GB2556622A

GB2556622A - Elevating campervan roof

Info

Publication number: GB2556622A
Application number: GB1617904.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Gosling Andrew
Original assignee: Lowlife Products Ltd
Current assignee: Lowlife Products Ltd
Priority date: 2016-10-24
Filing date: 2016-10-24
Publication date: 2018-06-06
Also published as: GB201617904D0

Abstract

An elevating vehicle roof system including a scissor hinge mechanism 4, which forms an attachment between a roof shell 5 and the internal vehicle structure 2, the hinge mechanism interfaces with the underside of the roof panel and with the internal van structure below the vehicles existing roof line. When closed the roof shell 5 has a floating periphery 17, and a concealed seal 12 inboard of the periphery. A removable flap section 16 (see Figure 2) on the canvas prevents fouling with the hinge mechanism when closing. The lifting mechanism may use a gas strut 15.

Description

(54) Title ofthe Invention: Elevating campervan roof Abstract Title: Elevating roof system for a vehicle (57) An elevating vehicle roof system including a scissor hinge mechanism 4, which forms an attachment between a roof shell 5 and the internal vehicle structure 2, the hinge mechanism interfaces with the underside ofthe roof panel and with the internal van structure below the vehicles existing roof line. When closed the roof shell 5 has a floating periphery 17, and a concealed seal 12 inboard ofthe periphery. A removable flap section 16 (see Figure 2) on the canvas prevents fouling with the hinge mechanism when closing. The lifting mechanism may use a gas strut 15.

Figure 1

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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Description:

This invention is applicable to an elevating roof assembly commonly used on recreational vehicles or campervans.

Elevating roofs when fitted to a vehicle allow a greater amount of headroom and or the ability to create the additional space to place boards at the approximate standard roof height to create an additional compartment which may be used as a sleeping or storage area.

Elevating or raising roofs already available consist of a concave shell structure or roof panel (5) which interface with the vehicle via a mechanical mechanism. The mechanical mechanism comprises of a hinge mechanism (4), towards the rear of the vehicle, and a gas strut mechanism (15) mounted forward of the hinge. A section of the vehicles original roof panel is removed to allow the space created when the elevating system is operated. The mechanism is either fitted to the exterior primary structure of the vehicle (1), or is mounted to a non-vehicle structural frame (7), which is itself suspended from the external primary structure. A canvas or similar foldable material is attached to and suspended between the underside of the shell structure (5) and the vehicle roof structure (outboard of the removed section of the existing vehicle roof panel), or to the non-vehicle structural frame. The canvas forms the sidewalls of the compartment when the system is in the elevated position. The hinge mechanism (4) is mounted outboard of the canvas sidewalls (10).

Where elevating roof systems are mounted directly to the external primary structure of the vehicle, the mechanism (4, 15) is at the edge of the vehicles existing roof structure and is usually located at the vehicles roof rack mounting points (3). Any new roof shell structure must therefore encapsulate this mechanism below it. The new roof shell seals (8) outboard of this mechanism where the edge of the new roof shell interfaces with the existing external van structure (1). The canvas (10) is installed inboard of the mechanism. The disadvantages of this methodology are that the aesthetics of the vehicles are compromised, with unsightly seals clearly visible along the interfacing edges of the roof shell and vehicle roof.

Where the mechanism (4,15) is not fixed directly to the vehicles primary structure, it is instead attached to an inner frame (7), which in turn is attached to the primary external structural surface of the vehicle. The disadvantage of this design is that this frame needs to be robust enough to react the forces loads applied through the mechanism when the elevating roof is operated. This frame also needs to replace strength and rigidity lost from the original vehicle due to the amount of primary structure removed for the installation. The mechanism (4, 15) is also now further inboard than the method described in the paragraph above, which decreases the amount of usable space within the compartment as the canvas side walls (10) which are inboard of the hinge mechanism. A further disadvantage is the canvas is now not attached not to the van structure but to the inner frame (7). This inner frame is sat below the existing roof height of the vehicle. The sidewall of the canvas and the side wall of the inner frame must now have a drainage system to prevent rain water collecting (9) and forming a body of water around the base of the canvas section when the roof is elevated during rainfall.

With the above in mind, an alternative design is required to address these problems.

The first aspect of the invention is the attachment of the hinge mechanism (4) directly to the internal primary structure of the van (2). The mechanism will interface with primary vehicle structure internally (below the origin roof line of the vehicle). This will result in the mechanism sitting lower down and further inboard than when attached to the upper side of the roof rack mounting points on the external surface. This allows room for the roof panel (5) to smoothly blend around the gas strut (15) part of the mechanism housed within the vehicle roof gutter rail, from the horizontal plane of the top of the panel into a vertical plane, where the floating edge (17) is concealed within the roof gutter rail. The hinge mechanism (4) also interfaces with the underside of the roof shell (5).

The second aspect of the invention regards how the roof periphery interfaces with the van structure and the location of the seal (12) that is designed to stop water ingress into the vehicle when the roof is in its down position. The periphery of the roof panel (5) along the sides and rear of the vehicle is designed not to be in contact with the primary van structure (1, 3) but to float with a small clearance gap. The seal is made between the underside of the roof panel (5) and the primary van structure (1), inboard of the visible edge of the periphery but outboard of the canvas attachment. A rubber or foam seal between the underside of the roof panel (5) and the external primary structure (1) will become compressed when the roof is closed.

The third aspect of the design regards the design of the canvas tent. The upper edge of the canvas (14) is attached to the underside of the shell panel (5). The lower edge of the canvas is joined to the primary structure of the vehicle roof panel. When the roof is elevated the canvas becomes taught to form a rectangular shaped compartment. The hinge mechanism is located inboard of the canvas. The two longitudinal side walls of the canvas are fitted with a detachable flap section (16), for instance using a zip, to allow the section around the hinge to be undone and removed or folded out of the way before the roof is lowered, to prevent the canvas snagging upon the hinge mechanisms.

Figure 1 shows a lateral section view of the invention with the roof in its closed position.

Figure 2 shows the side view of the invention with the detachable canvas section which allows the canvas to be removed or folded out of the way of the hinge during the closing operation to prevent fouling of the canvas in the hinge.

Figure 3 shows the side view of a typical elevating roof system (prior art)

Figures 1, 2 are based on a VW Transporter Van.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that the hinge mechanism (4) is attached internally directly to the vehicle structure (3) meaning the hinge can sit lower than when attached to the structure externally. It can also be seen that the weather seal (12) is not formed by the edge of the roof shell panel but instead the seal is formed inboard of the panel edge, meaning that the roof panel can have a small amount of clearance from the van and therefore this lip section can be less stiff to reduce weight. There are also no seals visible with the roof in the down position aiding the aesthetical appearance of the system.

It can be seen from Figure 1, that the canvas side walls (10) of the compartment sit outboard of the hinge mechanism, increasing the volume area inside the compartment.

In figure 2, the flap sections of the canvas can be seen, allowing the hinge to be located inboard of the canvas (and thus increasing the internal size envelope of the tent compartment), as these flaps are detachable and can be removed or folded out of the way during the process of lowering the roof to prevent the canvas becoming trapped in the hinge (5).

The invention therefore has clear differences from other known elevating roof systems;

The main differences between the invention and a system which has its hinge mechanism (4) mounted to the external primary roof structure is that roof shell panel (3) can sit lower, and interface slightly more inboard, reducing the visible appearance of the roof system in its closed position. The edge of the roof panel has a small clearance to the vehicle structure. The seals (12) are completely hidden underneath the roof panel. The canvas is also external to the hinges.

Figure 4 shows a lateral section view of vehicle fitted with an alternative elevating roof system where the hinge mechanism fitted on the external primary structure of the vehicle (prior art)

The main differences between the invention and a system that has its hinge mechanism (4) and its gas strut mechanism (15) mounted to a sunken frame structure is that there is no need for a high strength frame as there is no significant loss of primary structure required and also no need to react the forces induced by the mechanism when the roof is operated, as the mechanism is connected directly to the primary structure of the vehicle either internally (4) or externally (15). The edge of the roof panel has a small clearance to the vehicle structure and does not form the weather seal. The seals are completely hidden underneath the roof panel. The canvas is also external to the hinges allowing a larger internal space. The gas struts are further outboard, so the canvas can sit inboard of these and will not become trapped when the roof is lowered. The canvas interface with the existing vehicle structure and not with the sunken frame, meaning there is no risk of water collecting around the base of the canvas requiring drainage. This also means the canvas is mounted more outboard giving a larger space within the tent area.

Figure 5 shows a lateral section view of vehicle fitted with an alternative elevating roof system where the hinge mechanism is not fitted directly to the primary structure but is instead seated within a structural frame.

Claims

1, An elevating roof system for a vehicle, comprising a roof shell that covers an aperture in the existing vehicles roof structure, which is moveable between a lowered and raised position, by means of a scissor hinge mechanism, with the upper portion of this mechanism interfacing with the underside of the raising roof shell and the lower portion of the mechanism interfacing with the primary internal structure of the existing vehicle below the existing vehicle roof line.

2, An elevating roof system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the roof shell seats against the roof structure when in the lowered position inboard of the periphery, where the periphery is 'floating' and not in contact with the primary vehicle structure

3, An elevating roof system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lower surface of the roof shell seats against the roof structure when in the lowered position a seal is made inboard of the periphery between the underside of roof shell and the external vehicle structure.

4, An elevating roof system as claimed in any preceding claim where the side walls of the tent section interface with the underside of the roof shell and the primary vehicle structure and are outboard of the hinge mechanism.

5, An elevating roof system as claimed in claim 4 where the side walls of the tent section have a removable flap section which will allow the system to be lowered without the tent material becoming trapped in the hinge.

6, An elevating roof system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lifting mechanism utilises a gas strut.

7, An elevating roof system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the roof shell is shaped to blend smoothly around the gas strut.

Intellectual

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Application No: Claims searched:

GB1617904.6

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