WO1999019168A1

WO1999019168A1 - Adjustable load-carrying rack for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO1999019168A1
Application number: PCT/CA1998/000955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hugues Espesset
Original assignee: Sportrack International Inc.
Priority date: 1997-10-10
Filing date: 1998-10-09
Publication date: 1999-04-22
Also published as: CA2218007A1; AU9426298A

Abstract

A utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle comprises an elongated carrier bar (52) including a pair of outer carrier members (54) each provided with a support foot (56) adapted to rest onto the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member (58) adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to the outer carrier members (54) and thus form the utility rack. There are available inner carrier members (58) of various lengths in order to meet vehicles having different spans or widths. The end user will thus buy a pair of standard outer carrier members (54) as well as an inner carrier member (58) suitable for this user's particular vehicle. A same inner carrier member (58) can only be assembled to the two outer carrier members (54) in a single position and the spacing between the support feet cannot be adjusted. When assembled, the inner and outer carrier members form a substantially continuous support surface as well as a substantially continuous channel extending substantially the length of the carrier bar for receiving various accessories.

Description

ADJUSTABLE LOAD-CARRYING RACK FOR VEHICLES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to utility or carrier racks for use on vehicles and, more particularly, to a rooftop load-carrying rack. 2. Description of the Prior Art Various types of utility racks are known for carrying various equipment over the rooftop of a vehicle, or even onto a trunk lid thereof. Typically, the utility rack consists of a pair of identical units each comprising a bridge member which extends transversally above the roof of the vehicle and which is detachably secured at its opposite ends to the body of the vehicle and which is provided with a pair of support members, normally at the ends of the bridge member, for supporting the bridge member onto and spaced from the vehicle roof. Generally, each unit of the utility rack is secured to the door frames or to the gutters of the vehicle. Each unit of the utility rack is adapted for releasably securing thereon various often sport-related equipment, e.g. skis, bicycles, snowboards, etc., with the two units being spaced apart longitudinally along the roof of the vehicle such as to support the equipment at spaced apart locations thereof.

For example, United States Patent 5,115,955 issued on May 26, 1992 to Dallaire et al . discloses a ski rack comprising a support base member having one or more adjustable ski retention posts secured thereto and extending vertically thereabove . One or more abutment members extend vertically from the base member and are disposed in a spaced aligned relationship with respective ones of the retention posts. The retention posts each have flexible biasing fingers which project toward the abutment members in a ski -receiving space defined between the posts and the abutment members for applying clamping pressure against a pair of skis supported on the base member in the ski-receiving space. A bridge member extends above and across the abutment members and the retention posts. Attachment elements are disposed adjacent opposed ends of the ski rack for securing the same to a vehicle and, more particularly, a strap which extends longitudinally throughout the bridge member of the ski rack is provided at its ends protruding from the ski rack with hooks which are adapted to be engaged with the gutters of the vehicle with the strap comprising an intermediate rubber section within the housing of the bridge member, whereby once the hooks have been engaged on the gutters, the resilient rubber strap urges the hooks inwardly towards the ski rack thereby firmly securing the ski rack to the vehicle's gutters. In United States Patent 5,137,195 issued on

August 11, 1992 to Walter, there is disclosed a utility rack attachable to the rooftop of vehicle of various sizes. More particularly, the utility rack includes a carrier bar containing a hollow compartment. A rubber band or a spring inside this hollow compartment is attached at either end (or at both ends thereof) to a non-elastic strap which extends from the hollow compartment and outside of the carrier bar to hooks or other anchoring devices which can be detachably secured to anchor points on the vehicle and, more particularly, to the vehicle door frames. Locking mechanisms are mounted on the carrier bar to lock the non-elastic straps to the carrier bar by a pawl mechanism or by a pin. Therefore, the utility rack is positioned on the vehicle rooftop and the non-elastic straps are then pulled by their respective hooks such as to engage these hooks to the anchor points of the vehicle with the rubber band resiliently urging the hooks inwardly towards the carrier bar for securing the utility rack to the vehicle. Then, the locking of the non-elastic straps to the carrier bar is achieved by actuating a pawl and ratchet mechanism or a pin-perforated strap locking mechanism and, more particularly, these locking mechanisms are actuated by the pivot of a pair of arms of the utility rack which are also used to hold gear thereon.

As the width of the vehicle rooftop can vary significantly, it is preferable to have utility racks of different lengths such as to efficiently utilize most of the width of the rooftop to enable the utility rack to carry as much equipment as possible and also the utility rack must have a length appropriate such that it can be securely fastened to the sides of the roof. Obviously, inwardly biased straps which can be stretched away from the utility rack can be used to secure a same length utility rack to different widths of rooftop but this may demand considerable effort if the rooftop is wide, notwithstanding the fact that the utility rack does not, in the case of large vehicles, take advantage of such vehicles' wider roofs.

Accordingly, there have been proposed various utility racks which are adjustable in lengths, such as by a telescoping motion, such as to shortened or lengthened the effective length of the utility rack and position its end supports closely to the sides of the rooftop. For instance, there is known to have a permanent length carrier bar provided at its opposed ends with sliding feet or supports which may be slid inwardly or outwardly respective to the bar such as to properly position the supports onto the roof. However, this system requires that the end user effects himself or herself the feet adjustment in addition to the fact that the end user might have to cut the excess part of the bar if it is large than the roof in order to meet ISO standards.

In another design, the utility rack is provided with an elongated carrier bar made up of at least two sections which may be telescoped one relative to the other and with support feet being provided at the ends of the assembled composite carrier bar. With such telescopic carrier racks, the end user must himself or herself make the adjustment to the length of the bar and the member which telescopes into one or more other members of the carrier bar, typically the central part thereof when telescoping in a pair of opposed female carrier bar sections, is not at the same level as the two end female sections and this causes problems for mounting of the accessories, in which the central part, being of uneven level with the remainder of the carrier bar, may not be able to receive, or conveniently receive, equipment intended to be carried by the utility rack. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved utility rack for vehicles.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide an improved utility rack which is comprised of modular components which can be chosen by the end user in view of the user's vehicle. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an improved utility rack comprised of modular components which, when assembled together and mounted on a vehicle, provide a substantially continuous useful surface for equipment mounting.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members in a single position.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an elongated modular carrier member for use with a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage a vehicle, said modular carrier member being adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members with a single relative position being possible between said support means thereby forming a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle,

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members thereby forming said utility rack, said inner carrier member having a length appropriate such that, when assembled to said outer carrier members, said utility rack is of a length suitable for the vehicle.

Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members thereby forming said utility rack, said inner and outer carrier members forming, when assembled, a substantially continuous support surface .

Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members thereby forming said utility rack, said inner and outer carrier members defining upper channels which, when said outer and inner carrier members are assembled, form a substantially continuous channel means extending substantially a length of said carrier bar means.

Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising the steps of: a) providing a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle,- b) providing a number of elongated inner carrier members having different lengths; c) selecting one of said inner carrier members ; and d) assembling said one inner carrier member to said outer carrier members thereby forming a utility rack, wherein said one inner carrier member is selected in step c) such that, when assembled in step d) , said utility rack so formed is of a length suitable for said vehicle,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational representation of a conventional adjustable utility rack;

Fig. 2 is a schematic elevational representation of a further conventional adjustable utility rack;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a further conventional utility rack but of fixed length;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the conventional utility rack of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a schematic elevational representation of a utility rack in accordance with the present invention and having a modular carrier bar;

Figs. 6a and 6b are schematic elevational representations of the utility rack of Fig. 5 and showing the assembly of the modular components thereof;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the utility rack of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and showing a cross-section of a central modular member of the carrier bar of the utility rack of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of an insert of the present invention; Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the insert of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a spring clip of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the spring clip of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of a protective support strip of the present invention; Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a gasket of the present invention; and

Figs. 15a and 15b are vertical cross-sectional views of one of the retention devices of the utility rack of the present invention and showing a lever thereof respectively in collapsed and extended positions. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First, it must be noted that each of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6a, 6b and 7 show a single supporting unit of various utility racks but that, in practice, two such identical units are typically used in spaced apart relationship on a vehicle for supporting various loads or sporting equipment. Now referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a schematic representation of a conventional utility rack 10 having a permanent length rigid carrier bar 12 and a pair of support members 14 in the form feet which are slidable along the ends of the carrier bar 12 such as to vary the distance between the support members 14 in accordance with particular rooftop widths. This adjustment must be made by the end user and, in some instances, it becomes necessary to cut off part of the end portions of the carrier bar 12 in order that the latter does not extend beyond the width of the roof .

In Fig. 2, there is shown a telescopic utility rack 16 comprised of a pair of female bar sections 18 each provided with a foot member 20 with a central male bar section 22 being telescopically inserted in both the female bar sections 18 such that the distance between the foot members 20 can be varied by displacing the female bar sections 18 relative to the male bar section 22 along arrows 24. With this design, the end user must make the adjustment of the bar length and the central male bar section 22 is not at the same level as the female bar sections 18 and this causes various problems and limitations for the mounting of accessories on the utility rack 16.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a utility rack 30 which is well described in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,186,814 which was laid-open for public inspection on September 2, 1997 and which generally comprises an elongated carrier bar 32 provided at the ends thereof with retention devices 34 and a pair of support feet 36 mounted at the lower ends of the retention devices 34. The carrier bar 32 is of a unitary extruded construction and, as best seen in Fig. 4, slidably receives longitudinally therein an elongated support 38, made for instance of a hard extruded PVC, and which is adapted to receive thereon various articles without damaging the finish of the carrier bar 32 while providing friction between the carrier bar 32 and the articles carried thereby. Obviously, this system does not provide for any adjustability between the two support feet 36, whereby various lengths of carrier bar 32 must be manufactured to meet the demands of various roof sizes .

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a utility rack 50 in which, a carrier bar 52 comprises three sections, namely a pair of identical end sections 54 each provided with a support foot 56, and a modular central section 58 adapted for connection to the end sections 54. The modular central section 58 is available in various lengths such that an appropriate central section 58 can be selected to fit the needs of a particular vehicle, that is such that the support feet 56 can be appropriately installed on the vehicle while allowing for a maximum use of the width of the vehicle. With reference to Figs. 6a and 6b, it is seen that each end sections 54 includes an inwardly protruded pin 60 which is engageable in a corresponding opening defined through the central section 58 such that the end sections 54 can be displaced along arrows 62 towards and into the modular central section 58 (see Fig. 6a) until the pins 60 are fully inserted in the central section 58, as seen in Fig. 6b. The two supporting modules or end sections 54 thus fit together in the central module or central section 58 and means are provided to clip these components together into an assembled position. The bonds between the modules are done by the pins 60 which are made of steel and which have a resistance equal to that of the aluminum carrier bar 52, i.e. its end sections 54 and central section 58. The clip resistance is equal to the steel strap which is used to hold the utility rack to the vehicle and reference is made to the strap and hook units 64 shown in Fig. 3 and which can be used with the utility rack of the present invention. It is noted that, in Fig. 3, the steel strap is located within an accordion sleeve 66 but links the retention device 34 to the vehicle.

As it will be seen in more details hereinafter, the dismantling of the carrier bar 52 is as simple as the mounting. Basically, the central section 58 can be disengaged from the end sections 54 by inserting an elongated object, such as a pen, through a hole situated in the central section 58, this hole being hidden, in use, by the plastic extrusion slidably engaged throughout the length of the carrier bar 52 and reference is made to the support 38 illustrated in Fig. 3 which is engaged throughout the length of the carrier bar 32. In the case of the present invention, there are three such supports strips, that is one for each of the two end sections 54 and the central section 58. Therefore, with two identical end sections 54, various central sections 58 of different lengths are made available and can be purchased separately from the end sections 54 and typically with the central section 58 in order to meet any specific vehicle. Furthermore, this allows for a family having more than one vehicle to have only one set of end sections 54 while being able to purchase two or more different lengths of central sections 58 to allow the same end sections 54 to be used on different vehicles. Obviously, as mentioned hereinbefore, one requires two utility racks 50, whereby typically four end sections 54 would be sold together with the central section 58 being sold in pairs of similar length such to meet the requirements of a respective vehicle.

Now that the principle of the present invention has been fully explained, more details as to the structure to achieve the modular utility rack of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 14. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the utility rack 50 although the strap and hook units 64 (see Fig. 3) are not shown on Fig. 7 but would be provided with the end sections 54. Also, the elongated support strips necessary to engage the rails defined by the end sections 54 and central section 58 of the carrier bar 52 are not shown in Fig. 7. However, a cross-section of such an elongated protective support strip 68 is shown in Fig. 13. Again, each of the end sections 54 and modular central section 58 is provided with its respective, properly dimensioned (i.e. same length), protective support strip 68.

As seen in Fig. 7, a pair of inserts 70 are inserted in the open ends of the end sections 54. As best seen in Fig. 9, each insert 70 defines a rectangular opening 72 and a number of circular holes 74. With reference to Fig. 7, each insert 70 is secured to a respective end section 54 of the carrier bar 52 by engaging screws or rivets 76 through the end section 54 and into the holes 74 of the insert 70 thereby securing the insert 70 to the end section 54. A gasket 78 (which is shown in details in Fig. 14) is positioned on each of the inserts 70.

The modular central section 58, which is shown from an end elevational perspective in Fig. 8, has a contour similar to that of the end sections 54 and defines an accessory receiving channel 80 as do the end sections 54. These channels 80 are adapted to receive the aforementioned protective support strips 68 or various other accessories which may be used to attach various equipment to the utility rack 50, such as brackets or other to hold skis or bicycles.

With reference to Figs. 7 and 8, the central section 58, below its channel 80, defines a substantially rectangular longitudinal opening 82 adapted to receive therein the inner ends of the inserts 70. Inside this rectangular opening 82, there are mounted a pair of oppositely extending spring clips 84, details of which are seen in Figs. 11 and 12. Each spring clip 84 includes a flat section 86 adapted to be secured to an upper wall 88 of the central section 58 and which delimits the rectangular opening 82 thereof (see Fig. 8) . Rivets or other are used to secure the flat section 86 of the spring clip 84 to the upper wall 88 of the central section 58. Each spring clip 84 further includes a hook section 90 which comprises an orthogonal locking portion 92 and an angular portion 94. The spring clip 84 is oriented as seen in the broken away portion of the central section 58 shown in Fig. 7 and it must be noted that a second spring clip, not visible in Fig. 7, extends in an opposite direction from that which is shown and towards the right end section 54. Therefore, when the central section 58 is engaged over the insert 70 and with the latter sliding within the rectangular opening 82, the angular portion 94 of the spring clip 84 deflect downwards upon contact with a free end 96 of the insert 70 and, once the hook section 90 reaches the rectangular opening 72 defined in the insert 70, its bias brings it back upwards into the rectangular opening 72 with the locking portion 92 engaging the insert 70 along the inner edge 98 of the opening 72 of the insert 70 thereby preventing the end section 54 and the central section 58 from being disassembled by simply pulling them axially from one another.

If it is desired to disassemble the various sections of the carrier bar 52, the protective support strips 68 are sufficiently slidably removed from the channels 80 to uncover a pair of openings 100 defined in the upper wall 88 of the central section 58, one such opening 100 being visible in Fig. 7. Therefore, a thin elongated object, such as a pen, can be inserted downwardly through the openings 100 such as to downwardly displace, against their respective bias, the hook sections 90 of the spring clips 84 out of engagement with the rectangular openings 72 of the inserts 70 and, more particularly, the locking portion 92 of each spring clip 84 is disengaged from the inner edge 98 of the insert 70 thereby allowing the central section 58 to be separated from the end sections 54.

It is noted that the gasket 78 defines a rectangular opening 102 such as to be slidable onto the insert 70 and that it defines an upper cut-out

(of shape similar to the channels 80) 104 through which the elongated protective strip 68 or other accessory engaged in the channels 80 of the end sections 54 and central section 58, can extend.

With reference to Fig. 13, the elongated protective strip 68 comprises an upper support portion 106 and a pair of lower hook portions 108 adapted to engage inwardly extending arms 110 defined by the end sections 54 and the central section 58 at their respective channels 80, such arms 110 being shown in the case of the central section 58 in Fig. 8.

With reference to Figs. 11 and 12, each spring clip 84 further defines an opening 112 through which a rivet or other can extend for securing the spring clip 84 to the upper wall 88 of the central section 58.

For a central section 58 of any length, the spring clips 84 are positioned at a constant distance from respective ends 113 of the central section 58 such as to be able to engage the rectangular openings 72 of the inserts 70, the relative position between the openings 72 and the ends 111 of the end sections 54 being constant .

Figs. 15a and 15b are enclosed to show how a lever 114 of each retention device 116 (similar to the retention devices 34 of Figs. 3 and 4) can be pivoted between a collapsed position shown in Fig. 15a and an extended position shown in Fig. 15b for the purposes of tightening the strap and hook units 64 to the vehicle, as well described in aforementioned Canadian Application No. 2,186,814. It is noted that the strap portion of the strap and hook unit 64 is identified by reference numeral 118 in Figs 15a and 15b. When the lever 114 is collapsed as in Fig. 15a and Fig. 7, the protective support strips 68 of the end sections 54 and central section 58 cannot be removed and the openings 100 which are used to disengaged the central section 58 from the end sections 54 cannot thus be accessed. Therefore, by displacing one of the levers 114 to its extended position of Fig. 15b, the elongated protective strips 68 can be sufficiently displaced so as to reveal the openings 100 and allow the central section 58 to be dismantled from the end sections 54, perhaps to position a different central section between the end sections 54 with a view of using the resulting assembly on a car having a different roof span.

From the foregoing, it is easily understood that with a pair of identical end sections 54 and a various number of central sections 58 of different lengths, the resulting utility racks 50 can be used on any type of vehicle. One can purchase a kit of end sections 54 (typically four in all) and then an appropriate kit of central sections 58 for one given vehicle and if this user has a second vehicle requiring a utility rack of a different length, he may simply purchase the necessary central sections 58 and use them with the standard end sections 54.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members in a single position.

2. A utility rack as defined in Claim 1, wherein connection means are provided for detachably securing said inner carrier member to said outer carrier members .

3. A utility rack as defined in Claim 2, wherein said inner and outer carrier members are tubular, said connection means comprising a pair of insert means, one insert means being provided for securing said inner carrier member to each of said outer carrier members .

4. A utility rack as defined in Claim 3, wherein each said insert means has opposed ends insertable in adjacent ends of said inner carrier member and a respective one of said outer carrier member such as to be completely concealed when said inner and outer carrier members are secured together, attachment means being provided for securing said insert means to said inner and outer carrier members.

5. A utility rack as defined in Claim 4, wherein said inner and outer carrier members are of similar transversal dimensions, upper walls of said inner and outer carrier members forming bottom walls of channels defined atop said inner and outer carrier members, said channels being aligned to provide said carrier bar means with an uninterrupted channel means .

6. A utility rack as defined in Claim 4, wherein said insert means are tubular and dimensioned to slidably fit within said inner and outer carrier members .

7. A utility rack as defined in Claim 4, wherein said insert means are tubular and each define an opening in an upper wall thereof, said opening being positioned such as to be located opposite said inner carrier member when said inner carrier member is assembled to said outer carrier member, said attachment means comprising locking means in said inner carrier member and engageable in said opening for releasably locking said insert means and thus said outer carrier member to said inner carrier member.

8. A utility rack as defined in Claim 7, wherein said attachment means further comprise fastening means for securing each said insert means to a respective one of said outer carrier members at an end of said insert means opposed to an end thereof defining said opening.

9. A utility rack as defined in Claim 8, wherein upper walls of said inner and outer carrier members form bottom walls of channels defined atop said inner and outer carrier members, said channels being aligned to provide said carrier bar means with an uninterrupted channel means, said locking means being mounted on an underside of said upper wall of said inner carrier member.

10. A utility rack as defined in Claim 9, wherein there are provided a pair of locking means, one for each said insert means, said locking means being displaceable between release and locking positions, and release means being provided for displacing said locking means to said release position for separating said inner carrier member from said outer carrier members .

11. A utility rack as defined in Claim 10, wherein said locking means each comprise a spring clip having a free end defining a locking section and a sloping section, wherein upon insertion of said insert means in said inner carrier member, said insert means abuts said sloping section and causes a deflection thereof such that said free end may reach said opening, at which point, under a bias of said spring clip said free end becomes lodged in said opening with said locking section securely abutting an inner edge of said opening for preventing an axial separation of said insert means from said inner carrier member.

12. A utility rack as defined in Claim 11, wherein said release means comprise a hole defined in said upper wall of said inner carrier member opposite each said free end of said locking means such that, by inserting an appropriate object through said hole, said free end is deflected out of engagement with said opening thereby allowing an axial separation of said insert means from said inner carrier member.

13. A utility rack as defined in Claim 12, wherein elongated strip means slidably inserted in said channel of said inner carrier member prevents access to said hole.

14. A utility rack as defined in Claim 13, wherein said fastening means comprise screw means engaged through said upper walls of said outer carrier members and into said insert means, and wherein said elongated strip means deny access to said screw means .

15. A utility rack as defined in Claim 1, wherein gasket means are provided between said inner carrier member and both said outer carrier member.

16. An elongated modular carrier member for use with a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage a vehicle, said modular carrier member being adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members with a single relative position being possible between said support means thereby forming a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle.

17. A utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members thereby forming said utility rack, said inner carrier member having a length appropriate such that, when assembled to said outer carrier members, said utility rack is of a length suitable for the vehicle.

18. A utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members thereby forming said utility rack, said inner and outer carrier members forming, when assembled, a substantially continuous support surface.

19. A utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising carrier bar means including a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle, and an elongated inner carrier member adapted to be secured at opposite ends thereof to said outer carrier members thereby forming said utility rack, said inner and outer carrier members defining upper channels which, when said outer and inner carrier members are assembled, form a substantially continuous channel means extending substantially a length of said carrier bar means.

20. A method of producing a utility rack for carrying objects on a vehicle, comprising the steps of : a) providing a pair of outer carrier members each provided with support means adapted to engage the vehicle; b) providing a number of elongated inner carrier members having different lengths; c) selecting one of said inner carrier members; and d) assembling said inner carrier member selected in step c) to said outer carrier members thereby forming a utility rack, wherein said inner carrier member selected in step c) is such that, when assembled in step d) , said utility rack so formed is of a length suitable for said vehicle.