Vehicle convertible top having sail flap tensioner
US4747635A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1987 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60J7/1204
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A vehicle body convertible top (20) disclosed has a soft top whose sail flaps (36) are free to move with respect to the vehicle body and an associated foldable frame (22) but are connected to tensioners (40) that secure the sail flaps in the upper raised position of the convertible top. Each tensioner (40) includes a guide (42) preferably embodied by a curved tube (62) and an elongated flexible member (44) that extends through the guide tube (62) for attachment to both the associated sail flap (36) and the foldable frame (22). Upon raising of the convertible top, the tensioners (40) resiliently pull on the sail flaps (36) through a springs (49) disposed along the elongated flexible members (44) to provide the sail flap tensioning without any operator manipulation specifically directed thereto such as the snapping and unsnapping previously necessary with convertible tops.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.