Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-02-20
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C280S756000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189962
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein pertains to a top for removable attachment to the roll bars of an open passenger compartment type vehicle, and pertains particularly to a hard top for attachment to a Jeep-type vehicle.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
In recent years Jeeps and other type of sports vehicles have become increasingly popular. Most of these vehicles utilize an open passenger compartment which is surrounded by roll bars to protect the passengers in the event the vehicle is overturned. It is not unusual to attach a “soft” canvas or canvas-like material top to such vehicles which can be readily removed as desired. Also, certain manufacturers have created “hard tops” usually formed of metal which can be placed over the roll bars in the event of inclement weather. Both “hard” and “soft” type tops require a certain amount of labor and technique in attaching and removing, and oftentimes such tops are not properly secured. Many times vehicle occupants have found themselves becoming soaked with rain as such tops are not sufficiently secured. Additionally, such tops are often difficult for one individual to manipulate and attach. Thus, many times two people are required to affix or remove conventional hard and soft tops.
With the problems and disadvantages of such conventional vehicle tops known, the present invention was conceived and one of its objectives is to provide a light weight, one-piece vehicle top which is both easy to affix and remove by a single individual.
It is Still another objective of the present invention to provide a vehicle hard top which can be securely affixed without tools to the roll bars of a sports vehicle in a matter of minutes.
It is also objective of the present invention to provide a vehicle top which is inexpensive to manufacture and convenient for a single individual to easily learn to attach and release.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a removable vehicle top which is formed of a durable, flexible polymeric material and is relatively light in weight and convenient to store when not in use.
It is further an objective of the present invention to provide a vehicle top which is simply attached by a series of integrally formed distortable arcuate sections along the outer edges.
Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detailed description is set forth below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a sports vehicle top which is manufactured from a polymeric material such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyester or other suitable materials, including composites. The top is formed such as by injection molding to form a substantially planar central section which may be 0.25-0.5 centimeters in thickness and having a length and width to conveniently span the open passenger compartment as defined by the upper roll bars of a selected vehicle. Along the sides and preferably the rear of the planar central section are arcuate sections, each forming an arc of one hundred eighty or more degrees. Along the front of the vehicle top, attached to the planar central section is a rectangularly shaped depending flange. The flange includes a sealing strip which helps seal the flange against the windshield. Also, a strap may be affixed to or near the depending flange, at the proximate lateral midpoint thereof for securement to a ring, usually provided interiorly on most sports vehicle windshields which are manufactured with roll bars to receive removable tops.
In use, an individual can manually lift the one-piece vehicle top and affix it to the roll bar on one side of the passenger compartment. Then, by pressing down on the upper surface of the top, the rear arcuate section flexes open an is forced over the rear passenger compartment roll bar. With continuing pressure, the rear and the opposite side roll bars are also engaged by the rear and third or opposite side arcuate sections. As the top is being so positioned, the flange along the front of the planar central section is likewise positioned against the exterior front of the windshield or windshield frame.
Thus, with the three arcuate sections each engaging separate roll bars and with the front flange firmly secured against the vehicle windshield, the vehicle is now ready for driving without fear of the top lifting or acting as a “wing” during high driving speeds.
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Carpenter Scott
Dayoan D. Glenn
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