Vehicle vinyl top and top retainer means

Claim 2

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible material providing a cover for said panel, a retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a cover attachment portion offset from said base portion and spaced outwardly from said panel, an intermediate connector portion extending between and connecting said base portion and said cover attachment portion, said cover attachment portion having a resilient lip portion reversely curved inwardly from an outer peripheral limit thereof and terminating in an edge disposed closely adjacent to said body panel; said cover having edge portions disposed over said cover attachment portion and around the peripheral limit thereof and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged bead portion and finger means extending inwardly therefrom, teeth means on said finger means extending upwardly therefrom to deflect said lip portion and to entrap said free edge of said cover between said teeth means and said lip portion on insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion to thereby secure said cover to said panel and to provide a finished appearance.

Claim 3

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible material providing a cover for said panel; a metallic retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a cover attachment portion offset from said base portion and said panel, an intermediate connector portion extending between and connecting said base portion and said cover attachment portion, and a resilient lip portion extending inwardly from the peripheral limit of said cover support portion and downwardly to a terminal position spaced from said body panel; said cover having edge portions disposed over said support portion and being wrapped around the peripheral outer edge thereof and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged bead portion and finger means extending inwardly therefrom, teeth means on said finger means extending upwardly therefrom to initially deflect said lip portion on the progressive insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion and to subsequently allow said lip portion to return to its undeflected position to trap the material of said cover between said teeth means and said lip portion and to generate audible vibratory energy to audibly indicate that said cover is secured to said retainer strip.

Claim 4

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible material providing a cover for said panel; a metallic retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a cover attachment portion offset from said base portion and said panel, an intermediate connector portion extending between and connecting said base portion and said cover attachment portion, and a resilient lip portion extending inwardly from the peripheral limit of said cover support portion and downwardly to a terminal position spaced from said body panel; said cover having edge portions disposed over said support portion and being wrapped around the peripheral outer edge thereof and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged bead portion and finger means extending inwardly therefrom, teeth means on said finger means extending upwardly therefrom to initially deflect said lip portion on the progressive insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion and to subsequently allow said lip portion to return to its undeflected position to trap the material of said cover between said teeth means and said lip portion and to generate audible vibratory energy to audibly indicate that said cover is secured to said retainer strip.

Claim 5

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible vinyl material providing a top for said panel, a retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a strip of plastic material disposed between said retainer strip and said panel to provide a seal for said top, said retainer strip further having an attachment portion offset from said base portion and said panel and an intermediate connector portion extending between said base portion and said attachment portion, said attachment portion terminating in a resilient lip portion reversely curved from the outer peripheral limit of said cover support portion, said lip portion extending downwardly to a terminal position spaced adjacent to said body panel; said vinyl material having an edge supported by said support portion and being wrapped around the outer peripheral of said support portion and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged and elongated bead portion and a plurality of finger means extending to one side thereof, each of said finger means having teeth means thereon extending upwardly therefrom to deflect said lip portion to entrap the free edge of said vinyl material between said teeth means and said lip portion on the insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion beneath the free edge of said vinyl material to thereby secure said vinyl material to said panel and to provide a finished appearance for said top.

Claim 6

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible vinyl material providing a top for said panel, a retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a strip of plastic material disposed between said retainer strip and said panel to provide a seal for said top, said retainer strip further having an attachment portion offset from said base portion and said panel and an intermediate connector portion extending between said base portion and said attachment portion, said attachment portion terminating in a resilient lip portion reversely curved from the outer peripheral limit of said cover support portion, said lip portion extending downwardly to a terminal position spaced adjacent to said body panel; said vinyl material having an edge supported by said support portion and being wrapped around the outer peripheral of said support portion and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged and elongated bead portion and a plurality of finger means extending to one side thereof, each of said finger means having teeth means thereon extending upwardly therefrom to deflect said lip portion to entrap the free edge of said vinyl material between said teeth means and said lip portion on the insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion beneath the free edge of said vinyl material to thereby secure said vinyl material to said panel and to provide a finished appearance for said top.

Claim 7

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible material providing a top for said panel, a sheet of padding material for resiliently supporting said flexible material, a retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a cover attachment portion offset from said base portion and said panel, an intermediate connector portion extending upwardly and between said base portion and said attachment portion to provide a cutting guide for said padding material when installed on said panel, and a reversely curved resilient lip portion extending inwardly from the outer peripheral limit of said support portion and downwardly to a terminal position spaced from said body panel; said flexible material being disposed over said padding material and being supported at its edges by said support portion and being wrapped around the outer peripheral limit of said support portion and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged and elongated bead portion and a plurality of finger means extending therefrom, each of said finger means having a plurality of teeth thereon extending upwardly therefrom to deflect said lip portion and entrap the free edge of said flexible material between said teeth and said lip portion on the insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion and beneath the free edge of said top material to thereby secure said flexible material to said panel and to provide a finished appearance thereto.

Claim 8

In combination a panel forming a portion of a vehicle body, a sheet of flexible material providing a top for said panel, a sheet of padding material for resiliently supporting said flexible material, a retainer strip comprising a base portion attached to said panel, a cover attachment portion offset from said base portion and said panel, an intermediate connector portion extending upwardly and between said base portion and said attachment portion to provide a cutting guide for said padding material when installed on said panel, and a reversely curved resilient lip portion extending inwardly from the outer peripheral limit of said support portion and downwardly to a terminal position spaced from said body panel; said flexible material being disposed over said padding material and being supported at its edges by said support portion and being wrapped around the outer peripheral limit of said support portion and tucked into the space between said lip portion and the outer surface of said body panel, a finishing and attaching lace having an enlarged and elongated bead portion and a plurality of finger means extending therefrom, each of said finger means having a plurality of teeth thereon extending upwardly therefrom to deflect said lip portion and entrap the free edge of said flexible material between said teeth and said lip portion on the insertion of said finger means between said panel and said lip portion and beneath the free edge of said top material to thereby secure said flexible material to said panel and to provide a finished appearance thereto.