Lift assist mechanism for soft top
First Claim
1. A frame and soft top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a crossmember connecting the side members substantially adjacent the rear of the driver passenger compartment, said frame and soft top assembly comprising:
- a pair of side rails operably attached to said side members of said vehicle;
a pivotable sunroof soft top portion including a pair of pivot arms pivotally connected to said side rails, where pivoting the pivotable sunroof soft top portion moves said soft top between a closed position and an open position;
a front bow member operably connected to said pivot arms and adapted for removable connection to said windshield frame;
a rear bow member operably connected to said pair of side rails;
an intermediate bow member, said intermediate bow member being articulatingly connected between said side rails and said pivot arms via a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm, one of said linkage arms being operably connected to said pivot arm and a peripheral end of said intermediate bow and the other of said linkage arms being operably connected to said side rail; and
a fabric assist bow member articulatingly connected for deployment between said intermediate bow member and said rear bow member by way of a pivotal fabric assist linkage and another fabric assist linkage, said pivotal fabric assist linkage being connected to said one of said first and second linkage arms and said another fabric assist linkage being pivotally connected to said side rail; and
a lift assist mechanism comprising a first and second gas cylinder including respective first and second actuation shafts received in first and second cylinder bodies which are connected in force opposition between said another fabric assist linkage and said side rail such that one of said gas cylinders is compressed when said soft top is down and the other of said gas cylinders is extended, wherein when said soft top is opened the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to said another fabric assist linkage assisting said soft top in an opening direction and said other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing said soft top the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing said soft top assembly.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A frame and soft top assembly which includes lift assist and improved fabric management. The assembly includes a pair of front arms pivotally attached to rear side rails and are attached to the vehicle roll bar. A plurality of fabric control bows connected with pivot links provide fabric control to the top material during pivoting of the front side rails. A pair of bow pivot links are pivotally connected to the rear side rail. A rear gas strut and a front gas strut are attached longitudinally to either side of the pair of bow pivot links, one providing lift assistance at the start of the pivotal opening of the sunroof while the other of the struts gets loaded as the top is deployed and buffers the closing of the roof which also loads the strut to provide assistance in the closing direction when it is time to close the sunroof.
9 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A frame and soft top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a crossmember connecting the side members substantially adjacent the rear of the driver passenger compartment, said frame and soft top assembly comprising:
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a pair of side rails operably attached to said side members of said vehicle; a pivotable sunroof soft top portion including a pair of pivot arms pivotally connected to said side rails, where pivoting the pivotable sunroof soft top portion moves said soft top between a closed position and an open position; a front bow member operably connected to said pivot arms and adapted for removable connection to said windshield frame; a rear bow member operably connected to said pair of side rails; an intermediate bow member, said intermediate bow member being articulatingly connected between said side rails and said pivot arms via a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm, one of said linkage arms being operably connected to said pivot arm and a peripheral end of said intermediate bow and the other of said linkage arms being operably connected to said side rail; and a fabric assist bow member articulatingly connected for deployment between said intermediate bow member and said rear bow member by way of a pivotal fabric assist linkage and another fabric assist linkage, said pivotal fabric assist linkage being connected to said one of said first and second linkage arms and said another fabric assist linkage being pivotally connected to said side rail; and a lift assist mechanism comprising a first and second gas cylinder including respective first and second actuation shafts received in first and second cylinder bodies which are connected in force opposition between said another fabric assist linkage and said side rail such that one of said gas cylinders is compressed when said soft top is down and the other of said gas cylinders is extended, wherein when said soft top is opened the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to said another fabric assist linkage assisting said soft top in an opening direction and said other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing said soft top the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing said soft top assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A frame and soft top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a crossmember connecting the side members substantially adjacent the rear of the driver passenger compartment, said frame and soft top assembly comprising:
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a pair of side rails attached to said side members of said vehicle, each said side rail including a first end and a second end; a pivotable sunroof soft top portion including a pair of pivot arms pivotally connected at a first end to said first end of said side rails, where pivoting the pivotable sunroof soft top portion moves said soft top between a closed position and an open position; a front bow connected between respective pivot arms at an outside end of said pivot arms and adapted for removable connection to said windshield frame; a rear bow member connected to said frame at said second end; an intermediate bow member, said intermediate bow member being articulatingly connected between said side rails and said pivot arm via a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm, one of said linkage arms being connected to said pivot arm and a peripheral end of said intermediate bow and the other of said linkage arms being connected to said side rail; and a lift assist mechanism comprising a first and second gas cylinder including respective first and second actuation shafts received in first and second cylinder bodies which are connected in force opposition between a fabric assist linkage and said side rail such that one of said gas cylinders is compressed when said soft top is down and the other of said gas cylinders is extended, wherein when said soft top is opened the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to the fabric assist linkage assisting said soft top in an opening direction and said other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing said soft top the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing said soft top assembly. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A frame and soft top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a crossmember connecting the side members substantially adjacent the rear of the driver passenger compartment, said frame and soft top assembly comprising:
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a pair of side rails attached to said side members of said vehicle, each said side rail including a first end and a second end; a pivotable sunroof soft top portion including a pair of pivot arms pivotally connected at a first end to said first end of said side rails, where pivoting the pivotable sunroof soft top portion moves said soft top between a closed position and an open position; a front bow connected between respective pivot arms at an outside end of said pivot arms and adapted for removable connection to said windshield frame; a rear bow member connected to said frame at said second end; an intermediate bow member, said intermediate bow member being articulatingly connected between said side rails and said pivot arm via a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm, one of said linkage arms being connected to said pivot arm and a peripheral end of said intermediate bow and the other of said linkage arms being connected to said side rail; and a lift assist mechanism comprising a first and second gas cylinder which are connected in force opposition such that one of said gas cylinders is compressed when said soft top is down and the other of said gas cylinders is extended, wherein when said soft top is opened the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to at least one pair of fabric assist linkages assisting said soft top in an opening direction and said other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing said soft top the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing said soft top assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification