Convertible Top Element and Convertible Top for a Convertible Vehicle and Convertible Vehicle

Abstract

A convertible top element for a convertible vehicle has, in sequence: an outer cover layer, a coupling layer, a convertible top bow, an absorber layer and an inner cover layer.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A first convertible top element for a convertible vehicle, comprising in sequence: an external convertible top tier; a coupling layer; a planar bow; an absorbent layer; and an internal convertible top tier; wherein the coupling layer has a layer thickness of 4 to 8 mm and an area weight of 130 to 270 g/m2; wherein the planar bow is a steel-sheet component, a deep-drawn metal-sheet component, a die-cast aluminum component, a die-cast magnesium component, or a honeycomb sandwich structure; and wherein the absorbent layer has a layer thickness of 8 to 15 mm and an area weight in a range from 300 to 600 g/m2.

16. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: the external convertible top tier has an area weight in a range from 1000 to 1500 g/m2, and a layer thickness of 0.8 to 2 mm.

17. The first convertible top element according to claim 16, wherein the area weight is in a range from 1100 to 1300 g/m2, and the layer thickness is 1 to 1.5 mm.

18. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein the external convertible top tier comprises a plastics material layer.

19. The first convertible top element according to claim 18, wherein the plastics material layer is one of: an acrylic layer, a butyl rubber layer, a polyethylene terephthalate layer, and arbitrary combinations thereof.

20. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: the coupling layer has a layer thickness of 5.5 to 6.5 mm, the coupling layer comprises a foam layer, the coupling layer comprises plastics material fibers which are selected from polyester, polyether sulfone, polyacrylate, polyamide, and mixtures thereof, and the coupling layer has an area weight of 180 to 220 g/m2.

21. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein a layer thickness of the steel-sheet component is 0.7 to 1 mm, a layer thickness of the deep-drawn sheet-metal component is 1.2 to 3 mm, a layer thickness of the die-cast aluminum component is 1.2 to 3 mm, a layer thickness of the die-cast magnesium component is 2.5 to 4 mm, a component thickness of the honeycomb sandwich structure is 7 to 10 mm; the honeycomb sandwich structure as a central layer comprises a paper honeycomb structure and as respective external layers that surround the central layer comprises at least one of: fiber/plastics material composite layers, plastics material layers, light metal layers, or the honeycomb sandwich structure has an area weight of 1000 to 6000 g/m2.

22. The first convertible top element according to claim 21, wherein the light metal layers are aluminum layers having adhesive layers.

23. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: the absorbent layer has a layer thickness of 10 to 13 mm, the absorbent layer has an area weight in a range from 400 to 500 g/m2, and the absorbent layer comprises a foam layer, a perforated absorbent upper layer, a slotted absorbent upper layer, or a layer containing plastics material fibers, and combinations thereof, wherein the plastics material fibers are selected from polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyether sulfone, polyacrylate, polyamide, and mixtures thereof.

24. The first convertible top element according to claim 23, wherein the layer thickness is 11.5 to 12.5 mm.

25. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein the internal convertible top layer is open-cell and comprises an open-cell foamed plastics material.

26. The first convertible top element according to claim 25, wherein the open-cell foamed plastics material is an open-cell polyurethane foam or polymethacrylimide foam.

27. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein the absorbent layer is a foam layer which is applied directly to the planar bow.

28. The first convertible top element according to claim 15, wherein the planar bow, the absorbent layer, and the internal convertible top tier connected to one another are configured as one component.

29. A convertible top for a convertible vehicle, comprising at least one first convertible top element according to claim 15.

30. The convertible top according to claim 29, further comprising a second convertible top element comprising in sequence: an external convertible top tier; a foamed plastics material; an absorbent layer; and an internal convertible top layer.

31. The convertible top according to claim 30, wherein the external convertible top tier has an area weight in a range from 1000 to 1500 g/m2, and a layer thickness of 0.8 to 2 mm.

32. The convertible top according to claim 31, wherein the external convertible top tier comprises a plastics material layer.

33. The convertible top according to claim 32, wherein the absorbent layer has a layer thickness of 10 to 13 mm, the absorbent layer has an area weight in a range from 400 to 500 g/m2, and the absorbent layer comprises a foam layer, a perforated absorbent upper layer, a slotted absorbent upper layer, or a layer containing plastics material fibers, and combinations thereof, wherein the plastics material fibers are selected from polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyether sulfone, polyacrylate, polyamide, and mixtures thereof.

34. The convertible top according to claim 33, wherein the internal convertible top layer is open-cell and comprises an open-cell foamed plastics material.

35. The convertible top according to claim 30, wherein the foamed plastics material has a layer thickness of 3 to 18 mm, and/or at a density of 130 kg/m3 has an area weight of 390 to 2340 g/m2.

36. A convertible vehicle, comprising a convertible top according to claim 29.

37. The convertible vehicle according to claim 36, wherein at least one first convertible top element comprises a transparent rear glass of the convertible vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a layered construction of a first convertible top element for a convertible vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a convertible top for a convertible vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Only those elements of the first convertible top element according to the invention and of the convertible top that are relevant to the invention are illustrated in the figures. All other elements have been omitted for the sake of clarity. Furthermore, the same reference signs refer to identical elements.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows in detail a first convertible top element 1 for a convertible vehicle and in particular the tiered construction of the first convertible top element 1, or the arrangement of the tiers, respectively, in a sectional view.

[0058] The first convertible top element 1 has an external convertible top tier 2 which is configured so as to be water-tight and has an area weight of 1100 to 1300 g/m.sup.2, in particular of 1450 g/m.sup.2, and a layer thickness of 1 to 1.5 mm. The external convertible top tier 2 is in particular a laminate which comprises a butyl rubber layer which on both sides is surrounded by two acrylate layers. The external convertible top tier 2 forms the outermost layer of the first convertible top element which in the installed state in a convertible top for a convertible vehicle comes into contact with the environment of the convertible vehicle.

[0059] A tier of a coupling layer 3 adjoins the external convertible top tier 2. The coupling layer 3 has a layer thickness of 4 to 8 mm and either is configured as a foam layer (in particular polyurethane foam) or comprises plastics material fibers from polyester, polyether sulfone, polyacrylate, polyamide, and mixtures thereof.

[0060] Reference sign 4 represents a planar bow. The planar bow 4 serves for erecting and stabilizing the first convertible top element 1, thus in particular the fabric-type tiers of the first convertible top element 1. The planar bow 4 also significantly contributes towards damping noise by the first convertible top element 1 and is present in the form of a honeycomb sandwich structure which as a central layer comprises a paper honeycomb structure and as respective external layers that surround the central layer comprises fiber/plastics material composite layers and/or plastics material layers and/or light metal layers, in particular aluminum layers having adhesive layers, in particular butyl rubber layers.

[0061] The first convertible top element 1 furthermore comprises an absorbent layer 5. The absorbent layer 5 has in particular a layer thickness of 11.5 to 12.5 mm, and an area weight in a range from 400 to 500 g/m.sup.2, so that a very positive absorption of noise is achieved, in particular in the high-frequency range.

[0062] The absorbent layer comprises in particular a foam layer, a perforated absorbent layer, a slotted absorbent layer, or a layer containing plastic material fibres, and combinations thereof, wherein the plastics material fibres are in particular selected from polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyether sulfone, polyacrylate, polyamide, and mixtures thereof.

[0063] An internal convertible top tier 6 is furthermore disposed below the absorbent layer 5. The internal convertible top tier 6 in the installed state of the first convertible top element 1 in a convertible vehicle faces the interior of the convertible vehicle and is in particular visible in the interior. The internal convertible top tier 6 comprises in particular an open-cell foamed plastics material which comprises polyurethane or polymethacrylimide. On account thereof, the high requirements set for a visually appealing vehicle headlining as well as the functional requirements in terms of avoiding any reflection of sound can be met.

[0064] The planar bow 4, the absorbent layer 5, and the internal convertible top tier 1 are disposed in a tiered manner on top of one another to the extent that they are connected to one another and are in particular embodied as one component.

[0065] A first convertible top element is obtained by the tiered arrangement and design embodiment of the individual tiers that form the first convertible top element 1, the latter being distinguished by very positive noise-damping as well as noise-absorbing properties.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a convertible top 10 for a convertible vehicle. The convertible top 10 comprises three first convertible top elements 1a, 1b, and 1c which can in each case be configured like the first convertible top element 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The first convertible top element 1a herein points in the direction of the front of the convertible vehicle, while the first convertible top element 1c points in the direction of the rear of the convertible vehicle.

[0067] The first convertible top elements 1a, 1b, and 1c are connected to one another by way of convertible top element joints 8, 9.

[0068] The convertible top element joints 8, 9 and the laterally disposed second convertible top element 7, wherein the convertible top element joints 8, 9 may likewise be referred to as second convertible top elements 7, are likewise distinguished by a multi-tier layered structure or tiered structure which in sequence comprises an external convertible top tier, an open-cell foamed plastics material, in particular from open-cell polyurethane or polymethacrylimide, an absorbent layer, and an internal convertible top tier, wherein the external convertible top tier, the absorbent layer, and the internal convertible top tier are configured as has been illustrated above in the context of the first convertible top element 1 from FIG. 1. The foamed plastics material has a layer thickness of 8 to 11 mm and at a density of 130 kg/m.sup.3 an area weight of 1040 to 1430 g/m.sup.2, and thus damps the wind noise which acts on the convertible vehicle from the outside and simultaneously absorbs the noise which is present in the interior of the convertible vehicle. The lateral second convertible top element 7 and the convertible top element joints 8 and 9 by virtue of the relatively thick layer thickness and the high area weight of the individual tiers are conceived so as to optimize the wind noise.

[0069] The convertible top 10 furthermore comprises a rear second convertible top element 11 and rear sealing joints 12 which are disposed about the rear second convertible top element 11 and the furthermore provided transparent glass 13 from toughened glass. The rear sealing joints 12, by virtue of the structural tiered construction thereof, may likewise be referred to as a second convertible top element 11. The rear second convertible top element 11 and the rear sealing joints 12 are also constructed in multiple layers or multiple tiers, respectively, wherein the tiered construction corresponds to the tiered construction of the lateral second convertible top element 7. The foamed plastics material has a layer thickness of 8 to 11 mm and at a density of 130 kg/m.sup.3 has an area weight of 1040 to 1430 g/m.sup.2. On account thereof, the rear second convertible top element 11 and the rear sealing joints 12 are sufficiently flexible such that the rear second convertible top element 11 and the rear sealing joints 12 are able to follow the exact contours of the predefined shapes of the convertible top 10 and enable positive acoustic damping.

[0070] The convertible top 10, while having a simple structure and a low inherant weight, is distinguished by a high level of noise damping in relation to the noise generated by the laminar flow about the vehicle and by a very positive noise absorption of noises prevalent in the interior of the convertible vehicle and is thus extremely suitable for convertible vehicles with an optimized level of acoustic pressure.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0071] 1 First convertible top element [0072] 1a First convertible top element [0073] 1b First convertible top element [0074] 1c First convertible top element [0075] 2 External convertible top tier [0076] 3 Coupling layer [0077] 4 Planar bow [0078] 5 Absorbent layer [0079] 6 Internal convertible top tier [0080] 7 Lateral second convertible top element [0081] 8 Convertible top element joint [0082] 9 Convertible top element joint [0083] 10 Convertible top [0084] 11 Rear second convertible top element [0085] 12 Rear sealing joint [0086] 13 Glass