Low profile light for article carrier system

1. An article carrier apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a cross rail interconnected to an exterior surface of the vehicle;

a heat sink positioned within the cross rail;

a light source positioned within the cross rail and thermally connected to the heat sink such that the heat sink will absorb at least a portion of the heat generated by operation of the light source; and

at least one reflector, wherein at least a portion of the light source is positioned within the reflector, wherein the cross rail will structurally support an article attached to the exterior of a vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink material has the thermal conductivity of at least aluminum.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light source includes at least one LED.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source produces at least 5,000 lumens.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source produces at least 15,000 lumens.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is connected to a first side rail and a second side rail so as to selectively structurally support an article.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least 12 sources of light wherein the heat sink thermally interconnects the at least 12 sources of light.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins to dissipate heat.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is connected to the heat sink with a thermally conductive adhesive.

10. An article carrier apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a cross rail interconnected to an exterior surface of the vehicle;

a heat sink positioned within the cross rail; and

a light source positioned within the cross rail and thermally connected to the heat sink such that the heat sink will absorb at least a portion of the heat generated by operation of the light source,

wherein the cross rail will structurally support an article attached to the exterior of a vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising at least one reflector, wherein at least a portion of the light source is positioned within the reflector, and the reflector is connected to the heat sink with a thermal based epoxy.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said light source includes at least one LED.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the light source produces at least 5,000 lumens.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , the cross rail includes a sleeve for protecting the light source.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the heat sink material has the thermal conductivity of at least aluminum.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising at least 12 sources of light wherein the heat sink thermally interconnects the at least 12 sources of light.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the heat sink is connected to a first side rail and a second side rail so as to selectively structurally support an article.

18. An article carrier apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a cross rail interconnected to an exterior surface of the vehicle;

a heat sink positioned within the cross rail; and

a light source positioned within the cross rail and thermally connected to the heat sink such that the heat sink will absorb at least a portion of the heat generated by operation of the light source; and

at least one reflector, wherein at least a portion of the light source is positioned within the reflector, and the reflector is connected to the heat sink with a thermal based epoxy, wherein the cross rail will structurally support an article attached to the exterior of a vehicle.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the light source produces at least 5,000 lumens.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cross rail is sealed to prevent inleakage of water.