Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2001-02-27
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C296S076000, C296S136070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193300
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 10(1998)-275476 filed on Sep. 29, 1998, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an opening and closing device for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an opening and closing device for a convertible vehicle for storing the roof portion and rear window portion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 230484/1996 discloses an example of a convertible top vehicle that is designed to store the roof portion and the rear window portion of the vehicle in the rear portion of the vehicle. The construction of this convertible top vehicle is generally shown in
FIG. 9
which illustrates a vehicle
100
provided with a roof structure portion
104
having a roof portion
101
and a rear window portion
102
. The roof structure portion
104
is brought into contact with and supported by a portion of a front face glass frame via a forced type control apparatus
106
that is fixedly supported by a vehicle body. The roof structure portion
104
is adapted to be pivoted toward the rear portion
110
of the vehicle
100
from a closed position covering a rear seat area
108
to an open position in which the rear seat area is uncovered. The roof structure portion
104
is also adapted to be stored in a roof storage box
116
located in the region of the rear portion of the vehicle and covered by a lid
114
that is supported via a first pivot shaft
112
. The lid
114
is hinge-coupled to an auxiliary frame
118
by the first pivot shaft
112
, and the auxiliary frame
118
is supported by the vehicle body side in a lower portion of the vehicle
122
via a second pivot shaft
130
.
As shown by
FIG. 10
, the lid
114
can be moved to a rear side opened position in which the rear side is freely opened when the lid
114
is moved in a manner centered on the first pivot shaft
112
. In addition, as shown in
FIG. 9
, the lid
114
can be pivoted to a front side opened position in which the front side is freely opened when the lid
114
is pivoted in a manner centered on the second pivot shaft
130
.
In this type of opening and closing device, as shown in
FIG. 11
, the auxiliary frame
118
is formed by a U-shaped support piece
126
that includes a pair of support legs
120
and a base leg
132
. The base leg
132
extends orthogonally to the vehicle longitudinal axis line
128
and forms the second pivot shaft
130
of the auxiliary frame
118
that is supported by the vehicle side via at least one hinge joint
134
. The trunk lid
114
is coupled to the auxiliary frame
118
by way of the guide rods
123
at the first pivot shaft
112
, and hydraulic cylinders
140
and gas charge springs
142
are coupled to the vehicle body via common supports
144
. This opening and closing device thus requires a relatively large number of parts and is relatively heavy, and the cost associated with fabricating the device is increased.
In light of the foregoing, a need exists for a trunk lid opening and closing device that is not susceptible to the same disadvantages and drawbacks as other known devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, an opening and closing device for a trunk lid of a vehicle includes a link mechanism mounted between the trunk lid and a vehicle body such that both the front side and the rear side of the trunk lid can be opened. A first connecting portion of the link mechanism is connected with the trunk lid and has a rear side connecting portion pivotably connected to the trunk lid and a front side connecting portion pivotally and detachably connected to the trunk lid. A second connecting portion of the link mechanism is connected with the vehicle body and has a rear side connecting portion pivotally connected to the vehicle body and a front side connecting portion pivotally and movably connected to the vehicle body. A hinge mechanism is mounted between the rear side of the trunk lid and the vehicle body such that the rear side of the trunk lid can be pivotally and detachably connected to the vehicle body.
According to another aspect of the invention, an opening and closing device mounted in a vehicle for opening and closing a trunk lid of the vehicle includes a link mechanism mounted between the trunk lid and the vehicle body to permit the trunk lid to be moved from a closed state to a front side open state in which a forward end of the trunk lid is lifted and between the closed state and a rear side open state in which a rear end of the trunk lid is lifted. The link mechanism is pivotally connected to the trunk lid at a pin. A releasable connection mechanism effects connecting engagement between a portion of the link mechanism and the trunk lid to prevent pivoting movement of the trunk lid relative to the portion of the link mechanism about the pin and for effecting release of the connecting engagement between the portion of the link mechanism and the trunk lid to permit pivoting movement of the trunk lid relative to the portion of the link mechanism about the pin.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an opening and closing device mounted in a vehicle for opening and closing a trunk lid of the vehicle includes a link mechanism mounted between the trunk lid and a vehicle body which permits the trunk lid to be moved between a closed state and a front side open state in which a forward end of the trunk lid is lifted and between the closed state and a rear side open state in which a rear end of the trunk lid is lifted. The link mechanism is connected to the trunk lid at first and second spaced apart points. The device is also provided with a mechanism for releasing the connection between the link mechanism and the trunk lid at the second point when the trunk lid is moved between the closed state and the front side open state while maintaining the connection between the link mechanism and the trunk lid at the second point when the trunk lid is moved between the closed state and the rear side open state.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5558389 (1996-09-01), Rothe et al.
patent: 5823606 (1998-10-01), Schenk et al.
patent: 6010178 (1996-09-01), Hahn et al.
patent: 8-230484 (1996-09-01), None
Hayashi Ken'ichiro
Nakatomi Noriaki
Nishi Fumiho
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Dayoan D. Glenn
Morrow Jason
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