Hardtop Slider Device and System

The current invention is a double hard top hinge and System. It allows for the easy of moving sliding and storing a hard top on a vehicle like an SUV or a Jeep®. The system will have a double hinge that will allow the roof panel to be moved on top of a accessory such as a luggage rack this is on top of a vehicle. The panels can be stacked and stored at the same level as the top of the cab.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology discussed below relates to a vehicle hardtop storage device and more particularly one that slides back.

BACKGROUND

People with SUV and jeeps sometimes need a quick and easy place to store a removed panel of their hardtop that is located on their vehicle. This will allow a quick and easy method to reinstall the hardtop panel.

There currently no method for the easy storage of a hard top panel for SUVs that work well and is moved and stored easily and efficiently and can be used as a bed cover.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY

The current invention is a Hardtop Slider Device and System. It allows for the easy of sliding and storing a hard top on a vehicle like an SUV or a Jeep®. The system will have a slider track that will allow the roof panel to slide away from the top of the cabin of the vehicle. The panels can be stacked and stored at the same level as the top of the cab. The panel can be extended and either slide down to be stored behind the top of the seats or pulled back all the way to serve as a bed cover covering the bed.

These are improvements over the current art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrations presented herein are, in some instances, not actual views of any particular framing devices or components thereof but may be idealized representations which are employed to describe the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

The current invention, as shown inFIGS.1through17, is a Hardtop Slider Device and System. It allows for the easy sliding and storing a hard top panel60on a vehicle like an SUV or a Jeep®. The system will have a slider track10that will allow the roof panel60to slide away from the cabin120of the vehicle100. The panels60can folded over and stacked and stored at the same level as the top of the cab120. The panel60can be extended and either slide down to be stored behind the top of the seats or pulled back all the way to serve as an extended bed cover covering the bed130.

FIG.1shows the roof panels60where they have been removed from above the cab120being positioned on the top back of the vehicle100on the top30of the support20.FIG.2shows the support20being slid back on the track10with the roof panels60being extended out forming a bed cover. The support20can move back sliding on the tracks10allowing the panels to extend out on a hinge or on the extender30and form a bed cover as shown inFIG.2.

The support20can be attached to the upper frame of the vehicle through an attachment means. The support can be attached to the roll bar135or the door frame125as shown inFIGS.3,4and5. The attachment means can a hinge as shown inFIG.11or it can be attached by clamps or even welding. There can be an extension bar between the top of the support20and the frame135that expands and provides support for the panels60as the support is slide back on the track. The support20. The support20can be attached to the vehicle100to the tracks10and can use a track slider25as shown inFIG.10.

FIG.6shows the slider support20with the panels60on top. There are latches70that hold the panels to the support20when in a storage position. The support20is positioned on the tracks10that are located on the top of the sides of the bed130. The support20runs the width of the bed130and is rectangular in shape with a height that is the same or similar to the height of the frame125that the panels60can be moved parallel to the vehicle100. The support20has two sides and a back with a extender30that extends from the front of the support20. In the preferred embodiment, the support20would have a window90that would allow the passengers to see behind the vehicle100. This extender30supports the panels60as shown inFIG.6where the panels60are positioned on the top of the extender30. If an embodiment of the current invention, the extenders30connect to the vehicle100frame at the same height of the top of the frame and extend using an extension means such as bars that slide inside each other or pivot out extending when the support20is slide back on the tracks10. In other embodiments, the extension30only extends to the frame of the vehicle when the support20is in a non-extended position and the panel60being held by the extension and the frame of the vehicle holding in place for the extended cab.

FIG.7shows the tracks10with track lines15that are located on the top of the sides of the bed130. The support20can hook into the track lines15to hold it in place when is slides on the track10.

FIG.8shows the support20attached to the tracks10. The support20moves forward and backward on the tracks10.FIG.9shows the support20being attached to the tracks10with the support20perpendicular to the bed130.

The support20can be attached to a track slider25as shown inFIG.10. This attachment can be by bolts or similar attachment means. The track slider25attaches to the track and provides the sliding function through a sliding means such as wheels, ball bearings or a friction reducing surface. This allows for an easier installment of the Hardtop Slider Device and System as the track sliders25can be attached first with the support20being attached on the track sliders25after the track sliders25are attached to the track10. The track sliders and be connected to the track lines15.

FIG.11a latching system80for the panels60and to attach the extender30and the Hardtop Slider Device and System to the vehicle100.

FIG.12shows a side view of support20attached to the vehicle100.FIGS.13and14show a side view of the support20and the track10. The support20is slide back on the track10as shown inFIG.15andFIG.16. Opening a space between the support20and the frame.

FIG.17shows the support slide25back on the track10and the panels60connected to form a bed cover or a cab extension. This design is unique as the panels are being stored opening up the cab130while also being used as a bed cover. WhileFIG.17shows the panels60in a upward position but in an alternative embodiment the panel60may be lowered so they are resting on the sides of the bed covering the bed130making an expanded cab covering.

The Hardtop Slider Device and System can be in a kit form that can be added to any suitable vehicle100,

The various features associate with the examples described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings can be implemented in different examples and implementations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, although certain specific constructions and arrangements have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the disclosure, since various other additions and modifications to, and deletions from, the described embodiments will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.