JP7609420B2 - Pop-up roof device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pop-up roof device that is installed on the roof of a vehicle.

A pop-up roof device that is installed on the roof of a vehicle is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a pop-up roof device that includes a top cover that opens and closes an opening formed in the roof, and a flexible tent member that is installed between the roof and the top cover, and that is in a stretched state surrounding an expanded space between the roof and the top cover when the top cover is open, and is in a stored state stored inside the top cover when the top cover is closed.

Patent No. 3004527

The top cover of Patent Document 1 opens and closes the opening by raising and lowering the tip side with the base end as the pivot point, which has the advantage of simplifying the opening and closing mechanism of the top cover compared to raising and lowering the entire top cover. However, because the pivot point is the rear end of the roof, the roof only opens at an angle toward the front, and an expansion space of uniform height cannot be obtained in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the roof, which may limit the uses of the expansion space.

The present invention has been created in view of the above-mentioned circumstances and with the objective of solving these problems. The invention of claim 1 is a pop-up roof device provided on a roof of a vehicle, comprising: a top cover which opens and closes an opening formed in the roof portion; and a flexible tent member which is provided between the roof portion and the top cover, and which is in a stretched state surrounding an expanded space between the roof portion and the top cover when the top cover is in an open state, and which is in a stored state stored inside the top cover when the top cover is in a closed state, the top cover has a base end side along one end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction, and a tip side along the other end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction, and opens and closes the opening based on the raising and lowering of the tip side with the base end side as a pivot point , and the tent member in the stretched state connects the tip side of the top cover and the other end side of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction, and is stretched in a form along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the other end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction, and a holding member that supports the protruding portion from the inside of the tent member and holds the protruding portion in a protruding state, the holding member having a plurality of bracing members that can be connected and separated, and when the bracing members are connected, they are braced between the protruding portion and the roof portion to hold the protruding portion in a protruding state, and when the bracing members are separated, the protruding state of the protruding portion is released and the top end of the tent member is supported by the tent member. a pop-up roof device which allows the pop-up cover to be closed, and which is provided with a swinging member which is provided between the tensioning member and the roof portion and swings between a tensioning position in which the base end of the tensioning member is displaced in the tensioning direction and a retracted position in which the base end of the tensioning member is retracted in the opposite tensioning direction, and which maintains the tensioning position by the reaction force it receives from the tent member when the connection point with the tensioning member crosses an imaginary straight line connecting the tip end of the tensioning member and the swinging fulcrum of the swinging member .
The invention of claim 2 is the pop-up roof device according to claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member that biases the protruding portion in a storage direction.

According to the invention of claim 1, the top cover opens and closes the opening based on the lifting and lowering of the tip side of the top cover with the base end side along one side end of the roof part in the vehicle width direction as a pivot point, so that the opening and closing mechanism of the top cover can be simplified compared to the case where the entire top cover is lifted and lowered. Also, the tent member in the stretched state connects the tip side of the top cover and the other end side of the roof part in the vehicle width direction and is stretched in a form along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, so that an expansion space of uniform height is obtained in the longitudinal direction of the roof part (front-rear direction of the vehicle), and the uses of the expansion space can be expanded.
Furthermore , when viewed from the front or rear of the vehicle, the tent member in the stretched state has a protruding portion that protrudes outward from an imaginary straight line connecting the tip of the top cover and the other end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction, thereby widening the expanded space over the entire longitudinal direction of the roof portion and further expanding the uses of the expanded space.
Furthermore, since the tent further includes a retaining member that supports the protruding portion from the inside of the tent member and maintains the protruding portion in the protruding state, the tent member can be well maintained in its stretched state.
Furthermore , the retaining member is provided with a plurality of tension members which can be connected and separated, and when the tension members are connected, they are tensioned between the protruding portion and the roof portion to hold the protruding portion in a protruding state, and when the tension members are separated, the protruding state of the protruding portion is released to allow the top cover to be closed, thereby preventing the retaining members from getting in the way when the top cover is closed.
Furthermore , the retaining member is provided between the tensioning member and the roof portion, and is equipped with a swinging member that swings and transforms between a tensioning position in which the base end of the tensioning member is displaced in the tensioning direction, and a retracted position in which the base end of the tensioning member is retracted in the opposite tensioning direction, and the swinging member maintains its tensioning position by the reaction force it receives from the tent member when the connection point with the tensioning member crosses an imaginary straight line connecting the tip end of the tensioning member and the swinging fulcrum of the swinging member, so that the swinging member can be held in the tensioning position with a simple configuration that utilizes the so-called fulcrum crossing effect.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tent member is further provided with an elastic member for biasing the protruding portion in the storing direction, which facilitates the operation of storing the tent member inside the top cover.

1 is a front view of a vehicle provided with a pop-up roof device (open state) according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a left side view of a vehicle provided with a pop-up roof device (open state) according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a rear view of a vehicle provided with a pop-up roof device (open state) according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a plan view of a vehicle provided with a pop-up roof device (closed state) according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front view of a vehicle provided with a pop-up roof device (closed state) according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a split floor material laid on the base plate of the pop-up roof device. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle provided with a pop-up roof device (open state) according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pop-up roof device. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a view showing a holding member in a tensioned state. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the holding member in a separated state, and FIG. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing a first connection procedure (pre-connection preparation) of the holding member. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a second connecting procedure (when connecting) of the holding member. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an operation of the swing member crossing a fulcrum.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In Figs. 1 to 9, reference numeral 1 denotes a pop-up roof device provided on the roof of a vehicle V, and the pop-up roof device 1 comprises a base plate 2, a floor material 3, a top cover 4, a butterfly plate 5, an oil damper 6, a tent member 7, a retaining member 8, and an elastic member 9. The vehicle V in this embodiment is a minicar, but it may also be a regular car or a large vehicle. Furthermore, it is not limited to a minicar, and may also be a station wagon, SUV, sedan, truck, etc.

After the existing roof of the vehicle V is cut away to create an opening, the substrate 2 is attached to the vehicle V so as to close the periphery of the opening of the cut-out portion, and functions as a roof reinforcing member for the vehicle V. As shown in FIG. 8, the substrate 2 is formed in a frame shape from a rigid member, and has a recess 2a on the upper surface that is rectangular in plan view and recessed downward, and in the center of the recess 2a is an opening 2b that is rectangular in plan view and allows people to enter and exit.

The flooring 3 is constructed in the shape of a rectangular board and can be laid across the recess 2a of the base plate 2 so as to cover the opening 2b, forming the floor of the expansion space described below. When the expansion space is used as a sleeping space, the flooring 3 functions as a bed. As shown in FIG. 6, the flooring 3 of this embodiment is composed of multiple divided flooring materials 3a, 3b, and 3c arranged in the front-to-back direction. This division system makes it easy to lay and remove the flooring 3. By lifting the top cover 4 described below to open and close the flooring to the side, a uniform height can be ensured from the front to the back, which ensures space in the ceiling area, and by attaching the flooring 3 to the upper space floor, two spaces can be secured above and below, ensuring a large living space.

The top cover 4, which is the roof of the vehicle V, is rotatably supported on the base plate 2 via a number of hinge plates 5, and opens and closes the upper surface of the base plate 2 (the recess 2a and the opening 2b) in response to a rotation operation. To be more specific, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the top cover 4 is a cover member having a rectangular shape in a plan view, with a base end side along one end (e.g., the right end) of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction and a tip end side along the other end (e.g., the left end) of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction, and opens and closes the upper surface of the base plate 2 to a raised position and a lowered position based on the elevation and lowering of the tip end with the base end side as a rotation fulcrum. In this embodiment, the rotation angle of the top cover 4 in the open state is set to approximately 45°, but the rotation angle of the top cover 4 in the open state may be changed within a range of 30 to 90°.

With such a top cover 4, the upper surface of the base plate 2 is opened and closed between raised and lowered positions based on the lifting and lowering of the tip side, with the base end along one end of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction as the pivot point. This not only simplifies the opening and closing mechanism of the top cover 4 compared to when the entire top cover 4 is raised and lowered, but also provides an expansion space of uniform height in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the roof, expanding the uses of the expansion space.

The oil damper 6 is provided between the base plate 2 and the top cover 4, and assists in the opening operation of the top cover 4 by biasing the top cover 4 in the opening direction. In this embodiment, a first oil damper 6 biases the front side of the top cover 4, and a second oil damper 6 biases the rear side of the top cover 4. When the top cover 4 is open, the oil damper 6 is exposed at the front and rear of the top cover 4 in an extended state, but when the top cover 4 is closed, it is stored inside the top cover 4 in a contracted state.

The tent member 7 is a flexible sheet material provided between the base plate 2 and the top cover 4. When the top cover 4 is in the open state in the raised position, the tent member 7 is in a stretched state surrounding the expansion space formed around the bottom surface between the base plate 2 and the top cover 4. When the top cover 4 is in the closed state in the lowered position, the tent member 7 is in a folded and stored state inside the top cover 4. The stretched tent member 7 connects the tip side (e.g., the left end side) of the top cover 4 and the other end side (e.g., the left end side) of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction, and is stretched in a form along the front-rear direction of the vehicle V. This provides an expansion space of uniform height in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 2 (front-rear direction of the vehicle), and the uses of the expansion space can be expanded. In other words, by making the top cover 4 a structure that can be opened and closed sideways, when the narrow interior (interior height) of the vehicle V is expanded upward, a uniform interior height can be ensured from front to rear, making it possible for people to move around in a standing position inside the interior, improving livability.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the tent member 7 in the stretched state has a protruding portion 7a that protrudes outward from an imaginary straight line L1 that connects the tip (e.g., the left end) of the top cover 4 and the other end (e.g., the left end) of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front or rear of the vehicle. Such a protruding portion 7a makes the expansion space wider over the entire longitudinal area of the roof portion, further expanding the uses of the expansion space.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 8, the tent member 7 has a front portion 7b that covers the front of the expansion space, a rear portion 7c that covers the rear of the expansion space, a side portion 7d that covers the other side (e.g., the left side) of the expansion space in the vehicle width direction, and an upper portion 7e that covers the upper part of the expansion space. The tent member 7 has a skirt-like canopy shape with an opening 7g that allows a person to stand on the underside surrounded by the front portion 7b, rear portion 7c, and side portion 7d, and the peripheral bottom of the opening 7g is sealed and fastened to the base plate 2. The front portion 7b and side portion 7d of the tent member 7 have windows 7f. The windows 7f are configured to be covered with a tent curtain member that blocks external light, but when the film member is rolled up, a transparent resin sheet, insect screen, etc. are exposed, allowing lighting and ventilation of the expansion space.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holding member 8 supports the overhanging portion 7a from the inside of the tent member 7, and holds the overhanging portion 7a in an overhanging state. As shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 14, the holding member 8 of this embodiment includes a plurality of tension members 81, 82 that can be connected and separated, and when the tension members 81, 82 are connected, they tension between the overhanging portion 7a and the board 2, and can hold the overhanging portion 7a in an overhanging state, and when the tension members 81, 82 are separated, the overhanging state of the overhanging portion 7a is released, allowing the top cover 4 to be closed.

Specifically, the first tension member 81 is a U-shaped pipe member and includes an action portion 81a that fits along the inside of the top of the protruding portion 7a, and a pair of front and rear extension portions 81b that extend from both ends of the action portion 81a to the diagonal sides of the expansion space. The second tension member 82 is a pair of rod members that can be inserted and removed from the tips of the pair of front and rear extension portions 81b.

The holding member 8 further includes a swinging member 83 provided between the second tension member 82 and the base plate 2. The swinging member 83 swings between a tensioning position in which the base end of the second tension member 82 is displaced in the tensioning direction and a retracted position in which the base end of the second tension member 82 is retracted in the opposite tensioning direction. In this embodiment, the swinging member 83 is attached to a bracket 84 fixed to the base plate 2 via a swinging support shaft 85 so as to be swingable in the vehicle width direction, and the base end of the second tension member 82 is connected to the tip of the swinging member 83 via a connecting shaft 86 so as to be swingable in the same direction as the swinging member 83.

Figure 10 shows the holding member 8 in a tensioned state, and Figures 11(a) and (b) show the holding member 8 in a separated state. As shown in Figure 11, when the first tension member 81 and the second tension member 82 are separated and the swingable member 83 and the second tension member 82 are aligned along the top surface of the substrate 2, the top cover 4 is allowed to be closed. Also, when the top cover 4 is opened from the closed state, the holding member 8 is in the state shown in Figure 11, and when the holding member 8 is changed from this state to the tensioned state shown in Figure 10, the operations shown in Figures 12 to 14 are performed.

12 shows the first connection procedure of the holding member 8 (preparation before connection), FIG. 13 shows the second connection procedure of the holding member 8 (connection), and FIG. 14 shows the operation of the swinging member 83 to cross the fulcrum. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the swinging member 83 in the bracing position is swung to stand up toward the retracted position, and then, as shown in FIG. 13, the first and second bracing members 81 and 82 are held by hand and connected to each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, when the swinging member 83 is swung from the retracted position to the bracing position, the connecting shaft 86, which is the connecting point between the second bracing member 82 and the swinging member 83, crosses the virtual straight line L2 connecting the tip of the first bracing member 81 and the swinging fulcrum (swinging shaft 85) of the swinging member 83, and the swinging member 83 is pressed against the bracket 84 by the reaction force received from the tent member 7, and maintains the bracing position. Furthermore, by performing the steps shown in Figures 12 to 14 in reverse, the holding member 8 in the tensioned state shown in Figures 10 and 14 can be put into the separated state shown in Figure 11, making it possible to close the top cover 4.

The elastic member 9 biases the overhanging portion 7a of the tent member 7 in the storage direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the elastic member 9 in this embodiment is a rubber band looped around the tent member 7, and pulls the tent member 7 into the inside of the top cover 4 when the top cover 4 is closed. The pulled-in tent member 7 is folded and stored in the space between the top cover 4 and the board 2, as shown in FIG. 9(a).

The bottom surface of the top cover 4 is provided with a handle 41 to be grasped when opening and closing the top cover 4, and a belt 42 to prevent the stored tent member 7 from protruding. When the top cover 4 is closed, the belt 42 engages with a hook (not shown) provided on the base plate 2 to prevent the stored tent member 7 from protruding. When the top cover 4 is closed, the tent members 7 press the divided floor members 3a to 3c, preventing rattling during travel. In particular, if the orientation of the middle divided floor member 3b of the three divided floor members 3a to 3c arranged in the front-rear direction is changed from the left-right direction to the front-rear direction and it is sandwiched between the stored tent member 7 and the other divided floor members 3a and 3c, the pressing force of the tent member 7 on the divided floor members 3a to 3c is increased, making it possible to more reliably prevent rattling during travel.

As shown in Figure 5, when the top cover 4 is lowered into the closed state, it is in close contact with the base plate 2 and can be closed to match the body lines (design) of the vehicle, with a shape that is no different from a normal vehicle design. When driving, it is in close contact with the base plate 2, and when stopped for rest, sleeping in the car, camping, teleworking, etc., the top cover 4 is of a side-opening type and can be opened and closed easily by the oil dampers 6 arranged at the front and rear, which spring up upwards to increase the interior space (interior height) and make the interior space even larger.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the pop-up roof device 1 is provided on the roof (base plate 2) of the vehicle V, and includes a top cover 4 that opens and closes an opening 2b formed in the base plate 2, and a flexible tent member 7 that is provided between the base plate 2 and the top cover 4 and that, when the top cover 4 is open, is in a tensioned state surrounding the expanded space between the base plate 2 and the top cover 4, and, when the top cover 4 is closed, is in a stored state stored inside the top cover 4. The top cover 4 has a base end side along one end of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction, and a tip side along the other end of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction, and opens and closes the opening 2b based on the lifting and lowering of the tip side with the base end side as a pivot point. This makes it possible to simplify the opening and closing mechanism of the top cover 4 compared to when the entire top cover 4 is lifted and lowered. In addition, the tent member 7 in the stretched state connects the tip of the top cover 4 and the other end of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction, and is stretched in a manner that follows the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle V, so that an expansion space of uniform height is obtained in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 2 (vehicle fore-and-aft direction), and the uses of the expansion space can be expanded.

In addition, when viewed from the front or rear of the vehicle, the tent member 7 in the stretched state has a protruding portion 7a that protrudes outward from the imaginary straight line L1 that connects the tip of the top cover 4 and the other end of the base plate 2 in the vehicle width direction, thereby widening the expansion space over the entire longitudinal direction of the base plate 2 and further expanding the uses of the expansion space.

The pop-up roof device 1 also includes a retaining member 8 that supports the protruding portion 7a from the inside of the tent member 7 and holds the protruding portion 7a in the protruding state, so that the tent member 7 can be well maintained in its extended state.

The holding member 8 also includes a plurality of tension members 81, 82 that can be connected and separated. When the tension members 81, 82 are connected, they tension between the protruding portion 7a and the substrate 2, and can hold the protruding portion 7a in a protruding state. When the tension members 81, 82 are separated, the protruding state of the protruding portion 7a is released, allowing the top cover 4 to be closed, so that the holding member 8 does not get in the way when the top cover 4 is closed.

The holding member 8 is provided between the second tension member 82 and the base plate 2 and includes a swinging member 83 that swings between a tension position in which the base end of the second tension member 82 is displaced in the tension direction and a retracted position in which the base end of the second tension member 82 is retracted in the opposite tension direction. The connection point of the swinging member 83 with the second tension member 82 exceeds the imaginary straight line L2 connecting the tip end of the first tension member 81 and the swinging fulcrum of the swinging member 83, and the swinging member 83 maintains the tension position by the reaction force it receives from the tent member 7. This allows the swinging member 83 to be held in the tension position with a simple configuration that utilizes the so-called fulcrum crossing effect.

The pop-up roof device 1 also includes an elastic member 9 that biases the protruding portion 7a in the storage direction, making it easier to store the tent member 7 inside the top cover 4.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a roof for an automobile that can be used for overnight stays, campers, mobile sales vehicles, mobile office vehicles (telework vehicles, remote work vehicles), etc., with a pop-up roof configuration that is invented and devised to maximize the living space inside the vehicle by modifying a commercially available standard one-box type automobile. If the top cover described in this embodiment is made of, for example, an FRP roof material, and the base plate 2 is also made of a double structure made of FRP, the insulating effect can be improved. This has the advantage of improving the efficiency of the in-house air conditioner and heater. It is also possible to reduce the sound of rain hitting the top cover 4 during heavy rain compared to a top cover made of steel plate.

Reference Signs List 1 Pop-up roof device 2 Base plate 2a Recess 2b Opening 3 Floor material 3a to 3c Divided floor material 4 Top cover 41 Handle 42 Belt 5 Butterfly plate 6 Oil damper 7 Tent member 7a Extension portion 7b Front portion 7c Rear portion 7d Side portion 7e Top portion 7f Window 7g Opening 8 Holding member 81 First bracing member 81a Working portion 81b Extension portion 82 Second bracing member 83 Swinging member 84 Bracket 85 Swinging support shaft 86 Connecting shaft 9 Elastic member V Vehicle

Claims (2)

A pop-up roof device provided on a roof of a vehicle,
a top cover for opening and closing an opening formed in the roof portion;
a flexible tent member that is provided between the roof portion and the top cover, and that is in a stretched state surrounding an expansion space between the roof portion and the top cover when the top cover is in an open state, and is in a stored state stored inside the top cover when the top cover is in a closed state,
the top cover has a base end side along one end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction and a tip end side along the other end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction, and opens and closes the opening based on the elevation and lowering of the tip end side with the base end side as a pivot point;
In the pop-up roof device, the tent member in the stretched state connects a tip side of the top cover and the other end side of the roof portion in a vehicle width direction and is stretched along a front-rear direction of the vehicle ,
The tent member in the stretched state includes a protruding portion that protrudes outward from an imaginary straight line connecting a tip end of the top cover and the other end of the roof portion in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front or rear of the vehicle,
A holding member is further provided to support the overhanging portion from the inside of the tent member and hold the overhanging portion in an overhanging state,
the retaining member includes a plurality of bracing members that can be connected and separated, and when the bracing members are connected, they brace between the overhanging portion and the roof portion to hold the overhanging portion in an overhanging state, and when the bracing members are separated, they release the overhanging portion from its overhanging state to allow the top cover to be closed;
The retaining member is provided between the tension member and the roof portion, and includes a swinging member that swings between a tensioning position in which the base end of the tension member is displaced in the tensioning direction and a retracted position in which the base end of the tension member is retracted in the opposite tensioning direction,
A pop-up roof device in which the oscillating member maintains the tensioned position by the reaction force received from the tent member when the connection point with the tension member exceeds an imaginary straight line connecting the tip of the tension member and the swing fulcrum of the oscillating member . The pop-up roof device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member that biases the protruding portion in a storage direction.

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