Sliding soft top
First Claim
1. A panel top assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
- a moveable frame assembly operably coupled to a cover for selectively opening or closing off a roof top opening, when desired, said moveable frame assembly including at least one side rail;
a guide track system including at least one guide track operably connected to at least one door rail, said at least one door rail operably connected to the vehicle;
at least one guide roller assembly operably connected to said at least one side rail and including at least one roller slidably coupled to said at least one guide track;
at least one first isolator assembly operably coupled to said guide track and including at least one isolator to restrict movement of said at least one roller in said at least one track; and
at least one second isolator assembly operably coupled to said guide track and including at least one second isolator to restrict movement of said at least one roller in said at least one track.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A panel top assembly for a vehicle including a controlled guide roller management system and install/release mechanism. A pivotal portion, that is rotatable between a closed position and open position, is coupled to guide assemblies slidably connected to guide track assemblies. Each guide track assembly includes a forward isolator assembly that restricts undesired movement/rattling of a roller in a guide track. A rearward isolator assembly restricts undesired movement/rattling of the roller in each guide track, and selectively keeps the roller in the track when the panel top assembly is in a down/open position. The rearward isolator assembly also includes an isolator that selectively allows an opening in the track for releasing the guide assembly from the track to move the panel top assembly to an open/stowed position, and, reinstalling the guide assembly to the track.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A panel top assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a moveable frame assembly operably coupled to a cover for selectively opening or closing off a roof top opening, when desired, said moveable frame assembly including at least one side rail; a guide track system including at least one guide track operably connected to at least one door rail, said at least one door rail operably connected to the vehicle; at least one guide roller assembly operably connected to said at least one side rail and including at least one roller slidably coupled to said at least one guide track; at least one first isolator assembly operably coupled to said guide track and including at least one isolator to restrict movement of said at least one roller in said at least one track; and at least one second isolator assembly operably coupled to said guide track and including at least one second isolator to restrict movement of said at least one roller in said at least one track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A panel top assembly for a roof top opening of a vehicle, comprising:
-
a pair of guide tracks connected to a pair of door rails, wherein said pair of door rails are connected to side members of the vehicle; a moveable frame assembly coupled to a cover and including a pivotal portion to rotate the moveable frame assembly between a closed position and an open sunroof position, wherein the moveable frame assembly is further moveable between the open sunroof position to a open/down position and an open/stowed position; a pair of guide roller assemblies connected to and movable with said moveable frame assembly and each having a guide roller slidably mounted within the pair of guide tracks; a first isolator assembly located in at least one of said pair of guide tracks to restrict up/down movement of the guide roller near a forward end of the guide track; a second isolator assembly located in at least one of said pair of guide tracks to restrict up/down movement of the guide roller near the rearward end of the guide track, said second isolator assembly including an isolator that, when selectively slide out of an opening of said guide track, allows said guide roller to be taken out of said guide track to move said moveable frame assembly to said open/stowed position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A soft top assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a pair of guide track assemblies operably coupled to the vehicle; at least one guide track integrated with or operably connected to each of the guide track assemblies; a pair of guide roller assemblies slidably coupled to the pair of guide track assemblies; a moveable frame assembly operably connected to the pair of guide roller assemblies, said moveable frame assembly including a pivotal portion to selectively rotate the moveable frame assembly between a closed position and an open sunroof position, wherein the moveable frame assembly is further selectively moveable between the open sunroof position to an open/down position by sliding said pair of guide roller assemblies along said pair of guide track assemblies; an isolator assembly operably connected to each of the guide track assemblies and including an isolator to restrict movement of said guide roller assemblies within said guide tracks; and a release slide in engagement with said guide tracks, said release slide is selectively removable from engagement with said guide tracks to allow said guide roller assembly to release from said guide tracks to allow said moveable frame assembly to move to an open/stowed position. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification