Convertible roof system with dampening device
OwnerChristopher J. Dilluvioinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A convertible roof includes a segmented pair of front roof rails that in-fold when being retracted, thereby reducing the packaging space required to stow the convertible roof. The in-folding of the segmented front roof rails is controlled by linkages between the segmented portions and the number one roof bow and synchronizes and constrains the in-folding of the segmented front roof rails. A dampening device is utilized to dampen a portion of the movement of the top stack mechanism between extended and retracted positions.
Claims39
A convertible roof system comprising:
- a roof member movable between a raised and stowed position;
- at least one link coupled to the roof member and operable to move the roof member between the raised and stowed positions;
- and
- a dampening device coupled to the at least one link and operable to dampen a portion of the movement of the roof member from the raised position to the stowed position and to dampen a portion of the movement of the roof member from the stowed position to the raised position.
A method of operating a convertible roof between raised and stowed positions, the method comprising:
- (a) moving a member of the convertible roof between the raised position and the stowed position;
- (b) dampening a portion of the movement of the convertible roof member from the raised position to the stowed position;
- and
- (c) dampening a portion of the movement of the convertible roof member from the stowed position to the raised position.
A convertible roof system comprising:
- a roof member movable between a raised position and a stowed position;
- at least one link coupled to the roof member and operable to move the roof member between the raised and stowed positions;
- and
- at least one dampening device coupled to the at least one link and operable to dampen a portion of the movement of the roof member from the raised position to the stowed position and dampen a portion of the movement of the roof member from the stowed position to the raised position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.