Abstract:
A glass top for boats made of a number of arched structural extrusions holding together a series of translucent panels. Some panels, the top ones and the ones on the lower sides, are fixed while the middle ones can slide upward or downward to allow ventilation. Each arched extrusions consists of three superposed extruded members of identical cross-section, held together by bolt assemblies biased by elastomeric strips to enable adjusting the width of the channel receiving the edges of the slidable panels to suit panel of various thicknesses.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims domestic priority from Provisional Application 60/038,208 filed Jan. 18, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND: FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention belongs to the field of glass tops, especially glass tops to be used on boats. 
     BACKGROUND--DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     A review of the prior art has revealed the following patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,558; Oehler May 21st, 1991; shows a retractable roof for passage under low bridges. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,871; Fantacci et Al.; Jan. 19, 1988; hull made of a composite having a base of suitably-reinforced plastics. The hull mainly derives from the monohull or unitary-construction hull with several decks. 
     GB 218,071; Fleming; Jul. 3rd, 1924; improvements on and connected with boats for conveying cargo between a ship and the shore and similar purposes: among improvements is shown a cover extending over an inner hold space: a textile hood may be overlapping. 
     OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES 
     A general objective is to provide a glass top light enough to be used on small crafts, the economy of weight being important for performing boats, with sliding panels for the passage of breeze. It must be lighter and thinner than conventional ones to thwart the effect of the sea and the winds must be rounded like an egg shell. A cylindrical like form prevents wind damage and gives pretention against waves and wind in adding locking lugs hold in place the panels to prevent unwanted movement such as release of shell and to ascertain great resistance to wind and water. This glass top is also modular in sections. Some panels are mobile to create openings to let ventilation air go through. An intermediate glass panel moves in two directions towards a roof top area and towards a lower part of a sidewall. When it rains the top is covered and breeze enters by the opened sides. This glass top structure provides a way to adapt to a number of panels of glass, Plexiglas, etc. of various thickness be they opaque or translucent, and permit movement and opening thereof. An objective is to facilitate the interchanging of panels when a boat trip is to be made under certain particular conditions of sun and/or temperature. A more precise objective is to provide a number of arches mounted over a boat deck, each two arches being joined by panels of lexan flexible glass embedded in grooves in the arches. A top panel is to be located in an outward groove, an intermediary panel in a central groove and a low panel in an inward groove. The arches are to be provided with open areas to permit the movement of locking lugs attached to the edges of glass panels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the invention will be better explained by referring to the following drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective of a glass top 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation of a structural extrusion of the glass top. 
     FIG. 3 is a cut according to line 3--3 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a cut according to line 4--4 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a cut according to line 5--5 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 6 is a cut according to line 6--6 of FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a detail in the region of arrow 7 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlargement of FIG. 2 illustrating water flow. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective of a transparent glass top 20 for a cruise boat that shows a number of structural extrusions 22 equally spaced. Translucent panels comprise an upper fixed panel 24 with an upper fixed frame 25, a sliding panel 26 with an upper sliding frame 27 and a lower fixed panel 28. A longitudinal beam 29 unites extrusions 22 underneath upper fixed panels 24 and disposed along central axis 23 of glasstop or shelter 20, said axis 23 only shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Ventilation openings increase when panels 26 are lowered (arrows 30,34) or raised (arrows 32, 36). One sees a closed position 38. The sliding panel 26 is preferably a flexible window panel, made for instance of lexan. Partial of full ventilation is obtained either at the top or bottom of panel 26. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an elevation of the structural extrusion 22 and a cross-section of panels 24, 26, 28, panel 26 being closed. One also sees, on the lower fixed panel 28, an aluminum section 66 demarcating the lower fixed panel 28 from the sliding panel 26. Panel 24 overlaps panel 26 and the latter overlaps panel 28; transverse rails 25, 27, and 27, 66 meet in pairs so that the rain is directed on the outside of the panels as shown by arrows 79 in FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 3 shows an inner support strip 40 that holds the lower fixed panels 28 against the inner face of structural extension 22 by means of rivets 55 with the interposition of a sealant 41 such as &#34;polyshim&#34; on both sides of panel 28. The structural extrusion 22 has three by superposed extruded members namely an outer section 42, a central section 44 and inner section 46. Sections 42, 44, 46 have the same cross-sectional shape and an inner section 46 is inverted relative to sections 44, 42. Sections 44 and 46 are spaced by an elastomer 48, such as Teflon, and fixed together by a short assembly screw 50. The elastomer 48, located between the central section 44 and the inner section 46, secures the space necessary to allow the sliding panel 26 to slide easily along a sliding guide 52. An aluminum rivet 54 avoids the removal of the sliding panel 26. Lower rivets 55 and strip 40 hold the lower fixed panels 38 against the inner face of inner section 46. The sliding guide 52 provides a path to the sliding panel 2 and keeps the water away. Assembly screws 50 and elastomer 48 are used to adjust the spacing between section 44 and 46 to fit panels of different thicknesses. A fiber collar 56 surrounds screw 50 to abate the noise caused by the vibrations of the boat. 
     FIG. 4 shows that sections 42, 44 and 46 are interconnected by long assembly bolts 58 with the interposition of fiber collars 56 and aluminum collars 57. 
     FIG. 5 shows the upper fixed panel 24 held between the outer section 42 and the central section 44 by the long assembly bolt 58 which also draws the inner section 46. &#34;Polyshim&#34; 41 is placed between extrusions and panels to ensure water-tightness. Holes punched in the structural extrusions 22 allow the engagement of latch gudgeon 77 to open totally, such as in the lower or higher partially or fully open position of slidable panels 26. A latch 78 allows this shift. 
     FIG. 6 shows that slidable panel 26 is in its fully closed position 38, the junction of the upper meeting rail 25 of the fixed panel 24 with the upper melting rail 27 of sliding panel 26 is made watertight by border 73. Each meeting rail is formed by a L-shaped members 39 and tubular members 43 differently assembled by rivets 54. 
     FIG. 7 shows the region of the longitudinal central axis 23. One sees longitudinal beam 29 fixed to the central section 44 by the short assembly screw 50, with the fiber collar 56. 
     FIG. 8 A section of the glass top 20 comprises three parts; two fixed parts corresponding to the upper fixed panel 24 and the lower fixed panel 28 and a sliding part corresponding to the sliding panel 26. Each of these parts has a corresponding position in the structural extrusion 22. 
     The effect of rain is illustrated by arrows of water flowing 79 from the upper fixed panel 24 toward the lateral sliding panel 26 and coming down onto the lower fixed panel 38. 
     It is noted that the three extruded sections 42, 44, 46 and forming each structural extrusion 22 have the same cross-sectional shape. The sliding panel 26 when opened lets air seep in from the top or the bottom and thus permits gravity ventilation. In any condition of temperature one may protect against wind by opening at the top or when it rains one may ventilate by opening near the lower fixed panel 28. The round curve in sliding panel 26 helps prevent vibration. The openings 70 define a cavity in inner section 46 which permits said openings to collect flowing water 79, from which it may be evacuated. 
     The spacer Teflon 48 may be of any dimension to accomodate the thickness of sliding panel 26. 
     The material for panels used may be transparent or opaque; it may be of any type as long as the material fits in the channels and has a certain flexibility to contour the curves. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 
     Other embodiments of the above invention are also possible and limited only by the scope of the following claims: 
     Parts Lists for Info 
     20. Glass top 
     22. Structural extrusion 
     23. Central axis 
     24. Upper fixed panel 
     25. Upper fixed frame 
     26. Sliding panel 
     27. Upper sliding frame 
     28. Lower fixed panel 
     29. Longitudinal beam 
     30. Lowering open position 
     32. Raising open position 
     34. Lower open position 
     36. Higher open position 
     38. Closed position 
     39. Lexan window 
     40. Inner support 
     41. &#34;Polyshim&#34; 
     42. Outer section 
     44. Central section 
     46. Inner section 
     48. Teflon 
     50. Short assembly screw 
     52. Sliding guide 
     54. Aluminum rivet 
     55. Lower rivet 
     56. Fiber collar 
     57. Aluminum collar 
     58. Long assembly bolt 
     60. Oval curve 
     62. Curvature 
     65. Slope 
     66. Aluminum section 
     67. Fixed superior limit 
     68. Detachable section 
     70. Openings 
     72. Upper fixed frame 
     73. Watertight section 
     77. Latch gudgeon 
     78. Latch 
     79. Water flowing