Retractable hard-top for an automotive vehicle

• US 5,785,375 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: ASC Incorporated
• Inventors: Harrison, Albert W. III, Alexander, Michael P., Kirschner, Darin, Ito, Christopher I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/826,067
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 296/107, 296/108, 296/116, 296/117, 296/136, 296/146.14
• US Class Current: 296/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/028 the sliding movement being combined with a pivoting movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/145 at least two elements being folded in clamp-shell fashion

Abstract

A retractable hard-top roof for an automotive vehicle is comprised of a rigid front roof section which is retractable upon a rear roof section for horizontal stowage between the front seat and the trunk. Another aspect of a retractable roof provides for a floating pivot.

Claims

1. A retractable hard-top roof for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle having a body within which is a passenger compartment, said body further having a front windshield, said retractable hard-top roof comprising:

a front roof section disposed above said passenger compartment when in an extended position, said front roof section being substantially rigid;

a rear roof section at least partially disposed above said passenger compartment substantially behind said front roof section when in said extended position, said rear roof section being substantially rigid, said rear roof section substantially extending between said front roof section and said body of said automotive vehicle, said rear roof section being mechanically coupled for relative angular movement to said front roof section; and

a retracting mechanism coupling said rear roof section to said body of said automotive vehicle, said retracting mechanism being operable to extend said front roof section toward said front windshield and said rear roof section between said front roof section and said body, said retracting mechanism being further operable to collapse said front roof section in a rearward direction away from said front windshield while moving said rear roof section away from said extended position and collapsing said front roof section thereby defining a retracted position positioned at least partially within said passenger compartment, said front roof section being substantially horizontal when in said retracted position;

said rear roof section including a pivot about which said rear roof section is rotatable when moved from said extended position to said retracted position, said pivot being located near a bottom edge of said rear roof section;

said retraction mechanism lifting said pivot of said rear roof section in a substantially vertical upward direction during retraction of said rear roof section.

2. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 wherein:

said pivot is located near a forward bottom corner of said rear roof section such that an upper forward edge of said rear roof rotates substantially rearward and downward when retracted.

3. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 2 further comprising:

a hinge device mechanically coupling said front roof section proximate with said rearward edge to said rear roof section proximate with said forward edge;

said front roof section having an outside surface and an inside surface;

said rear roof section having an outside surface and an inside surface; and

said inside surface of said front roof section being foldable upon said inside surface of said rear roof section in a clamshell manner.

4. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 3 wherein:

said front roof section is retractable on top of said rear roof such that said outer surface of said front roof section covers said rear roof section whereby said outside surface of said front roof section is at least partially exposed between a pair of front seats and a trunk of said automotive vehicle.

5. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 2 further comprising:

a guiding mechanism coupled to a portion of said rear roof section near said bottom edge, said guiding mechanism acting in concert with said retracting mechanism so as to rotate said upper forward edge of said rear roof section in a substantially rearward longitudinal direction while rotating a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section in a substantially forward longitudinal direction.

6. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 2 wherein said guiding mechanism includes:

a track having a C-shaped cross sectional configuration; and

a carrier mounted upon said rear roof proximate with said bottom edge and located rearward of said rear roof pivot, said carrier engagably moving in said track.

7. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 6 wherein said guiding mechanism further includes:

a guiding electric motor;

a cable drivably connected to said guiding electric motor; and

a plurality of pulleys attached to said automotive vehicle body;

said carrier being attached to said cable such that said guiding electric motor moves said carrier when said cable is driven.

8. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 5 further comprising:

a second guiding mechanism juxtapositioned transversely opposite from said first guiding mechanism within said automotive vehicle body, said first and second guiding mechanisms being substantially symmetrical to one another and cooperatively operating in unison.

9. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 wherein said retraction mechanism includes:

a retracting electric motor.

13. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 further comprising:

a tonneau cover pivotably coupled to said automotive vehicle body, said tonneau cover pivotable from a lowered and substantially horizontal position to a raised and substantially vertical position, said tonneau cover located in said raised position during retraction and extension of said front and rear roof sections, said tonneau cover located in said lowered position when said front and rear roof sections are fully extended and fully retracted, said tonneau cover aesthetically covering a gap between said rear roof section and said automotive vehicle body proximate with a trunk when said rear roof section is extended, said tonneau cover aesthetically covering another gap between said outside surface of said front roof section and said automotive vehicle body proximate with said trunk when said front and rear roof sections are fully retracted.

14. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 wherein said retraction mechanism includes:

a lift link having a first pivot portion coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a second pivot portion of said lift link displaced a predetermined distance away from said first pivot portion;

a pressurizable strut having a plunger, a portion of said strut coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a portion of said plunger external to said strut rotatably coupled to said second pivot portion of said lift link;

a spur gear having a tooth segment mounted upon said lift link disposed away from said first pivot portion; and

a driving gear;

a pair of wheel houses; and

an electric motor driving said driving gear, said driving gear enmeshing with said toothed segment of said spur gear, said electric motor being mounted upon said rear roof section adjacent to a bottom edge, said electric motor rotating said rear roof section about said spur gear and said lift link when said rear roof section is being retracted and extended, said strut and said plunger being operable to raise said distal portion of said lift link during extension and retraction of said rear roof section such that a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section clears said pair of wheel houses of said automotive vehicle.

15. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 wherein said retraction mechanism includes:

a lift link having a first pivot portion coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a second pivot portion of said lift link displaced a predetermined distance away from said first pivot portion;

a pressurizable strut having a slidable plunger, a portion of said strut coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a portion of said plunger external to said strut rotatably coupled to said second pivot portion of said lift link;

a spur gear having a tooth segment mounted upon said rear roof section adjacent to a bottom edge;

a driving gear; and

an electric motor driving said driving gear, said driving gear enmeshing with said toothed segment of said spur gear, said electric motor being mounted upon said lift link, said electric motor rotating said rear roof section about said spur gear and said lift link when said rear roof section is being retracted and extended, said strut and said plunger being operable to raise said distal portion of said lift link during extension and retraction of said rear roof section such that a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section clears a pair of wheel houses of said automotive vehicle.

16. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of quarter windows retractable into said rear roof section.

17. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 1 further comprising:

a second retraction mechanism juxtapositioned transversely opposite from said first retraction mechanism against said automotive vehicle body, said first and second retraction mechanisms being substantially symmetrical to one another and cooperatively operating in unison.

10. A retractable hard-top roof for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle having a body within which is a passenger compartment, said body further having a front windshield, said retractable hard-top roof comprising:

a front roof section disposed above said passenger compartment when in an extended position, said front roof section being substantially rigid;

a rear roof section at least partially disposed above said passenger compartment substantially behind said front roof section when in said extending position, said rear roof section being substantially rigid, said rear roof section substantially extending between said front roof section and said body of said automotive vehicle, said rear roof section being mechanically coupled for relative angular movement to said front roof section;

a retracting mechanism coupling said rear roof section to said body of said automotive vehicle, said retracting mechanism being operable to extend said front roof section toward said front windshield and said rear roof section between said front roof section and said body, said retracting mechanism being further operable to collapse said front roof section in a rearward direction away from said front windshield while moving said rear roof section away from said extended position and collapsing said front roof section thereby defining a retracted position located at least partially within said passenger compartment, said front roof section being substantially horizontal when in said retracted position, said retraction mechanism including a retracting electric motor;

a cam of said retraction mechanism having an arm segment, a toothed segment and a cam pivot; and

a roof pivot engagement portion of said arm segment coupled with said roof pivot;

said retracting electric motor enmeshing with said toothed segment of said cam so as to drive said arm segment about said cam pivot, said cam serving to lift said roof pivot in a substantially upward, forward and then downward path during retraction of said rear roof section attached to said cam.

11. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 10 further comprising:

a balance link coupled with said front roof section and said retraction mechanism such that said front roof section is rotatably collapsed against said rear roof section during retraction.

12. The retractable hard-top roof of claim 11 wherein said retraction mechanism further includes:

an anchor link affixed to said automotive vehicle body, an arm of said anchor link having a pivot engagement portion;

an intermediate link having a first intermediate pivot portion and a second intermediate pivot portion, said first intermediate pivot portion being rotatably coupled to said anchor pivot portion;

an offset link having a first offset pivot portion and a second offset pivot portion, said first offset pivot portion being rotatably coupled with said second intermediate pivot portion, said second offset pivot portion being rotatably coupled with said arm pivot portion of said cam; and

a lower pivot portion of said balance link rotatably coupled with said second intermediate pivot portion and said first offset pivot portion, a second pivot portion of said balance link rotatably coupled with said front roof section;

said retracting electric motor providing rotational movement to said arm segment of said cam which rotates said offset link while moving said rear roof section, said offset link rotating said intermediate link and said balance link, said intermediate link further guiding the rotational movement of said balance link due to restrictions of travel by said anchor link, said balance link thereby rotating said front roof section during retraction and extension.

18. A retractable roof for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle having a body within which is a passenger compartment, said body further having a front windshield, said retractable roof comprising:

a front roof section disposed above said passenger compartment when in an extended position;

a rear roof section at least partially disposed above said passenger compartment substantially behind said front roof section when in said extending position;

a retracting mechanism coupling said rear roof section to said body of said automotive vehicle, said retracting mechanism being operable to extend said front roof section toward said front windshield and said rear roof section between said front roof section and said body, said retracting mechanism being further operable to collapse said front roof section in a rearward direction away from said front windshield while moving said rear roof section away from said extended position and collapsing said front roof section thereby defining a retracted position;

a pivot of said rear roof section lifted by said retracting mechanism in a substantially vertical upward direction during retraction of said rear roof section;

said rear roof section being rotatable about said pivot when moved from said extended position to said retracted position, said pivot being located near a bottom edge of said rear roof section, said pivot also being located near a forward bottom corner of said rear roof section such that an upper forward edge of said rear roof rotates substantially rearward and downward when retracted; and

a guiding mechanism coupled to a portion of said rear roof section near said bottom edge, said guiding mechanism acting in concert with said retracting mechanism so as to rotate said upper forward edge of said rear roof section in a substantially rearward longitudinal direction while rotating a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section in a substantially forward longitudinal direction.

28. The retractable roof of claim 18 wherein said retraction mechanism includes:

a retracting electric motor.

31. The retractable roof of claim 18 further comprising:

a tonneau cover coupled to said automotive vehicle body, said tonneau cover movable from a lowered and substantially horizontal position to a raised and substantially vertical position, said tonneau cover located in said raised position during retraction and extension of said front and rear roof sections, said tonneau cover located in said lowered position when said front and rear roof sections are fully extended and fully retracted, said tonneau cover aesthetically covering a gap between said rear roof section and said automotive vehicle body proximate with said trunk when said rear roof section is extended, said tonneau cover aesthetically covering another gap between said outside surface of said front roof section and said automotive vehicle body proximate with a trunk when said front and rear roof sections are fully retracted.

32. The retractable roof of claim 18 wherein said retraction mechanism includes:

a lift link having a first pivot portion coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a second pivot portion of said lift link displaced a predetermined distance away from said first pivot portion;

a pressurizable strut having a plunger, a portion of said strut coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a portion of said plunger external to said strut rotatably coupled to said second pivot portion of said lift link;

a spur gear having a tooth segment mounted upon said lift link disposed away from said first pivot portion;

a driving gear; and

an electric motor driving said driving gear, said driving gear enmeshing with said toothed segment of said spur gear, said electric motor being mounted upon said rear roof section adjacent to a bottom edge, said electric motor rotating said rear roof section about said spur gear and said lift link when said rear roof section is being retracted and extended, said strut and said plunger being operable to raise said distal portion of said lift link during extension and retraction of said rear roof section such that a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section clears a pair of wheel houses of said automotive vehicle.

33. The retractable roof of claim 18 wherein said retraction mechanism includes:

a lift link having a first pivot portion coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a second pivot portion of said lift link displaced a predetermined distance away from said first pivot portion;

a pressurizable strut having a plunger, a portion of said strut coupled to said automotive vehicle body, a portion of said plunger external to said strut rotatably coupled to said second pivot portion of said lift link;

a spur gear having a tooth segment mounted upon said rear roof section adjacent to a bottom edge;

a driving gear; and

an electric motor driving said driving gear, said driving gear enmeshing with said toothed segment of said spur gear, said electric motor being mounted upon said lift link, said electric motor rotating said rear roof section about said spur gear and said lift link when said rear roof section is being retracted and extended, said strut and said plunger being operable to raise said distal portion of said lift link during extension and retraction of said rear roof section such that a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section clears a pair of wheel houses of said automotive vehicle.

34. The retractable roof of claim 18 further comprising:

a pair of quarter windows retractable into said rear roof section.

35. The retractable roof of claim 18 further comprising:

a second retraction mechanism juxtapositioned transversely opposite from said first retraction mechanism against said automotive vehicle body, said first and second retraction mechanisms being substantially symmetrical to one another and cooperatively operating in unison.

36. The retractable roof of claim 18 wherein:

said front roof section is substantially rigid.

37. The retractable roof of claim 18 wherein:

said rear roof section is substantially rigid.

19. A retractable roof for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle having a body within which is a passenger compartment, said body further having a front windshield, said retractable roof comprising:

a front roof section disposed above said passenger compartment when in an extended position;

a rear roof section at least partially disposed above said passenger compartment substantially behind said front roof section when in said extending position;

a retracting mechanism coupling said rear roof section to said body of said automotive vehicle, said retracting mechanism being operable to extend said front roof section toward said front windshield and said rear roof section between said front roof section and said body, said retracting mechanism being further operable to collapse said front roof section in a rearward direction away from said front windshield while moving said rear roof section away from said extended position and collapsing said front roof section thereby defining a retracted position;

an electric motor; and

a pivot of said rear roof section lifted by said electric motor in a substantially vertical upward direction during retraction of said rear roof section;

a cam having an arm segment, a toothed segment and a cam pivot; and

a roof pivot engagement portion of said arm segment coupled with said roof pivot;

said electric motor enmeshing with said toothed segment of said cam so as to drive said arm segment about said cam pivot, said cam serving to lift said roof pivot in a substantially upward, forward and then downward path during retraction of said rear roof section.

20. The retractable roof of claim 19 wherein:

said rear roof section includes said pivot about which said rear roof section is rotatable when moved from said extended position to said retracted position thereof, said pivot located near a bottom edge of said rear roof section.

21. The retractable roof of claim 20 wherein:

said pivot is located near a forward bottom corner of said rear roof section such that an upper forward edge of said rear roof rotates substantially rearward and downward when retracted.

22. The retractable roof of claim 21 further comprising:

said front roof section having an outside surface and an inside surface;

said rear roof section having an outside surface and an inside surface; and

a hinge device coupling said front roof section proximate with said rearward edge to said rear roof section proximate with said forward edge;

said inside surface of said front roof section being foldable upon said inside surface of said rear roof section in a clamshell manner.

23. The retractable roof of claim 22 wherein:

said front roof section is retractable on top of said rear roof such that said outer surface of said front roof section covers said rear roof section whereby said outside surface of said front roof section is at least partially exposed between a pair of front seats and a trunk of said automotive vehicle.

24. The retractable roof of claim 21 further comprising:

a guiding mechanism coupled to a portion of said rear roof section near said bottom edge, said guiding mechanism acting in concert with said retracting mechanism so as to rotate said upper forward edge of said rear roof section in a substantially rearward longitudinal direction while rotating a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section in a substantially forward longitudinal direction.

25. The retractable roof of claim 24 wherein said guiding mechanism includes:

a track having a C-shaped cross sectional configuration; and

a carrier mounted upon said rear roof proximate with said bottom edge and located rearward of said rear roof pivot, said carrier engagably moving within said track.

26. The retractable roof of claim 25 wherein said guiding mechanism further includes:

a guiding electric motor;

a cable drivably connected to said guiding electric motor; and

a plurality of pulleys attached to said automotive vehicle body;

said carrier being attached to said cable such that said guiding electric motor moves said carrier when said cable is driven.

27. The retractable roof of claim 24 further comprising:

a second guiding mechanism juxtapositioned transversely opposite from said first guiding mechanism within said automotive vehicle body, said first and second guiding mechanisms being substantially symmetrical to one another and cooperatively operating in unison.

29. The retractable roof of claim 19 further comprising:

a balance link coupled with said front roof section and said retraction mechanism such that said front roof section is rotatably collapsed against said rear roof section during retraction.

30. The retractable roof of claim 29 wherein said retraction mechanism further includes:

an anchor link affixed to said automotive vehicle body, an arm of said anchor link having a pivot engagement portion;

an intermediate link having a first intermediate pivot portion and a second intermediate pivot portion, said first intermediate pivot portion being rotatably coupled to said anchor pivot portion;

an offset link having a first offset pivot portion and a second offset pivot portion, said first offset pivot portion being rotatably coupled to said second intermediate pivot portion, said second offset pivot portion being rotatably coupled to said arm pivot portion of said cam; and

a lower pivot portion of said balance link rotatably coupled to said second intermediate pivot portion and said first offset pivot portion, a second pivot portion of said balance link rotatably coupled to said front roof section;

said retracting electric motor providing rotational movement to said arm segment of said cam which rotates said offset link while moving said rear roof section, said offset link rotating said intermediate link and said balance link, said intermediate link further guiding the rotational movement of said balance link due to restrictions of travel by said anchor link, said balance link thereby rotating said front roof section during retraction and extension.

38. A retractable hard-top roof for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle having a body within which is a passenger compartment, a pair of front seats and a trunk, a pair of rear wheel houses disposed in said body, a front header of said body located above a front windshield, said retractable hard-top roof comprising:

a front roof section disposed above said passenger compartment, a portion of said front roof section disengagably coupled to said front header when in an extended position, said front roof section being substantially rigid and having an outside surface and an inside surface;

a rear roof section at least partially disposed above said passenger compartment substantially behind said front roof section when in said extending position, said rear roof section further having an outside surface and an inside surface, said rear roof section being foldably coupled to said front roof section by a hinging device, said hinge device coupling said front roof section proximate with a rearward edge to said rear roof section proximate with a forward edge, said inside surface of said front roof section being foldable upon said inside surface of said rear roof section in a clamshell manner such that said outer surface of said front roof section covers said rear roof section whereby said outside surface of said front roof section is at least partially exposed between said pair of front seats and said trunk of said automotive vehicle, a pivot of said rear roof section, said rear roof section being rotatable about said pivot when moved from said extended position to a retracted position, said pivot being located near a forward bottom corner of said rear roof section such that an upper forward edge of said rear roof rotates substantially rearward and downward when retracted;

a retracting mechanism coupling said rear roof section to said body of said automotive vehicle, said retracting mechanism being operable to extend said front roof section toward said front header and said rear roof section between said front roof section and said body, said retracting mechanism being further operable to collapse said front roof section in a rearward direction away from said front header while moving said rear roof section away from said extended position thereby collapsing said front roof section substantially against said rear roof section thereby defining said retracted position, said front roof section and said rear roof section being substantially horizontal when in said retracted position, said retraction mechanism lifting said pivot of said rear roof section in a substantially vertical upward direction during retraction of said rear roof section, said rearmost portion of said bottom edge rotatably clearing said pair of rear wheel houses of said automotive vehicle during retraction and extension;

an electric motor;

a cam having an arm segment and a toothed segment, said cam also having a cam pivot, a roof pivot engagement portion of said arm segment coupled with said roof pivot, said electric motor enmeshing with said toothed segment of said cam so as to drive said arm segment about said cam pivot, said cam serving to lift said roof pivot in a substantially upward, forward and then downward path during retraction of said rear roof section;

a guiding mechanism coupled to a portion of said rear roof section near said bottom edge, said guiding mechanism acting in concert with said retracting mechanism so as to rotate said forward edge of said rear roof section in a substantially rearward longitudinal direction while rotating a rearmost portion of said bottom edge of said rear roof section in a substantially forward longitudinal direction; and

a tonneau cover pivotably coupled to said automotive vehicle body, said tonneau cover being pivotable from a lowered and substantially horizontal position to a raised and substantially vertical position, said tonneau cover being located in said raised position during retraction and extension of said front and rear roof sections, said tonneau cover being located in said lowered position when said front and rear roof sections are fully extended and fully retracted, said tonneau cover aesthetically covering a gap between said rear roof section and said automotive vehicle body proximate with said trunk when said rear roof section is extended, said tonneau cover aesthetically covering another gap between said outside surface of said front roof section and said automotive vehicle body proximate with said trunk when said front and rear roof sections are fully retracted.

39. An apparatus for an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a retractable hard-top roof including a rigid front roof section and a rigid rear roof section, said front roof section being inwardly foldable in a clamshelling manner against said rear roof section during retraction;

a sector gear drivably coupled to said rear roof section; and

an electric motor having an output gear directly and driveably enmeshed with said sector gear;

an elongated arm extending from said sector gear, said arm being pivotably coupled to said rear roof section.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said output gear of said motor is a spur-type pinion gear.

41. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising a substantially rigid balance link coupled to said front roof section.

42. The apparatus of claim 39 further comprising a member movably coupling said balance link to said sector gear.

43. A retractable roof for an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle having a trunk, said retractable roof comprising:

a front roof section;

a rear roof section disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof sections are in extended positions, said rear roof section always being mechanically and movably coupled to said front roof section once installed in said vehicle;

a pivot pin coupled to said rear roof section;

a retraction mechanism driving said roof sections between retracted positions and said extended positions;

a longitudinally elongated guiding mechanism controlling retraction of a portion of said rear roof section, said rear roof section being slidably coupled to said guiding mechanism;

a balance link controlling retraction of a portion of said front roof section;

said front roof section and said rear roof section being collapsible away from said extended positions by actuation of said retraction mechanism, said retracted position of at least said front roof section being disposed at least partially forward of said trunk, said front roof section being substantially horizontal when in said retracted position; and

a movable cover covering at least a portion of said front roof section when said front roof section is disposed in said retracted and substantially horizontal position.

44. The roof of claim 43 wherein said cover includes a rigid tonneau cover movably coupled to said vehicle body in an upwardly pivoting manner.

45. The roof of claim 43 wherein said cover only covers a rearward portion of said front roof section when in said retracted position thereby leaving a forward portion of said front roof section exposed.

46. The roof of claim 43 further comprising:

a trunk lid being movably coupled to said vehicle body;

said cover including a rigid tonneau cover movably coupled to said vehicle body and operable independent from said trunk lid.

47. The roof of claim 43 wherein said front and rear roof sections are rigid.

48. The roof of claim 43 further comprising a front passenger seat, said front roof section being entirely disposed between said front passenger seat and said trunk when said front roof section is in said retracted position, a majority of an exterior surface of said front roof section being visible when in said retracted position, said movable cover having a substantially C-shaped forward edge when viewed from above, said rear roof section pivoting about said pivot pin disposed adjacent to a forward and bottom edge of said rear roof section.

49. A retractable roof for use in an automotive vehicle, said roof comprising:

a front roof section;

a rear roof section coupled to and disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said front roof section is in a front roof extended position, an inside surface of said front roof section foldable upon an inside surface of said rear roof section in a clamshelling manner;

a pivot disposed on a rear half of said rear roof section as viewed when said rear roof section is in an extended position; and

a retracting mechanism coupled to said rear roof section, said retracting mechanism being operable to extend said front roof section and said rear roof section, said retracting mechanism being further operable to collapse said front roof section in a rearward direction while moving said rear roof section away from said rear roof extended position thereby defining a retracted position of said roof sections;

said retracting mechanism lifting said pivot of said rear roof section in a substantially vertical upward direction during retraction of said rear roof section.

50. The roof of claim 49 further comprising an electric motor having a spur-type gear enmeshably driving said retracting mechanism.

51. The roof of claim 49 wherein said front and rear roof sections are rigid, said retracting mechanism further including an electric motor driven cable and pulley system, said cable being coupled to said rear roof section, a balance link of said retracting mechanism coupled to said front roof section.

52. A retractable roof system for an automotive vehicle, said roof system comprising:

a front roof section;

a rear roof section disposed substantially behind said front roof section when said roof sections are in extended positions, said rear roof section being mechanically and movably coupled to said front roof section;

said front roof section and said rear roof section being collapsible away from said extended positions, said front roof section being substantially horizontal when in a retracted position;

a retracted roof storage space; and

a cover moving from a covering position substantially above at least a portion of said retracted roof storage space to an uncovering position so as to at least partially expose said retracted roof storage space for receiving at least one of said roof sections, said movable cover only covering a rearward portion of said front roof section when said front roof section is disposed in said retracted and substantially horizontal position and when said movable cover is moved back over said at least a portion of said retracted roof storage space thereby leaving a forward portion of said front roof section exposed said front roof section acting to cover at least a forward portion of said retracted roof storage space when said front roof section is in said retracted position.

53. The roof system of claim 52 further comprising an inner surface of said front roof section folding in a clamshelling manner upon an inner surface of said rear roof section.

54. The roof system of claim 52 further comprising a pivot located near a forward bottom corner of said rear roof section, said rear roof section being a hard top roof section.

55. The roof system of claim 52 further comprising a pivot pin and a front passenger seat, said front roof section being entirely disposed between said front passenger seat and said trunk when said front roof section is in said retracted position, a majority of an exterior surface of said front roof section being visible when in said retracted position, said movable cover having a substantially C-shaped forward edge when viewed from above, said rear roof section pivoting about said pivot pin disposed adjacent to a forward and bottom edge of said rear roof section.

56. The roof of claim 52 wherein said front and rear roof system sections are rigid.

61. The roof system of claim 52 where said front roof section is substantially rigid.

62. The roof system of claim 52 further comprising:

a trunk located behind said retracted roof storage space;

a trunk lid covering said trunk; and

an outside surface of said front roof section being substantially flush with a substantially horizontal outside surface of said trunk lid when said front roof section is in said retracted position.

63. The roof system of claim 52 further comprising inside surfaces of said roof sections being substantially hidden from view when said roof sections are disposed in said retracted positions.

57. An automotive vehicle apparatus comprising:

a front roof section;

a rear roof section coupled to said front roof section, said roof sections being collapsible away from their extended positions, said front roof section being substantially horizontal when in a retracted position;

a trunk covered by a trunk lid;

a front seat;

a retracted roof storage space located forward of said trunk and rearward of said front seat; and

a rigid tonneau cover pivoting from a covering position substantially above at least a portion of said retracted roof storage space to an uncovering position so as to at least partially expose said retracted roof storage space for receiving at least one of said roof sections, said tonneau cover only covering a rearward portion of said front roof section when said front roof section is disposed in said retracted and substantially horizontal position and when said tonneau cover is disposed in said covering position thereby leaving a forward portion of said front roof section exposed to view from outside of said vehicle;

wherein said roof sections are stowed forward of said trunk in said retracted roof storage space, said front roof section acts to cover at least a forward portion of said retracted roof storage space when said front roof section is in said retracted position.

58. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 57 wherein said front roof section is substantially rigid.

59. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 57 further comprising an outside surface of said front roof section being substantially flush with a substantially horizontal outside surface of said trunk lid when said front roof section is in said retracted position.

60. The automotive vehicle apparatus of claim 57 further comprising inside surfaces of said roof sections being substantially hidden from view when said roof sections are disposed in said retracted positions.