Top having a locking mechanism

Abstract

The invention relates to a top for a convertible vehicle, comprising a top cover and a top linkage which is displaceable between a covering position, in which a vehicle interior is covered, and a storage position, in which the vehicle interior is uncovered, and which comprises a link assembly on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, each link assembly being pivotably mounted on a vehicle-attached main bearing and securable in at least two positions of the top linkage by means of a locking device comprising a lock element disposed on a first link of the link assembly, a first lock counterelement, and a second vehicle-attached lock counterelement. The first lock counterelement of each locking device is disposed on a second link of the respective link assembly.

Claims

1. A top for a convertible vehicle, comprising: a top cover and a top linkage which is displaceable between a covering position, in which a vehicle interior is covered, and a storage position, in which the vehicle interior is uncovered, and which comprises a link assembly on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, each link assembly being pivotably mounted on a vehicle-attached main bearing and securable in at least two positions of the top linkage by means of a locking device comprising a lock element disposed on a first link of the link assembly, a first lock counterelement, and a second vehicle-attached lock counterelement, wherein the first lock counterelement of each locking device is disposed on a second link of the respective link assembly; wherein the lock elements each comprise a spring device which acts in the direction of an engaged position.

2. The top according to claim 1, wherein the lock elements and the respective second lock counterelements together secure the top linkage in the storage position.

3. The top according to claim 1, wherein the lock elements and the second lock counterelements secure the top linkage in the covering position and/or in an intermediate position in which the vehicle interior is partially uncovered.

4. The top according to claim 1, wherein the first links of the link assemblies are each formed by a roof link which extends in the longitudinal direction of the top when the top is in the covering position, the second links of the link assemblies are each formed by a main link pivotably mounted on a main bearing, and the roof links are each pivotably connected to the respective main link.

5. The top according to claim 4, wherein the main links each comprise a long leg which extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle and which is pivotably mounted on the respective vehicle-attached main bearing and a short leg which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a protrusion which extends forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and on which the respective first lock counterelement is formed and which preferably forms a ramp for the lock element being formed on each of the long legs.

6. The top according to claim 4, wherein the roof links of the bilaterally disposed link assemblies are each pivotably connected to a front roof link.

7. The top according to claim 1, wherein the lock elements each comprise a cylindrical shaft and a knob.

8. The top according to claim 1, wherein the spring devices each comprise a spring and a securing element which secures the spring on the respective lock element.

9. The top according to claim 1, wherein the lock counterelements each comprise a recess which corresponds to the respective lock element.

10. The top according to claim 1, wherein the second lock counterelements each comprise a bevel which serves as a ramp for the respective lock element.

11. The top according to claim 5 wherein the bilaterally disposed link assemblies each comprise a main four-bar linkage which is formed by the main link mounted pivotably in attachment to the vehicle, by the roof link, and by a second main link mounted pivotably in attachment to the vehicle.

12. A convertible vehicle, comprising a top according to claim 1.

13. The convertible vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a roll cage which comprises, on either side of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, a roll bar which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and on which the second lock counterelement of the locking device is disposed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a convertible vehicle with a top in a covering position, a top cover being omitted;

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the convertible vehicle of FIG. 1 in the covering position;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a top linkage of the top in the covering position;

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

(5) FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the top linkage in an intermediate position;

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of the top linkage of FIG. 3 in the covering position together with the top cover;

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of the top linkage of FIG. 3 in the intermediate position;

(8) FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, showing the top linkage in a storage position;

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective partial view of an area of the top linkage in the covering position which comprises a locking device;

(10) FIG. 10 is a plan view of the area of the top linkage in the covering position shown in FIG. 9;

(11) FIG. 11a is a section along line XI-XI in FIG. 9, showing the locking device in an engaged position;

(12) FIG. 11b shows an alternative embodiment of the locking device illustrated in FIG. 11a;

(13) FIG. 12a is a view corresponding to FIG. 11a, showing the locking device in an open position while the top linkage is in the covering position;

(14) FIG. 12b is a view corresponding to FIG. 11b, showing the locking device in an open position; and

(15) FIG. 13 is a section through the locking device in the storage position with the locking device in the engaged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) FIG. 1 shows a convertible vehicle 10 which comprises a top 11, realized as a folding top, as a vehicle roof. In a covering position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, in which a vehicle interior is covered at the top, top 11 extends between a front header 17 and at least one rear edge extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle and forming an area of transition to a rear portion or cargo space of the vehicle. Front header 17 forms an upper leg of a windshield frame, said upper leg extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. In the covering position, top 11 also covers roll bars 16 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are part of a roll cage.

(17) Top 11 has a top cover 13 and a top linkage 12. Top cover 13 can be displaced between the covering position and a storage position, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, by means of top linkage 12. In the storage position, the vehicle interior is uncovered and top 11 is stored in a rear storage space of the vehicle body.

(18) Top linkage 12 comprises a link assembly 14 on either side of a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top. Link assemblies 14 are mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, which is why, for the sake of clarity, only link assembly 14 on the left with respect to the forward direction of travel of vehicle 10 will be described below.

(19) Link assembly 14 has a first main link 20 and a second main link 22, which are each pivotably mounted on a vehicle-attached main bearing 18. Vehicle-attached main bearing 18 comprises two stop elements 18a and 18b, second main link 22 being in contact with stop element 18a when top linkage 12 is in the covering position and first main link 20 being in contact with second stop element 18b when top linkage 12 is in the storage position. First main link 20 has a long leg 20a extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle when in the covering position and a short leg 20b extending in the in longitudinal direction of the vehicle when in the covering position. A protrusion 20c which extends substantially parallel to short leg 20b is formed on long leg 20a.

(20) First main link 20 and second main link 22 are each pivotably connected to a rear roof link 26 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when top linkage 12 is in the covering position. At a front end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, rear roof link 26 is pivotably connected to a front roof link 24. Front roof link 24 and rear roof link 26 together form a roof side beam when top linkage 12 is in the covering position. In the covering position, front roof link 24 is in contact with a stop element 26a of rear roof link 26.

(21) A bow link 34 and a link 38 which form a four-bar linkage with a bow link 36 and the rear roof link 26 are pivotably mounted on the rear roof link 26. The front roof link 24 and a bow link 28, a coupling link 30, and a link 32 together form another four-bar linkage.

(22) Bilaterally disposed link assemblies 14 are connected to each other via a front bow 50 and via transverse bows 52, 54, 56 and 58 each extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. When top linkage 12 is in the covering position, transverse bow 58 forms an area of transition between the roof portion and the cargo space of the vehicle. Transverse bows 52, 56 and 58 extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle and, at their ends, they are each connected to a bow holder 53, 57 and 59, respectively, on either side. Bow holders 53 are each pivotably connected to respective front roof link 24 via respective bow link 28. Bow holders 57 are each pivotably connected to respective rear roof links 26 via respective bow link 34 and respective link 38, respectively. Rear roof link 26 is rigidly connected to transverse bow 58 via bilaterally disposed bow holders 59. Transverse bow 54 sits on bow links 34.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 3, securing elements 64 are disposed on front bow 50, said securing elements 64 securing top 11 to front header 17 of vehicle 10 in the covering position, unintentional displacement of top 11 thus being precluded.

(24) Furthermore, a locking device 80 is formed for each of bilaterally disposed link assemblies 14, said locking device 80 securing top linkage 12 against unintentional displacement in the covering position and in the storage position. Locking devices 80 each comprise a lock element 82 and two lock counterelements 84 and 86.

(25) Each lock element 82 has a cylindrical shaft 82b and a knob 82a. Cylindrical shafts 82b extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle and penetrate a recess of respective rear roof link 26. Knob 82a for manual operation is formed on each of the ends of cylindrical shafts 82b which face away from the vehicle interior.

(26) A spring 88, in particular a helical compression spring, is slid onto each of shafts 82b of lock elements 82, said spring 88 pushing respective lock element 82 into an engaged position. In the engaged position, the ring surfaces of knobs 82a of lock elements 82 which face the vehicle interior are each in contact with a side surface of respective rear roof link 26 which faces away from the vehicle interior. Springs 88, which are supported on roof links 26, are each secured by means of a securing ring 90 which engages into a groove of respective shaft 82b.

(27) In FIGS. 11a, 11b, 12a and 12b, alternative embodiments of locking device 80 are illustrated, which differ in the design of lock counterelement 86 disposed on roll bar 16 in attachment to the vehicle.

(28) In the embodiment of locking device 80 illustrated in FIGS. 11a and 12a, lock counterelement 86 has an inverted F-shaped cross-section. Hence, in order to secure top 11 in the covering position or in the intermediate position, lock element 82 has to be subjected to a force which acts outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle and which is greater than the spring force of spring 88 and which moves lock element 82 from the engaged position outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Thus, top linkage 12 can be pivoted further until lock element 82 is located opposite recess 86a of lock counterelements 86. When the manual force acting on lock element 82 is released, lock element 82 will return to the engaged position. In doing so, it will enter recess 86a of lock counterelement 86.

(29) In the embodiment of locking device 80 illustrated in FIGS. 11b and 12b, lock counterelement 86 comprises a bevel 86b which positively shifts lock element 82 outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle against the spring force of spring 88 as top linkage 12 is being displaced. When lock element 82 reaches recess 86a of lock counterelement 86, lock element 82 will automatically return to the engaged position owing to the spring force of spring 88 acting inward, top linkage 12 thus being secured. In FIG. 13, locking device 80 is illustrated in an engaged position while tip linkage 12 is in the storage position. Lock element 82 penetrates lock counterelement 84 of first main link 20, lock counterelement 84 having a recess 84a, whereby top linkage 12 is secured in the storage position. Lock counterelement 84 is formed on protrusion 20c of long leg 20a, said long leg 20a comprising a ramp which positively guides lock element 82 toward lock counterelement 84 as top linkage 12 is being displaced.

(30) As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, two driving elements 60, 62 are connected to link assembly 14, said driving elements 60, 62 each being formed by a gas pressure spring and aiding displacement of top linkage 12. Driving element 60 is supported on main bearing 18 in attachment to the vehicle and engages first main link 14. Driving element 62 is supported on rear roof link 26 and engages bow link 28.

(31) Top 11 can be actuated in the manner described below.

(32) In the covering position of top 11, in which top 11 covers the vehicle interior, top 11 is secured by securing elements 64 disposed on front bow 50 and by locking devices 80 disposed on either side of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, unintentional displacement of top 11 thus being precluded. Lock elements 82 are each engaged with respective vehicle-attached second lock counterelement 86.

(33) Starting from the covering position, top 11 can be displaced into the intermediate position, in which the vehicle interior is partially uncovered, by displacing top linkage 12. To do so, securing elements 64 are released and front roof links 24 of bilaterally disposed link assemblies 14 are each pivoted rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

(34) In order to displace top 11 from the intermediate position into the storage position, lock elements 82 are each manually subjected to a force which acts outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle and which is greater than the spring force of springs 88 and which moves lock elements 82 from the engaged position outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Then, top linkage 12, in particular first and second main links 20 and 22, are pivoted rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle until first main links 20 each come into contact with respective second stop element 18b. During this displacement, lock elements 82 each collide with protrusion 20c of respective link assembly 14, whereby lock elements 82 are positively moved outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle against the spring force by the ramps, are guided toward respective lock counterelement 84, and latch into recess 84a upon reaching it.

(35) In order to displace top 11 from the storage position into the intermediate position or into the covering position via the intermediate position, lock elements 82 are each subjected to a force which acts outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle and which is greater than the spring force of springs 88, lock elements 82 thus being displaced outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle from the engaged position into an open position and top linkage 12 being released. Starting from the storage position, top linkage 12 is then pivoted forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

(36) In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11a and 12a, lock elements 82 collide with respective second lock element 86, further displacement thus being prevented. Subsequently, lock elements 82 are each subjected to a force which acts outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle and which that is greater than the spring force of springs 88 and which moves lock elements 82 from the engaged position outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle. Thus, top linkage 12 can be pivoted further until lock elements 82 are located opposite recesses 86a of lock counterelements 86. If the force acting on lock elements 82 is subsequently released, lock elements 82 return to the engaged position. In doing so, they enter recesses 86a of lock counterelements 86.

(37) As shown in FIGS. 11b and 12b, lock elements 86 can alternatively each comprise a bevel 86b which positively shifts respective lock element 82 outward in the transverse direction of the vehicle against the spring force of respective spring 88 as top linkage 12 is being displaced. Subsequently, upon arrival at recess 86a of respective lock counterelement 86, lock elements 82 automatically return to the engaged position because of the spring force of respective springs 88 acting inward in the transverse direction of the vehicle, top linkage 12 thus being secured.

(38) In order to displace top 11 from the intermediate position into the covering position, front roof links 24 are pivoted forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle until front bow 50 comes into contact with front header 17 of convertible vehicle 10, the top linkage subsequently being secured thereto by means of securing elements 64.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(39) 10 convertible vehicle 11 top 12 top linkage 13 top cover 14 link assembly 16 roll bar 17 front header 18 vehicle-attached main bearing 18a stop element 18b stop element 20 first main link 20a long leg 20b short leg 20c protrusion 22 second main link 24 front roof link 26 rear roof link 26a stop element 28 bow link 30 coupling link 32 link 34 bow link 36 bow link 38 link 50 front bow 52 transverse bow 53 bow holder 54 transverse bow 56 transverse bow 57 bow holder 58 transverse bow 59 bow holder 60 driving element 62 driving element 64 securing element 80 locking device 82 lock element 82a knob 82b shaft 84 first lock counterelement 84a recess 86 second lock counterelement 86a recess 86b bevel 88 spring 90 securing ring