IP Library Granted Patent US 7,114,769
Granted Patent B2
US 7,114,769 · App. 11/154,445 · Granted Oct 3, 2006

Automotive vehicle open air system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,114,769
App. No.
11/154,445
Granted
Oct 3, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an open air system for a motor vehicle includes a forward flexible roof portion with a pair of tracks, a rear flexible roof portion with a pair of tracks, a seal between the forward and rear roof portions, at least one movement mechanism and at least one actuator. Other aspects of the present invention include forming a barrier with the rear roof section between a passenger area and a cargo area of a vehicle.

Claims (62)

1. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof section;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof section;

at least one rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

operably creating a barrier substantially isolating a passenger area from a cargo area by moving at least one said roof section from a first position to a second position.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof section and the rear roof section.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the forward roof section and the rear roof section comprise a reinforced surface.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the reinforced surface comprises poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, carbon fibers or combinations thereof.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein the reinforced surface comprises a fabric outer layer and a metal mesh inner layer.

6. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof section;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof section;

at least one rear track;

a switching mechanism on at least one of the forward track and the rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

a barrier formed between a passenger area and a cargo area by moving the rear roof section from a first position to a second position.

7. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof panel;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof panel;

at least one rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

at least one said roof panel always being coupled to at least one of the tracks, moving from a first position to a second position operably separating a passenger area and a cargo area.

8. A system according to claim 7 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof panel and the rear roof panel.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein at least one of the forward roof panel and the rear roof panel comprise a puncture resistant surface.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the a puncture resistant surface comprises poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, carbon fibers or combinations thereof.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the a puncture resistant surface comprises a fabric outer layer and a metal mesh inner layer.

12. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward flexible roof panel;

at least one forward track;

a rear flexible roof panel;

at least one rear track;

a switching mechanism on at least one of the forward track and the rear track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

a barrier formed between a passenger area and a cargo area by moving the forward roof panel from a first position to a second position.

13. An open air system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a forward roof;

a rear flexible roof;

at least one track;

at least one movement mechanism; and

at least one said roof always coupled to the at least one track and separating a passenger area and a cargo area by moving the at least one roof from a first position to a second position.

14. A system according to claim 13 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in the rear roof.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein the rear roof comprises a reinforced surface.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the reinforced surface comprises poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, carbon fibers or combinations thereof.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein the reinforced surface comprises a fabric outer layer and a metal mesh inner layer.

18. An open air system for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one roof section comprises;

a flexible and reinforced roof comprising at least one of the group selected from poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, metal mesh, and carbon fibers; and

a substantially transparent, flexible, and reinforced panel in said flexible and reinforced roof, the panel comprising at least one of the group selected from poly-paraphenylene tetraphthalamide, para-aramid nylon, aramid fibers, metal mesh, and carbon fibers.

19. A system according to claim 1 further comprising an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

20. A system according to claim 2 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back light in the barrier.

21. A system according to claim 6 an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

22. A system according to claim 6 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof panel and the rear roof panel.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

24. A system according to claim 7 further comprising an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

25. A system according to claim 8 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

26. A system according to claim 12 further comprising an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism between a closed position and a plurality of open positions.

27. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a transparent and flexible panel in at least one of the front roof panel and the rear roof panel.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

29. A system according to claim 14 wherein the transparent and flexible panel is operably a back window.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2007
From: ASC INCORPORATED
To: SPECIALTY VEHICLE ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 019714/0442 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2005
From: STORC, ROBERT G.; ROBERTSON, JAMES E.; MACNEE, ARTHUR L., III
To: ASC INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 016916/0815 →