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US 6,659,533 B1Granted
Vehicle convertible roof
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorTodd A. Grubbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A convertible roof having a backlite that is substantially vertical when the convertible roof is in a raised position is provided. An automatically powered actuator used to actively control retraction of a convertible roof and a backlite frame is provided. Actively controlling a roof bow immediately forward of a backlite frame is provided.
Claims61
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover;
- (b) a backwindow moveable between extended and retracted positions mechanically independent of said roof cover;
- and
- (c) a folding mechanism supporting at least a portion of said cover, said mechanism being moveable between a stowed position and a raised position, said mechanism comprising:
- a frame configured to retain a portion of said backwindow and moving with said mechanism when said mechanism moves from said raised position to said stowed position, said frame extending along and retaining said portion of said backwindow when said backwindow is in said extended position and being disengaged from said backwindow when said backwindow is in said retracted position.
2 more elements
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover;
- (b) a backwindow independently moveable between extended and retracted positions;
- and
- (c) a folding mechanism supporting at least a portion of said cover, said mechanism being moveable between a stowed position and a raised position, said mechanism comprising:
- (i) a plurality of pairs of roof rails;
- and
- (ii) a frame pivoting with movement of said mechanism, said frame being configured to retain a portion of said backwindow when said backwindow is in said extended position and disengaged from said backwindow when said backwindow is in said retracted position, and said frame being coupled to a first pair of said plurality of pairs of roof rails so that movement of said frame is controlled by said first pair of roof rails.
4 more elements
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover having a soft top portion;
- and
- (b) a folding mechanism supporting at least a portion of said cover, said mechanism being moveable between a stowed position and a raised position, said mechanism comprising:
- (i) an automatically powered actuator operable to selectively move said folding mechanism between said stowed and raised positions;
- and
- (ii) a backwindow frame moving with movement of said mechanism, said frame being configured to retain a portion of a backwindow in a substantially vertical orientation between about 35 degrees forward and about 10 degrees rearward of vertical when said mechanism is in said raised position.
3 more elements
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover having a soft top portion;
- and
- (b) a top stack assembly supporting at least a portion of said cover, said top stack assembly being moveable between a stowed position and a raised position, said top stack assembly comprising:
- (i) a powered actuator operable to selectively move said top stack assembly between said stowed and raised positions;
- (ii) a first linkage assembly operably controlling movement of a portion of said top stack assembly and said first linkage assembly being driven by said powered actuator;
- (iii) a frame operably moving pivotally with said top stack assembly, said frame being configured to retain a portion of a backwindow when said top stack assembly is in said raised position;
- and
- (iv) a second linkage assembly operably controlling movement of said frame and being driven by said powered actuator.
5 more elements
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle having, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover;
- (b) first and second roof rail sets moveable between a stowed position and a raised position;
- (c) a plurality of roof bows extending transversely between said roof rail sets;
- (d) an automated actuator operable to selectively move said roof rail sets between said stowed and raised positions;
- and
- (e) a backwindow frame coupled to and operably driven by said actuator and operably retracting prior to and residing below said roof rail sets and said roof bows when said roof rail sets are moved from said raised position to said stowed position.
3 more elements
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover having a soft portion;
- and
- (b) a folding mechanism supporting at least a portion of said cover, said mechanism being moveable between a stowed position and a raised position, said mechanism comprising:
- (i) an automatically powered actuator operable to selectively move said mechanism between said stowed and raised positions;
- (ii) a backwindow frame configured to retain a portion of a backwindow, said frame being coupled to and driven by said powered actuator and moving pivotally when said mechanism moves between said raised and said stowed positions;
- (iii) a plurality of pairs of roof rails;
- and
- (iv) at least four roof bows extending transversely between said pairs of roof rails, and
- wherein a first roof bow of said roof bows immediately forward of said frame is actively controlled.
6 more elements
A convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle, said system comprising:
- (a) a roof cover having a soft portion;
- and
- (b) a folding mechanism supporting at least a portion of said cover, said mechanism being moveable between a stowed position and a raised position, said mechanism comprising:
- (i) a backwindow;
- (ii) at least one pair of roof rails;
- (iii) at least one roof bow extending transversely between said at least one pair of roof rails;
- and
- (iv) a frame retaining a portion of at least three sides of said backwindow such that said frame and backwindow move in unison, said frame and said backwindow pivotally retracting into a stowage compartment when said mechanism is moved from said raised position to said stowed position.
5 more elements
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- (a) a passenger compartment having fore and aft seating areas, each of said seating areas being substantially forward facing;
- (b) a storage compartment positioned aft of said passenger compartment and accessible from said passenger compartment;
- (c) an A-pillar;
- and
- (d) a convertible top comprising:
- (i) a roof cover;
- and
- (ii) a folding mechanism supporting at least a portion of said cover, said mechanism being moveable between a raised position wherein said roof cover covers said passenger and storage compartments and a stowed position wherein said convertible top is stowed in said storage compartment, said convertible top being configured so that no convertible top or vehicle body structure extends substantially above a fore-aft extending belt-line of the vehicle rearward of said A-pillar when said mechanism is in said stowed position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.