Michael E Grim, 503305 Barge St, Yakima, WA 98902

5119980, Jun 9, 1992

Mar 15, 1991

7/669808

Michael Grim - Berkeley CA
Joseph J. Settelmayer - Arcata CA

Yakima Products, Inc. - Arcata CA

B60R 912

224315

A closure for the two hinged bars of a vehicle roof-mounted ski mount is formed from a rotatable catch or pawl secured to one of the bars and a toothed harpoon extending from the other. Engagement and disengagement of the pawl with the teeth on the harpoon is governed by a manually operated button, the pawl being spring-biased toward engagement with the harpoon. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the pawl and button are part of a removable insert which fits into an end cap on the upper bar of the ski mount, and the spring is a spring clip which holds the insert in place in the end cap while permitting it to rotate to engage or disengage the pawl with the harpoon which is on the lower bar, the spring clip also urging the pawl into engagement with the harpoon as well as immobilizing the harpoon once it has been engaged by the pawl.