Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-28
2001-12-04
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C296S076000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325445
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a convertible, with a body that has at least one closure cover, which can be moved into an open and a closed position by means of a driving device.
BACKGROUND
DE 44 45 944 C1 relates to a hard-top vehicle in which the roof components of the hard top can be lowered into a folding-top compartment, which can be locked by means of a rear flap. The rear flap has an auxiliary frame which is arranged pivotably at the rear of the vehicle and, on its side facing away from the rear, can be connected firmly to the body by means of corresponding locking devices. The rear flap is held in its closed position by a hydraulic cylinder.
DE 195 16 877 C1 relates to a hard-top vehicle of very similar construction in which the locking device, which is situated at the front of the rear flap, can be opened by means of a Bowden cable.
In the case of both the known vehicles, however, the locking device, required for proper locking of the rear flap, at the front of the rear flap is disadvantageous since it necessitates very high accuracy of manufacture and therefore leads to increased costs in addition to the outlay arising from the locking device itself and to additional outlay on control.
DE 197 56 062 C1 relates to a convertible in which the rear cover is connected to the body by a multi-link hinge. A two-piece auxiliary frame is also connected pivotally to this multi-link hinge. At the rear of the rear cover there is a further locking device, which allows the rear cover to be opened to load the luggage compartment.
However, the various joints with the locking devices necessary for them require a relatively high outlay on design and, in particular, control, which leads to additional costs.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides, among other things, a motor vehicle with a body having at least one closure cover, in which the closure cover is of simple construction and thus gives rise to low costs but, at the same time, operates reliably. Moreover, the tolerances which are possible in the manufacture of the closure cover and of the components provided for the purpose of connecting the closure cover to the body should be as large as possible.
Thanks to the connecting device used in accordance with the invention to connect the closure cover to the body, it is possible to dispense with the previously required locking devices. Eliminating the previously required locking device in this way makes possible considerable cost savings, not only by dispensing with the locking device itself but also by allowing wider tolerances in the manufacture and assembly of the closure cover since much wider tolerances can be permitted for the connecting device according to the invention.
This furthermore ensures reliable opening and, especially, closure of the closure cover since the source of potential errors involved in locking the locking device is no longer present. According to the invention, the closure cover is now locked by turning the closure cover about the pivot and pivoting the latter about the lever element connecting the pivot to the body.
If, in a very advantageous refinement of the invention, the closure cover is elastically deformable and, during the closing movement of the closure cover, can be moved over the pivot into a dead centre position by means of the driving device, there is no need for any further device to lock the closure cover relative to the body. On the contrary, in this case the closure cover itself is used as a resilient element which is pivoted relative to the body and over a dead centre position by means of the driving device, owing to the presence of the lever element and can no longer be moved out of this dead centre position without the action of the driving device.
As an alternative, in another refinement of the invention it is possible for the closure cover to be held in the closed position by the driving device and it is possible to dispense with elastic deformability of the closure cover.
Locking of the rear cover is performed at the end opposite the end having the connecting device.
Further advantageous refinements and developments of the invention will become apparent from the remaining subclaims and from the exemplary embodiment, which is described diagrammatically below with reference to the drawing, in which:
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patent: 44 45 944 C1 (1994-12-01), None
patent: 195 16 877 C1 (1995-05-01), None
patent: 195 25 587 C1 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 197 37 059 A1 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 197 56 062 C1 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 1408925 (1964-07-01), None
Chenevert Paul
Crowell & Moring LLP
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Gordon Stephen T.
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