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Lift assist mechanism for soft top

  • US 9,944,155 B2
  • Filed: 03/26/2015
  • Issued: 04/17/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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:

  • 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.

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