Foldable tops for convertible vehicles

A convertible vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle body defining a window shoulder line along its upper edge,
• a foldable roof movably supported by the vehicle body and having a rigid, rear window disposed within a rear roof portion, the foldable roof being movable between a roof open position and a roof closed position, and the foldable roof being arranged and constructed to be stored within the vehicle body and below the window shoulder line when the foldable roof is disposed in the roof open position, and
• at least first and second tensioning bow portions extending substantially laterally with respect to the rear window and substantially in parallel with a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein a first end of each tensioning bow portion is pivotably coupled to the vehicle body, a second end of each tensioning bow portion is pivotably coupled to the rear window, a gap is defined between the tensioning bow portions proximal to a lower edge of the rear window and the tensioning bow portions are arranged and constructed to apply a stretching force across a rear portion of a roof cover when the roof is disposed in the roof closed position.

An apparatus comprising:

• a foldable roof having a roof cover and a rear window disposed within a rear roof portion of the roof cover,
• first and second tensioning bow portions arranged and constructed to apply a stretching force across lower, rear, side portions of the roof cover when the roof is disposed in a roof closed position, a first end of each tensioning bow portion being pivotably coupled to the rear window and a second end of each tensioning bow portion being arranged and constructed to be pivotably attached to a convertible vehicle body, and
• a flexible water channel having a first wall, a second wall and a trough defined between the first and second walls, wherein the first wall is arranged and constructed to be attached to the convertible vehicle body, and wherein a central portion of the second wall is coupled to the rear window and outer portions of the second wall are respectively coupled to the first and second tensioning bow portions.

An apparatus comprising:

• a foldable roof comprising a roof cover and a rear window supported within a rear roof portion, the foldable roof being arranged and constructed to be pivotably coupled to a vehicle body so as to be movable between a roof open position and a roof closed position, and
• first and second tensioning bow portions pivotably connected to opposite lateral sides of the rear window and respectively extending proximal to a lower edge of side portions of the foldable roof, wherein no tensioning bow is provided within a lower, rear section of the foldable roof defined by first and second vertically extending edges of the rear window such that a space between the first and second tensioning bow portions is defined within the lower, rear section of the foldable roof, and wherein the first and second tensioning bow portions are arranged and constructed to apply a stretching force across a rear portion of the roof cover when the foldable roof is disposed in the roof closed position.