Patent ID: 6039382
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
In combination,a convertible motor vehicle having a seat, an open-top storage compartment at the rear of said seat, and a tonneau movable from open to closed position relative to the open top of the storage compartment,a folding top for the vehicle,said top comprising a flexible, foldable cover,a frame for supporting said cover,said frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart generally upright side rails,a roof bow of generally U-shape comprising laterally spaced apart side bars pivotally connected to said respective side rails,a deck bow of generally U-shape comprising laterally spaced apart side bars pivotally connected to said respective side rails,a header of generally U-shape comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart side bars pivotally connected to said respective side rails,said frame being movable to a deployed position in which said roof bow extends upwardly and rearwardly from the pivotal connection of its side bars to said side rails, said deck bow extends rearwardly from the pivot connection of its side bars to said side rails, and said header extends forwardly from the pivotal connection of its side bars to said side rails to support said cover in a position of use,said frame being movable to a retracted position for storage of said folding top in which said roof bow is pivoted forwardly about the pivotal connection of its side bars to said side rails to a position in which the side bars of said roof bow are generally upright alongside the generally upright side rails in which said deck bow is pivoted upwardly about the pivotal connection of its side bars to said side rails to a position in which the side bars of said deck bow are generally upright alongside the generally upright side rails, and said header is pivoted rearwardly about the pivotal connection of its side bars to said side rails to a generally horizontal position over and above said generally upright side rails, said generally upright roof bow and said generally upright deck bow,means for moving said frame from the deployed position to the retracted position thereof,means for moving said tonneau to its open position relative to the open top of said storage compartment,means for lowering said folding top, when said frame is in its retracted position, into said compartment while maintaining said side rails, roof bow, and deck bow generally upright and said header generally horizontal, andmeans for moving said tonneau to its closed position relative to the open top of said storage compartment after lowering thereinto of the folding top.