Convertible top arrangement

Details Convertible top arrangement Convertible top arrangement

2000-08-25

2002-11-26

Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Tops

Let-down type top

C296S146140, C296S147000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06485085

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a convertible top arrangement. More particularly, the invention relates to a convertible top arrangement of the type comprising a top mechanism, which actuates a convertible top and is arranged on a body of the vehicle, a rear window, which is designed to close an aperture in the convertible top when the top mechanism is closed, a rear-window mechanism arranged outside the top mechanism engaging on the rear window and on the body, the rear-window mechanism of the rear window being capable of being lowered outside the convertible top, thereby freeing the aperture, and raised against the convertible top, thereby closing the aperture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Vehicles with cloth tops which allow windows made of plastic to be fitted into the top and removed are known in practice, although the top as such cannot be lowered. These removable windows are scratch-prone transparent plastic panels and fitting or removing them requires a considerable amount of work and, in particular, cannot be carried out while the vehicle is under way.
Also known in practice are all-terrain vehicles and transport vehicles in which the tail essentially forms a vertical end and the rear window is formed essentially vertical and flat, these vehicles allowing the window to be retracted in a guide rail within the paneled tail-flap structure in a manner similar to a side window. Although these known vehicles allow ventilation by means of the retractable rear window, it is not possible to apply this solution to a vehicle with a notch back or hatch back, especially a convertible.
Also known in practice are motor vehicles with a convertible top designed as a hard top, which can be folded as a whole and stowed in a holder arranged in the region of the C-post. However, it is not possible here to lower part of the top to ventilate the interior of the motor vehicle while at the same time retaining the remainder of the top.
It is furthermore known in practice, in addition to the top mechanism driving a pivoted folding top, to provide supporting arrangements for the rear window, which is, in particular, made of glass and inserted permanently into the pivoted top, to prevent sagging of the top due to the weight of the rear window and to stabilize the rear window. These supporting arrangements can only be released when the folding top is to be lowered and do not offer any possibility of ventilating the interior of the motor vehicle.
German laid open publication DE 36 07 650 A1 describes a convertible vehicle with a rear window which is enclosed in a frame, the frame together with the rear window closing the rear window opening in a raised position or opening it in a lowered position. The change in the position of the rear window is accomplished either by means of a handle or a worm/worm gear system, a pair of levers being attached at one end to an upper flange of the frame and at the other hand to a joint provided in a fixed manner on the body, and a second pair of levers being attached to a lower flange of the frame and to a mounting element. Basically, the pairs of levers define a four-joint system. With the flat window inserted, the frame performs a movement essentially along a circular radius and is deposited behind the driver's seat in an almost vertical deposition position. To achieve leaktight contact with the roof structure, the frame, which is what gives the rear window its actual stiffness, is provided with a bulky seal in the form of a strip, which is not provided in the region of the upper edge of the rear window. There is the risk that the window will gradually be displaced out of its position under its own weight and owing to vibrations which occur under way, without the handle being operated. In the case of a motor drive, a special brake should be provided for this purpose, further increasing the outlay for the retractable rear window. It should furthermore be noted that the lever projects at least partially into the passenger compartment and hence performs troublesome movements in the region of the driver's head and that, owing to the type of holder for the rear window, a structure of this kind can fundamentally only be considered for a two-seater convertible.
German patent DE 198 04 101 C1 describes a folding top for convertibles. With this folding top, a rear window rests by means of a frame surrounding the rear window on the outside of a convertible top, a flap provided on the outer frame being capable of assuming a position which deviates from the plane of the window and being pivotable about 90° to allow it to be swung behind the convertible top, parallel to the frame, and hence to hold the window together with the frame. The window is opened by pivoting the flap upward and swinging the window outward by about 135° by means of a piston/cylinder unit to allow the window to be deposited with its outer side lying flat underneath the luggage-compartment lid. For this purpose, the luggage-compartment lid must first of all be opened, more specifically about additional hinges provided at the rear, it being necessary for this purpose for the rear window to be of essentially flat design. This has the effect, in particular, that the rear window cannot be opened partially while under way.
German patent DE 197 53 209 C1 gives a theoretical description of a rear window that can be lowered, this rear window on the one hand being connected to the C-posts by connecting devices when closed and being capable of being lowered into the luggage compartment by means of joints. The joints can make up a four-joint system.
German patent DE 196 36 209 C1 describes a folding top for a convertible, in which a rear window made of glass or plastic is provided in the fabric of a rear top component which can be lowered into a top compartment with a lid independently of a front top component, the two independently movable top components being fixed relative to one another by means of a releasable locking arrangement which is not explained in greater detail. Since the two top components are cloth tops, it must be assumed that the linkage is locked by overcenter locking, where the internal stress in the top cloth ensures mutual locking.
German laid open publication DE 197 46 569 A1 describes a convertible top, the rear part of which is divided into a main frame part and a rear frame part, it being possible to swing the rear frame part down relative to the main frame part to allow space-saving arrangement in the luggage compartment. The main frame part includes the rear window. This document does not describe actuation of the rear frame part to open a window opening.
German patent DE 43 20 603 C2 describes a convertible in which a flat window that can be lowered by means of a handcrank or an electric motor is provided in the rear area, this window being capable of being lowered and raised on an extension of its flat plane. Together with the side parts, which can be pivoted down separately, and the roof component, the rear window defines the convertible top, the lowered rear window being stored outside the luggage compartment and there by entailing an increase in the overall length of the vehicle and furthermore having to be moved along a sealing surface of the side parts, the convertible having overall a cockpit which is not very attractive esthetically and falls away at a shallow angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a convertible top arrangement which creates a flexible and space-saving means of ventilating the interior of a convertible vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a convertible top arrangement which allows a space-saving means to move and dispose a rear window of a convertible vehicle.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a convertible top arrangement which allows to design a convertible vehicle top having a curved back.
The present invention relates to a convertible top arrangement. More particularly, the invention relates to a convertible top mechanism, which actuates a convertib

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