Top having a top cover and a top linkage

Abstract

A convertible vehicle top, having a top cover and a top linkage displaceable between a closed position, and a storage position, the top linkage having a link assembly on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, each link assembly having two main links pivotably mounted on a main bearing attachable to a vehicle body and which form a multi-bar linkage together with a roof middle link, and the top linkage having transverse bows via which the two link assemblies are connected. The link assemblies may each have a fabric deflection lever which is pivoted into a straightened position by the top cover when the top is in the closed position and which is pivoted into a bent position in such a manner that the top cover is deflected around the free end of the deflection lever when the top is in the storage position.

Claims

1. A top for a convertible vehicle, the top comprising: a top cover and a top linkage displaceable between a closed position, in which a vehicle interior is covered, and a storage position, in which the vehicle interior is uncovered, the top linkage having a link assembly on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top, each link assembly comprising two main links which are pivotably mounted on a main bearing attachable to a vehicle body and which form a multi-bar linkage together with a roof middle link, and the top linkage having transverse bows via which the two link assemblies are connected to each other, wherein the link assemblies each comprise a fabric deflection lever which is pivoted into a first position by the top cover when the top is in the closed position and which is pivoted into a second position in such a manner that the top cover is deflected around a free end of the deflection lever when the top is in the storage position.

2. The top according to claim 1, wherein two bilaterally disposed fabric deflection levers are connected to each other via a connecting element which engages the top cover.

3. The top according to claim 2, wherein the connecting element runs through an inner pocket of the top cover.

4. The top according to claim 2, wherein the connecting element is a cable or a strap.

5. The top according to claim 1, wherein the second position of each fabric deflection lever is defined by a stop.

6. The top according to claim 1, wherein each fabric deflection lever runs through an inner loop of the top cover.

7. The top according to claim 1, wherein each link assembly comprises two front links which are hinged to the respective roof middle links and which serve to displace a front bow relative to the roof middle links, and wherein the fabric deflection lever is hinged to one of the front links.

8. The top according to claim 1, wherein the transverse bows are realized as panel bows and form an at least largely continuous support surface for the top cover in the longitudinal direction of the top when the top linkage is in the closed position.

Description

(1) An embodiment of a 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.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a panel bow top;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the top without illustration of a top cover;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of a top linkage of the top in a closed position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the top linkage in an intermediate position during displacement from the closed position into a storage position; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the top during displacement shortly before it reaches the storage position.

(7) The drawing shows a top 10 of a convertible vehicle not shown in detail, the top being a folding top or, more precisely, a panel bow top. Top 10 is displaceable between a closed position, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and in which an interior of the vehicle in question is covered, and a storage position, in which the interior of the vehicle is uncovered and top 10 is accommodated in a rear top storage box 12, which is indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(8) Top 10 comprises a top cover 14, which is illustrated by dashes in FIGS. 3 to 5 and which is made of a foldable waterproof fabric. For deploying top cover 14, top 10 comprises a top linkage 16 which has a link assembly 18 on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of top 10.

(9) The bilaterally disposed link assemblies 18 are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the vertical longitudinal center plane of top 10, which is why the following description will be limited to the link assembly disposed on the left with respect to the direction of forward travel of the vehicle in question. The link assembly disposed on the right with respect to the direction of forward travel of the vehicle is realized analogously and, therefore, is also apparent from the following description.

(10) In addition to bilaterally disposed link assemblies 18, top linkage 18 comprises a front bow 20 and four other panel bows 22, 24, 26 and 28, which are realized in the manner of rigid roof shells and form a substantially continuous support surface for top cover 14 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when in the closed position, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. In the storage position, panel bows 24, 26 and 28 and the unit composed of front bow 20 and panel bow 22 are accommodated one on top of the other as a stack in top storage box 12.

(11) The link assemblies 18 each comprise two main links 30 and 32 which are pivotably mounted on a main bearing 33 attached to a vehicle body (not shown) and which form a main multi-bar linkage or main four-bar linkage together with a roof middle link 34. Two front links 36 and 38 are hinged to roof middle link 34, the ends of front links 36 and 38 that face away from roof middle link 34 being hinged to a support 40 for front bow 22 and panel bow 24. Moreover, main link 32 is connected to a coupling link 44 via a hinge point 42, coupling link 44 serving to displace front bow 22 and panel bow 24 in relation to roof middle link 34 and being connected to the two front links 36 and 38 via respective coupling levers 46 and 48 for this purpose. At its end facing away from coupling lever 48, coupling link 44 is connected to a weather strip link 52 via a hinge point 50, the end of weather strip link 52 that faces away from coupling link 44 being connected to a rear tensioning bow 56 via a hinge point 54. Rear tensioning bow 56 delimits top cover 14 at its rear edge when top 10 is in the closed position, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

(12) Via a hinge point 58, a fabric deflection lever 60 is hinged to the end of front link 38 that faces away from roof middle link 34, fabric deflection lever 60 being pivotable between a first straightened position, which is illustrated in FIG. 3 and extends in the longitudinal direction of top 10, and a second bent position, which is illustrated in FIG. 5 and associated with the storage position of top 10 and in which fabric deflection lever 60 is oriented at nearly a right angle with respect to front link 38 and top cover 14 is deflected around the free end of fabric deflection lever 60, the free end facing away from hinge point 58. In the first straightened position, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, fabric deflection lever 60 is oriented substantially parallel to front link 38 and is spaced apart from top cover 14.

(13) Bilaterally disposed fabric deflection levers 60 run through respective loops 62 formed on the inside of top cover 14, whereby they are connected to the latter.

(14) Furthermore, bilaterally disposed fabric deflection levers 60 are connected to each other via a rope 64 whose ends are connected to fabric deflection levers 60 via respective bores 66 and which runs through a pocket 68 formed on the inside of top cover 14 and extending in the transverse direction of top 10. Pocket 68 is shown in FIG. 2 without illustration of the other top cover areas. Alternatively, rope 64 may also be sewed or glued to top cover 14.

(15) In order to define the bent position of fabric deflection lever 60 in the storage position of top 10, the hinged end of fabric deflection lever 60 has an angled portion which forms a stop 70 which abuts against front link 38 in the bent position.

(16) As can be seen in FIG. 3 and was stated above, fabric deflection levers 60 are oriented substantially parallel to front links 38 when top 10 is in the closed position. In this first straightened position, they do not have a function. When top 10 is being moved from said position into its storage position, top cover 14 moves fabric deflection levers 60 in a controlled manner into their second bent position, in which they are oriented at least approximately at a right angle to front links 38 (cf. FIGS. 4 and 5). Shortly before the storage position is reached, stops 70 of fabric deflection levers 60 abut against bilaterally disposed front links 38. The second bent position of fabric deflection levers 60 causes top cover 14 to be deflected in a U-shape, which prevents top cover 14 from becoming crumpled between front links 38 and coupling links 44. The position of top cover 14 between the two fabric deflection levers 60 is predetermined by rope 64, which is stretched between the two fabric deflection levers 60 and which is connected to top cover 14 by means of pocket 68 in the case at hand. Moreover, a retaining strap 72 is connected to top cover 14, retaining strap 72 being attached to coupling link 44 at its other end and pulling top cover 14 inward in the area in question

REFERENCE SIGNS

(17) 10 top 12 top storage box 14 top cover 16 top linkage 18 link assembly 20 front bow 22 panel bow 24 panel bow 26 panel bow 28 panel bow 30 main link 32 main link 33 main bearing 34 roof middle link 36 front link 38 front link 40 support 42 hinge point 44 coupling link 46 coupling lever 48 coupling lever 50 hinge point 52 weather strip link 54 hinge point 56 tensioning bow 58 hinge point 60 fabric deflection lever 62 loop 64 rope 66 bore 68 pocket 70 stop 72 retaining strap