FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of kits for retro-fit vehicle parts, specifically a kit for a canopy to be fitted to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the manufacture and distribution of pre-assembled retro-fit parts for vehicles, and in particular canopies for vehicles with open bins, the quantity of units transported to the purchaser will be limited due to space constraints.

The inventor believes that there is a need for a solution to provide a more efficient means of transporting retrofit parts, by increasing the number of units transported per trip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for a canopy for a vehicle, the kit including a roof panel, side panels and one or more end panels shaped and configured to be flat packed and assembled, the kit including attachment means to attach the side panels, end panel(s) and a roof panel to each other and to the vehicle.

The roof panels and side panels are shaped and configured to be assembled into a canopy for use on various makes of vehicles.

The roof panel comprises a solid panel.

In one form, two end panels are provided, one comprising a rear panel.

In an alternative form, a single end panel is provided with a further panel, a junction panel, being provided to engage directly with the cab of the vehicle.

The side panels comprise any one or more of the group including at least one window, at least one door, and a solid panel. The doors and windows may be lockable. Each panel includes a lip which is complementally shaped to engage the lip of at least one other panel. During assembly, the lips of two panels are located in abutment and are then secured together. A seal may be used in between the lips of two panels, ensuring a well-sealed, waterproof fit. The seal may be in the form of a strip of rubber.

Each lip may include various spaced apart apertures which can be aligned complementally to the apertures of the lip of a further panel to which it is to be attached.

The attachment means may be any one or more of the group including nut and bolt, pop rivet and the like. The attachment means may be used to releasably secure the canopy to the vehicle.

In the preferred form, the side and end panels are provided with tabs which engage complemental slots in the lips of the roof panel. This allows for easy alignment of the roof and side and end panels and also permits easy alignment of the apertures in the lips of the panels for insertion of the bolts or other securing means and also allows the panels to remain engaged to facilitate the process of inserting the bolts or other securing means during assembly.

Each panel may include a lug at the end thereof , complementally shaped and positioned to provide further attachment to a panel and / or the vehicle body.

A further securing means may be used to ensure a more secure fit of the panels relative to each other and a more durable canopy. The further securing means may be in the form of a clamp. The clamp may be rubberised and may assist in clamping two lips to each other.

The canopy may be disassembled, to be flat packed and transported and/or stored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a canopy according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the canopy of figure 1;

Figure 3 is an inverted exploded view of the inside of the canopy

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the canopy, showing the rear panel in relation to the body of the canopy

Figure 5 is is a perspective view of the inside of the canopy, showing the junction panel in relation to the body of the canopy Figure 6 is a perspective view of the side panel of the canopy in relation to the roof panel Figure 7 is a perspective view of the side panel of the canopy positioned in relation to the roof panel Figure 8 is a perspective view of the side panel of the canopy being fastened to the roof panel Figure 9 is a perspective view of the rear panel of the canopy being fastened to the side panel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference numeral 1 1 refers to a kit for a canopy in accordance with the invention.

In figures 1 , 2 and 3, a kit for a canopy for a vehicle comprises a roof panel 1 0 and side panels 12a and 12b, rear panel 16 and end panel 14, shaped to be flat packed and assembled, the kit including attachment means to attach various panels to each other and to the vehicle (not shown).

The roof panel 10 and side panels 12a and 12b are shaped and dimensioned to be assembled into a canopy for use on various makes of vehicles. The roof panel 1 0 comprises a solid panel and the side panels 12a and 12b comprise any one or more of the group including at least one lockable window, at least one lockable door or a solid panel.

In figure 3, the end panel is replaced by a junction panel 18 which permits attachment of the assembled canopy directly to the cab of the vehicle (not shown).

Each panel includes a lip 17 which is complementally shaped to engage the lip of at least one other panel. As shown in figure 9, the lips 17 of two panels 12a and 1 6 are located in abutment and are then secured together. Each lip 17 includes apertures 26 which can be aligned complementally to the apertures of the lip 17 of a further panel, and which receive attachment means 28 in the form of a fastener such as a pop rivet, or a nut and bolt combination, and the like.

The side panels include tabs 20 receivable by slots 22 in the lips 17 of the roof panel 10. This permits a simple first engagement of the panels and easy alignment and retention of the apertures 26 in the lips 17 for insertion of the securing means 28.

Each panel includes a lug 30 at the end thereof, complementally shaped and positioned to provide further attachment to an adjacent panel or to the vehicle body.

A further securing means (not shown), in the form of a clamp, may be used to ensure a more secure fit of the panels 12 and 14 relative to each other and a more durable canopy. The clamp is rubberised and may assist in clamping two lips 17 relative to each other. The invention relates to a novel kit for a canopy.

The side panels and rear panel may include various designs or configurations including window panes 32, sliding or fixed, window panes reinforced with mesh 34, window panes being provided with a burglar bar 36, or a gull-wing door 38.