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 bow, coupling rod and cross-car bow. A pivot point rotatable joining the auxiliary and coupling rod is located at the top of the auxiliary tensioning bow. A bracket is provided on the auxiliary tensioning bow or coupling rod 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 for a vehicle, comprising:
- an articulating portion operably connected to a rear header, the rear header adapted for sealing engagement with a rear roof top portion of said vehicle, said articulating portion including a coupling rod and an auxiliary tensioning rod;
- a cross-car bow connected to a cover and to the auxiliary tensioning bow;
- a bracket connected to said cross-car bow, said bracket connected to said coupling rod at the top end of the coupling rod;
- 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.
The soft front cockpit cover assembly of claim 6, wherein the first side rail is connected to a tensioning bow adapted to be selectively coupled to a windshield frame portion of said vehicle.
A soft front cockpit cover assembly for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
- a cross-car bow connected to a cover;
- a rear header, the rear header in sealing engagement with a rear roof hard top portion,
- at least one auxiliary tensioning bow connected to one surface of the cross-car bow;
- at least one coupling rod 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 connected to another surface of the cross-car bow, the bracket connected at the other end of the coupling rod;
- 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 connected to a cover;
- a rear header;
- at least one rotatable auxiliary tensioning bow fixedly connected to the cross-car bow;
- at least one connecting rod operably connected to the cross-car bow at a top of the connecting rod;
- a front header connected to a main tensioning bow;
- a first side rail fixedly connected to the main tensioning bow, the connecting rod connected to the first side rail;
- a plurality of threaded pockets formed in the rear header operable to receive a plurality of threaded inserts for attaching the auxiliary tensioning bow and first side rail.
- wherein 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.