Retractable roof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10167058-B2
Application number	US-201615276418-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A retractable roof includes a pair of tracks oriented lengthwise along opposite sides of an opening, a plurality of traveler cars displaceable on the tracks manually or by motor, and a plurality of bows coupled with the traveler cars and extending between the tracks and across the opening. The bows are displaceable with the traveler cars between a closed position and an opened position. A roof material sized to cover the opening is secured to the bows.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retractable roof positionable in an opening, the retractable roof comprising:
a pair of tracks oriented lengthwise along opposite sides of the opening;
an end frame assembly extending across the opening between the tracks and including a bow frame secured to end frame traveler cars movably mounted on the tracks, the bow frame including at least two bows secured together by a framework with at least one connector plate, and the bow frame extending across the opening between the tracks; and
a flexible roof material sized to cover the opening and secured to the end frame assembly,
wherein the end frame assembly is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, the flexible roof material being configured to fold on itself as the end frame assembly is displaced to the opened position.

2. A retractable roof according to claim 1 , further comprising an interim bow assembly including an interim bow extending across the opening between the tracks and secured to bow traveler cars movably mounted on the tracks, wherein the flexible roof material is secured to the interim bow assembly, and wherein the interim bow assembly is displaceable with the end frame assembly between the closed positioned and the opened position.

3. A retractable roof according to claim 2 , wherein the end frame assembly is secured to the end frame traveler cars and the interim bow assembly is secured to the bow traveler cars by respective hinge assemblies, each of the hinge assemblies including a hinge block pivotably secured to respective ones of the traveler cars and a spring interposed between the hinge block and the respective ones of the traveler cars, wherein the bow frame and the interim bow are secured to the hinge block of a respective hinge assembly, the springs of the hinge assemblies on one side of the tracks acting in opposition to the springs of the hinge assemblies on an opposite side of the tracks.

4. A retractable roof according to claim 2 , comprising at least two of the interim bow assembly.

5. A retractable roof positionable in an opening, the retractable roof comprising:
a pair of tracks oriented lengthwise along opposite sides of the opening;
an end frame assembly extending across the opening between the tracks and including a bow frame secured to end frame traveler cars movably mounted on the tracks;
a flexible roof material sized to cover the opening and secured to the end frame assembly,
wherein the end frame assembly is displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, the flexible roof material being configured to fold on itself as the end frame assembly is displaced to the opened position; and
a plurality of locking blocks positioned adjacent the tracks and spaced along a length of the tracks, wherein the end frame assembly comprises a latch mechanism selectively engageable with the locking blocks.

6. A retractable roof according to claim 5 , wherein the locking blocks each comprise a cavity or slot, and wherein the latch mechanism comprises a spring plunger that is selectively engageable with the cavities/slots in the locking blocks, the spring plunger being biased toward an engaged position.

7. A retractable roof according to claim 6 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises a pull cord connected to a cable, the cable being connected to the spring plunger, wherein displacement of the pull cord serves to displace the cable and retract the spring plunger against the bias.

8. A retractable roof according to claim 6 , wherein the locking blocks comprise fore and aft tapered surfaces.

9. A retractable roof according to claim 1 , wherein the end frame traveler cars are connected to a drive cable, the retractable roof further comprising an electric motor that drives the drive cable in forward and rearward directions.

10. A retractable roof positionable in an opening, the retractable roof comprising:
a pair of tracks oriented lengthwise along opposite sides of the opening;
a plurality of traveler cars displaceable on the tracks;
a plurality of bows coupled with the traveler cars and extending between the tracks and across the opening, the bows being displaceable with the traveler cars between a closed position and an opened position;
a roof material sized to cover the opening and secured to the bows, wherein the roof material is configured to either fold on itself as the bows are displaced to the opened position or to be displaced up and over or down and under the opening as the bows are displaced to the opened position,
wherein the bows are secured to the traveler cars by respective hinge assemblies, each of the hinge assemblies including a hinge block pivotably secured to respective ones of the traveler cars and a spring interposed between the hinge block and the respective ones of the traveler cars, wherein the bows are secured to the hinge block of a respective hinge assembly, the springs of the hinge assemblies on one side of the tracks acting in opposition to the springs of the hinge assemblies on an opposite side of the tracks.

11. A retractable roof positionable in an opening, the retractable roof comprising:
a pair of tracks oriented lengthwise along opposite sides of the opening;
a plurality of traveler cars displaceable on the tracks;
a plurality of bows coupled with the traveler cars and extending between the tracks and across the opening, the bows being displaceable with the traveler cars between a closed position and an opened position;
a roof material sized to cover the opening and secured to the bows, wherein the roof material is configured to either fold on itself as the bows are displaced to the opened position or to be displaced up and over or down and under the opening as the bows are displaced to the opened position, wherein the bows are manually displaceable, the retractable roof further comprising a handle secured adjacent the bows on an underside of the bows.

12. A retractable roof according to claim 11 , wherein two of the bows are connected together by a framework to define an end frame assembly.

13. A retractable roof according to claim 12 , further comprising a latch mechanism coupled with the end frame assembly, the latch mechanism locking the end frame assembly in one of a plurality of positions between the closed position and the opened position.

14. A retractable roof according to claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of locking blocks positioned adjacent the tracks and spaced along a length of the tracks, wherein the latch mechanism is selectively engageable with the locking blocks, wherein the locking blocks each comprise a slot or cavity, and wherein the latch mechanism comprises a spring plunger that is selectively engageable with the slots/cavities in the locking blocks, the spring plunger being biased toward an engaged position, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a pull cord connected to a cable, the cable being connected to the spring plunger, wherein displacement of the pull cord serves to displace the cable and retract the spring plunger against the bias.

15. A retractable roof according to claim 10 , wherein the traveler cars are connected to a drive cable, the retractable roof further comprising an electric motor that drives the drive cable in forward and rearward directions.

16. A retractable roof according to claim 10 , wherein the roof material comprises a flexible material that folds on itself as the bows are displaced to the opened position.

17. A retractable roof according to claim 10 , wherein the roof material comprises a rigid material that is displaced up and over or do

Assignees

• Taylor Made Group Llc

Inventors

• Shearer Robert R
• Zirkelbach Donald A
• Withers Charles Robert

Classifications

• B63B17/02 Primary

  Awnings {, including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins} · CPC title

• B63B2017/026

  Rigid awnings, or sunroofs · CPC title