Automobile with canvas

• US 5,299,850 A
• Filed: 08/27/1992
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OHTA Sheet Company, Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: OHTA Sheet Company, Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Tetsuya, Suzuki, Tatsuo, Inoue, Yoshihisa, Kaneko, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US07/936,932
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 296/107, 296/219, 296/146 L
• US Class Current: 296/107.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1265 characterised by kinematic movements, e.g. using parallelogram linkages B60J7/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1291 Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies

Abstract

An automobile is provided with canvas top elements. The automobile includes a rear opening defined by a central pillar, rear body side portions and a rear body portion. A rear canvas rib is provided including a rear arch-shaped portion and a front arch-shaped portion. The front arch-shaped portion has lower end portions which are link-coupled with lower end portions of the arch-shaped rear frame. The lower end portions of the rear frame are disposed slidably along a longitudinal direction of the car body along guide rails provided in the rear side portions of the car body. The canvas rib is folded downwardly as the lower end portions of the arch-shaped rear frame slide in a forward longitudinal direction and the frame is folded upwardly to outstretch the canvas.

Claims

1. An automobile with a removable top at an upper part adjacent to rear seats, the upper part being bounded by a car body center pillar, longitudinally extending side body portions, extending longitudinally from said center pillar and a rear body portion, comprising:

a canvas;

an arch-shaped front frame;

an arch-shaped rear frame having lower end portions, said arch-shaped front frame and said arch-shaped rear frame being link-coupled with each other on both sides of the automobile;

longitudinal support and guide means connected to the automobile and receiving said lower end portions of said rear frame for sliding said lower end portions of said rear frame along a longitudinal direction of the automobile for axially rotatably supporting said lower end portions whereby said arch-shaped front frame, said arch-rear frame and said link-coupling form a canvas rib with said canvas attached thereto whereby pivoting said canvas rib to an upper position unfolds said canvas and pivoting said canvas rib to a lower position folds said canvas.

2. An automobile with canvas top according to claim 1, further comprising:

a roof above front seats of the automobile being opened to provide an opened portion, a front canvas provided at said roof opened portion above said front seats, a supporting frame detachably connected on a circumference of said roof opened portion, and a front canvas connected to said supporting frame, a first half portion of said supporting frame being formed to pivot whereby said first half portion of said front canvas may be opened.

3. An automobile with canvas according to claim 1, wherein said arch-shaped front frame has lower end portions with a lower end side bent rearward, and link-coupling including links coupled to said lower end portions of said front frame, said supporting guide means including guide rails provided extending in the longitudinal direction of said car body, said lower end portion of said rear frame including guiding rollers engaging said guide rails;

support link means positioned on a rear portion side of said rear frame and connected to the automobile for controlling movement of said rear frame, whereby pivoting said rear frame downwardly results in said rollers moving in said guide rails in a forward direction.

4. An automobile with a canvas top according to claim 3 wherein said support link means includes links axially supported at two points of said rear frame and having an opposite end portion side and an additional link connected to said end portion side and connected to the automobile.

5. An automobile with a removable top at an upper part adjacent to rear seats, the upper part being bounded by a car body front portion, longitudinally extending side body portions, extending longitudinally from said front portion and a rear body portion, comprising:

a canvas;

an arch-shaped front frame;

an arch-shaped rear frame having lower end portions said arch shaped front frame and said arch shaped rear frame being coupled with each other on both sides of the automobile by coupling means;

longitudinal support and guide means receiving said lower end portions of said rear frame for sliding said lower end portions of said rear frame along a longitudinal direction of the automobile for axially rotatably supporting said lower end portions whereby said arch-shaped front frame, said arch-rear frame and said coupling means form a canvas-rib with said canvas attached thereto whereby pivoting said canvas rib to an upper position unfolds said canvas and pivoting said canvas rib to a lower position folds said canvas;

side windows provided on canvas sides of said canvas; and

connection and detachment means for connecting and detaching at least one of said side windows on said canvas.

6. An automobile with canvas top according to claim 5, further comprising:

a roof above front seats of the automobile being opened to provide an opened portion, a front canvas provided at said roof opened portion above said front seats, a supporting frame detachably connected on a circumference of said roof opened portion, and a front canvas connected to said supporting frame, a first half portion of said supporting fame being formed to pivot whereby said first half portion of said front canvas may be opened.

7. An automobile with a canvas top according to claim 5, wherein said side windows have an upside attached to said canvas through fasteners, said canvas having a double construction at said fasteners for concealing said fasteners.

8. An automobile according to claim 5, wherein said coupling means includes links connecting said arch-shaped rear frame end portions to said front frame lower end portions, said support and guide means includes guide rails connected to said car body;

guiding rollers connected to said lower end portions of said rear frame and engaging said guide rails for moving said lower end portions in a longitudinal direction of said car body; and

a support link mechanism provided on a rear side of said rear frame for controlling movement of said rear frame, said canvas being fitted to said front frame and said rear frame and a center pillar of said car body front portion to extend said canvas in an upper position of said canvas rib, at least one of said side windows being removed from said canvas for rotating said rear frame into a downward position to fold said canvas rib while moving said rollers axially in a forward direction.

9. An automobile with a removable top at an upper part adjacent to rear seats, the upper part being bounded by a car body center pillar, longitudinally extending side body portions, extending longitudinally from said center pillar and a rear body portion, comprising:

a canvas;

an arch-shaped front frame;

an arch-shaped rear frame having lower end portions, said arch-shaped front frame and said arch-shaped rear frame being link-coupled with each other on both sides of the automobile;

longitudinal support and guide means receiving said lower end portions of said rear frame for sliding said lower end portions of said rear frame along a longitudinal direction of the automobile for axially rotatably supporting said lower end portions whereby said arch-shaped front frame, said arch-rear frame and said link-coupling form a canvas rib with said canvas attached thereto whereby pivoting said canvas rib to an upper position unfolds said canvas and pivoting said canvas rib to a lower position folds said canvas, said support and guide means including guide rails connected to the automobile and extending in a longitudinal direction on each side of the automobile, said lower end portions of said rear frame being slidable in said guide rails in a longitudinal direction of said car body;

a weather strip disposed along a rear face of said center pillar; and

plate portions provided on said front frame, said plate portions abutting against an outer face of said weather strip when said canvas is outstretched.

10. An automobile according to claim 9, wherein said lower side of said end portions of said frame is bent rearward;

guiding rollers connected to said lower end portions of said rear frame and engaging said guide rails for moving said roller end portions in a longitudinal direction of said car body; and

a support link mechanism provided on a rear side of said rear frame for controlling movement of said rear frame, said canvas being fitted to said front frame and said rear frame and said center pillar to extend said canvas in an upper position of said canvas rib.