Three section convertible top
AssigneeWilhelm Karmann GmbH
InventorsRainer Prenger, Uwe Nissen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A top for convertibles includes a frame, the side parts of which are disposed symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and comprise front and rear pieces which are pivotably braced over a main column and a main guide rod at a rear main bearing of the chassis frame. The roof peak of the frame lies in a closed position against an upper cross-tie of a windshield frame. The frame is constructed in the front region as a one-piece, shaped carrying part with a U-shaped contour at the basic cross-member of which, forming the roof peak, the front frame parts, which have at their free ends at least one joint connecting element directed towards the main column, are integrally molded over a respective connecting zone as profiled legs.
Claims31
A top for a convertible vehicle having a front, a rear and a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear, said top comprising a molded one-piece U-shaped frame member having a front section extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and two elongated spaced side sections extending rearwardly from said front section, each of said side sections having a first connecting element, said first connecting element being integrally formed with said molded one-piece U-shaped frame member, a pair of side members, first pivot means pivotably connecting said side members to said first connecting element of said elongated side sections of said one-piece U-shaped frame member for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, a pair of main column means, said pair of main column means having second pivot means pivotably mounting said pair of main column means on said vehicle, and third pivot means pivotably connecting said side members to said main column means for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, said two spaced elongated side sections, said pair of side members, and said pair of main column means each being disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said vehicle.
A top for a convertible vehicle having a front, a rear and a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear, said top comprising a molded one-piece U-shaped frame member having a front section extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and two elongated spaced side sections extending rearwardly from said front section, each of said side sections having a first connecting element, said first connecting element being integrally formed with said molded one-piece U-shaped frame member, a pair of side members, first pivot means pivotably connecting said side members to said first connecting element of said elongate side sections of said one-piece U-shaped frame member for pivotal movement about a first axis, a pair of main column means, said pair of main column means having second pivot means pivotably mounting said pair of main column means on said vehicle for pivotal movement about a second axis, and third pivot means for pivotably connecting said side members to said main column means for pivotal movement about a third axis, said first, second and third axes being substantially parallel to one another, said two spaced elongated side sections, said pair of side members, and said pair of main column means each being disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said vehicle.
In a top for a convertible vehicle having a front, a rear and a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear, the combination comprising:
- a molded, one-piece, U-shaped frame member lying against an upper transverse cross-tie of a windshield of the vehicle and directly connected to a roof arch, said frame member having a front section extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and two elongated spaced side sections extending rearwardly from said front section;
- each of said side sections having a first connecting element;
- a pair of side members;
- and
- first pivot means pivotally connecting said first connecting element to said side members.
A top for a convertible vehicle having a front, a rear and a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear, said top comprising:
- a molded, one-piece, U-shaped frame member having a front section extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and two elongated spaced side sections extending rearwardly from said front section;
- each of said side sections having a first receiving fulcrum and a first connecting element;
- a pair of molded one-piece side members;
- each of said side members having a second receiving fulcrum and a second connecting element;
- first pivot means pivotally connecting said first connecting element and said second connecting element to thereby pivotally connect said side sections of said molded one-piece U-shaped frame member to said molded one-piece side member;
- a pair of molded one-piece main columns;
- second pivot means pivotally connecting said molded one-piece main columns and said second receiving fulcrum to thereby pivotably connect said molded one-piece main column to said molded one-piece side member;
- a main bearing support mounted on said vehicle;
- third pivot means pivotally connecting said molded one-piece main columns to said main bearing support;
- a first guide rod;
- fourth pivot means pivotally connecting said first guide rod to said one-piece U-shaped frame member;
- fifth pivot means pivotally connecting said first guide rod to said molded one-piece main columns;
- a second guide rod;
- sixth pivot means pivotally connecting said second guide rod to said main bearing support;
- and
- seventh pivot means pivotally connecting said second guide rod to said molded one-piece side member.
A top for a convertible vehicle having a front, a rear and a longitudinal axis extending from front to rear, said top comprising:
- a molded, one-piece, U-shaped frame member having a front section extending transversely of said longitudinal axis and two elongated spaced side sections extending rearwardly from said front section;
- each of said side sections having a first receiving fulcrum and a first connecting element;
- a pair of molded one-piece side members;
- each of said side members having a second receiving fulcrum and a second connecting element;
- first pivot means pivotally connecting said first connecting element and said second connecting element to thereby pivotally connect said side sections of said molded one-piece U-shaped frame member to said molded one-piece side member;
- a pair of molded one-piece main columns;
- second pivot means pivotally connecting said molded one-piece main columns and said second receiving fulcrum to thereby pivotably connect said molded one-piece main column to said molded one-piece side member;
- a main bearing support mounted on said vehicle, said main bearing support having a fourth receiving fulcrum and a fifth receiving fulcrum;
- third pivot means pivotally connecting said molded one-piece main columns to said fourth receiving fulcrum to thereby pivotably connect said molded one-piece main columns to said main bearing support;
- a first guide rod;
- a fourth pivot means pivotally connecting said first guide rod to said first receiving fulcrum to thereby pivotably connect said first guide rod to said side sections of said molded one-piece U-shaped frame member;
- fifth pivot means pivotally connecting said first guide rod to said molded one-piece main columns to thereby pivotably connect said first guide rod to said molded one-piece main columns;
- a second guide rod;
- sixth pivot means pivotally connecting said second guide rod to said fifth receiving fulcrum to thereby pivotably connect said second guide rod to said main bearing support;
- and
- seventh pivot means pivotally connecting said second guide rod to a third receiving fulcrum to thereby pivotably connect said second guide rod to said molded one-piece side member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.