Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4679847?dq=6008737
Timestamp: 2013-12-12 20:00:12
Document Index: 280515128

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 30', 'art 30', 'art 32', 'art 34', 'art 34', 'art 39', 'art 39', 'art 40', 'art 39', 'art 40', 'art 34', 'art 32', 'art 34']

Patent US4679847 - Removable cab top for vehicles - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Advanced Patent Search | Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA removable top for a vehicle such as a pick up truck. The top includes a single of lightweight transparent material which covers a top opening and a rear opening of the vehicle cab....http://www.google.com/patents/US4679847?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4679847 - Removable cab top for vehiclesPublication numberUS4679847 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/880,698Publication dateJul 14, 1987Filing dateJul 1, 1986Priority dateJul 1, 1986Fee statusLapsedPublication number06880698, 880698, US 4679847 A, US 4679847A, US-A-4679847, US4679847 A, US4679847AInventorsRonald L. DirckOriginal AssigneeDirck Ronald LExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (4), Referenced by (10), Classifications (5), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRemovable cab top for vehiclesUS 4679847 AAbstract A removable top for a vehicle such as a pick up truck. The top includes a single of lightweight transparent material which covers a top opening and a rear opening of the vehicle cab.
I claim: 1. A removable top in combination with a vehicle, wherein said vehicle includes a cab having a roof and adjoining rear wall, said cab further including corner located support posts connected by upper side rails, an opening means formed in said cab roof between said side rails and extending into said cab rear wall between said support posts, said removable top being formed of transparent sheet material covering said cab opening means between said support posts and side rails and forming a continuation of said cab roof, fastening means associated with said top and cab for detachably connecting the top to the cab.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fastening means is a plurality of toggle latches.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said removable top is a generally L-shaped.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes a bed located rearwardly of said cab, said opening extending downwardly of said cab rear wall to the adjacent said bed.
5. The combination of claim 1 and a channel part located about a peripheral margin of said cab opening at said roof, said channel part constituting means for supporting said removable top.
6. The combination of claim 5 and means disposed between said channel part and removable top for sealing said cab against entry of moisture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in removable tops and will have special but not limited application to a removable cab top for pick up trucks or similar vehicles.
The removable top of this invention includes a lightweight, formed sheet of transparent material which covers top and back openings in the cab of a vehicle, such as a pick up truck. The top is connected to the vehicle by removable fasteners and may be stored in the bed of the truck.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved removable cap top for an a vehicle.
Another object of this invention is to provide for a removable truck cab top which is easily installed and removed from the vehicle.
Another object of this invention is to provide for a one piece transparent top and back opening cover for the cab of a pick up truck.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a pick up truck which illustrates the removable top of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the top roof detached from the vehicle.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the roof fasteners within broken circle 4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of another of the roof fasteners within broken circle 5 of FIG. 3.
Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a vehicle such as the pick up truck shown in fragmentary form in FIGS. 1 and 2. Vehicle 10 preferably includes a cab 12 and bed 13. Cab 12 has a windshield 14, side doors 16 with openings covered by retractable windows 18, a roof 19 having a top opening 20 and a rear wall 17 having an opening 22 which is continuous with opening 20. Housed within cab 12 are seats 24 for the driver and passengers (not shown) as well as the dash 26, steering wheel 28 and other vehicle control systems. A U-shaped channel part 30 is secured to roof 19 about the outer margin of opening 20. Channel part 30 includes a trim part 32 fastened to cab 12 and an integral L-shaped part 34 which extends into opening 20 to support the removable top 38. Rear wall 17 includes a channel 36 which extends about opening 22 and is continuous with L-shaped part 34.
Top 38 is preferably of the L-shaped configuration shown and includes a transparent panel part 39, such as acrylic sheet material. Suitable tinting may be added to panel part 39 to prevent glare in the cab. Top 38 also includes a marginal continuous border part 40 which fits about the peripheral edge of panel part 39 to aid in seating the top within vehicle roof and end wall openings 20, 22. A seal member 42 of rubber or the like is affixed to border part 40 as shown in FIG. 4 and prevents entry of moisture into cab 12. A seal 42 may be alternatively positioned in channel part 34 and channel 36 with equal effect. A front moisture deflector 46 may be secured as by fasteners 48 to trim part 32 and vehicle 10 to enhance sealing of the top against leakage.
Top 38 is releasably connected to vehicle 10 by a plurality of fasteners 50. Any conventional quick open fastener may be used, but for purposes of illustration, six toggle latches of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,298, incorporated herein by reference, are shown. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of hooks 52 (six shown) are connected at interior spaced locations in cab 12 as shown. Each toggle latch 50 is pivotally connected to a bracket 54 which is connected to top 38. The detailed operation of toggle latches 50 is described in the above said U.S. Patent and will not be repeated here.
To remove top 38, toggle latches 50 are disengaged from hooks 52. Top 38 is then lifted from roof channel part 34 and rear wall channel 36 and may be stored in the rear bed 56 of vehicle 10 until it is desired to replace the top in position as shown in FIG. 1. Toggle latches 50 are then relocked to secure top 38 in place with seal member 42 sealing the cab against the elements.
It is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise form disclosed, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3357738 *Oct 11, 1965Dec 12, 1967Jean BourlierAutomobile topUS3972558 *Dec 27, 1974Aug 3, 1976Aro Manufacturing Company, Inc.Sunroof structureUS4067605 *Jun 3, 1975Jan 10, 1978Empire Automotive, Inc.Detachable sun roof panel for automobilesUS4238876 *Sep 5, 1978Dec 16, 1980Robert L. ContrerasMethod for converting hard top vehicles to removable top vehicles* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4805956 *Jun 15, 1987Feb 21, 1989Saunders Charles LConvertible pickup truckUS5000501 *Feb 20, 1990Mar 19, 1991Edward CunhaVehicle body panelUS5205607 *Dec 6, 1991Apr 27, 1993International Prototype Laboratory, Inc.Automobile with removeable roofUS5906408 *Sep 10, 1997May 25, 1999Cooper; HerbertConvertible pickup truckUS6183034 *Aug 6, 1999Feb 6, 2001Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.Molded unitary front cap for a motor homeUS6189956 *Dec 2, 1999Feb 20, 2001Still GmbhIndustrial truck with a driver's cabUS6276750 *Mar 25, 1999Aug 21, 2001Still GmbhFork lift truck cabUS6921077 *Aug 4, 2003Jul 26, 2005Oscar PupoRoof top for vehiclesUS7731273Jan 31, 2008Jun 8, 2010Cnh America LlcWork vehicle viewing systemDE19737259A1 *Aug 27, 1997Mar 4, 1999Ruediger HoffmannHardtop vehicle with removable roof* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification296/218, 296/190.1International ClassificationB60J7/10Cooperative ClassificationB60J7/106European ClassificationB60J7/10CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 26, 1995FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19950719Jul 16, 1995LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesFeb 21, 1995REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedDec 14, 1990FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google