Folding top comprising a top cover

Abstract

A folding top for a convertible vehicle, is provided having a top linkage and a top cover which may have a first fabric cut and a second fabric cut connected to the first fabric cut. The two fabric cuts may be connected via a stretchable portion which is made of an elastically stretchable fabric whose stretchability is greater than that of the two fabric cuts.

Claims

1. A top of a convertible vehicle, the top comprising: a top linkage and a top cover which comprises a first fabric cut and a second fabric cut connected to the first fabric cut, wherein the two fabric cuts are connected via a stretchable portion which is made of an elastically stretchable fabric whose stretchability is greater than that of the two fabric cuts, and wherein the first fabric cut is tensioned against the second fabric cut by means of a tension cable.

2. The top according to claim 1, wherein the first fabric cut covers the second fabric cut in an overlap area and the stretchable portion is disposed in the overlap area between the first fabric cut and the second fabric cut.

3. A top of a convertible vehicle, the top comprising: a top linkage and a top cover which comprises a first fabric cut and a second fabric cut connected to the first fabric cut, wherein the two fabric cuts are connected via a stretchable portion which is made of an elastically stretchable fabric whose stretchability is greater than that of the two fabric cuts, wherein the stretchable portion extends into a folded portion of the first fabric cut and is attached to an upper surface of the second fabric cut.

4. A top of a convertible vehicle, the top comprising: a top linkage and a top cover which comprises a first fabric cut and a second fabric cut connected to the first fabric cut, wherein the two fabric cuts are connected via a stretchable portion which is made of an elastically stretchable fabric whose stretchability is greater than that of the two fabric cuts, wherein the top further comprises a second fabric cut, wherein which are each of the two second fabric cuts are connected to the first fabric cut via a respective stretchable portion.

5. The top according to claim 4, wherein at least one stretchable element is disposed between the two second fabric cuts, the at least one stretchable element being made of an elastically stretchable fabric whose stretchability is greater than that of the two fabric cuts and whose elasticity counteracts the elasticity of the two stretchable portions.

6. The top according to claim 4, wherein the two second fabric cuts each form a side part of the top cover, the side part being assigned to a roof side beam, and the first fabric cut forms a center part disposed between the two roof side beams and having a rear window cutout.

7. The top according to claim 6, wherein the at least one stretchable element runs parallel to the center part and has a rear window cutout.

8. The top according to claim 1, wherein the top linkage comprises a corner bow which is height-adjustable when the top is in a closed position.

9. The top according to claim 1, wherein the top further comprises a rear tension bow which is connected to a rear edge of the top cover and which is height-adjustable when the top is in a closed position.

Description

(1) An embodiment of a convertible vehicle comprising a folding top according to the invention is illustrated in a schematically simplified manner in the drawing and will be explained in more detail in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a convertible vehicle comprising a folding top which is in its flattened shape;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of the convertible vehicle corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a widened folding top;

(4) to FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of a top cover of the folding top;

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded illustration of the top cover;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a section through the top cover of FIG. 3 along line V-V in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the top cover for the flattened top shape (a) and for the widened top shape (b); and

(8) FIG. 7 shows a section through a rear portion of the top cover together with a rear tension bow and a top storage space lid along a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The drawing shows a motor vehicle 10 realized as a convertible vehicle and equipped with a folding top 12 which forms a vehicle roof and which is displaceable between a closed position, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in which a vehicle interior is covered, and a storage position (not shown), in which the vehicle interior is uncovered and in which folding top 12 is accommodated in a top storage space 14 of motor vehicle 10. In the closed position, the front edge of folding top 12 is fixed to a front header 16 which forms a leg of a frame of a windshield 18 extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

(10) For being displaced, folding top 12 comprises a top linkage 20 which has a linkage assembly on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, each linkage assembly being pivotably mounted on a main bearing 22 fixed to the vehicle. A top cover 24, which is illustrated on its own in FIGS. 3 to 6, can be extended using top linkage 20 so as to realize the closed position.

(11) Furthermore, a top storage space lid 15 is in contact with top cover 24 from the outside via a weather strip 151 in the rear area when folding top 12 is in the closed position.

(12) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, top linkage 20 further comprises a displaceable corner bow 26 by means of which the shape of folding top 12 can be changed when folding top 12 is in its closed position, namely between a flattened shape, which is shown in FIG. 1 and in which corner bow 26 is retracted, and a widened shape, in which corner bow 26 is extended or extracted, thus increasing the head room for any occupants of a back seat of motor vehicle 10. When folding top 12 is in its widened shape, top cover 24 is stretched wide in comparison to the flattened shape.

(13) Top cover 24 comprises a center part 28 and two side parts 30 as outer skin elements, each of which is made of a weather-resistant, water-tight and foldable material. Center part 28, which is provided with a rear window cutout 32, forms a first fabric cut, and side parts 30, which are each associated with a roof side beam and laterally cover top linkage 20, each form a second fabric cut. At each of its lateral edges with respect to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, center part 28 forms a folded portion 34 into which a stretchable fabric strip extends, said stretchable fabric strip forming a stretchable portion 36. At its edge portion facing away from folded portion 34, stretchable portion 36 is attached to the upper surface of respective side part 30.

(14) Furthermore, the two side parts 30 are connected to each other via a stretchable element 38 whose cut about corresponds to the cut of center part 28 and which also has a rear window cutout 40.

(15) Stretchable portion 36 and stretchable element 38 are each made of an elastically stretchable fabric whose stretchability is greater than that of the fabric cuts forming center part 28 and side parts 30.

(16) Folded portions 34, which are formed at the lateral edges of center part 28, additionally accommodate a tension cable 42 which ensures that the edge of center part 28 is in tight-fitting contact with respective side part 30. Additionally, a filling strip 44 is accommodated in each of folded portions 34, said filling strip 44 compensating the difference between the thickness of stretchable portion 36 and the diameter of tension cable 42.

(17) Additionally, side parts 30 each have a rain drain 46, which is used for water management in folding top 12, at their outer edges.

(18) As shown in FIG. 7, folding top 12 is provided with a rear tension bow 48 to which the rear edge of top cover 24 is attached, both center part 28, which is made of the weather-resistant material, and stretchable element 38, which is made of the elastically stretchable fabric, being connected to tension bow 48 via a strip 50 or a beading 52. Tension bow 48 is height-adjustable according to double-headed arrow Z by means of a tension strap 54 and, thus, adaptable to the shapes of folding top 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(19) The top cover 24 illustrated in the drawing and described above works in the way described below.

(20) Starting from the flattened shape of folding top 12, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and in which top cover 24 or rather center part 28 and side parts 30 are in the relative position illustrated in FIG. 6a, corner bow 26 is extended so as to realize the widened shape. In doing so, stretchable element 38, which extends below center part 28, is stretched according to arrow Y in FIG. 6b, causing the lateral edges of center part 28 to each move in the direction of the respective inner edge of respective side part 30 and the stretchable portions 36 to be relaxed.

(21) When the flattened top shape is to be reestablished, corner bow 26 is retracted, causing stretchable element 38 to contract in the transverse direction of the top and stretchable portions 36 to be stretched. In this way, the inner edges of side parts 30 are each shifted inward away from respective folded portion 34 of center part 28 according to arrow YY in FIG. 6a. In the process, folded portions 34 slide on the outer surfaces of side parts 30.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(22) 10 motor vehicle

(23) 12 folding top

(24) 14 top storage space

(25) 15 top storage space lid

(26) 16 header

(27) 18 windshield

(28) 20 top linkage

(29) 22 main bearing

(30) 24 top cover

(31) 26 corner bow

(32) 28 center part

(33) 30 side part

(34) 32 rear window cutout

(35) 34 folded portion

(36) 36 stretchable portion

(37) 38 stretchable element

(38) 40 rear window cutout

(39) 42 tension cable

(40) 44 filling strip

(41) 46 rain drain

(42) 48 tension bow

(43) 50 strip

(44) 52 beading

(45) 54 tension strap

(46) 151 weather strip