Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Cover
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-09
2001-09-04
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Cover
C296S107080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283533
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to automobiles that have a convertible top, and, more particularly, to covers especially adapted for covering a top-reception well when the convertible top is retracted.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An automobile that has a convertible top employs a top-reception well far storing the convertible top when the convertible top is in a retracted condition. When the convertible top is in the retracted condition, a cover is often used to cover the top-reception well. Throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to covers for the top-reception wells in automobiles, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,747,928, 3,172,695, 4,600,233, 4,930,833, and 5,322,337. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,928 discloses a cover for a top-reception well which is attached by hinges to a portion of an automobile located behind the top-reception well. When the extendable top is extended, the cover is lifted to allow the extendable top to extend. When the extendable top is extended, the cover is retained in a position wherein the front end of the cover points upward. In such a condition, the cover may be susceptible to being jostled by the wind as the automobile is driven. In this respect, it would be desirable if a cover for a top-reception well were provided that does not point upward when the extendable top is extended.
Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,172,695, 4,930,833, and 5,322,337 discloses a cover for a top-reception well which is removed from the vicinity of the top reception well when the extendable top is extended. Once the cover is removed, a place must be located for its storage. Moreover, a cyclic process of cover removal, storage, and replacement needs to be undertaken when such a removal cover is employed. To avoid the cycle of cover removal, storage, and replacement, it would be desirable if a cover for a top-reception well were provided which is not completely removed from the vicinity of the top-reception well when the extendable top is extended.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,233 discloses a cover for a top-reception well which employs a rod which extends across and behind the cover. To avoid the complexities associated with the rod and the support structures for the rod, it would be desirable if a cover for a top-reception well were provided which does not employ a rod located across and behind the cover.
Still other features would be desirable in a boot cover apparatus. For example, when an extendable top is being extended, it would be desirable if the boot cover were automatically lifted from covering the top-reception well. In addition, when the extendable top is extended, it would be desirable if the boot cover were automatically moved from a position in which it covers the top reception well to a position in which it is stored while the extendable top is extended.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use boot covers for covering the top-reception well of an automobile when the extendable top is retracted, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a boot cover apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) provides a cover for a top-reception well that does not point upward when the extendable top is extended; (2) is not completely removed from the vicinity of the top-reception well when the extendable top is extended; (3) does not employ a rod located across and behind the cover; (4) provides a boot cover which is automatically lifted from covering the top-reception well when the extendable top is extended; and (5) provides a boot cover which is automatically moved from a position in which it covers the top-reception well to a position in which it is stored when the extendable top is extended. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique boot cover apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a boot cover apparatus for an extendable top that is contained in a top-reception well in a motor vehicle. The boot cover apparatus includes a flexible cover member which includes a front cover end and a rear cover end. The front cover end is attached to a wall portion of the top-reception well. A first hook or loop connector is attached to the rear cover end, and a second loop or hook connector attached to a portion of the extendable top. The first hook or loop connector is connected to the second loop or hook connector when the extendable top is contracted into the top-reception well.
The cover member includes side wings that extend transversely from the cover member. The rear cover end includes a stiffener member onto which the first hook or loop connector is attached.
The extendable top includes a top bow, and the second loop or hook connector is attached to the top bow. A back of a seat forms the wall portion of the top-reception well to which the front cover end of the cover member is attached.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such boot cover apparatus available to the buying public.
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatus which provides a cover for a top-reception well that does not point upward when the extendable top is extended.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatus that is not completely removed from the vicinity of the top-reception well when the extendable top is extended.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boot cover apparatu
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
LandOfFree
Boot cover apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Boot cover apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boot cover apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2537092