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Patent CN206327275U

Updated October 23, 2026

Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent That Doubles as a Cargo Box

A rooftop tent and a roof cargo box compete for the same space on a car. This design is both. The base, three rectangular hard frames and the lid nest inside each other when closed, forming a low box that carries luggage. Push the lid up and gas struts with folding rods lift it; the frames rise one above the other into the tent wall, with a door at the front and a skylight in the lid. To close, pull a cord that runs over hooks on the base and the lid comes down.

  • China utility model - lapsed
  • No filings outside China
  • Roof racks & camping
  • Hard shell, gas struts, folding rods
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Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent That Doubles as a Cargo Box - patent drawing

🧳

Cargo box when closed

The base, frames and lid nest into a low hard box that carries luggage on the roof.

⛺

Tent when open

Three hard frames stack up into the tent wall - about 1 m tall in the patent's example.

⬆️

Gas-strut lift

Folding rods with gas struts raise the lid; a cord over two hooks pulls it down.

🚪

Door and skylight

A door in the front wall and an opening skylight in the lid.

🔥 Popularity – views

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  1. ✓ Patent vetted China-only family and legal status checked
  2. 2 Product brief · now How it works, uses and options written up
  3. 3 Prototype First samples for buyers to review
  4. 4 Pilot run Small first batch for launch customers
  5. 5 Volume production Repeat orders at scale

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The problem

Overlanding and car camping are popular, but a rooftop tent takes the whole roof rack - so the luggage box has to go, or gear ends up inside the car. Soft rooftop tents also take time to fold and cover. The patent combines the two into one hard shell that is a luggage box on the road and a tent at camp.

The solution

The patent stacks hard frames between a hard base and a hard lid:

  1. A base (1) and a lid (3) are hard boxes with rims.
  2. Three rectangular hard frames (2) sit between them. Closed, base, frames and lid nest inside each other; open, they stack from the base upward to form the tent wall.
  3. Lifting mechanisms (4, 5) - folding rods with gas struts - at both ends and one side push the lid up.
  4. The front wall has a door (6); the lid has a skylight (7) that opens and closes.
  5. A cord (10) fixed to the side lifting mechanism runs over two U-shaped hooks (8, 9) on the base; pulling it folds the mechanism and lowers the lid.

In the patent’s example each rim is 20 cm high and the open tent is about 100 cm tall.

Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent That Doubles as a Cargo Box - Patent drawing - tent open
Patent figure 5 - opened: the frames stacked into the tent wall between base and lid.

Who it is for

  • Roof-rack and car-camping brands wanting a hard-shell tent with a clear cargo-box story.
  • Overlanding and outdoor retailers - one roof product instead of two.
  • Camper-van and rental fleets offering roof sleeping and storage in one unit.

How it works

The main parts

Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent That Doubles as a Cargo Box - Patent drawing - lifting frame
Patent figure 1 - frame of the lifting mechanisms: base (1), lid (3), end lifting mechanisms (4), side lifting mechanism (5), hooks (8, 9) and cord (10).
No.PartWhat it does
1BaseHard box with rim; mounts on the roof rack.
2Hard framesThree rectangular frames that nest closed and stack open.
3LidHard top with an opening skylight (7).
4, 5Lifting mechanismsFolding rods with gas struts at the ends and one side.
6DoorOpening in the front wall.
8, 9U-shaped hooksGuide the closing cord on the base.
10CordPulls the side mechanism to lower the lid.

Opening

  1. Release the lid and push it up.
  2. The gas struts lift it slowly; the frames rise in turn and form the wall.
  3. Open the door and, if wanted, the skylight.
Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent That Doubles as a Cargo Box - Patent drawing - door and skylight
Patent figure 4 - opened with the door (6) and skylight (7); base (1), frames (2) and lid (3).

Closing

  1. Pull the cord - it folds the side mechanism and the lid comes down slowly against the struts.
  2. The frames nest back inside each other.
  3. Load luggage inside and lock the lid for the drive.
Hard-Shell Rooftop Tent That Doubles as a Cargo Box - Patent drawing - closed
Patent figure 3 - closed: base (1), nested frames (2) and lid (3) form a low box.

Applications

Car camping and overlanding

Sleep on the roof at camp, carry gear in the same box on the road.

Road trips and festivals

Quick set-up where tents on the ground are not practical.

Rental and camper fleets

One roof product that serves as both storage and an extra bed.

Fishing and hunting trips

Gear stored on the roof, a dry place to sleep at remote spots.

Where it is less suitable

  • Small cars and light roof racks - a hard tent with bedding is heavy; check roof load limits.
  • Large families - a box-sized tent sleeps one or two people.

Frequently asked questions

How does it open?

Push the lid up. According to the patent, folding rods with gas struts lift the lid, and the three hard frames rise in turn to form the tent wall.

How does it close?

Pull the cord. It runs over two hooks on the base and folds the side lifting mechanism, so the lid comes down and the frames nest inside each other.

How big is it?

The patent’s example uses 20 cm rims and an open height of about 100 cm. Footprint and height are set in design for one or two sleepers.

Can luggage stay inside while driving?

Yes - closed, the patent describes it as a luggage case. Load limits and securing straps are defined during design and testing.

Will it fit my roof rack?

It is designed to mount on crossbars. We specify clamps for common racks and state the roof load required.

Is it waterproof?

The hard base and lid shed rain; the wall needs fabric panels or seals between frames. Sealing is engineered and rain-tested on prototypes.

Can this design be made and sold in the US?

The patent was filed only in China and has lapsed, so it does not restrict the design in the US or in China. Hard-shell rooftop tents are an active US patent area - see Patent & Production - so we recommend a freedom-to-operate check before volume production.

Are you affiliated with the patent owner?

No. IP2M is an independent design and manufacturing service working from the public patent document.

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  • Size and number of sleepers
  • Shell and fabric materials
  • Interior and accessories (mattress, ladder, lights)
  • Estimated quantity and target price
  • Timeline - when you would like samples and the first shipment

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Patent CN206327275U: bibliographic data, legal status, family, a plain-language reading of the claims, plus customization, US compliance points and how a manufacturing project runs.

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This page is based on the public patent document CN206327275U, assigned to Mao Xunhe (individual). IP2M is an independent manufacturing service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by the patent owner. Images marked as concept renderings are illustrations, not photos of an existing product. Patent status information is provided for reference only and is not legal advice; confirm freedom to operate for your market before production. Full disclaimer.