Abstract: In a vehicle roof support and operating arrangement by which a vehicle roof top can be moved between closed and open positions while supported on a component carrier which also supports a roof top operating mechanism and which is connected to the vehicle body, the component carrier includes a front transverse frame member, a rear transverse frame member and two side frame members extending between, and interconnecting, the front and rear transverse frame members so as to form a closed rigid support frame reinforcing the vehicle body.

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof comprising a front, an intermediate and a rear roof part supported on a vehicle body so as to be movable between a closed position, in which the roof parts cover an interior vehicle space, and an open position, in which the roof parts are deposited in a storage compartment behind the interior vehicle space, wherein the rear roof part is pivotally supported on the vehicle body, the front roof part is movable under the intermediate roof part in parallel relationship therewith and the intermediate roof part is supported so as to be movable together with the front roof part into the storage compartment onto the rear roof part already pivoted into the storage compartment so as to form in the storage compartment a roof part packet with the rear roof part disposed at the bottom with its outer surface facing downwardly and the intermediate roof part disposed on top of the packet and the front roof parts is disposed between the rear and intermediate roof parts with the top surfaces of both th

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof which is movable between a closed position, in which it covers a vehicle interior, and a storage position and which includes rigid roof shells which, in the closed position, are disposed end to end adjacent one another, at least one of the roof shells includes a center section and side sections which are pivotally connected to the center section and the center sections are displaced in the storage position of the roof shells upwardly relative to the respective side sections so as to be received within one of the roof shells thereby to reduce the volume required for the storage of the roof shells in the storage position thereof.

Abstract: In a containment for receiving a removable vehicle top, including a containment cover, a containment cover operating mechanism for transferring the vehicle top between closed and open positions, a containment bottom movable between raised and lowered positions and a containment bottom operating mechanism, the containment bottom operating mechanism is coupled to the vehicle top in such a way that, during the transfer of the vehicle top from the closed to the open position, movement of a component of the vehicle top initiates the lowering of the containment bottom by uncoupling the containment bottom from its operating mechanism before the vehicle top enters the containment.

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof including rigid front intermediate and rear roof parts, which are movable between a closed position, in which the roof parts are arranged, in the longitudinal vehicle direction, one after the other so as to cover an interior of a vehicle body, and a storage position, in which the roof parts are disposed in a rear roof storage compartment which is provided with a compartment lid pivotally supported on the vehicle body, so that it can be raised for the transfer of the rigid roof parts between their closed positions and their positions in the roof storage compartment, the rear roof part is supported on the roof storage compartment lid, the intermediate roof part is supported directly on the vehicle body and the front part is supported on the intermediate roof part in such a way that in the storage compartment all the roof parts are disposed in the same orientation on top of one another.

Abstract: In a cover arrangement for a storage compartment for a removable vehicle roof with a storage compartment cover which is movable between a closed position and a clearing position, and wherein the storage compartment cover includes a center part and two side parts with an operating mechanism for the center part and actuating mechanisms for the side parts, the center part and the side parts are supported on the vehicle body in a common plane when the storage compartment is closed but are movable to a clearing position for the movement of the roof into, and out of, the storage compartment, the side part actuating mechanisms being inter-linked with the center part operating mechanism for moving the side parts together with the center part.

Abstract: A retractable hard top for a vehicle including a linkage and a top guide track for moving the hard top from a top up position to a stowed position. The retractable hard top linkage includes a pivot bracket that is movable within the top guide track to limit the clearance necessary for folding the hard top into a stowed position. A tonneau is provided to cover the retractable hard top storage area in both the top up and stowed position. Rear quarter windows are shifted from a top up position in which they function as windows to a stowed position in which the windows are shifted outboard of the retractable hard top and rotated to a stowed position. The retractable hard top, trunk lid, rear quarter window, tonneau, and roll bar may be assembled as a single unitary module with the linkages that coordinate operation of the retractable hard top, trunk lid, rear quarter window, and tonneau to facilitate assembly to a vehicle.

Abstract: In a vehicle roof arrangement with a folding top which is movable between a closed position and a storage position, a support and operating linkage is provided by which the roof material is tensioned when the roof is closed by a tensioning structure which is held in position by an over-center tensioning linkage. For opening the roof, the tensioning linkage is first moved out of its over-center position by an auxiliary actuator and the tension in the roof is released which is then lowered by the operating linkage into a rear storage compartment.

Abstract: In a sealing element for a movable roof section of a vehicle which seal element includes a pocket delimited by a sealing wall of the sealing element and is open toward one side for receiving cables, a cable guide channel is formed on the inside of the sealing wall so as to be accessible by way of the open side of the pocket and a sealing lip extends over the open side of the pocket and forms, between the outside of the sealing wall and the sealing lip, a seal channel for receiving a part of the movable roof section when the movable roof section is closed.

Abstract: In a hardtop vehicle roof, which includes a front roof element and a rear roof element comprising side support members and a rear window panel, the front roof element is supported so as to be independently movable from the closed position to a storage position in a storage compartment disposed behind the vehicle roof so as to provide for the vehicle a Targa configuration, the rear window panel is independently movable into the storage compartment to provide for a Landau configuration and the front window is deposited in the storage compartment below the rear window panel while the side support members are retracted into side storage spaces to provide for a cabriolet configuration of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a locking arrangement for a vehicle roof section movable between closed and open positions including a locking hook adjustable between a roof section release position and a locking position in which the locking hook is received in a locking receiver, a first sensor is provided for detecting the position of the locking hook before locking to ensure that it is properly positioned for insertion into the locking receiver, a second sensor is provided for detecting the engagement of the locking hook in the locking receiver and a third sensor is provided for detecting the locking of the locking hook in the locking receiver to ensure proper operation and locking of the locking arrangement.

Abstract: In a multi-part cover for a storage space of a roof in the rear of a vehicle, which cover comprises a center part and side parts pivotally connected to the center part, a common operating mechanism for operating the parts of the cover depending on the position of the roof is provided with a coupling between a roof operating linkage and a cover operating linkage whereby the roof operating linkage can be uncoupled from the cover operating linkage when the roof is deposited in the rear storage space for permitting longitudinal movement of the cover into an end position, in which it covers the roof in the storage space and the side parts of the cover are pivoted outwardly from the center part of the cover.

Abstract: A retractable hard top for a vehicle including a linkage and a top guide track for moving the hard top from a top up position to a stowed position. The retractable hard top linkage includes a pivot bracket that is movable within the top guide track to limit the clearance necessary for folding the hard top into a stowed position. A tonneau is provided to cover the retractable hard top storage area in both the top up and stowed position. Rear quarter windows are shifted from a top up position in which they function as windows to a stowed position in which the windows are shifted outboard of the retractable hard top and rotated to a stowed position. The retractable hard top, trunk lid, rear quarter window, tonneau, and roll bar may be assembled as a single unitary module with the linkages that coordinate operation of the retractable hard top, trunk lid, rear quarter window, and tonneau to facilitate assembly to a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle roof which can be adjusted between a closed position and an opening position has an adjusting device and at least one side window which during the transfer between the closed and opening position can be pivoted via a rotational joint by an actuating element. The actuating element is coupled on one side to the side window at a distance from the side-window rotational axis and is connected on its opposite side to an element of the adjusting device.

Abstract: In a removable vehicle roof including an operating mechanism for moving the roof between a closed position in which the vehicle roof covers an interior vehicle space and a storage position in which the vehicle roof is deposited in a rear storage compartment, the operating mechanism includes operating and coupling arms which are pivotable relative to each other and provided with locking means for locking the vehicle roof in position in the storage compartment and also for rigidly interconnecting the operating and coupling arms when the vehicle roof is in a closed position.

Abstract: In a folding top for vehicles, in particular passenger cars, it is proposed to assign to the folding top, between its closing position and its put-away position, an intermediate position in which the folding top assumes a folded-together stowage position, from which the folding top can be transferred as a stack into the put-away position or can be unfolded into the closing position.

Abstract: In a convertible vehicle roof, which is movable between closed and open positions, and which includes front and rear roof parts which are joined by a kinematic linkage arrangement by which the roof parts, which, in a closed position, are disposed closely adjacent each other, are, upon opening of the roof, first linearly moved apart before the front roof part is pivoted below the rear roof part for placement in a storage compartment.

Abstract: A convertible top for covering part of a passenger compartment of a land vehicle. The convertible top includes a retractable frame that retracts forwardly toward a permanent top section. The retractable frame is covered by a flexible cover and a rigid rear member moves longitudinally as the convertible top is moved between an extended and retracted position. The rigid rear member includes track followers that are moved in longitudinally extending tracks on the rear portion of the vehicle body. The retractable frame may be either a parallel bar expanding linkage, or telescoping slide supports.

Abstract: In a convertible vehicle with a hardtop vehicle roof comprising at least two roof parts, which are movable between a closed position in which to roof parts cover the interior space of the vehicle and an open position in which the roof parts are in storage compartment behind the interior vehicle space, and wherein the roof includes a rear window which is removable from the roof and utilized, in a raised upright position, as a wind deflector, the roof parts and the window are separated from each other and fitted when the roof is open, into the storage compartment behind the interior space in an upright position one behind the other transverse to the longitudinal vehicle direction.

Abstract: In a convertible vehicle including a roof which is movable between a closed position, in which the roof covers an interior vehicle space, and an open position, in which the roof is deposited in a storage compartment behind the passenger compartment of the vehicle, that is covered by a rear lid, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the rear lid is provided which includes front and rear pivot arms pivotally mounted to the vehicle body, a coupling arm pivotally connected to the pivot arms and first and second links, each of which has one end pivotally connected to the rear lid and the first link is pivotally connected with its other end to the coupling arm while the second link forms an extension of the rear pivot arm.