MOTORIZED QUADRICYCLE OR LIGHT QUADRICYCLE TYPE VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH A TUBULAR-SHAPED REEL DEVICE AND A TARPAULIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle (1) having a first lateral opening (4) for a driver, and a second lateral opening (5) for a front passenger, said first and second openings substantially defining a quadrilateral and extending substantially in a plane (x, z) defined by a longitudinal axis (x) corresponding to the axis of travel of said vehicle and a vertical axis (z), characterized in that at least one tubular winding device (6, 61, 62), equipped with a tarpaulin (7, 71, 72), extends along one of the horizontal or vertical dimensions of one or the other, or both, of the first and second openings. Figure [4]

Description

Title of the invention: MOTORIZED QUADRICYCLE OR LIGHT QUADRICYCLE TYPE VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH A TUBULAR-SHAPED REEL DEVICE AND A TARPAULIN. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicles of the type motor quadricycles or light quadricycles. State of the art

[0002] A distinction must be made between vehicles of the motorized quadricycle type (heavy quad, buggy) and vehicles of the light quadricycle type (light quad or microcar).

[0003] Motorized quadricycle vehicles include any four-wheeled motor vehicle whose unladen mass does not exceed 450 kg or 600 kg for vehicles intended for the transport of goods, this mass being understood without the batteries for electric vehicles, and whose maximum net motor power does not exceed 15 kW.

[0004] Light quadricycle type vehicles include any four-wheeled motor vehicle with an unladen mass of 350 kg or less, not including the mass of batteries for electric vehicles, with a maximum design speed of 45 km / h or less, and an engine displacement of < 50 cm3 for spark-ignition engines, or a maximum net power output of < 4 kW for other internal combustion engines, or a maximum continuous rated power output of < 4 kW in the case of an electric motor.

[0005] As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, this type of vehicle 1 generally includes two side openings 4, 5 allowing access to the interior of the passenger compartment for a driver and a front passenger.

[0006] These openings 4 and 5 are not closed by the conventional doors found in passenger vehicles, for example.

[0007] As shown in [Fig.1], a simple guardrail in the form of a cord 2 allows the driver and passenger to be secured when the vehicle is moving.

[0008] Similarly, as shown in [Fig.2], a simple guardrail in the form of a gate 3 allows the driver and passenger to be secured when the vehicle is moving.

[0009] In addition, it proved necessary to protect the interior of the passenger compartment from the weather (wind, rain).

[0010] The current solution uses tarpaulins stored in the car which are unfolded and fixed around the openings 4, 5 when it is necessary to protect the interior of the passenger compartment, then detached, folded, and stored in the passenger compartment when it is no longer necessary.

[0011] However, the storage in the passenger compartment represents a significant amount of space, since the passenger compartment of this type of vehicle is particularly cramped.

[0012] Moreover, the installation and storage of these tarpaulins is laborious for the user since it requires the vehicle to be stopped.

[0013] Finally, during the handling of the tarpaulins, the dirt from rolling is transmitted to the user and inside the passenger compartment.

[0014] One object of the present invention is to remedy at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. Description of the invention

[0015] To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle of the type motor quadricycle or light quadricycle having a first lateral opening intended to accommodate a driver, a second lateral opening intended to accommodate a front passenger, said first and second openings defining substantially a quadrilateral and extending substantially in a plane x, z defined by a longitudinal axis x corresponding to the axis of progression of said vehicle and an axis z extending vertically, characterized in that at least one tubular winding device equipped with a tarpaulin extends along one of the horizontal or vertical dimensions of one or the other, or of both the first and second openings.

[0016] Optional features of the invention, complementary or alternative, are stated below.

[0017] According to a certain particular embodiment, at least one tubular winding device, equipped with the tarpaulin, is fixed along one of the sides of the quadrilateral formed by the first, respectively the second opening so that the deployment of the tarpaulin closes the first, respectively the second opening considered.

[0018] According to another particular embodiment, at least one tubular-shaped winding device, equipped with the tarpaulin, extends along the longitudinal axis x so as to divide the first, respectively the second opening into a first and a second part, and thus form a guardrail.

[0019] Preferably, the tubular-shaped winding device, equipped with the tarpaulin, is fixed at one of its ends to the body of said vehicle and mounted pivotally in a plane perpendicular to the x, z plane defined by the first, respectively the second opening.

[0020] Even more preferably, the first, respectively the second opening comprises a first winding device and a second winding device each equipped with a tarpaulin configured to close one of the first or second part of the first, respectively the second opening.

[0021] According to yet another particular embodiment, the first and second winding devices are integrated into a gate forming a guardrail.

[0022] Advantageously, the tubular winding device(s) can be spring-loaded winding devices, so that the tarpaulin with which they are equipped is wound automatically.

[0023] Preferably, the tarpaulin(s) may be provided with one or more attachment means configured to cooperate with one or more fastening means provided on the bodywork.

[0024] In particular, the hooking means may be elastic bands, respectively one of the two elements of a spring-loaded button-fastener mechanism, while the fastening means are hooks, respectively the other of the two elements of the spring-loaded button-fastener mechanism.

[0025] Advantageously, the tarpaulin(s) may be made of a flexible, translucent and waterproof material. Brief description of the FIGURES

[0026] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] The [Fig. 1] is a schematic profile representation of the FIAT TOPOLINO Spiaggina ®.

[0028] Fig. 2 is a schematic profile representation of the AMI Buggy ®.

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic profile representation of the FIAT TOPOLINO Spiaggina ®, on which an embodiment of the invention is implemented.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a schematic profile representation of the AMI Buggy®, on which implements a mode of embodiment of the invention.

[0031] It is understood that the embodiments described below are in no way limiting. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of the features described below, isolated from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional feature without structural details, or with only a portion of the structural details if that portion alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0032] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0033] In the figures and in the rest of the description, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0034] Detailed description of the FIGURES

[0035] FIGURES 1 and 3 each constitute a schematic profile representation of the FIAT TOPOLINO Spiaggina ®.

[0036] This vehicle 1 is of the light quadricycle type with a first side opening 4 intended to accommodate a driver, and a second side opening 5 intended to accommodate a front passenger.

[0037] The first and second openings substantially define a quadrilateral which extends substantially in a plane x, z defined by a longitudinal axis x corresponding to the axis of progression of the vehicle and an axis z corresponding to the vertical axis.

[0038] In [Fig. 1], a cord 2 is arranged through openings 4 and 5 to act as a guardrail when the vehicle is in motion.

[0039] FIGURES 2 and 4 each constitute a schematic profile representation of the AMI Buggy ®.

[0040] This vehicle 1 is also of the light quadricycle type with a first side opening 4 intended to accommodate a driver, and a second side opening 5 intended to accommodate a front passenger.

[0041] The first and second openings substantially define a quadrilateral which extends substantially in a plane x, z defined by a longitudinal axis x corresponding to the axis of progression of the vehicle and an axis z corresponding to the vertical axis.

[0042] In [Fig.2], a gate 3 is arranged across openings 4 and 5 to make acts as a guardrail when the vehicle is in motion.

[0043] FIGURES 3 and 4 each incorporate an embodiment of the invention, namely a tubular winding device 6, 61, 62, equipped with a tarpaulin 7, 71, 72, which extends along one of the horizontal or vertical dimensions of one or the other, or both, of the first and second openings.

[0044] According to an embodiment not shown in the FIGURES, at least one tubular winding device 6, 61, 62, equipped with the tarpaulin 7, 71, 72, is fixed along one of the sides of the quadrilateral formed by the first, respectively the second opening 4, 5, so that the deployment of the tarpaulin closes the first, respectively the second opening 4, 5 considered.

[0045] Thus, it is possible to fix the winding device at the level of the passenger compartment floor, at the level of the passenger compartment ceiling, at the level of the front pillar, or at the level of the rear pillar of the openings 4 and 5.

[0046] By pulling the tarpaulin rolled up in the winding device upwards, downwards, backwards or forwards respectively, it is possible to deploy said tarpaulin so that it closes the opening.

[0047] According to another embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, at least one tubular winding device 6, 61, 62, equipped with the tarpaulin 7, 71, 72 extends along the longitudinal axis x so as to divide the first, respectively the second opening 4, 5, into a first and a second part, and thus form a guardrail.

[0048] As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the tubular winding device 6, 61, 62, equipped with the tarpaulin 7, 71, 72, is fixed at one of its ends to the body of said vehicle and mounted pivotally in a plane perpendicular to the x, z plane defined by the first, respectively the second opening 4, 5.

[0049] As shown in [Fig.4], the first, respectively the second opening 4, 5, comprises a first winding device 61 and a second winding device 62, each equipped with a cover 71, 72 configured to close one of the first or second part of the first, respectively the second opening 4, 5.

[0050] As shown in [Fig.4], the first and second winding devices 61, 62 are integrated into a gate forming a guardrail.

[0051] Integrating the tarpaulins directly into the metal gate (which already exists on some quadricycle models), using a roller device fixed in the tubular structure of the gate, makes it possible to hide the tarpaulin when the weather is nice, to save space in the vehicle and also to save time and ease of handling.

[0052] With the installation of a roller system fixed to the tubular structure of the metal gate, this system stores the tarpaulin in the closed position and allows it to be pulled out and the closure created quickly when needed.

[0053] The tarpaulin no longer creates any bulk and is always stored in its roller compartment without disturbing the environment.

[0054] The tarpaulin is also easily deployable when needed.

[0055] Advantageously, the tubular winding device(s) 6, 61, 62 are spring-loaded winding devices, so that the tarpaulin with which they are equipped is wound automatically.

[0056] Advantageously, the tarpaulin(s) 7, 71, 72 are provided with one or more attachment means configured to cooperate with one or more fixing means provided on the bodywork.

[0057] By way of example, the attachment means may be elastic bands, or respectively one of the two elements of a spring-loaded button-fastener mechanism, while the fixing means are hooks, respectively the other of the two elements of the spring-loaded button-fastener mechanism.

[0058] Preferably, the number of fasteners is limited to one per tarpaulin, in order to reduce the number of operations to fix the tarpaulin in the deployed position.

[0059] In the case of integrating two devices into a gate, one can suffice with an attachment at floor level for the first tarpaulin, and an attachment at the ceiling level of the cabin for the second tarpaulin.

[0060] Preferably, the tarpaulin(s) 7, 71, 72 are made of a flexible, translucent and waterproof material.

[0061] Thus, the invention makes it possible to solve the following problems:

[0062] Lack of space in the passenger compartment due to the presence of the tarpaulin,

[0063] Difficulty in installing the tarpaulin in case of weather emergencies,

[0064] Dirt transmitted to the user and to the passenger compartment itself.

[0065] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle (1) having a first side opening (4) intended to accommodate a driver, a second side opening (5) intended to accommodate a front passenger, said first and second openings substantially defining a quadrilateral and extending substantially in a plane (x, z) defined by a longitudinal axis (x) corresponding to the axis of progression of said vehicle and an axis (z) extending vertically, characterized in that at least one tubular winding device (6, 61, 62), equipped with a tarpaulin (7, 71, 72) extends along one of the horizontal or vertical dimensions of one or the other, or both, of the first and second openings.

2. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one tubular winding device (6, 61, 62), equipped with the tarpaulin (7, 71, 72), is fixed along one of the sides of the quadrilateral formed by the first, respectively the second opening (4, 5), so that the deployment of the tarpaulin closes the first, respectively the second opening (4, 5).

3. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one tubular winding device (6, 61, 62), equipped with the tarpaulin (7, 71, 72), extends along the longitudinal axis (x) so as to divide the first, respectively the second opening (4, 5), into a first and a second part, and thus form a guardrail.

4. A vehicle of the type motor quadricycle or light quadricycle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tubular winding device (6, 61, 62), equipped with the tarpaulin (7, 71, 72), is fixed at one of its ends to the body of said vehicle and mounted pivotally in a plane perpendicular to the plane (x, z) defined by the first, respectively the second opening (4, 5).

5. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first, respectively the second opening (4, 5), comprises a first winding device (61) and a second winding device (62), each equipped with a tarpaulin (71, 72) configured to close one of the first or second part of the first, respectively the second opening (4, 5).

6. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second winding devices (61, 62) are integrated into a gate forming a guardrail.

7. A vehicle of the type motor quadricycle or light quadricycle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular winding device(s) (6, 61, 62) are spring-loaded winding devices, so that the tarpaulin with which they are equipped is automatically wound up.

8. A vehicle of the motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tarpaulin(s) (7, 71, 72) are provided with one or more attachment means configured to cooperate with one or more fastening means provided on the bodywork.

9. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the attachment means are elastic bands, respectively one of the two elements of a spring-loaded button-fastener mechanism, while the fastening means are hooks, respectively the other of the two elements of the spring-loaded button-fastener mechanism.

10. A motor quadricycle or light quadricycle type vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tarpaulin(s) (7, 71, 72) are made of a flexible, translucent and waterproof material.

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