COMPOSITE SOFT TOP ASSEMBLY FOR SUV, BOTH 2 AND 4 DOOR

• US 20140138983A1
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bestop Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Haberkamp, William H., Stickles, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,973,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/107.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/007 received in frames to be attached to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/085 removably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/101 for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/105 comprising door or part of door being pivotable about vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1226 Soft tops for convertible vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/123 characterised by means for fastening the soft top cloth to the arches or vehicle body work
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1858 for locking soft tops to a surrounding rigid roof structure, e.g. to a closed vehicle body B60J7/1291 takes precedence

Abstract

A composite soft top assembly having a convertible roof portion that provides an open air feel with a soft, flexible outer layer. The composite soft top assembly further includes soft sides with hard glass or hard polymer materials connected to a frame, which is connected to the soft sides of the assembly. Additionally, the rear window has a removable horseshoe frame structure about which the hard rear window is connected with hinges to allow for the rear window to pivot about at least one hinge between an open and closed position. Additionally, the rear window can have a wiper or electronic wire mounts for a center high mount stop lamp. Additionally, the horseshoe frame structure allows for the connection of other electrical components such as a rear defrost system.

Claims

1. A composite soft top assembly comprising:

a rigid rear window horseshoe forming a frame with a rear window mounted to the frame;

a front edge frame rail;

a soft skin roof top connected at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe and at a front edge to said front edge frame;

at least two side rails extending between said rigid rear horseshoe and said front edge frame, wherein a respective one of said two side edges of said soft skin roof top are each connectable to a respective one of said at least two side rails;

at least one left side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and front edge of said at least one left side quarter panel has an attachment mechanism for connection to a vehicle; and

at least one right side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and front edge of said at least one right side quarter panel has an attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle.

2. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear rigid window is pivotally mounted to the frame allowing the rear window to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

3. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the front edge of the frame rail pivots with a portion of said soft skin roof top between a deployed position and an open position to provide an open air feel of the composite soft top assembly without completely removing the composite soft top assembly from said vehicle.

4. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the rear edge of said soft skin roof top wraps around and covers a portion of the frame when connected to the frame.

5. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two side rails are each bolted on to and extend between an A-pillar and a B-pillar of said vehicle.

6. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least two side edges have a J-lock retainer for connecting to a flange formed on each of the at least two side rails.

7. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the front edge of the soft skin roof top has a C-clamp that connects to a rounded portion of a front edge frame rail.

8. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one left side quarter panel and the at least one right side quarter panel each have a soft skin portion with a hard window connected to the soft skin portion.

9. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one left side quarter panel and the at least one right side quarter panel have a soft skin portion that wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when each respective rear edge is connected to the frame.

10. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1, wherein the soft skin roof top has a second layer underneath an outer layer, where the second layer has two or more stationary roof bows and a moveable roof bow for supporting the soft skin roof top.

11. The composite soft top assembly of claim 10 further comprising a layer of foam material located below the two or more stationary roof bows and the moveable roof bow.

12. A composite soft top assembly comprising:

a rigid rear window horseshoe forming a frame with a rear window mounted to the frame;

a front edge frame rail;

a soft skin roof top connected at a rear edge to said rear window horseshoe and a front edge to said front edge frame, wherein the front edge frame of the frame rail pivots with a portion of said soft skin roof top between a deployed position and an open position to provide an open air feel of the composite soft top assembly, without completely removing the composite soft top assembly from said vehicle;

at least two side rails extending between said rigid rear horseshoe and said front edge frame, wherein a respective one of said two side edges of said soft skin roof top are each connectable to a respective one of said at least two side rails;

at one left side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe and having a soft skin portion, such that a portion of said at least one left side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one left side quarter panel has an attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle;

at least one right side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe and having a soft skin portion, such that a portion of said at least one right side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one right side quarter panel has an attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle; and

a hard window connected to said soft skin portion on each one of said at least one left side quarter panel and said at least one right side quarter panel.

13. The composite soft top assembly of claim 12, wherein the rear rigid window is pivotally mounted to the frame allowing the rear window to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

14. The composite soft top assembly of claim 12, wherein the rear edge of said soft skin roof top wraps around and covers a portion of the frame when connected to the frame.

15. The composite soft top assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least two side rails are each bolted on to and extend between an A-pillar and a B-pillar of said vehicle.

16. The composite soft top assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least two side edges have a J-lock retainer for connecting to a flange formed on each of the at least two side rails.

17. The composite soft top assembly of claim 12, wherein the front edge of the soft skin roof top has a C-clamp that connects to a rounded portion of a front edge frame rail.

18. The composite soft top assembly of claim 12, wherein the soft skin roof top has a second layer underneath an outer layer, where the second layer has two or more stationary roof bows and a moveable roof bow for supporting the soft skin roof top.

19. The composite soft top assembly of claim 18 further comprising a layer of foam material located below the two or more stationary roof bows and the moveable roof bow.

20. A composite soft top assembly comprising:

a rigid rear window horseshoe forming a frame with a rear window mounted to the frame;

a front edge frame rail;

a soft skin roof top, wherein the soft skin roof top has a second layer underneath an outer layer, where the second layer has two or more stationary roof bows and a moveable roof bow for supporting the soft skin roof top;

a layer of foam material located below the two or more stationary roof bows and the moveable roof bow of the second layer;

at two side rails extending between said rigid rear horseshoe and said front edge frame, wherein a respective one of said two side edges of said soft skin roof top are each connectable to a respective one of said at least two side rails;

at one left side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe, such that a portion of said at least one left side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one left side quarter panel has an attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle;

at least one right side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe such that a portion of said at least one left side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one right side quarter panel has an attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle; and

a hard window connected to said soft skin portion on each one of said at least one left side quarter panel and said at least one right side quarter panel.