Vehicle with retractable open top and method for stowing same, with horizontal tilting system

The invention concerns a method for stowing an open top (1, 3, 5, 9) in a vehicle storage space (53). The top being initially closed, it consists in displacing the roof parts up to the inside of the storage space, some at least up to a first substantially vertically stowed position, then in displacing again said roof part(s) towards a substantially horizontal position located either in the upper part or in the lower part of the storage space (53), to clear horizontally an additional storage depth.

This invention relates to a retractable roof system for a fixed or mobile structure and particularly for an automobile vehicle.

FR 2 798 327 describes a retractable roof system for a vehicle composed of at least two rigid roof panels, namely a first front roof panel and a second central roof panel fixed to each other by sliding means arranged such that the front panel is free to move between a closed position in which it covers the passenger compartment and an open position in which it is superposed on the central panel, after sliding backwards. The above-mentioned roof system comprises two parallel arc-shaped slides fixed to the vehicle bodywork and each extending between a point close to the front of the central panel and a point close to the back of the vehicle trunk and the rear part of the vehicle, the central panel comprising devices cooperating with the slides to guide its displacement along the slides.

Like other known solutions for storing opening roofs, one disadvantage of this solution relates to the volume occupied by the folded roof in the space reserved for storage (baggage, etc.) at the back of the passenger compartment, typically in the trunk (regardless of whether or not the trunk projects outwards).

The purpose of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the above-mentioned system and to propose a compact solution adaptable to different vehicle types and that can be made in large production series.

The proposed solution is related to a vehicle with an opening roof consisting of at least two mobile parts that can be stored in the final substantially horizontal position and a tilting rear window (particularly an oscillating-sliding window) that may or may not form part of the said mobile parts of the roof mentioned above, the said storage position leaving a large storage volume.

More precisely, according to this invention, the vehicle concerned has a front and a rear and comprises:a passenger compartment with seats near the rear of the passenger compartment,a vehicle structure locally defining a roof panel with a closeable opening and a retractable roof, this roof comprising at least two rigid parts free to move with respect to the said structure, namely a first front part and a second rear part respectively,first displacement means to which the said parts of the roof are connected at least during part of their movement between an extended position reached by forward displacement in which these parts are substantially flush one behind the other and cover the passenger compartment, and a folded position reached by a displacement towards the rear of the vehicle in which the said parts are offset from each other and are behind the seats, at least some of these roof parts then being arranged in a first storage position,

the vehicle being characterized in that it also comprises second displacement elements into which at least the said roof parts engage when they are arranged in their said first storage position, to displace these roof parts if necessary towards a second storage position different from the first position (and a priori substantially horizontal).

This type of roof system improves the storage space available at the rear in the trunk.

For compactness, effectiveness and reliability reasons, the second displacement means will preferably be installed free to move with respect to the vehicle structure and with respect to the first displacement means, the roof parts arranged in the first storage position becoming free from the first displacement means while engaging the second displacement means so that they can move from their first position to their second storage position.

Furthermore, it is recommended that:the first and the second displacement means comprise first and second slides respectively,the said rigid parts of the first roof part comprise several substantially flat panels free to move with respect to each other and arranged above the passenger compartment when the roof is in the closed position, in front of a rear element of the roof containing the rear window of the vehicle and belonging to the said second part of the roof,and to fold away, the said mobile roof panels pass firstly into the first storage position and then into the second storage position, engaging firstly the first slides and then the second slides which are mounted free to move on the structure with respect to the first slides so as to displace the roof panels between their said first and second storage positions.

This is a reliable and compact mechanism.

Preferably, each slide assembly and the second displacement elements connected to it also define a first front part of the slide extending between a point at the front of the said rear part of the roof and a point close to the upper edge of the back of the said seats, and a second slide part extending in an inclined position substantially between the said upper edge of the rear part of the said seats and a point located lower down, each second slide part being installed free to move with respect to the vehicle structure and to the first part of the corresponding slide and being connected to the said roof parts concerned, when they reach their first folded position and these parts are then engaged with the second slide parts and are disengaged from the first slide parts to bring these roof parts into their said second superposed storage position.

Once again, the space occupied in the vehicle must be compact and operation must be efficient and reliable.

Furthermore, such a retractable system enables precise guidance of roof parts between their closed position above the passenger compartment and their open position (stored in the rear).

According to another characteristic, the invention discloses that:the said roof parts comprise at least two so-called rigid panels, a first front panel and a central second panel respectively, the panels being connected together by connecting means arranged such that the front panel is free to move between its extended position reached by a forward displacement in which the said panel is above the passenger compartment in front of the central panel, and an open position reached by displacement towards the rear of the vehicle in which the front and central panels are superposed substantially horizontally, the central panel possibly being moved by cooperation with the first displacement means and at the same time as the front panel adjacent to it, between its extended position in which it is above the passenger compartment and its first storage position (folded) in which the front and central panels are retracted side by side in the storage space,in the extended position, the roof parts are inserted one behind the other between the windshield at the front that is fixed to the vehicle structure and a rear element (that may be retractable) containing the rear window,and in a second stored position (illustrated horizontally), the front and central panels are preferably arranged either in the upper part of the said roof storage area, or in the lower part in an area left free in the bottom of the storage space.

If a retractable rear window is to be used, the invention advantageously allows for the rear element of the roof to be displaceable between its extended position in which it covers the passenger compartment and its folded position in which it is tilted backwards directly substantially horizontally in the upper part of the storage space behind the seats and above the storage level of the other front panels.

According to another aspect, the invention discloses the following arrangement so that the opening roof can be stored in its storage space behind the rear seats:a) starting from a closed state of the roof in which the two parts of the roof cover the passenger compartment while being substantially flush one behind the other, these roof parts can be displaced into the inside of the storage space, at least some of these parts being brought to a first substantially vertical storage position,b) and then the roof part(s) concerned can be displaced again to a substantially horizontal position to open up a useful depth in the horizontal direction;

In the embodiment shown, the invention comprises three central roof elements (or parts)1,3,5installed free to slide on two parallel lateral slides7particularly extending on each side of an opening10formed in the roof panel14. A rear roof element (or part) including the window9is also provided installed, free to oscillate-slide by an arm11connected to the chassis13(also called the vehicle structure15) and a slide17installed free to pivot on the said structure13along a axis17atransverse to the longitudinal direction19in which the vehicle moves forwards. The slide17thus tips with the cover of the trunk59when it rotates with respect to the vehicle structure only to open forwards.

In the description, “central roof elements” means roof elements installed on the slide7and “rear roof element” means the rear tilting part9that includes the rear window90.

Thus, the central roof elements1,3,5are inserted between the windshield150fixed to the structure13and the rear element9(that may be fixed or mobile) when the roof is in the closed position above the passenger compartment.

The slides7are arc-shaped and extend between an area7alocated in front of the roof element1, on each side of the opening10(in the example inFIG. 1), and an area7blocated in the space53in which the roof is stored in its folded position, behind the seats55near the top part of the seat backs, under the level17aat which the additional slides17are articulated.

In another embodiment, the slides7may be interrupted near the front, facing the roof element5located just in front of the rearmost element9, particularly assuming a roof opening in two parts only (5and9).

In order to fold into the storage space53, the central panel5can be displaced by moving the panels1and3that are then superposed on it, between a closed position in which it covers the passenger compartment and a folded position in which the three panels1,3and5are housed, in their side by side position in a first storage position inclined from the horizontal behind the passenger compartment57.

The system for guidance of the displacement of panels1,3towards their position superposed with panel5at the top of the roof will not be described in detail here.

This system was described in French patent FR-B-2694245 and in the French patent application FR-A-2 797 226.

The central panel5comprises devices that will be described in detail later and that cooperate with the two slides7to guide its displacement along them.

As can be seen particularly inFIG. 2, the arc-shaped slides7are concave facing the inside of the passenger compartment. This arc shape guides displacement of panels1,3,5through a passage between the rear seats55and the rear part9of the roof.

The devices of the panel5cooperating with the slides comprise two rollers37,39fixed to lugs37a,39alocated close to each of the side edges5aof the panel5, close to the front and close to the back of the panel as shown inFIG. 2.

The retractable roof system according to the invention also comprises means of driving displacement of the panel5along the slides.

These means may include cables driven by a motor or an actuator. Preferably, the rollers37,39are shaped like gears (seeFIGS. 6,7and are engaged into a rack70fixed to each slide7(or51as will be understood later) and along the profile of the slide.

As can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 6, the pair of rollers39located near the back of the panel5is driven in rotation by an electric motor72connected to each roller through a half transmission shaft74.

FIG. 5also shows that each slide7is fixed at its upper part to one of the two side parts8of the fixed roof located on each side of the roof opening10.

Once the central roof elements1,3and5are superposed substantially horizontally above each other (FIGS. 3 and 4), the rear roof element9is driven backwards by the arm11so as to offset the front edge9aof the rear roof element9upwards, thus enabling the passage of the central roof elements.

These central roof elements are retracted as follows. Firstly, an appropriate mechanism controls sliding of the front panel1backwards, until this panel is superposed on the panel3since these two panels are then superposed on the panel5as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The electric motor72start control is applied starting from this position in which the panels1,3,5are locked together. This motor rotates the half-shafts74and the gear shaped rollers39. Rotation of these rollers39with the racks40of the slides7displaces the panels towards the space53behind the seats55until the rollers reach their limit stop.

Depending on the curvature of the slides, in this first storage position the two panels1,3,5preferably occupy an almost vertical position (FIG. 3) or inclined from the horizontal (FIG. 4).

Obviously, if the electric motor is controlled to move in the reverse direction, the panels1,3,5will be moved out from the trunk into the roof closed position.

There is a mobile slide51colinear with and extending each slide7in which the panels1,3,5will engage while they disengage from the slide7, to access their second storage position.

Thus, we will be able to selectively retract these panels in a storage position that a priori minimizes the inconvenience that it causes, either just under the rear element9near the top of the space53(FIGS. 3 and 4) or at the bottom of the trunk (FIG. 3). This substantially horizontal position has been found to be the most appropriate final storage position, since it thus releases the space53towards the front as far as the seats55, or even further if they are folded forwards.

To reach their second storage position, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 3the central roof elements are driven beyond the slide7along the pivoting slide51into a substantially vertical position in the trunk or storage space53behind the rearmost seats55of the vehicle in the passenger compartment57. The mobile slide51runs along the back of seats55in this first vertical storage position of the roof elements1,3,5. Once these central roof elements have been stored vertically, the rearmost roof element9will tip backwards from its high position above the back of the passenger compartment to its position stored in the space53, driven by the drive arm11and guided by the slide17to move into position directly and a priori finally in a substantially horizontal position (mark9in dashed lines inFIG. 1).

The central roof elements1,3,5are then still in their substantially vertical position on the second slide51installed free to pivot on the structure13. This second slide will pivot the central roof elements from their first substantially vertical storage position to a substantially horizontal storage position that may be located in a bottom opening61of the floor63of the trunk, facing the storage space53(position called the low substantially horizontal position corresponding to mark A inFIG. 1). In this case the second slide51is articulated to the structure13through a rotation axis65transverse to the vehicle longitudinal axis19located on the lower end51aof the second pivoting slide.

In this version, it is also possible to pivot the roof elements1,3,5stored in their substantially vertical position, to a substantially horizontal storage position under the rear window9in a substantially horizontal position (then called the high substantially horizontal position corresponding to mark B inFIG. 1). The slide51is then articulated to the chassis13by a rotation pin67transverse to the longitudinal axis19located on the upper end51bof this slide.

A lock system not shown could be used to make the roof elements pivot between their said substantially vertical and horizontal storage positions, high and low, by providing two pivot pins65,67on the slide51, and by selectively acting on one of the locks.

Selective means such as a switch200connected to a cable201and to a motor203itself connected to the part of the slide51concerned, are used to control the movement of the parts of the roof concerned at will between their first and second storage positions (in this case vertical and horizontal respectively).

It is also possible to tilt the back of the rear seats55forwards into a substantially horizontal position (see mark55in dashed lines inFIG. 1) so that the trunk volume can be even further increased. It will even be possible to envisage the solution of using a second slide such as51fixed to the seat back pivoting forwards and thus positioning the roof elements stored in a substantially horizontal position above the seat back.

In the version inFIG. 4, the second mobile slide set used to transfer the roof panels1,3,5from their first storage position to their second storage position has been marked80.

This set of slides80(one slide colinear with and extending each first slide7) is articulated at substantially mid-length about a hinge pin81perpendicular to the longitudinal axis19of the vehicle.

Each slide80is maneuvered by a motor driven system comprising an actuator83.

InFIG. 4, the curvature of the slide7is lower and its rear end is interrupted at7bat the back of the passenger compartment but just above the back of the rear seats55. The slides80extend along the same axis above the storage space53, in other words the top part of the trunk in which the cover is once again marked59, and is articulated only at the front at59a, to open only towards the front of the vehicle along the direction of the arrow85.

Each slide80is straight and extends behind the back of seats55over a substantial part (the majority) of the depth P of the trunk, which in this case is coincident with the storage space53.

The hinge pin81of the second slides80is located substantially at the top of the seats55or slightly below.

It will be noted that in the solution inFIG. 4, the roof panels1,3,5are not strictly vertical in their first storage position (solid line in the Figure) but are inclined from the horizontal, near the bottom of the rear element9, such that they close off at least part of the rear vision through the rear window90.

These panels1,3,5may be made to move (in fact tilt) from their first superposed storage position into their final storage position in which they are still superposed in the same manner except in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in dashed lines facing zone C inFIG. 4, to provide good rear vision and improve the aesthetics but without occupying an excessive amount of space in the storage module53.

Once this position has been reached following actuation of the actuator83and when the rollers37,39have become free from the slides7followed by engagement into the slides80, the rearmost roof element9finishes the backward tilting movement that it had started to leave room for roof panels, the element9still being moved by its side arms11and guidance of the slides17still being placed in the same position as shown inFIG. 3, in this case just above panels1,3,5in an oscillating-sliding movement.

Since the motor-driven control of the rear element9may be conventional, it will not be described or shown herein.

In the above, it will have been noted that the rear panel5of the roof panels1,3,5entrains the movement of panels between the positions shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

However, it will be noted that the front panel1is the driving panel, for example being connected to a motor-drive system that would move the panels between their extreme closed and open positions, making use of drive cables to move the panels.