Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2001-11-06
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C296S107180, C296S107200, C296S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312041
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicles with a retractable roof are currently available based on sedans or coupes referred to as cabriolets.
Rigid roof cabriolets have a typical profile (short roof and trunk) which enables the roof to be retracted into the trunk using technologies known in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to extend the retractable roof facility to horsebox, panel truck or station wagon type vehicles in order to offer open roof options on a rigid roof vehicle base.
The major problem with the above type of vehicle is obviously the profile of the roof area not predisposed to simple retraction offering appropriate criteria of habitability and trunk volume in both positions.
The object of the invention is entirely automatic and on-board roof retraction by simple means degrading neither the habitability of the vehicle nor the volume of the trunk.
The invention therefore provides a retractable roof for horsebox, panel truck or station wagon type vehicles, including a roof extending between the top edge of the windshield and the top edge of an upstanding arch member above the front part of the trunk and an at least partially glazed rear part extending between the arch member and the rear of the trunk.
According to the invention, the roof is in two parts, the first part near the arch member being connected to the lateral part of the vehicle by two articulated arms mobile between an upright position in which said part of the roof is in front of the arch member and a position swung toward the rear in which said arms and said first part of the roof are in the trunk, the second part of the roof being connected to the first part by means for moving the second part of the roof over the first part when the arms swing.
When the two arms swing toward the trunk the two roof parts are moved under the arch member and locate one over the other in the trunk, occupying a small volume thereof.
In a preferred version of the invention said rear part between the arch member and the rear of the trunk pivots about an axis near the rear top edge of the trunk so that it can be swung into the trunk.
The retractable roof preferably includes means for automatically and successively swinging said rear part toward the inside of the trunk, swinging said arms toward the inside of the trunk and simultaneously moving the second part of the roof over the first part.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the course of the following description.
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Guillez Jean-Marc
Queveau Gerard
Queveau Paul
Blankenship Greg
France Design
Gordon Stephen T.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
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