Modular convertible top

• US 20050134096A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CTS Fahrzeug Dachsysteme GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Willard, Michael T., Fallis, Robert E. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/218
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0053 Collapsible lateral roof side beams
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/10 readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins covering of loads on vehicles by tarpaulins B60P7/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/11 Removable panels, e.g. sunroofs
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1291 Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies

Abstract

A removable top system for a vehicle having a front removable roof section and a rear removable roof section. Different removable roof coverings may be interchangeably combined to provide a complete roof for a sport utility vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the front and rear roof sections. Soft top and hard top roof coverings are selectively provided. Different retraction mechanisms are disclosed for retracting and storing the removable roof sections.

Claims

1. A removable roof system for a vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the roof area of the vehicle into a front roof area and a rear roof area, the removable roof system comprising:

a front roof section including a covering portion that may be selectively secured to the vehicle to cover the front roof area and extends from a header to the permanent hoop, a removable right side rail and a removable left side rail provided on the right and left sides of the front roof section;

a rear roof section including a top portion, a back portion and two opposed side portions, the rear roof section being selectively secured to the vehicle behind the permanent hoop to cover the rear roof area.

2. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the covering portion is a flexible fabric member.

3. The roof system of claim 2 wherein the flexible fabric member is supported by a central longitudinally extending bar, right and left side longitudinally extending bars and front and rear pivoting links.

4. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the covering portion is a right rigid panel that has a first interlocking support channel extending longitudinally on a left edge and a left rigid panel that has a second interlocking support channel extending longitudinally on a right edge.

5. The roof system of claim 4 wherein the right and left rigid panels each have a transparent portion.

6. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the covering portion is a flexible fabric member that is flexible retracted by folding the covering portion into a plurality of pleats that fold the covering portion transversely, the covering portion being removed from the front roof area after folding and stored in a storage space within the vehicle.

7. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the front roof section is a rigid panel that extends over and engages the right and left side rails.

8. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the front roof section is a flexible fabric member that is retained on a rear edge on a roller that is supported for rotation by the permanent hoop, wherein the flexible fabric member is retracted by rolling the flexible fabric member onto the roller and is extended to cover the front roof area by unrolling the flexible fabric member from the roller and attaching a front edge to a windshield header.

9. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the front roof section is a rigid panel that engages the right and left side rails.

10. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the rear roof section is a flexible fabric member.

11. The roof system of claim 10 wherein the top portion is retracted by folding the top portion into a plurality of pleats that fold the top portion transversely, wherein the top portion is removed from the rear roof area after folding and stored in a storage space within the vehicle.

12. The roof system of claim 11 wherein the back portion is retracted by folding the rear portion with the top portion into a plurality of pleats that fold the covering portion transversely, and wherein the back portion is removed from the rear roof area after folding and stored in a storage space within the vehicle.

13. The roof system of claim 12 wherein one of the opposed side portions is a rigid panel that is detachably secured to a right rear quarter panel, the permanent hoop, the top portion and the back portion, and the other of the side portions is a rigid panel that is detachably secured to a left rear quarter panel, the permanent hoop, the top portion and the back portion, wherein the right and left side portions are removed from the rear roof area and stored in the storage space within the vehicle.

14. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the rear roof section includes a rigid top portion, a rear window and wherein one of the opposed side portions is a rigid panel that is detachably secured to a right rear quarter panel, the permanent hoop, the top portion and the back portion, and the other of the side portions is a rigid panel that is detachably secured to a left rear quarter panel, the permanent hoop, the top portion and the back portion, wherein the top portion, the rear window, and the right and left side portions are removed from the rear roof area and stored in the storage space within the vehicle.

15. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the top portion is a flexible fabric member and the opposed side portions are flexible members, and wherein a back light frame is provided that is secured to a back edge of the top portion and a trailing edge of the opposed side portions, the back light frame being shifted between an extended position in which the back light frame is disposed above a tailgate at a rear end of the vehicle and a retracted position in which the back light frame is disposed rearwardly adjacent the permanent hoop, wherein the top portion and the opposed side portions are gathered and stored in association with the back light frame and the permanent hoop in the retracted position.

16. The roof system of claim 15 wherein the back portion is a back light that is retracted into the tailgate.

17. The roof system of claim 15 wherein when the back light frame is in the retracted position, a rigid shell top is assembled over the rear roof area and secured to the back light frame, right and left rear quarter panels and the tailgate.

18. The roof system of claim 1 wherein the top portion and rear portions are flexible fabric members that are supported by a plurality of bows that extend transversely between the two opposed side portions, the two opposed side portions being rigid members that are detachably supported on the vehicle and may be detached from the vehicle separate from the top portion and the rear portion.

19. The roof system of claim 18 wherein the bows are inverted U-shaped members having ends that are attached to a quarter panel of the vehicle in a moveable relationship, wherein the top portion and rear portion are folded rearwardly to rest upon the tailgate when the rear roof section is in a retracted position.

20. A removable roof system for a vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the roof area of the vehicle into a front roof area and a rear roof area, the removable roof system comprising:

a front roof section including a flexible fabric covering portion that may be selectively secured to the vehicle to cover the front roof area and extends from a header to the hoop, a right side rail and a left side rail provided on the right and left sides of the front roof section;

a rear roof section including a top portion, a back portion and two opposed side portions, the rear roof section being selectively secured to the vehicle behind the permanent hoop to cover the rear roof area.

21. A removable roof system for a vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the roof area of the vehicle into a front roof area and a rear roof area, the removable roof system comprising:

a front roof section including a covering portion that may be selectively secured to the vehicle to cover the front roof area and extends from a header to the hoop, a right side rail and a left side rail provided on the right and left sides of the front roof section;

a rear roof section including a flexible fabric top portion, a back portion and two opposed side portions, the rear roof section being selectively secured to the vehicle behind the permanent hoop to cover the rear roof area.