HARD TOP STRUCTURE FOR A VEHICLE HAVING A ROLL-BAR CAGE
A hard top structure for a vehicle having a roll-bar cage is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the hard top structure may include a frame adapted to overlay on and attach to the roll-bar cage. The frame may include an upper frame member that defines one or more upper frame openings. Further, the upper frame member may have a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening. The hard top structure may also include one or more upper frame panels with each corresponding to one of the upper frame openings. Each upper frame panel may have an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel. Also, each upper frame panel may be positioned in one of the upper frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/457,321, filed Mar. 13, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates generally to vehicles, and in particular to a hard top structure for a vehicle having a roll-bar cage.
BACKGROUNDContemporary hard tops having removable window panels such as for a Jeep-type utility vehicle require substantial handwork to place and/or remove the window panels from the vehicle. Further, such systems require substantial space for storing the window panels since each window panel is typically multiple inches thick. Also, a hard top does not provide the open-air environment that is provided by a Jeep-type utility vehicle without a hard top or with a soft top that is in a stored position or removed. In addition, a hard top-soft top combination system requires that the soft top must be placed in a stored position or removed from the vehicle when the hard top is placed on the vehicle. Accordingly, there is a need for improved hard top structures for a vehicle having a roll-bar cage. Further, there is a need for improved techniques for reducing the amount of space required to store the window panels. Also, there is a need for improved techniques to provide an open-air environment without requiring a hard top-soft top combination system. In addition, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and the foregoing technical field and background.
The Background section of this document is provided to place embodiments of the present disclosure in technological and operational context, to assist those of skill in the art in understanding their scope and utility. Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted to be prior art merely by its inclusion in the Background section.
SUMMARYThe following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to those of skill in the art. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is not intended to identify key/critical elements of embodiments of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Briefly described, embodiment of the present disclosure relate to hard top structure for a vehicle having a roll-bar cage. According to one aspect, a hard top structure adapted to attach to a vehicle having a roll-bar cage may include a frame adapted to overlay on and attach to the roll-bar cage of the vehicle. The frame may include an upper frame member that defines one or more upper frame openings. Further, the upper frame member may have a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening. The hard top structure may also include one or more upper frame panels with each corresponding to one of the upper frame openings. Each upper frame panel may have an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel. Also, each upper frame panel may be positioned in one of the upper frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint.
According to another aspect, the channel member may include a rounded portion that is adapted to attach to the insert member. Also, the insert member may include a rounded portion that is adapted to fit in and attach to the rounded portion of the channel member.
According to another aspect, the channel or insert member may include a sealant that extends along a perimeter of the rounded portion of that member so that the sealant is disposed between the channel and insert members to form the seal joint.
According to another aspect, the channel and insert members when attached to form the seal joint may include a channel aperture above the seal joint. The channel aperture may allow a flow of fluid along at least the portion of the perimeter of the panel.
According to another aspect, the upper frame member may include an outlet port disposed in the channel member and adjacent the channel aperture so that any fluid in the channel aperture may flow from the channel aperture and out the outlet port.
According to another aspect, the upper frame member may be angled so that any fluid in the channel aperture can flow from the channel aperture and out the outlet port under the force of gravity.
According to another aspect, the seal joint may be a compression seal joint.
According to another aspect, the upper frame member may include one or more fasteners for attaching the one or more panels to the frame member.
According to another aspect, each of the one or more fasteners may be a latch that, when in a first configuration, may be adapted to attach the channel and insert members to form the seal joint, and that, when in a second configuration, may be adapted to detach the channel and insert members.
According to another aspect, a maximum height of each upper frame panel may be no more than one inch.
According to another aspect, the frame may further include a rear frame member that defines one or more rear frame openings. The rear frame member may have a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each rear frame opening. The frame may also include a rear frame panel for each rear frame opening with each rear frame panel having an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel. Further, each rear frame panel may be positioned in one of the rear frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint.
According to another aspect, a maximum height of each rear frame panel may be no more than one inch.
According to another aspect, a combined maximum height of the upper and rear frame panels may be no more than three inches when stacked.
According to another aspect, a combined maximum height of the upper and rear frame panels may be no more than five inches when stacked.
According to another aspect, the frame may further include one or more side frame members with each defining one or more side frame openings. Each side frame member may have a channel member that extends around at least a portion of a corresponding side frame opening. The frame may also include a side frame panel for each side frame opening. Each side frame panel may have an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel. Further, each side frame panel may be positioned in one of the side frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint.
According to another aspect, a maximum height of each side frame panel may be no more than one inch.
According to another aspect, each insert member may define a panel opening. Further, each insert member may have a first groove that extends around at least a portion of each panel opening. The first groove may be adapted to attach a top cover.
According to another aspect, each insert member may include a second groove that extends around at least a portion of the panel opening. The second groove may be adapted to attach a bottom cover.
According to another aspect, the top cover may be a sunroof and the bottom cover may be a shade.
According to another aspect, the upper frame member may further include a second channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening. Further, each upper frame panel may include a second insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel. Also, each upper frame panel may be positioned in one of the upper frame openings so that the corresponding second insert and channel members form a second seal joint.
According to another aspect, the second seal joint may be capable of being in a locked or unlocked position.
According to one aspect, a method of attaching a hard top structure to a vehicle having a roll-bar cage may include overlaying a frame of the hard top structure to the roll-bar cage of the vehicle. The frame may include an upper frame member that defines one or more upper frame openings. Further, the upper frame member may have a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening. The method may also include positioning each of one or more upper frame panels in a corresponding upper frame opening. Each upper frame panel may have an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel. In addition, the method may include attaching each upper frame panel to the upper frame member so that the associated insert and channel members form a seal joint.
According to one aspect, a seal joint may include an insert member having a rounded portion and a channel member having a rounded portion opposing the rounded portion of the insert member. Further, the seal joint may include a sealant on the rounded portion of the insert or channel member so that the sealant is disposed between the insert and channel members to form the seal joint.
The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the disclosure are shown. However, this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present disclosure is described by referring mainly to an exemplary embodiment thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without limitation to these specific details.
In this disclosure, a hard top structure for a vehicle having a roll-bar cage is provided. For example,
Furthermore, the frame 13 may include side frame members 19a,b that extend downward from the upper frame member 15 to the side panels of the vehicle 1 at a point immediately behind front seats at front door openings of the vehicle 1. Each side frame member 19a,b may be firmly attached to the vehicle 1 in a conventional manner such as by bolts or welds. Also, the frame 13 may include a rear frame member 23 that extends between the rear corners of the upper frame member 15 and respective rear corners formed by the side panels and behind the front seats of the vehicle 1. Further, the rear frame member 23 may be firmly secured to the vehicle 1 in a conventional manner such as by bolts or welds. The upper frame member 15 may include one or more upper frame openings 16. Further, each side frame member 19a,b may include respective side frame opening 20a,b. Also, the rear frame member 23 may include a rear frame opening 24. Each frame member 15, 19a-b, 23 may include a channel member 60 that extends around at least a portion of each respective frame opening 16, 20a,b, 24. The structure of the channel member 60 may be as described herein by one or more of
The hard top structure 11 may also include upper panels 31a,b, side panels 33a,b, a rear panel 35, the like, or any combination thereof. Each panel 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 may correspond to a respective frame opening 16, 20a,b, 24. Each panel 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 may have a height of no more than one inch (1″), allowing for storage of any or all of the panels 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 in the trunk or on a shelf 43 of the vehicle. When all of the panels 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 are stacked, the combined height of the five (5) stacked panels 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 is no more than five inches (5″). When only the upper panels 31a,b are stacked, the combined height of the two (2) panels 31a,b is no more than two inches (2″).
Each frame panel 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 may have an insert member 50 that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel 31a,b, 33a,b, 35. The structure of the insert member 50 may be as described herein by one or more of
Moreover, the channel and insert members 60, 50 when attached to form the seal joint 70 may include a channel aperture above that seal joint 70. The channel aperture may enable a flow of fluid along at least a portion of the perimeter of the frame panel 31a,b, 33a,b, 35 so that the fluid is disposed from the channel aperture such as by one or more outlet ports 65 under the force of gravity, acceleration, wind, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more outlet ports 65 may be disposed through a side of each frame member 15, 19a,b, 23 to the channel aperture. For instance, the one or more outlet ports 65 may be disposed through a side of the upper frame member 15 to the channel aperture.
In
Furthermore, the frame 13 may include side frame members 19a,b that extend downward from the rear upper frame member 15b to the side panels of the vehicle 1 at a point immediately behind back seats at back door openings of the vehicle 1. Each side frame member 19a,b may be firmly attached to the vehicle 1 in a conventional manner such as by bolts or welds. Also, the frame 13 may include a rear frame member 23 that extends between the rear corners of the rear upper frame member 15b and respective rear corners formed by the side panels and behind the back seats of the vehicle 1. Further, the rear frame member 23 may be firmly secured to the vehicle 1 in a conventional manner such as by bolts or welds.
In
Each frame panel 31a-d, 33a,b, 35 may have the insert member 50 that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel 31a-d, 33a,b, 35. The structure of the insert member 50 may be as described herein by one or more of
Furthermore, the channel and insert members 60, 50 when attached to form the seal joint 70 may include a channel aperture above that seal joint 70. The channel aperture may enable a flow of fluid along at least a portion of the perimeter of the frame panel 31a-d, 33a,b, 35 so that the fluid is disposed from the channel aperture such as by one or more outlet ports 65 under the force of gravity, acceleration, wind, the like, or any combination thereof. The one or more outlet ports 65 may be disposed through a side of each frame member 15a,b, 19a,b, 23 to the channel aperture. For instance, the outlet port 65 may be disposed through a side of the upper frame member 15a,b to the channel aperture. The cargo shelf 43 may be sufficiently wide to allow for storage of one or more of the frame panels 31a-d, 33a,b, 35.
Furthermore, the insert and channel members 51 and 61 when attached to form the seal joint 71 may include a channel aperture 67 above that seal joint. The channel aperture 67 may enable a flow of fluid along at least a portion of the perimeter of the corresponding frame panel 31a-d, 33a,b, 35 so that the fluid is disposed from the channel aperture 67 such as by one or more outlet ports (e.g., the outlet ports 65 of
While the insert member 81 is in the unlocked position as show in
Furthermore, the frame 13 may include side frame members 19a,b that extend downward from the upper frame member 15 to the side panels of the vehicle 1 at a point immediately behind front seats at front door openings of the vehicle 1. Each side frame member 19a,b may be firmly attached to the vehicle 1 in a conventional manner such as by bolts or welds. Also, the frame 13 may include a rear frame member 23 that extends between the rear corners of the upper frame member 15 and respective rear corners formed by the side and rear panels of the vehicle 1.
In
In
As show in
In another embodiment, each panel 31a, c may include the insert member 51 on three sides of that panel and the channel member 111 on a fourth side of that panel. Further, each panel 31b,d may include the insert members 51 on three sides of that panel and the insert member 101 on a fourth side of that panel. Also, the fourth side of each of the panels 31a,c may be adjacent to the fourth side of the corresponding panel 31b,d so that the insert and channel members 101, 111 form the joint seal 75.
In another embodiment, each panel 31a,c may include the insert member 51 on three sides of that panel and the channel member 91 on a fourth side of that panel. Further, each panel 31b,d may include the insert member 51 on three sides of that panel and the insert member 101 on a fourth side of that panel. Also, the fourth side of each of the panels 31a,c may be adjacent to the fourth side of the corresponding panel 31b,d so that the insert and channel members 81, 91 form the joint seal 73.
In another embodiment, each panel 31a,c may include the insert member 51 on two opposing sides of that panel and the channel members 91, 111 on the other two opposing sides of that panel. Further, each panel 31b,d may include the insert member 51 on two opposing sides of that panel and the insert members 81, 101 on the other two opposing sides of that panel.
In another embodiment each panel 33a,b, 35 may include the insert member 121 on two opposing sides of that panel. Further, two opposing sides of the corresponding frame opening may include the channel members 131.
In another embodiment, any of the seal joints 71, 73, 75, 77 of
In one embodiment, one or more of the seal joints 71, 73, 75, 77 of
The previous detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, or the application and uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding field of use, background, summary, or detailed description. The present disclosure provides various examples, embodiments and the like, which may be described herein in terms of functional or logical block elements. The various aspects described herein are presented as methods, devices (or apparatus), systems, or articles of manufacture that may include a number of components, elements, members, modules, nodes, peripherals, or the like. Further, these methods, devices, systems, or articles of manufacture may include or not include additional components, elements, members, modules, nodes, peripherals, or the like.
Throughout the specification and the embodiments, the following terms take at least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Relational terms such as “first” and “second,” and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to an exclusive form. Further, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form. The term “include” and its various forms are intended to mean including but not limited to. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and other like terms indicate that the embodiments of the disclosed technology so described may include a particular function, feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular function, feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
Claims
1. A hard top structure adapted to attach to a vehicle having a roll-bar cage, comprising:
- a frame adapted to overlay on and attach to the roll-bar cage, the frame including an upper frame member that defines one or more upper frame openings, the upper frame member having a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening, each channel member having a shaped portion; and
- one or more upper frame panels with each corresponding to one of the upper frame openings, each upper frame panel having an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel, wherein each upper frame panel is positioned in one of the upper frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint, each insert member having a corresponding shaped portion that is adapted to attach to the corresponding shaped portion of the channel member.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the channel or insert member includes a sealant that extends around a perimeter of the rounded portion of that member so that the sealant is disposed between the channel and insert members to form the seal joint.
3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the channel and insert members when attached to form the seal joint include a channel aperture above the seal joint, wherein the channel aperture allows a flow of fluid along at least the portion of the perimeter of the panel.
4. The structure of claim 3, wherein the upper frame member includes an outlet port adjacent the channel aperture so that any fluid in the channel aperture flows from the channel aperture into the outlet port.
5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the upper frame member is angled so that any fluid in the channel aperture flows from the channel aperture into the outlet port under the force of gravity.
6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the seal joint is a compression seal joint.
7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the upper frame member includes one or more fasteners for attaching the one or more panels to the frame member.
8. The structure of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more fasteners is a latch that, when in a first configuration, is adapted to attach the channel and insert members to form the seal joint, and that, when in a second configuration, is adapted to detach the channel and insert members.
9. The structure of claim 1, wherein a maximum height of each upper frame panel is no more than one inch.
10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the frame further includes:
- a rear frame member that defines one or more rear frame openings, the rear frame member having a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each rear frame opening; and
- a rear frame panel for each rear frame opening with each rear frame panel having an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel, wherein each rear frame panel is positioned in one of the rear frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint.
11. The structure of claim 10, wherein a maximum height of each rear frame panel is no more than one inch.
12. The structure of claim 11, wherein a combined maximum height of the upper and rear frame panels for a two-door vehicle is no more than three inches when stacked.
13. The structure of claim 11, wherein a combined maximum height of the upper and rear frame panels for a four-door vehicle is no more than five inches when stacked.
14. The structure of claim 10, wherein the frame further includes:
- one or more side frame members with each defining one or more side frame openings, each side frame member having a channel member that extends around at least a portion of a corresponding side frame opening; and
- a side frame panel for each side frame opening with each side frame panel having an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel, wherein each side frame panel is positioned in one of the side frame openings so that the corresponding insert and channel members form a seal joint.
15. The structure of claim 14, wherein a maximum height of each side frame panel is no more than one inch.
16. The structure of claim 1, wherein each insert member includes a first groove that extends around at least a portion of an inner perimeter of that insert member, wherein the first groove is configured to attach a top cover.
17. The structure of claim 16, wherein each insert member includes a second groove that extends around at least a portion of the inner perimeter of that insert member, wherein the second groove is configured to attach a bottom cover.
18. The structure of claim 1, wherein the upper frame member further includes a second channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening; and
- wherein each upper frame panel includes a second insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel, wherein each upper frame panel is positioned in one of the upper frame openings so that the corresponding second insert and channel members form a second seal joint.
19. The structure of claim 18, wherein the second seal joint is capable of being in a locked or unlocked position.
20. A method of attaching a hard top structure to a vehicle having a roll-bar cage, comprising:
- overlaying a frame of the hard top structure to the roll-bar cage, the frame including an upper frame member that defines one or more upper frame openings, the upper frame member having a channel member that extends around at least a portion of each upper frame opening, each channel member having a shaped portion;
- positioning each of one or more upper frame panels in a corresponding upper frame opening, each upper frame panel having an insert member that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of that panel, each insert member having a corresponding shaped portion that is adapted to attach to the corresponding shaped portion of the channel member; and
- attaching each upper frame panel to the upper frame member so that the associated insert and channel members form a seal joint.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 28, 2018
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2019
Inventor: Eddie Rodriguez (Holly Springs, NC)
Application Number: 16/203,289