US Patent 11623579 Foldable equipment rack

A rack is described for securing equipment, such as a kayak, to a vehicle. The rack has a base member for attaching to the vehicle, a support member pivotally attached to the base member, and an actuator that is operable to engage or disengage a latch mechanism that fixes the movement of the support member in one or more desired positions in relation to the base member. The actuator may be actuated from either side of the base. The actuator may extend transversely across the lengthwise axis of the base member. The opposite ends of the actuator may each be displaced toward one end of the base to release the support member and allow it to pivot with respect to the base member.