METHOD OF FUNCTIONING THE RETRACTABLE HARD TOP SYSTEM FOR CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES

Abstract

Method of functioning the retractable hard top system for convertible vehicles which implies splitting the ceiling in the middle (through the longitudinal axis of the vehicle), moving the rear window with the frame-like area around it on top of the trunk lid, opening the upper areas of the rear wings and folding compactly the remaining components of the roof inside the lateral areas of the trunk. This method significantly increases the usable volume of the luggage compartment and offers an easier access to the items carried in the trunk. Also, this method requires a less complex operation system which leads to less expensive manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Claims

1. A method of functioning the convertible system on a hard top convertible vehicle wherein the horizontal part of the roof consists of two segments connecting the front pillars and the rear pillars and two elements identical in shape and size obtained by splitting the ceiling in the middle throughout the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

2. A method of functioning the convertible system on a hard top convertible vehicle according to claim number 1 characterized in that the two horizontal elements of the ceiling detach from one another throughout the longitudinal axis of the vehicle by raising their lateral sides away from the segments connecting the front pillars and the rear pillars.

3. A method of functioning the convertible system on a hard top convertible vehicle according to claim number 2 characterized in that the rear window with a frame-like area around it are moved and fixed on top of the trunk lid.

4. A method of functioning the convertible system on a hard top convertible vehicle according to claim number 3 wherein the upper areas of the rear wings open to the sides forming two openings to access the lateral areas inside the trunk.

5. A method of functioning the convertible system on a hard top convertible vehicle according to claim number 4 wherein the two symmetrical assemblies formed by the rear pillars, the connecting segments of the front pillars and the rear pillars and the horizontal elements of the ceiling move to the rear of the vehicle and folds compactly through the openings made by the upper parts of the rear wings into the lateral sides of the boot.

6. A method of functioning the convertible system on a hard top convertible vehicle characterized in that when the hard top is open the base of the two arms that move the rear window and its frame detach from the surrounding area in order to let the rear window to move together with the trunk lid when it is opening or closing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle with a retractable hard top in the closed position, according to the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle when the first components of the system are moving. It is the beginning of the opening process of the hard top.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle when the rear window and the frame around it are moving towards the trunk lid.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a left side-view of a part of a vehicle after the horizontal elements of the hard top are elevated and the rear window and its frame are moving toward the trunk lid.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle showing the final position of the rear window and its frame on the trunk lid.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle showing the opening of the top of the back wings of the vehicle.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle showing the detaching from the front pillars and the move of the hard top components toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle without the trunk lid showing the rotating points of the rear pillars.

[0045] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are rear left side-elevation views of a part of a vehicle showing the hard top components moving and folding before entering into the storage area on the left and on the right side of the luggage compartment.

[0046] FIG. 11 is a rear left side-elevation view of a part of a vehicle showing the final position of the hard top components in the luggage compartment.

[0047] FIG. 12 is a top right rear end view showing the final position of the hard top components in the luggage compartment with the trunk lid open.

[0048] FIG. 13 is a top view from the left rear end of the vehicle showing the end of the opening process when the top of the back wings are closed.

[0049] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the left rear end of the vehicle showing the final position of the hard top components in the open position in the luggage compartment.

[0050] FIG. 15 is a top left rear end view showing the base of the rear window's moving arms that are detached from the surrounding area when the trunk lid is open.

[0051] The present invention provides a method of folding the hard top of convertible vehicles characterized by the fact that the rear window and the frame-like area around it remaining outside the vehicle's body and it is moved and fixed on the trunk lid and the other components of the hard top fold compactly in the left and right sides of the inside of the trunk.

[0052] The following describes an embodiment of the invention in connection with FIGS. 1-15:

[0053] FIG. 1 is showing the main components of the convertible system with the closed hard top.

[0054] The ceiling is composed of identical horizontal elements 2a and 2b, the connecting horizontal segments 3a and 3b, the rear pillars 4a and 4b and the panel 12 formed by the frame 5 and the rear window 6. There are also shown the upper parts of the rear wings 7a and 7b, the trunk lid 8, the articulating connections 13a and 13b of the segments 3a, 3b and the pillars 4a, 4b, the joining area 22 between the elements 2a and 2b, the upper frame of the windscreen 1 and the front pillar 31a.

[0055] FIG. 2 is showing the beginning of the opening process by lifting the outer lateral areas of 2a and 2b away from the segments 3a and 3b, achieving at the same time their division in the area 22.

[0056] Further, the panel 12 separates from the rear pillars 4a and 4b with the mobile arms 9a and 9b and it is mowed and fixed on top of trunk lid.

[0057] The arms 9a and 9b performs a rotational movement toward the rear of the vehicle with rotation points 99a and 99b (FIG. 4 and FIG. 15) and simultaneously the pistons 10a and 10b push up the panel 12 to ensure parallelism with the trunk lid 8.

[0058] The base 15a of the arm 9a and the base 15b of the arm 9b (FIG. 15) disengages from the area 99 so that the panel 12 can follow the movement of the trunk lid 8 when it opens and closes with the hard top open.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows the final position of the panel 12 when it is fixed to the trunk lid 8. Panel 12 has the same shape as the horizontal part of the trunk lid 8 and closely follows the shape of the inner sides of the rear wings. At the back end the panel 12 forms a small spoiler 11.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows the next stage of the opening process when the upper parts of the rear wings 7a and 7b rise following a outward circular motion with the rotation points 14a and 14b.

[0061] The assembly composed of the rear pillar 4a, segment 3a and element 2a and the assembly 4b, 3b and 2b detach from the top of the windscreen frame 1 and rise with a circular motion with points of rotation 77a and 77b toward the back of the vehicle (FIG. 8).

[0062] When segments 3a and 3b reach a vertical position, the elements 2a and 2b move their inner parts toward the front of the vehicle (FIG. 9). When 3a forms an angle of approximately 90 with 2a and 3b forms an angle of approximately 90 with 2b, the assembly 3a, 2a and the assembly 3b, 2b start a downward rotation with points of rotation 13a and 13b (FIG. 10).

[0063] The assembly 4a, 3a and 2a and the assembly 4b, 3b and 2b go into the sides areas of the boot through the apertures provided by 7a and 7b (FIG. 11) following the trajectory imposed by the points of rotation 77a, 77b and 13a, 13b. Their final position inside the trunk is shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 14.

[0064] The opening process of the hard top ends by returning to the closed position of the 7a and 7b (FIG. 13).

[0065] The closing process of the hard top runs by following the above steps in reverse order.