An articulating front top cover assembly adapted for connecting to a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof of the vehicle. A pivotal portion includes a multi-bar over-center linkage arrangement. The pivotal portion is movable between at least a closed position over the front vehicle compartment and an open position with a passive lock from the multi-bar linkage assembly for an open air feel.

A panel top assembly for a vehicle including a controlled guide roller management system and install/release mechanism. A pivotal portion, that is rotatable between a closed position and open position, is coupled to guide assemblies slidably connected to guide track assemblies. Each guide track assembly includes a forward isolator assembly that restricts undesired movement/rattling of a roller in a guide track. A rearward isolator assembly restricts undesired movement/rattling of the roller in each guide track, and selectively keeps the roller in the track when the panel top assembly is in a down/open position. The rearward isolator assembly also includes an isolator that selectively allows an opening in the track for releasing the guide assembly from the track to move the panel top assembly to an open/stowed position, and, reinstalling the guide assembly to the track.

A tonneau cover lift; the tonneau cover lift includes a height-adjustable, lightweight tonneau cover assembly including a cover member and a rectangular frame supported by four telescoping, hydraulic support posts including a first-telescopic-leg, a second-telescopic-leg, a third-telescopic-leg, and a fourth-telescopic-leg. The cover member is sized and configured to cover a bed of a truck and may be remotely controlled using a remote activation unit. The tonneau cover lift expands a protected cargo capacity of a truck.

A smart tonneau cover for a pickup truck includes an input system that receives information concerning a route and the weather forecast for the route to a destination, the height of a cargo, a precipitation sensor, a wind sensor, and to determine the limits to the height, position, and orientation of the portions of a tonneau cover, which can include solar panels that can be moved to optimize power generation and minimize power consumption while protecting the cargo. The solar panels can be positioned when stationary, such as while parked, and repositioned as needed during transit to maintain an optimal power efficiency.

A roof opening/closing system of a convertible vehicle includes an opening/closing device for opening/closing the roof of the convertible vehicle; and a controller for determining, with respect to at least one of the opening and closing operations by the opening/closing device, whether to enable or disable the operation; and a notifying device for notifying a user whether the operation is enabled or disabled as determined by the controller. For example, in the case where the burning protection is turned off, following the determination based on the condition relevant to burning protection, lift of prohibition of the roof operation is notified when other permitting conditions for the roof operation are fulfilled.

A cover deployment system includes a flexible cover configured to span an open top of a trailer, the trailer having a front end, a rear end, and longitudinally extending side walls extending therebetween, bow assemblies connected to the cover, and a cable system including a pair of cables, an electric actuator, a manual actuator, and a differential. The cables extend longitudinally along the longitudinal side of the trailer. Each cable defines a loop supported by a pulley at the front end of the trailer and a pulley at the rear end of the trailer. The remaining bow assemblies are movably attached to the cables. The electric actuator and the manual actuator are operatively connected to a differential positioned between the electric actuator, the manual actuator, and the pulley. The differential is connected and rotates a pulley to move the cables, thereby moving the cover between closed and open positions.

An articulating front top cover assembly adapted for connecting to a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof of the vehicle. A pivotal portion includes a multi-bar over-center linkage arrangement. The pivotal portion is movable between at least a closed position over the front vehicle compartment and an open position with a passive lock from the multi-bar linkage assembly for an open air feel.

The invention relates to a system for controlling a motor vehicle equipped with at least one removable covering, comprising at least one means for comparing at least one operating parameter of the vehicle with a threshold in order to determine when the vehicle has crossed a boundary of a loading/unloading area in which the removable covering is to be opened, and a control means (7a) which transmits a switching signal to said removable covering, depending on the signal received from the at least one comparison means (8a, 8b, 9a, 10a, 12a).

A folding top for a vehicle includes a folding top fabric for covering a vehicle interior in a closed position and opening up the vehicle interior in an open position. The folding top has an A pillar portion for mechanical connection to an A pillar of the vehicle, a C pillar portion for mechanical connection to a C pillar of the vehicle, a B pillar portion between the A pillar portion and the C pillar portion for lateral connection to a B pillar of the vehicle. A tensioning cable extends from the A pillar portion via the B pillar portion into the C pillar portion on each side of the folding top fabric in order to tension the folding top fabric in the closed position.

A system and method for providing a folding load bearing hard tonneau cover, wherein each folding section is constructed using friction stir welds for strength, stiffness and visual appeal, wherein edge extrusions may include an integral attachment track which is capable of sustaining high tie down loads, wherein a spring loaded latching system has the strength to react the moments generated by heavy loads on top of the tonneau cover, wherein installation does not require modification to the bed but instead uses a 2 bolt attachment system, and wherein the tonneau cover may carry heavy loads on top that are easy to secure, and wherein a custom carrying frame is easily attachable to the tonneau cover to enable large and heavy loads, even some that are longer than the pick-up bed, to be carried on the tonneau cover while enabling use of the pick-up bed for other cargo.