Lock for a removable roof attachment for vehicles

Claim 2

Lock for a removable roof attachment of a vehicle, particularly an automotive vehicle having a roof attachment adapted to be clamped to a fixed part of the vehicle superstructure, said lock comprising: bearing plate means fixed to one of said roof attachment and said fixed part, lever means operatively articulated to said bearing plate means by way of pivot support shaft means extending in the longitudinal driving direction of the vehicle whereby pivotal movement of said lever means is only about axes parallel to said longitudinal direction, said lever means including clamping means for operatively engaging the other of said roof attachment and said fixed part, and an elastic member positioned between said clamping means and said roof attachment such that clamping forces between said clamping means and said roof attachment are transferred by way of said elastic member, wherein the elastic member is provided with a tang portion extending substantially parallel to a central longitudinal plane of the vehicle and having a hook-shaped portion, and wherein the clamping means operatively cooperates with the tang portion.

Claim 3

Lock according to claim 1, wherein further elastic member is provided on a substantially horizontally extending wall of the roof attachment for resting on the fixed part of the superstructure.

Claim 4

Lock according to claim 2 wherein a roll yoke constitutes the fixed part of the superstructure.

Claim 5

Lock according to claim 1, wherein said elastic means includes an elastic member provided on a substantially horizontally extending wall of the roof attachment for resting on the fixed part of the superstructure.

Claim 6

Lock according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for automatically pivoting the clamping means back into a rest position out of engagement with the said other of said roof attachment and said fixed part after release of a handle provided on the lever means.

Claim 7

Lock according to claim 5, wherein the automatic pivoting means includes spring means.

Claim 8

Lock according to claim 1, wherein the bearing plate means includes a V-shaped portion for supporting the clamping means in the unlocked position.

Claim 9

Lock according to claim 7, wherein the lever means includes a handle operatively associated with the clamping means.

Claim 10

Lock according to claim 8, wherein means are provided for automatically pivoting the clampiNg means back into a rest position after release of the handle.

Claim 11

Lock according to claim 9, wherein the automatic pivoting means includes spring means.

Claim 12

Lock according to claim 1, wherein said lever means includes a handle and wherein a driving tang is provided on the handle adjacent an edge of the clamping means so as to cooperate therewith during the locking operation.

Claim 13

Lock according to claim 11, wherein means are provided for automatically pivoting the clamping means back into a rest position out of engagement with the said other of said roof attachment and said fixed part after release of a handle provided on the lever means.

Claim 14

Lock according to claim 12, wherein the automatic pivoting means includes spring means.

Claim 15

Lock according to claim 11, wherein the bearing plate means includes a V-shaped portion for supporting the clamping means in the unlocked position.

Claim 16

Lock according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part of the superstructure is provided with a padded strip having a recess for concealing the lock structure to protect passengers from engaging said lock structure.

Claim 17

Lock according to claim 15, wherein a roll yoke constitutes the fixed part of the superstructure.

Claim 18

Lock according to claim 15, wherein the lever means includes a handle operatively associated with the clamping means.

Claim 19

Lock according to claim 17, wherein a driving tang is provided on the handle adjacent an edge of the clamping means so as to cooperate therewith during the locking operation.

Claim 20

Lock according to claim 18, wherein a structurally rigid insert member is provided in the area of the lock on a side of the padded strip facing the roof attachment.

Claim 21

Lock according to claim 19, wherein the insert member has a passage opening for the clamping means.

Claim 22

Lock according to claim 19, wherein the insert member includes a lug portion directed into the recess of the padded strip, the lug serving as a guide member for the clamping means.

Claim 23

Lock according to claim 21, wherein the insert member has a passage opening for the clamping means.

Claim 24

Lock according to claim 1, wherein spring means are provided for automatically pivoting the clamping means back into a rest unclamped position after release of the handle.

Claim 25

Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said bearing plate means is fixed to said fixed part.

Claim 26

Lock according to claim 24, characterized in that said lever means further includes a handle means, and in that said pivot support shaft means includes a first and second pivot pin spaced from one another, said first pin pivotally connecting said handle means and said clamping means, said second pin pivotally connecting said clamping means to said bearing plate means whereby a toggle clamping effect is formed when said handle means is moved into the clamping position.

Claim 27

Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said lever means further includes a handle means, and in that said pivot support shaft means includes a first and second pivot pin spaced from one another, said first pin pivotally connecting said handle means and said clamping means, said second pin pivotally connecting said handle means to said bearing plate means whereby a toggle clamping effect is formed when said handle means is moved into the clamping position.

Claim 28

Lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic member includes a mass of elastic material, and in that said tang portion is constructed as a pin extending out of said mass of elastic material, said clamping means directly engaging said pin when in the clamped condition.

Claim 29

Lock for a removable roof attachment of a vehicle, particularly an automotive vehicle having a roof attachment adapted to be clamped to a fixed part of the vehicle superstructure, said lock comprising: bearing plate means fixed to one of said roof attachment and said fixed part, lever means operatively articulated to said bearing plate means by way of pivot suPport shaft means extending in the longitudinal driving direction of the vehicle whereby pivotal movement of said lever means in only about axes parallel to said longitudinal direction, said lever means including clamping means for operatively engaging the other of said roof attachment and said fixed part, and elastic means arranged between said roof attachment and said fixed part for resiliently cushioning forces transferred between said roof attachment and said fixed part, wherein said lever means further includes a handle means, wherein said pivot support shaft means includes a first and second pivot pin spaced from one another, said first pin pivotally connecting said handle means and said clamping means, said second pin pivotally connecting said handle means to said bearing plate means whereby a toggle clamping effect is formed when said handle means is moved into the clamping position, wherein said clamping means includes a clamping end portion and a return end portion disposed at opposite sides of said first pivot pin, said clamping end portion being directly clampingly engageable with said other of said roof attachment and said fixed part when said handle means is in said clamping position, said return end portion being attached to a return spring mounted on said bearing plate means such that said clamping means is pivoted to a rest position when said handle means is in a position other than the clamping position, and wherein said bearing plate means includes stop means positioned to engage said clamping means adjacent the clamping end portion thereof to retain the clamping means in said rest position.

Claim 30

Lock for a removable roof attachment of a vehicle, particularly an automotive vehicle having a roof attachment adapted to be clamped to a fixed part of the vehicle superstructure, said lock comprising: bearing plate means fixed to one of said roof attachment and said fixed part, lever means operatively articulated to said bearing plate means by way of pivot suPport shaft means extending in the longitudinal driving direction of the vehicle whereby pivotal movement of said lever means in only about axes parallel to said longitudinal direction, said lever means including clamping means for operatively engaging the other of said roof attachment and said fixed part, and elastic means arranged between said roof attachment and said fixed part for resiliently cushioning forces transferred between said roof attachment and said fixed part, wherein said lever means further includes a handle means, wherein said pivot support shaft means includes a first and second pivot pin spaced from one another, said first pin pivotally connecting said handle means and said clamping means, said second pin pivotally connecting said handle means to said bearing plate means whereby a toggle clamping effect is formed when said handle means is moved into the clamping position, wherein said clamping means includes a clamping end portion and a return end portion disposed at opposite sides of said first pivot pin, said clamping end portion being directly clampingly engageable with said other of said roof attachment and said fixed part when said handle means is in said clamping position, said return end portion being attached to a return spring mounted on said bearing plate means such that said clamping means is pivoted to a rest position when said handle means is in a position other than the clamping position, and wherein said bearing plate means includes stop means positioned to engage said clamping means adjacent the clamping end portion thereof to retain the clamping means in said rest position.

Claim 31

Lock according to claim 28, wherein the clamping means cooperates with an elastic member forming part of the elastic means, said elastic member being arranged at the roof attachment, and wherein another of the elastic members is provided on a substantially horizontally extending wall of the roof attachment for resting on the fixed part of the superstructure.

Claim 32

Lock according to claim 29, wherein the elastic member arranged at the roof attachment is provided with a tang portion which extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal plane of the vehicle and has a hook-shaped portion, and wherein the clamping means operatively cooperates with the tang portion.

Claim 33

Lock according to claim 28, further comprising an elastic member including a pin extending out of a mass of elastic material, said clamping means directly engaging said pin when in the clamped condition.