Alan A Allison

US Patent:

63118823, Nov 6, 2001

Filed:

May 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/567622

Inventors:

Alan Richard Allison - Waterford MI
Richard G. Evans - Lake Leelanau MI

Assignee:

JAC Products, Inc. - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

B60R 900

US Classification:

224326

Abstract:

An adaptor for securing a slat of a vehicle article carrier to an outer body surface of a vehicle without the need for drilling holes through the outer body surface. The adaptor comprises a main body portion having a channel formed along the entire length thereof. The channel has a cross-sectional shape which is designed to match the shape of an upwardly protruding lip portion formed within a roof ditch of the vehicle, such that the adaptor can be slid over the upwardly extending metal lip portion and thus attached thereto. At least one threaded bore is provided in the adaptor for enabling a slat to be secured thereto by an external threaded fastening element. A second threaded bore is included for enabling a set screw to be used to secure the adaptor to the metal lip portion so as to prevent sliding movement of the adaptor within the roof ditch. The adaptor thus allows a slat to be secured over a roof ditch without the need for drilling any holes in the roof of the vehicle.