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US 7,841,643 B2Granted
Operating linkage assembly for a movable roof
AssigneeMagna Car Top Systems GmbH
InventorsTobias Kober, Gernot Bruder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A folding roof linkage assembly includes front and rear frames and first and second arms. The front frame has a rear portion extending at an acute angle therefrom and having front and rear ends. The rear frame has a front portion extending perpendicularly therefrom and having bottom and top ends. The first arm has a front end pivotally connected to the front end of the front frame and a rear end pivotally connected to the bottom end of the rear frame. The second arm has a front end pivotally connected to the rear end of the front frame and a rear end pivotally connected to the top end of the rear frame. The front frame is movable between a closed position in which the frames extend from one another and an opened position in which the front frame folds over the rear frame.
Claims18
A linkage assembly for a folding roof, the linkage assembly comprising:
- a front frame element having a rear end portion extending at an acute angle therefrom, the rear end portion having a front end joined to the front frame element and a rear end;
- a rear frame element having a front end portion extending substantially at a right angle therefrom, the front end portion having a bottom end joined to the rear frame element and a top end;
- a first linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the front end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the bottom end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- a second linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the rear end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the top end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- and
- a control rod having a front end connected to the front frame element such that pulling movement of the front end of the control rod towards the rear frame element when the front frame element is in the closed position causes the front frame element to move to the opened position and such that pushing movement of the front end of the control rod away from the rear frame element when the front frame element is in the opened position causes the front frame element to move to the closed position;
- wherein the front frame element is movable relative to the rear frame element via the pivotal connections of the linkage arms and the end portions of the frame elements between a closed position in which the frame elements are extended from one another along a longitudinal direction and an opened position in which the front frame element is folded over the rear frame element with the rear end portion of the front frame element being folded over the front end portion of the rear frame element.
4 more elements
A linkage assembly for a folding roof, the linkage assembly comprising:
- a front frame element having a rear end portion extending at an acute angle therefrom, the rear end portion having a front end joined to the front frame element and a rear end;
- a rear frame element having a front end portion extending substantially at a right angle therefrom, the front end portion having a bottom end joined to the rear frame element and a top end;
- a first linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the front end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the bottom end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- a second linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the rear end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the top end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- and
- a stop between the frame elements;
- wherein the front frame element is movable relative to the rear frame element via the pivotal connections of the linkage arms and the end portions of the frame elements between a closed position in which the frame elements are extended from one another along a longitudinal direction and an opened position in which the front frame element is folded over the rear frame element with the rear end portion of the front frame element being folded over the front end portion of the rear frame element.
4 more elements
A linkage assembly for a folding roof, the linkage assembly comprising:
- a front frame element having a rear end portion extending at an acute angle therefrom, the rear end portion having a front end joined to the front frame element and a rear end;
- a rear frame element having a front end portion extending substantially at a right angle therefrom, the front end portion having a bottom end joined to the rear frame element and a top end;
- a first linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the front end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the bottom end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- and
- a second linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the rear end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the top end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- wherein the front frame element is movable relative to the rear frame element via the pivotal connections of the linkage arms and the end portions of the frame elements between a closed position in which the frame elements are extended from one another along a longitudinal direction and an opened position in which the front frame element is folded over the rear frame element with the rear end portion of the front frame element being folded over the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- wherein the rear end portion of the front frame element includes a sole plate in the region of the first linkage arm and the front end portion of the rear frame element includes a sole plate in the region of the second linkage arm;
- the linkage assembly further comprising a stop between the sole plates.
5 more elements
A folding roof for a vehicle, the folding roof comprising:
- a soft top cover;
- a plurality of bows;
- a first linkage assembly extending along a first longitudinal side;
- a second linkage assembly extending along a second opposite longitudinal side;
- wherein the bows extend between the linkage assemblies with the soft top cover thereon;
- wherein each linkage assembly includes a front frame element, a rear frame element, a first linkage arm, and a second linkage arm;
- wherein the front frame element has a rear end portion extending at an acute angle therefrom, the rear end portion having a front end joined to the front frame element and a rear end, the rear frame element having a front end portion extending substantially at a right angle therefrom, the front end portion having a bottom end joined to the rear frame element and a top end;
- wherein the first linkage arm has a front end and a rear end, the front end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the front end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the bottom end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- and
- wherein the second linkage arm has a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the rear end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the top end of the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- wherein the front frame element is movable relative to the rear frame element via the pivotal connections of the linkage arms and the end portions of the frame elements between a closed position in which the frame elements are extended from one another along a longitudinal direction and an opened position in which the front frame element is folded over the rear frame element with the rear end portion of the front frame element being folded over the front end portion of the rear frame element;
- wherein each linkage assembly includes a control rod having a front end connected to the front frame element such that pulling movement of the front end of the control rod towards the rear frame element when the front frame element is in the closed position causes the front frame element to move to the opened position and such that pushing movement of the front end of the control rod away from the rear frame element when the front frame element is in the opened position causes the front frame element to move to the closed position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.