# US 10,259,301 B2 · Removable convertible top for convertible vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,259,301 B2 - Document ID: US10259301B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/516,365 - Filed: 2015-10-01 - Published: 2017-10-19 - Granted: 2019-04-16 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-03 - Assignees: Bluecar - Applicants: Bluecar - Inventors: Benoit Hurel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10259301B2 ## CPC - B60J 7/123: {characterised by means for fastening the soft top cloth to the arches or vehicle body work} - B60J 7/10: readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins (covering of loads on vehicles by tarpaulins B60P7/04) - B60J 7/104: {Fastening means for tarpaulins} - B60J 7/1291: {Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies} - B60J 10/90: specially adapted for non-fixed roofs, e.g. foldable roofs or removable hard-tops - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract A removable convertible top for a convertible vehicle. The convertible top includes a flexible water-tight canvas provided with longitudinal reinforcements, the ends of which are suitable for resting on the bars of a vehicle; curved rigid side reinforcements, arranged on the opposite sides of the canvas, parallel to the longitudinal reinforcements, and respectively provided with sets of hooks for engaging with complementary coupling structures provided on the vehicle. The canvas and side reinforcements interlock to automatically tension the canvas, when the two sets of hooks interlock with the coupling structures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A removable convertible top (100) for a convertible vehicle, including: a flexible sealing canvas (110) provided with longitudinal reinforcements (120) the ends of which are adapted for resting on bars (210, 220, 230) of a vehicle, rigid curved lateral reinforcements (130, 140), arranged on the opposite sides of the canvas (110), parallel to the longitudinal reinforcements (120), and respectively provided with sets of hooks (150) adapted for cooperating with complementary hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, said canvas (110) and said lateral reinforcements (130, 140) cooperating so as to automatically tension the canvas (110), by elastically tensioning the portion of the canvas (110) located between the two sets of hooks (150), when these two sets of hooks (150) are engaged with the hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, wherein the removable convertible top includes means (170, 172) for attaching to the structure of a vehicle based on press studs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The convertible top according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal reinforcements (120) extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, whereas the respective sets of hooks (150) are provided at the ends of the lateral edges (112, 114) of the canvas (110) and are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The convertible top according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (170, 172) are regularly distributed along the convertible top (100) to be attached at the associated bars (210, 220, 230). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The convertible top according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (170, 172) are arranged at fabric strips projecting from the lower surface of the canvas (110) of the convertible top (100). ### Claim 5 A vehicle, characterized by the fact that it is equipped with at least one convertible top (100 including: a flexible sealing canvas (110) provided with longitudinal reinforcements (120) the ends of which are adapted for resting on bars (210, 220, 230) of a vehicle, rigid curved lateral reinforcements (130, 140), arranged on the opposite sides of the canvas (110), parallel to the longitudinal reinforcements (120), and respectively provided with sets of hooks (150) adapted for cooperating with complementary hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, said canvas (110) and said lateral reinforcements (130, 140) cooperating so as to automatically tension the canvas (110), by elastically tensioning the portion of the canvas (110 located between the two sets of hooks (150), when these two sets of hooks (150) are engaged with the hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, wherein said vehicle includes sealing means (160) between the periphery of said at least one convertible top (100) and the structure of the vehicle and the sealing means (160) comprise two beads (162, 164), one continuous and one interrupted, at the hooking structures (250). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that it is equipped with two convertible tops (100) each including: a flexible sealing canvas (110) provided with longitudinal reinforcements (120) the ends of which are adapted for resting on bars (210, 220, 230) of a vehicle, rigid curved lateral reinforcements (130, 140), arranged on the opposite sides of the canvas (110), parallel to the longitudinal reinforcements (120), and respectively provided with sets of hooks (150) adapted for cooperating with complementary hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, said canvas (110) and said lateral reinforcements (130, 140) cooperating so as to automatically tension the canvas (110), by elastically tensioning the portion of the canvas (110) located between the two sets of hooks (150), when these two sets of hooks (150) are engaged with the hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal reinforcements (120) of said at least one convertible top (100) are formed by rings, the ends of which are placed in steps (212) provided on the vehicle, the ends of the rings being preferably flattened so that each convertible top (100) is not thicker in relation to the structure of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The convertible top according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that it includes means (170, 172) for attaching said at least one convertible top to the structure of a vehicle based on press studs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that it includes means (170, 172) for attaching said at least one convertible top to the structure of a vehicle based on “Tenax”-type buttons. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The vehicle according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal reinforcements (120) of each convertible top (100) are formed by rings, the ends of which are placed in steps (212) provided on the vehicle, the ends of the rings being preferably flattened so that each convertible top (100) is not thicker in relation to the structure of the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the longitudinal reinforcements (120) extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, whereas the respective sets of hooks (150) are provided at the ends of the lateral edges (112, 114) of the canvas (110) and are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle includes means (170, 172) for attaching the convertible top to the structure of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The convertible top according to claim 12, characterized in that the attachment means (170, 172) are regularly distributed along the convertible top (100) to be attached at the associated bars (210, 220, 230). ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The convertible top according to claim 12, characterized in that the attachment means (170, 172) are arranged at fabric strips projecting from the lower surface of the canvas (110) of the convertible top (100). ### Claim 15 A removable convertible top (100) for a convertible vehicle, including: a flexible sealing canvas (110) provided with longitudinal reinforcements (120) the ends of which are adapted for resting on bars (210, 220, 230) of a vehicle, rigid curved lateral reinforcements (130, 140), arranged on the opposite sides of the canvas (110), parallel to the longitudinal reinforcements (120), and respectively provided with sets of hooks (150) adapted for cooperating with complementary hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, said canvas (110) and said lateral reinforcements (130, 140) cooperating so as to automatically tension the canvas (110), by elastically tensioning the portion of the canvas (110) located between the two sets of hooks (150), when these two sets of hooks (150) are engaged with the hooking structures (250) provided on the vehicle, wherein the removable convertible top includes means (170, 172) for attaching to the structure of a vehicle based on “Tenax” type buttons. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The convertible top according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal reinforcements (120) extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, whereas the respective sets of hooks (150) are provided at the ends of the lateral edges (112, 114) of the canvas (110) and are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The convertible top according to claim 15, characterized in that the attachment means (170, 172) are regularly distributed along the convertible top (100) to be attached at the associated bars (210, 220, 230). ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The convertible top according to claim 15, characterized in that the attachment means (170, 172) are arranged at fabric strips projecting from the lower surface of the canvas (110) of the convertible top (100).