Convertible top frame

A convertible top for the body of a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, said top adapted to be raised to cover the passenger compartment and lowered by folding into a body space region extending behind and beside said passenger compartment, comprising:

• a pair of spaced elongate pillar members, means pivotally anchoring each one of said pillar members to said body in said body space on a respective side of said passenger compartment so as to be swingable between a raised, substantially vertical position and a lowered, substantially horizontal position, said pillar members in said lowered position extending from said pivotal anchoring means towards the rear of said body;
• a pair of elongate unitary side rails;
• means connecting each side rail at one end to the upper end of a respective pillar member so as to extend leading ends thereof forwardly from said pillar member in said raised position;
• said connecting means allowing pivoting forward of each of said side rails into said body space regions alongside said passenger compartment and over said respective attached pillar member, with each of said pillar members in said lowered position;
• a plurality of elongate bow members extending between said pair of pillar members and connected side rails, said bow members spaced apart to define a top support, and bow mounting means mounting each of said bow members to a respective one of said pillar members and connected side rails, said bow mounting means causing positioning of said plurality if bow members in said body space region to the rear of said passenger compartment upon movement of said pair of pillar members and connected side rails to said positions whereat said pillar members are in said lowered, horizontal position and said side rails are in said forward position in said body space regions on either side of said passenger compartment;
• and,
• one of said plurality of bow members comprising a header bow positioned across said leading ends of said side rails, but free from attachment thereto with said pillar members in said raised position and said side rails extending therefrom substantially horizontally and header linkage means drivingly connected to said header bow member and said side rails to swing said header bow rearwardly into said body space behind said passenger compartment as said side rails are pivoted into said body space regions on either side of said passenger compartments;
• a flexible top mounted to extend across the space between said pair of pillar members and connected side rails and above said plurality of bow members, with said frame in said raised position, and folded into said body space with said frame in said lowered position.

A convertible top for the body of a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, said top adapted to be raised to cover the passenger compartment and lowered by folding into a body space region extending behind and beside said passenger compartment, comprising:

• a pair of spaced elongate pillar members, means pivotally anchoring each one of said pillar members to said body in said body space on a respective side of said passenger compartment so as to be swingable between a raised, substantially vertical position and a lowered, substantially horizontal position, said pillar members in said lowered position extending from said pivotal anchoring means towards the rear of said body;
• a pair of elongate unitary side rails;
• means connecting each side rail at one end to the upper end of a respective pillar member so as to extend leading ends thereof forwardly from said pillar member in said raised position;
• said connecting means allowing pivoting forward of each of said side rails into said body space regions alongside said passenger compartment and over said respective attached pillar member, with each of said pillar members in said lowered position;
• a plurality of elongate bow members extending between said pairs of pillar members and connected side rails, said bow members spaced apart to define a top support, and bow mounting means mounting each of said bow members to a respective one of said pair of pillar members and connected side rails, said bow mounting means causing positioning of said plurality of bow members in said body space region to the rear of said passenger compartment upon movement of said pair of pillar members and connected side rails to said positions whereat said pillar members are in said lowered, horizontal position and said side rails are in said forward position in said body space regions on either side of said passenger compartment, said plurality of bow members including an elongate bow member substantially aligned with the point of connection between each of said side rails and a respective one of said pillar members, and further including linkage means drivingly connecting each end of said bow member, to a respective pillar member and connected side rails, causing rotation of said bow member as either of said side rails is pivoted on a respective pillar member to cause corresponding pivotal rotation of the opposite side rail, whereby causing parallel pivoting motion of both side rails and said pillar members by pivoting of either of said side rails;
• and,
• a flexible top mounted to extend across the space between said pair of pillar members and connected side rails and above said plurality of bow members, with said frame in said raised position, and folded into said body space with said frame in said lowered position.

A convertible top for the body of a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment, said top adapted to be raised to cover the passenger compartment and lowered by folding into a body space region extending behind and beside said passenger compartment, comprising:

• a pair of spaced elongate pillar members, means pivotally anchoring each one of said pillar members to said body in said body space on a respective side of said passenger compartment so as to be swingable between a raised, substantially vertical position and a lowered, substantially horizontal position, said pillar members in said lowered position extending from said pivotal anchoring means towards the rear of said body;
• a pair of elongate unitary side rails;
• means connecting each side rail at one end to the upper end of a respective pillar member so as to extend leading ends thereof forwardly from said pillar member in said raised position;
• said connecting means allowing pivoting forward of each of said side rails into said body space regions alongside said passenger compartment and over said respective attached pillar member, with each of said pillar members in said lowered position;
• a plurality of elongate bow members extending between said pairs of pillar members and connected side rails, said bow members spaced apart to define a top support, and bow mounting means mounting each of said bow members to a respective pair of pillar members and connected side rails, said bow mounting means causing positioning of said plurality of bow members in said body space region to the rear of said passenger compartment upon movement of said pairs of pillar members and connected side rails to said positions whereat said pillar members are in said lowered, horizontal position and said side rails are in said forward position in said body space regions on either side of said passenger compartment, said plurality of bow members including at least one rear bow extending between said pillar members, and further including linkage means drawing said at least one rear bow forwardly as said pillar members are lowered;
• and,
• a flexible top mounted to extend across the space between said pairs of pillar members and connected side rails and above said plurality of bow members, with said frame in said raised position, and folded into said body space with said frame in said lowered position.