Patent ID: 6315349
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
Convertible car comprisinga body (1) comprising a windscreen frame (2),a folding hard top (3) comprising a top mechanism (4) hinged on the body, the top being movable between a closed first position (I) and an open second position (II) by means of said mechanism,a boot (5) for the stowage of the top behind the passenger compartment, into which boot the top, when opened, can be lowered to the second position (II),substantially rigid top panels (6, 7, 8) connected to the top mechanism (4) and covering the passenger compartment when the top is in the raised first position (I), said top panels comprisinga forward top panel (6) having a front end (9), which in the first position (I) of the top is set against the windscreen frame (2), and a rear end (10);a rearward top panel (7) placed rearward of the forward top panel and having a front end (11), the rear end (10) of the forward top panel (6) being hinged on said front end (11) so that it can turn about a horizontal first hinge axis (12), a rear window (13) being mounted in the rearward top panel (7), characterized in thatthe forward top (6) panel comprises a first cut-out (14) formed in its rear end (10) and extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle through a substantial part of the width of the forward top panel, the front edge (15) of said first cut-out (14) being located in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at a first distance (1) from the first hinge axis (12) forward of said axis;the rearward top panel (7) comprises a second cut-out (16) formed in its front end (11) and extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle through a substantial part of the width of the rearward top panel, the rear edge (17) of said second cut-out being located in the longitudinal direction at a second distance (L) from the first hinge axis rearward of said axis;the top panels comprise a middle top panel (8) which is hinged on the rearward top panel (7) near the rear edge of the second cut-out (16) so as to allow it to turn about a horizontal second hinge axis (18), said middle top panel (8) being fitted to cover the opening (19) formed by the successive first cut-out (14) together with the second cut-out (16) when the top is in the first position (I);and that when the top is being folded down from the first position (I) to the second position (II), the middle top panel (8) turns away from the opening (19) into a position between the forward top panel (6) and the rearward top panel (7), and when the top is in the second position (II) in the boot (5), the first cut-out (14) and the second cut-out (16) are placed one above the other in alignment with each other, so that a luggage space (20) is formed in the rear part of the boot (5) in the area of the cut-outs (14, 16).