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 rotatably 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 with linkages, comprising:
- an articulating portion operably connected to a rear header, said rear header adapted for sealing engagement with a rear roof top portion, said articulating portion having an auxiliary tensioning bow with a pivot point to a coupling rod located at a top of said auxiliary tensioning bow;
- a cross-car bow operably connected to a cover;
- a bracket connected to said cross-car bow, said bracket integrally formed with or operably connected to said coupling rod or said auxiliary tensioning bow;
- wherein rotating the articulating portion in fore/aft directions allows the cover to move between at least a closed position and at least on open position.
A soft front cockpit cover assembly adapted to connect to a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
- an articulating portion including a soft cover, said articulating portion operably connected to a rear header and adapted to close off a roof top opening of the sport utility vehicle when in a closed position;
- a first side rail connected to a front tensioning bow adapted to selectively connect to a windshield frame of the sport utility vehicle;
- a cross-car bow located inboard from the auxiliary tensioning bow;
- and
- a coupling rod pivotally connected to the first side rail, said coupling rod pivotally connected to a forward end of the auxiliary tensioning bow at a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is at the top of the auxiliary tensioning bow during rotation of the articulating portion between the closed position and an open top position.
A soft front cockpit cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- an pivotal portion adapted to couple to the vehicle at a roof top opening of the vehicle, the pivotal portion including a soft cover, said articulating portion operably connected to a rear header adapted to connect to the vehicle and adapted to allow a weather tight seal to hard top roof portion, and the pivotal portion adapted to close off the roof top opening of the vehicle when in a closed position;
- a first side rail connected to a front tensioning bow adapted to selectively connect to a windshield frame of said vehicle;
- a coupling rod pivotally connected to the first side rail, said coupling rod pivotally connected to a forward end of the auxiliary tensioning bow at a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is at the top of the auxiliary tensioning bow during rotation of the pivotal portion between the closed position and the open position;
- a second bow connected to the coupling rod or auxiliary tensioning bow at a location behind the pivot point relative to when the top is in the closed position and inboard to the auxiliary tensioning bow plane;
- wherein rotating the pivotal portion moves the soft cover between at least the closed position and at least the open position;
- and
- wherein the pivot point located at the top end of the auxiliary tensioning bow during rotation of the pivotal portion in combination with the second bow allows articulation of the pivotal portion without binding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.