EP0204044A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An extensible roof structure for automobile
Assignee: OU JAN CHOU
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Filing: 1985-06-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-06-05
Abstract
Abstract The structure is mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle and comprises an enclosure (3) and two panels (1,2) supported by the enclosure for slidable movement in opposite directions parallel to the longitudinal extent of the motor vehicle. Power operated means, which may comprise a D.C. electric motor (63) operated from the motor vehicle battery and one or more flexible elements or belts (5,41), is provided to move the two panels from retracted position within the enclosure to extended positions (as shown) in which they project from front and rear ends of the enclosure and over the front and rear windscreens of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan-Chou Ou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:21
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An extensible roof structure for a motor vehicle, comprising a support mounted on or adapted to be mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle, two panels carried by the support for slidable movement relative thereto in a direction which in use corresponds to the longitudinal extent of the motor vehicle, and power operated means for moving the two panels from retracted positions to extended positions in which the panels project from the front and rear ends, respectively, of the support and in use over front and rear windscreens of the motor vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An extensible roof structure for a motor vehicle, comprising a support mounted on or adapted to be mounted on the roof of the motor vehicle, two panels carried by the support for slidable movement relative thereto in a direction which in use corresponds to the longitudinal extent of the motor vehicle, and power operated means for moving the two panels from retracted positions to extended positions in which the panels project from the front and rear ends, respectively, of the support and in use over front and rear windscreens of the motor vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The roof structure of claim 1. wherein the support is in the form of an enclosure which houses or substantially houses the two panels when the latter are in a retracted position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The roof structure of claim 1 or claim 2. wherein the power operated means comprises a motor and at least one flexible elongate element mounted about guide means and drivable by the motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
The roof structure of claim 3, wherein the power operated means comprises three flexible elongate elements each mounted about respective guide mean, one of said flexible elements being drivable by the motor, while the other flexible elements are endless, extend in parallel spaced relationship between or substantially between opposite ends of the support and are drivable by the one flexible element, the two panels being connected respectively to appropriate runs of each of the other two endless elements whereby the panels are extended when the motor is driven in one direction of rotation and are retracted when the motor is driven in an opposite direction of rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The roof structure of claim 4, wherein the endless elements are toothed belts and the guide means are sprocket wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The roof structure of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said other flexible elements are located adjacent to opposite sides of the support, and said one flexible element extends transversely across the support and adjacent to one end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The roof structure of claim 6. wherein the support has a frame section extending along each of two opposite side edges, each frame section defining two channels. one above the other, which open towards the channels of the other frame section and wherein the panels are slidably mounted in the lower channels of the two frame sections and the sprocket wheels of said other flexible elements are located in the upper channels of the two frame sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The roof structure of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said other flexible elements are located intermediate opposite sides of the support, and said one flexible element and said motor are disposed between said other flexible elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
The roof structure of claim 3, wherein the power operated means comprises a single flexible elongate element mounted about respective guide means and connected to the motor to define two runs on each of two . sides of the support, the two runs on each side of the support extending longitudinally of the support and being drivable by the motor in generally opposite directions, each of the two panels being connected respectively to appropriate runs of the flexible element whereby the panels are extended when the motor is driven in one direction or-rotation and are retracted when the motor is driven in an opposite direction of rotation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The roof structure of claim 9, wherein one run of the flexible element on each side of the support is broken intermediate its ends and where broken is connected to the motor and the broken run on the other side of the support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The roof structure of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the power operated means comprises motor means and pinions which are driven by the motor means and which are engageable with respective toothed racks on the two panels to extend and retract the panels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The roof structure of claim 11, wherein there is a single motor drivably connected to two transversely extending spindles one at or adjacent to each end of the support, and wherein each spindle carries two pinions which engage with two racks on opposite sides of a respective panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The roof structure of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the power operated means comprises two motors, one associated with each panel, and two telescopically entendible members connected to the two panels respectively and extendible and retractable by a respective motor in the longitudinal direction of the roof structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
The roof structure of claim 13, wherein each of the telescopically extendible members comprises a plurality of telescopically extendible tubes and wherein the telescopically extendible members are connected to the two motors, respectively, by flexible elongate members, e.g. of nylon, wound at one end in a hollow cylinder drivable in rotation by the motor and connected at the other end to the tube which is most distant from the motor when the telescopically extendible member is in an extended condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The roof structure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor is a reversible D.C. electric motor and has an associated reduction gear.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The roof structure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein guide wheels or rollers are provided between the panels and the support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The roof structure of any one of claims 1-15, wherein pads of low friction material are provided betweeen the panels and the support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The roof structure of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for releasably attaching the structure to a drain gutter of a motor vehicle roof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The roof structure of any one of claims 1-17, further comprising means for releasably attaching the structure to a motor vehicle roof rack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
80 words
The roof structure of any one of the preceding claims, wherein two further panels are carried by the support for slidable movement relative thereto in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the first mentioned panels and wherein means are provided for moving the two further panels from a retracted position to an extended position in which the panels project from opposite sides respectively, of the support and in use over the side windows of the motor vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The roof structure of claim 20, wherein the two further panels are connected to the first mentioned panels by mechanical linkages such that the further panels are extended as the first-mentioned panels are extended and vice versa.
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Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.