Apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof system

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof system, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising: a roof movable from a retracted position to an extended position disposed above said passenger compartment; an escutcheon disposed proximate with said roof and having a substantially transversely oriented segment, said escutcheon further being movable between a functional position and a hidden position, said functional position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially visible external to said automotive vehicle and said hidden position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially hidden from view external to said automotive vehicle, said escutcheon being located in said functional position when said roof is in said retracted position and said escutcheon being located in said hidden position when said roof is in said extended position, said escutcheon having a substantially C-shape when disposed in said functional position and observed in a top view; and a tonneau cover movably coupled to said body of said automotive vehicle and disposed against a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position; said escutcheon being coupled to said tonneau cover and being located against said roof when said roof is disposed in said retracted position below said escutcheon.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof system, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising: a roof movable from a retracted position to an extended position disposed above said passenger compartment; an escutcheon disposed proximate with said roof and having a substantially transversely oriented segment, said escutcheon further being movable between a functional position and a hidden position, said functional position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially visible external to said automotive vehicle and said hidden position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially hidden from view external to said automotive vehicle, said escutcheon being located in said functional position when said roof is in said retracted position and said escutcheon being located in said hidden position when said roof is in said extended position, said escutcheon having a substantially C-shape when disposed in said functional position and observed in a top view; and a tonneau cover movably coupled to said body of said automotive vehicle and disposed against a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position; said escutcheon being coupled to said tonneau cover and being located against said roof when said roof is disposed in said retracted position below said escutcheon.

Claim 32

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof system, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising: a roof movable from a retracted position to an extended position disposed above said passenger compartment, said roof including a front roof section being substantially rigid and a rear roof section being disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof is in said extended position, said front roof section being collapsible against said rear roof section during retraction, said front roof section folding against said rear roof section in a clam-shelling manner during retraction; a tonneau cover movably coupled to said body of said automotive vehicle, said tonneau cover being disposed in registry with a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position, said tonneau cover having an aesthetically pleasing external surface and an internal surface, said tonneau cover being movable from a closed position to an open position, said tonneau cover being disposed in said closed position when said roof is fully in said extended and retracted positions; an escutcheon disposed proximate with said roof and having a substantially transversely oriented segment, said escutcheon further being movable between a functional position and a hidden position, said functional position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially visible external to said automotive vehicle and said hidden position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially hidden from view external to said automotive vehicle, said escutcheon being located in said functional position when said roof is in said retracted position and said escutcheon located in said hidden position when said roof is in said extended position, said escutcheon being coupled to said tonneau cover for cooperative movement therewith and being located in registry against said roof when said roof is disposed in said retracted position, said escutcheon being defined by an aesthetically pleasing appearance face and a backside face, said escutcheon being coupled to said tonneau cover whereby at least a predefined segment of said backside face of said escutcheon is folded to substantially oppose said internal surface of said tonneau cover when said escutcheon is in said hidden position, said escutcheon having a substantially C-shaped plan view configuration when disposed in said functional position, said escutcheon including a central member having a substantially transverse orientation and a pair of lateral members movably coupled to and extending in a substantially forward direction from predetermined segments of said central member, said pair of lateral members being collapsible substantially against said central member during movement of said escutcheon to said hidden position; thereof,!i a folding mechanism coupling each of said pair of lateral members to said central member; an actuator; and means for transmitting force drivably coupled to said actuator and also operably coupled to said escutcheon whereby said force transmitting means can move said escutcheon from said functional position to said hidden position.

Claim 33

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof system, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising: a roof movable from a retracted position to an extended position disposed above said passenger compartment, said roof including a front roof section being substantially rigid and a rear roof section being disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof is in said extended position, said front roof section being collapsible against said rear roof section during retraction, said front roof section folding against said rear roof section in a clam-shelling manner during retraction; a tonneau cover movably coupled to said body of said automotive vehicle, said tonneau cover being disposed in registry with a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position, said tonneau cover having an aesthetically pleasing external surface and an internal surface, said tonneau cover being movable from a closed position to an open position, said tonneau cover being disposed in said closed position when said roof is fully in said extended and retracted positions; an escutcheon disposed proximate with said roof and having a substantially transversely oriented segment, said escutcheon further being movable between a functional position and a hidden position, said functional position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially visible external to said automotive vehicle and said hidden position allowing said escutcheon to be substantially hidden from view external to said automotive vehicle, said escutcheon being located in said functional position when said roof is in said retracted position and said escutcheon located in said hidden position when said roof is in said extended position, said escutcheon being coupled to said tonneau cover for cooperative movement therewith and being located in registry against said roof when said roof is disposed in said retracted position, said escutcheon being defined by an aesthetically pleasing appearance face and a backside face, said escutcheon being coupled to said tonneau cover whereby at least a predefined segment of said backside face of said escutcheon is folded to substantially oppose said internal surface of said tonneau cover when said escutcheon is in said hidden position, said escutcheon having a substantially C-shaped plan view configuration when disposed in said functional position, said escutcheon including a central member having a substantially transverse orientation and a pair of lateral members movably coupled to and extending in a substantially forward direction from predetermined segments of said central member, said pair of lateral members being collapsible substantially against said central member during movement of said escutcheon to said hidden position; thereof,!i a folding mechanism coupling each of said pair of lateral members to said central member; an actuator; and means for transmitting force drivably coupled to said actuator and also operably coupled to said escutcheon whereby said force transmitting means can move said escutcheon from said functional position to said hidden position.

Claim 34

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising: a substantially rigid interior trim panel attached to said roof; and a balance link having a distal end pivotably coupled to said roof, said balance link also having an intermediate portion; said intermediate portion of said balance link being at least substantially hidden behind a portion of said interior trim panel as viewed from within said passenger compartment of said automotive vehicle when said roof is in a substantially extended position.

Claim 35

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment, said apparatus comprising: a substantially rigid interior trim panel attached to said roof; and a balance link having a distal end pivotably coupled to said roof, said balance link also having an intermediate portion; said intermediate portion of said balance link being at least substantially hidden behind a portion of said interior trim panel as viewed from within said passenger compartment of said automotive vehicle when said roof is in a substantially extended position.

Claim 44

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment and a pair of front seats, said apparatus comprising: a substantially rigid front roof section, a rear roof section disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof is in said extended position, said front roof section being collapsible against said rear roof section during movement to said retracted position, said front roof section being disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation behind a pair of front seats and within said passenger compartment when in said retracted position, said front roof section folding against said rear roof section in a clam-shelling manner during retraction, an exterior surface of said front roof section being at least partially visible external to said automotive vehicle when said roof is in said retracted position; a balance link having a distal end pivotably coupled to said roof, said balance link also having an intermediate portion; and a substantially rigid interior trim panel attached to said roof and having an elongated pocket with an open portion for allowing access of said intermediate portion of said balance link whereby said intermediate portion is received therein when said roof is in said extended position, said pocket acting to substantially hide said intermediate portion of said balance link as viewed from within said passenger compartment of said automotive vehicle, said interior trim panel including a substantially rigid substrate fastened to said roof.

Claim 45

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a convertible roof movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said automotive vehicle further having a body with a passenger compartment and a pair of front seats, said apparatus comprising: a substantially rigid front roof section, a rear roof section disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof is in said extended position, said front roof section being collapsible against said rear roof section during movement to said retracted position, said front roof section being disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation behind a pair of front seats and within said passenger compartment when in said retracted position, said front roof section folding against said rear roof section in a clam-shelling manner during retraction, an exterior surface of said front roof section being at least partially visible external to said automotive vehicle when said roof is in said retracted position; a balance link having a distal end pivotably coupled to said roof, said balance link also having an intermediate portion; and a substantially rigid interior trim panel attached to said roof and having an elongated pocket with an open portion for allowing access of said intermediate portion of said balance link whereby said intermediate portion is received therein when said roof is in said extended position, said pocket acting to substantially hide said intermediate portion of said balance link as viewed from within said passenger compartment of said automotive vehicle, said interior trim panel including a substantially rigid substrate fastened to said roof.

Claim 46

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a convertible roof movable from an extended position to a retracted position; a pivoting member disposed adjacent to said roof when said roof is pivoted to a substantially horizontal orientation; and a pair of lateral members being coupled to outboard segments of said pivoting member, said pair of lateral members being movable from a first position when said roof is located in said extended position to a second and different position when said roof is located in said retracted position.

Claim 47

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a convertible roof movable from an extended position to a retracted position; a pivoting member disposed adjacent to said roof when said roof is pivoted to a substantially horizontal orientation; and a pair of lateral members being coupled to outboard segments of said pivoting member, said pair of lateral members being movable from a first position when said roof is located in said extended position to a second and different position when said roof is located in said retracted position.

Claim 62

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a body, said apparatus comprising: a convertible roof movable from an extended position to a retracted position; a pivoting member being movably coupled to said body of said automotive vehicle, said pivoting member registering with a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position, said pivoting member having an aesthetically pleasing external surface and an internal surface, said pivoting member being movable from a closed position to an open position; an escutcheon being disposed proximate with said roof when in said retracted position and having a substantially transversely oriented segment, said escutcheon further being movable between a first position and a second position, said escutcheon being located in said first position when said roof is in said retracted position and said escutcheon being located in said second position when said roof is in said extended position, said escutcheon being coupled to said pivoting member, a lateral member movably coupled to said escutcheon substantially forward of said transversely oriented segment; at least one actuator; and means for transmitting force being drivably coupled to said at least one actuator and also operably coupled to said escutcheon whereby said force transmitting means can move said escutcheon from said first position to said second position.

Claim 63

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a body, said apparatus comprising: a convertible roof movable from an extended position to a retracted position; a pivoting member being movably coupled to said body of said automotive vehicle, said pivoting member registering with a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position, said pivoting member having an aesthetically pleasing external surface and an internal surface, said pivoting member being movable from a closed position to an open position; an escutcheon being disposed proximate with said roof when in said retracted position and having a substantially transversely oriented segment, said escutcheon further being movable between a first position and a second position, said escutcheon being located in said first position when said roof is in said retracted position and said escutcheon being located in said second position when said roof is in said extended position, said escutcheon being coupled to said pivoting member, a lateral member movably coupled to said escutcheon substantially forward of said transversely oriented segment; at least one actuator; and means for transmitting force being drivably coupled to said at least one actuator and also operably coupled to said escutcheon whereby said force transmitting means can move said escutcheon from said first position to said second position.

Claim 66

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a body, said apparatus comprising: a convertible roof movable from an extended position to a retracted position, said roof including a substantially rigid front roof section and a substantially rigid rear roof section disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof is in said extended position, said front roof section inwardly folding against said rear roof section in a clam-shelling manner during retraction; a pivoting member pivotal in relation to said body of said automotive vehicle, said pivoting member registering with a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position, said pivoting member having an aesthetically pleasing external surface, said pivoting member being pivotable about a rear pivot axis from a closed position to an open position; and a pair of lateral members coupled to said automotive vehicle, each of said lateral members being movable between a substantially horizontal position and a second position, said horizontal positions allowing said lateral members to be substantially visible external to said automotive vehicle and said second positions allowing said lateral members to be substantially hidden from view external to said automotive vehicle, said lateral members being located in said horizontal positions when said roof is in said retracted position and said lateral members being located in said second positions when said roof is in said extended position.

Claim 67

An apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having a body, said apparatus comprising: a convertible roof movable from an extended position to a retracted position, said roof including a substantially rigid front roof section and a substantially rigid rear roof section disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof is in said extended position, said front roof section inwardly folding against said rear roof section in a clam-shelling manner during retraction; a pivoting member pivotal in relation to said body of said automotive vehicle, said pivoting member registering with a portion of an exterior surface of said roof when said roof is disposed in said extended position, said pivoting member having an aesthetically pleasing external surface, said pivoting member being pivotable about a rear pivot axis from a closed position to an open position; and a pair of lateral members coupled to said automotive vehicle, each of said lateral members being movable between a substantially horizontal position and a second position, said horizontal positions allowing said lateral members to be substantially visible external to said automotive vehicle and said second positions allowing said lateral members to be substantially hidden from view external to said automotive vehicle, said lateral members being located in said horizontal positions when said roof is in said retracted position and said lateral members being located in said second positions when said roof is in said extended position.