Abstract: A locking mechanism for latching a convertible top to a cross-member of a windshield frame of a vehicle. The locking mechanism includes a support element, a locking hook, and a pin having a retaining section and a shaft connected together. The support element is mountable to a front portion of the convertible top. The locking hook is pivotably connected to the support element to be movable between resting and operating positions. The retaining section of the pin is fixedly mounted to the support element. The shaft of the pin is projectable along a direction into a corresponding recess of a receptacle in the cross-member of the windshield frame. The pin is of a plastic material that is rigid in shape and plastically deformable and the shaft is constricted in the direction in which the shaft is projectable into the corresponding recess of the receptacle in the cross-member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an operational link of a top stack linkage for a convertible top of a vehicle is presented. The link has 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 spine and the one or more lateral structural members may form a unitary pivot link. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a pivot link of a top stack linkage for a convertible top of a vehicle is presented. The method 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 injected into the mold to form a spine and a plurality of lateral structural members that are integral with the spine to form a monolithic pivot link.

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 closing device for locking and unlocking a movable roof to and from a vehicle body includes a hook and a lever system. The hook is movable between a closed position to engage a vehicle body component and an opened position to disengage from the component. The lever system has a hook lever and a drive lever pivotable about respective pivot axes extending in a longitudinal direction. The hook is connected to the hook lever to move between the closed and opened positions in response to the hook lever pivoting. The lever system has a control lever with first and second end portions and a middle section. The end portions are respectively connected to the hook lever at first and second link axes extending in the longitudinal direction and adjacent to the pivot axes to couple the hook lever and the drive lever together.

Abstract: An adjustment assembly includes a worm gear drive, a planetary gear drive, an emergency actuator, and a housing. The worm gear drive is configured to be driven by a drive motor. The planetary gear drive has a ring gear with external teeth. The planetary gear drive is configured to be driven by the worm gear drive. The emergency actuator has a worm screw. The housing houses the worm gear drive, the planetary gear drive, and the emergency actuator. The housing has a cylindrical receptacle. The ring gear, by the external teeth, is accommodated and guided by the cylindrical receptacle in the housing. The external teeth of the ring gear are engaged with the worm screw of the emergency actuator whereby the emergency actuator is configured to act on the planetary gear drive.

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 collapsible roof assembly for a vehicle includes a roof, an actuating linkage system, and a main bearing. The roof is movable between closed and opened positions relative to the vehicle body. The actuating linkage system has a guide rod connected at a first end to the roof for moving the roof between the closed and opened positions. The main bearing is connectable to the vehicle body. The main bearing has first and second bearing plates each having at least one corresponding connecting section. The corresponding connecting sections are connected together such that the first and second bearing plates are joined together with surface regions other than the corresponding connecting sections spaced apart from one another with a parallel spacing delimited by a cavity. The guide rod is articulately connected at a second end to the main bearing via a bearing pin extending through one of the corresponding connecting sections.

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 cap and an impact energy absorbing protective device connected to the roof cap. The roof cap has ribs. The ribs are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction and each rib extends along a transverse direction. The ribs extend into the protective device.

Abstract: A rear window for a flexible rear roof section of an openable roof vehicle. The rear window is comprised of a transparent plastic material such as a polycarbonate material, and a fastening section that connects the rear window to the flexible covering of the open roof vehicle. The fastening section forms a single piece with the rear window and is offset relative to the plane of the rear window.

Abstract: A closure system for a motor vehicle includes a pinion and a pair of U-shaped, flat sliders. The pinion is engaged to a drive shaft to rotate in a first rotational direction and an opposite second rotational direction in response to the drive shaft rotating. Each slider has an inner leg and an outer leg connected at one end to a bridge. The inner surface of each inner leg includes a gear rack. The inner surfaces of the inner legs face one another and surround opposite sides of the pinion such that corresponding portions of the gear racks engage the respective opposite sides of the pinion whereby the sliders are longitudinally displaced away from one another in response to the pinion rotating in the first rotational direction and are longitudinally displaced toward one another in response to the pinion rotating in the second rotational direction.

Abstract: An assembly includes a roof part kinematic system having front and rear connecting rods. Each connecting rod is pivotally connected to a roof part and is pivotally connectable to a vehicle body such that the roof part kinematic system can move the roof part between end positions. The assembly further includes a spring-loaded kinematic system having a spring, a coupling rod, and a triangular-shaped spring lever. The spring is connected to the front connecting rod and is connected to the first spring lever corner, the coupling rod is connected to the rear connecting rod and is connected to the second spring lever corner, and the third spring lever corner is pivotally connectable to the vehicle body such that the spring produces a torque on the connecting rods to move the roof part away from either end position when the roof part is in that end position.

Abstract: A folding top having changeable cover tension includes a cover stretched over a frame which is movable to move the cover between closed and opened positions. A tension bow is swung by a landau bar between a tensioning position and a non-tensioning position. Part of the rear portion of the cover is held in a narrow groove in the tension bow. The tension bow applies tension to this part of the cover when tension bow is in either of the tensioning or non-tensioning positions. Another part of the rear portion of the cover can slide into and out of a wide groove of the tension bow. The tension bow applies tension to this part of the cover when the tension bow is in the tensioning position but does not apply tension to this part of the cover when the tension bow is in the non-tensioning position.

Abstract: A frame assembly of a folding top for a vehicle includes a front roof bow, a front support having a rear control arm, and a middle support having a front control arm. The rear end of the front support and the front end of the middle support face one another. The front roof bow and the front end of the front support are connected together through a first bolt connection. The rear end of the front support and the rear control arm are connected together through a second bolt connection. The front control arm and the front end of the middle support are connected together through a third bolt connection. The rear control arm and the front control arm are connected together at a joint such that the front support and the middle support are connected together.

Abstract: A folding top for a vehicle includes a cover, a frame assembly having rear and front top bows, a light, and a securing device. The cover has a top cloth and an interior covering which are spaced apart from one another. The bows extend through the spacing between the top cloth and the covering. The top cloth and the covering are stretched over the bows with the opening of the covering being rearward of the rear bow. The bows are movable between a closed position in which the cover is raised and an opened position in which the cover is lowered. The light is positioned within the opening of the covering. The securing device extends through the spacing between the top cloth and the covering between the front bow and rearward of the rear bow. The securing device tensions the light against the rear bow when the cover is raised.

Abstract: A guide assembly for an interior lining of a folding top of a vehicle includes a pillar configured to move as the folding top moves, a pull rope connected at one end to the interior lining, and a guide track fixedly connected to the pillar. The pull rope is configured to pull the interior lining as the folding top moves. The guide track has a wrap-around. An edge region of the interior lining is movably held in the wrap-around of the guide track such that the edge region of the interior lining can slide along the guide track as the interior lining is being pulled by the pull rope as the folding top moves.

Abstract: A tri-fold convertible top is disclosed that is stowed in a storage compartment with a five bow oriented at an angle of between 30° and 60° relative to the vehicle belt line. The top may be tensioned by a power cylinder and linkage that raises both a one bow and the five bow when the top is initially retracted. A main power cylinder is connected to the top stack and a main pivot bracket that lifts a rear rail above the belt line during the extension and retraction cycle.

Abstract: A folding top drive assembly for adjusting a folding top with a fabric cover of a convertible vehicle between closed and opened positions includes a tensioning stay and a landau mechanism. The tensioning stay stretches the fabric cover when the folding top is closed. The landau mechanism supports the tensioning stay to a roof frame component when the folding top is closed. The landau mechanism includes upper and lower landau bars and a coupling element. The upper landau bar is hinged at its forward end to the roof frame component. The lower landau bar is hinged at its rearward end to the tensioning stay. The upper landau bar is hinged at its rearward end to the coupling element and the lower landau bar is hinged at its forward end to the coupling element. The landau bars are hinged at a distance from one another to the coupling element.

Abstract: A folding top bin cover assembly includes a folding top bin cover and a fixation system. The bin cover is movable to a covered position in which the bin cover covers a folding top bin of a vehicle body. The fixation system acts between the bin cover and a structural element fixable to the vehicle body. The fixation system has a fixing mechanism including a sliding element and an insertion bracket. The sliding element is connected to the bin cover and the insertion bracket is fixedly connected to the structural element. The fixation system adjusts the bin cover at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body as the sliding element operates interactively with the insertion bracket while the bin cover is in the covered position.

Abstract: A retractable hardtop assembly is provided for a vehicle. A retractable hardtop assembly includes a front section that is connected by a linkage to a vehicle and a rearward portion that is connected by a separate linkage to a decklid of the vehicle. A package shelf/tonneau is secured by a linkage to the back section of the linkage. The package shelf/tonneau is moved from a package/shelf position below the rearward portion of the roof to a tonneau position above the retractable roof when the retractable roof is disposed in the storage compartment. The package shelf/tonneau is moved between the front portion of the roof and rearward portion of the roof during the extension and retraction cycles. The package shelf/tonneau may be rotated 360° as it is moved between the package shelf and tonneau positions.