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US 11,724,581 B2Granted
Targa and retractable vehicle tops and related methods
AssigneeBig Sky Land Company, LLC
InventorSeth Burgett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle top can comprise a targa top and a retractable top. The retractable top can comprise fabric and a frame. The targa top and the retractable top can be configured to be coupled to a vehicle such that the targa top overlies at least one front seat of the vehicle and the retractable top is pivotable between deployed and retracted positions. The fabric of the retractable top can be disposed closer to the targa top and overlie more of the vehicle when the retractable top is in the deployed position than when the retractable top is in the retracted position.
Claims20
A vehicle top comprising:
- a front top;
- and
- a retractable top comprising fabric and a frame, wherein the frame includes two or more linkages, each of the linkages comprising two arms that each have an upper portion that is coupled to the fabric of the retractable top;
- wherein the front top and the retractable top are configured to be coupled to a vehicle such that:
- the front top overlies at least one front seat of the vehicle;
- and
- the retractable top is pivotable between deployed and retracted positions, the fabric of the retractable top disposed closer to the front top and overlying more of the vehicle when the retractable top is in the deployed position than when the retractable top is in the retracted position, wherein:
- the upper portion of each of the arms of each of the linkages is disposed closer to the front top when the retractable top is in the deployed position than when the retractable top is in the retracted position;
- for each of first and second ones of the linkages, each of the arms has a lower end configured to be pivotably coupled to a respective one of opposing sides of the vehicle;
- for each of the arms of the first linkage, the upper portion of the arm is coupled to a front portion of the fabric of the retractable top such that, when the retractable top is in the deployed position, as measured along a length of the vehicle the upper portion of the arm is disposed closer to the front top than is the lower end of the arm;
- and
- for each of the arms of the second linkage, the upper portion of the arm is coupled to a rear portion of the fabric of the retractable top such that, when the retractable top is in the deployed position, as measured along a length of the vehicle the upper portion of the arm is disposed further from the front top than is the lower end of the arm.
9 more elements
A method of retracting a vehicle top, the method comprising:
- pivoting a retractable top from a deployed position to a retracted position, wherein:
- the retractable top comprises fabric and a frame that includes two or more linkages, each of the linkages comprising two arms that each have an upper portion that:
- is coupled to the fabric of the retractable top;
- and
- is disposed closer to the front of a vehicle when the retractable top is in the deployed position than when the retractable top is in the retracted position;
- for each of first and second ones of the linkages, each of the arms has a lower end that is pivotably coupled to a respective one of opposing sides of the vehicle;
- for each of the arms of the first linkage, the upper portion of the arm is coupled to a front portion of the fabric of the retractable top such that, when the retractable top is in the deployed position, as measured along a length of the vehicle the upper portion of the arm is disposed closer to the front of the vehicle than is the lower end of the arm;
- for each of the arms of the second linkage, the upper portion of the arm is coupled to a rear portion of the fabric of the retractable top such that, when the retractable top is in the deployed position, as measured along a length of the vehicle the upper portion of the arm is disposed further from the front of the vehicle than is the lower end of the arm;
- pivoting the retractable top to the retracted position comprises pivoting the arms of the first and second linkages relative to the vehicle;
- and
- the fabric is disposed closer to a front of the vehicle and overlies more of the vehicle when the retractable top is in the deployed position than when the retractable top is in the retracted position;
- and
- removing a front top that overlies at least one front seat of the vehicle from the vehicle.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.