Patent US3713689A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3713689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle body retractable top
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-09-14
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle body includes a fixed roof panel adjacent the rear end of the occupant compartment and cooperable with the windshield header to define an occupant compartment roof opening selectively closed by a retractable top including movable front and rear roof panels. A pair of mounting rails have their forward ends affixed to the opposite lateral sides of the rear panel while their rearward ends support respective pairs of rollers received within respective body mounted channel members to mount the rear panel for generally translatory movement between a rearward storage position below the fixed roof panel and a forward raised position closing the rear portion of the roof opening. A pair of longitudinally extending channel members also affixed to the opposite lateral sides of the rear panel slidably support respective linkage mechanisms including four-bar linkages which are connected to the lateral sides of the front panel. With the rear panel held in the storage position by a pair of vehicle body mounted latch mechanisms respectively engaging the mounting rails, the linkage mechanisms are positioned at the rearward ends of the rear panel mounted channel members and the four-bar linkages assume released positions locating the front panel generally below and in a spaced relationship to the rear panel to define a storage position of the top. A pair of drive rails have their forward ends pivoted to respective locking links of the linkage mechanisms and have their rearward ends supported by roller arrangements movable longitudinally relative to the vehicle body along body mounted channel members. Conventional cable drive mechanisms connected to the roller arrangements are actuatable to move the drive rails forwardly and slide the front panel and linkage mechanisms forwardly along the stationary rear panel while control linkages of the linkage mechanisms maintain the four-bar linkages in the released positions and the locking links also in respective released positions. When the linkage mechanisms reach the forward ends of the rear panel mounted channel members, the control linkages allow the forwardly moving drive rails to move the four-bar linkages to locked positions and bodily shift the front panel upwardly to seal the panels and align respective front and rear drip rail portions on the opposite sides of the panels. As the four-bar linkages move to the locked positions, the locking links are moved to overcenter locking positions and pin and open ended slot connections between the drive rails and linkage mechanisms are interengaged to provide a driving connection between the drive rails and the linkage mechanisms. The latch mechanisms holding the rear panel in the storage position are cammed to unlatched positions concomitant with the locking of the locking links and four-bar linkages and allow the drive mechanisms to move the front and rear panels forwardly as a unit until the front panel engages the windshield header to thus provide a raised position in which the top closes the roof opening. The drive mechanisms are also actuatable to move the front and rear panels from the raised position rearwardly, with the panels moving as a unit until the rear panel reaches the storage position where the pin and slot connections are cammed out of engagement and move the locking links and four-bar linkages to the respective released positions. Thereafter, the drive mechanisms move the downwardly shifted front panel rearwardly as the linkage mechanisms slide rearwardly along the stationary rear panel mounted channel memBers and the top moves to the storage position.
Inventors
- 👤 E Podolan
- 👤 F Przybysz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, the overcenter linkage means being movable between a released position and an overcenter locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, the front and rear panels in the raised positions cooperatively closing the roof opening, and drive means for moving the front and rear panels between the storage and raised positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, the overcenter linkage means being movable between a released position and an overcenter locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, the front and rear panels in the raised positions cooperatively closing the roof opening, and drive means for moving the front and rear panels between the storage and raised positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
202 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, the overcenter linkage means being movable between a released position and an overcenter locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, the front and rear panels in the raised positions cooperatively closing the roof opening, and drive means for moving the front and rear panels between the storage and raised positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, the overcenter linkage means being movable between a released position and an overcenter locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, the front and rear panels in the raised positions cooperatively closing the roof opening, and drive means for moving the front and rear panels between the storage and raised positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
217 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means including a four-bar linkage slidably mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, the overcenter linkage means being movable between a released position and an overcenter locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, the front and rear panels in the raised positions cooperatively closing the roof opening, and drive means extending between the vehicle body and the overcenter linkage means to move the front and rear panels between the storage and raised positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
217 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means including a four-bar linkage slidably mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, the overcenter linkage means being movable between a released position and an overcenter locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, the front and rear panels in the raised positions cooperatively closing the roof opening, and drive means extending between the vehicle body and the overcenter linkage means to move the front and rear panels between the storage and raised positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
280 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position genErally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means including a four-bar linkage slidably mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, control means maintaining the overcenter linkage means in a released position during movement of the front panel between the storage position and the intermediate position, the control means allowing movement of the overcenter linkage means between the released position and an overcenter locked position to allow vertical bodily shifting movement of the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, latch means for holding the rear panel in storage position during movement of the front panel between storage and intermediate positions, the latch means releasing the rear panel for movement to raised position concomitant with the movement of the front panel to raised position, and drive means extending between the vehicle body and the overcenter linkage means to move the front and rear panels between the storage positions and the raised positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
280 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position genErally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, slidable overcenter linkage means including a four-bar linkage slidably mounting the front panel on the rear panel for generally translatory movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, control means maintaining the overcenter linkage means in a released position during movement of the front panel between the storage position and the intermediate position, the control means allowing movement of the overcenter linkage means between the released position and an overcenter locked position to allow vertical bodily shifting movement of the front panel between the intermediate position and an upper raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, latch means for holding the rear panel in storage position during movement of the front panel between storage and intermediate positions, the latch means releasing the rear panel for movement to raised position concomitant with the movement of the front panel to raised position, and drive means extending between the vehicle body and the overcenter linkage means to move the front and rear panels between the storage positions and the raised positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
319 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, a four-bar linkage connected to the front panel, means slidably mounting the four-bar linkage on the rear panel to mount the front panel on the rear panel for movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, control means for maintaining the four-bar linkage in a released position during movement of the front panel between the storage and intermediate positions, the control means allowing the four-bar linkage to move between the released position and a locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and a raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, a locking link pivotally and slidably connected to the four-bar linkage and movable between a released position and an overcenter locking position to selectively maintain the four-bar linkage in locked position and the front panel in raised position, latch means for holding the rear panel in storage position during movement of the front panel between the storage and intermediate positions, the latch means releasing the rear panel for movement to raised position concomitant with the movement of the front panel to raised position, and drive means extending between the vehicle body and the locking link to move the front and rear panels between the storage positions and the raised positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
319 words
In combination with a vehicle body including a windshield header and a fixed roof panel extending transversely of the vehicle body and cooperatively defining an occupant compartment roof opening, a retractable top for selectively closing the roof opening comprising, front and rear roof panels extending transversely of the vehicle body, means mounting the rear panel on the vehicle body for generally translatory movement between a storage position generally below the fixed panel and a forward raised position closing a portion of the roof opening, a four-bar linkage connected to the front panel, means slidably mounting the four-bar linkage on the rear panel to mount the front panel on the rear panel for movement in spaced relationship thereto between a storage position generally below the rear panel and an intermediate position forward thereof, control means for maintaining the four-bar linkage in a released position during movement of the front panel between the storage and intermediate positions, the control means allowing the four-bar linkage to move between the released position and a locked position to vertically bodily shift the front panel between the intermediate position and a raised position where the front panel sealingly engages the rear panel and where the lateral edges of the front and rear panels are continuous, a locking link pivotally and slidably connected to the four-bar linkage and movable between a released position and an overcenter locking position to selectively maintain the four-bar linkage in locked position and the front panel in raised position, latch means for holding the rear panel in storage position during movement of the front panel between the storage and intermediate positions, the latch means releasing the rear panel for movement to raised position concomitant with the movement of the front panel to raised position, and drive means extending between the vehicle body and the locking link to move the front and rear panels between the storage positions and the raised positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |