Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Let-down type top
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-18
2004-11-23
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Let-down type top
C296S108000, C296S117000, C296S107080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06820917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to convertible roof structures for automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to a multi-part hard top convertible roof.
Retractable roofs for convertible automotive vehicles presently exist. For example, one retractable hard top roof employs a plurality of rigid roof panels which slide rearwardly over one another during retraction. Typically, these retracting roof panels are mechanically stowed in the trunk of the automotive vehicle. Unfortunately, this system does not fully retract flush within the vehicle body and occupies a relatively large storage space within the trunk.
Recently, various retractable roof systems have been developed with a rigid roof member which swings into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. These systems stow the retracted roof panels in a substantially vertical orientation behind either the front or rear seats. While these systems maintain storage space within the trunk, the retracted roof panels are often stored in an unsightly manner. Additionally, the vertical orientation of the retracted roof panels requires a relatively deep storage compartment. This orientation often precludes use of a retractable roof in vehicles having a usable cargo area such as sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a retractable hard top roof requiring a minimal packaging envelope to maximize storage space within the trunk or cargo area. To achieve this goal, multiple panels are stored in a substantially horizontal manner to minimize the depth of the required storage area.
In accordance with the present invention, a hard top roof system includes at least three separate and generally rigid sections interconnected to one another to selectively cover the passenger compartment of a vehicle. In another aspect of the present invention, as the roof system is retracted, a middle roof section slides into a nested position with a rear roof section such that the outer surface of the middle roof section is positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the rear roof section. In a further aspect of the present invention, when the roof system is fully retracted, the front roof section is positioned substantially parallel to the ground such that the inner surfaces of the forward and middle roof section face one another. An additional aspect of the present invention provides a convertible roof including a flexible member interconnecting a rear linkage and a forward pivot assembly such that the flexible member selectively forces a first roof section to overcome a biasing force and rotate relative to a second roof section.
The present invention is advantageous over traditional designs in that the roof panels are stacked in a horizontal manner which minimizes the packaging space required in both the fore-and-aft direction and the vertical direction. Furthermore, the present invention is advantageous because the roof sections may be retracted and stowed within the vehicle's trunk so as to maintain the space within the vehicle passenger compartment. The convertible roof of the present invention may also be stowed in a roof storage compartment separated from the passenger compartment and a miscellaneous storage area or trunk.
The present invention also provides a self-covering feature in that when the convertible roof is in the stowed position, the uppermost stacked panel is oriented to display the outer finished surface of the panel. Additionally, the present invention is advantageous because the retracting mechanism is compact and lightweight. To accomplish this feature, the present invention includes a flexible member coupled to a first panel hingedly coupled to a second panel. Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 404405 (1889-06-01), Haughey
patent: 1184734 (1916-05-01), Freeman
patent: 1784279 (1930-12-01), Ellerbeck
patent: 1988346 (1935-01-01), Wagner
patent: 2007873 (1935-07-01), Paulin
patent: 2076243 (1937-04-01), Marshall et al.
patent: 2303789 (1942-12-01), Carr
patent: 2564446 (1951-08-01), Parsons
patent: 2580486 (1952-01-01), Vigmostad
patent: 2596355 (1952-05-01), Ackermans
patent: 2704225 (1955-03-01), Anschuetz et al.
patent: 2747928 (1956-05-01), Olivier et al.
patent: 2768024 (1956-10-01), Spear, Jr.
patent: 2768025 (1956-10-01), Spear, Jr. et al.
patent: 2841441 (1958-07-01), Evans
patent: 2856231 (1958-10-01), Zeman
patent: 2869923 (1959-01-01), Mulichak
patent: 2919156 (1959-12-01), Dodge
patent: 2939742 (1960-06-01), Dardarian et al.
patent: 2997337 (1961-08-01), Day et al.
patent: 3059962 (1962-10-01), Harms et al.
patent: 3154341 (1964-10-01), Booth
patent: 3172695 (1965-03-01), Bordinat, Jr.
patent: 3357738 (1967-12-01), Bourlier
patent: 3375037 (1968-03-01), Hunt, Jr.
patent: 3377099 (1968-04-01), Podolan
patent: 3575464 (1971-04-01), Himka et al.
patent: 3994524 (1976-11-01), Lehmann
patent: 4168859 (1979-09-01), Breitschwerdt et al.
patent: 4573732 (1986-03-01), Muscat
patent: 4634171 (1987-01-01), McKeag
patent: 4711485 (1987-12-01), Maebayashi et al.
patent: 4712828 (1987-12-01), Albrecht
patent: 4729592 (1988-03-01), Tuchiya et al.
patent: 4746163 (1988-05-01), Muscat
patent: 4787675 (1988-11-01), McLeod
patent: 4796943 (1989-01-01), Fukutomi et al.
patent: 4852935 (1989-08-01), Varner
patent: 4854634 (1989-08-01), Shiraishi et al.
patent: 4895409 (1990-01-01), Konishi et al.
patent: 4950022 (1990-08-01), Pattee
patent: 4958882 (1990-09-01), Kolb
patent: 5029932 (1991-07-01), Parr
patent: 5033789 (1991-07-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 5035461 (1991-07-01), Zweigart
patent: 5067768 (1991-11-01), Fischbach
patent: 5078447 (1992-01-01), Klein et al.
patent: 5090764 (1992-02-01), Kogawa et al.
patent: 5161852 (1992-11-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 5195798 (1993-03-01), Klein et al.
patent: 5207474 (1993-05-01), Licher et al.
patent: 5209544 (1993-05-01), Benedetto et al.
patent: 5225747 (1993-07-01), Helms et al.
patent: 5429409 (1995-07-01), Corder et al.
patent: 5451849 (1995-09-01), Porter et al.
patent: 5490709 (1996-02-01), Rahn
patent: 5520432 (1996-05-01), Gmeiner et al.
patent: 5533777 (1996-07-01), Kleemann et al.
patent: 5542735 (1996-08-01), Fürst et al.
patent: 5593202 (1997-01-01), Corder et al.
patent: 5743587 (1998-04-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 5769483 (1998-06-01), Danzl et al.
patent: 5772274 (1998-06-01), Tokarz
patent: 5772275 (1998-06-01), Tokarz
patent: 5785375 (1998-07-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 5806912 (1998-09-01), Ramaciotti et al.
patent: D406792 (1999-03-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 5975620 (1999-11-01), Jambor et al.
patent: 5979970 (1999-11-01), Rothe et al.
patent: 5988729 (1999-11-01), Klein
patent: 6007143 (1999-12-01), Lehmann et al.
patent: 6010178 (2000-01-01), Hahn et al.
patent: 6019416 (2000-02-01), Beierl
patent: 6030023 (2000-02-01), Guillez
patent: 6033008 (2000-03-01), Mattila
patent: 6033009 (2000-03-01), Ritter et al.
patent: 6039382 (2000-03-01), Mather et al.
patent: 6039383 (2000-03-01), Jambor et al.
patent: 6053560 (2000-04-01), Rothe
patent: D427138 (2000-06-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 6168224 (2001-01-01), Henn et al.
patent: 6217104 (2001-04-01), Neubrand
patent: D442541 (2001-05-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 6273492 (2001-08-01), Schroder et al.
patent: 6283532 (2001-09-01), Neubrand
patent: 6299234 (2001-10-01), Seel et al.
patent: 6305737 (2001-10-01), Corder et al.
patent: 6312041 (2001-11-01), Queveau et al.
patent: 6312042 (2001-11-01), Halbweiss et al.
patent: 6315349 (2001-11-01), Kinnanen
patent: 6318793 (2001-11-01), Rapin et al.
patent: 6325446 (2001-12-01), Wuellrich et al.
patent: 6328372 (2001-12-01), Just
patent: 6334644 (2002-01-01), Gurtler et al.
patent: 6336673 (2002-01-01), Rothe et al.
patent: 6347828 (2002-02-01), Rapin et al.
patent: 6390532 (2002-05-01), Mac Farland
patent: 6422637 (2002-07-01), Mac Farland
patent: 6502891 (2003-01-01), Russke
patent: 6505881 (2003-01-01), Kinnanen
patent:
ASC Incorporated
Dayoan D. Glenn
Engle Patricia L.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
LandOfFree
Vehicle convertible roof does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle convertible roof, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle convertible roof will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3306788