Foldable roof having a locking system for a convertible vehicle

A foldable roof for a convertible vehicle comprising a body structure, said roof comprising at least a first roof element and a second roof element adapted to cover a passenger compartment of the vehicle, in a first, extended position, and to be folded back one towards the other to a second folded position in which said passenger compartment is at least partially uncovered, said first and second roof elements having a longitudinal axis and each having a first transversal edge and a second transversal edge that are longitudinally opposed and transverse to said longitudinal axis, the first and second roof elements being connected to one another by a first articulation which guides relative movements therebetween, so that in the first extended position, the second transversal edge of the first roof element and the first transversal edge of the second roof element come substantially into contact, the second roof element further comprising a second articulation for being articulated with respect to the body structure of the vehicle, wherein:

• the first roof element comprises, towards its first and second tranversal edges, respectively first reversible locking means and second reversible locking means,
• said second reversible locking means are, in the first extended position of the roof and in a locked state, inserted into additional locking means located towards the first transversal edge of the second roof element, and
• the first roof element further comprises first and second support means respectively located towards its first and second edges to suspend it both in its first extended position as in its second folded position.

A foldable roof for a convertible vehicle comprising a body structure, said roof comprising at least a first roof element and a second roof element adapted to cover a passenger compartment of the vehicle, in a first, extended position, and to be folded back one towards the other to a second folded position in which said passenger compartment is at least partially uncovered, said first and second roof elements having a longitudinal axis and each having a first transversal edge and a second transversal edge that are longitudinally opposed and transverse to said longitudinal axis, the first and second roof elements being connected to one another by a first articulation which guides relative movements therebetween, so that in the first extended position, the second transversal edge of the first roof element and the first transversal edge of the second roof element come substantially into contact, the second roof element further comprising a second articulation for being articulated with respect to the body structure of the vehicle, wherein the first roof element comprises first and second support means respectively located towards its first and second edges, which both protrude from said first and second transversal edges, respectively, and which are adapted, depending on whether the roof is open or closed, to bear on additional support means provided on the body structure and the second roof element, respectively, to suspend accordingly and directly the first roof element, both in its first extended position as in its second folded position.

A convertible vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a front edge and a rear edge, and comprising:

• a passenger compartment,
• a body structure,
• a foldable roof comprising a plurality of roof elements covering the passenger compartment when the roof is in a closed position and adapted to be folded to an opened folded position in which at least part of the passenger compartment is exposed, said plurality of roof elements comprising, in the closed position, a front roof element located in front of a rear roof element, the front and rear roof elements each having, in the closed position of the roof, a front edge and a rear edge and that are linked to one another by at least a first articulation which guides relative movements therebetween, so that in the closed roof position, the rear edge of the front roof element and the front edge of the rear roof element come substantially into contact, the rear roof element being further articulated with respect to the body structure of the vehicle by at least a second articulation, and the front roof element comprising, towards its front and rear edges, respectively first reversible locking means and second reversible locking means, the second reversible locking means being, in the closed roof position and in a locked state, inserted into additional locking means located towards the front edge of the rear roof element and the first and second reversible locking means being, in the opened folded position of the roof and in a locked state, inserted into additional locking means connected to said body structure, the rear roof element being, in this opened folded roof position, held in place by said first and second articulations wherein the front roof element further comprises at least one of the following a) and b) means including:
• a) first and second support means located respectively towards its front and rear edges and which bear on additional support means of one of the body structure and the rear roof element, depending on whether the roof is open or closed, so that said front roof element is on the one hand positioned by the support means and on the other hand locked by said locking means, and,
• b) first and second centring means located respectively towards the front edge and the rear edge of said front roof element, the second centring means being, in the closed roof position and in the locked state of the second reversible locking means, inserted into first additional centring means located towards the front edge of the rear roof element, and the first and second centring means being, in the opened folded roof position and in the locked state of the first and second reversible locking means, inserted into second additional centring means connected to the body structure of the vehicle.

A convertible vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a front edge and a rear edge, and comprising:

• a passenger compartment,
• a body structure,
• a foldable roof comprising a plurality of roof elements covering the passenger compartment when the roof is in a closed position and adapted to be folded to an opened folded position in which at least part of the passenger compartment is exposed, said plurality of roof elements comprising, in the closed position, a front roof element located in front of a rear roof element, the front and rear roof elements each having, in the closed position of the roof, a front edge and a rear edge and that are linked to one another by at least a first articulation which guides relative movements therebetween, so that in the closed roof position, the rear edge of the front roof element and the front edge of the rear roof element come substantially into contact, the rear roof element being further articulated with respect to the body structure of the vehicle by at least a second articulation, the front roof element comprising first centring means and second centring means located respectively towards its front edge and its rear edge, the second centring means being, in the closed roof position, inserted into first additional centring means located towards the front edge of the rear roof element, and the first and second centring means being, in the opened folded roof position, inserted into second additional centring means connected to the body structure of the vehicle.

A convertible vehicle having a longitudinal axis, a front edge and a rear edge, and comprising:

• a passenger compartment,
• a body structure,
• a foldable roof comprising a plurality of roof elements covering the passenger compartment when the roof is in a closed position and adapted to be folded to an opened folded position in which at least part of the passenger compartment is exposed, said plurality of roof elements comprising, in the closed position, a front roof element located in front of a rear roof element, the front and rear roof elements each having, in the closed position of the roof, a front edge and a rear edge and that are linked to one another by at least a first articulation which guides relative movements therebetween, so that in the closed roof position, the rear edge of the front roof element and the front edge of the rear roof element come substantially into contact, the rear roof element being further articulated with respect to the body structure of the vehicle by at least a second articulation, the front roof element comprising first and second support means located respectively towards its front and rear edges, which both protrude from said first and second transversal edges, respectively, and, depending on whether the roof is open or closed, which bear on additional support means provided on the body structure and the rear roof element, respectively, to directly suspend accordingly the first roof element on said additional support means, both in its closed position as in its opened folded position.