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 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: A vehicle includes a roof having a roof opening between respective sides of the vehicle body, and guide rails attached to respective sides of the vehicle body. A cover having guide elements is slidably engaged to respective ones of the rails to slide the cover between a closed position in which the cover covers the opening and an opened position in which the cover exposes the opening. A first sealing section is connected to one of the respective vehicle body sides. A second sealing section is connected to the cover on the respective body side. The sealing sections enclose a wedge line. A seal is between the sealing sections. The seal is compressed when the cover is in the closed position and is relaxed when the cover is in the opened position in response to a wedge effect generated by the wedge line as the cover slides along the rails.

Abstract: A removable top assembly for a vehicle and method of providing a removable top cover for a vehicle is provided. The removable top assembly includes a fabric cover over a frame. The frame includes a rear bow that is pivotally connected on opposite sides to side rails and a C-pillar. A one bow is latched to a fixed transverse beam. A two bow is detachably secured to right and left side rails that are in turn attached to right and left fixed side beams of the vehicle.

Abstract: A locking device for locking a movable vehicle roof to a vehicle roof receptacle includes a locking rail. The locking rail is supported on a side of one of the roof receptacle and the roof. The locking rail is longitudinally displaceable and executes a lifting movement in response to being longitudinally displaced. A first locking element is supported on the locking rail. A second locking element is supported on a side of the other one of the roof receptacle and the roof. The first and second locking elements lock against one another in response to the lifting movement of the locking rail such that the roof receptacle and the roof are tensioned toward one another.

Abstract: A vehicle roof has at least one roof part coupled to a body-side roof kinematic system to be adjustable between a closed position covering the vehicle interior and a storage position. A cover with a pivoting mount is attached to the roof kinematic system through a coupling kinematic system. The coupling kinematic system includes a connecting link that makes a swinging connection with the cover. The connecting link passes through a lined-up position when the roof is moved between its closed and storage positions. The cover swings about a body-side joint. The coupling kinematic system exclusively includes links coupled through joints. There are no more than three links in the kinematic transmission path between the cover and the roof kinematic system.

Abstract: A one piece rod spring clip is attached to a tensioning cable in a convertible top . The rod spring clip (40) includes a leg that is aligned with an end of the cable. The rod spring clip is secured to the one bow (38) of the convertible top and applies a biasing force to the end of the cable through the action of a flexure portion of the rod spring clip that applies an axial force to the cable.

Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit included in a battery device includes an input voltage comparing circuit that compares a first threshold value voltage or a second threshold value voltage lower than the first threshold value voltage with an input voltage to control the opening and closing of an output switching element, and a threshold value voltage setting circuit that compares a third threshold value voltage lower than the second threshold value voltage with the input voltage and, when the input voltage changes from a low voltage to a high voltage and intersects the third threshold value voltage, outputs a pulse for a predetermined period thereafter so that the second threshold value is selected in the input voltage comparing circuit. As a result, when the input voltage increases from the ground potential, the second threshold value is compared with the input voltage in the input voltage comparing circuit.

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 soft top roof for a vehicle includes a top cover with a window pane. A fastening section borders at least part of the window pane. A clamping part clamps the top cover to the fastening section in order to connect the top cover and the window pane. The clamping part has a hollow space into which a portion of the top cover projects. A casting mass within the hollow space holds the portion of the top cover projecting into the hollow space such that the casting mass fixes the top cover to the fastening section and thereby connects the top cover to the window pane by material bonding.

Abstract: A vehicle trunk cover assembly includes two coupled guide rod units which are connectable to the cover and the vehicle body such that the cover is movable between a closed position covering the trunk, a roof transport position in which the front cover end is lifted relative to the trunk, and a loading position in which the rear cover end is lifted relative to the trunk. A locking lever connectable to the vehicle body includes a lock which is movable from an engaged position to a disengaged position upon being actuated. One guide rod unit cooperates with the lock such that the guide rod unit engages the lock when the lock is in its engaged position so that the cover may move into its loading position and disengages from the lock when the lock is in its disengaged position so that the cover may move into its roof transport position.

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof having at least two laterally adjacent parts with respect to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis when the parts are in a closed position. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved between the closed position and an open position by moving one or both of the laterally adjacent parts in a translational movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The laterally adjacent parts are retained between and parallel to two side roof frames that are permanently connected to the body. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved to an open position above or below a rear roof panel. The rear roof panel extends across the vehicle in a transverse direction between the side roof frames and is movable in a longitudinal direction to a position above or below the laterally adjacent roof panels. A front roof panel may be provided that may be raised on a back edge to provide a wind deflector.

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 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 cam switch assembly is actuated by movement of a member, such as a part of a convertible top that is pivoted about a first pivot axis toward and away from a surface that is fixed relative to the pivot. The cam switch comprises a holder for at least one switch that is attached to the member. A cam switch actuator having an arm is attached to the holder at a second pivot axis. The cam switch actuator opens and closes the switch as the cam switch actuator is pivoted relative to the holder about the second pivot axis. The arm has a first lost motion connection to the movable member in a first direction. The member has a second lost motion connection at the first pivot axis that is aligned with the first direction when the member is moved into engagement with the surface. The member is movable relative to the surface in a first direction and the arm is permitted to move relative to the surface without changing the angular orientation of the cam switch actuator relative to the holder.

Abstract: A latching system for a convertible top of a motor vehicle. The latching system includes a keeper disposed proximate a windshield header and a latch pin actuated by a handle. The latching system is actuated between a latched position in which the latch pin engages the keeper and an unlatched position in which the latch pin is spaced apart from the keeper.

Abstract: A vehicle roof includes a roof opening in a roof skin. First and second roof parts are movable between a closed position in which the parts are arranged flush behind one another within the roof opening to thereby close off the roof opening and in an opened position in which the second part is lowered with respect to the roof skin and the first part extends over the second part to thereby expose the roof opening. A kinematic support mechanism is movable to an extended position in which the mechanism fixes the second part in the closed position and in a retracted position in which the mechanism lowers the second part in the opened position. The first part and the mechanism are connected to one another such that the first part actuates the mechanism between its positions in response to the first part moving between the closed and opened positions.

Abstract: A retractable roof assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes relatively movable rigid panels that are positioned to cover a passenger/cargo compartment of the vehicle in an extended position and that are stacked one above another in a retracted position. A telescoping track is provided on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle to guide movement of the roof panels. D-pillars of the roof assembly are slidable between a position wherein they are spaced from the C-pillars to a retracted position in which the D-pillars are adjacent to the C-pillars. Side windows of the vehicle are retracted into the rear quarter panel area of the vehicle.

Abstract: A kinematic system is proposed for adjusting a side flap of a cover assembly for a vehicle with an openable roof, the kinematic system being adjustable between a covered position and a stored position, and the kinematic system being designed in such a way that the side flap undergoes at least one translational motion and at least one rotational motion during the adjustment, and characterized in that the kinematic system has a four-bar linkage kinematic mechanism for the translational motion and a guide track for the rotational motion.

Abstract: For a steep-back vehicle having an open body, a rear closure is connected to the vehicle body by a supporting frame in such a way that the rear closure when designed as a rear door may be swivelled with respect to the supporting frame about a vertical axis, and when designed as a tailgate may be raised up together with the supporting frame about a horizontal axis.