Top for convertible vehicle

p0001The invention relates to a top for a convertible vehicle.

p0002It is known openable hoods for convertible vehicles in an open condition of the top is stored in a generally rear-side stowage space of the vehicle. Here, the storage room should also be covered in the closed condition of the top upwards. This leaves no open cavity that does not look appealing to one and the other carries the risk that some children can throw objects while driving in the storage room.

p0003From the construction of convertible tops, it is known to cover the storage space by means of a separately driven movable lid member. Such a separately movable cover member may be pivoted about at a rear-side soft top compartment cover and comprises an own driving device generally.

p0004<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO2005102756A1"><text>WO 2005/102 756 A1</text></patcit>Which was published after the priority of the present application, shows a top for a convertible vehicle with a covering which covers a storage compartment in a closed top condition. The cover is secured to a tensioning bow and together with this adjustable along an elongated hole in a rear seat, so that the cover means is movable relative to the clamping bracket. A sleeve portion connects one provided in the rear area, upper body edge and the tension bracket.

p0005<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE10242451A1"><text>DE 102 42 451 A1</text></patcit> shows a convertible top having a covering, which is provided in a closed state for covering a storage compartment. It is the top of a plurality of shell parts which are at an opening of the top part, above and partially arranged below the covering. The above of the cover mounted rear shell component is covered in the open state of a trunk board partially. The cover means comprises a rigid central portion which is articulated about an articulation axis at an attached in the top compartment the carrier part, wherein lateral side portions are mounted pivotably about a pivot axis and connecting kinematics on the middle part, the side parts in by an attached to the inside of the rear shell part downholder a folded-down position are pivoted.

p0006<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="DE10146267A1"><text>DE 101 46 267 A1</text></patcit> describes a folding top for a convertible vehicle, comprising a storage space for the three roof parts extensive roof, the stowage space of a hatchback and at least partially formed by a as a cover is covered substantially rigid covering, and wherein a rear-side top portion, in particular a in the rear roof part arranged rear window, is arranged in a closed state at least partially above the storage compartment. The cover member is by means of a four-bar arrangement to a back of a seat and thus articulated on the bodywork side, wherein one of the joints of the four-bar linkage is guided for longitudinal displacement on the cover member. On the cover is a first force-introduction unit, comprising an electric motor, a transmission and a drive cable arranged. A disadvantage is that both the four-bar arrangement and the force-introduction unit claiming a place which should be provided for the soft top. A disadvantage of the arrangement of the force-introduction unit on the cover that the force application unit not only the cover, but additionally must abstützten its own weight against the body.

p0007<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE19637038C1"><text>DE 196 37 038 C1</text></patcit> describes a cover for a through opening of a rod linkage for a convertible top of a convertible vehicle, wherein the linkage is through opening via an elastic element, especially a tension band to cover. The clamping band is attached to a holding element, wherein the holding member so that the linkage through opening is hinged and lockable. A disadvantage is that the strap is suitable as a cover for at most a small opening like a rod through opening, but not to cover a storage compartment of a roof, in particular for that reason because this very large clamping forces are required. Another disadvantage is that the retaining element, the arrangement can be very costly overall.

p0008It is the object of the invention to improve a folding top for a convertible vehicle in that a cover of the storage compartment in the closed state is realized in a simple and cost-effective manner.

p0009This object is achieved by a soft top for a convertible vehicle according to the invention with the features of claim 1.

p0010Due to the advantageous connection of the cover with the rear-side convertible top portion via the connecting means, it is possible that a pivoting of the cover means is integrated into an opening movement of the top, so that no further mechanical control devices or driving devices for the movement of the cover means are necessary.

p0011Particularly advantageous is done in the course of an opening movement of an automatic storage of the cover in the storage room, so that an operator is relieved of a manual removal of the cover.

p0012The Verkoppelung invention of the cover to the rear roof section can be used in a particularly advantageous manner with the roof types that do not have the storage space covering top compartment lid or in which such cover the storage space only partially covered. These are in particular conventional folding type, in which the open top is protected by means of an additional cover, and folding types for which designed as a rigid shell part region of the convertible top in the open state forms a cover over the stored roof.

p0013In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the rear-side convertible top section comprises a rear lateral roof pillar of the convertible top, in particular, advantageously a part of an intended inner ceiling of the top is arranged in the closed state of the front of the rear lateral roof pillar, and wherein said connecting means comprises that portion of the headliner. Thereby, the cover means is advantageous both visually and functionally integrated into an inside lining of the soft top. Alternatively and / or in addition to the connection to the part of the headliner and connecting means in the form of tension bands can be provided which can advantageously also run behind the headliner.

p0014Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the rear-end roof section comprises a tensioning bow of the top, wherein the cover is clamped by the connecting means against the spring clip. This is also simple as a strained attitude of covering, especially in the vehicle longitudinal direction, realized. The connecting means can preferably consist of a continuous flexible strip.

p0015Further advantageously, it can be provided that the rear-side convertible top section comprises an inclined rear top surface, in particular wherein the covering means is held on the inclined top surface by means of the connecting means. In this way, a movable mounting of the cover means, in particular in the vertical direction is realized. The connecting means for connection to the inclined roof surface may be a continuous strip material particularly advantageous. Further advantageously, the sloping roof surface comprises a rigid rear window of the roof, so that optionally advantageously the connecting means can be fixed to a lower frame of the rigid rear window.

p0016It may be advantageous to rest the rigid rear window in the open state of directly on the covering. This is a particularly space-saving storage of the rear window and covering guarantees, the rear window is additionally protected by the cover from damage, eg. As a scratching because the covering is located below the rear window so that loading is not a trunk with items can lead to contact with the surface of the rear window. Furthermore, in a top invention can advantageously be provided that the cover is hinged to the top, which takes place particularly advantageous to connect the covering means having a tensioning bow of the canopy over a Viergelenkanordung. This is with only slightly increased cost of construction, a particularly robust and play-free guidance of the cover allows.

p0017Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that in the closed state of a front edge of the cover push flush to a rear-end separation of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. This allows to easily create a complete coverage of the storage space, the rear-end separation of the passenger compartment can be especially the back of the rear seats, and wherein the cover means, in the form and function of a conventional rack of a vehicle.

p0018Particularly advantageously, the covering means in the closed state is held by the connecting means in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and furthermore, the covering is advantageously held in the closed state by the connecting means in the vertical direction. In this way, a total of a secure mounting of the covering allows, so that a vibration or a movement of the covering means during driving is avoided.

p0019Further advantages and features emerge from the exemplary embodiment described below and from the dependent claims.

p0020Preferred embodiments of a folding top according to the invention are described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a rear portion of a folding soft top according to the invention in the closed state.</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>shows a spatial sectional view of the top of <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>shows a spatial sectional view of the top of <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> in an open state of.</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>shows a schematic sectional side view of a folding top according to the invention in a closed state (solid lines) and in an open state (dotted lines).</dd><dt>Fig.5</dt><dd>shows a section in the vehicle longitudinal direction by a rear lateral region of a folding top according to the invention in a closed state. </dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a soft top according to the invention in a closed state.</dd></dl>

p0021The preferred embodiment of a folding top according to the invention comprises a rear-end top portion 3. The top section 3 includes areas lateral rear roof pillars 7, wherein the top is especially connected in the region of this column via a link mechanism 13 with a body of the vehicle. Further, the folding-top portion 3 comprises an inclined rear top surface 9, in which a curved rigid rear window 10 is fitted by means of a rear window frame 10a.

p0022A storage compartment 2 for the soft top is located substantially below the rear-end roof section 3 or below the inclined top surface 9 (see <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>). The storage compartment 2 for the soft top is limited in the direction of travel of the backs of rear passenger seats 14, which also form a rear-end separation 12 of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

p0023The sloping top surface 9 is rear side closed by a rigid, movable clamping bracket 8, which is adjoined by the rear side a rear element 15 adjoins the outer body of the vehicle in the closed state. In the present exemplary embodiment, the clamping strap 8 in the closed state from the bottom is pressed sealingly against a front end edge of the rear element 15 (see<figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>).

p0024The storage space 2 is covered by a dimensionally stable covering means 1 in the closed state. The cover 1 collides with a front edge 1a of the rear-end separation 12, is this not firmly connected. The total substantially horizontally aligned covering 1 is comparable to its orientation, size and arrangement of a rack of a conventional sedan, which is located beneath a sloping rear window and behind the rear seats.

p0025The soft top according to the invention is covered with a roof lining 4, which forms the inside surface of the top in the closed state and linkage parts laminated advantageous. A portion of the headliner 4 thus covers the rear lateral roof pillars 7 of the top (see<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>). A lower rear end edge 4a of the roof lining part 4 is connected to a lateral edge of the cover. 1 In this way, the cover 1 attached to the inner lining part 4 and another is the one in the vertical direction and positioned in the vehicle longitudinal direction through the taut roof lining. In this manner a connecting means for connecting the covering 1 is formed with the rear-side convertible top section 3 through the roof lining part of the fourth

p0026To improve the guyed attitude of the cover 1 in the closed state also has a rear-side edge of the cover 1 via a further connecting means 5 (see <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>) Movably connected to the clamping bracket 8 of the top. The connection means 5 is designed as a continuous flexible strip along the rear end edge of the cover. 1

p0027A further improvement of the guyed mounting of the cover 1 is ensured by a further connecting means 6, which extends substantially vertically and is formed as a flexible strip that connects a lower edge of a rear window frame 10a with the rear end edge of the cover 1 (see <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref>).

p0028At an approximate view of the cover 1 as a rectangular body, three of the four sides of the cover 1 are thus respectively continuously connected via connecting means 4, 5, 6 to the rear top section 3 of the folding top. Overall, this exciting a holder of the cover 1 is achieved both in the vertical as well as in the vehicle longitudinal direction and in the vehicle transverse direction.

p0029In addition, the cover 1 is pulled in the closed state with its front end edge 1a from below against a projection 16 of the rear-end separation 12, whereby an even better and vibrationssicherere holder of the cover is 1 guaranteed.

p0030In the course of an opening movement of the top bearing by the imposition of movement of the top linkage parts of the roof lining and thus the roof lining part 4 is released, whereby the cover 1 is lowered into the storage room. 2 At present top type also the tension bow 8 is lowered a bit in the storage compartment 2, whereby a further lowering of the covering 1 takes place (see<figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref>).

p0031As shown in the illustration of the open top state in <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> It can be seen, the rigid rear window 10 comes to lie essentially at the covering means 1, so that the sensitive surface of the rear window 10 is protected by the cover 1 from below.

p0032The illustration in <figref idrefs="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> shows a lateral sectional view through the rear-side hood portion 3, wherein both a closed position (solid lines) and an open position (broken lines) of the clamping bracket 8, rear window 10 and covering means 1 is illustrated. Further, in<figref idrefs="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> schematically sections through stored in the open state of the folding top bow 17 shown.

p0033From the sectional view through the rear-side convertible top portion 3 of the convertible top in the closed state in accordance with <figref idrefs="f0004">Fig. 5</figref> in particular the connection of the internal ceiling edge 4a of the cover 1 can be seen.

p0034<figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> shows a partial illustration of a second preferred embodiment of a folding top according to the invention. To achieve an accurate positioning and guiding of the cover 1, the cover 1 is connected via a four-bar arrangement 11 with the rear-side clamping bracket 8 of the top (see<figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 6</figref>). The two links 11a, 11b of the four-bar arrangement 11 allow this pivoting of the cover 1 against the clamping bracket 8, through which the covering 1 in particular during an opening or closing movement of the top is defined precisely in its movement. Thus, a connection means between the rear-side convertible top section 3 and covering means 1 is also formed by the four-bar arrangement eleventh In general, this connecting means 11 will be, however, combined with others, described in the first embodiment, connecting means, in particular the inner lining part 4 in order to allow automatic storage of the top.