Folding top for a vehicle, especially a passenger car

Details Folding top for a vehicle, especially a passenger car Folding top for a vehicle, especially a passenger car

1998-12-07

2001-04-03

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Tops

Let-down type top

C296S107150

Reexamination Certificate

active

06209945

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 197 54 189.5, filed Dec. 6, 1997, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a folding top for a vehicle, particularly a passenger car having a folding top structure pivotally disposed on the vehicle.
German Patent Document DE 196 22 953 C1 discloses a folding top for a vehicle, particularly a passenger car, having a folding top structure, which is pivotably disposed on folding top bases of a vehicle-body-side. The top structure has a folding top covering and comprises a main hoop, a corner hoop, a rear-side tension bow and a forward folding top section carried on both longitudinal sides by one four bar linkage arrangement respectively. Regarding the folding top kinematics, the two control arms for the forward folding top section form a forward four bar linkage. The main hoop, the rear-side tension bow and a steering control arm form a rearward four bar linkage which, on both longitudinal sides of the folding top, is connected by way of a connecting rod with the forward four bar linkage and the corner hoop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to further develop a folding top of the above-mentioned type having a construction wherein the kinematics of the folding top is simplified, particularly during the opening operation of the folding top. In addition, a coordinated movement between the main hoop and the control arm disposed in front of it takes place, and the folding top linkage is additionally reinforced in the closed position of the folding top.
The principal advantages achieved by the invention are that, by means of the arrangement of an adjusting device between the main hoop and the control arm disposed in front of the folding top structure, while the main hoop is only material-controlled, a coordinated sequence of movements of the folding top structure is ensured during the opening and closing operation of the folding top. In addition when the folding top is in the closed position, the folding top structure is additionally reinforced or stabilized by the adjusting device. The adjusting device, which is formed of a stop ramp and stop wedge, has a simple construction and can be produced at reasonable cost.
The stop ramp is preferably integrated in the roof frame section of the control arm. As the result of the adjusting device, when the folding top is in the closed position, a defined support takes place between the main hoop and the adjoining control arm in the X, Y and Z direction. In addition, the adjusting device provides a defined end position of the material-controlled main hoop. The adjusting device also ensures perfect entering and exiting of the lateral edge of the folding top cover into and out of corresponding receiving devices of the roof frame sections. Because the main hoop, the corner hoop and the tension bow are only material-controlled, the folding top kinematics have an extremely simple, low-cost construction. During the opening operation of the folding top, starting from a reversal position of the main hoop, the weights of the main hoop, the corner hoop and the tension bow are used for the adjusting movement of the folding top.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5338085 (1994-08-01), Guckel et al.
patent: 5971470 (1999-10-01), May et al.
patent: 19622953 C1 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 0806313 (1997-11-01), None

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