Abstract:
A retractable roof for a vehicle has three rigid roof sections. A plurality of links and levers connect to the three roof sections and control and guide the three roof sections in an optimal manner as they move from a closure position covering a compartment of the vehicle to a storage position in a rear boot of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None 
     INCORPORATED-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention concerns a roof which can be folded away or retracted in the rear boot of a vehicle. 
     A retractable roof of this type can in particular convert a vehicle of the 2-seater coupé type or 4-seater coupé or saloon into a vehicle of the cabriolet type. 
     In the case of 4-seater coupés or saloons, the roof has a relatively long length, so that the retractable roof is composed of three elements, each of which has a length compatible with the dimensions of the vehicle boot. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosure Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     Thus a retractable roof for a vehicle is known, comprising a front roof element, an intermediate roof element and a rear roof element, these three elements being able to move between a position in which they cover the vehicle and a position in which they are superimposed substantially horizontally in the rear boot of the vehicle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates more particularly to a retractable roof, particularly for a vehicle such as station wagon. The roof comprises a front rigid roof element, an intermediate rigid roof element and a rear rigid roof element, the latter being situated close to the rear top edge of the rear boot of the vehicle. 
     The aim of the present invention is to afford improvements to the known means, for controlling and guiding the movement of the roof element optimally between their closure position and their position of storage in the boot. 
     According to the invention, the retractable roof is characterised in that the rear element is connected in an articulated fashion close to the top rear edge of the rear boot so as to be able to tilt forwards inside the rear boot, in that the intermediate element is connected in an articulated fashion on the one hand to a pivoting arm articulated on the bodywork, at a point situated close to the front top edge of the boot, and on the other hand to a lever articulated on this intermediate element and on the rear element, in that the intermediate element is connected to the front element by two articulated levers, first connection means being provided for controlling the pivoting of these two levers in order to make the front element pass over the intermediate element, when the said pivoting arm pivots towards the rear, and second connection means being provided for controlling the tilting of the rear element forwards and towards the boot, when the said pivoting arm pivots towards the rear. 
     The said first connection means preferably comprise a link connecting the said pivoting arm in an articulated fashion to one of the levers connecting the intermediate element to the front element. 
     Preferably also, the said second means comprise a connecting rod connecting in an articulated fashion an extension of the pivoting arm situated beyond its point of articulation on the bodywork and the rear part of the rear element at a point spaced apart from the articulation thereof on the bodywork. 
     Other particularities and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the following description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view in partial longitudinal section of a vehicle equipped with a retractable roof according to the invention, in the closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the retractable roof being in an intermediate position; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, the retractable roof being in the position stored in the vehicle boot. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to  3 , the retractable roof for a vehicle comprises a front roof element  1 , an intermediate roof element  2 , and a rear roof element  3 . These three elements  1 ,  2 ,  3  are able to move between a position in which (see FIG. 1) they cover the cabin  6  of the vehicle and a position in which (see FIG. 3) they are superimposed substantially horizontally in the rear boot  5  of the vehicle. 
     The vehicle depicted being of the station wagon type, the rear rigid roof element ( 3 ) is situated close to the rear top edge ( 4 ) of the rear boot ( 5 ) of the vehicle. 
     According to the invention, the rear element ( 3 ) is connected in an articulated fashion at  16  close to the top rear edge ( 4 ) of the rear boot ( 5 ) so as to be able to tilt forwards inside the rear boot ( 5 ). The intermediate element ( 2 ) is connected in an articulated fashion at  7   b  on the one hand to a pivoting arm ( 7 ) articulated on the bodywork, at a point ( 8 ) situated close to the front top edge ( 9 ) of the boot ( 5 ), and on the other hand on a lever ( 10 ) articulated at  10   a  on this intermediate element ( 2 ) and at  10   b  on the rear element ( 3 ). 
     The intermediate element ( 2 ) is connected to the front element ( 1 ) by two articulated levers ( 11 ,  12 ). First connection means are provided for controlling the pivoting of these two levers ( 11 ,  12 ) in order to make the front element ( 1 ) pass over the intermediate element ( 2 ), when the said pivoting arm ( 7 ) pivots towards the rear. Moreover, second connection means are provided for controlling the tilting of the rear element ( 3 ) forwards and towards the boot ( 5 ), when the said pivoting arm ( 7 ) pivots towards the rear. 
     In the example depicted, the first connection means comprise a link ( 13 ) connecting the said pivoting arm ( 7 ) in an articulated fashion to one ( 12 ) of the levers ( 11 ,  12 ) connecting the intermediate element ( 2 ) to the front element ( 1 ). 
     In the example depicted, the said second means comprise a connecting rod ( 14 ) connecting in an articulated fashion an extension ( 7   a ) of the pivoting arm ( 7 ) situated beyond its articulation point ( 8 ) on the bodywork and the rear part of the rear element ( 3 ) at a point ( 15 ) spaced apart from the articulation ( 16 ) thereof on the bodywork. 
     By way of variant, the first connection means comprise a lever ( 17 ) articulated on one ( 10 ) of the levers connecting the rear element ( 3 ) and the intermediate element ( 2 ) and articulated at a fixed point ( 18 ) on the chassis. 
     In another variant, the connection means comprise a link ( 19 ) articulated on the arm ( 7 ) and on one ( 10 ) of the levers connecting the rear ( 3 ) and intermediate ( 2 ) elements. 
     It can also be seen in FIGS. 1 to  3  that the top face of the rear boot ( 5 ) adjacent to the inside of the cabin ( 6 ) of the vehicle comprises one or more panels ( 20 ) able to be moved between a position (see FIG. 1) in which they close off the said face and a position (see FIG. 2) in which they leave the said face clear to enable the roof elements ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ) to pass and are stored in a space ( 21 ) adjacent to the front wall ( 5   a ) of the boot ( 5 ). 
     The retractable roof which has just been described functions as indicated below. 
     When the roof is in the closed position, the elements ( 1 ), ( 2 ), ( 3 ) are locked on one another and on fixed parts of the bodywork. 
     The top face of the boot is closed off by panels ( 20 ). 
     To open the roof, the first step is to unlock the elements ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) and to move the panels ( 20 ) into the space ( 21 ) situated inside the boot ( 5 ). 
     The movement of the panels ( 20 ) towards the boot can be controlled automatically by means of a device which is not shown. 
     The pivoting of the arm ( 7 ) towards the rear is then controlled. 
     The movement of the arm ( 7 ) controls the rearward movement of the intermediate element ( 2 ) and the tilting of the rear element ( 3 ) forwards and towards the boot by virtue of the levers ( 10 ) and ( 14 ). 
     The tilting of the arm ( 7 ) towards the rear controls, by means of the link ( 13 ), the upward pivoting of the levers ( 11 ,  12 ), which have the effect of raising the front element ( 1 ) and making it pass over the intermediate element ( 2 ). 
     At the end of travel, the elements ( 3 ), ( 2 ), ( 1 ) are stored in the rear boot so as to be superimposed and substantially horizontal. 
     It is then possible to replace the panels ( 20 ) in order to close off the top part of the rear boot which is adjacent to the cabin ( 6 ).