# US 7,069,633 B2 · Process for replacing a motor-vehicle convertible top > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,069,633 B2 - Document ID: US7069633B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/920,655 - Filed: 2004-08-17 - Published: 2005-09-22 - Granted: 2006-07-04 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-17 - Assignees: Robbins Auto Top Co., Inc. - Inventors: Rosendo Camacho; Mark Randolph Robbins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7069633B2 ## CPC - B60J 1/1815: {non-adjustably mounted in and moving with the soft-top cover} - B60J 7/123: {characterised by means for fastening the soft top cloth to the arches or vehicle body work} - Y10T 29/49718: Repairing - Y10T 29/49721: with disassembling - Y10T 29/4973: Replacing of defective part - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A process for replacing a first soft-top of a convertible-top of a motor vehicle with a second soft-top includes separating the first soft-top from a headliner of the convertible-top and removing the first soft-top from the convertible top. The second soft-top is selected. The second soft-top has a window at least as large as a window of the first soft-top. A plurality of receptacles are fixed to the second soft-top. The second soft-top is attached to the motor vehicle. The second soft-top is connected directly to the headliner by engaging headliner anchors with the receptacles fixed to the second soft-top. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for replacing a first soft-top of a convertible top of a motor vehicle with a second soft-top, comprising the steps of: separating the first soft-top from a headliner of the convertible top; removing the first soft-top from the convertible top; selecting the second soft-top having a window; fixing a plurality of connectors to the second soft-top; attaching the second soft-top to the motor vehicle; and connecting the second soft-top directly to the headliner by engaging headliner anchors with the connectors fixed to the second soft-top. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the fixing step includes the step of aligning the connectors with the headliner anchors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, wherein the aligning step includes the step of aligning a pocket of each connector with a respective one of the anchors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the fixing step includes the step of integrally forming the connectors with the second soft-top. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the fixing step includes the step of adhering the connectors to the second soft-top. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the selecting step includes the step of selecting the window of the second soft-top and securing that window to the second soft-top. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the connecting step includes the step of mechanically connecting the connectors and anchors utilizing a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7, wherein each fastener comprises a flexible clip for gripping and elastically retaining the anchor within a pocket of the respective connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7, wherein each fastener comprises a threaded shaft for matingly engaging a threaded pocket of the respective connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7, wherein each anchor includes a base connected to the headliner and an inverted U-shaped bar connected to the base, and each fastener includes a flexible clip for hooking a respective anchor; wherein free ends of the clip are frictionally retained within a pocket of the connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the fixing step includes the step of placing the plurality of connectors on a portion of the second soft-top covering the window of the second soft-top. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the window of the second soft-top is larger than a window of the first soft-top. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the fixing step includes the step of fixing the plurality of connectors to an edge of the larger window, and the connecting step includes the step of connecting the larger window directly to the headliner by engaging headliner anchors with the connectors fixed to the larger window. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the fixing step includes the step of aligning the connectors with the headliner anchors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The process of claim 14, wherein the aligning step includes the step of aligning a pocket of each connector with a respective one of the anchors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the fixing step includes the step of integrally forming the connectors with the larger window. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the fixing step includes the step of adhering the connectors to the larger window. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the selecting step includes the step of selecting the larger window and securing the larger window to the second soft-top. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13, wherein the connecting step includes the step of mechanically connecting the connectors and anchors utilizing a plurality of fasteners. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein each fastener comprises a flexible clip for gripping and elastically retaining the anchor within a pocket of the respective connector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein each fastener comprises a threaded shaft for matingly engaging a threaded pocket of the respective connector. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The process of claim 19, wherein each anchor includes a base connected to the headliner and an inverted U-shaped bar connected to the base, and each fastener includes a flexible clip for hooking a respective anchor; wherein free ends of the clip are frictionally retained within a pocket of the connector. ### Claim 23 A process for replacing a first soft-top of a convertible top of a motor vehicle with a second soft-top, comprising the steps of: separating the first soft-top from a headliner of the convertible top; removing the first soft-top from the convertible top; selecting the second soft-top having a window; fixing a plurality of connectors to an edge of the window; attaching the second soft-top to the motor vehicle; and connecting the window directly to the headliner by engaging headliner anchors with the connectors fixed to the window; wherein the fixing step includes the step of aligning a pocket of each connector with a respective one of the headliner anchors, the selecting step includes the step of selecting the window and securing the window to the second soft-top, and the connecting step includes the step of mechanically connecting the connectors and anchors utilizing a plurality of fasteners; each fastener comprising a flexible clip for hooking, gripping and elastically retaining a respective anchor within a pocket of the respective connector with free ends of the clip frictionally retained within the pocket, and each anchor includes a base connected to the headliner and an inverted U-shaped bar connected to the base. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the window of the second soft-top is larger than a window of the first soft-top. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the fixing step includes the step of integrally forming the connectors with the window. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The process of claim 23, wherein the fixing step includes the step of adhering the connectors to the window. ### Claim 27 A process for replacing a first soft-top of a convertible top of a motor vehicle with a second soft-top, comprising the steps of: separating the first soft-top from a headliner of the convertible top; removing the first soft-top from the convertible top; selecting the second soft-top having a window; placing a plurality of connectors on a portion of the second soft-top covering the window of the second soft-top; fixing the plurality of connectors to the second soft-top; attaching the second soft-top to the motor vehicle; and connecting the second soft-top directly to the headliner by engaging headliner anchors with the connectors fixed to the second soft-top; wherein the fixing step includes the step of aligning a pocket of each connector with a respective one of the headliner anchors, the selecting step includes the step of selecting the window and securing the window to the second soft-top, and the connecting step includes the step of mechanically connecting the connectors and anchors utilizing a plurality of fasteners; each fastener comprising a flexible clip for hooking, gripping and elastically retaining a respective anchor within a pocket of the respective connector with free ends of the clip frictionally retained within the pocket, and each anchor includes a base connected to the headliner and an inverted U-shaped bar connected to the base. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The process of claim 27, wherein the window of the second soft-top is larger than a window of the first soft-top. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The process of claim 27, wherein the fixing step includes the step of integrally forming the connectors with the second soft-top. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The process of claim 27, wherein the fixing step includes the step of adhering the connectors to the second soft-top.