Abstract: A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle includes a housing, a locking hook, a coupling device, and a driving apparatus. The locking hook has a gripping end and a bearing end. The coupling device is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook. The bearing end is mounted to the coupling device such that the bearing end is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is movable between closed and opened positions. The driving apparatus is for driving the locking hook to move between the closed and opened positions and includes a first two-bar linkage, a driving arm connected with the two-bar linkage, and an actuating drive for actuating the driving arm.

Abstract: A convertible top comprising a plurality articulated rail links that move the convertible top in a fore-and-aft direction. A trim piece carries a window seal and is assembled to at least one of the rail links for movement in the fore-and-aft direction. The trim piece also moves in a lateral direction outwardly when the top is retracted and in the lateral direction inwardly when the top is extended. A stop member is secured to the trim piece and at least one rail link to limit the lateral movement of the trim piece relative to the at least one rail link. A cam block is secured to the trim piece and at least one of the rail links to guide the lateral movement of the trim piece relative to the at least one rail link.

Abstract: A loading ramp for a vehicle that includes at least three articulated sections. The ramp is assembled to and stored on a floor of the vehicle. The ramp is extended from the vehicle with at least one section being retained on the floor. The sections outboard of the vehicle are retained in alignment at a ramp angle with the first section being pivoted relative to the last floor retained section to the ramp angle. A power extension and retraction device may be provided that drives the loading ramp reciprocally relative to the vehicle. Side edge guards are provided on the sides of the loading ramp and may be folded over when the loading ramp is stored.

Abstract: A convertible top has a convertible top cover, a backlight, and a headliner. A connector system includes a molded ring of material affixed to the backlight and the top cover. The connector system includes a clip attached to the headliner. The molded ring may have a slot formed on an interior surface between the backlight and the cover. The clip may be inserted into the slot to secure the headliner insider the top cover. A method of securing a headliner to a convertible top is also provided.

Abstract: A convertible top having a pivot link is provided that supports two bows. A main spring is secured to a pivot pin and connected to a main pivot bracket on the vehicle to provide a counterbalancing force on the balance link that assists in lifting the top stack linkage as the convertible top is retracted and extended. A five bow extends between and is attached to right and left pivot links by right and left pressure links, respectively.

Abstract: A convertible top assembly for a motor vehicle having a seating compartment with front and rear seating areas includes multiple panels with a front panel displaceable over the rear seating panel and at least two panels displaceable to form a stack that is displaced rearwardly of the seating compartment.

Abstract: A convertible top and method of operating the convertible top is disclosed. The top has a power cylinder that is mounted to the top stack linkage that lifts the one bow from the windshield header on a four bar link and also simultaneously releases the pressure applied by a pressure link to the rear bow. The pressure link includes an upper link and a lower link that are locked together in an over-center relationship when the top is extended to eliminate vibration of the rear bow or lifting the rear bow off of the rear deck.

Abstract: A convertible top stack linkage is provided that is formed, in part, in a thixotropic magnesium molding process. Many structural parts of the convertible top stack linkage may be thixotropically molded. A pivot link of the top stack linkage is pivotally connected to two bows, for example, the three and four bows of the top stack. A five bow extends between and is attached to right and left pivot links by right and left pressure links, respectively. A pivot link is provided that has a triple pivot connection to a tensioning link, a center rail and a rear rail. A main spring is secured to a pivot pin and connected to a main pivot bracket on the vehicle to provide a counterbalancing force on the balance link that assists in lifting the top stack linkage as the convertible top is retracted and extended.

Abstract: A retractable hardtop for a vehicle including a front panel and an intermediate panel disposed behind the front panel in an extended position. A back panel supports a back light and is disposed below and rearwardly adjacent to the intermediate panel in the extended position. A pair of sail panels are disposed below the intermediate panel and engage opposite lateral sides of the back panel in the extended position but are separated from the back panel in the retracted position. A linkage connects the front panel, intermediate panel, and back panel to the vehicle. The front panel is shifted by the linkage over the intermediate panel and the back panel is shifted below the intermediate panel as the retractable hardtop is moved from the extended position toward a retracted position. A method of retracting a retractable hardtop as described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: A folding top apparatus for a vehicle includes a movable folding top and a support arm assembly. The folding top has front and rear roof parts and a corner bow. The support arm assembly includes a drive arm pivotably connected to the front roof part and pivotably connected to a main bearing, a coupling arm connected to the corner bow and pivotably connected to the drive arm, and a control arm pivotably connected to the main bearing and displaceably connected to the coupling arm whereby swivel motion of the corner bow is influenced by the coupling arm and the control arm.

Abstract: A collapsible roof assembly for a vehicle includes a collapsible roof and a sealing mechanism. The roof has a top rail with a frame element running along a longitudinal side of the roof. The sealing mechanism has a seal configured to receive and seal a window pane inserted therein, wherein the seal runs along the longitudinal side of the roof and is attached to the frame element. The seal has a similar cross-section between front, middle, and rear sections of the roof. The seal is attached to the frame element in a form-fit manner in the front section of the roof and is attached to the frame element in a force-fitted manner in the middle section of the roof.

Abstract: A collapsible roof for a vehicle includes a roof guide, a roof cap, a top fabric, and an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism movably couples the roof cap to the roof guide such that the roof cap with the top fabric are movable relative to the roof guide between a closed position in which the top fabric covers a roof opening and an opened position in which the top fabric exposes the roof opening. The adjusting mechanism includes front and rear control arms coupled to the roof cap. The front control arm includes a locking hook and the rear control arm includes a latching hook. The locking hook engages a front cavity of the roof guide in the closed position to fix the roof cap in place and the latching hook engages a rear cavity of the roof guide in the opened position to fix the roof cap in place.

Abstract: A folding sliding roof for a convertible vehicle includes a top fabric, a guide rail, a sliding top bow, and a corner bow. The sliding top bow is connected to the top fabric and is displaceably mounted to the guide rail to move the top fabric between closed and opened positions. The corner bow is connected to the top fabric and is pivotably mounted on the guide rail about a pivot axis.

Abstract: A collapsible roof for a vehicle includes a top fabric having a rear region, a tensioning stay arranged underneath the top fabric and attached to the rear region of the top fabric, and a pair of roof guides extending along opposite sides of a roof opening. The top fabric is movably coupled to the roof guides such that the top fabric is movable between a closed position in which the top fabric covers the roof opening and an opened position in which the top fabric is moved rearward away from the roof opening. The tensioning stay is a flat-shaped component that imparts the rear region of the top fabric to have side regions and corner regions.

Abstract: A roof construction of a motor vehicle has a fixed roll bar, and a roof element which, in the closed position, is accommodated between the roll bar and a windshield and, in the open position, is accommodated behind the roll bar in a convertible-top compartment. The roof element can be shifted from the open position into the closed position and vice versa beyond the roll bar via an opening and closing mechanism. With the roof element in the closed position, the mechanism penetrates lateral offsets of the roll bar and, in the open position, opens up the lateral offsets. The lateral offsets of the roll bar are each assigned, on the front side of the roll bar, a covering which, in the closed position of the roof element, opens up the lateral offset for the passage of the mechanism and which, in the open position, covers the lateral offsets.

Abstract: A roof construction for a motor vehicle has a roll bar and a roof element which, in a closed position, is accommodated between the roll bar and a windshield and, in an open position, is accommodated behind the roll bar and can be shifted from the open position into the closed position and vice versa beyond the roll bar via an opening and closing mechanism. The roof constructing further has a covering which covers the roll bar on the outside in the open position of the roof element and in the closed position of the roof element. Vertical extending side parts of the covering can be shifted relative to the roll bar during the shifting of the roof element. A transverse part of the covering extends substantially in a horizontal direction and is fastened to the roll bar so as not to be able to be shifted relative thereto.

Abstract: A link of a top stack linkage for a convertible top of a vehicle is presented for immediate incorporation in a top stack linkage. The link is molded as a spine having a main body portion and an offset portion, and one or more lateral structural members including at least one reinforcing rib. The molding forms a unitary pivot link, installed in the top stack linkage as molded, to reduce finishing of the parts, and reducing fabrication time and linkage weight from known top stack linkage configurations. A method of manufacturing includes providing a mold defining an interior cavity that defines the shape of a pivot link, injecting molten magnesium into the mold, and molding the molten magnesium to form a spine and at least one of a plurality of lateral structural members that form a monolithic pivot link.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle includes a housing, a locking hook, a driving apparatus, and a sensor. The locking hook has a gripping end and a bearing end. The bearing end is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is movable between closed and opened positions. The driving apparatus has a driving arm and a crank mechanism. The crank mechanism has a crank that is arranged eccentric to an axis of rotation and is rotationally adjustable around the rotation axis. The crank is connected with the driving arm such that the crank actuates the driving arm while rotating around the rotation axis. The driving arm drives the locking hook to move the locking hook between the closed and opened positions upon the driving arm being actuated by the crank. The sensor cooperates with the crank mechanism to sense when the locking hook is in the closed and opened positions.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle includes a housing, a locking hook, a coupling device, and a driving apparatus. The locking hook has a gripping end and a bearing end. The coupling device is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook. The bearing end is mounted to the coupling device such that the bearing end is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is movable between closed and opened positions. The driving apparatus is for driving the locking hook to move between the closed and opened positions and includes a first two-bar linkage, a driving arm connected with the two-bar linkage, and an actuating drive for actuating the driving arm.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for a folding top of a vehicle includes a housing, a locking hook having a gripping end and a bearing end, a coupling device, and a driving apparatus. The coupling device is movably mounted in the housing to be horizontally adjustable in a longitudinal direction of the locking hook. The bearing end is pivotably mounted to the coupling device around a pivot axis oriented horizontally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking hook such that the locking hook is horizontally adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the locking hook between closed and opened positions. The driving apparatus is connected with the bearing end through the coupling device for driving the locking hook to move between the closed and opened positions.