Patent · US Expired

Flexible top apparatus of a vehicle

US5052747A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 26, 1991
Grant dateOct 1, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60J7/064
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a roof panel connected to a vehicle body through at least a pair of left-hand and right-hand front pillars and a pair of left-hand and right-hand rear pillars, there is formed a roof opening (3) large in size in such a manner as leaving a front header, a pair of left-hand and right-hand roof side rails, and a rear header and being surrounded by said four members. A foldable or windable flexible top having a size as substantially large as the roof opening is provided. The flexible top is disposed to selectively take a first posture in which the roof opening is closed and a second posture in which it is contracted in a longitudinal direction of the body and placed in a contracted state, i.e., in a folded or wound state, at a position nearby said rear header. The flexible top in such a contracted state is guided by a guiding means and transferred between the second posture and a third posture located nearby a lower end portion of the rear window glass panel in a spaced relationship away from and without contact with the rear window glass panel and the rear pillars.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.