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: A vehicle roof assembly includes a roof having rear and front roof elements relative to the direction of forward vehicle travel. The roof elements are movable between closed and opened positions of the roof. The assembly further includes a roof kinematic system having first and second guide rod systems located on opposite sides of the roof for movably connecting the roof to a vehicle body to move the roof between its closed and opened positions. Each guide rod system includes a guide rod. The guide rods are articulately connectable at respective ends to the front roof element and the vehicle body. The two guide rods with their respective pairs of articulated joints form a common four-bar kinematic linkage. Alternatively, the first guide rod system may be a two-bar kinematic linkage and the second guide rod system may be a four-bar kinematic linkage.

Abstract: A guide rod system movably connects a trunk lid to a vehicle such that the lid is movable between a base position in which the lid covers a trunk of the vehicle, a luggage storage position in which the rear of the lid is raised relative to the trunk, and a roof transport position in which the front of the lid is raised relative to the trunk. The guide rod system includes first and second guide rods and a coupler. The first guide rod is respectively connected at opposite ends to the front of the lid and the vehicle. The second guide rod is respectively connected at opposite ends to the rear of the lid and the vehicle. The coupler is connected between the guide rods to actuate the guide rods to move the lid between the base, luggage storage, and roof transport positions.

Abstract: A roof assembly for a vehicle includes a roof, a guide bar system, and a guide bar mechanism. The roof has front, middle, and rear roof elements movable between a closed position covering a passenger compartment of the vehicle and an opened position stacked in a storage compartment of the vehicle. The guide bar system has front and rear guide bars. The guide bars are connected at one end to the front roof element and are rotatable about respective articulated joints at another end to move the roof elements between the closed and opened positions. The guide bar mechanism has a first control rod rotatably connected between the front guide bar and the middle roof element and a second control rod rotatably connected between the rear guide bar and the middle roof element to assure a desired movement of the middle roof element between the closed and opened positions.

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: An actuating device for opening and closing a cover of a folding top compartment of a convertible vehicle. The actuating device includes a drive unit and an interconnected seven-bar linkage system. The linkage system is pivotably connected to a main bearing of the vehicle body and is pivotably connected to the cover. The drive unit actuates the linkage system to move the linkage system between a retracted position corresponding to the cover being in a lowered closed position covering the folding top compartment and an extended position corresponding to the cover being in a raised opened position allowing access to the folding top 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 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 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: An assembly includes a roof having front and rear roof parts, a motion system, and a coupling rod. The motion system includes front and rear guide rods, a spring, and a guide rod mechanism to move the roof between closed and opened positions. The front guide rod is fixed to the front roof part and is pivotably supportable on a bearing. The rear guide rod is fixed to the rear roof part and is pivotably supportable on a bearing. The coupling rod is articulately connected to the front guide rod and to the rear roof part. The spring is articulately connected to the front guide rod and to the guide rod mechanism which is articulately connected to the rear guide rod such that the spring is biased to open the roof when the roof is closed and is biased to close the roof when the roof is opened.

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.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle, alternatively, with a hardtop version, an entry level soft top module, a five-bow soft top module, or a retractable hardtop module. Any one of the four tops may be assembled on an automotive vehicle having a substantially common body structure with only minor modifications to the vehicle body being required to accept any one of the four different vehicle tops. A vehicle body architecture is provided that is configured to selectively receive one of four different style roofs on a roof mounting bracket that is attached to the side walls of the vehicle.

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 seal includes a body and two lips. The body includes two walls defining a space with an opening. The lips have fixed ends respectively connected to the walls adjacent the opening. A movable end of the first lip is within the space. A movable end of the second lip extends across the opening towards the first lip fixed end. The movable end of the first lip includes a first end portion extending from the first lip fixed end along the first wall to a middle portion extending across the space to a second end portion extending along the second wall towards the second lip fixed end. The second end portion includes a hook section meeting the second wall and the second lip fixed end. The second lip movable end moves into the space and presses the hook section against the second wall to clamp the hook section.

Abstract: A roof system for a vehicle that has a roof support structure to which a hardtop roof (34) or a retractable soft top roof (62) may be latched. The roof support structure includes a transverse reel that extends transversely relative to the vehicle direction and is connected to a panel that is also connected to the rear rail. The hardtop includes a rigid panel and a frame. The soft top is supported on attached bows with which the soft top is stored in a cassette after removal.

Abstract: A retractable hardtop for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a unitary roof panel, an active rear window and a four bar link. The four bar link includes a pair of buttress panels and a pair of rear rails that are connected to the roof panel and the vehicle. No structural members of the retractable hard top interconnect the lower portion of the buttress panels or the rear rails between the pivot connections to the roof and the pivot connections to the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for attaching a cover (14) of a convertible top (12) of a motor vehicle. The system includes a cover (14) having an anchoring strip (50) and a structural support (16) having a recessed portion (32) and a plurality of retainer flanges (34). The anchoring strip (50) is disposed between the recessed portion (32) and the plurality of flanges (34) when the cover (14) is attached to the structural support (16).

Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof, a roof part kinematic system (RPKS), and a transmission kinematic system (TKS). The roof includes roof parts movably connected together to be movable between a closed position in which the parts cover the vehicle interior and a stored position in which the roof parts expose the vehicle interior. The RPKS includes a guide rod pivotably supported at one end about a vehicle body-side rotary joint and pivotably supported at another end to one of the parts to movably connect the part to the vehicle such that upon RPKS actuation the RPKS moves the roof part between the positions. The TKS has a spring connected at one end to the guide rod. The spring acts on the guide rod with a swivel torque about the first rotary joint during the part transfer. The spring orientation traverses the first rotary joint during the part transfer.

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: 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.