Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Standing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-06
2001-06-05
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Standing
C219S121140, C160S327000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241305
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of retainer arrangements for removably attaching flexible tops to vehicle bodies.
2. Discussion of the Background
Providing effective retainer arrangements for attaching tops to vehicle bodies has always presented challenging design problems. These problems are particularly prevalent in sport utility, convertible, and other vehicles which have flexible tops of fabric-like material such as canvas or vinyl which are removable for an open air feeling or service. Co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,854 taught a very effective approach to accomplish this in which a belt or flange was attached to the edge of the flexible, fabric top and inserted into a U-shaped channel mounted on the vehicle body. In doing so, the flexible top was first pulled taut and stretched a half inch or so. This placed the resilient top under a slight tension as the belt was manually manipulated into the channel; and, the resulting tension was then used to maintain the belt with the attached top in the channel. The present invention is an improvement over this basic design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention involves retainer arrangements for removably attaching flexible tops to sport utility, convertible, and other vehicles. The arrangements include a belt or flange which is sewn or otherwise attached to the flexible top and a U-shaped channel which is formed on the vehicle body. In the preferred embodiments, the belt or flange is received in the U-shaped channel and a mating protuberance and recess arrangement is provided to removably lock the flange in the channel.
In one approach, the flange with the flexible top attached to it is manually manipulated to slide into the U-shaped channel. In doing so, the flexible top is stretched slightly and placed under tension. Upon releasing the inserted flange, the resilient force of the stretched top causes the flange to rotate or cock relative to the U-shaped channel which then firmly mates the protuberance and recess of the locking arrangement. In a second approach, an initial interference fit is provided between the flange and U-shaped channel. The flange is then moved relative to the channel past the interference fit and rotated as in the first approach under the residual force of the stretched top to firmly mate the protuberance and recess in their locked position. However, unlike the first approach, the flange and channel will thereafter remain engaged because of the interference fit regardless of whether there is any residual force or tension applied to the flange by the flexible top In a third approach, the flange and channel are also designed to remain attached to one another regardless of whether there is any residual tension applied to the flange by the flexible top. However, unlike the second approach, the flange and channel do not rely on any residual force in the top to assume their locked position. In a fourth approach, the flange can be slid into the channel member in a non-interference manner. However, because the channel member is curved along its length, the flange and channel member are self-locking, independent of any tension being applied by the flexible top. In all embodiments, the insertion process of the flange into the channel can be reversed when desired to remove the flange and attached top from the U-shaped channel and vehicle body.
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Figures 1-11 of the related application U.S. application No. 08/437,322 filed May 9, 1995.
Essig Richard C.
Troeger Rick H.
Bestop, Inc.
Carson W. Scott
Pedder Dennis H.
LandOfFree
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