Covering structure for use with roof opening to ventilate vehicle cabin

A covering structure for use with a roof opening of a vehicle to ventilate an interior cabin thereof, wherein the vehicle has a body supported for movement across a support surface and forming the interior cabin configured to receive occupants of the vehicle, wherein the body includes a roof at a top of the body and locating the roof opening, wherein the roof has an interior side delimiting the interior cabin and an exterior side opposite thereto, wherein the roof includes a cover movable relative to the roof opening between a closed position in which the roof opening is closed by the cover and an open position in which the roof opening is at least partially uncovered so that air can be exchanged between the interior cabin and an exterior of the vehicle, the covering structure comprising:

• a base configured for resting on the exterior side of the roof and defining a bottom periphery of the covering structure arranged to encompass the roof opening, wherein the base has a bottom opening configured to be registered with the roof opening of the vehicle;
• wherein the base includes an annular gasket encompassing the bottom opening and configured to surround the roof opening for sealable contact with the exterior side of the roof of the vehicle;
• a peripheral wall supported on the base and configured to form a space above the roof for communication with the interior cabin of the vehicle through the roof opening when the cover is in the open position;
• wherein the peripheral wall is substantially fluidically impermeable;
• wherein the peripheral wall is characterized by inclusion of a plurality of openings therein that face in different outward directions for communication of the space above the roof with an ambient environment;
• wherein the base and the peripheral wall form an external portion of the covering structure arranged to be disposed externally of the body;
• a securement device connected to the external portion and configured to anchor the external portion to the vehicle;
• and
• wherein the peripheral wall includes a plurality of opening covers supported in respective adjacent movable relation to the wall openings and respectively sized and shaped to selectively cover the wall openings, wherein each of the opening covers is movable relative to a corresponding one of the wall openings between a closed position in which said corresponding one of the wall openings is closed by the opening cover to resist exchange of air through said corresponding one of the wall openings, and an open position in which said corresponding one of the wall openings is at least partially uncovered by the opening cover to permit exchange of the air through said corresponding one of the wall openings.