US4036520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination recreational vehicle attachment
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-05-10
•
Granted: 1977-07-19
•
Expires: 1996-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A recreational vehicle body attachment to form a combination roof-top and detachable boat particularly adapted to van-type vehicles but also adaptable to pick-up truck vehicles, with or without camper caps, station wagons and pull type trailers, all of said vehicles and trailers having their original roof-tops removed. The detachable boat-roof structure, dimensioned to cover the vehicle roof area, rests upon a wedging supporting lip which continuously extends about and rests upon a remaining perimeter strip of the original roof, is secured by a latch and is removable by rearwardly positioned rollers, the latches and rollers being secured to the inner surface of said support lip. The roof-tops and body further have provisions for the erection of a tent structure to provide an enclosure for the vehicle when the boat-roof structure is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel J. Zuidema
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/06; B60P3/10; B60P3/1008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
A recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment situated in place of and out of the plane of the original vehicle roof wherein; after removal of substantially all of the original vehicle roof, a perimeter strip of said original roof remains which merges into a perimeter drip rail channel concavity comprising in combination: a boat structure dimensioned to cover said vehicle roof area; a boat lip extending around the perimeter of the gunwhale of said boat structure being in a perpendicular relation to and displaced a slight distance from the gunwhale edge; a wedging boat support lip extending continuously about the perimeter of and resting upon said original roof strip, wedging boat said support lip having a concave lower surface, conforming to the slope of said original roof, and three flat surfaces, an outer surface and said concave surface merging into a narrow edge which rests in said drip rail channel concavity; securing means to extend through said outer and concave wedging boat support lip surfaces into said original roof strip; a layer of caulking substance between said original roof strip and said concave wedging boat support lip surface; a continuous strip of weather stripping upon the upper surface of said wedging boat support lip; a rectangular indentation within the upper corner of said outer surface of said wedging boat support lip; a continuous strip of adhesive substance secured within said rectangular indentation; latch means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip to attach to and secure said recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment to said vehicle; and roller means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip, being placed near the rear of said vehicle to accommodate said gunwhale edge and to assist removal of said recreational vehicle boatroof structure attachment when moved 90° from the rest position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
A recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment situated in place of and out of the plane of the original vehicle roof wherein; after removal of substantially all of the original vehicle roof, a perimeter strip of said original roof remains which merges into a perimeter drip rail channel concavity comprising in combination: a boat structure dimensioned to cover said vehicle roof area; a boat lip extending around the perimeter of the gunwhale of said boat structure being in a perpendicular relation to and displaced a slight distance from the gunwhale edge; a wedging boat support lip extending continuously about the perimeter of and resting upon said original roof strip, wedging boat said support lip having a concave lower surface, conforming to the slope of said original roof, and three flat surfaces, an outer surface and said concave surface merging into a narrow edge which rests in said drip rail channel concavity; securing means to extend through said outer and concave wedging boat support lip surfaces into said original roof strip; a layer of caulking substance between said original roof strip and said concave wedging boat support lip surface; a continuous strip of weather stripping upon the upper surface of said wedging boat support lip; a rectangular indentation within the upper corner of said outer surface of said wedging boat support lip; a continuous strip of adhesive substance secured within said rectangular indentation; latch means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip to attach to and secure said recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment to said vehicle; and roller means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip, being placed near the rear of said vehicle to accommodate said gunwhale edge and to assist removal of said recreational vehicle boatroof structure attachment when moved 90° from the rest position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 wherein said recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment further including: an angled groove on the underside of said boat lip to receive said latch means; a sloping bow; a bottom having longitudinally concave surfaces merging into a mediately positioned longitudinally raised portion; provision for protruding oar locks below said boat lip; provision for removable bench seats; and provision for a stern plate to provide motor mounting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 2 further including a U-shaped bow conforming to the forward portion shape of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 further including: a V-shaped bow protruding beyond the forward portion of said vehicle and said wedging boat support lip; and floatation material enclosing the exposed portion of said bow and secured to said wedging boat support lip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 wherein said recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment is comprised of fiberglass of unitary construction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 wherein said wedging boat support lip is constructed of fiberglass and is of unitary construction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 wherein the latch means further includes: a latch face secured to said wedging boat support lip inner surface; a clasping armature having a vertical portion, a transverse portion eminating therefrom and a clasping downward protruding angular finger capable of movement away from said boat lip when unsecured; and a locking member to secure said clasping armature to said boat lip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 wherein the roller means further includes: a rectangular tubular casing mounted on said inner surface of said wedging boat support lip, extending slightly above said wedging boat support lip; mediately positioned apertured notches on the upper edge of each side of said casing; a tubular roller; a support armature, extending through said roller to support said roller, curved and terminating at its outer extent in a perpendicular relation to form a guide for said boat gunwhale edge; a shaft eminating perpendicularly from said roller arm, displaced slightly from the inner end of said roller arm, to fit snuggly within said casing to maintain said roller assembly in position whereby said roller support armature is maintained with said notches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 further including provision for erection of a tent of a suitable material in place of said recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment and out of the plane of said original roof comprising: removable and bendable support members; provision to mount said support members to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip; an adhesive-strip substance about the perimeter of said tent material to be attachable to said wedging boat support lip perimeter adhesive substance strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The recreational vehicle boat-roof structure attachment of claim 1 wherein said gunwhale boat edge about its inner perimeter snuggly abuts the outer surface of said wedging boat support lip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle attachment of claim 1 wherein said demountable boat structure is comprised of a double hull design incorporating floatation material into said hull.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
257 words
A vehicle attachment including a demountable boat structure situated in place of and out of the plane of the original vehicle roof, said demountable boat structure dimensioned to conform with and cover the removed roof area and to derive support from a remaining perimeter roof strip which terminates in a perimeter drip rail channel and communicates with the vehicle side wall, the elements comprising in combination: a wedging boat support lip extending continuously about the perimeter of and resting upon said remaining original roof strip, said wedging boat support lip having a lower surface, conforming to the slope of said original roof, and three flat surfaces; securing means to attach said wedging boat support lip to said original roof strip; a rectangular indentation within the upper corner of the outer surface of said wedging boat support lip; a continuous strip of adhesive substance secured within said rectangular indentation; a continuous strip of weather stripping substance upon the upper surface of said wedging boat support lip; a layer of caulking substance between said original roof strip and said sloping wedging boat support lip lower surface; latch means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip to secure said boat structure and said vehicle, said latches capable of allowing removal of said boat structure without interference when unsecured; and roller means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip capable of ninety degree movement to allow communication of roller members with the gunwhale edge of said boat during demounting of said boat structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
257 words
A vehicle attachment including a demountable boat structure situated in place of and out of the plane of the original vehicle roof, said demountable boat structure dimensioned to conform with and cover the removed roof area and to derive support from a remaining perimeter roof strip which terminates in a perimeter drip rail channel and communicates with the vehicle side wall, the elements comprising in combination: a wedging boat support lip extending continuously about the perimeter of and resting upon said remaining original roof strip, said wedging boat support lip having a lower surface, conforming to the slope of said original roof, and three flat surfaces; securing means to attach said wedging boat support lip to said original roof strip; a rectangular indentation within the upper corner of the outer surface of said wedging boat support lip; a continuous strip of adhesive substance secured within said rectangular indentation; a continuous strip of weather stripping substance upon the upper surface of said wedging boat support lip; a layer of caulking substance between said original roof strip and said sloping wedging boat support lip lower surface; latch means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip to secure said boat structure and said vehicle, said latches capable of allowing removal of said boat structure without interference when unsecured; and roller means secured to the inner surface of said wedging boat support lip capable of ninety degree movement to allow communication of roller members with the gunwhale edge of said boat during demounting of said boat structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The vehicle attachment including a demountable boat structure of claim 12 further including a boat lip displaced somewhat from and perpendicular to the gunwhale edge of said boat structure, extending about the perimeter thereof, one surface communicating with and resting upon said wedging boat support lip, said boat lip having provision to accept said securing latches and said gunwhale further snuggly abutting said outer surface of said wedging boat support lip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle attachment of claim 13 wherein the provision for acceptance of said securing latch means is an angled groove having metal receivers therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle attachment of claim 12 wherein said outer surface and said sloping surface merge forming a distinct narrow edge which rests in said drip rail channel concavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle attachment of claim 12 wherein said wedging boat support lip is further being elongated with respect to its height dimension to add greater height to said vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle attachment of claim 12 wherein said wedging boat support lip is constructed from fiberglass.
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) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |