Claim 1 which includes a combination end cap and tie-down member interfitted with an end of one of said slats, said member being operable to cover said slat end and having an eyelet operable to receive a strap for securing an article on said slat.

24. The structure set forth in Claim 23 in which said member is fitted over said slat end so as to surround an end portion of said slat.

25. The structure set forth in Claim 23 in which said slat is formed with an upwardly facing groove extending the length thereof and in which said member is formed with a tongue fitted in said groove and engageable with the walls thereof to resist upward movement of said member out of said groove.

26. The structure set forth in Claim 23 in which said slat is formed with an upwardly facing groove, a nut fitted in said groove and a screw connecting said member to said nut and operable to secure said member to said slat.

27. The structure set forth in Claim 23 including a fastener extending through said member and said slat into the automobile body surface for securing said member and slat to said body surface.

28. An article carrier as set forth in claim l wherein said plurality of slats comprises at least two slats.

29. An article carrier as set forth in claim 28 wherein said two said slats comprise longitudinally extending channels.

30. An article carrier as set forth in claim 29 wherein said clamping surfaces are located at least in part within said channels.

31. An article carrier as set forth in claim 29 wherein said channels are upwardly opening.

32. An article carrier as set forth in claim 29 which includes means for urging said clamping means in an upwardly direction to apply an upwardly directed clamping force to the associated ones of said clamping surfaces.

33. An article carrier as set forth in claim 31 which includes means for urging said clamping means in a downwardly direction to apply a downwardly directed clamping force to the associated ones of said clamping surfaces.

34. An article carrier as set forth in claim 29 wherein said channels are of a generally dove-shaped configuration in transverse section.

35. An article carrier as set forth in claim 29 wherein each of said two slats comprises upper and lower clamping surfaces.

36. An article carrier as set forth in claim 35 wherein at least one of said clamping surfaces is located within the associated one of said channels.

37. An article carrier as set forth in claim 36 wherein both of said clamping surfaces of each of said slats are located within channels.

38. An article carrier as set forth in claim 28 wherein said clamping means associated with each of said article supporting members is slidably disposed within a channel in the associated one of said two slats.

39. An article carrier as set forth in claim 38 wherein said clamping means is actuable in response to rotation of an associated threaded means.

40. An article carrier as set forth in claim 39 which include manually engageable means for effecting rotation of said associated threaded means.

41. An article carrier as set forth in claim 40 wherein said manually engageable means is disposed above the support surface of the associated one of said slats.

42. An article carrier as set forth in claim 40 wherein said threaded means is rotatable about a generally vertical axis.

43. An article carrier as set forth in claim 42 wherein said clamping means moves upwardly in response to rotation of said manually engageable means.

44. An article carrier as set forth in claim 42 wherein said clamping means moves downwardly in response to rotation of said manually engageable means.

45. An article carrier as set forth claim 40 wherein said clamping means is operable to apply a vertically directed clamping force against said clamping surface in response to rotation of said manually engageable means.

46. An article carrier as set forth in claim 45 which includes means for applying a generally vertically directed clamping force to at least one associated clamping surface that is arranged generally parallel to the associated supporting surfaces.

47. An article carrier as set forth in claim 29 wherein said two slats are arranged on the laterally outer sides of said carrier.

48. An article carrier as set forth in claim 47 wherein said article supporting member comprises a first element extending transversely between said two slats and second and third laterally spaced mounting elements connected to said transversely extending element and slidably disposed on said two slats.

49. An article carrier as set forth in claim 48 wherein access to said clamping surfaces is through the upper side of said slats.

50. An article carrier as set forth in claim 48 wherein access to said clamping surfaces is from the lateral sides of said slats.

51. An article carrier as set forth in claim 48 wherein access to said clamping surfaces is from the underside of said slats.

52. An article carrier as set forth in claim 48 which includes manually engagable means located at least in part between said support surfaces of said slats and the upper sides of said transversely extending element and is rotatable about an axis generally perpendicular to said support surfaces of two slats.

53. An article carrier as set forth in claim 52 wherein said mounting elements are at least partially recessed to receive a portion of the associated one of said manually engageable means, and wherein said mounting elements have generally vertically disposed threaded members extending downwardly and adapted for cooperation with said clamping means in response to rotation of said manually engageable means.

54. An article carrier as set forth in claim 53 wherein each of said manually engageable means is of enlarged diameter relative to said threaded members and is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notched portions facilitating manual grasping of said manually engageable means.