GB2555444A - A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly - Google Patents
A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2555444A GB2555444A GB1618224.8A GB201618224A GB2555444A GB 2555444 A GB2555444 A GB 2555444A GB 201618224 A GB201618224 A GB 201618224A GB 2555444 A GB2555444 A GB 2555444A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- hardtop
- cover
- hardtop cover
- motor vehicle
- deployed position
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/02—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes
- B60J7/04—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels
- B60J7/041—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/02—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes
- B60J7/04—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels
- B60J7/041—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels
- B60J7/042—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid plate-like element or elements, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels with a vertical lifting or folding movement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
- B60J7/10—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins
- B60J7/106—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins readily detachable hard-tops
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
- B60J7/16—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel
- B60J7/1607—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
- B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
- B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
- B60J7/16—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel
- B60J7/1607—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds
- B60J7/1614—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds with a vertical lifting movement maintaining the inclination of the roof or panel
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/14—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/42—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects convertible from one use to a different one
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P7/00—Securing or covering of load on vehicles
- B60P7/02—Covering of load
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R9/00—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
- B60R9/06—Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like at vehicle front or rear
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
- E04H15/02—Tents combined or specially associated with other devices
- E04H15/06—Tents at least partially supported by vehicles
Abstract
An assembly (1, fig.1a) comprising a motor vehicle 10 with a rear cargo flatbed area (18), and hardtop cover shell 20. The hardtop comprises a roof, two side walls and a front and rear end. The hardtop is moveable from a stowed position (fig. 1a), where it protects the cargo area, to a low deployed position (see fig.2) where the shell projects from the rear end of the vehicle and provides shelter beneath it. A pair of rear extendible legs 35 may be used to stabilise the cover in the deployed position. The hardtop may be moved to a raised deployed position (see figs. 3-5) where the hardtop may provide shelter underneath it with a minimum working height from the ground of 1.75 meters. In the raised deployed position, the hardtop may further comprise a pair of front extendable legs 36. There may be guy ropes 38 to further stabilise the hardtop and a flexible front screen may cover the cargo area when the hardtop is in the deployed positions. Flexible side shades (40, fig.5), or rear screen may be provided for additional protection from the elements.
Description
(54) Title of the Invention: A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly Abstract Title: Motor vehicle and hardtop cargo area cover assembly (57) An assembly (1, fig. 1a) comprising a motor vehicle 10 with a rear cargo flatbed area (18), and hardtop cover shell 20. The hardtop comprises a roof, two side walls and a front and rear end. The hardtop is moveable from a stowed position (fig. 1a), where it protects the cargo area, to a low deployed position (see fig.2) where the shell projects from the rear end of the vehicle and provides shelter beneath it. A pair of rear extendible legs 35 may be used to stabilise the cover in the deployed position. The hardtop may be moved to a raised deployed position (see figs. 3-5) where the hardtop may provide shelter underneath it with a minimum working height from the ground of 1.75 meters. In the raised deployed position, the hardtop may further comprise a pair of front extendable legs 36. There may be guy ropes 38 to further stabilise the hardtop and a flexible front screen may cover the cargo area when the hardtop is in the deployed positions. Flexible side shades (40, fig.5), or rear screen may be provided for additional protection from the elements.
Fig.4 /3
Fig.1a
Fig.lb
Fig.1c
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Fig.3
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Fig.4
Fig.5
A Motor Vehicle and Hardtop Cover Assembly
This invention relates to motor vehicles and, in particular, to a motor vehicle having an open rear cargo area and a hardtop cover for use in covering the cargo area.
It is well known to provide a motor vehicle having an open cargo area such as a pick-up truck or crew cab utility vehicle with a detachable rigid cover for covering the open cargo area so as to protect cargo or other items transported in the cargo area from the elements and to provide a limited amount of protection from theft.
Such hardtop covers are known from, for example, UK Patent 2,191,736 and a wide range of such hardtop covers are available under the name 'Truckman' (RTM) from Auto Styling U.K. Limited or from 'Knapheide' (CTM) a US based manufacturer .
With such motor vehicles there is often a need for a temporary protection from the elements (rain, sun etc.) for a user of a motor vehicle if they are required to carry out activities or work in close proximity to the motor vehicle.
It is an object of this invention to provide a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly that can provide protection for objects carried in a cargo area of the motor vehicle and shelter for use by a person to carryout open air activities close to a rear end of the motor vehicle.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly comprising a motor vehicle having an open rear cargo area located to the rear of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a detachable hardtop cover securable to the motor vehicle in a cargo protecting position so as to provide a cover for the open cargo area wherein the hardtop cover has a roof, a front end, a rear end and two sides and is moveable from the cargo protecting position to a deployed position in which it projects from a rear end of the motor vehicle and provides thereunder a shelter.
The transition of the hardtop cover between the cargo protecting and deployed positions may include sliding of the hardtop cover relative to the motor vehicle.
The cargo area may have two side walls and a rear wall and, in a low deployed position, bottom edges of the hardtop cover are substantially aligned with respective upper edges of the side walls of the open cargo area of the motor vehicle .
The cargo area may have two side walls and a rear wall and, in a raised deployed position, bottom edges of the hardtop cover are positioned above respective upper edges of the side walls of the open cargo area of the motor vehicle so as to provide a minimum working height under the roof of the hardtop cover.
The minimum working height may be at least 1.75m above the ground upon which the motor vehicle is resting.
The transition of the hardtop cover from the cargo protecting position to the deployed position may include sliding of the hardtop cover relative to the motor vehicle and subsequent lifting of the hardtop cover to the required height.
The assembly may include a flexible front screen to provide protection from the elements for the open cargo area when the hardtop cover is in a deployed position.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a hardtop cover for use in a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly constructed in accordance with said first aspect of the invention wherein the hardtop cover comprises a roof, two side walls, a front end, a rear end and a pair of rear telescopic legs located near the rear end of the hardtop cover to support the hardtop cover when in a deployed position.
The hardtop cover may include at least two tethers to assist in stabilising the rear end of the hardtop cover when in the deployed position.
The hardtop cover may include a pair of telescopic legs located near a front end of the hardtop cover to support the hardtop cover in the deployed position.
The hardtop cover may include a pair of flexible side shades to provide additional protection from the elements when the hardtop cover is in the deployed position.
The hardtop cover may include a flexible rear screen to provide additional protection from the elements.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing of which:Fig.la is a diagrammatic side view of a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly showing the hardtop in a cargo protecting position;
Fig.lb is a diagrammatic plan view of the motor vehicle shown in Fig.la with the hardtop cover removed so as to show a rear open cargo area of the motor vehicle;
Fig.lc is a diagrammatic underside view of the hardtop cover shown in Fig.la;
Fig.2 is a diagrammatic but showing the hardtop cover in
Fig.3 is a diagrammatic but showing the hardtop cover in side view similar to Fig.la a low deployed position;
side view similar to Fig.la a raised deployed position;
Fig.4 is a diagrammatic side view similar to Fig.3 showing the use of a guy ropes to stabilise the hardtop cover in the raised deployed position; and
Fig.5 is a diagrammatic side view similar to Fig.4 showing the use of side shades to provide additional protection.
With particular reference to Figs.la to lc there is shown a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly 1 comprising a motor vehicle 10 and a hardtop cover 20. The motor vehicle 10 has a passenger compartment 12 and a rear open cargo area 18. In the case of the example shown, the motor vehicle 10 is a crew cab pickup truck but it will be appreciated that the invention could be applied to other types of motor vehicle having an open cargo area.
The passenger compartment 12 of the motor vehicle 10 has a rear wall 15 and the open cargo area 18 is located to the rear of the rear wall of the passenger compartment 12. The detachable hardtop cover 20 is shown in Fig.la secured to the motor vehicle 12 in a cargo protecting position so as to provide a cover for the open cargo area 18.
The cargo area 18 has two side walls 16R, 16L, a rear end wall 17 including a drop down tailgate and a front wall 19 that abuts against the rear wall 15 of the passenger compartment 12.
The hardtop cover 20 has a roof 24 two side walls 25, a front end 21, a rear end 23 and two side rails 26 that define bottom edges of the hardtop cover 20. In the case of this example three rollers 28 are supported by the side rails 26 for use in assisting sliding of the hardtop cover 20 from the cargo protecting position to a deployed position in which it extends to the rear of the motor vehicle 10 so as to provide limited shelter from the elements (sun and rain etc.) for a person who wishes to carry out activities outside of the motor vehicle 10. In the case of this example a window 30 is located in each of the side walls 25 to provide additional interior light, particularly when the hardtop cover 20 is in a deployed position.
The hardtop cover 20 includes a pair of telescopic legs 35 located near the rear end 23 of the hardtop cover 20 to support the hardtop cover 20 when in a deployed position.
The hardtop cover 20 further includes a pair of telescopic legs 36 located near the front end 21 of the hardtop cover 20 to support the hardtop cover 20 when in a deployed position.
When in the cargo protecting position shown in Fig.la the two side rails 26 rest upon upper edges of the two side walls 16R, 16L of the open cargo area 18. Latches (not shown) are used to secure the hardtop cover 20 to the side walls 16L, 16R of the cargo area 18. The latches may automatically latch the hardtop cover 20 in the cargo protecting position and need to be physically released to allow the hardtop cover 20 to be moved from the cargo protecting position. One or more of the latches can include a locking device such as a key or combination lock.
It will be appreciated that in the case of this example it is actually the rollers 28 that rest upon the upper edges of the two side walls 16L, 16R but in other embodiments not having the rollers 28 the side rails 26 would rest directly upon the upper edges of the side walls 16L, 16R.
The hardtop cover 20 is moveable from the cargo protecting position shown in Fig.la to a deployed position shown in Figs.2 to 5 in which it projects from the rear end 17 of the motor vehicle 10 and provides thereunder a shelter by sliding the hardtop cover 20 rearwards.
In the case where the motor vehicle 10 is a large vehicle having a high mounted cargo the hardtop cover 20 can be transitioned by sliding it in a rearward direction into a low deployed position as shown in Fig.2. In the low deployed position the bottom edges of the hardtop cover 20 formed by the side rails 26 is substantially aligned with respective upper edges of the side walls 16L, 16R of the open cargo area 18 of the motor vehicle 10. This position is used if the motor vehicle 10 is sufficiently high, such as can be the case with a light commercial vehicle, that the roof of the hardtop cover 20 is high enough above the ground to allow a person to comfortably work thereunder. Typically a minimum working height of 1.75m and preferably 2.0m is required as a comfortable working height.
In the low deployed position the two rear telescopic legs 35 located near the rear end 23 of the hardtop cover 20 are extended so as to support the rear end of the hardtop cover 20 but the front end of the hardtop cover 20 remains supported by the upper edges of the two sides 16L, 16R of the cargo area 18 upon which the two side rails 26 of the hardtop cover 20 rest or by the rear end wall 17 of the motor vehicle 10.
Therefore to transition to or from the low deployed position only sliding motion of the hardtop cover 20 is required.
As shown in Figs.3 to 5 the hardtop cover 20 is also moveable to a raised deployed position in which the bottom edges of the hardtop cover 20 in the form of the side rails are positioned well above respective upper edges of the side walls 16L, 16R of the open cargo area 18 of the motor vehicle 10 so as to provide said minimum working height under the roof 24 of the hardtop cover 20. This position is used for motor vehicles where the height under the roof 24 of the hardtop cover 20 would be less than the minimum comfortable working height if only a sliding motion is used to move the hardtop cover 20 to the deployed position.
To transition to the raised deployed position requires the hardtop cover 20 to be moved rearwards from the cargo protecting position using a sliding motion and then by lifting the hardtop cover 20 until it reaches the raised deployed position.
To transition from the raised deployed position to the cargo protecting position requires the hardtop cover 20, that is to say the side rails 26, to be lowered to the height of the upper edges of the side walls 16L, 16R and then the hardtop cover is moved forwards using a sliding motion to reach the cargo protecting position.
In the raised deployed position the two rear telescopic legs 35 located near the rear end 23 of the hardtop cover 20 are extended so as to support the rear end of the hardtop cover 20 and the front end of the hardtop cover 20 is supported by the two front telescopic legs 36.
As shown in Figs.4 and 5 to stabilise the hardtop cover 20, particularly when it is in the raised deployed position, the hardtop cover 20 includes at least two tethers 38 that are fastened at one end to the ground and at an opposite end to the hardtop cover 20 so as to assist in stabilising the rear end 23 of the hardtop cover 20 when in the raised deployed position. As an alternative or in addition to the tethers 38 additional rear support legs (not shown) could be provided.
- 8 As shown in Fig.5 the hardtop cover 20 can also include flexible roll-down side shades 40 to provide additional protection from the elements when the hardtop cover 20 is in the raised deployed position. The hardtop cover 20 can also include a flexible roll down rear shade (not shown) attached to the rear end 23 of the hardtop cover 20 to provide additional protection from the elements.
The rear and side roll shades provide more protection for a user of the space under the hardtop cover when in the deployed positions.
It will be appreciated that the roll-down side and rear shades could also be used in the low deployed position if so required.
Additionally, the rear roll-down shade can be also used as horizontal shade when the hardtop cover 20 is in the cargo protection position. In such a case support poles and guy ropes are used to support the free end of the roll-down rear shade.
Although not shown, motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly 1 can also include a front shade which is mounted on the rear wall 15 of the passenger compartment 12 and extends for attachment to the hardtop cover 20 to add protection for the rear cargo area if the hardtop cover 20 is in one of the deployed positions but there remains a need to protect items in the rear cargo area 18.
Alternatively, the front shade can be mounted on the hardtop cover 20 and extends for attachment to the rear wall 15 of the passenger compartment 12.
The aforementioned shades can be made from fabric material of a type used for the manufacture of tents and the like or from any other suitable flexible material.
It will be appreciated that the transition between the cargo protecting position and the low or raised positions can be achieved manually or powered actuators can be used to assist with the transition. That is to say, a low cost option is to use manual transition and a higher cost option is to use powered transition using actuators.
For example, the telescopic legs could be in the form of rams that are extended by the application of power such as hydraulic or pneumatic pressure or could be electromechanical linear actuators and an electric motor drive could be used to slide the hardtop cover relative to the motor vehicle.
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the hardtop cover can be transitioned to only the low deployed position and with other embodiments both deployed positions are available for selection.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example with reference to one or more embodiments it is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and that alternative embodiments could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (8)
1. A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly comprising a motor vehicle having an open rear cargo area located to the rear of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a detachable hardtop cover securable to the motor vehicle in a cargo protecting position so as to provide a cover for the open cargo area wherein the hardtop cover has a roof, a front end, a rear end and two sides and is moveable from the cargo protecting position to a deployed position in which it projects from a rear end of the motor vehicle and provides thereunder a shelter.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transition of the hardtop cover between the cargo protecting and deployed positions includes sliding of the hardtop cover relative to the motor vehicle.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the cargo area has two side walls and a rear wall wherein, in a low deployed position, bottom edges of the hardtop cover are substantially aligned with respective upper edges of the side walls of the open cargo area of the motor vehicle.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the cargo area has two side walls and a rear wall wherein, in a raised deployed position, bottom edges of the hardtop cover are positioned above respective upper edges of the side walls of the open cargo area of the motor vehicle so as to provide a minimum working height under the roof of the hardtop cover.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the minimum working height is at least 1.75m above the ground upon which the motor vehicle is resting.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or in claim 5 wherein the transition of the hardtop cover from the cargo protecting position to the deployed position includes sliding of the hardtop cover relative to the motor vehicle and lifting of the hardtop cover to the required height.
7. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the assembly includes a flexible front screen to provide protection from the elements for the open cargo area when the hardtop cover is in a deployed position.
8. A hardtop cover as claimed in claim 6 or in claim 7 wherein the hardtop cover includes a flexible rear screen to provide additional protection from the elements.
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1618224.8 Examiner: Mr Matthew Hanson
8. A hardtop cover for use in a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the hardtop cover comprises a roof, two side walls, a front end, a rear end and a pair of rear telescopic legs located near the rear end of the hardtop cover to support the hardtop cover when in a deployed position.
9. A hardtop cover as claimed in claim 8 wherein the hardtop cover includes at least two tethers to assist in stabilising the rear end of the hardtop cover when in the deployed position.
10. A hardtop cover as claimed m claim 8 or m claim 9 wherein the hardtop cover includes a pair of telescopic legs located near a front end of the hardtop cover to support the hardtop cover m
11. A hardtop cover as 10 wherein the hardtop cover side shades to provide addit elements when the hardtop co' the deployed position.
claimed in any of claims 8 to includes a pair of flexible onal protection from the er is in the deployed position.
12. A hardtop cover as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11 wherein the hardtop cover includes a flexible rear screen to provide additional protection from the elements.
Amendments to the claims have been made as followed:
Claims
08 05 17
1. A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly comprising a motor vehicle having an open rear cargo area
5 located to the rear of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a detachable hardtop cover securable to the motor vehicle in a cargo protecting position so as to provide a cover for the open cargo area, the hardtop cover having a roof, a front end wall, a rear end wall, two side io walls, two side rails forming bottom edges of the side walls of the hardtop cover, a pair of front telescopic legs located near a front end of the hardtop cover and a pair of rear telescopic legs located near a rear end of the hardtop cover wherein the hardtop is moveable from the cargo
15 protecting position in which the two side rails rest upon respective side walls of the open rear cargo are to a low deployed position in which in which the side rails of the hardtop cover are substantially aligned with respective upper edges of side walls of the open cargo area and the
20 hardtop cover projects from a rear end of the motor vehicle and provides thereunder a shelter by sliding of the hardtop cover relative to the motor vehicle to a position in which a front end of the hardtop cover is supported by the side walls of the open cargo area and a rear end of the hardtop
25 cover is supported by the pair of telescopic rear legs and the hardtop cover is further moveable to a raised deployed position, in which the side rails of the hardtop cover are positioned above the respective upper edges of the side walls of the open cargo area of the motor vehicle and the
30 front end of the hardtop cover is supported by the pair of front telescopic legs and the rear end of the rear end of the hardtop cover is supported by the pair of telescopic rear legs, by lifting the hardtop cover from the low deployed position to the required height.
08 05 17
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the raised deployed position a minimum working height is provided under the roof of the hardtop cover.
5 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the minimum working height is at least 1.75m above the ground upon which the motor vehicle is resting.
4. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 10 wherein the assembly includes a flexible front shade to provide protection from the elements for the open cargo area when the hardtop cover is in one of the deployed positions.
5. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4
15 wherein three rollers are supported by the side rails of the hardtop cover for use in assisting sliding of the hardtop cover from the cargo protecting position to the low deployed position in which it extends to the rear of the motor vehicle .
6. A hardtop cover for use in a motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hardtop cover includes at least two tethers to assist in stabilising the rear end of the hardtop cover when
25 in the raised deployed position.
7. A hardtop cover as claimed in claims 6 wherein the hardtop cover includes a pair of flexible side shades to provide additional protection from the elements when the
30 hardtop cover is in the raised deployed position.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1618224.8A GB2555444B (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2016-10-28 | A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1618224.8A GB2555444B (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2016-10-28 | A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201618224D0 GB201618224D0 (en) | 2016-12-14 |
| GB2555444A true GB2555444A (en) | 2018-05-02 |
| GB2555444B GB2555444B (en) | 2019-12-11 |
Family
ID=57963717
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1618224.8A Expired - Fee Related GB2555444B (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2016-10-28 | A motor vehicle and hardtop cover assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2555444B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2610586A (en) * | 2021-09-08 | 2023-03-15 | Edward Daniel William | A vehicle awning device |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3649063A (en) * | 1970-06-29 | 1972-03-14 | Turner Stark | Camping shelter employing camper shell as top portion |
| US5364154A (en) * | 1993-07-09 | 1994-11-15 | Sierra Line Products, Inc. | Liftable rigid truck bed cover |
| US6666490B1 (en) * | 1999-08-11 | 2003-12-23 | Gary Thacker | Pickup bed cover |
| TWM421252U (en) * | 2011-09-13 | 2012-01-21 | de-guang Xu | Two-in-one truck canopy |
| US9227491B1 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2016-01-05 | James K. Story, Jr. | Slidable cover for truck rack |
| GB2529835A (en) * | 2014-09-03 | 2016-03-09 | Norman Trust | Utility vehicle |
-
2016
- 2016-10-28 GB GB1618224.8A patent/GB2555444B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3649063A (en) * | 1970-06-29 | 1972-03-14 | Turner Stark | Camping shelter employing camper shell as top portion |
| US5364154A (en) * | 1993-07-09 | 1994-11-15 | Sierra Line Products, Inc. | Liftable rigid truck bed cover |
| US6666490B1 (en) * | 1999-08-11 | 2003-12-23 | Gary Thacker | Pickup bed cover |
| TWM421252U (en) * | 2011-09-13 | 2012-01-21 | de-guang Xu | Two-in-one truck canopy |
| US9227491B1 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2016-01-05 | James K. Story, Jr. | Slidable cover for truck rack |
| GB2529835A (en) * | 2014-09-03 | 2016-03-09 | Norman Trust | Utility vehicle |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2610586A (en) * | 2021-09-08 | 2023-03-15 | Edward Daniel William | A vehicle awning device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201618224D0 (en) | 2016-12-14 |
| GB2555444B (en) | 2019-12-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20221028 |