Folding hard top system for convertible structure, in particular for motor vehicle
AssigneeSociete Europeenne de Brevets Automobiles
InventorsJean-Marc Guillez, Paul Queveau, Gerard Queveau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The front second panel is connected to the rear first panel via two sets of substantially parallel front and rear auxiliary pivot arms each hinged at its rear end to a respective rear hinge point fixed to the rear first panel and at its front end to a respective front hinge point fixed to the front second panel. The roof system has mechanisms for causing the two sets of auxiliary arms to pivot in one direction or the other in order to open or close the roof system, and the two auxiliary arms in a given set are arranged in such a manner as to be situated transversely on the outside of the roof panels.
Claims11
A retractable rigid roof system for an uncoverable structure comprising a roof constituted by at least two rigid panels that are movable relative to each other and relative to a passenger compartment of the structure, said at least two rigid panels including a rear first panel and a front second panel linked together by linking means arranged in such a manner that the front second panel is movable relative to the rear first panel between a closed position in which the front second panel covers the passenger compartment and an open position in which the front second panel is in a position that is substantially superposed relative to the rear first panel, the rear first panel being mounted to pivot relative to a bodywork of the structure in such a manner as to pivot together with the front second panel between a closed position in which the rear first panel covers the passenger compartment, and an open position in which the rear first panel and the front second panel are received in their substantially superposed position behind the passenger compartment, the front second panel being connected to the rear first panel via two sets of two substantially parallel auxiliary pivot arms, each set of pivot arms comprising a front arm and a rear arm, each of said arms being pivoted at a rear end to a respective rear hinge point fixed to the rear first panel and at a front end to a respective front hinge point fixed to the front second panel, the two arms in each set being arranged so as to be situated transversely outside the front second and rear first panels, means for causing respective pivot shafts of the rear ends of both said arms in both sets of auxiliary arms to pivot in one direction to open said roof system and in another direction to close said roof system.
A roof system according to 1, further comprising an additional pivot shaft of the rear end of each said rear arm being actuated by means of a first link hinged at a front end to a front hinge point constrained to pivot with one of said pivot shafts and at a rear end to a rear hinge point, and the first link driving a first driving gearwheel which drives a first driven gearwheel mounted on the pivot shaft of the corresponding rear arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.