Interlocking device for the folding roof of a motor vehicle

• US 20030146643A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
• Inventors: Dietl, Rudolf
• Granted Patent: US 6,834,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/121
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1851 for locking the foldable soft- or hard-top to the windshield header
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/05 Automobile top latches

Abstract

An interlocking device for the folding roof of a motor vehicle with a locking hook (4) which is pivotally mounted on the front frame part (1) of the folding roof and which can be moved by means of a multiple connecting rod mechanism and can be interlocked in latching engagement on a vehicle-mounted abutment, the multiple connecting rod mechanism, especially a four-bar mechanism (6, 12, 14, 15), containing the locking hook (4) and being located self-locking in the closed position.

Claims

1. Interlocking device for a folding roof of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a locking hook which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on a front frame part of a folding roof and which adapted to interlock in latching engagement with a vehicle-mounted abutment;

a multiple connecting rod means for moving the locking hook;

wherein the multiple connecting rod means is coupled to a linear drive mechanism which is adapted to be movably supported on said front frame part.

2. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple connecting rod means comprises a four-bar mechanism, wherein the locking hook forms a part of the four-bar mechanism, and wherein the four-bar mechanism is arranged to be self-locking in the closed position.

3. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the linear drive mechanism is hinged via an intermediate lever to a pivot lever of the four-bar mechanism.

4. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a pivot lever of the four-bar mechanism has an arc-shaped drive segment and a pinion which is drive-engaged both to the drive segment and also to the linear drive mechanism.

5. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the four-bar mechanism, in a closed position thereof, assumes a top dead center or overtop dead center position for producing said self-locking.

6. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking hook has an eccentric surface of contact for locking on the vehicle-mounted abutment.

9. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the locking hook has an eccentric surface of contact for locking on the vehicle-mounted abutment.

10. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the four-bar mechanism, in a closed position thereof, assumes a top dead center or overtop dead center position for producing said self-locking.

7. Interlocking device for a folding roof of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a locking hook which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on a front frame part of a folding roof and which adapted to interlock in latching engagement with a vehicle-mounted abutment;

a multiple connecting rod means for moving the locking hook;

wherein said multiple connecting rod means comprises a four-bar mechanism, wherein the locking hook forms a part of the four-bar mechanism, and wherein the four-bar mechanism is arranged to be self-locking in the closed position.

8. Interlocking device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the multiple connecting rod means is adapted for coupling to a linear drive mechanism which is movably supported on the front frame part.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an abutment mounted of a vehicle body part;

a folding roof having a front frame part;

a locking hook which is pivotally mounted on the front frame part of the folding roof and which is arranged for latching engagement with said vehicle-mounted abutment; and

a multiple connecting rod means for moving the locking hook;

wherein the multiple connecting rod means is coupled to a linear drive mechanism which is movably supported on said front frame part.

12. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the linear drive mechanism is coupled to a drive for folding of the folding roof.

13. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the front frame part is one of a roof tip, a transverse frame part and a side member of a convertible top frame.

14. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein said multiple connecting rod means comprises a four-bar mechanism, wherein the locking hook forms a part of the four-bar mechanism, and wherein the four-bar mechanism is arranged to be self-locking in the closed position.

15. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the linear drive mechanism is hinged via an intermediate lever to a pivot lever of the four-bar mechanism.

16. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein a pivot lever of the four-bar mechanism has an arc-shaped drive segment and a pinion which is drive-engaged both to the drive segment and also to the linear drive mechanism.

17. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein the four-bar mechanism, in a closed position thereof, assumes a top dead center or overtop dead center position for producing said self-locking.

18. Motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the locking hook has an eccentric surface of contact for locking on the vehicle-mounted abutment.