Insulating layer secured to struts by connecting elements in...

Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C296S107010, C296S107060

Reexamination Certificate

active

06302471

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a convertible top for a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A standard motor-vehicle convertible top normally comprises a folding framework overlain by a flexible cover. The cover is comprised in turn of a waterproof outer layer, an intermediate sound- and heat-insulating layer, and an inner head liner layer and forms a roof, a rear panel extending from a rear edge of the roof, and often even side panels extending from side edges of the roof and rear panel. Strong but flexible bands or belts extend along the side edges of the roof and rear panel on an inside face of the cover. The framework is comprised of a plurality of transversely extending rigid struts or hoops whose ends are normally fixed to the bands and that typically are hidden between the inner and outer layers of the cover. This framework allows the top to move between a folded down position normally recessed behind the passenger compartment and an up position stretched over the passenger compartment and connected to the upper edge of the windshield.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,668 describes such a vehicle top where the outer layer is a skin stretched over the struts which support the inner layer. The outer layer rests virtually directly on the support struts so that there is no insulation at these locations. In addition the outer layer is formed of stitched-together panels which require meticulous treatment to avoid leakage.
German utility model 297 18 206 describes another top where mounting strips secure the support struts directly to the outer layer and the intermediate layer is pinched between the outer layer and the struts. The top structure is fairly complex, requiring many steps to secure the various parts together. In the finished top there is a thermal bridge between the outer layer and the struts formed by the mounting strips.
Further arrangements described in German utility models 69 445 15, 92 06 366, 92 09 122, and 9304 248 are similarly complex. Their assembly is a complex operation and they often leave sites for water or heat to get through the top. The support struts are secured to the outer layer from which the intermediate insulating layer is suspended, or the latter is itself mounted on the struts.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved motor-vehicle convertible top.
Another object is the provision of such an improved motor-vehicle convertible top which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is where the cover fits smoothly over the struts and belts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A motor-vehicle convertible top has according to the invention a foldable and waterproof cover having an inner face, a framework having a plurality of rigid struts juxtaposed with the inner face and having ends at edges of the cover, reinforcing belts having outer faces provided at the strut ends with a directly bonded cushion layer engaging the cover inner face, and connecting elements securing the struts to the cover. The cushion layer is a foamed plastic bonded directly to the belt outer face. A foam-plastic insulating layer unitarily bonded to the inner face has a reduced thickness at the strut ends.
Thus the belts will slide smoothly on the cover as the top is opened and closed. When the top is up, the cover will pass smoothly over the cushioned strut ends and form an attractive and aerodynamically efficient shape. By providing the cushion layer directly on the belts whose ends are fixed at the frame members at the front and rear ends of the top telegraphing of the shapes of the struts through the roof is largely eliminated.
The insulating layer according to the invention can be interrupted at the belts. In this case the cushion layer directly engages the cover inner face and the cushion layer and belt together have an overall thickness equal substantially to a thickness of the insulating layer. Thus the belts are not visible through the cover.
The insulating layer and/or the cushion layer are according to the invention a high-pressure cast polyurethane. The polyurethane has a Shore D hardness of about 40, a polyol:isocyanate ratio of about 100:38 by weight, and a thickness of between 2 mm and 8 mm.
The cushion layers cover the entire outer faces of the belts. This reduces noise during high speed travel when the cover may be pulled by suction away from the belts. Furthermore to facilitate folding of the top the cushion layer is formed with thickness-reduced strips so that the belts fold at the strips.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2455926 (1948-12-01), Gessler et al.
patent: 2823951 (1958-02-01), Stahl
patent: 2879105 (1959-03-01), Stahl
patent: 3276814 (1966-10-01), Podolan
patent: 3642317 (1972-02-01), Swindlehurst
patent: 4323276 (1982-04-01), Hira et al.
patent: 4964668 (1990-10-01), Hofmann
patent: 5297838 (1994-03-01), Cziptschirsch
patent: 5511844 (1996-04-01), Boardman
patent: 6000749 (1999-12-01), Adam et al.
patent: 6082807 (2000-07-01), Hartmann et al.
patent: 6944515.4 (1968-04-01), None
patent: 9206366.7 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 92 09 122.9 (1992-12-01), None
patent: 93 04 248.5 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 29718206U1 (1998-04-01), None

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