Convertible hardtop roof
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorMichael T. Willard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hardtop convertible roof for a vehicle includes rigid panels that are interconnected to one another to selectively cover the passenger compartment. The roof panels rearward of a forwardmost roof panel are directly pivotally connected to a single pair of brackets which are fixedly connected to opposite sides of the vehicle. An interior surface of a third roof panel faces a majority of an exterior surface of a second roof panel when the roof panels are in a stowed position. The rearmost two roof panels form an at least four-bar linkage and a moveable link interconnecting the two panels is positioned between the majority of portions of the rearmost panels and the pivotal connections of these panels to a fixed location.
Claims20
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising:
- at least three substantially rigid roof panels each moveable from a raised position to a stowed position;
- and
- a single pair of mounting brackets operable to be fixedly connected to and positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle,
- wherein each of said roof panels is pivotally connected to said pair of brackets with each roof panel rearward of a forwardmost roof panel being directly pivotally connected to said brackets and a forwardmost two of said roof panels are directly pivotally connected together.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising:
- at least three substantially rigid roof panels each moveable from a raised position to a stowed position;
- and
- a single pair of mounting brackets operable to be fixedly connected to and positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle,
- wherein each of said roof panels is pivotally connected to said pair of brackets with each roof panel rearward of a forwardmost roof panel being directly pivotally connected to said brackets and interior surfaces of a forwardmost two of said roof panels face one another when in said stowed position.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising:
- at least three substantially rigid roof panels each moveable from a raised position to a stowed position;
- and
- a single pair of mounting brackets operable to be fixedly connected to and positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle,
- wherein each of said roof panels is pivotally connected to said pair of brackets with each roof panel rearward of a forwardmost roof panel being directly pivotally connected to said brackets and said forwardmost roof panel is pivotally connected to said brackets with a single pair of moveable links with each link directly coupled to said forwardmost roof panel and to said brackets.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising:
- at least three substantially rigid roof panels each moveable from a raised position to a stowed position;
- a single pair of mounting brackets operable to be fixedly connected to and positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle;
- an actuator operable to move said roof panels between said raised and stowed positions,
- wherein each of said roof panels is pivotally connected to said pair of brackets with each roof panel rearward of a forwardmost roof panel being directly pivotally connected to said brackets and said actuator drives a link connecting a rearwardmost two of said roof panels.
A convertible roof for a vehicle, the convertible roof comprising:
- at least three substantially rigid roof panel assemblies each moveable from a raised position to a stowed position;
- a rearmost two roof panel assemblies each being directly pivotally connected to fixed locations relative to the vehicle;
- and
- a movable link pivotally connected to said rearmost two roof panel assemblies and forming an at least four-bar linkage with said rearmost two roof panel assemblies and said fixed locations,
- said moveable link being pivotally connected to portions of said rearmost two roof panel assemblies that extend between said fixed locations and a leading edge of said rearmost two roof panel assemblies.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising:
- at least three substantially rigid roof panels each moveable from a raised position to a stowed position;
- a moveable link directly pivotally connected to a rearmost two of said roof panels and forming a portion of an at least four-bar linkage with said rearmost two roof panels;
- and
- an actuator operable to move said roof panels between said raised and stowed positions, wherein
- said actuator is directly pivotally connected to said moveable link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.