Automobile roof structure

An automobile roof structure includes a detachable roof section, a front roof section and a fastening device. The front roof section includes a bracket extending from the front roof section. The detachable roof section includes an aperture and is selectively mounted on the bracket. The fastening device includes a guiding member mounted on the bracket, a first engaging member and a second engaging member. The first engaging member of the fastening device is secured to the detachable roof section and is located in the vicinity of the aperture of the detachable roof section. The second engaging member is selectively inserted into both a tapered hole formed in the guiding member and the aperture of the detachable roof section. The second engaging member selectively engages with the first engaging member to position the detachable roof section properly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an automobile roof structure which 
includes a detachable roof section and a windshield frame. The detachable 
roof section is secured selectively to the windshield frame by a simple 
fastening means. More particularly, the present invention relates to 
improvements in a fastening means for fastening the detachable roof 
section to the windshield frame. The simple fastening means of the present 
invention obviates the installation problems encountered with known 
devices. 
The U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,681 discloses an automobile roof structure which 
includes a detachable roof section, first and second fastening means for 
fastening the detachable roof section to a windshield frame and a roll 
bar. 
The first fastening means includes a tension-locking device. The second 
fastening means includes clamping locks. 
However, this conventional automobile roof structure is complex and 
includes many components. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention was developed in view of the foregoing background and 
to overcome the foregoing drawbacks. It is accordingly an object of the 
present invention to provide an automobile roof structure which includes a 
detachable roof section and a simple fastening means. Another object of 
the present invention is the provision of a simple structure for securely 
fastening the detachable roof section to a fixed roof section of a 
vehicle. 
The automobile roof structure of the present invention includes a 
detachable roof section, a fixed roof section and a fastening means. 
The fixed roof section includes a bracket extending from the fixed roof 
section. 
The detachable roof section is selectively mounted on the bracket of the 
fixed roof section. The detachable roof section includes an aperture. 
The fastening means includes guiding means, a first engaging member and a 
second engaging member. 
The guiding means is mounted on the bracket of the fixed roof section and 
the guiding means includes a tapered hole therewithin. The tapered hole 
includes an upper edge and a lower edge. The inner diameter of the lower 
edge is greater than the inner diameter of the upper edge. 
The first engaging means is secured to the detachable roof section and is 
located in the vicinity of the aperture of the detachable roof section. 
The second engaging member is selectively inserted into the tapered hole of 
the guiding means and the aperture of the detachable roof section. The 
second engaging member includes an engaging partion and a tapered surface 
and selectively engages with the first engaging member. The tapered 
surface includes a first outer diameter located in the vicinity of the 
engaging portion and a second outer diameter located apart from the 
engaging portion. The first outer diameter is less than the second outer 
diameter. 
Accordingly, even when a center line of the tapered hole of the guiding 
means is not aligned with a center line of the aperture of the detachable 
roof section, the second engaging member biases the detachable roof 
section toward the proper position by threading the second engaging member 
into the first engaging member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the 
accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred different embodiments 
according to the present invention. 
Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle includes a windshield 28, a front pillar 30, 
a front roof section 32, a detachable roof section 38, a rear roof section 
36, a center pillar 35 and a rear window 34. The front pillar 30 is 
connected and secured to the front roof section 32. The front pillar 30 
and the front roof section 32 surround the windshield 28 (i.e., the front 
pillar 30 and the front roof section 32 constitute a windshield frame). 
The rear roof section 36 is connected to the center pillar 35. The rear 
roof section 36 and the center pillar 35 constitute a roll bar. 
The detachable roof section 38 is positioned between the front roof section 
32 and the rear roof section 36, and the detachable roof section 38 covers 
a passenger compartment. The detachable roof section 38 includes front and 
rear portions. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front portion of the detachable roof 
sectiion 38 is selectively mounted on the front roof section 32, and the 
detachable roof section 38 is selectively secured to the front roof 
section 32. The front portion of the detachable roof section 38 includes a 
plurality of first holes 18 and a plurality of projections 22. The first 
hole 18 is located apart from the projection 22 in the lateral direction 
of the vehicle. A nut 14 is secured to the front portion of the detachable 
roof section 38. A center line of the nut 14 corresponds to a center line 
of the first hole 18 of the detachable roof section 38. 
The front roof section 32 includes a plurality of brackets 43 which project 
rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each bracket 43 
includes second and third holes 20 and 26 therewithin. The second hole 20 
of each bracket 43 corresponds to the first hole 18 of the detachable roof 
section 38. In a normal condition, the third hole 26 of the bracket 44 
corresponds to the projection 22 of the detachable roof section 38. A 
guiding member 24 is inserted into the third hole 26. The guiding member 
24 includes a guiding surface 241 and a positioning hole 242. 
The first holes 18, the nuts 14 and the projections 22 of the detachable 
roof section 38, the second holes 20 and the guiding members 24 of the 
front roof section 32 and the bolts 12 constitute a first fastening means. 
In a normal securing condition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bolt 12 is 
inserted into the second and first holes 20 and 18, and the bolt 12 
engages with the nut 14. Simultaneously, the projection 22 is positioned 
within the positioning hole 242. Accordingly, the detachable roof section 
38 and the front roof section 32 form a substantially flush surface, and a 
space defined between the detachable roof section 38 and the front roof 
section 32 is effectively sealed by a weather strip 76. 
However, when due to manufacturing error, the projection 22 of the 
detachable roof section 38 is not aligned with the positioning hole 242 of 
the guiding member 24, the projection 22 of the detachable roof section 38 
is located on the guiding surface 241 of the guiding member 24. 
Accordingly, the detachable roof section 38 projects from the front roof 
section 32, and sealing effect between the detachable roof section 38 and 
the front roof section 32 is deteriorated. 
Thus, in order to prevent the detachable roof section 38 from projecting 
from the front roof section 32, a first distance, defined between the 
projection 22 and the first hole 18 of the detachable roof section 38, 
must be the same as a second distance defined between the second hole 20 
of the front roof section 32 and the positioning hole 242 of the guiding 
member 24. 
However, when due to manufacturing error, the first distance is not the 
same as the second distance, the detachable roof section 38 might not be 
secured to the front roof section 32 or the sealing effect between the 
detachable roof section 38 and the front roof section 32 might be 
deteriorated. 
FIGS. 5 through 7 show a second fastening means, provided between the 
detachable roof section 38 and the front roof section 32, according to the 
present invention. 
As shown in FIG. 6, the second fastening means includes guiding means 50 
and a second bolt 68. The guiding means 50 is inserted into a fourth hole 
46 defined within a pillar inner panel 42 and a fifth hole 48 defined 
within a bracket 44. The guiding means 50 includes a flange 52 secured to 
the bracket 44 by welding. The guiding means 50 includes a tapered hole 54 
(i.e., the inner diameter of the lower edge of tapered hole 54 is larger 
than the inner diameter of the upper edge of tapered hole 54) and the 
tapered hole 54 includes a smooth surface thereon. A front portion of the 
bracket 44 is sandwiched between and secured to the pillar inner panel 42 
and a roof header outer panel 40. The pillar inner panel 42 is connected 
to the front pillar 30. The roof header outer panel 40 constitutes a rear 
portion of the front roof section 32. A weather strip 76 is mounted on a 
rear portion of the roof header outer panel 40. The bracket 44 extends 
rearwardly in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The bracket 44 is 
located vertically below an outer surface of the front roof section 32. 
The detachable roof section 38 includes a roof outer panel 56 and a roof 
inner panel 58. 
A front edge of the roof outer panel 56 is secured to a front edge of the 
roof inner panel 58. The weather strip 76 is sandwiched between the roof 
header outer panel 40 and the front edge of the roof outer panel 56, as a 
result, a space defined between the roof header outer panel 40 and the 
front edge of the roof outer panel 56, is effectively sealed. 
A portion of the roof inner panel 58 projects downwardly and includes a 
sixth hole 62. A reinforcement 60 is secured to the projecting portion of 
the roof inner panel 58, and includes a seventh hole 64 corresponding to 
the sixth hole 62 of the roof inner panel 58. A nut 66 is welded on the 
reinforcement 60, and the nut 66 includes a threaded hole. The nut 66 
functions as a first engaging member. The center line of the threaded hole 
of the nut 66 is the substantially aligned with the center line of the 
sixth hole 62 of the roof inner panel 58. 
The second bolt 68 of the second fastening means includes a threaded 
portion 681 and a head portion 68. The head portion 68 includes a smooth 
tapered surface 72, a flange 70 and a recess 74. The second bolt 68 
functions as a second engaging member. The tapered surface 72 includes a 
small diameter edge and a large diameter edge. The outer diameter of the 
small diameter edge of the tapered surface 72 of the second bolt 68 is 
smaller than the outer diameter of the upper edge of the tapered hole 54 
of the guiding means 50. The outer diameter of the large diameter edge of 
the tapered surface 72 of the second bolt 68 is smaller than the inner 
diameter of the lower edge of the tapered hole 54 of the guiding means 50. 
The small diameter edge of the tapered surface 72 is located in the 
vicinity of the threaded portion 681 of the second bolt 68. The large 
diameter edge of the tapered surface 72 is located apart from the threaded 
portion 681. The flange 70 extends outwardly and is located in the 
vicinity of the large diameter portion. 
When the threaded portion 681 of the second bolt 68 engages with and is 
threaded into the threaded hole of the nut 66, the guiding means 50 is 
clamped between the flange 70 of the second bolt 68 and the projecting 
portion of the roof inner panel 58. In this condition, a portion of the 
tapered surface 72 of the second bolt 68 is not in contact with a portion 
of the tapered hole 54 of the guiding means 50. A recess 74 is defined 
within the head portion 68, and when the second bolt 68 is to be threaded 
into or out of the nut 66, a coin or a screw driver is inserted into the 
recess 74. 
The process of fastening the detachable roof section 38 to the front roof 
section 32 is disclosed hereinafter. 
First, the detachable roof section 38 is mounted on the front and rear roof 
sections 32 and 36 of the vehicle. 
As shown in FIG. 7, when the detachable roof section 38 is not positioned 
properly, the center line of the guiding means 50 is located apart from 
the center line of the second bolt 68 and consequently misaligned with 
respect to the center line or longitudinal axis of the nut 66. 
However, when the second bolt 68 is threaded into the nut the tapered 
surface 72 of the second bolt 68 contacts with the tapered hole 54 of the 
guiding means 50. 
As a result, the second bolt 68 forces the nut 66 and, correspondingly, the 
detachable roof section 38 to move toward their proper positions. 
Therefore, the detachable roof section 38 is positioned properly and the 
space defined between the front edge of the detachable roof section 38 and 
the front roof section 32, is securely sealed. 
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the second fastening means 
provided between the detachable roof section 38 and the front roof section 
32. 
The second embodiment is of the second fastening means is substantially 
similar to the first embodiment of the second fastening means shown in 
FIGS. 5 through 7. 
However, the second embodiment includes an under cover 76 and holding means 
80. The under cover 76 is secured to a lower surface of the pillar inner 
panel 42. The under cover 76 includes a bottom flange 761 and an aperture 
78 defined within the bottom flange 761. The center line of the aperture 
78 corresponds to the center line of the tapered hole 54 of the guiding 
means 50. The aperture 78 has a smaller inner diameter than the inner 
diameter of the upper edge of the tapered hole 54. 
Accordingly, even when the second bolt 68 is not engaged with the nut 66, 
the second bolt 68 can not drop out from the under cover 76. 
Further, the holding means 80 is preferably a conical spring. One end of 
the conical spring 80 is fixed to the lower surface of the pillar inner 
panel 42 and the other end of the conical spring 80 is inserted into and 
secured to a V-shape groove 683 defined within the flange 70 of the second 
bolt 68. As shown in FIG. 9, the conical spring 80 biases the second bolt 
68 toward the bottom flanges 761 of the under cover 76. Furthermore, the 
entire flange 70 of the second bolt 68 is biased uniformly downwardly by 
the conical spring 80. 
Accordingly, even when the second bolt 68 is not engaged with the nut 66, 
the second bolt 68 does not move in the under cover 76. As a result, the 
second bolt 68 does not make any noise in the under cover 76. 
Further, the conical spring 80 maintains the position of the second bolt 68 
within the under cover 76. Thus, the second bolt 68 remains aligned with 
the nut 66, so that it is very easy for an operator to make the second 
bolt 68 engage with the nut 66 of the detachable roof section 38. 
Moreover, the second bolt 68 is covered by the under cover 76, so that the 
appearance is improved. 
FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the second fastening means. The 
third embodiment is substantially similar to the second embodiment shown 
in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
However, the third embodiment uses a plate spring 84 as the holding means, 
instead of the conical spring 80 of the second embodiment. 
As shown in FIG. 11, the plate spring 84 includes an aperture 86, an 
engagement recess 90 and a corrugated portion 92. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the plate spring 84 is secured to the pillar inner 
panel 42 by a screw 88. The second bolt 68 is inserted into and engaged 
with an engagement recess 90 of the plate spring 84. The corrugated 
portion 92 of the plate spring 84 allows the second bolt 68 to move in the 
vertical and longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
As described herein, the present invention overcomes the shortcomings of 
the known art by providing an automobile roof structure which includes a 
detachable roof section, a fixed roof section and fastening means 
including guide means, a first engaging member and a second engaging 
member. 
While the present invention has been described in its preferred 
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited 
thereto, and may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following 
claims.