Car top carrier

1. A car top carrier comprising:

a box having a lid and a bottom,

a clamp device configured to attach the bottom of the box to a pair of crossbars on top of a car,

one or more hinge devices releasably connecting the lid to the bottom, each hinge having a first portion secured to the lid, and a second portion secured to the bottom, the hinge being configured to permit pivotal rotation of the lid along an edge portion of the bottom, and being provided with a release mechanism so that the hinge device can also function as a latch allowing separation of the first and second portions of the hinge device in a release direction, wherein one of the first and second portions has a catch including a pawl mounted for rotational movement around an axis perpendicular to the release direction that is spring biased toward a constricted-passage position, and the other portion has an enlarged structure configured for receipt by the catch, and further wherein the pawl can be pushed aside by the enlarged structure upon entry but not upon exit of the catch, and wherein the enlarged structure is substantially spherical so that the hinge device permits the first and second portions to be mounted on various lid and bottom shapes.

2. A car top carrier comprising:

a box having a lid and a bottom,

a clamp device configured to attach the bottom of the box to a pair of crossbars on top of a car,

one or more hinge devices releasably connecting the lid to the bottom, each hinge having a first portion secured to the lid, and a second portion secured to the bottom, the hinge being configured to permit pivotal rotation of the lid along an edge portion of the bottom, and being provided with a release mechanism so that the hinge device can also function as a latch allowing separation of the first and second portions of the hinge device in a release direction, wherein one of the first and second portions has a catch including a pawl mounted for rotational movement around an axis perpendicular to the release direction and being spring biased by a first spring toward a constricted-passage position, and the other portion has an enlarged structure configured for receipt by the catch, and further wherein the pawl can be pushed aside by the enlarged structure upon entry but not upon exit of the catch, and wherein the catch is provided with a second spring that urges the enlarged structure to disengage when the catch is manipulated to an open position.

3. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising

first and second lid supports, each lid support connecting the lid to the bottom.

4. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein each lid support includes a slider mounted on a spring, and a cam slidably contacting the slider so that the lid support assists in opening and closing the lid.

5. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first portion has the enlarged structure and the second portion has the catch.

6. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first portion has the catch and the second portion has the enlarged position.

7. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the second portion has a receptacle with a flared lip allowing a limited amount of hinge rotation.

8. The carrier of claim 2 further comprising

first and second lid supports, each lid support connecting the lid to the bottom.

9. The carrier of claim 8 , wherein each lid support includes a slider mounted on a spring, and a cam slidably contacting the slider so that the lid support assists in opening and closing the lid.

10. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein the first portion has the enlarged structure and the second portion has the catch.

11. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein the first portion has the catch and the second portion has the enlarged position.

12. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein the second portion has a receptacle with a flared lip allowing a limited amount of hinge rotation.