Abstract:
A retractable roof for a vehicle, comprising a front roof element, an intermediate roof element and a rear roof element. These three elements can move between positions in which they cover the vehicle cabin, to ones in which they horizontally cover the rear boot of the vehicle. Linkages are provided to move these three elements from one set of positions to the other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns a roof which can be retracted or withdrawn into the rear boot of a vehicle. 
   Such a retractable roof makes it possible in particular to convert a vehicle of the two-seater coupe or four-seater coupe or saloon type into a vehicle of the cabriolet type. 
   In the case of four-seater coupes 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. 
   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 cabin and a position in which they are superimposed substantially horizontally in the rear boot of the vehicle. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aim of the present invention is to afford improvements to the known means, in order to optimally control and guide the movement of the roof elements between their closure position and their position of storage in the boot. 
   According to the invention, the retractable roof is characterised in that the movement of the rear element towards the boot is controlled by at least one arm articulated on the chassis of the vehicle and on the rear element, in that the front of the rear element is connected in an articulated fashion to the intermediate element by a first lever, a second lever connecting the intermediate element in an articulated fashion to a fixed articulation point on the chassis, in that the intermediate element comprises a slide extending between its front and rear edges, a finger fixed to the rear of the front element being engaged in the said slide so that the element can slide on the intermediate element, in that the front part of the intermediate element is connected in an articulated fashion to the front element by a lever, this lever itself being connected in an articulated fashion to the said second lever by a link, and in that connection means are provided between the arm and the second lever or between the arm and one of the levers connecting the rear element to the intermediate element or between the latter lever and a fixed articulation point on the chassis. 
   Other particularities and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the following description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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 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  4  of the vehicle and a position in which (see  FIG. 3 ) they are superimposed substantially horizontally in the rear boot  5  of the vehicle. 
   In accordance with the invention, the movement of the rear element  3  towards the boot  5  is controlled by an arm  6  articulated at  7  on the vehicle chassis and at  8  on the rear element  3  and the front  3   b  of the rear element  3  is connected in an articulated fashion at  9  on the intermediate element  2  by a first lever  10 , a second lever  11  connecting the intermediate element  2  in an articulated fashion at  12  to a fixed articulation point  13  on the chassis. 
   The intermediate element  2  comprises a slide extending between its front  2   a  and rear  2   b  edges. A finger  15  fixed to the rear of the front element  1  is engaged in the slide  14  so that the front element  1  can slide on the intermediate element  2 . 
   In addition, the front part  2   a  of the intermediate element  2  is connected in an articulated fashion to the front element  1  by a lever  16 . This lever  16  is itself connected in an articulated fashion to the said second lever by a link  17 . 
   Moreover, connection means are provided between the arm  6  and the second lever  11  or between the arm  6  and one  10  of the levers connecting the rear element  3  to the intermediate element  2  or between the latter lever  10  and a fixed articulation point  18  on the chassis. 
   In a first version the aforementioned connection means comprise a link  19  articulated on the arm  6  and on the second lever  11 . This link  19  can be replaced (see  FIG. 2 ) by a chain  20  or a notched belt wound around two gears  21 ,  22  mounted on the shafts  13 ,  7  of the lever  11  and of the arm  6  and fixed to these. 
   In a second version, a lever  23  is articulated on the lever  10  connecting the rear element  3  and the intermediate element  2  to a fixed articulation point  18  on the chassis. 
   In a third version, the connection means comprise a link  24  articulated on the arm  6  and on the lever  10  connecting the rear  3  and intermediate  2  elements. 
   In the example depicted, the movement of the rear element  3  towards the boot  5  is also controlled by a finger  25  carried by the rear part  3   a  of the rear element  3  slidably engaged in a slide  26  extending inside the boot  5 . 
   Instead of the finger  25  and the slide  26 , the movement of the rear element  3  towards the boot  5  can be controlled by a second arm articulated on the chassis and on the rear part  3   a  of the rear element  3 . 
   The retractable roof which has just been described functions as follows: 
   After unlocking of the elements  1 ,  2 ,  3  and opening of the lid  5   a  of the boot  5 , the pivoting of the arm  6  towards the rear controlled by a motor or an actuator moves the rear element  3  towards the boot  5 . The movement of the element  3  is guided by the finger  25 , which slides along the slide  26 . 
   The pivoting of the arm  6  causes the tilting of the levers  10  and  11  by virtue of the connection means, such as the link  19 , or  23 , or  24 , or the transmission chain  20 . 
   The movement of the levers  10  and  11  raises the intermediate element  2 , making it pass over the rear element  3 , as indicated in FIG.  2 . 
   The pivoting of the lever  11  causes the tilting of the lever  16  by virtue of the link  17 , which raises the front element  1  and pushes the front finger  15  on the latter in the slide  14  of the element  2 . 
   The front element  1  is thus progressively superimposed whilst sliding on the intermediate element  2 . 
   The movement thus continues until the elements  1 ,  2 ,  3  are stored substantially horizontally one on top of the other in the boot  5 , as shown by FIG.  3 .