Convertible sliding top
AssigneeLund Motion Products, Inc.
InventorsAnthony Smith, Carlos Gutierrez, Chris Schumacher, Scott Cover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a convertible sliding top assembly for use with a vehicle. The convertible sliding top assembly can create an opening on the top of the vehicle by rotating a plurality of arms and folding over a soft cover. The assembly can be designed and shaped to improve aerodynamics when the vehicle is moving and prevent the buildup of water on the soft cover.
Claims20
A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
- a frame support including a base;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- and
- a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position;
- wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
- wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered;
- and
- wherein the front link pivots about on an axis a shorter distance from the base than a distance between an axis about which the rear link pivots and the base.
A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
- a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- and
- a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- pressing the folding top assembly upwards;
- and
- moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself;
- wherein the front link pivots about on an axis a shorter distance from the base than a distance between an axis about which the rear link pivots and the base.
A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
- a frame support including a base;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- and
- a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position;
- wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
- wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered;
- and
- wherein the cover support is sloped downwards from back to front in the open position.
A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
- a frame support including a base;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- and
- a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position;
- wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
- wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered;
- wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly;
- and
- wherein the single-piece bar is bowed on both the aft perimeter and side perimeters.
A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
- a frame support including a base;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly;
- and
- a pair of cover attachment components connected to the side perimeters of the single-piece bar, the cover attachment components each having a channel configured to retain a portion of the cover;
- wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
- and
- wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered.
A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
- a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- and
- a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- pressing the folding top assembly upwards;
- and
- moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself;
- wherein the cover support is sloped downwards from back to front in the open position.
A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
- a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- and
- a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- pressing the folding top assembly upwards;
- and
- moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself;
- wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly;
- and
- wherein the single-piece bar is bowed on both the aft perimeter and side perimeters.
A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
- a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
- a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
- a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
- a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly;
- and
- a pair of cover attachment components connected to the side perimeters of the single-piece bar, the cover attachment components each having a channel configured to retain a portion of the cover;
- pressing the folding top assembly upwards;
- and
- moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.