Off-road vehicle having a two-part roof structure

• US 5,738,405 A
• Filed: 02/14/1995
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Muller, Wolfgang, Richters, Volker, Ruhringer, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/388,027
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 296/196, 296/197, 296/216, 296/220, 296/147, 296/146.14, 296/146.15, 296/146.16, 296/35.3
• US Class Current: 296/193.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/085 removably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/08 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/11 Removable panels, e.g. sunroofs
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/04 Joining preassembled modular units composed of sub-units performing diverse functions, e.g. engine and bonnet B62D65/06 - B62D65/16 take precedence

Abstract

An off-road vehicle having a two-part roof structure. A hard top like roof construction in a rear roof region is constructed so as to be readily manually dismantled into individual support parts and insert parts. The insert parts include a lamellar roof part for a roof region, a lowerable rear window for a rear region, and removable side windows for the two side regions, which can be stowed in the off-road vehicle.

Claims

1. Roof structure for an off-road vehicle which includes vehicle supporting structure, comprising:

a front roof part including a rollover bar integrated into the vehicle supporting structure,

a rear roof part of rigid construction which in use adjoins the rollover bar and includes at least two rear roof frame parts forming a supporting frame which is releasably fastenable to the vehicle supporting structure by releasable fasteners, and

removable side windows, insertable behind the rollover bar and connectable with respective ones of said rear roof frame parts by releasable connectors.

22. Roof structure according to claim 1, wherein peripheral seals are provided on said rear frame parts for sealing the rear frame parts and the side windows when said side windows are in an installed closed condition.

2. Roof structure for an off-road vehicle which includes vehicle supporting structure, comprising:

a front roof part including a rollover bar integrated into the vehicle supporting structure,

a rear roof part of rigid construction which in use adjoins the rollover bar and includes at least two rear roof frame parts forming a supporting frame which is releasably fastenable to the vehicle supporting structure by releasable fasteners, and

removable side windows, insertable behind the rollover bar and connectable with respective ones of said rear roof frame parts by releasable connectors,

wherein said rear roof frame parts include a pair of side frame members which in use extend rearwardly from fastening points at said rollover bar along lateral sides of said vehicle.

3. Roof structure according to claim 2, wherein selectively insertable lamellar roof parts are supportable at said side frame members to form a closed rear roof section between said side frame members.

4. Roof structure according to claim 2, wherein said rear roof frame parts include a rear transverse frame member which in use connects said side frame members together at respective rearward ends of said side frame members.

5. Roof structure according to claim 4, wherein said rear transverse frame member supports a seal which in use is engaged by a lowerable rear window.

6. Roof structure according to claims 3, wherein said rear roof frame parts include a rear transverse frame member which in use connects said side frame members together at respective rearward ends of said side frame members.

7. Roof structure according to claim 6, wherein said rear transverse frame member supports a seal which in use is engaged by a lowerable rear window.

8. Roof structure according to claim 2, wherein said side frame members are L-shaped members with respective downwardly extending legs which in use are supported at a rear end region of the vehicle supporting structure.

9. Roof structure according to claim 8, wherein said removable side windows are bordered on top and in the rear by said side frame members.

10. Roof structure according to claim 9, wherein selectively insertable lamellar roof parts are supportable at said side frame members to form a closed rear roof section between said side members.

11. Roof structure according to claim 10, wherein said rear roof frame parts include a rear transverse frame member which in use connects said side frame members together at respective rearward ends of said side frame members.

12. Roof structure according to claim 11, wherein said rear transverse frame member supports a seal which in use is engaged by a lowerable rear window.

13. Roof structure according to claim 9, wherein respective downwardly extending lateral portions of said rollover bar form respective forward borders for said removable side windows.

14. Roof structure according to claim 2, wherein said releasable fasteners are operable to releasably fasten forward ends of said side frame members to said rollover bar.

15. Roof structure according to claim 14, comprising seal members disposed between said side frame members and said rollover bar to form a sealed connection when said side frame members are fastened to the rollover bar.

16. Roof structure according to claim 14, wherein said releasable fasteners include respective spring loaded snap-tight closure assemblies.

17. Roof structure according to claim 16, wherein each of said snap-tight closure assemblies includes a pin carried by one of said side frame members and a spring loaded slide with an opening for said pin carried by said rollover bar.

18. Roof structure according to claim 17, comprising seal members disposed between said side frame members and said rollover bar to form a sealed connection when said side frame members are fastened to the rollover bar.

19. Roof structure according to claim 14, wherein said releasable fasteners include threaded members for threadably clamping the side frame members to the rollover bar.

20. Roof structure according to claim 19, comprising seal members disposed between said side frame members and said rollover bar to form a sealed connection when said side frame members are fastened to the rollover bar.

21. Roof structure according to claim 19, wherein said threaded members include bolts carried by said side frame members which are insertable longitudinally of the vehicle into openings in said rollover bar, threaded nuts being threadably engageable with said bolts to clamp the side frame members to the rollover bar.

23. Roof structure according to claim 3, wherein peripheral seals are provided on said rear frame parts for sealing the rear frame parts and the side windows when said side windows are in an installed closed condition.

24. Roof structure according to claim 5, wherein peripheral seals are provided on said rear frame parts for sealing the rear frame parts and the side windows when said side windows are in an installed closed condition.

25. Roof structure according to claim 9, wherein peripheral seals are provided on said rear frame parts for sealing the rear frame parts and the side windows when said side windows are in an installed closed condition.

26. Roof structure according to claim 14, wherein peripheral seals are provided on said rear frame parts for sealing the rear frame parts and the side windows when said side windows are in an installed closed condition.