Transparent Outer Panel for a Retractable Hardtop

A retractable hardtop assembly for a vehicle comprising:

• a top roof panel formed by a first partially clear rigid panel, the top roof panel defining a skylight portion;
• a combined back light and sail panel having a back light portion and a pair of sail panel portions that are part of a second partially clear rigid panel that is aligned with and disposed rearward of the top roof panel in an extended roof position;
• a roof frame attached to the top roof panel;
• an upper cross bar and a lower cross bar attached to the combined back light and sail panel that extend transversely along the a top edge of the back light portion and a bottom edge of the back light portion;
• and
• a top stack linkage having a right side linkage and a left side linkage, wherein each of the right and left side linkages each include a main pivot bracket assembled to the vehicle, a main link attached to the main pivot bracket on a lower end and one of the side roof frame members on an upper end, and a balance link attached to the main pivot bracket on a lower end, one of the side roof frame members on an upper end, and wherein the balance link is attached in a fixed relationship to the sail panel intermediate the upper end and the lower end.

A method of making a retractable hardtop for a vehicle comprising:

• molding a top roof panel to form a sky light that is flanked by right and left roof rail linkage cover portions;
• molding a combined back light and sail panel to form a back light that is flanked by right and left sail panel portions;
• assembling a roof frame to the top roof panel;
• assembling a top stack linkage to the top roof panel on one end and to the vehicle on another end;
• assembling the combined back light and sail panel to the top stack linkage between the two ends of the top stack linkage.