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US 7,118,160 B2Granted
Soft-top convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorMichael T Willard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preferred embodiment of a convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle includes a convertible roof that covers the vehicle essentially from a front header to a rearmost body panel. A further aspect of the present invention provides a forward top stack linkage mechanism, which when actuated, moves a forwardmost roof bow in such a manner that a surface of the roof bow faces upwardly when the top stack is positioned in an extended position and in a retracted position.
Claims53
An automotive convertible roof, top stack linkage mechanism comprising:
- a forwardmost roof bow having a surface that faces upwardly when in its fully extended position;
- a balance link;
- a first roof rail having a first end pivotally attached to the balance link;
- a second roof rail having a first end pivotally attached to a second end of the first roof rail and a second end pivotally attached to the roof bow;
- a first actuating link having one end pivotally attached to the second roof rail;
- a first control link having one end pivotally attached to the roof bow and another end pivotally attached to the first actuating link;
- a second control link having one end pivotally attached to the first roof rail and another end pivotally attached to the first actuating link;
- and
- a second actuating link having an end pivotally attached to a second end of the first actuating link and another end pivotally attached to the balance link;
- wherein the upper surface of the forwardmost roof bow continues to face upwardly when in its fully retracted position.
7 more elements
An automotive convertible roof, folding mechanism comprising:
- a drive link pivotally attached to a first pivot point;
- a balance link pivotally attached to a second pivot point;
- a supplemental link pivotally attaching the drive link to the balance link;
- a back window control link pivotally attached to a third pivot point;
- and
- a back window drive link having one end section pivotally coupled to the balance link and another end section pivotally coupled to the back window control link.
3 more elements
A convertible roof comprising:
- a drive link;
- a balance link;
- a first roof rail pivotally attached to the balance link and the drive link;
- a second roof rail coupled to the first roof rail;
- a scissor linkage mechanism having at least two links pivotally attached to one another, with an end of one link pivotally attached to the second roof rail and an end of the other link pivotally attached to the first roof rail;
- and
- a control link pivotally attached to the drive link and the scissor linkage mechanism.
4 more elements
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body having a windshield header and a substantially vertical and rearmost body panel, the body further having a passenger compartment and a storage compartment, the storage compartment being accessible from and being rearward of the passenger compartment;
- a tailgate movably coupled to the vehicle body to allow access to the storage compartment regardless of the position of the roof, the storage compartment being operable to hold miscellaneous and even non-roof objects;
- a convertible roof covering the passenger and storage compartments, and extending essentially from the windshield header to the rearmost body panel when in a raised position;
- and
- a forwardmost roof bow attached to the roof, the roof bow having an upper surface that remains upwardly facing when in both its raised and retracted positions.
2 more elements
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body having a windshield header and a substantially vertical and rearmost body panel, the body further having a passenger compartment and a storage compartment, the storage compartment being rearward of the passenger compartment;
- a convertible roof covering the passenger and storage compartments, and extending essentially from the windshield header to the rearmost body panel when in a raised position;
- and
- a forwardmost roof bow attached to the roof, the roof bow having an upper surface that remains upwardly facing when in both its raised and retracted positions;
- and
- a back window and side windows attached to the roof.
3 more elements
An automotive convertible roof comprising:
- a pliable roof cover;
- a forwardmost roof bow attached to the cover;
- a number four roof bow supporting the cover;
- and
- a rigid back window;
- the roof cover, roof bows and back window all being movable between raised and retracted positions;
- and
- the number four roof bow always moving with and being supported by the back window.
5 more elements
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body having a windshield header and a substantially vertical and rearmost body panel, the body further having a passenger compartment and a storage compartment, the storage compartment being rearward of the passenger compartment;
- a convertible roof covering the passenger and storage compartments, and extending essentially from the windshield header to the rearmost body panel when in a raised position;
- a back window and side windows attached to the roof;
- and
- a forwardmost section of the roof being substantially flush with a beltline of the vehicle body when in its retracted position.
2 more elements
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body having a windshield header and a substantially vertical and rearmost body panel, the body further having a passenger compartment and a storage compartment, the storage compartment being accessible from and being rearward of the passenger compartment;
- a convertible roof covering the passenger and storage compartments, and extending essentially from the windshield header to the rearmost body panel when in a raised position;
- and
- a back window and side windows attached to the roof, the roof being of a soft-top variety;
- wherein the storage compartment operably receives the roof when in its retracted position;
- and
- wherein the storage compartment is configured to receive miscellaneous removable objects even when the roof is in its retracted position.
4 more elements
An automotive convertible roof, folding mechanism comprising:
- a first link pivotally attached to a first location;
- a second link pivotally attached to a second location;
- a supplemental link pivotally attaching the first link to the second link;
- a third back window link pivotally attached to a third location;
- and
- a fourth back window link having one end section pivotally coupled to the second link and another end section pivotally coupled to the third back window link.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.