Granted Patent B2

US 12,697,859 · App. 18/359,421 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Inventors: Kelsey M. Dobson (Augusta, GA); Rebecca A. Hassan (Augusta, GA)

Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.

B60J7/1635

Abstract

Claims (41)

1 . A vehicle canopy, said canopy comprising:

a main panel having a top face and a bottom face;

a front wall extending from a front of the main panel;

a back wall extending from a rear of the main panel;

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the main panel; and

one or more support rib integrally formed with and disposed laterally across a bottom face of the main panel, the one or more support rib configured in a honeycomb webbing pattern comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having walls that define a hollow cavity, wherein the walls and hollow cavity of each cell extend substantially orthogonally from the bottom face of the main panel, the one or more support rib structured and operable to provide rigidity and stiffness to the main panel to prevent deformation of the main panel within a target zone.

2 . The canopy of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bosses integrally formed with the bottom face of the main panel of the canopy, the bosses structured and operable to provide an accurate location placement and connection means for accurately locating and mounting one or more accessory to the canopy.

3 . The canopy of claim 1 , wherein the one or more support rib integrally formed with the main panel and extending laterally across the main panel are disposed within and extend laterally across a predetermined target zone of the main panel.

4 . The canopy of claim 3 , wherein the target zone is located between a longitudinal center line of the main panel and a longitudinal rear quarter line of the main panel.

5 . The canopy of claim 3 , wherein the target zone is located between a longitudinal front quarter line of the main panel and the back wall of the canopy.

6 . The canopy of claim 3 , wherein the target zone is located between a longitudinal center line of the main panel and the back wall of the canopy.

7 . The canopy of claim 1 further comprising at least one support rib integrally formed with the main panel and disposed longitudinally along the main panel and within the target zone.

8 . A canopy system for a vehicle, said canopy system comprising

at least one front strut;

at least one rear strut; and

a canopy that is mountable to the at least one front strut and the at least one rear strut, wherein the canopy comprises:

a main panel having a top face and a bottom face;

a front wall extending from a front of the main panel;

a back wall extending from a rear of the main panel;

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the main panel; and

one or more support rib integrally formed with and disposed laterally across a bottom face of the main panel, the one or more support rib configured in a honeycomb webbing pattern comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having walls that define a hollow cavity, wherein the walls and hollow cavity of each cell extend substantially orthogonally from the bottom face of the main panel, the one or more support rib structured and operable to provide rigidity and stiffness to the main panel to prevent deformation of the main panel within a target zone.

9 . The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of bosses integrally formed with the bottom face of the main panel of the canopy, the bosses structured and operable to provide an accurate location placement and connection means for accurately locating and mounting one or more accessory to the canopy.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more support rib integrally formed with the main panel and extending laterally across the main panel are disposed within and extend laterally across a predetermined target zone of the main panel.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the target zone is located between a longitudinal center line of the main panel and a longitudinal rear quarter line of the main panel.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the target zone is located between a longitudinal front quarter line of the main panel and the back wall of the canopy.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the target zone is located between a longitudinal center line of the main panel and the back wall of the canopy.

14 . The system of claim 8 further comprising at least one support rib integrally formed with the main panel and disposed longitudinally along the main panel and within the target zone.

15 . A vehicle, said vehicle comprising;

a chassis;

a plurality of wheels operatively connected to the chassis;

a passenger compartment supported by the chassis; and

a canopy system structured and operable to protect passengers of the vehicle from rain, water and sunlight, said canopy system comprising:

at least one front strut;

at least one rear strut; and

a canopy that is mountable to the at least one front strut and the at least one rear strut, wherein the canopy comprises:

a main panel having a top face and a bottom face;

a front wall extending from a front of the main panel;

a back wall extending from a rear of the main panel;

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the main panel;

one or more support rib integrally formed with and disposed laterally across a bottom face of the main panel, the one or more support rib configured in a honeycomb webbing pattern comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having walls that define a hollow cavity, wherein the walls and hollow cavity of each cell extend substantially orthogonally from the bottom face of the main panel, the one or more support rib structured and operable to provide rigidity and stiffness to the main panel to prevent deformation of the main panel within a target zone; and

a plurality of bosses integrally formed with the bottom face of the main panel of the canopy, the bosses structured and operable to provide an accurate location placement and connection means for accurately locating and mounting one or more accessory to the canopy.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (64)