Convertible top
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorsGeorge A. Corder, Charles C. Turney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A convertible top for an automotive vehicle is provided. This convertible top is coupled to the vehicle such that it moves between a raised operative position and a lowered storage position. When in the raised operative position, the convertible top covers the passenger compartment of the vehicle. When in the lowered storage position, the convertible top is stored in the rear seat area and is covered by a portion of the convertible top itself.
Claims29
A convertible automotive vehicle having front seat means and rear seat means, comprising:
- a convertible top assembly that moves from a raised operative position to a lowered storage position within a storage space, said storage space being defined in part by an area above a seat cushion portion of said rear seat means, thereby eliminating the need for a dedicated storage space that cannot be utilized for passenger space.
A convertible top for an automotive vehicle, comprising a plurality of relatively rigid panels for covering portions of a passenger compartment when in a raised operative position, said panels being collapsible to a storage position within a storage compartment forward of a trunk of said automotive vehicle, at least one of said relatively rigid panels providing a cover for said storage compartment when said convertible top is in said storage position.
A convertible top conversion assembly for converting an automotive vehicle having a front and a rear passenger seating area to a convertible vehicle, comprising:
- a convertible top that moves from a raised operative position, above both said front and rear passenger seating areas, to a lowered storage position within said rear passenger seating area, a forwardmost raised portion of said convertible top disposed substantially in front of a nominal position of a rear seat back of said rear passenger seating area when said convertible top is in said lowered storage position;
- and
- tonneau cover means for covering said convertible top when in said lowered storage position, said tonneau cover means being disposed substantially above said rear passenger seating area when in an operative position, thereby substantially concealing said rear passenger seating area.
A method of moving a convertible top between a raised operative position and a lowered storage position, said method comprising the steps of:
- articulating said convertible top from said raised operative position to a folded configuration;
- moving said folded convertible top to said lowered storage position within a storage space defined by a rear passenger seating area, a forwardmost raised portion of said convertible top disposed substantially in front of a nominal position of a rear seat back of said rear passenger seating area when said convertible top is in said lowered storage position;
- and
- utilizing a portion of said convertible top to cover said storage space, thereby substantially concealing said rear passenger seating area and portions of said convertible top therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.