Releasable header for vehicle soft tops

• US 6,932,423 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bestop Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bestop Incorporated
• Inventors: Stevens, Michael C, Robertson, James A., Troeger, Rick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US10/703,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 296/218, 296/219, 296/121, 296/224
• US Class Current: 296/224
• 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

Abstract

A removable header for a soft top or similar accessory for a sport utility vehicle. The header has a main body that is releasably securable to the vehicle windshield using just clamps. The header also includes short extensions on each side of the main body that extend rearwardly of it. In use, the extensions abut portions of the safety bar arrangement immediately adjacent the windshield of the vehicle and prevent the header from rotating beyond a predetermined position relative to the windshield.

Claims

1. A top arrangement to removably secure a soft top to the windshield of a vehicle, said soft top having a fabric portion attached to a header, said windshield extending along a first axis and said vehicle further including a safety bar arrangement with a substantially horizontal portion thereof on each side of the vehicle respectively extending rearwardly from the windshield, said header having a main body extending along a second axis, said header being selectively movable between at least first and second positions, said header in said first position being releasably secured to said windshield by at least one clamping assembly with said first and second axes substantially parallel, said clamping assembly generating a torque force tending to rotate said header from said first position about a rotation axis, said header further including at least one extension arrangement attached to and extending rearwardly of the main body of the header, said extension arrangement abutting against at least one of the safety bar portions immediately adjacent the windshield with said header in said first position secured to said windshield to counter the torque force and prevent the rotation of the header beyond a predetermined location about said rotational axis, said header in said second position being released from and spaced from said windshield with said attached extension arrangement spaced from engagement with said one safety bar portion.

2. The top arrangement of claim 1 wherein said safety bar portions respectively extend rearwardly of the windshield from a first location adjacent the windshield to a second location respectively adjacent the rear of the driver'"'"'s seat and the front passenger'"'"'s seat and said extension arrangement abuts at least one of said safety bar portions between said first and second locations.

3. The top arrangement of claim 2 wherein said extension arrangement abuts said at least one safety bar portion substantially closer to said first location than to said second location.

4. The top arrangement of claim 1 wherein said safety bar portion includes a bar and a door rail section attached thereto and said extension arrangement abuts said door rail section of said safety bar portion.

5. The top arrangement of claim 4 wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said door rail section to aid in aligning said header from side-to-side relative to the windshield.

7. The top arrangement of claim 1 wherein said safety bar portion includes an adaptor attached thereto and said extension arrangement abuts said adaptor of said safety bar portion.

8. The top arrangement of claim 7 wherein said adaptor is a door rail section.

9. The top arrangement of claim 7 wherein said adaptor is a prong arrangement having a protruding leg member.

12. The top arrangement of claim 1 wherein said extension arrangement has a free end spaced from the main body of said header.

13. The top arrangement of claim 12 wherein said extension arrangement abuts said safety bar portion adjacent the free end thereof.

14. The top arrangement of claim 1 wherein said extension arrangement extends rearwardly from the main body of the header along an axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

15. The top arrangement of claim 1 wherein said clamp assembly is affixed to the main body of the header and includes a hook member receivable in a slot adjacent said windshield to secure the header to the windshield.

16. The top arrangement of claim 4 wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said door rail section to aid in aligning said header from front-to-back relative to the windshield.

17. The top arrangement of claim 7 wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said adaptor to aid in aligning said header from side-to-side relative to the windshield.

18. The top arrangement of claim 7 wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said adaptor to aid in aligning said header from front-to-back relative to the windshield.

6. A top arrangement to removably secure a soft top to the windshield of a vehicle, said soft top having a fabric portion attached to a header, said windshield extending along a first axis and said vehicle further including a safety bar arrangement with a substantially horizontal portion thereof on each side of the vehicle respectively extending rearwardly from the windshield, said header having a main body extending along a second axis, said header being positionable adjacent said windshield with said first and second axes substantially parallel, said header being releasably securable to said windshield by at least one clamping assembly, said clamping assembly generating a torque force tending to rotate said header about a rotation axis, said header further including at least one extension arrangement extending rearwardly of the main body of the header to abut against at least one of the safety bar portions immediately adjacent the windshield to counter the torque force and prevent the rotation of the header beyond a predetermined location about said rotational axis,

said safety bar portion including a bar and a door rail section attached thereto and said extension arrangement abuts said door rail section of said safety bar portion wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said door rail section to aid in aligning said header from front-to-back relative to the windshield.

10. A top arrangement to removably secure a soft top to the windshield of a vehicle, said soft top having a fabric portion attached to a header, said windshield extending along a first axis and said vehicle further including a safety bar arrangement with a substantially horizontal portion thereof on each side of the vehicle respectively extending rearwardly from the windshield, said header having a main body extending along a second axis, said header being positionable adjacent said windshield with said first and second axes substantially parallel, said header being releasably securable to said windshield by at least one clamping assembly, said clamping assembly generating a torque force tending to rotate said header about a rotation axis, said header further including at least one extension arrangement extending rearwardly of the main body of the header to abut against at least one of the safety bar portions immediately adjacent the windshield to counter the torque force and prevent the rotation of the header beyond a predetermined location about said rotational axis,

said safety bar portion including an adaptor attached thereto and said extension arrangement abuts said adaptor of said safety bar portion wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said adaptor to aid in aligning said header from side-to-side relative to the windshield.

11. A top arrangement to removably secure a soft top to the windshield of a vehicle, said soft top having a fabric portion attached to a header, said windshield extending along a first axis and said vehicle further including a safety bar arrangement with a substantially horizontal portion thereof on each side of the vehicle respectively extending rearwardly from the windshield, said header having a main body extending along a second axis, said header being positionable adjacent said windshield with said first and second axes substantially parallel, said header being releasably securable to said windshield by at least one clamping assembly, said clamping assembly generating a torque force tending to rotate said header about a rotation axis, said header further including at least one extension arrangement extending rearwardly of the main body of the header to abut against at least one of the safety bar portions immediately adjacent the windshield to counter the torque force and prevent the rotation of the header beyond a predetermined location about said rotational axis,

said safety bar portion including an adaptor attached thereto and said extension arrangement abuts said adaptor of said safety bar portion wherein said extension arrangement further includes leg members straddling a part of said adaptor to aid in aligning said header from front-to-back relative to the windshield.