Vehcile topper that encloses the cargo bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck, yet provides convenient open access thereto

A vehicle topper provides an enclosed compartment when coupled with a cargo bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck. Convenient open access is provided to the bed of the vehicle by employing a rolling door that is supported by a frame within two parallel guide tracks. When the rolling door is in a completely closed position, the vehicle topper creates an enclosed and lockable compartment in conjunction with the cargo bed and the vehicle's cargo box. When the rolling door is moved through the guide tracks to a completely open position, the door is substantially disposed within a sub-floor space between a floor supported by the frame of the vehicle topper, and the vehicle's cargo bed. The rolling door can be caused to bypass the completely closed position and to open in a reverse direction. An outer frame is included to secure the vehicle topper to the walls of the cargo box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to vehicle cargo beds, and more specifically to toppers that enclose vehicle cargo beds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles such as pickup trucks are equipped with a cargo bed and typically an open cargo box formed by walls extending vertically from the bed. The primary purpose of the pickup truck bed and the open cargo box formed therewith is to carry general payload items for transport. While the open pickup cargo box provides easy and convenient access to the bed for loading and unloading payload items, a number of pickup truck bed enclosures have been designed to cover the bed of the open cargo box of pickup trucks. The purpose of these designs is to form an enclosed and lockable compartment in conjunction with the cargo box and its bed. Motivations for employing cargo box enclosures include, but are not limited to, securing personal and payload items against theft, as well as preventing exposure of such items to the elements.

One common vehicle cargo bed enclosure is known as a “tonneau cover”. Tonneau covers are typically made of vinyl, fiberglass or aluminum, are flat and fit flush with the top of the vertical wall members that extend up from the bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck, thereby defining the cargo box. Retractable tonneau covers are designed to provide easy access to the vehicle bed for loading and unloading. With respect to one such design, the tonneau cover deploys from, and then rolls back up into a canister, much like a window shade. The canister is commonly installed at the cab end of the cargo box, and the tonneau cover is deployed from the canister toward the tailgate end of the cargo box. Other tonneau cover designs retract by either folding or tilting.

While tonneau covers can provide a secure and lockable compartment that also facilitates easy access to the cargo bed from above, one major downside to the retractable tonneau cover is that it cannot be employed to cover payload items that extend in height much above the top of the walls of the cargo box. Another is that even in its refracted state, a tonneau cover can take up a significant portion of the cargo space. The canister design discussed above takes up the same space, whether refracted or not.

A topper is another commonly employed design for enclosing the otherwise open bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck. The main structure of a topper is typically made of fiberglass or aluminum and typically mounts atop the walls extending vertically from the vehicle bed to form the cargo box. Toppers typically cover the entire cargo box to provide a secure and lockable compartment. One advantage of the vehicle topper over the tonneau cover is that it can accommodate payloads that extend vertically well above the top of the vehicle's cargo box. The height of some topper designs can even extend vertically above the top of the vehicle's passenger cab.

One disadvantage of the vehicle topper, however, is that loading and unloading large and/or bulky items can be made difficult. Access to the enclosed cargo compartment created by the topper is typically limited to a door at the tailgate end of the cargo box, or possibly through window/panel openings formed in the sides of the topper. Thus, many items that would have been more easily loaded into an open vehicle bed from above, must now be slid into the compartment through the rear door or the side openings. Even if the payload item(s) can be loaded through the back door or through the side openings, the person loading the vehicle is often required to crawl into the compartment on their hands and knees to adjust the enclosed load, as topper's are not typically configured with sufficient vertical clearance for someone to stand upright while inside the compartment.

Another disadvantage of known vehicle toppers is that even with an extended height advantage over known tonneau covers, they will not accommodate all payloads that might otherwise be encountered by a vehicle that has no vehicle topper installed. When such items cannot be accommodated by the topper, or cannot be easily loaded with the topper in place, the topper must be completely removed to accommodate such a payload Even if a. topper could be configured to include a removable roof, such configurations would be inconvenient to open and close. Moreover, such configurations would necessarily appropriate a significant amount of the storage space formed between the topper and the cargo box just to store the removed roof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle topper of the invention employs a rolling door supported by a door frame within two parallel guide tracks. When the door is in a completely closed position, the vehicle topper creates an enclosed and lockable compartment in conjunction with a cargo bed of a vehicle such as a pick-up truck. When the rolling door is moved through the tracks to a completely open position, the door is substantially disposed within a sub-floor space between a floor supported by the frame and the bed of the vehicle's cargo box. This leaves the cargo bed open and conveniently accessible from above, as it there was no vehicle topper installed. As a result, payload items can be loaded into the cargo bed without the inconvenience caused by a permanent roof, which is characteristic of prior art vehicle toppers. Moreover, the rolling door can be caused to bypass the completely closed position and to open in a reverse direction. This is desirable to allow debris that may have accumulated on the top surface of the rolling door to be deposited outside the cargo bed prior to the door traveling into the sub-floor space Doing this avoids depositing the debris within the sub-floor space.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a vehicle topper creates an enclosed compartment when coupled with a vehicle cargo bed, while also providing convenient open access to the vehicle cargo bed. The vehicle topper includes a rolling door frame that has a base supporting two sides, a front end and a back end. Each of the two sides of the rolling door frame supports a guide track. In one embodiment, the guide tracks are rectangular with rounded corners and parallel with one another. In another aspect of the invention, each of the guide tracks is continuous between a starting point and an ending point.

The vehicle topper further includes a floor covering at least an area defined by the base of the rolling door frame. The floor is supported by the base of the door frame and is able to form a sub-floor space between the floor and the vehicle bed when the vehicle topper is coupled to a vehicle bed. A portion of each of the two guide tracks runs under the floor and through the sub-floor space.

The vehicle topper further includes a rolling door having two side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge. Each of the two side edges has a plurality of guiding means attached thereto between the leading edge and the side edge. The guiding means attached to each side edge of the rolling door are disposed in a different one of the guide tracks. The guiding means are for slideably supporting the door within the guide tracks between a completely closed position, where the leading edge of the rolling door is located at the starting point of each of the guide tracks, and a completely open position where the trailing edge of the rolling door is at the ending point of each of the guide tracks. At least a portion of the rolling door is disposed under the floor and within the sub-floor space when the rolling door is placed in the completely open position.

In another embodiment, each of the guide tracks also includes a diverter that permits the rolling door to bypass the fully closed position and travel 360 degrees around the guide tracks. In further embodiments, the diverter includes a discontinuity in each of the guide tracks located just before the rolling door reaches the starting points at the fully closed position, and a diverter extension that extends each of the guide tracks beyond their ending point. The guiding means attached to each side of the leading edge of the rolling door can be moved through the discontinuity of the guide tracks to bypass the fully closed position and into the diverter extensions of the guide tracks.

In additional embodiments, each of the guide tracks includes a locking mechanism that engages the rolling door when the rolling door is placed in the fully open position and when the rolling door is placed in the fully closed position, thereby preventing the rolling door from moving within the guide tracks until the locking mechanism is released.

In another embodiment, the rolling door is moved between the fully open and the fully closed positions using an electric motor-driven mechanism.

In other embodiments, the rolling door also includes a manual actuating means coupled to the leading edge of the rolling door for applying manual force to the rolling move it between the fully closed position and the fully open position. door to

In another aspect of the invention, the floor is capable of supporting factory load requirements specified for the vehicle bed.

In another embodiment, the floor is extended vertically up the back end of the rolling door frame to protect the guide tracks and the rolling door from shifting loads.

In other embodiments of the invention, the rolling door frame is made of an extruded material. In further embodiments, the rolling door frame is made of extruded aluminum and the guiding means are bearings.

In other aspects of the invention, the cargo box includes lateral walls extending vertically from the vehicle bed, and the invention includes an outer frame having two sides and an end. Each of the two sides is coupled to one of the sides of the rolling door frame and each of the two sides of the outer frame is capable of being supported by one of the lateral walls of the vehicle. The end is coupled to the back end of the rolling door frame and between the two sides of the outer frame. The end is capable of being supported by an end wall of the cargo box located at the cab end of the vehicle bed. Moreover, each side and the end of the outer frame can be coupled to one of the lateral walls and the end wall respectively using tie down elements of the vehicle and support side windows.

In some embodiments, the rolling door is segmented to allow the rolling door to flexibly move through the guide tracks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1Aillustrates a perspective view of an embodiment100of the vehicle topper invention with its rolling door112in a completely open position. A vehicle to which the embodiment of the invention would be typically coupled is left out of this view for purposes of clarity. It should be noted that while embodiments of Applicant's invention are primarily illustrated with application to pickup trucks, Applicant's invention is intended to be used in conjunction with any vehicle that has a cargo bed, regardless of whether that vehicle is referred to as a pickup truck, or by some other name.

The embodiment of the invention100has a door frame referred to generally as108, which has a front end150a, back end150b, and sides108aand108b. The two sides108aand108bare supported by the base108c. Sides108aand108b, together with base108c, form two rectangular and vertically oriented planes109a(FIG. 1A) and 109b(FIG. 1B) that are substantially parallel with one another. Each of the sides108aand108b, in conjunction with base108c, support a pair of guide tracks generally referred to as126(only one of the tracks126acan be seen in the view ofFIG. 1A) within their respective vertical planes109a,109b. The base108cof door frame108also supports a floor114that is only partially shown inFIG. 1Afor clarity. In some embodiments, the floor114covers at least the entire area defined by the base108, and in some embodiments the floor also extends vertically up from the base108cand at least partly up the back end150bof the door frame108. It should be noted that the back end150bof the invention corresponds to the front or cab end of the vehicle bed when installed as intended.

In an embodiment, the two guide tracks126a, bhave a starting point that is at or very near the base108cand at the front end150aof the door frame108. Each of the guide tracks126a, bextend continuously along the members forming their respective sides108aand108bof rolling door frame108, back along the base108cand to an endpoint that is at or near the starting point. The location of the starting and ending points of the two tracks will be more readily illustrated with reference toFIG. 2below. Both guide tracks126a, bare disposed within the parallel vertical planes formed by their respective sides108a,108band the base108cof door frame108.

In the embodiment disclosed inFIG. 1A, the two guide tracks126a, bare substantially rectangular in shape, due to the rectangular nature of the two sides108aand108bof the door frame108. However, three of the corners of the tracks126a, bare curved as illustrated. The corners of the tracks126located at the front end150aof the base108care not continuously rounded, as will be discussed in more detail below.

The two guide tracks126a, b, in conjunction with the door frame108, support a rolling door112. The rolling door has a leading edge112aand a trailing edge112b, and is retained by and supported within the two tracks126by a plurality of guiding means (not shown) that are attached along the side edges of the door between the leading edge112aand the trailing edge112b. The guiding means can be bearings, wheels or any other structure known to those of skill in the art to serve the purpose of retaining and guiding the movement of a sliding or rolling door within a guide track. For example, rolling doors are well-known to those of skill in the art as employed for structures such as garages, sheds and the like. Further, it is well known that such doors can also slide without need for bearings or wheels if the door is not too heavy or if the door is attached to a chain or other filament disposed in the track which is pulled or pushed within the track. Any of the known mechanisms for retaining and guiding a slideable or rolling door within guide tracks for such an application should be considered a functional equivalent of the guiding means.

In an embodiment, the rolling door112can be constructed of metal such as aluminum, or from other suitable materials. In other embodiments, rolling door112can be segmented as illustrated by segments113, with at least one guiding means coupled to each side edge of the segment113. The guiding means, together with the curved corners of the otherwise rectangular track, facilitate smooth and continuous movement of the rolling door112between the starting and ending points of the guide tracks126a, b. In other embodiments, the rolling door112can be made to be flexible enough to follow the curved corners of the guide tracks126a, bwithout requiring that the rolling door112be segmented.

As can be seen from the embodiment of the invention100illustrated inFIG. 1A, those portions of the two guide tracks126a, bthat span the door frame108where the door frame base108cis supporting the floor114, run below the floor114. As will be illustrated in drawings below that illustrate the invention as it is intended to be coupled to a vehicle to cover its cargo bed, the floor114is designed to provide a sub-floor space between the floor114and the cargo bed of the vehicle. As the rolling door112is actuated upwardly to be opened, the trailing edge112aof the rolling door112will be guided by the guide tracks126a, band the guiding means to a position that is under the floor114and within the sub-floor space created by the floor114and the vehicle bed.

In an embodiment, the invention100also includes an outer frame generally coupled referred to as110. The outer frame has two sides110aand110b, each formed with or to sides108aand108bof door frame108respectively. In an embodiment, the outer frame can also have an end110cthat extends between sides108aand108b, and can be coupled to the back end150bof the rolling door frame108. Members111aand111bare designed to be supported by the top edges of the lateral walls of a vehicle cargo box. Member111cis designed to be supported by an end wall of the cargo box extending vertically upward from the bed at the cab end of the vehicle.

In some embodiments, coupling means (300,FIG. 1A) can be used to couple the members111a,111band111cto the cargo box using tie down elements that are commonly provided as part of the vehicle design. This will be illustrated in more detail below with reference toFIG. 3. Each side110a,110band end110cof outer frame110supports additional end panels124a, bandcrespectively, roof panels125aandb, as well as side panels206aandb, all designed to seal the enclosed compartment from the outside. Any of these panels can be solid, opaque or windows. Window/panels206a, bcan be hinged to provide access to the enclosed compartment there-through, such as for access to tool boxes or other items stored close to the outside of the cargo box.

The outer frame110serves a number of functions, including to enclose the lockable compartment including the cargo bed, along with the rolling door frame108, tracks126and floor114, from the outside elements. It also serves to provide lateral support for the vehicle topper100of the invention and presents an aesthetically pleasing exterior in conjunction with the vehicle to which it is coupled.

To accommodate vehicle cargo beds and boxes of virtually any dimension, the door frame108as well as outside frame110can be manufactured of an extruded material, such as extruded aluminum, so that the members that define the door frame and outer frame can be manufactured more easily to a required length. Of course, those of skill in the art will recognize the door frame108as well as outside frame110can be manufactured of any appropriate material, whether extruded or not, so long as the two frames are able to properly perform their respective functions.

In some embodiments of the invention, a manual actuating means120is attached to the leading edge112aof rolling door112for manually moving the door between its completely closed and completely open positions. In one embodiment, the actuating means is a handlebar120that includes a telescoping or recessing handle122that can be recessed away within handlebar120so that it does not protrude while not in use. Those of skill in the art will recognize that other structures will be functional equivalents to the handlebar120and handle122for manually actuating or moving the door between its completely open and completely closed positions. For example, ropes can be attached to the leading edge and the trailing edge of the rolling door to manually pull the door at each end. A bar with a hook or other gripping mechanism can also be equivalently employed to latch or grab onto either the leading or trailing edge of the door to push or pull it.

As is well-illustrated byFIG. 1A, when the rolling door112is in its completely open position, the rolling door112is stowed conveniently under the floor114, and the vehicle cargo bed will be completely open and accessible from above. This permits a user to load payload items into the cargo box, without any interference from the topper itself, unlike prior art truck toppers as discussed above.

FIG. 1Billustrates the embodiment of the invention100ofFIG. 1A, where the rolling door is just short of its completely closed position. All of the features of the embodiment100discussed with respect toFIG. 1Aare similarly numbered. The rolling door is left partially open to illustrate the relationship of the rolling door112to the interior compartment (104,FIG. 5B) that will be formed by the invention100when coupled to the cargo box and bed of a vehicle.

Unlike inFIG. 1A, the rolling door112is no longer beneath the floor114and is close to being in its completely closed position, which will complete the creation of a lockable and sealed compartment for any payload items stored therein. Those of skill in the art will recognize that any number of known techniques can be used to lock the rolling door to limit access to the compartment once the leading edge112aof the rolling door112is in contact with the vehicle bed. Handle116is included to allow a user to partially open and close the door for simple partial access without requiring use of the actuating means120.

It should also be noted that while some precipitation such as rain that falls onto the top of the rolling door112may flow into the vehicle bed behind the door frame108where the rolling door112curves around curved upper corners of the track126(not shown) at the back end150bof the invention100, the precipitation will be able to flow under the floor114and out of the front end150aof the invention100, which is located at the rear of the vehicle bed. In another embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize that a diverter or guard can be installed to prevent most of the precipitation from entering the vehicle bed at that location.

FIG. 2is an illustration of the one126aof the tracks126a, bthat is supported by the side108aof the door frame108. The view is at the front150aof the embodiment100near the base108c. Floor114is shown as a cross-section to reveal the portion of the track126athat is supported by the base108c. Those of skill in the art will understand that the following discussion applies to both tracks126a, bon both sides108a, bof the door frame108, even though only one is shown inFIG. 2for ease of illustration.

In an embodiment, holes280a, bdefine the starting points of tracks126a, band holes282a, bdefine the ending points of tracks126a, brespectively. Holes280a, band282a, bare capable of receiving a retractable pin (not shown) located on both side edges of the rolling door112(not shown) at or near the leading112aand trailing112bedges of the rolling door112respectively. When the leading edge112aof the rolling door112is at or very near the holes280a, bdenoting the starting point of tracks126a, b, the rolling door112is in the completely closed position and the pins located on each of the side edges of the rolling door112at its leading edge112acan be caused to extend into the holes280a, bto restrain the rolling door112from freely moving in the tracks126a, b. Likewise, when the trailing edge112bof the rolling door112is at or near the holes282a, bdefining the ending point of tracks126a, b, the rolling door112is in the completely open position and the pins located on each of the side edges of the rolling door112at its trailing edge112bcan be caused to extend into the holes282a, bto restrain the rolling door112from freely moving in the tracks126a, b. Restraining the rolling door112in either the completely open or completely closed positions is particularity important while the vehicle is motion.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that in some embodiments, the retractable pins can be spring-loaded and will automatically extend into the holes280a, band282a, bas they pass over them. A mechanism can then be manually actuated to retract the pins from the holes280a, band282a, bwhen it is desired to move the door again within the tracks126. In other embodiments, the pins can be manually extended into the holes280a, band282a, bas well as manually retracted therefrom when the rolling door112is to be moved. In another embodiment, the rolling door112is actuated within the tracks126a, bby an electric motor, much like an automatic garage door opener/closer mechanism as is known in the art. In this case, the rolling door112will be held in place at starting280a, band ending points282a, bof tracks126a, bby the mechanism that is driven by the electric motor, but can be released from the mechanism to be actuated manually, as is well-known. In an embodiment, the electric motor is powered by the vehicle's electrical system.

Also illustrated inFIG. 2is the fact that this corner of the rectangular shaped track is not continuously rounded as are the corners of the tracks126a, b. Discontinuities252a,b serve to permit the rolling door112to be extended downward to reach the bed of the truck in a substantially perpendicular orientation to achieve a completely closed position. It will be clear that if these discontinuities252a, bin the tracks126were not provided, the leading edge of the rolling door112would be curving as it reached the cargo bed of the truck, and would not make proper contact for purposes of closing off the compartment. Ending points282a, bpermit the door112to be locked into the completely open position rather than continuing around the corner.

Diverters250a, bhowever, are designed to permit the bypassing of discontinuities252a, bin the tracks126a, bjust prior to reaching the fully closed position at the starting points280a, b. This is accomplished with an extension254a, bof the tracks126a, bthat extend beyond the the ending points282a, bof tracks126a, b. When actuating the rolling door112manually, if the operator presses the leading edge112aof the rolling door112inwardly against the inside of walls of tracks126aandb, the guiding means attached to the side edges of the rolling door112at the leading edge112aof the rolling door112can be directed through discontinuities252a, band into the extension portions254a, bof tracks126a, b. In this way, the door112can be caused to travel the tracks126a, binto the completely open position, but in the opposite direction of normal operation. Moreover, the rolling door112can eventually travel over a full three-hundred and sixty degree cycle around the guide tracks and back to the fully closed position.

This capability can be of enormous benefit when, for example, the rolling door112has been in a fully closed position for an extended period of time and has accumulated debris or precipitation on its top surface. By opening the rolling door112in this reverse direction, the debris has an opportunity to be cleared from the top surface of the rolling door112, either by gravity or manually, as the top surface of door112becomes vertical and then upside down, prior to traveling into the sub-floor space below the floor114. Otherwise, if the rolling door112is opened in the normal upward and forward direction, the debris or precipitation would eventually be deposited into the sub-floor space as the top surface of the rolling door becomes upside down inside the sub-floor space. It will be understood that when operating the rolling door112in the bypass mode described above, the pins at the leading edge112aof the rolling door112will first lock the door in the completely open position in holes282a, b. They will then have to be retracted to complete the cycle and close the door112while continuing in the same direction.

FIG. 3Aillustrates a rear view of an embodiment of the vehicle topper100as installed on a pickup truck102. All of the features of the embodiment100discussed with respect toFIGS. 1A and 1Bare similarly numbered. InFIG. 3A, rolling door112is partly open and between its completely open and completely closed positions. A partial view is provided of the compartment104created by the vehicle topper of the invention100and the cargo box of pickup truck102. The cargo box of pickup truck is largely defined by pickup bed119and vertical walls118aand118bof pickup truck102. The base108aof rolling door frame108rests upon, and can be secured to, the bed119by any known technique. Floor114is elevated from the bed119and supported by base108cof rolling door frame108to create sub-floor space115. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3A, the diverter250ofFIG. 2is not shown for simplicity.

Outside frame sides110a,110brest atop the vertical walls118a,118b, and can be secured thereto by any known technique, including being coupled to tie down elements that are commonly provided on the inside surface of vertical walls118a,118b. Outside frame end110crests atop the vertical end wall118c(not shown), and can be secured thereto by any known technique, including being coupled to tie down elements that are commonly provided on the inside surface of vertical end wall118c. One such embodiment will be discussed in more detail below with reference toFIG. 4.

FIG. 3Billustrates a rear view of an embodiment of the vehicle topper100as installed on a pickup truck102. All of the features of the embodiment100discussed with respect toFIGS. 1A,1B and3A are similarly numbered. InFIG. 3B, rolling door112is in its completely open position. Trailing edge112bof rolling door112is at the ending point of tracks126a, b. The cargo box is completely accessible from above as if there is no vehicle topper100because of the location of the rolling door112being behind and under the floor114when in the completely open position. Floor114is shown extended up the back end150bof the rolling door frame108. This serves to protect rolling door112and tracks126a, bfrom payload items that might shift toward the front of the pickup cargo box. In some embodiments, floor114can be extended all of the way to the top of the back end150bof the door frame108.

It should be noted that while panels124a, bandcand125a, bare shown in the various views with transparent fill to provide an internal view beyond the panels for purposes of illustration, in various embodiments of the invention, they can be transparent, translucent, or opaque and are intended to seal the compartment from the external environment.

FIG. 4illustrates an abbreviated close-up view of an embodiment of a clamping means300that can be used in conjunction with elements commonly provided in vehicles with cargo boxes to tie down and secure payload items for transport. These elements, such as tie down points, are commonly used in conjunction with rope or string to facilitate pulling the rope or strong taught across the payload item(s), particularly when those items are transported in an open cargo box and thereby creating a risk that the payload items might be blown or otherwise dislodged from the cargo box during transport.

FIG. 4shows a portion of member111aof outside frame side110athat supports the embodiment100of the invention as it rests upon the top of vertical wall118aof pickup truck102as illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B. Clamping means300is secured to outside frame member111ausing bolt304athrough stand-off block314and a retaining member disposed in channel308of member111a. Clamping means300is further secured to tie down rail302, which is formed or attached to the interior of vertical wall118a, using bolt304bthrough retaining member312disposed in channel310of tie down rail302. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are many other suitable methods of securing the various embodiments of the invention to the cargo bed and cargo box of a vehicle. For example, members111a, bandccan be bolted straight to the tops of the vertical walls118a, bandcforming the cargo box, with the clamping means being a simple nut and bolt.

FIG. 5Aillustrates a side view of an embodiment of the invention100installed with a cargo box of a pickup truck102, with the rolling door112in the completely open position (i.e. trailing edge112bof rolling door112is at the ending point (280,FIG. 2) of tracks126aat the front end150aof the rolling door frame108, and the leading edge112ais located at the top of the back end150bof frame108). A user106has just ridden motorcycle101up a ramp (not shown) and into the the cargo box formed therewith, as would be common for loading such a vehicle as a payload item for transport.

As can be seen, the benefit of Applicant's invention over prior art vehicle toppers is that this can be accomplished notwithstanding that the rider's head is above the top of the vehicle topper of the invention100. This cannot be safely accomplished with prior art vehicle toppers as they have fixed roofs. Rolling door112is conveniently rolled under floor114, freeing the cargo bed to be loaded as if there is no topper. Floor114is designed to handle any load that would otherwise be acceptable under the specifications for the vehicle bed itself, and thus can be made from any material suitable for achieving that design goal.

FIG. 5Billustrates a side view of the embodiment of the invention100ofFIG. 5Ainstalled with a cargo bed and box of a pickup truck102. The rolling door112is now in the completely closed position (i.e. leading edge112ais located at the starting point (282,FIG. 2) of tracks126at the front end150aof door frame108, and the trailing edge112bis at the top of the back end150bof frame108), forming a lockable compartment104by which motorcycle101is now secure for transport.

FIG. 6AandFIG. 6Billustrate a side and top view respectively of an embodiment of the invention100without a vehicle for simplicity.FIG. 6AandFIG. 6Bshow the rolling door112in the completely closed position.

FIG. 7AandFIG. 7Billustrate a side and top view respectively of an embodiment of the invention100without a vehicle for simplicity.FIG. 7AandFIG. 7Bshow the rolling door112in the completely open position and under floor114.

FIG. 8AandFIG. 8Billustrate an embodiment of the invention coupled to the cargo box of a vehicle in the form of pickup truck102where the tailgate700is left installed and is closed.FIG. 8Ashows the rolling door112in the completely closed position.FIG. 8Bshows the rolling door112in the completely open position.

It should also be noted that some vehicles can have a bed but no cargo box, such as in the case of a flatbed truck or trailer. Those of skill in the art will recognize that this is just a special case of a cargo box with no vertically extending walls, and that the present invention can be easily adapted to this case by simply extending and securing the outer frame sides110a, band end110cto the flatbed directly. Moreover, in some embodiments, it may be advantageous to deploy an embodiment of the invention without the external frame110if the rolling door frame can be properly secured to the vehicle bed without need for the function provided by the external frame110. In such an embodiment, the outside of the rolling door frame108can be sealed with panels to provide the enclosed compartment.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.