Composite roof bow for an automotive vehicle
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorJeffrey S. Patelczyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite roof bow includes a flexible plastic segment and a rigid reinforcing segment. In another aspect of the present invention, the flexible plastic segment is insert molded to the reinforcing segment. In another aspect of the present invention, the flexible segment is predominately unfilled plastic and the reinforcing segment is filled plastic, which are attached together to create a generally rigid roof bow.
Claims49
A composite roof bow comprising a first portion and a second portion, the portions being elongated in a substantially parallel manner, the bow being made in a process including:
- forming the first portion to engage at least part of the second portion, the first portion being made from a material different than that of the second portion, at least one of the portions being a reinforced polymeric material;
- and
- rigidifying at least one of the portions to affix the portions together in a substantially permanent manner;
- wherein the second portion reduces fracture of the first portion and the first portion resists bending.
An automotive vehicle roof bow for use with a roof, the roof bow comprising:
- a relatively fracture resistant member elongated in a first direction;
- and
- a relatively rigid member elongated in the first direction and having side rail fastening ends, a portion of the rigid member attaching to and surrounding at least a portion of the fracture resistant member between the ends, the rigid member being a filler reinforced polymer;
- wherein at least an elongated portion of the fracture resistant member is exposed outside of the rigid member prior to attachment of the roof bow to the roof.
An automotive vehicle roof bow comprising:
- an elongated polymeric member having pivotable fastening segments and an intermediate segment spanning between the fastening segments, the intermediate segment having a substantially I-cross sectional shape;
- and
- at least one metallic member secured to the intermediate segment of the polymeric member.
A convertible vehicle roof bow comprising:
- a first elongated polymeric member;
- and
- a second elongated polymeric member attached to the first member, a majority of the members being elongated in a substantially parallel manner;
- the first member being more rigid than the second member;
- and
- the second member being more flexible than the first member.
A convertible roof assembly for an automotive vehicle, the roof assembly comprising:
- rails extending in a substantially fore and aft direction;
- a roof bow made of an elongated reinforced polymeric portion and an elongated unreinforced second portion, segments of the roof bow being coupled to the rails, the portions extending in a substantially horizontally curved and cross-car manner between the segments of the bow connected to the rails;
- and
- a soft top roof substantially spanning between the rails and fastening to the bow.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof system comprising:
- a convertible roof movable from a raised position to a retracted position, at east a portion of the roof including a soft-top covering;
- and
- a roof supporting member movable with the roof, the member having an elongated polymeric structural portion and an elongated metallic structural portion, the metallic portion being substantially entirely encapsulated within the polymeric portion;
- at least a majority of the polymeric and metallic portions being elongated and extending in a substantially parallel and substantially horizontal direction at least when the roof is in its raised position.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof system comprising:
- a convertible roof movable from a raised position to a retracted position, at least a portion of the roof including a soft-top covering;
- a composite roof supporting member movable with the roof, at least a majority of the member including a filler reinforced polymer, the member also including a second structural material located at least in a segment of the member which extends in a substantially horizontal direction at least when the roof is in its raised position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.