Abstract: A roof rack and soft top assembly for a vehicle having an exposed passenger compartment protected by a windshield and a roll cage. The assembly includes an outer frame mounted to the vehicle exterior to the roll cage and surrounding a rear passenger compartment, and a plurality of slide rails mounted to the top of the roll cage above a front passenger compartment. The assembly further includes a soft top suspended from the outer frame with fasteners and a header assembly attached to a forward portion of the soft top that slides along the slide rails to engage with the top edge of the windshield, thereby covering the front passenger compartment. When open air driving is desired, the soft top can be withdrawn or removed from the slide rails and the outer frame and stored in the vehicle.

Abstract: Articulation device between arms of a rod assembly of a folding roof for a passenger vehicle, which roof may be adjusted between a closed position which spans a passenger compartment and an open position in which the roof may be stored in a rear space of the vehicle. The arms held in position by a rivet device which includes a blind rivet and a rivet shaft which extends through the arms.

Abstract: A convertible having a convertible top, a windbreak device, which has at least two windbreak bows which are mounted in pivot axles on the convertible and can be pivoted between a folded-in position of rest (RS) and a folded-out active position (WS) and which are connected to one another via a coupling mechanism underneath their pivoting axes, and having an inner trim which covers the pivot axles. The windbreak device can be activated manually between the position of rest and the active position, the inner trim has a through-opening for linkage of the convertible top, and the through-opening can be closed off or opened by a movable flap, wherein in an open position of the flap, the flap is arranged at least partially under the inner trim, and a blocking element is provided which blocks the manual activation of the windbreak bows if the flap is in the open position.

Abstract: A soft-top convertible roof can extend and retract in a two-phase process. The first phase can correspond to a front portion of the top stack mechanism moving from a first raised position to a second retracted position and can be driven by an actuator which can be disposed in a roof rail forward of a rearmost roof rail. The second phase can correspond to the rear portion of the top stack mechanism moving from a raised position to a stowed position along with the front portion. The rearmost roof rail can remain stationary during the first phase. A connecting link can be connected to at least three roof rails that extend along a side of the vehicle and can be part of two four-bar linkage assemblies. A buggy link mechanism can drive retraction and extension of a backlite frame due to movement of the top stack mechanism.

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 roof structure for a cabriolet vehicle has a top (10) with a top material and a substantially U-shaped corner bow (19) that extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction at a position substantially adjacent to a rear window. The corner bow (19) has lateral limbs (20) with free lower ends (21). Molded elements (23) are plugged onto the free lower ends (21) of the lateral limbs (20) of the corner bow (19) and can be plugged into recesses near the B pillars of a body structure of the cabriolet vehicle. The molded elements (23) are configured to guide the top material of the top (10) in sections in a closed state of the top (10). Sealing elements (27) are mounted on the molded elements (23) and interact with vertically running edges of side window panes.

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 linkage of a convertible top supports a portion of a cover and provides movement of the top between an extended position extending over a passenger compartment and a retracted position. A rear bow supports a rear edge of the cover and articulates the rear edge of the cover during movement of the top between the extended and retracted positions. The top also includes a backlight assembly having a rear window and supporting a rear portion of the cover. The backlight assembly forms part of an articulating mechanism that moves the rear bow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a top for a convertible, comprising a front bow, a first surface bow, a second surface bow, and a main link mechanism being adapted to displace the front bow, the first surface bow and the second surface bow with respect to a body-mounted main bearing unit in order to open or to close the top, wherein the main link mechanism comprises a main pillar and a main link, wherein, when the top is closed, the front bow, the first surface bow and the second surface bow cover an interior space of the convertible, wherein the first surface bow is arranged between the front bow and the second surface bow, wherein a first supporting link connects the second surface bow in an articulated manner to the main pillar, and wherein a second supporting link connects the second surface bow in an articulated manner to the main link.

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 displaceable roof in a vehicle, in particular a folding top in a motor vehicle, with a front first roof section for connecting to the frame of the windshield of the vehicle, a second roof section disposed after it, and two link configurations which are mounted on both sides of the center of the vehicle, connect the roof sections to each other. The link configurations contain at least two links which couple the two roof sections to each other in such a manner that the first roof section moves over the second roof section during closing or opening of the roof. The roof link configurations are mounted on both sides of the center of the vehicle in bearings fixed on the vehicle body and are articulated on the second roof section. Each roof link configuration is coupled to a link of the link configuration disposed on the same side of the vehicle, for the purpose of displacing the roof sections.

Abstract: A passenger car having a roof opening and a rear opening that are selectively covered by a segmented dimensionally stable roof and a rear lid, respectively. A linkage and actuator drive are common to the roof and rear lid. A supporting structure of the rear lid is connected to a rear roof section. The roof sections are connected by four bar linkages to adjacent sections. The angular position of a supporting link relative to the vehicle body is changed by the actuator drive.

Abstract: A rain cover (10) to protect bales of hay (200) within a hay enclosure framework (100) having horizontal top (101) and bottom (102) framework segments connected to one another by vertical support struts (103) wherein, the rain cover (10) includes an elongated waterproof cover member (40) having spaced sleeve elements (42) (42) that captively engage the intermediate portion of a plurality of elongated generally C-shaped support arm members (30) (30) the opposite ends of which are captively and slidably associated with a pair of U-bolt members (20) mounted on the top framework segment (101) of the hay enclosure framework (100).

Abstract: A convertible roof system uses composite roof rail(s). The composite roof rail can have portions that are made of differing materials. The composite roof rail can use universal connecting pieces for the ends of the roof rail. Adjacent composite roof rails can be formed about a connector that couples the adjacent roof rails together.

Abstract: A convertible roof including a mechanism to actively control a second roof bow. In another aspect, a unique and novel way to control the folding of the convertible roof mechanism is employed such that a portion of the convertible roof serves as a cover that conceals the convertible roof within the boot well. In another aspect, the convertible roof is a “Z” folding top having four pairs of roof rails is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle convertible roof is provided which includes mechanisms to actively control at least a majority of the roof bows. The active controlling of the roof bows allows the convertible roof to have a stacked length that is reduced and results in a smaller packaging requirement. A unique and novel way to control the movement of the front roof rail relative to the center roof rail is disclosed. The simple linkage arrangement reduces the complexity of the vehicle convertible roof and provides for compact packaging of the convertible roof when in the stowed position thus reducing the packaging requirement.

Abstract: A convertible roof employs a top stack mechanism and a generally rigid roof cover. Furthermore, the frame may be stowed under a rigid roof cover. In another aspect of the present invention, the top stack mechanism employs a rearmost roof bow that is moved from above a roof cover to allow the roof cover to open, and then the entire top stack mechanism retracts into a storage area. A further aspect of the present invention provides a lost motion coupling of the top stack mechanism to the vehicle body. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a fluid powered actuator controls movement of the rearmost roof bow relative to the remainder of the top stack mechanism.

Abstract: A device for the interlocking of two positively guided elements adjustable relative to one another is designed to the effect that, with respect to the open state, there is a position of readiness which has to be canceled by the elements running toward one another, before a transfer into the interlocking position is possible via the actuating drive.

Abstract: A folding top for a motor vehicle, which can be adjusted between a closed position and a deposited position, has a folding top linkage and a folding top covering held on the folding top linkage. The folding top linkage comprises a plurality of adjustable side bows and at least one roof bow extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In order to improve the design possibilities for the depositing space of a folding top, it is provided that the length of the roof bow is variably adjustable as a function of the position of the folding top.

Abstract: A folding cover for a pickup truck bed includes an improved adjustable front hinge support for mounting the cover that permits the front panel to be opened and permits lateral, vertical, and longitudinal adjustment of the cover position. A wire spring latch fastens the front panel in a closed position and provides for vertical latch position adjustment. A rear panel side latch is opened with a depressible latch opener at the rear of the cover. An intermediate panel latch fastens the intermediate panels down at the side of the pickup truck bed. These latches release automatically when the cover is folded. Another intermediate panel side latch has a wire spring pin that can be manually or automatically disengaged. The cover also has wind deflecting sloped side edges integral with the panel frame and hinges integral with the panel frame. Novel seals seal the junctions between adjacent panels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a utility truck bed cover which consists of a rigid frame section which supports a flexible tarpaulin section. The frame section comprises a plurality of bow-shaped members arranged in spaced parallel arrangement which pivot longitudinally to allow stretching of the tarpaulin. The frame members are segmented to allow detachment for storage and shipment. The frame members may also be mounted in the side wall apertures of the truck by means of a unique clamping arrangement. The frame members may also be mounted on wheels on a longitudinal track to facilitate collapsing the cover.

Abstract: A roll bar for convertible-type vehicles includes a generally U-shaped inverted roll bar structure pivotally mounted to an automobile chassis for extending across and above the passenger compartment when in the up position and pivotally mounted to pivot to a downward generally horizontal retracted position. The roll bar is mounted to pivot generally about a support bar that is mounted within and extends to each side of the chassis and includes a fixed gear on the mounting bar and a driving gear carried by the roll bar in driving engagement with the fixed gear with a curved guide slot disposed adjacent the drive mechanism for guiding the roll bar into the respective vertical and horizontal positions.