Water management system for a retractable hard top
AssigneeWilhelm Karmann GmbH
InventorsWolfgang Richter, Scott Yaroch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water management system for directing fluid away from a gap defined between adjacent panels of a folding hardtop of a vehicle. The water management system includes first and second seals and a tube. The seals are disposed along respective gaps between adjacent panels. Each seal has a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap. The tube is in fluid communication with the troughs of both seals and directs the fluid to an external location of the vehicle.
Claims20
A water management system for a folding hardtop of a vehicle, wherein the hardtop having front, middle and rear panels movable between an extended position covering a passenger compartment and a stowed position disposed behind the passenger compartment, and wherein the panels are positioned end to end defining gaps therebetween, said water management system comprising:
- a front seal disposed along the gap between the front and middle panels, the front seal having a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap between the front and middle panels;
- a rear seal disposed along the gap between the middle and rear panels, the rear seal having a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap between the middle and rear panels;
- and
- a tube in fluid communication with the troughs of both the front and rear seals, through which the fluid collected in the troughs is directed to an external location of the vehicle.
A water management system for a folding hardtop of a vehicle, wherein the hardtop has at least one panel movable to an extended position covering the passenger compartment, said water management system comprising:
- a first seal and a second seal disposed along opposite ends of the at least one panel, each seal having a trough for collecting fluid passing over respective ends of the panel;
- and
- a tube in fluid communication with the troughs of both the first and second seals and through which the fluid collected in the troughs is directed away from the ends of the at least one panel.
A water management system for a folding hardtop of a vehicle, wherein the hardtop has at least one panel movable to an extended position covering the passenger compartment, said water management system comprising:
- a first seal and a second seal disposed along opposite ends of the at least one panel, each seal having a trough for collecting fluid passing over respective ends of the panel;
- and
- a first tube in communication with the trough of the first seal;
- a second tube in communication with the trough of the second seal;
- and
- a third tube coupled to both the first and second tubes for receiving fluid from therefrom and directing the fluid to an external location of the vehicle.
A water management system for a folding hardtop of a vehicle, wherein the hardtop has at least two panels movable to an extended position covering the passenger compartment, wherein the panels are positioned end to end defining a gap therebetween, said water management system comprising:
- a seal disposed between the panels to prevent liquid from passing through the gap into the passenger compartment, the seal having a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap;
- and
- a tube in fluid communication with the trough, through which the fluid collected in the trough is directed away from the gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.