Motor vehicle roof hinge and method for attaching hinge on vehicle roof with removable roof panels
OwnerRobert M. Butlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For a vehicle with at least one removable hardtop roof panel and a fixed hardtop rear rooftop, a hinge is provided that attaches to the removable panel(s) and the rear rooftop. In the case of the Jeep® Freedom Top®, both removable panels are attached to the rear fixed portion of the roof using the hinge, enabling the removable panels to be flipped over the rear of the roof.
Claims20
A hinge attaching at least one front rigid roof panel to a rear rigid roof panel of a vehicle, comprising:
- a single rear leaf configured to attach to a front portion of the rear rigid roof panel of the vehicle;
- at least one front leaf, each configured to attach to a rear portion of a corresponding one of the at least one front rigid roof panel of the vehicle;
- and
- at least one rotatable connection, each connecting one of the at least one front leaf to the single rear leaf.
A motor vehicle, comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a roof supported by the body, having
- at least one front rigid roof panel;
- a rear rigid roof panel;
- and
- a hinge, having
- a single rear leaf configured to attach to a front portion of the rear rigid roof panel of the vehicle;
- at least one front leaf, each configured to attach to a rear portion of a corresponding one of the at least one front rigid roof panel of the vehicle;
- and
- at least one rotatable connection, each connecting one of the at least one front leaf to the single rear leaf.
A method for attaching a bottom surface a hinge to a vehicle having a roof removable rigid front panels and a rigid rear panel permanently attached to the vehicle, comprising:
- preparing the removable rigid front panels and the rigid rear panel for application of an adhesive;
- removing a first front panel, corresponding to a first front leaf of the hinge, from the roof of the vehicle;
- aligning the rigid rear panel with a rear leaf of the hinge and a second front panel, remaining on the vehicle, with a second front leaf of the hinge corresponding to the second front panel;
- attaching the rear leaf to the rigid rear panel by the adhesive;
- attaching the second front leaf to the second front panel by the adhesive;
- replacing the first front panel onto the roof;
- and
- attaching the first front leaf to the first front panel by the adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.