Automotive vehicle open air system

• US 7,114,769 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Robertson, James E., Storc, Robert G., MacNee, Arthur L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US11/154,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 296/219, 296/98, 296/24.4, 296/24.43, 296/107.15, 296/107.19, 280/749
• US Class Current: 296/219
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/183 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/103 where lower door part moves independently from other door structures, e.g. by being hinged on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/04 with rigid plate-like element or elements , e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels B60J7/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/061 sliding and folding

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an open air system for a motor vehicle includes a forward flexible roof portion with a pair of tracks, a rear flexible roof portion with a pair of tracks, a seal between the forward and rear roof portions, at least one movement mechanism and at least one actuator. Other aspects of the present invention include forming a barrier with the rear roof section between a passenger area and a cargo area of a vehicle.

Claims

1. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof section;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof section;

at least one rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

operably creating a barrier substantially isolating a passenger area from a cargo area by moving at least one said roof section from a first position to a second position.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof section and the rear roof section.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the forward roof section and the rear roof section comprise a reinforced surface.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the reinforced surface comprises poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, carbon fibers or combinations thereof.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein the reinforced surface comprises a fabric outer layer and a metal mesh inner layer.

18. An open air system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one roof section comprises;

a flexible and reinforced roof comprising at least one of the group selected from poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, metal mesh, and carbon fibers; and

a substantially transparent, flexible, and reinforced panel in said flexible and reinforced roof, the panel comprising at least one of the group selected from poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, metal mesh, and carbon fibers.

19. A system according to claim 1 further comprising an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

20. A system according to claim 2 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back light in the barrier.

6. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof section;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof section;

at least one rear track;

a switching mechanism on at least one of the forward track and the rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

a barrier formed between a passenger area and a cargo area by moving the rear roof section from a first position to a second position.

21. A system according to claim 6 an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

22. A system according to claim 6 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof panel and the rear roof panel.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

7. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof panel;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof panel;

at least one rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

at least one said roof panel always being coupled to at least one of the tracks, moving from a first position to a second position operably separating a passenger area and a cargo area.

8. A system according to claim 7 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof panel and the rear roof panel.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein at least one of the forward roof panel and the rear roof panel comprise a puncture resistant surface.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the a puncture resistant surface comprises poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, carbon fibers or combinations thereof.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the a puncture resistant surface comprises a fabric outer layer and a metal mesh inner layer.

24. A system according to claim 7 further comprising an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

25. A system according to claim 8 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

12. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof panel;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof panel;

at least one rear track;

a switching mechanism on at least one of the forward track and the rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

a barrier formed between a passenger area and a cargo area by moving the forward roof panel from a first position to a second position.

26. A system according to claim 12 further comprising an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

27. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof panel and the rear roof panel.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

13. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward roof;

a rear flexible roof;

at least one track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

at least one said roof always coupled to the at least one track and separating a passenger area and a cargo area by moving the at least one roof from a first position to a second position.

14. A system according to claim 13 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in the rear roof.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein the rear roof comprises a reinforced surface.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the reinforced surface comprises poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, carbon fibers or combinations thereof.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein the reinforced surface comprises a fabric outer layer and a metal mesh inner layer.

29. A system according to claim 14 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.