Retractable pillar for convertible vehicle

An automotive vehicular apparatus comprising:

• a side pillar;
• an automatic actuator operably moving the pillar from an extended position to a retracted position, the automatic actuator operably moving at least part of the pillar in a cross-vehicle direction and below a vehicular beltline when moved between the positions;
• at least one front passenger door;
• at least one rear passenger door;
• a first side window mounted to the front door;
• a second side window mounted to the rear door;
• at least one weatherstrip directly mounted to and movable with the pillar, the at least one weatherstrip contacting against the first and second side windows;
• and
• a convertible roof system including a flexible cover, a linkage mechanism and side rails supporting the cover, wherein the cover, linkage mechanism and side rails are all movable together from a raised position to a lowered position;
• the pillar separating the first and second side windows, when the pillar is in its extended position and the windows are in raised positions, and the pillar contacting against the convertible roof system when the convertible roof system is in its raised position.

An automotive vehicle comprising:

• a stationary and structural, lower pillar member;
• and
• an upper pillar member including a hollow cross-sectional shape;
• the upper pillar member being movable from an extended position substantially above a majority of the pillar lower member to a retracted position withdrawn from the area immediately above the pillar lower member;
• and
• moving at least part of the upper pillar member in a cross-vehicle direction and below a vehicular beltline when moved between the extended and retracted positions.

An automotive vehicle comprising:

• a stationary and structural, lower pillar member;
• and
• an upper pillar member including a hollow cross-sectional shape;
• the upper pillar member being movable from an extended position substantially above a majority of the pillar lower member to a retracted position withdrawn from the area immediately above the pillar lower member;
• at least one front passenger door engaging the lower pillar member when in at least one operating condition;
• at least one rear passenger door engaging the lower pillar member when in at least one operating condition;
• a first side window mounted to and movable relative to the front door;
• a second side window mounted to and movable relative to the rear door;
• at least one weatherstrip directly mounted to and movable with the upper pillar member and contacting against the first and second side windows;
• and
• a convertible roof system including a linkage mechanism and side rails;
• wherein the linkage mechanism and side rails are all movable together from a raised position to a lowered position substantially below a vehicular beltline;
• the upper pillar member separating the first and second side windows when the upper pillar member is in its extended position and the windows are in raised positions.

An automotive vehicle comprising:

• a stationary and structural, lower pillar;
• an upper pillar including a substantially flat cross sectional shape with a greater fore-and-aft dimension than a thickness dimension;
• an attachment formation mounted on the upper pillar;
• the upper pillar being movable from a first position, substantially above a majority of the lower pillar, to a second position;
• a camming guide track coupled to the upper pillar;
• at least one front passenger door engaging the lower pillar member when in at least one orientation;
• at least one rear passenger door engaging the lower pillar member when in at least one orientation;
• a first side window mounted to the front door;
• a second side window mounted to the rear door;
• and
• a convertible roof system movable from a raised position, covering the upper pillar, to a lowered position rearward of the upper pillar.

A vehicular system comprising:

• a pillar segment movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the pillar segment being located rearward of a windshield;
• a convertible roof movable from a raised position above the pillar segment to a lowered position rear of a passenger compartment, the convertible roof including side rails that move with the convertible roof between the raised and lowered positions;
• an automatic actuator operably driving the pillar segment between the extended and retracted positions;
• a microprocessor controller operably energizing the actuator;
• and
• an elongated camming member coupled to the pillar segment;
• wherein the pillar segment is located between front and rear passenger door openings.