Today’s invention combines the use of a vehicle sunroof (red) with its roofrack (green).
When the vehicle is stopped, the sunroof is opened and a pneumatically driven column (grey) extends upwards through it.
This engages with a sheet of stiff aluminium cell board which is then lifted off the sunroof.
The column is also free to turn, as shown, providing a platform or roof with many possible uses (eg instead of umbrellas for people entering a hotel, or for someone fixing the engine in a storm).
A board with the ability to fold down its ends might provide an armoured carapace for vehicles vulnerable to attacks by shopping trolleys. A street trader might use this to hang their wares from.
