Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-25
2001-12-11
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C296S116000, C296S107090, C296S107010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328372
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adjustable vehicle roof having a folding top, and more particularly, to a roof whose folding top can be adjusted between a closed position and a deposited position with a folding top linkage and a folding top covering material, with a material holding bow which is assigned to the folding top linkage and which, in the closed position of the folding top, rests on a rearward, vehicle-body-side component and applies tension to the folding top covering material, with a tensioning hoop which acts upon the material holding bow in the closed position and which is supported on the folding top linkage and has an articulation arrangement with at least one hinge axis transversely arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the articulation arrangement being constructed as over-dead-center kinematics.
DE 41 23 516 C1 describes a folding top comprising a plurality of roof frames, bows and hoops assigned to the folding top linkage. The folding top linkage is adjustable by adjusting kinematics between a closed position covering the vehicle interior and a deposited position opening up the vehicle interior. The folding top is deposited in a storage space behind the occupant compartment. In order to ensure that, in the closed position, the folding top covering material is under tension and rests on the folding top linkage, a material holding bow is provided in the rearward area of the vehicle roof and rests in the closed position of the folding top on the folding top compartment lid covering the storage space.
The known material holding bow is connected with the folding top covering material and acts upon the covering material by way of a tension which tightens the material. In order to prevent, as a reaction to the tensioning of the material, in the closed position, the material holding bow lifting off the folding top compartment lid, the material holding bow is held by a locking device on the vehicle body in its position in which it rests on the folding top compartment lid. The locking device consists of a snap lock which, in the closed position of the folding top, causes a locking of the material holding bow with the folding top compartment lid. In order to be able to erect the material holding bow during the transition movement of the folding top from the closed into the deposited position and to be able to open the folding top compartment lid, the snap lock can be unlocked by an electric-motor-driven actuator.
Although such locking devices between the material holding bow and a vehicle-body-side component are characterized by a high transmission of force and correspondingly a secure locking between the bow and the vehicle body, providing the possibility of subjecting the folding top to a high tension in the closed position, the locking device comprises a plurality of components which must be remote-controlled. The functions of the locking device as well as of the adjusting kinematics of the vehicle folding top must therefore be coordinated. Another problem is the fact that, particularly in the deposited position of the folding top, the vehicle-side locking devices become visible and may impair the overall appearance of the vehicle.
The type-forming DE 297 12 706 U1 describes a folding top whose folding top covering material is held under tension by a material holding bow in the closed position of the folding top. The material holding bow is acted upon by a tensioning hoop into which an articulated arrangement is placed which takes up an over-dead-center position in the closed position of the folding top.
Although the over-dead-center position provides a stable position of the tensioning hoop in the closed position of the vehicle roof, the stable position can be maintained only as long as no unacceptably high disturbance forces act upon the articulated arrangement in the tensioning hoop, which may be caused, for example, by the air stream at higher speeds and may be amplified particularly by a wear-caused play in the articulated arrangement. Thus, in the case of this arrangement, there is the risk that the tensioning hoop may accidentally buckle in its articulated arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to close off the folding top of a vehicle roof of this type in the closed position in a windtight and watertight manner. This solution should permit a free design of the shape of the vehicle body to the extent possible.
According to the present invention, this object has been achieved by providing that, in the closed position, the tensioning hoop is loaded by means of a tensioning cable, which is fastened exclusively on the folding top linkage, into the over-dead-center-position of the over-dead-center kinematics, in that the end of the tensioning cable facing away from the material holding bow is held by way of a tension spring on a bow of the folding top linkage.
According to the novel vehicle roof of the present invention, the material holding bow, which is part of the folding top linkage and, in the closed position of the folding top, rests on the rearward vehicle-body-side component of the vehicle, is held by a fin hoop or tensioning hoop in its position resting on the vehicle body component. Thereby, on one hand, the material tension acting upon the material holding bow will not be capable of releasing the material holding bow from its position on the vehicle body component and, on the other hand, a sufficiently high material tension can be generated by the material holding bow. In this case, the tensioning bow is supported on the folding top linkage so that no additional connections are required, particularly no locking elements, to the vehicle body.
The support of the tensioning hoop on the folding top linkage is sufficient for a stabilization of the material holding bow so that locking elements in the vehicle body, which impair the appearance, can be eliminated without impairing the function of the folding top. The folding top linkage with the tensioning hoop, which stabilizes the material holding bow, forms a system which is closed in itself with respect to forces, so that the vehicle body has to absorb no tension forces for the tensioning of the folding top.
According to an advantageous embodiment, in the closed position, the tensioning hoop extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In a customary manner, the folding top linkage unfolds during the closing of the folding top in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and simultaneously tensions the covering material of the folding top. In this case, the tensioning hoop aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can optimally absorb tension forces and relieve the material holding bow from these forces or stabilize it.
The tensioning hoop has an articulation arrangement with at least one hinge axis transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The articulation arrangement is constructed as over-dead-center kinematics. In this embodiment, the tensioning hoop is loaded in the closed position of the folding top into its over-dead-center position in order to ensure that the tensioning hoop does not buckle when the material is tensioned and is accidentally adjusted in the direction of the deposited position. The over-dead-center kinematics permit the holding of the tensioning hoop in a stable position in the closed position of the folding top with a relatively low force.
Furthermore, a tensioning cable is provided which acts upon the tensioning hoop in the closed position and which imposes a holding force upon the tension hoop in the closed position of the folding top in order to prevent an unintentional snapping-back of the tensioning hoop. In order to avoid introductions of force into the vehicle body, the tensioning cable is fastened exclusively to the folding top linkage so that a loop of forces is implemented which is limited to the folding top linkage. The end of the tensioning cable facing away from the material holding bow is held by way of a tension spring
Crowell & Moring LLP
CTS Fahrzeug - Dachsysteme GmbH
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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