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.

Abstract: A closure assembly for a vehicle includes a hook movable between locked and unlocked positions. An actuator is connected to the hook and is linearly movable to move the hook between the locked and unlocked positions. First and second rotatable gears are engaged with one another such that either gear rotates as the other gear rotates. First and second levers are respectively connected between the gears and the actuator. The levers move as the gears rotate in response to the first gear rotating in a first rotary direction and thereby cause the actuator to move linearly in a first direction to thereby move the hook to the locked position. The levers move as the gears rotate in response to the first gear rotating in a second rotary direction and thereby cause the actuator to move linearly in a second direction to thereby move the hook to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A folding-top drive has a motor (13) that transmits forces to a first gear (14) and then to a folding-top linkage via a second gear (15). The first gear (14) and a guide (23) are pivoted to a housing (19) and a spring (22) acts on the guide (23). The first gear is guided on the guide (23) so that the guide (23) can be moved automatically with the first gear (14) counter to the force of the spring (22) from a first position where the gears (14, 15) engage to a second position where the gears (14, 15) are disengaged if a force on the first gear exceeds a defined limit. Additionally, the spring (22) can move the guide (12) automatically with the first gear (14) from the second position to the first position if the force on the first gear falls below the defined limit.

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 bicycle carrier for a vehicle includes a support holder for holding a bicycle aligned transversely to a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. A retaining bracket connected to the support holder has a guide holder and retaining bracket sections. The bracket sections are movably connected to the guide holder to move transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction. The bracket sections hold respective wheels of a bicycle held on the support holder. Fixing elements are respectively connected to the retaining bracket and a corresponding bracket section. Each fixing element includes a locking member movable between a locked position in which the fixing element locks the corresponding bracket section in place and an unlocked position in which the fixing element unlocks the corresponding bracket section. Actuating mechanisms respectively associated with the fixing elements are operable to move the locking member of the corresponding fixing element between the locked and unlocked positions.

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 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 top for a vehicle that has a stationary support disposed between removable panels forward of the support and a multiple section retractable hardtop rearward of the support. The detachable roof panels are provided in front of the stationary support and extend across the vehicle laterally and to the windshield header when installed. A two piece retractable hardtop is provided rearward of the stationary support that has a back light that is disposed to cover a back light opening in an extended position and is detached from the back light opening in a retracted position.

Abstract: A convertible top for a vehicle that is provided with a dynamic roll bar or dynamic occupant head protection system. The convertible top has a skylight that is retained in a skylight opening formed in the flexible cover of the convertible top. The skylight may be supported on one of the bows of the convertible top or may be supported on a skylight linkage that cooperates with the top stack linkage. In the event that a need for the roll bar is sensed by the vehicle resulting in the actuation of the roll bar assembly, the roll bar assembly may break the skylight in the course of deployment to assure fully deployment of the roll bar assembly.

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: An articulated device includes a rivet assembly for connecting first and second linkage assembly support arms together at common ends thereof such that the arms are movable relative to one another. The rivet assembly includes a rivet having first and second rivet heads and a rivet shaft. The rivet shaft extends through first and second bearing holes in the common ends of the arms with the first rivet head being on the first arm and the second rivet head being on the second arm. The rivet assembly has a bearing sleeve extending between the rivet shaft and the bearing holes. The bearing sleeve has a collar-type stop and a shoulder-type stop adjacent the first rivet head with the collar-type stop lying against the first arm and the shoulder-type stop lying against the first rivet head. The bearing sleeve has a ring-shaped stop lying against the second rivet head.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier includes a base holder mountable to a vehicle and a support holder for holding a bicycle. The holders both include front and rear frames which extend transversely to a longitudinal vehicle direction. The support holder is movable in the longitudinal direction between a neutral position in which the holders extend over one another and an operating position in which the holders extend out from one another. The front frames meet when the support holder is in the neutral position and the rear frames meet when the support holder is in the operating position. A switch has a pair of switching components respectively located on one of the pair of front frames or the pair of rear frames. The switching components contact one another to activate the switch when the pair of frames meet and the switch actuates an indicator device upon being activated.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier includes a base holder mountable to a vehicle and a support holder for holding a bicycle. The support holder is movably connected to the base holder to be movable along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a neutral position in which the holders extend over one another and an operating position in which the support holder extends out from the base holder. A tail light is movably connected to the support holder to be movable between a stored position in which the tail light is stowed in the support holder when the support holder is in the neutral position and a functional position in which the tail light extends out from the support holder and is orientated transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction when the support holder is in the operating position.

Abstract: A retractable vehicle hardtop has a predominantly transparent top roof panel and a predominantly transparent combined back light/sail panel. The panels are attached to a top stack linkage that is used to retract and extend the hardtop. The top roof panel and combined back light/sail panel each feature a smooth, continuous two-part retractable hardtop that provides panoramic overhead views both when retracted and when extended. A frame is assembled to opaque peripheral portions of the top roof panel. Reinforcement bars are assembled to opaque portions of the combined back light/sail panel. A method of making the retractable hardtop.

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.