Abstract: A drive arrangement for a pivoting windshield wiper of a vehicle is designed so that after decoupling the drive connection to the windshield wiper a rack situated in the drive for the windshield wiper can be used as drive element for an actuator that is independent of the windshield wiper.

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 roof assembly for a vehicle includes a roof having roof parts. A rod kinematic system is connected to the roof parts to move the roof parts between a closed position of the roof in which the roof parts adjoin one another along a planar level to thereby cover the vehicle interior and a stored position of the roof in which the roof parts stack on top of one another to thereby expose the vehicle interior. First and second locking devices are associated with the roof parts. The locking devices have locking elements which engage one another to lock the stacked roof parts together when the roof is in the stored position.

Abstract: A rear load carrier, designed in particular as a bicycle carrier, for vehicles, primarily passenger vehicles, is telescopically extendable and has a guide profile and a support profile. The guide profile is fixed as an inner profile to the structure of the vehicle. The support profile rests on the guide profile as an overlapping, longitudinally displaceable profile having in particular a U-shaped cross section and being fixed to the guide profile by a clamping device. The clamping device passes through the longitudinally slotted upper flange of the guide profile and the bridge of the support profile.

Abstract: An openable vehicle roof includes a fabric cover. The fabric cover is supported by a folding top linkage to be adjustable between a closed position and a stored position. A seal support for the vehicle roof has a sealing element which in the side region contacts the side window when the vehicle roof is closed. The seal support is designed as an independent, adjustably mounted support part which during the transition motion between the closed and the stored position undergoes a relative motion with respect to the folding top kinematic system. The fabric cover is also attached to the seal support.

Abstract: A convertible vehicle includes a roof having roof parts including a rear roof part. The roof is movable between a closed position in which the parts cover the vehicle and a stored position in which the parts are stacked within a storage compartment of the vehicle. A trunk lid opens and closes the compartment. The rear roof part includes C-pillars on respective sides of the vehicle and a window. The window is independently movable from the rear roof part between a normal position in which the window lies between the C-pillars and a raised position in which the window lies outside of the rear roof part. An adjusting device connected between the rear roof part and the window moves the window between the normal and raised positions. A storage shelf connected to the trunk lid extends below the rear roof part into the vehicle when the roof is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a foldable roof top and a trunk having a luggage compartment. A trunk lid is movable between a closed lid position in which the lid covers the trunk and an opened lid position in which the lid provides trunk access. The roof is movable between a closed roof position in which the roof parts cover the vehicle interior and an opened roof position in which the roof parts are folded and stored within the trunk over the compartment. When the lid is in the opened lid position the roof is movable from the opened roof position to a loading roof position in which the folded roof parts are raised over the trunk to provide compartment access. A blocking device prevents the lid from unintentionally closing when the lid is in the opened lid position and the roof is in the loading roof position.

Abstract: A convertible vehicle includes a folding top having a fabric covering supported on a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly is movably connected to the vehicle to move the top between a closed position in which the fabric covering covers the vehicle interior and a stored position in which the linkage assembly and the fabric covering are folded and lowered into stowage space of the vehicle trunk. The linkage assembly includes a tension bar connected to a rear section of the fabric covering. The tension bar acts upon the fabric covering with tension when the top is closed. A cover panel is mounted on the side of the tension bar facing the vehicle interior. The cover panel and the tension bar are horizontally arranged when the top is closed. The tension bar together with the cover panel are movable relative to the vehicle during movement of the top.

Abstract: A seal for sealing a window having opposite sides and an edge at an upper end. The seal includes a sealing body having a receiving space. The receiving space has an opening leading out of the sealing body. The seal includes first and second movable sealing lips each connected at one end to the sealing body on opposite sides of the receiving space and bridging the opening of the receiving space. The first lip is longer than the second lip. The sealing lips move in response to being contacted by the edge of the window as the window inserts into the receiving space such that upon the window being inserted into the receiving space the first lip adjoins the first side of the upper end of the window and adjoins the edge of the window and the second lip adjoins the second side of the upper end of the window.

Abstract: A link assembly for opening and closing a trunk lid of a vehicle having a movable roof includes lifting and locking links. The lifting link connects the lid to the vehicle to move the lid between a closed position covering the trunk, an opened position in which the front lid edge is raised, and another opened position in which the rear lid edge is raised. The locking link is adjustable between a first position in which its front end is movable and its rear end is pivotably locked to a rear joint, and a second position in which its front end is pivotably connected to a front joint and its rear end is movable. In the first position, the locking link acts on the lifting link to raise the front lid edge. In the second position, the locking link acts on the lifting link to raise the rear lid edge.

Abstract: A convertible top having a cover and a headliner interconnected by transverse bows having fore and aft slots that are connected to either the cover or the headliner by flexible welts. A method of making a convertible top with welts that are assembled to the bows by sliding first and second welts lengthwise into fore and aft slots formed on the bows. The bows are assembled to the top stack after the cover and headliner are attached to the bows. One or more bows may include a central portion and two end portions that are assembled to opposite ends of the central portion in a range of predetermined positions. A method is disclosed for making a bow by extruding the central portion of the bow and molding the right and left end portions of the bow in a thixotropic molding process.

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 roof for a vehicle includes rear and front roof parts. A kinematic roof mechanism adjusts the rear roof part between a closed position in which the rear roof part covers the rear seat region of the interior of a vehicle and a stored position in which the rear roof part is lowered relative to its closed position and forms a loading surface. The front roof part is articulately connected to the rear roof part to be adjustable between a closed position in which the front roof part is in front of the rear roof part and covers the front seat region of the vehicle interior and an opened position in which the front roof part exposes the front seat region of the vehicle interior.

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 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 removable top system for a vehicle having a front removable roof section and a rear removable roof section. Different removable roof coverings may be interchangeably combined to provide a complete roof for a sport utility vehicle having a permanent hoop dividing the front and rear roof sections. Soft top and hard top roof coverings are selectively provided. Different retraction mechanisms are disclosed for retracting and storing the removable roof sections.

Abstract: A passenger vehicle roof includes front and rear roof parts. The front roof part is longitudinally slidable. The front roof part cooperates with the rear roof part via a control lever such that upon an opening longitudinal motion of the front roof part the control lever lowers the rear roof part in a forcibly guided manner and upon a closing longitudinal motion of the front roof part the control lever raises the rear roof part.

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: Linkages of a vehicle hardtop having two main links. The two main links have link attachments to a main bearing. The link attachments are offset with respect to each other in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The first main link is connected to the front link attachment of the main bearing. The second main link is a C-pillar link that is attached to and moves with the rear roof part of the hardtop. An intermediate link connects the second main link to the main bearing. A connection link connects the intermediate link to the first main link.

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).