Vehicle body retractable top

Claim 2

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion, a pair of elongated front and rear guides extending along the respective sides of the strut in a symmetrical manner, the rear guides on the strut having curved configurations at their forward ends so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear guides respectively extending along the outboard sides of the rear roof portion and having curved configurations at their forward ends which lie in planes that are parallel to the planes of the curved forward ends of the associated guides on the respective adjacent sides of the strut, the curved forward ends of the outboard rear guides also extending upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardLy as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and inwardly and downwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised positions without interference with the rear roof portion, and locking means for selectively holding the panels in their raised positions.

Claim 3

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion and including a pair of elongated mounting portions extending along the length of the strut at the opposite sides thereof, elongated front and rear channel-shaped guides mounted on each side of the strut and positioned in respective planes oriented generally at 45* with respect to the horizontal, the forward ends of the rear guides having arcuately curved configurations within these planes so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear channel-shaped guides extending along the respective outboard sides of the rear roof portion in planes that are parallel to the planes of the associated rear guides on the respective adjacent sides of the strut, the rear guides on the roof portion having arcuately curved configurations at their forward ends which extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardly as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and inwardly and downwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised positions without interference with the rear roof portion, power operated means for moving the panels between the raised and storage positions, and overcenter locking means for selectively holding the panels in the raised positions.

Claim 4

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion and including a pair of elongated mounting portions extending along the length of the strut at the opposite sides thereof, elongated front and rear channel-shaped guides mounted on each side of the strut and positioned in respective planes oriented generally at 45* with respect to the horizontal, the forward ends of the rear guides having arcuately curved configurations within these planes so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear channel-shaped guides extending along the respective outboard sides of the rear roof portion in planes that are parallel to the planes of the associated rear guides on the respective adjacent sides of the strut, the rear guides on the roof portion having arcuately curved configurations at their forward ends which extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardly as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and inwardly and downwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised positions without interference with the rear roof portion, power operated means for moving the panels between the raised and storage positions, and overcenter locking means for selectively holding the panels in the raised positions.

Claim 5

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion, a pair of elongated front and rear guides extending along the respective sides of the strut in a symmetrical manner, the rear guides on the strut having curved configurations at their forward ends so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear guides respectively extending along the outboard sides of the rear roof portion anD having curved configurations at their forward ends which lie in planes that are respectively parallel to the planes of the curved forward ends of the associated guides on the strut, the curved forward ends of the outboard rear guides also extending upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardly as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and inwardly and downwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised psitions without interference with the rear roof portion, power operated means including an electric drive motor, a pair of elongated drive cables respectively associated with the roof panels and having first ends adapted to be driven by the motor, a pair of overcenter links respectively associated with the roof panels and having first ends respectively connected to the panels, the overcenter links having second ends respectively connected to the second ends of the drive cables so as to selectively move the roof panels between the raised and storage positions upon actuation of the drive motor, and stop means for holding the links in overcenter locked positions as the roof panels move to the raised positions so as to thereby secure the roof panels in the raised positions until the cables drive the links to released positions as the motor is actuated to drive the roof panels to the storage positions.

Claim 6

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion, a pair of elongated front and rear guides extending along the respective sides of the strut in a symmetrical manner, the rear guides on the strut having curved configurations at their forward ends so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear guides respectively extending along the outboard sides of the rear roof portion anD having curved configurations at their forward ends which lie in planes that are respectively parallel to the planes of the curved forward ends of the associated guides on the strut, the curved forward ends of the outboard rear guides also extending upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardly as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and inwardly and downwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised psitions without interference with the rear roof portion, power operated means including an electric drive motor, a pair of elongated drive cables respectively associated with the roof panels and having first ends adapted to be driven by the motor, a pair of overcenter links respectively associated with the roof panels and having first ends respectively connected to the panels, the overcenter links having second ends respectively connected to the second ends of the drive cables so as to selectively move the roof panels between the raised and storage positions upon actuation of the drive motor, and stop means for holding the links in overcenter locked positions as the roof panels move to the raised positions so as to thereby secure the roof panels in the raised positions until the cables drive the links to released positions as the motor is actuated to drive the roof panels to the storage positions.

Claim 7

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion and including a pair of elongated mounting portions extending along the length of the strut at the opposite sides thereof, elongated front and rear channel-shaped guides mounted on each side of the strut in a symmetrical manner and positioned in respective planes oriented generally at 45* with respect to the horizontal, the rear guides having curved configurations at their forward ends so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear channel-shaped guides respectively extending along the outboard sides of the rear roof portion in planes that are parallel to the planes of the associated rear guides on the respective adjacent sides of the strut, the rear guides on the roof portion having arcuately curved configurations at their forward ends which extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the Outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardly as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and downwardly and inwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised positions without interference with the rear roof portion, power operated means including an electric drive motor and a pair of drive cables with first ends driven by the motor, a pair of overcenter links respectively associated with the roof panels and having first ends pivotally connected to the respective panels adjacent one of the rear slide portions of each panel, the overcenter links having second ends respectively connected to the second ends of the drive cables, means mounting the second ends of the cables along the rear guides that support the slide portions adjacent the overcenter links so that actuation of the drive motor selectively drives the panels between the raised and storage positions, and stops means mounted on the forward ends of the rear guides that support the cables so as to hold the links in overcenter locked positions as the roof panels move to the raised positions and to thereby relieve the drive cables of their normal driving forces until the motor is actuated to drive the links to released positions and the roof panels to the storage positions.

Claim 8

In a vehicle body including a front windshield header and a rear roof portion closing the rear portion of the vehicle body occupant compartment, a retractable top for selectively closing the front roof opening defined between the windshield header and the forward edge of the rear roof portion, the top comprising, a central longitudinal strut extending from the central portion of the windshield header rearwardly to the forward edge of the rear roof portion so as to divide the roof opening into driver and passenger openings, the strut extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the rear roof portion to adjacent the rear edge of this roof portion and including a pair of elongated mounting portions extending along the length of the strut at the opposite sides thereof, elongated front and rear channel-shaped guides mounted on each side of the strut in a symmetrical manner and positioned in respective planes oriented generally at 45* with respect to the horizontal, the rear guides having curved configurations at their forward ends so as to extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of elongated rear channel-shaped guides respectively extending along the outboard sides of the rear roof portion in planes that are parallel to the planes of the associated rear guides on the respective adjacent sides of the strut, the rear guides on the roof portion having arcuately curved configurations at their forward ends which extend upwardly and outwardly in a forwardly moving direction and downwardly and inwardly in a rearwardly moving direction, a pair of movable roof panels respectively associated with the driver and passenger roof openings, each movable roof panel having front and rear inboard slide portions respectively received by the associated front and rear guides on the strut and a rear outboard slide portion received by the associated rear guide on the Outboard side of the rear roof portion, the roof panels being movable along the guides between forward raised positions closing the roof openings and rearward storage positions below the rear roof portion and the curved configurations of the forward ends of the rear guides moving the rear ends of the panels upwardly and outwardly as the panels move forwardly to the raised positions and downwardly and inwardly as the panels move rearwardly from the raised positions without interference with the rear roof portion, power operated means including an electric drive motor and a pair of drive cables with first ends driven by the motor, a pair of overcenter links respectively associated with the roof panels and having first ends pivotally connected to the respective panels adjacent one of the rear slide portions of each panel, the overcenter links having second ends respectively connected to the second ends of the drive cables, means mounting the second ends of the cables along the rear guides that support the slide portions adjacent the overcenter links so that actuation of the drive motor selectively drives the panels between the raised and storage positions, and stops means mounted on the forward ends of the rear guides that support the cables so as to hold the links in overcenter locked positions as the roof panels move to the raised positions and to thereby relieve the drive cables of their normal driving forces until the motor is actuated to drive the links to released positions and the roof panels to the storage positions.