Convertible top mechanism with powered rear row

A convertible top operating mechanism for a convertible top for an automobile that has a body including a storage well, said top being movable between a raised position and a folded position stored within the well, and has a tonneau cover mounted for movement between a closed position, covering the well in top raised and lowered positions, and an open position enabilng the top to be raised and lowered, said top having apairof spaced articulated side linkages interconnected by a plurality of spaced bows supporting a top cover, each said side linkage including a rear rail pivoted to the body, said plurality of bows including a rear bow pivotally mounted on the rear rails for movement between a lowered position engaging the tonneau cover when the top is raised and a raised position adjacent the rear rail to provide clearance for the tonneau cover to open and enable raising and lowering of the top, the operating mechanism including

• a rear bow control pressure linkage interconnecting the rear bow and each rear rail which folds to raise the rear bow and unfolds to initially lower the rear bow and then moves overcenter to lock the rear bow in its lowered position, and
• operating means for moving the rear bow, characterized by the operating means comprising a power-operated movable actuating device pivotally interconnecting the automobile body and earth bow control pressure linkage for moving the control linkage overcenter to lock and unlock the rear bow, for moving the rear bow between raised and lowered positions, and for enabling the rear bow to remain adjacent to and move with the rear rail about the rear rail pivot as the top is raised and lowered, further characterized by each rear bow control pressure linkage comprising
• an upper control link pivoted to the rear rail and
• a lower control link pivoted to the rear bow and to the upper control link,
• a cylinder mounting bracket pivoted to the body at the rear rail pivot to the body,
• and the power-operated movable actuating device comprising an actuating link mounted on the cylinder bracket for limited pivotal movement relative thereto and pivoted to the rear bow control pressure linkage and a hydraulic cylinder pivotally interconnecting the cylinder mounting bracket and the rear bow, whereby initial extension of the hydraulic cylinder pivots the cylinder mounting bracket about the rear rail pivot to the body to cause the actuating link to pull the rear bow control pressure linkage overcenter, and further cylinder extension raises the rear bow and folds said linkage, as controlled by the actuating link, to enable the tonneau cover to open and close as the top is raised and lowered, while contraction of the hydraulic cylinder initially lowers the rear bow until it engages the tonneau cover, whereupon further contraction pivots the cylinder mounting bracket to cause the actuating link to push the rear bow control pressure linkage overcenter.