Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-08
2001-11-13
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C296S107010, C296S107170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315349
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a convertible car.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In prior art, a convertible is known which comprises a folding hard top with a top mechanism pivotally connected to the vehicle body. By means of the top mechanism, the hard top can be moved between a position in which it covers the passenger compartment, hereinafter called the first position, and a position in which the top has been folded down into a boot behind the passenger compartment, hereinafter called the second position. The hard top comprises substantially rigid top panels connected to the top mechanism, which cover the passenger compartment when the top is in the raised first position. These top panels comprise a forward top panel, whose front edge is set against the windscreen frame when the top is in its first position. The top panels further comprise a rearward top panel provided with a rear window and placed rearward of the forward top panel, the rear edge of the forward top panel being hinged on the front edge of the rearward top panel so as to allow the forward top panel to turn about a horizontal first hinge axis.
A problem with this type of prior-art convertibles provided with a folding hard top is that, when the top is in its second position lowered into the boot, there is hardly any space left over for luggage at all because the top takes up the whole space. This problem is not encountered in convertibles provided with a folding hard top and having only front seats and in which the passenger space behind the front seats is used as a stowage for the hard top. However, when the passenger compartment contains both front seats and a back seat as in four-seat convertibles and the back seat is to be usable even when the top is in the open position, then it is necessary to provide a stowage for the lowered top in the conventional luggage compartment, which means that there is actually no luggage space left over. From a prior-art convertible, a solution is known in which a low space is provided below the top lowered into a boot, between the hard top and the bottom of the boot, in which space it is possible to load luggage by pushing the luggage horizontally into said space. However, this solution does not permit normal loading of luggage from above.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.
The convertible of the invention is characterized by what is presented in claim
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the forward top panel comprises a first cut-out formed in its rear end and extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle through a substantial part of the width of the forward top panel, the front edge of said first cut-out being located in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle at a first distance from a first hinge axis forward of said axis. The rearward top panel comprises a second cut-out formed in its front end and extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle through a substantial part of the width of the rearward top panel, the rear edge of said second cut-out being located in the lengthwise direction at a second distance from the first hinge axis rearward of said axis. The top panels comprise a middle top panel, which is hinged on the rearward top panel near the rear edge of the second cut-out so as to allow it to turn about a horizontal second hinge axis, said middle top panel being fitted to cover the opening formed by the successive first and second cut-outs when the top is in the first position. When the top is being folded down from the first position to the second position, the middle top panel turns away from the opening into a position between the forward top panel and the rearward top panel, and when the top is in the second position in the boot, the first cut-out and the second cut-out are placed one above the other in alignment with each other, so that a luggage space is formed in the rear part of the boot in the area of the cut-outs.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the first distance and the second distance are substantially equal.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the second cut-out is substantially of the same shape and size as the first cut-out, corresponding to it like a mirror image.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the convertible comprises a cover fitted to cover the boot, said cover comprising a rear end near which the cover is hinged on the rear part of the vehicle body so that it can turn about a horizontal third hinge axis. The cover comprises a third cut-out formed in its rearward area and fitted to be substantially directly above the luggage space so as to provide access to the luggage space.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the convertible comprises a boot lid hinged on the body and fitted to cover the luggage space.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the top mechanism moving the top panels comprises a number of articulated arms and a power means for moving the top mechanism.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the articulated arms and power means are disposed on both sides of the convertible.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the articulated arms and power means are disposed on one side of the convertible.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the articulated arm moving the middle top panel is disposed on a different side of the vehicle in relation to the articulated arms moving the forward top panel and the rearward top panel.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the luggage space is separated from the boot by a partition.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the boot lid is hinged on the partition.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the partition comprises an aperture allowing the boot to be accessed via the luggage space and used as an extension of the luggage space when the top is in the first position.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the passenger compartment of the convertible is provided with front seats and a back seat behind the front seats.
In an embodiment of the convertible, the forward top panel comprises a locking device for locking the forward top panel and the middle top panel together when the top is in the closed first position.
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Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
Valmet Automotive Oy
Young & Thompson
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