GB2168295A - Demountable upper deck for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable upper deck for a vehicle comprising a deck platform (1) having an upstanding circumambient wall (3) defining a passenger compartment at least 25 centimetres in height, e.g. about 40 centimetres; and means for demountably fastening said deck platform on top of an existing vehicle roof such as over centre toggles (13) for engaging a vehicle roof gutter. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Demountable upper deck for a vehicle The present invention relates to a demountable upper deck for a vehicle. Upper decks according to the invention may be fixed on top of an existing vehicle roof to provide, for instance, an observation platform.

In the past, substantially the only vehicles having an upper deck have been public transport vehicles such as buses and trams in which the upper deck is a fixed part of the vehicle.

In many circumstances such as when attending some public event, for instance a race meeting, it is desirable to have a high advantage point from which to observe the event in question. The present invention provides a demountable upper deck which may be attached to a vehicle on top of its existing roof when required and removed thereafter and which provides a platform upon which persons may stand or sit, for instance to watch an event.

At present, roof racks are of course available for attachment over an existing vehicle roof but these provide a platform only suitable for receiving loads and not suitable for use as a passenger compartment. Particular deficiencies of a roof rack when viewed as an alternative to what is provided by the present invention include the fact that tools are generally necessary for attaching and removing such roof racks and that such roof racks do not provide any wall to surround and define the load area in a manner suitable for defining a passenger compartment.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a demountable upper deck for a vehicle comprising a deck plafform having an upstanding circumambient wall defining a passenger compartment at least 25 centimetres in height and means for demountably fastening said deck platform on top of an existing vehicle roof.

Preferably the wall defining the passenger compartment is at least 30 centimetres height, for instance 45 centimetres height.

Additionally, the wall is preferably provided with a guard rail upstanding from an upper portion of the wall to further enclose the passenger compartment.

Such a guard rail may preferably extend from the top of the wall by at least 50 centimetres.

Preferably the guard rail is removable from the upper part of the wail for storage. Preferably the guard rail is adapted to separate into discrete components or fold such that it may be accommodated with the passenger compartment below the height of the defining wall.

Preferably a portion of the guard rail is removable independently of the remainder of the guard rail to provide an access gate. More than one such access gate may be provided. This may be done whether or not the remainderofthe guard rail is removable.

Alternatively, the access gate may not be removable independently of the remainder of the rail but may be hinged thereto.

Preferably the deck comprises at least one seat, preferably several seats. These are preferably removable for storage and are preferably adapted to fit for storage purposes within the passenger compartment.

Preferably, the deck comprises a canopy and suitable canopy supports, for instance a cloth canopy supported by a framework of rods or tubes.

Preferably the canopy and its support structure is also removable for storage. Again, it is preferable that the canopy and its support structure can be stored in the passenger compartment within the defining wall.

Preferably where a canopy, seats and a guard rail are provided, all are simultaneously storable within the passenger compartment. Preferably a cover is also provide to enclose the passenger compartment and any items stored therein when the deck is not in use.

Preferably, the means for fastening the deck to an existing vehicle roof are adapted to engage a gutter member of the roof. Alternatively, the means for attaching the deck on an existing roof may comprise catch members having a first portion mounted on the deck and a second portion essentially permanently attached to the vehicle.

Preferably, the means for fastening the deck on an existing vehicle roof are adapted to be fastened and released without tools. For instance, the said means may be a plurality of overcentre toggles.

Each overcentre toggle may have a hook member for engaging the underside of a vehicle roof gutter.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a demountable upper deck for a vehicle comprising a deck platform defining a passenger compartment and provided with a plurality of overcentre toggle latches, each latch having a mounting portion attached to the deck and a catch portion extendable and retractable with respect to the mounting portion for engagement with a vehicle to mount the deck on the roof thereof.

The over centre toggle latches may be as described above. In addition, it is preferred for both aspects of the invention that where over centre toggle latches are provided, they include a safety catch to retain the toggle in the closed position.

The invention includes a vehicle provided with a demountable upper deck as described above according to the first or second aspect of the invention.

It is particularly preferred that the demountable upper deck may be adapted to fit a Range Rover vehicle and a specific example of such a demountable upper deck will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be appreciated that similar upper decks can be produced for other vehicles provided that the vehicle has a roof structure of sufficient strength.

The invention will be illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an upper deck according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line marked A in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, an upper deck (100) according to the invention comprises a deck platform (1) comprising a base (2) and an upstanding circumambientwall (3). The base is generally rectangular but has an outwardly bowed front edge.

The circumambientwall is approximately 45 centimetres in height and is inwardly inclined, particularly atthe front and atthe back. The illustrated deck isforfitting to a Range Rqver and the dimensions and general appearance of the deck are chosen to fit and generally complement the shape of a Range Rover roof. Other shapes would be adopted for other vehicles.

A bulk head (4) extends parallel to the rearwall of the deck platform to provide a storage compartment between the bulk head (4) and the rearwall.

A bench type seat (5) is provided overthe storage compartment, the back ofthe seatforming a lid for the storage compartmentwhen the deck is not in use.

The squab ofthe seat (5) is removable for storage and to provide access to the storage compartment.

A pair of folding single seats (6) is provided in the forward portion ofthe deck. These are mounted in a swivel fashion on tubular stalks (7) engaging in sockets provided in the deck platform (1). They are removable from the sockets and may be folded for storage. A guard rail (8) is provided in engaging in sockets in the top ofthe circumambientwall (3). The guard rail comprises a forward portion, a separate rearward portion and a pair of independently removable gate portions (9), only one ofwhich is illustrated. Each portion may be removed from its locating socketinthewall (3) for storage. The forward portion is hinged at (9) so that it may be foldedforstorage.

The rear portion is provided with a cloth screen (it).

Supported on the guard rail is a tubularframework (11) bearing a fabric canopy (12). The framework has four malor support members engaging in mounting sockets on the top of the guard rail approximately in the centre of each side and the centre ofthefrontand the back the guard rail.

When removed, the illustrated components may be folded and stored in the storage compartment of the deck platform and in the well in front of the bulk head (4).

A row ofturn buttons (25) extends aroundthe upper part of wall (3) forthe attachment of a tonneau cover.

For attachmentto thevehicle,the deck platform is provided with eighttoggle latches (13), four on each side. These are illustrated in more detail in Figure 2 in which the deck is shown in position to be attached to a vehicle roof (14). Itwill be seen thatthe vehicle roof (14) includes a water gutter (15) having a depending longitudinally extending flange (16). The form of roof illustrated isthatofthe Range Rover and is attached to a mounting frame at the top ofthe body ofthe vehicle by a fixing ridge (17). The precise details of the roof are however not of significance.

The deck wall (3) extends downwardly belowthe level of platform (1) forming a support lip (3a) running around the periphery ofthe deck platform.

It is on this lip (3a) thtthe deck stands and onlythis lip contacts the vehicle roof.

As shown, thetoggle latch (13)is an overcentre toggle having a mounting plate (18) attached to the circumambientwall (3) ofthe deck platform (1), an operating lever (19) mounted on the plate (18) for rotation about a centre (20) and a hook member (22) mounted to the operating arm (19) for rotation about a centre (21) which is separated from the centre (20) and is above the centre (20) to provide the overcentre action. In use, the hook member (22) may be engaged underthe flange (16) ofthe roof and the operating lever (13) may be pushed againstthe wall (3) to draw the deckfirmly down attached to the gutter. A safety catch (23) is provided on the operating lever (19) and comprises atongueto engage with an aperture in an upstanding flange (24) on the mounting plate (18).

The safety catch (23) is spring loaded to engage and is retractable manually to enable the operating lever (19) to be pulled away from the wall (3) to release the toggle.

The illustrated deck may be stored offthevehicle as a self contained unit containing its various components stored beneath a tonneau cover. When it is required it may rapidly be attached on top of a vehicle roof by simply being placed in position and by the snap engagement ofthetoggles (13) to the vehicle gutter (15) without the use of tools.

For access to the upper deck, a ladder may be added. Provision may be made for mounting such a ladder on the exterior ofthe upper deck, for instance across the backthereof. Generally a teiescopicor folding ladder will be employed.

When it is desired to use the deck as an observation platform, the tonneau cover is removed and the various components are erected and placed in position. The vehicle is fully drivable with the upper deck in position with its fittings stored and may be moved short distances with the fittings in their operating positions. It can be seen thatwithin the space of a few minutes, it is possible to erectthe fittings of the deck so asto provide a platform for observation purposes or picnicking or similar activities.

Whilstthe invention has been described with reference to th e particu the particularembodimentillustrated, many modifications and variations thereof are possible within the scope ofthe invention.

Claims (20)

1. A demountable upper deckfor a vehicle comprising a deck platform having an upstanding circumambientwall defining a passenger compartment at least 25 centimetres in height and means for demountably fastening said deck platform on top of an existing vehicle roof.

2. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wall defining the passenger compartment is at least 30 centimetres in height.

3. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 2wherein said height is about 45 centimetres.

4. An upper deck as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wall is provided with a guard rail upstanding from an upper portion ofthewallto further enclose the passenger compartment.

5.An upper deck as claimed in Claim Swhereinthe guard rail extends above the top ofthe wall by at least 50 centimetres.

6. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the guard rail is removable from the upper part of the wall for storage.

7. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the guard rail is adapted to separate into discrete components or fold such that it may be accommodated within the passenger compartment below the height of the defining wail.

8. An upper deck as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7 wherein a portion of the guard rail is removable independently of the remainder of the guard rail to provide an access gate.

9. An upper deck as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7 wherein an access gate portion is provided in said guard rail hinged to the remainder of the guard rail.

10. An upper deck as claimed in any preceding claim comprising at least one seat, removable for storage and adapted to fit for storage purposes within the passenger compartment.

11. An upper deck as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the deck comprises a canopy and supports for the canopy.

12. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the canopy and its support structure is removable for storage and adapted to be stored in the passenger compartment within the defining wall.

13. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 12 comprising a said canopy, canopy supports, seats and a guard rail, all simultaneously storable within the passenger compartment.

14. An upper deck as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for fastening the deck to an existing vehicle roof are adapted to engaged gutter member of the roof.

15. An upper deck as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for fastening the deck on an existing vehicle roof are adapted to be fastened and released without tools.

16. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 15wherein the said means comprises a plurality of over centre toggles.

17. A demountable upper deck for a vehicle comprising a deck platform defining a passenger compartment and provided with a plurality of overcentre toggle latches, each latch having a mounting portion attached to the deck and a catch portion extendable and retractable with respect to the mounting portion for engagement with a vehicle to mount the deck on the roof thereof.

18. An upper deck as claimed in Claim 16 or a demountable upper deck as claimed in Claim 17 wherein the over centre toggle latches each include a safety catch to retain the toggle in the closed position.

19. An upper deck for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. A vehicle provided with an upper deck as claimed in any preceding claims.