Claims:We claim:

1. A mechanism (100) for traversing a canopy (200) of a vehicle, the mechanism (100) comprising:
a torsional bar (1), mounted on one side of a vehicle body (201), the torsional bar (1) is connected to one end of the canopy (200) and is configured to retract the canopy (200) from an other side opposite to one side of the vehicle body (201);
a guide rod (2), moveably positioned in a canopy frame (202) of the vehicle body (201), the guide rod (2) is displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position, wherein at least a portion of the canopy (200) between the one end and the other end opposite to the one end of the canopy (200) is connected to the guide rod (2), to selectively traverse the canopy (200) on the vehicle body (201) on displacing between the rest position and the displaced position; and
a tensioning member (3), coupled to the guide rod (2), the tensioning member (3) is configured to extend along and across the vehicle body (201) such that, one end of the tensioning member (3) is coupled to the guide rod (2) and an other end of the tensioning member (3) is connectable at a nodal region (4) relative to the vehicle body (201);
wherein, operating the tensioning member (3) at the nodal region (4) is configured displace the guide rod (2) between the rest position and the displace position for traversing the canopy (200) relative to the torsional bar (1) across the vehicle body (201).

2. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises one or more guide rollers (5), supported on the canopy frame (202) and sides of the vehicle body (201), wherein the one or more guide rollers (5) are configured to support and guide the tensioning member (3) along and across the vehicle body (201).

3. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the one or more guide rollers (5) rotatably contact the tensioning member (3).

4. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide rod (2) is configured slide within a slot (6) defined in the canopy frame (202) of the vehicle body (201), for traversing the canopy (200) across the vehicle body (201).

5. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide rod (2) includes a bearing (7), configured enable relative sliding and rolling motion between the guide rod (2) and the canopy frame (202) of the vehicle body (201).

6. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nodal region (4) of the tensioning member (3) is securely locked at the side of the vehicle body (201).

7. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning member (3) is a rope.

8. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a plurality of fastening elements (8), provisioned at the side of the vehicle body (201), wherein another end of the canopy (200) extending from the guide rod (2) is secured by the plurality of fastening elements (8).

9. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plurality of fastening elements (8) is Velcro straps.

10. A vehicle comprising a mechanism (100) for traversing a canopy (200) as claimed in claim 1. , Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure in general relates to automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to a canopy for a load body of a vehicle. Further embodiments of the disclosure relate to a mechanism for traversing a canopy of the load body of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Conventionally, vehicles having a vehicle body with an open load space including, but not limiting to, trucks, lorries, goods carrying vehicles, and some passenger vehicles, are provisioned with a canopy for shelter. The canopy may be detachable from the vehicle body and may adaptably be configured to cover a portion or entire length of the open load space of the vehicle body. The canopy may be configured to spread across length and width of the vehicle body, to close the vehicle body from surroundings.

Generally, the canopy may be manually assembled and attached to the vehicle body, for which the vehicle body may be modified to include a plurality of frames, to support such canopy. Further, manually assembling and attaching of the canopy may require skilled operator, as human error in either assembling or attaching the canopy to the vehicle body may result in exposure of the open load space to the surroundings. Such exposure may cause damage to the articles being sheltered within the canopy, whereby increasing dependency of such skilled operator.

With advent of technology, various manually operable configurations have been developed for traversing the canopy, to minimize dependency on skilled labour. One such configuration is by employing a rotatable tool and a gear mechanism, where operation of the rotatable tool by an operator may impart rotational motion to the gear mechanism, which may then be coupled to the canopy of covering the open load space of the vehicle body. Such configuration may require extensive efforts to be applied by the operator, as such operation is either required to be performed at various positions along length of the vehicle body, or due to virtue of length of canopy of be traversed to cover the open load space. To ease the operator’s efforts, numerous mechanisms have been developed to traverse the canopy either along or across the vehicle body by employing mechanised units. Such conventional mechanism includes a hydraulic pump and a roller connectable to such pump and one end of the canopy, where fluid pressure applied by the hydraulic pump is used to displace the roller and in-turn the canopy. However, such conventional mechanisms are bulky and are prone to leakages, which may cause failure of operating the canopy.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a mechanism as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the mechanism as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a mechanism for traversing a canopy of a vehicle is disclosed. The mechanism includes a torsional bar, mounted on one side of a vehicle body. The torsional bar is connected to one end of the canopy and is configured to retract the canopy from an other side opposite to one side of the vehicle body. The mechanism further includes a guide rod, moveably positioned in a canopy frame of the vehicle body and is displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position. Further, at least a portion of the canopy between the one end and an other end opposite to the one end of the canopy is connected to the guide rod, to selectively traverse the canopy on the vehicle body on displacing between the rest position and the displaced position. The mechanism also includes a tensioning member, which is coupled to the guide rod. The tensioning member is configured to extend along and across the vehicle body such that, one end of the tensioning member is coupled to the guide rod and an other end of the tensioning member is connectable at a nodal region relative to the vehicle body. The mechanism, on operating the tensioning member at the nodal region is configured displace the guide rod between the rest position and the displace position for traversing the canopy relative to the torsional bar across the vehicle body.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mechanism includes one or more guide rollers, which are supported on the canopy frame and sides of the vehicle body. The one or more guide rollers are configured to support and guide the tensioning member along and across the vehicle body. Further, each of the one or more guide rollers rotatably contact the tensioning member.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide rod is configured slide within a slot defined in the canopy frame of the vehicle body, for traversing the canopy across the vehicle body. Additionally, the guide rod includes a bearing, configured enable relative sliding and rolling motion between the guide rod and the canopy frame of the vehicle body.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the nodal region of the tensioning member is securely locked at the side of the vehicle body.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tensioning member is a rope.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mechanism includes a plurality of fastening elements, provisioned at the side of the vehicle body, wherein another end of the canopy extending from the guide rod is secured by the plurality of fastening elements. Further, the plurality of fastening elements is Velcro straps.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle body including a mechanism for traversing a canopy, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the mechanism with the canopy in a traversing state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the mechanism with the canopy in a closed state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 4A illustrates a magnified view of a portion A including a guide roller and a canopy frame of the mechanism indicated in Figure 2.

Figure 4B illustrates the guide roller and the canopy frame of Figure 2 without the canopy.

Figure 4C illustrates a perspective view of the guide roller, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 5 illustrates a rear perspective view of the mechanism for traversing the canopy of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a schematic rear view of the vehicle body including the mechanism for traversing the canopy, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the mechanism illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, assembly, mechanism, system, method that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or mechanism.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a mechanism for traversing a canopy of a vehicle. The mechanism includes a torsional bar, mounted on one side of a vehicle body. The torsional bar is connected to one end of the canopy and is configured to retract the canopy from an other side opposite to one side of the vehicle body. The mechanism further includes a guide rod, moveably positioned in a canopy frame of the vehicle body and is displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position. Further, at least a portion of the canopy between the one end and an other end opposite to the one end of the canopy is connected to the guide rod, to selectively traverse the canopy on the canopy frame of the vehicle body on displacing between the rest position and the displaced position. The mechanism also includes a tensioning member, which is coupled to the guide rod. The tensioning member is configured to extend along and across the vehicle body such that, one end of the tensioning member is coupled to the guide rod and an other end of the tensioning member is connectable at a nodal region relative to the vehicle body. The mechanism, on operating the tensioning member at the nodal region is configured displace the guide rod between the rest position and the displace position for traversing the canopy relative to the torsional bar across the vehicle body. With such configuration, efforts required to traverse the canopy may be minimized and requirement of the skilled operator may be eliminated.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described in the following paragraphs with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In the figures, the same element or elements which have same functions are indicated by the same reference signs. It is to be noted that, the complete vehicle is not illustrated in the figures for the purpose of simplicity. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the mechanism as disclosed in the present disclosure can be used in any vehicle including, but not liming to, passenger vehicles, heavy duty vehicles, light duty vehicles or any other vehicle having an open load source.

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a vehicle body (201) including a mechanism (100) for traversing a canopy (200). The vehicle body (201) may be retrofittable on a chassis [not shown in Figures] of the vehicle, where ancillary components including, but not limited to, the canopy (200), may be installable and/or assembled on the vehicle body (201), based on requirement. The vehicle body (201) may include an open load space, where such open load space may be circumscribed by a canopy frame (202), extending about and across the vehicle body (201). The canopy frame (202) of the vehicle body (201) may be configured to receive and accommodate the canopy (200) for covering the open load space. In an embodiment, the canopy frame (202) may be configured to normally extend about each side [i.e., along Z-direction or height and Y-direction or width] of the vehicle body (201) such that, the canopy (200) may traverse and be overlaid on the canopy frame (202). The canopy frame (202) may be selective located at predefined positions on the vehicle body (201) such that, the canopy (200) may be uniformly distributed along and across the vehicle body (201). Also, such configuration of the canopy frame (202) may enable undisrupted traversing of the canopy (200) relative to the vehicle body (201).

For traversing and overlaying of the canopy (200) on the vehicle body (201), the vehicles include a mechanism (100) as best seen in Figure 2. The mechanism (100) is manually actuated and may be operated either manually or automated, based on configuration being adapted in the vehicle. That is, the mechanism (100) may be manually actuated by an actuation means including at least one of a switches, a lever, a latch, a cable, and the like, while such actuation means may be operated by hand of a user or being coupled to a motor, for operationally traversing the canopy (200) relative to the vehicle body (201).

Further referring to Figure 2, the mechanism (100) includes a torsional bar (1), which may be mounted on one side of a vehicle body (201). The torsional bar (1) may be rotatably fixed to either ends of the side of the vehicle body (201) such that, the torsional bar (1) may deform by swivelling on application of a normal force [for example, a pulling force] on the torsional bar (1). In the illustrative embodiment, the torsional bar (1) may be coupled to one end of the canopy (200), where the canopy (200) may be configured to displace relative to [i.e., traverse away from] the torsional bar (1) when the normal force may be applied on the canopy (200), for traversing along and across the vehicle body (201) to cover the open load space, as best seen in Figure 3. The canopy (200), on traversing due to application of normal force, may be selectively held at an other side of the vehicle body (201), which is opposite to the side having the torsional bar (1). Further, the canopy (200) may in-turn apply normal force on the torsional bar (1) during displacement away therefrom, which may deform [for example, longitudinally twist and/or extend] the torsional bar (1). Such deformation of the torsional bar (1) may enable storage of resilient energy within the torsional bar (1) so as to be employed to retract the canopy (200), when the canopy (200) is free from the normal force. With that, the canopy (200) may traverse back towards the torsional bar (1), whereby operating the canopy (200) to an open state, as seen in Figure 2.

The mechanism (100) further includes a guide rod (2), that may be moveably positioned in the canopy frame (202) of the vehicle body (201). In the illustrative embodiment, the guide rod (2) is position and oriented along a parallel longitudinal plane of the vehicle body (201), such that the canopy (200) may be traversed about width of the vehicle body (201). Further, at least a portion of the canopy (200), between the one end connected to the torsional bard and an other end opposite to the one end, may be connected to the guide rod (2), as best seen in Figure 4A. That is, the guide rod (2) may be connected in between ends of the canopy (200) so that, at least a portion of the canopy (200) extends beyond the guide rod (2) for securement, when the canopy (200) is traversed across the vehicle body (201). With such connection between the canopy (200) and the guide rod (2), the canopy (200) may be subjected to selective application of normal force by the guide rod (2), to traverse such canopy (200) on the vehicle body (201), when the guide rod (2) is displaced between the rest position and the displaced position. In an embodiment, the guide rod (2) may be displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position, for enabling traversal of the canopy (200) between sides of the vehicle body (201). In the rest position, the guide rod (2) and the canopy (200) may be located proximal to the torsional bar (1). While in the displaced position, the guide rod (2) may traverse the canopy (200) across the vehicle body (201) and the canopy (200) may be located on the side of the vehicle body (201) being away from [i.e., opposite to] the side having the torsional bar (1). Additionally, on connecting at least a portion of the canopy (200) with the guide rod (2), the canopy (200) may be configured to selective coil and recoil [or also referred to as “winding” and “unwinding”] during displacement of the guide rod (2) between the rest position and displaced position, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 4a.

Referring now to Figures 4B and 4C, the guide rod (2) may be moveably positioned in the canopy frame (202) of the vehicle body (201), where the guide rod (2) may be includes a bearing (7). The bearing (7) may allow the guide rod (2) to freely slide in the canopy frame (202) on application of the normal force and be operational between the rest position and the displaced position. In an embodiment, the canopy frame (202) accommodating the guide rod (2) may include a slot (6), which may be configured to house at least a portion of the guide rod (2) and the bearing (7). The canopy frame (202) may be an integral component or an assembly of plurality of sub-frames including the slot (6) to enable displacement of the guide rod (2). In an exemplary embodiment, the guide rod (2) is disposed between two canopy frames of the vehicle body (201), where the guide rod (2) is held in the slots of corresponding canopy frame (202), to be operable between the rest position and the displaced position, as seen in Figure 2. The bearing (7), as seen in Figures 4A to 4C, may be rotatably engageable within the canopy frame (202) and the slot (6) or an interior portion of the canopy frame (202) so that, friction between the guide rod (2) and the canopy frame (202) may be minimized and/or eliminated, to impart relative sliding and rolling motion between the canopy frame (202) and the guide rod (2) and in-turn the canopy (200).

Again, referring to Figure 4A, the mechanism (100) also includes a tensioning member (3), which may be coupled to the guide rod (2) at various locations [as can be seen in Figures 2 and 5]. The tensioning member (3) may be made from an elastic material capable of transmitting tension at minimal strain, on application of normal and/or tangential force. The tensioning member (3) may be configured to extend along and across the vehicle body (201) such that, one end of the tensioning member (3) may be coupled to the guide rod (2) and an other end of the tensioning member (3) may be connectable at a nodal region (4) relative to the vehicle body (201). In an embodiment, the tensioning member (3) may be including, but not limited to, cables, wires, straps, strands, and the like, which may be made from material such as, but not limited to, metals, alloy, carbon fiber, polymeric mater [including natural and synthetic], and any other material capable of transmitting tension to the guide rod (2). In the illustrative embodiment, the tensioning member (3) is a rope, configured to suitably displace the guide rod (2).

Turning now to Figure 5, the tensioning member (3) may be channelized through at least a portion of the canopy frame (202) and the vehicle body (201), where the tensioning member (3) may be channelized along and normal to the vehicle body (201). In an embodiment, the tensioning member (3) may traverse or pass one or more guide rollers (5), which may be disposed within or outside the canopy frame (202) and the vehicle body (201). The one or more guide rollers (5) may be supported inside or on the canopy frame (202) and the sides of the vehicle body (201) such that, the one or more guide rollers (5) may guide the tensioning member (3) along and across the vehicle body (201). The one or more guide rollers (5) may be configured to maintain rotary contact with the tensioning member (3), when the tensioning member (3) may be tensioned [for example, pulled and pushed or retracted] to traverse the canopy (200) across the vehicle body (201). Further, the one or more guide rollers (5) may be configured to normally connect the tensioning member (3) to the guide rod (2), for applying normal force on the guide rod (2) and displace such guide rod (2) between the rest position and the displaced position.

In the illustrative embodiment, the tensioning member (3) may be connected to at the nodal region (4) by means including, but not limited to, T-joint, welding, hooks [such as C-hook, O-ring], knots, and any other means of joining that may result in formation of a junction of the tensioning member (3) at the nodal region (4). Also, an other end of the tensioning members extending from the nodal region (4) may be coupled to the guide rod (2) at various locations, via the one or more guide rollers (5). Further, as one end of the tensioning member (3) is coupled to the guide rod (2) and an other end of the tensioning member (3) is connectable at the nodal region (4) relative to the vehicle body (201), the one or more guide rollers (5) may enable in transmission in force from the nodal region (4) to the guide rod (2). That is, due to rotary contact between the one or more guide rollers (5) and the tensioning member (3), the one or more guide rollers (5) is configured to translate longitudinal or rotary force being applied on the tensioning member (3) at the nodal region (4), as normal force on the guide rod (2) that may be positioned at a top region or the opposite side of the vehicle body (201). Such configuration of application and transmission of forces, the one or more guide rollers (5) may be obliquely positioned at the canopy frame (202) and sides of the vehicle body (201), whereby minimizing efforts required for displacing the guide rod (2), and inherently traversing the canopy (200).

Figure 6 is an exemplary embodiment, which illustrates operation of the mechanism (100) at the nodal region (4). The tensioning member (3) of the mechanism (100), when operated at the nodal region (4), is configured displace the guide rod (2) via rotating the one or more guide rollers (5). In an embodiment, the tensioning member (3) may be operated at the nodal region (4) by laterally pulling [either continuously pulling or by one single pull] by the user or a motor associated with the mechanism (100). With such operation of the tensioning member (3), the guide rod (2) is displaced from the rest position to the displaced position. Due to such displacement of the guide rod (2), the canopy (200) is relatively traversed from the torsional bar (1) and across the vehicle body (201). On securely locking the tensioning member (3) at the nodal region (4) [which may be at the side of the vehicle body (201)] with a predefined force that is greater than resilient energy of the torsional bar (1), the guide rod (2) may be maintained in the displaced position. Such configuration may restrict operation of the torsional bar (1) to retract the canopy (200), whereby maintaining the canopy (200) in the closed state and covering the open load space of the vehicle body (201).

In an embodiment, the mechanism (100) includes a plurality of fastening elements (8), which may be provisioned at the side of the vehicle body (201). The plurality of fastening elements (8) may be configured to secure another end of the canopy (200) that may be extending from the guide rod (2) so that, the canopy (200) is retained for covering substantial portion of the open load space of the vehicle body (201). Further, on releasing the ends of the canopy (200) from the plurality of fastening elements (8), the torsional bar (1) may be configured to retract the canopy (200) and in-turn the guide rod (2), by virtue of resilient energy. With that, the canopy (200) may be traversed across the vehicle body (201) and towards the torsional bar (1), to uncover the open load space of the vehicle body (201).

In an embodiment, the plurality of fastening elements (8) may be including, but not limited to, a H-clamp, I-clamp, U-clamp, and any other fastening element capable of securing the ends of the canopy (200) extending beyond the guide rod (2). In the illustrative embodiment, the plurality of fasteners is Velcro straps, that may be provisioned at the end of the canopy (200) and along the vehicle body (201) to selectively receive and secure such ends of the canopy (200). Also, the plurality of fastening members may be a J-clamp, welded to the vehicle body (201), where the ends of the canopy (200) may be tied to such clamp for securement.

In an embodiment, as the mechanism (100) is operable at the nodal region (4), which is at the side of the vehicle, skilled operator to traverse the canopy (200) may be mitigated.

In an embodiment, as the mechanism (100) includes the one or more guide rollers (5) having rotational contact with the tensioning member (3), efforts required to operate and traverse the canopy (200) is minimised due to translation of force by the one or more guide rollers (5).

In an embodiment, as the guide rod (2) is displaced within the slot (6) of the canopy frame (202), linear movement of the guide rod (2) may be ensured, which mitigates possible locking of the canopy (200) during traversing across the vehicle body (201).

EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral numerals:
Particulars Numerical
Mechanism 100
Torsional bar 1
Guide rod 2
Tensioning member 3
Nodal region 4
Guide rollers 5
Slot 6
Bearing 7
Fastening elements 8
Canopy 200
Vehicle body 201
Canopy frame 202