Convertible roof bow tensioning apparatus

#This invention relates generally to automotive vehicle convertible roofs and more particularly to a convertible roof bow tensioning apparatus.

#Traditional soft-top convertible roofs for automotive vehicles typically employ four or five roof bows spanning transversely across the vehicle for supporting a vinyl, canvas or polyester fiber, pliable roof cover. The roof bows extend between foldable side rails which can be automatically or manually raised and lowered. Many conventional soft-top convertible roofs inherently drift due to the stretched fabric cover pulling the forwardmost number one roof bow in an unintended and undesired rearward direction away from the front header when the roof is raised. This drifting situation is especially apparent in new convertible roofs or in cold weather. Accordingly, the vehicle occupant must then physically pull down upon a handle attached to the number one roof bow and hold it against the front header panel for subsequent manual latching, or an automated latch is employed with a difficult to package, extended reach. This drifting problem is also present between a rearmost or number five roof bow and an adjacent tonneau cover, when a hard-tonneau cover is employed to cover the convertible roof boot well. The stretched fabric cover tends to pull the number five roof bow in a forward manner thereby causing it to drift away from the mating tonneau cover. This five bow drift situation is inconvenient to remedy due to the difficulty of an occupant accessing this rear area when seated in the front seat.

#Notwithstanding, the following U.S. patents disclose various systems which attempt to minimize the drift concern: U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,948 entitled “Convertible Roof Actuation Mechanism” which issued to Lange et al. on Dec. 7, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,119 entitled “Convertible Roof Actuation Mechanism” which issued to Laurain et al. on May 11, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,381 entitled “Vehicle Roofs” which issued to Moore et al. on Jan. 31, 1995; these patents are incorporated by reference herein. While the Lange et al. and Laurain et al. patents are significant improvements in the field, further refinement of a convertible roof bow tensioning configuration is desirable in order to reduce packaging size and cost while improving performance and locational placement.

#FIGS. 1 and 2 are fragmentary perspective views showing a first preferred embodiment of a convertible roof apparatus of the present invention;

#FIGS. 3 and 4 are side diagrammatic views showing the first preferred embodiment convertible roof apparatus in fully raised and partially retracted positions, respectively;

#FIGS. 5 and 6 are side diagrammatic views showing the first preferred embodiment convertible roof apparatus in advanced-taut and retracted-slack conditions, respectively;

#An automotive vehicle 51 having a convertible roof system of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1–3. The convertible roof system employs a convertible roof 53 defined by a foldable top stack mechanism 55 which is externally covered by a pliable or flexible, soft-top cover 57, and a glass or PVC backlite or back window 59. Top stack mechanism 55 will be described hereinafter with regard to the right-hand side of the automotive vehicle as the majority of components are in mirrored symmetry on the left-hand side. Top stack mechanism 55 includes a front side roof rail 61, a center side roof rail 63 and a rear side roof rail 65. Side rails 61, 63 and 65 are all structural members which are elongated in a primarily fore-and-aft direction when in the fully raised position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5. FIG. 4 illustrates top stack mechanism 55 in a partially raised/partially retracted position.

#A pivotal hinge 71 and a pair of pivotally coupled, diagonal links 73 and 75 define a four-bar B-pivot joint 77 between front side rail 61 and center side rail 63. A control link 79 has a first end pivotally coupled at the intersection of diagonal links 73 and 75 and has an opposite end pivotally connected to an upper and forward corner of rear side rail 65. An elongated balance link 81 has a first end pivotally coupled to a rearwardly projecting arm 83 extending from center side rail 63. An opposite end of balance link 81 has a pivot 85 pivotally coupled to a stationary bracket 87 affixed to an inner quarter panel of the vehicle body 89 or the like. Thus, the intersections between control link 79 to rear side rail 65 and arm 83 of center side rail 63 to balance link 81 define a C-pivot joint 91 between center side rail 63 and rear side rail 65. A reinforcement 93 has an upper end securely affixed to a lower section of rear side rail 65. An opposite end of reinforcement 93 is securely mounted to a sector gear 95, which in turn, is enmeshed with an output gear 97 automatically driven by an electric motor actuator 99. Alternately, top stack mechanism 55 can be automatically driven by a hydraulic actuator or even manually driven by the vehicle user without an actuator. A D-pivot joint 100 is defined at the lower interface between rear side rail 65 and bracket 87 rotatably coupled thereto.

#A forwardmost and number one roof bow 101 extends in a primarily cross-vehicle direction. Similarly, a number two roof bow 103 extends between the right-hand and left-hand side rail assemblies adjacent B-joint 77. Additionally number two 103, number three 104 and number four 106 cross-vehicle roof bows 104 and extend between the roof rail assemblies, and an optional number five roof bow (see FIG. 9) may be provided along the rearmost edge of the convertible roof in an alternate embodiment. All of the roof bows are elongated structural members which support and are attached to pliable cover 57. An A-joint 105 is provided at a pivotal intersection between number one roof bow 101 and front side rail 61 for an outfolding convertible roof. Furthermore, an electric motor actuated, front header latch 153 is mounted to number one bow 101 wherein a latching hook is engagable with a striker mounted to a front header, body panel of the vehicle prior to full tensioning of cover 57.