US3924889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elevating mechanism for the roofs or tops of vans and the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-01-03
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1995-01-03
Abstract
Abstract Normally, roofs on tops of vehicles such as campers or the like, are lowered for travelling in order to decrease wind resistance and are then raised an amount to provide more head room inside when parked and set up for use. Various mechanisms are provided for this action such as telescopic guides, long lever arms which extend downwardly of the sides and can cause injury and pulley and cable assemblies. All of these are complicated and are easily disabled due to the relatively large number of parts involved and the distances over which they must operate. The present device comprises a compact linkage on either side extending between the upper edges of the vehicle and the roof panel, said linkage being easily operated by electrical, mechanical or fluid operating means. By providing a novel sliding mounting for the lower ends of the crank arm, the roof panel can raise and lower vertically taking with it the enclosing canvas walls which are secured to the boundaries of the roof opening and to adjacent the edges of the roof panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Gogush
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; B60P3/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
In a vehicle body which includes a pair of spaced and parallel side walls, a rear wall and a front wall forming an enclosure, and a roof for said enclosure, a substantially rectangular opening formed in said roof, a substantially rectangular roof panel having a pair of spaced and parallel sides and a front edge and a rear edge, flexible wall means extending from the boundaries of said opening in said roof, to the sides and edges of said panel whereby said panel can be moved substantially vertically from the closed position covering said opening, to the raised position whereby said panel is spaced vertically above said opening with said flexible walls extended; means to raise and lower said roof panel relative to said roof, said means including at least two pairs of crank arms, one pair being pivotally connected by the upper ends thereof in spaced apart relation to one side of said roof panel, the other pair being similarly connected to the opposite side of said roof panel, link means pivotally connected by the ends thereof to the crank arms of each of said pairs intermediate the ends of the crank arms, said one pair of crank arms being pivotally connected by the other ends thereof to adjacent the upper edges of the side walls of said vehicle, the said other pair of crank arms being similarly connected to the other side wall of said vehicle adjacent the upper edge thereof, anchor link means pivotally secured by one end thereof to adjacent said upper side edges of said side walls spaced from said other ends of said crank arms, and by the other end thereof to the point of pivotal connection of said link means to said crank arms and means mounting said other ends of said crank arms to said side walls for longitudinal sliding movement whereby said roof panel raises and lowers substantially vertically relative to said vehicle, an extension formed on said other ends of at least one of said pairs of crank arms and a source of power being operatively connected to said extensions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
In a vehicle body which includes a pair of spaced and parallel side walls, a rear wall and a front wall forming an enclosure, and a roof for said enclosure, a substantially rectangular opening formed in said roof, a substantially rectangular roof panel having a pair of spaced and parallel sides and a front edge and a rear edge, flexible wall means extending from the boundaries of said opening in said roof, to the sides and edges of said panel whereby said panel can be moved substantially vertically from the closed position covering said opening, to the raised position whereby said panel is spaced vertically above said opening with said flexible walls extended; means to raise and lower said roof panel relative to said roof, said means including at least two pairs of crank arms, one pair being pivotally connected by the upper ends thereof in spaced apart relation to one side of said roof panel, the other pair being similarly connected to the opposite side of said roof panel, link means pivotally connected by the ends thereof to the crank arms of each of said pairs intermediate the ends of the crank arms, said one pair of crank arms being pivotally connected by the other ends thereof to adjacent the upper edges of the side walls of said vehicle, the said other pair of crank arms being similarly connected to the other side wall of said vehicle adjacent the upper edge thereof, anchor link means pivotally secured by one end thereof to adjacent said upper side edges of said side walls spaced from said other ends of said crank arms, and by the other end thereof to the point of pivotal connection of said link means to said crank arms and means mounting said other ends of said crank arms to said side walls for longitudinal sliding movement whereby said roof panel raises and lowers substantially vertically relative to said vehicle, an extension formed on said other ends of at least one of said pairs of crank arms and a source of power being operatively connected to said extensions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said means mounting said other ends of said crank arms includes closed ended longitudinally extending slots in said side walls, said ends of said crank arms being pivotally mounted in said slots for pivotal action and longitudinal sliding movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said source of power takes the form of a fluid operator mounted on said side walls and being operatively connected to said extension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
and invention according to claim 2 in which said source of power takes the form of a fluid operator mounted on said side walls and being operatively connected to said extension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
350 words
A vehicle body including in combination a pair of spaced and parallel side walls, a rear wall and a front wall forming an enclosure, and a roof for said enclosure, a substantially rectangular opening formed in said roof, a substantially rectangular roof panel having a pair of spaced and parallel sides and a front edge and a rear edge, flexible wall means extending from the boundaries of said opening in said roof, to the sides and edges of said panel whereby said panel can be moved substantially vertically from the closed position covering said opening, to the raised position whereby said panel is spaced vertically above said opening with said flexible walls extended, means to raise and lower said roof panel relative to said roof, said means including at least two pairs of crank arms, one pair being pivotally connected by the upper ends thereof in spaced apart relation to one side of said roof panel, the other pair being similarly connected to the opposite side of said roof panel, link means pivotally connected by the ends thereof to the crank arms of each of said pairs intermediate the ends of the crank arms, said one pair of crank arms being pivotally connected by the other Ends thereof to adjacent the upper edges of the side walls of said vehicle, the said other pair of crank arms being similarly connected to the other side wall of said vehicle adjacent the upper edge thereof, anchor link means pivotally secured by one end thereof to adjacent said upper side edges of said side walls spaced from said other ends of said crank arms, and by the other end thereof to the point of pivotal connection of said link means to said crank arms, and means mounting said other ends of said crank arms to said side walls for longitudinal sliding movement whereby said roof panel raises and lowers substantially vertically relative to said vehicle an extension formed on said other ends of at least one of said pairs of crank arms and a source of power being operatively connected to said extension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
350 words
A vehicle body including in combination a pair of spaced and parallel side walls, a rear wall and a front wall forming an enclosure, and a roof for said enclosure, a substantially rectangular opening formed in said roof, a substantially rectangular roof panel having a pair of spaced and parallel sides and a front edge and a rear edge, flexible wall means extending from the boundaries of said opening in said roof, to the sides and edges of said panel whereby said panel can be moved substantially vertically from the closed position covering said opening, to the raised position whereby said panel is spaced vertically above said opening with said flexible walls extended, means to raise and lower said roof panel relative to said roof, said means including at least two pairs of crank arms, one pair being pivotally connected by the upper ends thereof in spaced apart relation to one side of said roof panel, the other pair being similarly connected to the opposite side of said roof panel, link means pivotally connected by the ends thereof to the crank arms of each of said pairs intermediate the ends of the crank arms, said one pair of crank arms being pivotally connected by the other Ends thereof to adjacent the upper edges of the side walls of said vehicle, the said other pair of crank arms being similarly connected to the other side wall of said vehicle adjacent the upper edge thereof, anchor link means pivotally secured by one end thereof to adjacent said upper side edges of said side walls spaced from said other ends of said crank arms, and by the other end thereof to the point of pivotal connection of said link means to said crank arms, and means mounting said other ends of said crank arms to said side walls for longitudinal sliding movement whereby said roof panel raises and lowers substantially vertically relative to said vehicle an extension formed on said other ends of at least one of said pairs of crank arms and a source of power being operatively connected to said extension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle according to claim 5 in which said means mounting said other ends of said crank arms including closed ended longitudinally extending slots in said side walls, said ends of said crank arms being pivotally mounted in said slots for pivotal action and longitudinal sliding movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 5 in which said source of power takes the form of a fluid operator mounted on said side walls and being operatively connected to said extension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 6 in which said source of power takes the form of a fluid operator mounted on said side walls and being operatively connected to said extension.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |