Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Patent
1998-04-25
2000-04-11
Dayoan, D. Glenn
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
26910708, 26910709, B60J 712
Patent
active
060480211
ABSTRACT:
An automobile has a convertible top storage well closed by a tonneau cover. The top has a pair of spaced articulated side rail linkages interconnected by a plurality of spaced bows supporting a top cover. The rear bow engages the tonneau cover when the top is raised, and is pivoted up adjacent the rear rail to provide clearance for the tonneau cover to open when the top is raised and lowered. A top operating mechanism includes a bow control pressure linkage, comprising a pair of control links, interconnects the rear bow and each rear rail and the rear bow via a lost motion pivotal connection. The pressure linkage folds to raise the rear bow and unfolds to lower the rear bow. When fully unfolded, the pressure linkage moves overcenter to lock the rear bow in contact with the tonneau cover. When the pressure linkage folds to raise the rear bow, it initially moves back overcenter to unlock the rear bow. In one embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder connects between the automobile body and the upper control link. The cylinder retracts to fold the linkage and extends to unfold the linkage. In another embodiment, the cylinder is mounted on a bracket pivoted to the rear rail body pivot. An actuating link pivotally interconnects the cylinder bracket and the lower control link. Cylinder extension raises the rear bow to initially pull the control linkage overcenter and then fold it. Cylinder retraction unfolds the linkage.
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patent: 4958882 (1990-09-01), Kolb
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patent: 5667269 (1997-09-01), Prenger et al.
patent: 5749619 (1998-05-01), Mentink
patent: 5816644 (1998-10-01), Rothe et al.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Dura Convertible Systems
Greenlee David A.
Wells Chad D
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