Article carriers

Abstract

A rack for carrying skis and snowboards on top of a vehicle includes a pair of clamp devices equipped for mounting on a pair of crossbars. Each clamp device has a collapsible position which reduces its forward facing profile when not being used to carry cargo items.

1 . A rack for carrying skis or a snowboard comprising
 a pair of cross bars equipped for mounting on the roof of a vehicle,   first and second clamp devices, each clamp device having a base equipped for mounting on one of the crossbars, and a top portion, the base and top portion being connected by a hinge at one end, the base and top portion having complimenting flexible inner strip members for cooperatively gripping skis or snowboards, wherein the hinge device is expandable allowing the strip members to nest when the clamp devices are not being used to carry skis or snowboards, the hinge device including a rigid link having first and second end portions, the first end portion of the link being pivotally connected to the first clamp device at a first pivot point, and the second end portion of the link being pivotally connected to the second clamp device at a second pivot point, wherein the hinge device has a collapsed position and an expanded position, the second pivot point being lower than the first pivot point when the hinge device is in the collapsed position, and the second pivot point being higher than the first pivot point when the hinge device is in the expanded position.   
     
     
         2 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein each clamp device is equipped with a collapsible elevating strut for elevating one end of the clamp device. 
     
     
         3 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein one of the base and top portion has a central flexible strip member, the other of the base and top portion having a pair of lateral flexible strip members, the central strip member fitting between the lateral strip members when the strip member are nested. 
     
     
         4 . The rack of  claim 3 , wherein the lateral strip members are connected to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein one of the base and the top portion has a substantially V-shaped flexible strip member, the other of the base and the top portion having a substantially M-shaped flexible strip member, the strip members being configured to stack in close proximity to each other when the clamp device is in a collapsed position. 
     
     
         6 . The rack of  claim 1 , each clamp device having a pair of crossbar clamps, each crossbar clamp being adjustable to accommodate crossbars of different shape or orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The rack of  claim 6 , wherein the crossbar clamp includes a strap. 
     
     
         8 . A clamp assembly for securing skis or a snowboard on crossbars on top of a vehicle comprising
 a pair of clamp devices, each clamp device having a base equipped for mounting on a crossbar, and a top portion, the base and top portion being connected by a hinge at one end, the base and top portion having complimenting flexible inner strip members for cooperatively gripping skis or snowboards, wherein the hinge device is expandable allowing the strip members to nest when the clamp devices are not being used to carry skis or snowboards, wherein the hinge device includes a link member having first and second end portions, the first end portion of the link member being pivotally connected to a first pivot point on the base and the second end portion of the link member being connected to a second pivot point on the top portion.   
     
     
         9 . The rack of  claim 8 , wherein the range of pivotal movement of the link member around the first pivot point provides limited but sufficient expansion for securing skis or snowboards between the base and top portion. 
     
     
         10 . The clamp assembly of  claim 9 , wherein one of the base and top portion has a central flexible strip member, the other of the base and the top portion having a pair of lateral flexible strip members, the central strip member fitting between the lateral strip members when the strip member are nested. 
     
     
         11 . The clamp assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the lateral strip members are connected to the base.