IE50557B1 - Stripping for use as a frame member of a vehicle roof frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The sides and ends of a commercial vehicle roof are composed of stripping having a channel 16, and ledge 21 which, at the sides of the roof, receives the ends of transverse roof sticks 23 supporting a translucent roof sheet 24. Each edge of the sheet 24 is fastened by rivets 25 between a flange 22 projecting across the respective channel 16 and a capping strip 26 which bridges the channel 16, so that, in use any seepage of water at the rivets 25 is trapped by the channels 16. The sides of the vehicle body locate against a lip 15 at the lower edge of the stripping.

Description

'This invention concerns roofs for the bodies of commercial vehicles, such as vans and pantechnicons· It is already known to provide constructions of commercial vehicle roofs in which a frame of the roof is defined by elongate side frame-members oonnected by end croas-pieces, with the side frame-members shaped to provide ledges or shoulders supporting the respective ends of transverse bearers (sometimes known as roof sticks) spaced apart at intervals along the frame. This structure supports a roof sheet (which may be translucent to provide for the interior of the vehicle body to receive some light during daytime) made, for example, of resin-bonded glass fibre, or aluminium, which is secured by its edges to the side.'1 frame-members and end cross-pieces, for instance by riveting, with capping strips superimposed above the edges of the roof sheet which latter is also supported by the roof sticks* Such roof constructions are of substantial utility, being relatively economical to manufacture and having a long useful life. They may, however, - 2 suffer the disadvantage of permitting water to drip into the interior of the vehicle body if there should be any seepage at the rivets which fasten the roof sheet ln place.

An object of the present invention is to provide a form of strip member, suitable for use as side framemembers and end cross-pieces of a roof frame, having the advantage that it is shaped to preclude the possibility of water dripping into the interior of the vehicle's roof even though there may be seepage at the rivets used for securing the roof sheet in place.

With this object in view, the present invention provides stripping for use as a frame member of a vehicle roof frame characterised in that it comprises an upwardly-open channel or trough one side wall of which has externally thereof a shoulder or step extending away from the channel or trough for engagement thereon, as may he desired, of respective ends of roof sticks, and to which connects a flange which projects over the channel or trough for securement of the edge of a roof sheet thereto, the stripping being of arcuate cross-sectional configuration providing a curved portion at one end of which is an upright portion for securement to a respective wall - 3 of a vehicle body, and connecting with the other side wall of the channel or trough, with the latter in a substantially horizontal disposition, at the other end of the curved portion· With such an arrangement, therefore, rivets through the edge of the roof sheet will secure the latter to the flange, and any water seeping at the rivets will run into the channel or trough and be prevented from entering the vehicle body.

The invention further includes a commercial vehicle roof comprising a frame composed of frame members including side frame-members and end crosspieces all of stripping as aforesaid, a plurality of roof sticks extending transversely of the frame and disposed with their ends supported by the shoulders or steps of the respective side frame-members, and a roof sheet supported by the roof sticks and secured at its edges to the flanges of the- side frame-members and cross-pieces, with respective capping strips being provided along each said edge and bridging any upwardly-open portion of the channel or trough. - h In order that the invention «ay be fully understood, it will be described further, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in whichj5 Fig, 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof of the invention! and Fig, 2 ie an enlarged crose-eectional view corresponding to the line 2-2 of Fig, 1, Ae shown in the drawing, a vehicle roof, e,g, of a pantechnicon or van, comprises a frame indicated generally by the numeral 10 and basically constructed of two side frame-members 11 and two end cross-pieces 12, these being mitred at their ends to form accurate corner joints where they are jointed together in any suitable manner. Bach of the components 11, 12 is formed ofstripping of the same cross-section the configuration of which can be seen in detail in Fig. 2, and which conveniently ie in the form of an extrusion.

As there shown, the stripping section comprises an arcuate portion 13 at the lower end of which ie an upright portion 14 terminating substantially in register with an integral inwardly-projecting lip - 5 or web 15· This shape permits each of the components 11, 12 to be secured along the upper edge of a respective wall (not shown) of a vehicle body (also not shown) with eald wall locating into the angle between the upright portion l4 and the lip or web 15· At its upper end, the arcuate portion 13 terminates at a trough or channel, indicated generally at 16, composed of a sidewall 17 connecting with the arcuate portion 13, and an opposite sidewall 18 spaoed from the sidewall 17 by a bottom web 19· The sidewall 18 has a downward extension 20 along the lower edge of which is a ledge 21 projecting away from the trough or channel 16, At its upper edge, the sidewall 18 has a flange 22 which projects partly across the trough or channel 16 and towards the sidewall 17* From consideration of both Figs· 1 and 2, it will readily be appreciated that, insofar aa the side frame-members 11 are concerned, in the completed roof, the extensions 20 and ledge 21 provide respect20 lve shoulders or steps for engagement thereon of corresponding ends of transverse roof sticks 23 extending transversely of the roof frame 10, These roof sticks 23 are generally of U-shaped cross-section and can be fixed in place by rivets (not shown) through the bases of the U*a to the respective - 6 ledges 21« Outwardly-projecting lip· 30 are provided on the limbs of the V, The frame 10 and roof stloks 23 eupport a roof eheet 24,preferably translucent, made for Instance of resin-bonded glass fibre with the lips 30 being presented upwards to the under-surface of the sheet 2k. The dimensions of this eheet 2k are such that its edges coincide substantially with the respective edges of the flanges 22, and the sheet 2k ie secured in position by such edges being fastened to the flanges 22 by rivets 2$ with the euperlmposltlon of respective capping etripe 26 which overlie the corresponding edge of the roof sheet 24 and bridge across between the latter and the arcuate portion 13 of the respective component, A central tongue 31 projecting from the capping strip 26 enables the latter to locate against the longitudinal edge of the flange 22, It will be appreciated that with this roof construction, any moisture which may seep past the rivets 25 will be retained in the trough Ιέ, and will not enter the vehicle body. So long as the stripping forming the components 11, 12 is relatively nonreactive with water (being for instance of anodiaed aluminium), the presence of small quantities of moisture in the troughs 16 will be of no disadvantage. - 7 The Invention ie not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. Thus, for instance, instead of being formed with the wall 18, the flange 22 could be formed integrally with the wall 17· The roof sheet 24 could, of course, be made of metal or other suitable material·

Claims (7)

1, Stripping for use as a frame member of a vehicle roof frame characterised in that it comprises an upwardly-open channel or trough one side wall of which has externally thereof a shoulder or step 5 extending away from the channel or trough for engagement thereon, as may be desired, of respective ends of roof sticks, and to which connects a flange which projects over the channel or trough for securement of the edge of a roof sheet thereto, the stripping 10 being of arcuate cross-sectional configuration providing a curved portion at one end of which is an upright portion for securement to a respective wall of a vehicle body, and connecting with the other side wall of the channel or trough, with the latter 15 in a substantially horizontal disposition, at the other end of the curved portion·

2. Stripping as claimed in claim 1 wherein an inwardly-projecting lip or weh is provided on the upright portion. 20

3. » Stripping for use as a frame member of a vehicle roof frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing. - 9

4. A commercial vehicle roof comprising a frame composed of frame members including side frame-members and end cross-pieces all of stripping as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 a plurality of roof sticks extending transversely of the frame and disposed with their ends supported by the shoulders or steps of the respective side frame-members, and a roof sheet supported by the roof sticks and secured at its edges to the flanges of the side frame-members and cross-pieces, with respective capping strips being provided along each said edge and bridging any upwardly-open portion of the channel or trough.

5. A roof as claimed in claim 4 wherein the roof sticks are each of inverted^U shaped cross-section, with outwardly-projecting lips on the limbs of the U being presented upwards to the undersurface of the roof sheet.

6. A roof as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein each capping strip has a tongue projecting therefrom to locate against the longitudinal edge of the respective flange.

7. A commercial vehicle roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.