Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-22
2001-10-02
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C296S116000, C296S114000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a top system for a motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle.
2. Discussion
It is well known in the motor vehicle art to provide a convertible top which may be folded back or removed from the vehicle. In one common form, the convertible top is constructed of a flexible fabric (referred to as a soft top) and can be folded back to a storage position or otherwise removed from an installed position. In another common form, the convertible top is constructed from a rigid material such as plastic and/or metal (referred to as a hard top) and is intended to be completely removed from the vehicle.
Soft tops are desired by a large segment of purchasers since they provide the user with the benefit of open air driving while affording available protection in the event of adverse weather conditions. Most known soft tops are designed to be easily retracted to a stored position, either under a source of power or manually. Other factors which make soft tops desirable include less associated expense, readily removable panels, and compact storage size. Among other advantages, vehicle hard tops provide for greater comfort and noise due to reduced wind and road noise and improved insulation from extreme ambient conditions.
It is also known in the art of motor vehicles to provide a single motor vehicle designed to cooperate with both a soft top and a hard top. One such vehicle is sold by the assignee of the present application under their registered trademark JEEP. While JEEP® brand vehicles having top systems with both a soft top and a hard top have been extremely popular with consumers, it remains desirable to further improve certain aspects of such top systems. The present invention addresses improvements to known top systems for motor vehicles, including the top system for JEEP® brand vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body without utilizing a separate tensioning device.
In one form, the present invention provides a method for attaching a soft top to which includes the general steps of
attaching a forward support member to a forward edge of the soft top;
pivotally connecting the forward support member to the vehicle for rotation about a first transverse pivot axis;
attaching a rearward support member to the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a second transverse pivot axis;
supporting the upper rear corner of the soft top with the rearward support member;
supporting an intermediate portion of the soft top with an intermediate support member laterally extending across the soft top between the forward support member and the rearward support member;
tensioning the soft top with at least one tension strap connecting the rearward support member and the intermediate support member; and
securing the pair of side panels and the rear panel to the motor vehicle.
Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from a reading of the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 974072 (1910-10-01), Kenyon
patent: 1741318 (1929-12-01), Kroh
patent: 1808298 (1931-06-01), Du Pont
patent: 2580337 (1951-12-01), Votypka
patent: 2682427 (1954-06-01), Bright
patent: 2697633 (1954-12-01), Slason
patent: 2817345 (1957-12-01), Woodruff, Sr.
patent: 2823684 (1958-02-01), Sartori
patent: 2864388 (1958-12-01), Oliver
patent: 3285259 (1966-11-01), Hale
patent: 3307566 (1967-03-01), Hale
patent: 3367349 (1968-02-01), O'Link
patent: 3371672 (1968-03-01), Hale et al.
patent: 3536354 (1970-10-01), Ingram
patent: 3773379 (1973-11-01), Loiseau
patent: 3994524 (1976-11-01), Lehmann
patent: 4066292 (1978-01-01), Carli
patent: 4260188 (1981-04-01), Bauer
patent: 4310194 (1982-01-01), Biller
patent: 4402544 (1983-09-01), Artim et al.
patent: 4440436 (1984-04-01), Giddens et al.
patent: 4593641 (1986-06-01), Adams et al.
patent: 4639034 (1987-01-01), Amos
patent: 4729593 (1988-03-01), Nisiguchi et al.
patent: 4789196 (1988-12-01), Fields
patent: 4828317 (1989-05-01), Muscat
patent: 4850634 (1989-07-01), Taubitz
patent: 4898420 (1990-02-01), Takada
patent: 4915440 (1990-04-01), Daniel et al.
patent: 4927202 (1990-05-01), Wagner
patent: 4964669 (1990-10-01), Geier
patent: 5004291 (1991-04-01), Bauer et al.
patent: 5005896 (1991-04-01), Li
patent: 5042868 (1991-08-01), Nothaft et al.
patent: 5058943 (1991-10-01), Louderback
patent: 5066063 (1991-11-01), Mullally
patent: 5072987 (1991-12-01), Allen
patent: 5238288 (1993-08-01), Chandler
patent: 5299850 (1994-04-01), Kaneko et al.
patent: 5303667 (1994-04-01), Zirkelbach et al.
patent: 5385377 (1995-01-01), Girard
patent: 5531497 (1996-07-01), Cheng
patent: 5556156 (1996-09-01), Kirk
patent: 5673959 (1997-10-01), Padlo
patent: 0652977 (1985-12-01), None
patent: 129392 (1932-07-01), None
patent: 1152899 (1963-08-01), None
patent: 3127525 (1983-01-01), None
patent: 004114823 A1 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 0 146 884 (1984-12-01), None
patent: 486283 (1938-06-01), None
patent: 0192631 (1988-08-01), None
patent: 0164623 (1989-06-01), None
patent: 0204129 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 406106990 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 406106989 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 406106986 (1994-04-01), None
Robert C. Ackerson, Standard Catalog of 4x4's 1945-1993, pp. 385-415.
Bores Leonard
DeLellis Louis D.
Grabowski William A.
Hickey Mark A.
Hilliard Michael E.
Calcaterra Mark P.
Chrysler Corporation
Hughes S. Thomas
Jimenez Marc
LandOfFree
Method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2580911