Vehicle body retractable top

Abstract

Abstract A VEHICLE BODY RETRACTABLE TOP INCLUDES FRONT AND REAR MOVABLE ROOF PANELS SUPPORTING RESPECTIVE ROLLERS. A STRUT EXTENDS BETWEEN THE VEHICLE BODY WINDSHIELD HEADER AND A FIXED ROOF PANEL THAT COOPERATIVELY DEFINE A ROOF OPENING. CHANNEL MEMBERS SUPPORTED BY THE STRUT RECEIVE THE ROLLERS TO MOUNT THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS. A DRIVE MECHANISM TRANSLATES THE FRONT PANEL BETWEEN A FORWARD RAISED POSITION ENGAGING THE WINDSHIELD HEADER AND A REARWARD STORAGE POSITION BELOW THE FIXED ROOF PANEL. A LATCH MECHANISM SELECTIVELY CONNECTS THE REAR PANEL TO THE DRIVE MECHANISM FOR TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT BETWEEN A REARWARD STORAGE POSITION BELOW THE STORED FRONT PANEL AND A FORWARD RAISED POSITION EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FIXED PANEL AND THE RAISED FRONT PANEL. A SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAS ONE EDGE SECURED TO THE FIXED PANEL AND THE OPPOSITE EDGE SECURED TO THE FRONT PANEL SUCH THAT THE SHEET COVERS AND SEALS THE JUNCTURES BETWEEN THE PANELS WHEN THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS ARE IN RAISED POSITION. THE SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ASSUMES A GENERALLY OUT-OF-SIGHT FOLDED POSITION BETWEEN THE FIXED PANEL AND STORED FRONT PANEL. CONTROL ROLLERS ENGAGE CONTROL CHANNEL MEMBERS AND CAM THE REARWARD END OF THE REAR PANEL UPWARD INTO THE PLANE OF THE FIXED PANEL SUCH THAT THE ROOF SURFACE IS CONTINUOUS WHEN THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS ARE IN RAISED POSITION.

Inventors

• 👤 E Podolan

Bibliographic Details