Roof tent for vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a roof tent (6) for a vehicle that has a tent capable of opening and closing a hole (3) formed in a roof of a vehicle (1), the roof tent (6) for a vehicle including a base (4) fixed to a roof edge (7) of a vehicle body (2), a roof body (8) that is made of a metal member and is capable of opening and closing an opening (5) of the base (4), first link mechanisms (10, 30) for connecting the roof body (8) to the base (4) so as to enable relative movement therebetween, and a tent part (50) that can be formed on the side of the opening (5) of the base (4) that is on the outer side of the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle roof tent and vehicle CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Patent Application No. 2024-9759, filed on January 25, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle roof tent and a vehicle.

[0003] Conventionally, as a mechanism for opening and closing the roof of an automobile, Patent Document 1 discloses opening and closing links provided on the left and right sides of the opening and closing roof, left and right cylinders with one end rotatably provided near the opening and closing rotation center axis of the opening and closing roof and the other end provided on the opening and closing folding axis of the opening and closing link, and a tent with both ends attached to the opening and closing end sides of the opening and closing roof and to the roof body.

[0004] This disclosure states that an air compressor draws air from an air tank, and supplies the drawn air to an air cylinder via a cord to operate the retractable roof. The disclosure also states that the retractable roof is made of FRP resin material.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-341366

[0006] Conventional vehicle bodies are often made of steel to ensure rigidity. In vehicles with steel bodies equipped with roof tents, an opening is formed in the center of the steel roof of the vehicle, and a roof body made of fiber-reinforced plastic such as FRP or CFRP is installed.

[0007] In such vehicles with roof tents, the outer wall of the body around the roof opening, which is made of steel, and the outer wall of the roof main body, which is made of fiber-reinforced resin, are made of different materials. Therefore, the overall appearance of the vehicle body is aesthetically different from the impression it leaves on the viewer. Users dislike the sense of incongruity caused by the properties of different materials between the body and the roof main body, and have been demanding a vehicle with a roof tent that has a uniform, integrated feel.

[0008] With conventional roof bodies made of fiber-reinforced resin, it has been difficult to reduce the weight of the roof body in order to ensure a certain level of strength. Furthermore, roof bodies made of FRP have problems such as a rough surface on the outer wall, relatively low rigidity, and a loss of quality due to light reflected from the outer wall of the roof body causing a wavy reflection pattern on the surface of the roof body. The object of the present disclosure is to provide a high-value-added roof tent for use in a vehicle, and a vehicle.

[0009] The vehicle roof tent disclosed herein is a vehicle roof tent having a tent that can open and close a hole formed in the roof of the vehicle, and adopts a configuration including a base fixed to the roof edge of the vehicle body, a roof body made of a metal material that can open and close the opening in the base, a first link mechanism that connects the roof body to the base so that it can move relative to the base, and a tent portion that can be formed on the outside of the vehicle of the opening in the base.

[0010] It has been discovered that various properties can be obtained by making the roof body of a vehicle roof tent out of metal. The aesthetic appearance of the roof body has been highly praised by certain users. Generally, when the vehicle body with the roof tent and the roof body are made of different materials, it is difficult to ensure homogeneity of properties between the vehicle body and the vehicle roof, resulting in a sense of incongruity between the appearance of the entire vehicle and the appearance of the roof body.

[0011] The vehicle roof tent of the present disclosure solves this problem. When manufacturing the roof body from metal, it is possible to form a high-density outer wall on the surface of the roof body that is free of wavy light patterns. With the vehicle roof tent of the present disclosure, the aesthetic appearance of a smooth surface free of wavy irregularities on the vehicle body when irradiated with light such as sunlight is maintained intact, and the aesthetic appearance of the continuous smooth surface between the outer wall of the roof body of the roof tent and the outer wall of the vehicle body is maintained intact and with a sense of unity. This ensures a harmonious homogeneity in the overall appearance of the vehicle's outer wall at the boundary between the vehicle body and the roof body, and throughout the entire vehicle with the roof tent, the vehicle body and the roof body in the closed state blend together, creating an aesthetic appearance that does not create a sense of incongruity.

[0012] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are as follows: Figure 1 is a front view of a vehicle according to one embodiment; Figure 2 is an oblique view of a base according to one embodiment; Figure 3 is an oblique view of a roof body according to one embodiment; Figure 4 is an oblique view showing the framework of a roof tent according to one embodiment; Figure 5 is a front view of the framework of a roof tent according to one embodiment; Figure 6 is a front view of a link mechanism according to one embodiment; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of part VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an enlarged view of part VIII of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a tent section in an open state according to one embodiment; Figure 10 is an electrical circuit diagram of an actuator according to one embodiment; Figure 11A is a diagram showing a comparative form in appearance comparison experiment 1; Figure 11B is a diagram showing this embodiment in appearance comparison experiment 1; Figure 12A is a diagram showing a comparative form in appearance comparison experiment 2; and Figure 12B is a diagram showing this embodiment in appearance comparison experiment 2.

[0013] Hereinafter, a vehicle roof tent and a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] (One embodiment) One embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12B. The body 2 of the vehicle 1 is made of steel and has a roof hole 3 in the roof portion, and a base 4 of a roof tent 6 is fixed to a roof edge 7 that forms this roof hole 3. The roof edge 7 is continuous with a front pillar 15. The front pillar 15 forms a part of the body. The base 4, roof edge 7, and front pillar 15 are made of steel. The roof edge 7 corresponds to the "periphery of the roof body."

[0015] The roof tent 6 is attached to the body 2. Here, the fixed part of the roof tent 6 refers to the base 4 and the like, and the movable part refers to the link mechanism, actuator, roof main body 8 and the like.

[0016] When the tent function of the roof tent 6 is not in use, the link mechanism and actuators as components of the roof tent 6 are stored in the vehicle with the roof main body 8 in a closed state. The roof edge 7 of the body 2 roof excluding the roof hole 3 is made of steel and is connected to the steel front pillar 15. The surface connecting the roof edge 7 to the front pillar 15 is smooth and has a continuous texture.

[0017] The base 4 is made of steel and has an opening 5 formed in the center as shown in Figure 2. The base 4 is formed into a square shape with a front edge, side edges, and rear edge, and has an opening 5 formed in the center. The roof main body 8 is made of steel and can open and close the opening 5 shown in Figure 2, and is connected to the base 4 via a link mechanism, actuator, etc., which will be described later. The roof main body 8, like the front pillars and roof edge, is also made of steel and forms a smooth surface with no ripples or irregularities that is aesthetically pleasing. The roof main body 8 functions as a highly rigid roof for the tent.

[0018] 4 to 8 show the link mechanism of the roof tent. The link mechanism connects the base 4 and the roof body 8 so that the opening 5 can be opened and closed. The link mechanism consists of first link mechanisms 10 arranged on the left and right sides of the front side, and second link mechanisms 30 arranged on the left and right sides of the rear side.

[0019] The first link mechanism 10 comprises an actuator 11 and a lever 14. One end of the lever 14 is rotatably attached to the frame 9 of the roof body 8, and the other end is rotatably attached to a side edge of the base 4. One end of a cylinder 12 of the actuator 11 is connected to a first connecting portion 17, which is connected to the base 4. The tip of a rod 13 is rotatably attached to the center of the lever 14.

[0020] The second link mechanism 30 is attached to the left and right sides of the vehicle rear side of the first link mechanism 10 at the lateral edges of the base 4. One end of a first lever 31 is rotatably connected to the base 4, and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of a first link 32, and the other end of the first link 32 is rotatably connected to the frame 9 of the roof body 8. A second link 34 has one end rotatably connected to the base 4, and the other end is rotatably connected to one end of a second lever 33, and the other end is rotatably connected to the frame 9 of the roof body 8. The center of the first link 32 and the center of the second link 34 are rotatably connected.

[0021] FIG. 7 shows the roof body in a closed state. The first connecting portion 17 of the first link mechanism 10 shows its relationship with the fixed portion 18 of the base 4 when the roof body is in a closed state. The locking pin 48 at one end 141 of the lever 14 is fitted into the locking groove 19 of the fixed portion 18. The end 461 of the third connecting portion 46, which is rotatably attached to the pin 47 at one end 141 of the lever 14, is fixed to the frame 9 attached to the roof body 8. When the roof body 8 is opened, the locking pin 48 of the lever 14 comes out of the locking groove 19 of the base 4 as shown by the dashed line and is released. At this time, in the second connecting portion 23 of the base 4, the pin 24 at the other end 142 of the lever 14 moves the elongated hole 25 of the base 4 to the right in FIG. 8, and then the lever 14 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8.

[0022] The actuator 11 shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 has an electric motor (not shown), such as a servo motor, inside a cylinder 12, and a power transmission mechanism (not shown) that receives the driving force of the electric motor and operates in conjunction with the motor. The power transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a motor shaft (not shown) of a servo motor (not shown), a screw shaft (not shown) connected to the motor shaft, balls (not shown), a ball screw nut (not shown) that houses the balls, and a rod 13 connected to the end of the nut. The rod 13 is extended or retracted by switching between forward and reverse rotation of the motor shaft. The position of the tip of the rod 13 can be accurately controlled with a small-diameter cylinder and high output.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 10, the control device 61 controls switching between a state in which the tent section 50 is formed on the vehicle roof as shown in Fig. 1 and a state in which the first link mechanism 10 and the second link mechanism 30 are folded to store the tent section 50 in the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 10, the control device 61 includes an open / close switch 60 provided near the driver's seat inside the vehicle cabin and a control device 61 that performs calculations in response to the output of the open / close switch. The servo motor (not shown) rotates forward or reverse in response to the output of the control device 61 after calculation processing, and extends or retracts the rod 13 via the power transmission mechanism (not shown). The roof body 8 is controlled to a desired open / close position via the first link mechanism 10 and second link mechanism 30 (shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6) that are connected to the extendable rod 13.

[0024] The control device 61 is activated by the output of the open / close switch 60, and sends a drive signal to the servo motor of the actuator 11 so that the roof body 8 is in the open or closed state corresponding to the operator's intention.

[0025] When the operator turns on the roof open switch using the opening / closing switch 60, the control device 61 sends a drive signal corresponding to the roof being open to the servo motor, and the servo motor rotates forward, transmitting drive force via the power transmission mechanism to the link mechanism, which continues to operate via the link mechanism until the roof body is in the open state. When the open state is detected, the rotational drive of the servo motor stops. When the operator turns on the roof close switch using the opening / closing switch 60, the control device 61 sends a drive signal corresponding to the roof being closed to the servo motor, and the servo motor rotates backward, transmitting drive force via the power transmission mechanism to the link mechanism, which continues to operate via the link mechanism until the roof body is in the closed state. When the closed state is detected, the rotational drive of the servo motor stops.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 9, the tent section 50 assumes the open state shown in Figure 9 when the roof body 8 is in the open position. When in the open position, the tent section 50 functions as a tent. The tent section 50 is made up of rubber bands 49, fabric sections 56, and mesh 57 and 58. The rubber bands 49 are made up of front rubber bands 53 on the left and right sides of the front, rear rubber bands 54, side rubber bands 55 on the vertical direction of the sides, and horizontal rubber bands 52. The fabric sections 56 are formed in a planar shape on the sides and rear. They serve to separate the inside and outside of the tent, thereby preventing the intrusion of rainwater, sunlight, and wind from outside.

[0027] A front mesh 57 (window) is attached between the front rubber bands 53 on both the right and left sides, and side meshes 58 (windows) are attached to the sides. The rubber bands 49, fabric portion 56, and meshes 57, 58 that make up the tent portion 50 can be separated from the vehicle via detachable members such as fasteners (not shown) from the base 4 and roof main body 8. The mounting portion that is attached to the base 4 and roof main body 8 and the tent portion 50 that can be separated from this mounting portion can be detached by switching the fasteners (not shown) between open and closed. The mounting portion is provided on the fabric portion 56. The fasteners provided on the fabric portion 56 correspond to "detachable members."

[0028] 1 moves from the open state to the closed state, the tent portion 50 is folded and can be stored inside the passenger compartment at the roof edge 7 of the body 2 of the vehicle 1 in conjunction with the roof main body 8. When the roof main body 8 moves from the closed state to the open state, the fabric of the tent portion 50 that is folded inside the passenger compartment stretches, and the tent portion moves to the open state shown in FIGS.

[0029] The front mesh 57 can be attached and detached from the front rubber band 53 with a fastener. When the front mesh 57 is separated from the front rubber band 53 with the fastener, a window that completely opens the tent interior space to the inside and outside is formed within the frame formed by the front rubber band 53. When the front mesh 57 is attached to the front rubber band 53, the front mesh 57 that is partially open to the inside and outside is formed in the area that corresponds to the window.

[0030] The tent section 50, which can be separated from the vehicle, can be replaced with other tent sections of different types, such as those with different window positions, sizes, or fabric types. The tent section can be replaced depending on the season. Because the tent section has a replaceable function, the comfort of living in a tent with a vehicle can be improved by cleaning the tent section or changing it to a different tent section with a different style.

[0031] As described above, in this embodiment, the roof main body 8 is made of steel. Being made of steel, like the body 2, has many advantages. For example, because both the vehicle body 2 and the roof main body 8 are made of steel, there is no sense of incongruity between the appearance of the entire vehicle and the appearance of the roof main body. This improves the aesthetic appeal of the entire vehicle. In particular, when the roof main body 8 is closed or the vehicle is moving, there is no sense of separation between the body 2 and the roof, and the entire vehicle exhibits a sense of unity or integrated aesthetic appeal, thereby improving the commercial value of a vehicle with a roof tent.

[0032] Next, the results of a characteristic test conducted on the roof body of a vehicle with a roof tent will be described. (1) Characteristic Test The steel roof body 8 according to this embodiment was compared with a comparative FRP roof body 88 (see FIGS. 11A and 12A).

[0033] The comparative FRP roof body 88 has a weight of 42.67 kg and a volume of 21,663 cm ３ , total area of ​​the upper surface: 86974 cm ２ , Density: 1970kg / m ３ In contrast, the steel roof body 8 according to this embodiment has a weight of 23.89 kg and a volume of 3040 cm ３ , Total area of ​​the top surface of the roof body: 86929 cm ２ , Density: 7860kg / m ３ It was.

[0034] In comparison with the comparative embodiment, the present embodiment has a similar external shape, but the thickness of the roof body 8 is thinner. By using steel, it was possible to achieve a significantly thinner roof body 8 compared to the comparative embodiment. The volume of the steel roof body 8 was small, the total area of ​​the top surface of the roof body 8 was approximately the same as that of the comparative embodiment, the weight was light, and the roof body 8 was high density.

[0035] Regarding the roof body 8, in comparison with a comparative form made of FRP, the present embodiment made of steel, comparative numerical data (dimensions, plate thickness, material, weight, etc.) was obtained showing that the steel (present embodiment) was able to be made thinner, denser, lighter, and more rigid.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the roof body 8 connected to the highly rigid body 2 of the vehicle 1 is made of steel and used as the roof of the tent, so that a tent roof with a highly rigid upper surface can be formed, and a vehicle roof tent with an excellent living space below the roof body 8 can be formed. According to this embodiment, the weight provided on the vehicle body is relatively light compared to the comparative embodiment, so the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is excellent. It is possible to provide a vehicle roof tent 6 that is both lightweight and highly rigid.

[0037] According to this embodiment, the tent unit 50 is normally stored inside the body 2 when the tent is not in use, for example, when the vehicle is normally stopped or running. When the tent is in use, the tent unit 50 can be automatically assembled on the vehicle roof by turning on the opening / closing switch 60. Furthermore, the tent unit 50 can be folded and stored inside the body (vehicle interior) by turning off the opening / closing switch 60. Therefore, the vehicle can be driven to a destination, an appropriate location at the destination can be selected, the vehicle can be driven to that location, and at that location, the interior space can be expanded with simple operations inside the cab, creating a comfortable, mobile living space. Because the tent unit is attached to the vehicle body, the workload during transportation to the destination can be reduced.

[0038] (2) Appearance Test Comparative Experiment 1 (Experiment Using Sunlight Irradiation) Regarding the appearance of the roof body, a comparative experiment was conducted by irradiating sunlight outdoors on the steel roof body 8 (Embodiment 1) and the FRP roof body 88 (Comparative Form 1).

[0039] In the case of the steel roof body 8 (Embodiment 1), the surface was a beautifully finished curved surface with a smooth, glossy finish and no distortion, in comparison with Comparative Example 1. The surface of the FRP roof body was an uneven, wavy reflective surface, but in Embodiment 1, no wavy reflective surface was observed and the surface was a smooth, wavy reflective surface.

[0040] 11A and 11B are schematic illustrations comparing Comparative Example 1 made of FRP with Embodiment 1 made of steel to explain the degree of visual beauty when evaluating the finished surface when the roof body 8 is made of steel. In Comparative Example 1 shown in Fig. 11A, a disturbance 80 in the reflected light of wavy thin lines appears in the area between the roof body 88 and the base 84, but in Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 11B, a stable and orderly reflected light 20 appears as straight thin lines 20 extending from the roof body 8 to the base 4 and up to the roof edge 7.

[0041] 11A, in Comparative Form 1, a wavy surface due to light reflection was observed on the surface of the roof main body 88. In appearance, in Comparative Form 1, the texture of the roof main body 88 and the texture of the roof edge 7 (body) adjacent to the roof main body were different from each other.

[0042] In embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 11B, the light-reflecting surface generated on the surface of the roof body is a smooth surface, and the texture is visually perceived to be the same as the reflective surface of the entire vehicle body, including the roof edge 7 around the roof body 8.

[0043] The commercial value of the vehicle roof tent 6 was evaluated as being significantly higher for the steel roof body 8 (Embodiment 1). Although evaluations vary depending on tastes and preferences among a wide range of values, it was found that there is at least a high demand for steel roof tents. In this respect, the commercial value of the vehicle roof tent according to this embodiment was evaluated as being high.

[0044] Comparative Experiment 2 (Experiment using linear fluorescent light) Comparative Experiment 2 compared the band-like streaks reflected on the reflective surface of the roof body when linear light was irradiated onto the roof body in a case where the roof body was made of FRP (Comparative Form 2) and a case where the roof body was made of steel (Embodiment 2).

[0045] A comparison was made between Comparative Example 2, a roof body 88 made of FRP, and Embodiment 2, a roof body 8 made of steel. Schematic images of the results are shown in Figures 12A and 12B. The two surfaces from which linear light is reflected become strip-like reflective surfaces 81 and 82 with jagged edges in Comparative Example 2 shown in Figure 12A, whereas in Embodiment 2 shown in Figure 12B, they become smooth, uniformly wide, clearly defined strip-like reflective surfaces 71 and 72, giving the impression of the beauty of a stable, smooth surface.

[0046] Although the present disclosure has described a vehicle roof tent having a steel roof body as one embodiment, the vehicle roof tent may also have a roof body made of a material other than steel, for example, a metal or alloy material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0047] In the present disclosure, the metal or alloy material constituting the vehicle body and the metal or alloy material constituting the roof main body may be different metal or alloy materials. If a metal or alloy material is used, it is possible to manufacture a roof main body having a smooth surface that does not have an uneven or wavy appearance on the outer wall of the roof main body, unlike FRP.

[0048] In the embodiment described above, the metal material of the roof body was steel, but the present disclosure predicts that even if the roof body and the body surrounding the roof body are manufactured from other metal materials, "they will have the same high-quality, commercial value texture in appearance."

[0049] When the roof tent is in the open position, a panel mat (not shown) corresponding to the floor panel member may be supported on the body at a location corresponding to the opening 5 of the base 4, forming a floor device that functions to cover the opening and also functions as a floor. The panel mat may be detachable from the body, or may be a foldable multi-mat structure, or may be rotatably connected to the roof body. A floor device that forms a floor member separating the driver's cab from the tent interior space may also be installed. When the floor member is laid out, it is possible to sleep on the floor member, making it possible to sleep overnight in the vehicle.

[0050] In the embodiments, a servo motor is used as an example of the electric motor used as the drive source for the actuator, but in the present disclosure, other types of electric motors may be used. Regarding the power transmission mechanism that converts the drive force of the electric motor into the extension and retraction motion of the rod, in the present disclosure, a power transmission mechanism other than the ball screw used in the above embodiments may be used. As a result, compared to drive sources such as air cylinders and hydraulic cylinders, electric motors have the advantages of being smaller in size and allowing the actuator to be installed in a small space, allowing for more efficient use of vehicle interior space, producing less noise during operation, and being easy to operate.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the roof is a front-opening type in which the roof body enlarges the opening at the front of the vehicle, but the present disclosure may also be applied to a rear-opening type embodiment in which the roof body enlarges the opening at the rear of the vehicle.

[0052] The above embodiment shows a form in which the roof body is driven to open and close by an actuator, but the present disclosure may also be directed to an embodiment in which the roof body is driven to open and close by using a spring damper and a link mechanism that are manually operated instead of an electric motor.

[0053] Here, the roof body made of metal and the surrounding body made of metal are said to have the same texture in appearance. They have the same texture in appearance to the extent that the texture of a steel roof body is indistinguishable from the texture of a steel body.

[0054] As described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0055] The present disclosure has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and structures. The present disclosure also encompasses various modifications and variations within the scope of equivalents. Furthermore, various combinations and forms, as well as other combinations and forms including only one element, more than one element, or less than one element, are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A vehicle roof tent having a tent that can open and close a hole formed in the roof of a vehicle, the vehicle roof tent comprising: a base (4) fixed to a roof edge (7) of a vehicle body (2); a roof body (8) made of a metal material that can open and close an opening (5) of the base; a link mechanism (10, 30) that connects the roof body to the base so as to be relatively movable; and a tent portion (50) that can be formed outside the vehicle of the opening of the base.

2. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator (11) that drives the roof body with respect to the base.

3. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a cylinder (12), a rod (13) that can expand and contract with respect to the cylinder, an electric motor that drives the rod with respect to the cylinder, and a link mechanism (10) that converts the rotational driving force of the electric motor into the expansion and contraction movement of the rod.

4. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tent portion has a cloth portion (56) and a detachable member that can separate the cloth portion from the base and the roof body.

5. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tent portion includes window portions (57, 58) that allow light to pass through the inside and outside of the tent portion.

6. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 4, wherein the cloth portion includes meshes (57, 58).

7. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roof body made of the metal material has a texture that is visually homogeneous with the vehicle body made of the metal material around the roof body (7).

8. The vehicle roof tent according to claim 1, wherein the roof body, the base, and the roof edge are made of steel.

9. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body having a roof hole (3); a floor member that is movable in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body and can open and close the roof hole; and the vehicle roof tent (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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