Soft front cockpit cover with linkage
AssigneeBestop, Inc.
InventorStephen J. Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulating soft front cockpit cover assembly including an auxiliary tensioning link, coupling link and cross-car bow. A pivot point rotatable joining the auxiliary tensioning link and coupling link is located at the top of the auxiliary tensioning link. A bracket is provided on the auxiliary tensioning link or coupling link and extends cross-car and attaches to the front or rear edge of the cross-car bow. The soft front cockpit cover assembly in sealing engagement with a rearward top portion of a roof. The articulating portion movable between at least a closed position over about the front vehicle cockpit and at least one open position for an open-air feel.
Claims20
A soft front cockpit cover assembly adapted for a vehicle, comprising:
- an articulating portion operably coupled to a rear header or adapted to operably connect to the vehicle, the rear header operably adapted for sealing engagement with a rear roof top portion of said vehicle, said articulating portion including a coupling link and an auxiliary tensioning link;
- a cross-car bow operably connected to a cover and to the auxiliary tensioning link;
- a bracket operably connected to said cross-car bow, said bracket operably connected to said coupling link at the top end of the coupling link;
- wherein rotating the articulating portion allows the cover to move between at least a closed position closing off a roof top opening of said vehicle and at least one open position.
A soft front cockpit cover assembly adapted for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
- a cross-car bow operably connected to a cover;
- a rear header, the rear header operably adapted for a weathertight seal with a rear roof hard top portion of the vehicle,
- at least one auxiliary tensioning link operably connected to the cross-car bow;
- at least one coupling link rotatably connected to at least one front rail at a pivot point that is lower than the cross-car bow when the soft front cockpit cover assembly is in a closed position;
- a bracket operably connected to the cross-car bow, the bracket connected at the other end of the coupling link;
- wherein rotating the soft front cockpit cover assembly in first and second directions allows the cover to move between the closed position closing off at least one roof top opening and at least one open position.
A soft front cockpit cover assembly, comprising:
- an articulating portion including a cross-car bow operably coupled to a cover;
- a rear header;
- at least one pair of rotatable auxiliary tensioning links operably fixedly connected to the cross-car bow;
- at least one pair of connecting links operably connected to the cross-car bow at a top of the connecting links;
- a front header operably connected to a pair of main tensioning bows;
- a pair of first side rails fixedly operably connected to the main tensioning bows, the connecting links operably connected to the first side rails;
- a plurality of threaded apertures in the rear header operable to receive a plurality of threaded inserts for attaching the auxiliary tensioning links and first side rails;
- wherein selectively rotating the articulating portion in first and second directions allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.