Soft-top convertible roof
AssigneeSpecialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp.
InventorsBradley R. Garska, Christopher J. Dilluvio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A convertible roof includes a segmented rearmost roof bow that has a length that can change during the retraction and extension process. The rearmost roof bow can be segmented such that the pieces can move relative to one another to shorten a length of the rearmost roof bow when being stowed. When in the fully raised and operative position, the sections of the segmented rearmost roof bow can be aligned and form a roof bow having an operative length. In the retracted state, the sections of the segmented rearmost roof bow can be moved relative to one another such that they are no longer aligned and have a length that is less than the operative length when aligned.
Claims26
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising a top stack mechanism moveable between a raised position and a stowed position, said top stack mechanism including:
- a least one longitudinally extending roof rail;
- and
- a plurality of transversely extending roof bows,
- wherein at least one of said roof bows extends rearwardly a first distance when said top stack mechanism is in said raised position and extends rearwardly a second distance less than said first distance when said top stack mechanism is in said stowed position and a portion of said at least one of said roof bows extends rearwardly beyond a vehicle stowage well when said top stack mechanism is in said raised position and is substantially disposed in said vehicle stowage well when said top stack mechanism is in said stowed position;
- wherein said at least one of said roof bows is a segmented roof bow having first and second portions that articulate relative to one another thereby changing a length of said segmented roof bow, and wherein said first and second portions articulate relative to one another during movement of said at least one roof rail.
An automotive vehicle convertible roof comprising:
- a cover;
- a top stack mechanism operable between a raised position and a stowed position, said top stack mechanism being coupled to said cover and including:
- a roof rail;
- a plurality of roof bows;
- and
- a buggy link assembly operable to move at least one of said roof bows between first and second positions while said roof rail remains stationary,
- wherein said roof bow moved by said buggy link assembly is a segmented roof bow having first and second portions that articulate relative to one another thereby changing a length of said segmented roof bow and said first and second portions remain stationary relative to one another when being moved by said buggy link assembly.
A method of operating a convertible roof, the method comprising:
- (a) covering a vehicle passenger compartment with a top stack mechanism in a raised operative position, said top stack mechanism having a roof bow with a first longitudinal length when in said raised position;
- (b) changing a length of said roof bow;
- and
- (c) stowing said top stack mechanism in a stowed position in a stowage well with said roof bow having a second longitudinal length less than said first longitudinal length,
- wherein (b) includes changing said length of said roof bow by moving an entirety of said roof bow from a first position substantially at a vehicle belt line to a second position substantially above said vehicle belt line.
A method of operating a convertible roof, the method comprising:
- aligning first and second portions of a roof bow with one another to have a first longitudinal length when covering a passenger compartment;
- moving said first and second portions relative to one another to be adjacent wherein both the first and second portions extend fore and aft side by side and have a second longitudinal length less than said first longitudinal length when stowed in a stowage well;
- and
- maintaining a roof rail stationary while moving said first and second portions relative to one another.
A method of operating a convertible roof, the method comprising:
- aligning first and second portions of a roof bow with one another to have a first longitudinal length when covering a passenger compartment;
- moving said first and second portions relative to one another to be adjacent wherein both the first and second portions extend fore and aft side by side and have a second longitudinal length less than said first longitudinal length when stowed in a stowage well;
- and
- moving said roof bow from a first generally horizontal position to a second generally vertical position while simultaneously moving said first and second portions relative to one another to be adjacent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.