Convertible motor vehicle roof

A convertible vehicle roof with a rigid rear roof part (7) and with a rigid rear part (8) which adjoins rear roof part (7), can be moved together with other roof parts (side roof parts 5, cover 6) into a stowage space (19) located in the rear of a vehicle. Compared to known hardtop vehicle roofs, the structure, mounting, sealing and insensitivity to tolerances are improved by the fact that the rear part (8) can be swung forwardly over the rear roof part (7) before they are moved together into the stowage space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a convertible motor vehicle roof with a rear roof 
part and with a rear part which adjoins it, in which the rear roof part 
and rear part, and optionally other roof parts can be moved into a stowage 
space located in the rear of the vehicle. 
2. Description of Related Art 
In a motor vehicle roof of this type according to A1 42 03 229, and 
corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,388 a rear part which frames the rear 
window is integral with a rear roof part, the rear window having to be 
lowered beforehand into a stowage space before separately swinging the 
rear roof part. However, this separately movable rear window poses sealing 
problems with respect to the motor vehicle chassis. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to simplify the structure of a hard-top 
convertible vehicle roof. 
This object is achieved according to this invention by the rear part first 
being swung over the rear roof part and then moved into the stowage space 
together with the rear roof part for completely lowering the roof. Because 
the rear part enclosing the rear window, before completely lowering the 
roof, is first swung over the rear roof part and then moved with the rear 
roof part, and optionally other roof parts, into the stowage space, a 
simple, low-tolerance sealing of the rear window from above on a cover 
flap is possible. By separating the rear roof part from the rear part and 
moving them on top of one another before moving into the stowage space, 
moreover, the roof package can be made extremely compact before it is 
moved. 
One embodiment which is especially simple with respect to the number of 
required drives arises from the fact that the rear part can be interlocked 
with the rear roof part before moving into the stowage space. In this way, 
the rear roof part does not need its own active drive, but simply a 
bearing which allows it to pivot relative to the vehicle chassis. The rear 
roof part is entrained by the drives of the rear part when it is moved. 
Advantageously, the vehicle roof, as known per se from the DE A1 42 03 229 
and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,388 mentioned initially, comprises 
at least one roof part (cover) which can opened while driving and which 
can be moved into open positions on guides located in roof parts which lie 
laterally therefrom in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The side 
roof parts are preferably supported on the rear roof part, under or over 
which the openable roof part (cover) can be moved in the opened position. 
In addition to the greater diversity of open positions during driving, 
such a vehicle roof which is subdivided into additional roof parts also 
can be stowed especially compactly. 
An especially stiff, accident-proof embodiment of a vehicle roof arises by 
the fact that the side roof parts can be interlocked with the stationary 
front roof part. 
For compact joining of the roof parts before moving into the stowage space, 
it is advantageous if the side roof parts can be swung inward to the rear 
roof part, as is known in principle from DE A1 42 03 229 and corresponding 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,388. 
According to one advantageous embodiment, the rear part surrounds a rear 
window. 
Advantageously, the stowage space can be closed by means of a cover flap, 
against which the rear part lies tightly from above in its base position. 
One especially smooth version of the closed vehicle roof arises from the 
fact that, before it is moved, the rear part can be raised over the rear 
roof part. 
The rear part is moved, according to one advantageous embodiment, by means 
of two telescoping hydraulic cylinders which are supported on a lever 
which is pivotally mounted on the vehicle chassis. This lever is made, 
preferably, as a triangular lever with two arms which converge on the 
pivot on the chassis, on the outer end of each arms, a respective one of 
the telescoping hydraulic cylinders is connected at its lower end. 
Furthermore, a pivoting cylinder which is supported at one end on the 
chassis is connected at its other end to the lower of the two arms of the 
triangular lever. The rear roof part is connected via a swinging lever to 
the vehicle chassis. This swinging lever cannot be actively driven 
according to one advantageous version, but is used with the vehicle roof 
closed to support the rear roof part in conjunction with the interlocking 
of the side roof parts attached to it on the front roof part. When the 
rear roof part is moved into the stowage space, this lever is actuated by 
a swinging cylinder after interlocking the rear part with it. 
To facilitate complete preliminary testing of a roof module at a vehicle 
supplier and installation at the vehicle manufacturer, it is provided that 
the pivot of the triangular lever and the lower connecting points of the 
swinging cylinder and the swinging lever are located on a cassette which, 
itself, is adjustably attached to the chassis of the vehicle. Thus, the 
complete roof module consisting of the movable roof parts can be 
completely mounted and pretested at the vehicle supplier in a device 
corresponding to the shell. Mounting at the vehicle manufacturer is 
greatly facilitated by combining all actuating elements on one cassette. 
According to one advantageous alternative embodiment, the rear part is 
guided in its swinging movements by means of two levers which are 
pivotally mounted on the chassis. Preferably, one of these levers is 
coupled to a hydraulic cylinder. Advantageously, the two levers form a 
four-bar mechanism in which the rear part forms a connecting rod and in 
which the chassis or a part permanently connected to it forms the frame. 
In this embodiment, the rear part is swung by means of a four-bar 
mechanism formed by two levers, and needs only a single hydraulic cylinder 
to be driven. 
According to one advantageous development of the alternative embodiment, it 
is provided that one lever is connected via an additional driving element 
to the vehicle chassis, relative to which it can be interlocked by means 
of a lock which can be released in the last phase of movement into the 
stowage space. Providing an additional driving element and a lock enables 
further lowering into the stowage space without the need for additional 
stowage space for the swinging lever. 
Advantageously, to interlock the rear part with the rear roof part, there 
is a retaining bracket with which one end is pivotally mounted on the rear 
part, and during movement of the rear part above the rear roof part, 
engages a connecting member which inserts a locking part of the retaining 
bracket into a receiver on the rear roof part with a slide pin. By means 
of this connecting member, the retaining bracket which connects the rear 
part to the rear roof part can be engaged during pivoting motion of the 
rear roof part without an additional drive. 
For locking of the latch part provided on the retaining bracket with the 
receiver on the rear roof part, it is advantageous if a locking element is 
actuated by a delivery cable of a drive which actuates the openable roof 
part. 
A vehicle especially suited to be equipped with the vehicle roof according 
to the invention has a stowage space located behind the front seats which 
preferably has a rear seat which includes a seating surface and a backrest 
and which can be used in the installed state of the vehicle roof as an 
emergency seat, the backrest being moved to behind the back of the front 
seats for enlarging the stowage space before roof conversion. Preferably, 
a telescoping wind deflector is integrated in the seat back of the 
emergency seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Vehicle 1 has chassis 2 with a vehicle roof designated 3 as a whole. 
Vehicle roof 3 is a so-called hard-top convertible vehicle roof which is 
formed form a plurality parts and can be inserted into the vehicle chassis 
2 as a roof module. Roof 3 adjoins the rear of a transverse windshield 
support 4 which acts as the front roof part of the roof and which runs 
above the front windshield of the vehicle 1. Modular convertible vehicle 
roof 3 comprises side roof parts 5 which are detachably interlocked with 
the apron 4 at their front end. At their rear end, the roof parts 5 are 
pivotally connected to a rear roof part 7. Each side roof part 5 has a 
guide rail 5A (FIGS. 10 & 11) which guides the mechanics of the openable 
roof part (cover) 6 in a manner generally known for sliding and lifting 
roofs. Cover 6 can be raised above the fixed vehicle roof or can be moved 
to the rear into an open position in which it is inserted into the rear 
roof part 7. 
Also, cover 6 can, alternatively, be movable in the manner of a spoiler 
roof into an open position where it overlies the rear roof part 7. 
Likewise, instead of a single cover 6, several covers or plates can be 
provided which in the open position are located above or below rear roof 
part 7. In one especially simple version which is not shown, the vehicle 
roof does not include a roof part which can be opened while driving or 
side roof parts; instead, the rear roof part extends fully forward so that 
its front edge directly adjoins apron 4. 
A rear part 8 into which rear window 9 is insertable rearwardly adjoins the 
rear roof part 7. Rear part 8 sits tightly on top of a cover flap 20 which 
forms a transition from the roof to a trunk hood (not shown) behind it. 
FIG. 3 shows different open positions of cover 6. The closed position of 
cover 6 is labelled 6A and is in solid lines, a raised position of cover 6 
is identified with broken lines as 6B, and a completely retracted, fully 
open position of cover 6, in which it is held by rear roof part 7, is 
shown in phantom outline as 6C. The cover is driven in the known manner of 
conventional sliding and lifting roofs, via compressively rigid cables 
(not shown), by means of an electric drive 16 which is located in rear 
roof part 7. 
Side roof parts 5, which are pivotally connected to rear roof part 7, can 
be swung inwardly against the rear roof part 7 by means of a drive 15 
after they have been disengaged from apron 4 and the roof package has been 
slightly tilted back. 
On chassis 2, in an area between the back of the front seat 28 (FIG. 1) and 
the rear seat backrest 29 (FIG. 1), in the area of the side wall, a 
triangular lever 13 (FIG. 3) is pivotally mounted at pivot 13C. Triangular 
lever 13 has an upper arm 13A and a lower arm 13B which meet roughly in 
the area of pivot 13C. The free end of lower arm 13B of triangular lever 
13 is connected to a swinging cylinder 14 in the form of a hydraulic 
piston-cylinder unit. The other end of swinging cylinder 14 is pivotally 
joined to chassis 2. By telescoping swinging cylinder 14 in and out, the 
triangular lever 13 can be pivoted in a defined angular range around pivot 
13C. The lower end of a hydraulic cylinder 11 and of a telescoping guide 
18 which is parallel to the cylinder 11 are permanently connected to 
triangular lever 13, and both are coupled at their upper end to a front 
lower corner of rear part 8. On an outer end of arm 13A (relative to pivot 
13C), furthermore, a lower end of another hydraulic cylinder 12 is 
attached, the upper end of cylinder 12 being coupled at a distance behind 
the coupling point of hydraulic cylinder 11 to rear part 8. Rear roof part 
7 is pivotally coupled to chassis 2 by means of swing arm lever 17. With 
the interlock between side roof parts 5 and apron 4 engaged, the apron 4, 
side roof parts 5 and rear roof part 7 form a rigid roll cage in 
conjunction with the swing arm lever 17. 
FIG. 3 shows a first opening phase of the vehicle roof 3. In this case, 
rear roof part 8 has been raised up from its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2, and relative to the rear roof part 7 and the cover flap 20, by 
extending hydraulic cylinders 11 and 12. 
In FIG. 4, the rear part 8 is being swung over rear roof part 7 by 
partially extending swinging cylinder 14 so as to rotate the triangular 
lever 13 in a forward (counterclockwise) direction. The rigid roll cage 
formed of the swing arm lever 17, rear roof part 7, side roof parts 5 and 
apron 4 remains unchanged in doing so. 
In FIG. 5 swinging cylinder 14 is fully extended. Triangular lever 13, 
thus, has been swung upward in a counterclockwise direction into its end 
position. Rear part 8 has come to rest completely over the rear roof part 
7. In this position, the rear part 8 and the rear roof part 7 are 
interlocked with one another. For this, there are hook-shaped elements on 
the inside of rear part 8 into which locking elements which can be 
extended from rear roof part 7 fit. These locking elements, preferably, 
are actuated by means of the drive 16 for cover 6 or by means of the drive 
15 for swinging of the side roof parts (FIG. 3). 
Between FIG. 5 position and the position which is shown in FIG. 6, the 
interlock between the side roof parts 5 and apron 4 is released. This 
interlock, as known of normal convertible roofs, can be actuated by means 
of a drive located in apron 4. After releasing the interlock between the 
side roof parts 5 and the apron 4, swinging cylinder 14 was partially 
retracted, by which the roof package of rear part 8 and rear roof part 7 
has moved backward by an amount with simultaneous guidance by triangular 
lever 13 and swing arm lever 17. In this phase, drives 15 are activated, 
by which side roof parts 5 are swung inward to rear roof part 7. 
In FIG. 7, swinging cylinder 14 is completely retracted, by which 
triangular lever 13 is pivoted into its position turned farthest downward. 
The roof package of rear roof part 7, rear part 8 and folded side roof 
parts 5 is thus swung into its rearmost position. By subsequently 
retracting hydraulic cylinder 11 and 12, as shown in FIG. 8, the roof 
package is lowered and completely retracted into stowage space 19. The 
roof package at this point is now completely lowered relative to the 
equator of vehicle 1 and is equivalent to a conventional "soft-top", 
fabric-roof, convertible and the cover flap 20 then covers stowage space 
19 from above. 
FIG. 9 shows the connecting point between the raised rear part 8 and cover 
flap 20 in detail. As is apparent there, rear part 8 carries a seal 22 
which engages on a sheet metal part 10 which is joined to cover flap 20. 
In this way, on the one hand, a good seal is achieved, and on the other, 
this connecting point is insensitive to tolerances, e.g., in the 
longitudinal direction of vehicle 1, and it can balance tolerances which 
arise in the production of chassis 2 and vehicle roof 3 in a range of 
several millimeters. FIG. 9, furthermore, shows a bulkhead 23 which 
separates the stowage space 19 from the trunk space 24, which is located 
behind it. Bulkhead 23 can be designed to be lowerable so that, with 
vehicle roof 3 raised, the trunk space 24 can be enlarged to include 
stowage space 19. Before lowering vehicle roof 3, bulkhead 23 is closed, 
and in this way, trunk space 24 again closed off from the stowage space 
19. 
FIG. 10 shows that vehicle 1 gives the impression of a closed coupe with 
vehicle roof 3 raised. In this position, the cover 6 can be moved into any 
of a number of open positions to increase ventilation beyond that 
obtainable by conventionally lowering side window 25 or rear side window 
26. In the area of the rear side window 26, inside therefrom, side cover 
flaps 20A are shown which yield a closed U-shaped cover part in 
conjunction with cover flap 20 when viewed from above. In this state, with 
rear seat backrest 29 shifted rearwardly as illustrated in FIG. 1, the 
rear seat can be used as an emergency seat. Before moving vehicle roof 3 
into stowage space 19, the rear seat back 29 is moved forward lengthwise 
on guide rails attached to the side walls of chassis 2, so that it rests 
on the rear of the front seat back 28. Preferably, an extendable wind 
bulkhead 30, which can be activated after completely lowering vehicle roof 
3, is integrated into the rear seat back 29. 
In FIG. 11, rear part 8 with completely opened cover 6 is shown being swung 
over the rear roof part 7 and interlocked with it. Side windows 25 and 
rear side windows 26 are completely lowered. Side cover flaps 20A are 
raised and the cover flap 20 swung upward, in order to render the stowage 
space 19 completely accessible from above for subsequent movement of the 
roof package therein. As can be seen from FIG. 12, another cover part 20B 
extends forward from cover flap 20. This cover part 20B acts in 
conjunction with side cover flaps 20A when the roof is in its closed 
position. In FIG. 12, the roof package has been partially swung to the 
rear and side roof parts 5 are shown being pivoted toward the rear roof 
part 7. 
FIG. 13 shows an entire modular vehicle roof 3 supplied as a part which is 
fitted into chassis 2. Vehicle roof 3 comprises side roof parts 5, rear 
roof part 7, rear part 8 and cover 6 and is delivered completely 
premounted and pretested. On the chassis 2, the cover flap 20 and side 
cover flaps 20A are mounted and opened. On chassis 2, swinging cylinder 14 
is premounted, and furthermore, attachment points 27 are provided to which 
cassette 21 can be attached in a manner that is height adjustable and also 
adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Cassette 21 is 
delivered with the vehicle roof 3, and the swing arm lever 17, triangular 
lever 13 and hydraulic cylinders 11 and 12 are premounted on the cassette 
21 along with the telescoping guide 18. By complete pretesting and 
premounting of the modular vehicle roof 3, the mounting cost for the 
vehicle manufacturer is reduced to a minimum, and the vehicle roof 3 can 
be mounted with only a simple adjustment of cassette 21 relative to 
attachment points 27 being required on the assembly line. 
In FIGS. 14-20, an alternative embodiment is shown. Here, vehicle 31 has a 
chassis 32 with a vehicle roof which is designated 33 as a whole, and 
which comprises several openable parts. As in the first embodiment, a roof 
part (cover 36) which can be opened in the manner of a conventional 
sliding sunroof or sliding-lifting sunroof is movably supported on side 
roof parts 35. Side roof parts 35, analogously to the first embodiment, 
with the vehicle roof closed, interlock with a transverse cross-piece 
running across the top of the windshield. The openable roof part 36, in 
the fully opened position (phantom line position in FIG. 14), is retracted 
into the rear roof part 37 behind it. Rear part 38 encloses rear window 39 
adjoins the rear roof part 37. 
Rear part 38 is pivotably connected by means of carrier rod 41 at upper 
pivot 41A. Carrier rod 41 is connected at its lower end 41B to carrier 
bracket 42 which is pivotably attached at pivot 42A on chassis bracket 43, 
which is fixed to the chassis. Carrier bracket 42 is joined to bracket 43 
such that a given swinging capacity of the two elements relative to one 
another can be suppressed during certain phases of motion by means of a 
lock 44. Locking is explained specifically in conjunction with FIG. 19. It 
is active in the positions of FIGS. 14-16 and is released with complete 
lowering between the position shown in FIG. 16 and the position shown in 
FIG. 17, so that in doing so relative motion between carrier rod 41 and 
carrier 42 can take place. 
Rear part 38, furthermore, is pivotably connected at pivot joint 45A to one 
end of the cover lever 45 and the other end of cover lever 45 is pivotably 
attached to chassis bracket 43 at pivot joint 45B. Between pivot joints 
45A and 45B, drive carrier 46 pivotably connected to cover lever 45 at 
pivot joint 46A; its other end 46B is pivotably connected to drive lever 
47. One end 47A of drive lever 47 is hinged on bracket 43; its other end 
is pivoted to a hydraulic cylinder 48 at 48A, for enabling the cylinder 48 
swing the rear part 38. The lower end of main cylinder 48 is hinged at a 
bearing 48B that is located permanently on the chassis. 
Drive lever 47 and cover lever 45 form a four bar mechanism with drive 
carrier 46 as a connecting rod and bracket 43 as a frame. At the same 
time, the cover lever 45 and carrier rod 41 (which is rigidly connected to 
carrier angle 42 when lock 44 is engaged) form a second four bar mechanism 
with rear element 38 acting as a connecting rod and bracket 43 acting as a 
frame. By means of this design, an especially stable and reliable guidance 
of rear element 38 is guaranteed in all phases of movement. 
Rear roof part 37 is pivotably connected to roof lever 49 at hinge 49A, and 
the lower end of the roof lever 49 is pivotably connected to chassis 32 at 
49B. In the base position according to FIG. 14, with side roof parts 35 
interlocked on the front apron of rear roof part 37, the rear roof part 37 
forms a stable roll cage with the roof levers 49 that are located on both 
sides of the roof. 
A connecting member 50 is pivotably connected to the roof lever 49 between 
joints 49A and 49B at hinge point 50A. Connecting member 50 has an 
S-shaped curve and its lower end makes sliding engagement with a guide pin 
51 which is mounted on the chassis. The sliding engagement of guide pin 51 
enables shifting and swinging of connecting member 50 around this guide 
pin 51. 
A retaining bracket 52 has a roughly U-shaped appearance and is pivoted to 
rear part 38 at a connecting point 52A and is connected to a sliding pin 
52B in an area between the two arms of the U shape. Sliding pin 52B 
slidingly engages connecting member 50 above guide pin 51. Retaining 
bracket 52 is shown enlarged in FIG. 20 and is described in detail below. 
It is used to join rear part 38 to rear roof part 37. 
FIG. 19 shows in detail the connection of carrier rod 41 to carrier bracket 
42 via lock 44. On the inside of carrier bracket 42, a hydraulic cylinder 
56 is attached which pushes a locking projection 57 back and forth with 
its piston. When the piston of hydraulic cylinder 56 is extended, locking 
projection 57 engages a latch catch 58 which is attached on the inside of 
carrier rod 41. A switching clip 59 is attached laterally to locking 
projection 57 and interacts with two microswitches 60A and 60B for 
deactivation of hydraulic cylinder 56 in its two end positions. The 
interlocking position of lock 44 shown in FIG. 19 corresponds to the 
phases of motion shown in FIGS. 14 through 16. As the vehicle roof is 
lowered further from the position shown in FIG. 16 into the end position 
of FIG. 17, the locking projection 57 is disengaged from the latch catch 
58, by which carrier rod 41 turns relative to guide angle 42, thereby 
enabling a flatter retraction of the roof package into stowage space 62. 
FIG. 20 shows the mechanics used to lock the rear part 38 to rear roof part 
37. Retaining bracket 52 has a somewhat shorter front arm 53 which serves 
as a locking part. A receiver 54 adapted to the shape of this locking part 
53 is attached to the bottom of rear roof part 37. When rear part 38 moves 
out of the position shown in FIG. 14 into the position shown in FIG. 15, 
the retaining bracket 52 is dragged upward at the same time by its 
connection to rear part 38 at joint 52A. By the engagement of sliding pin 
52B with connecting member 50, the locking part 53 is inserted exactly 
into receiver 54 as a result of its swinging motion. After locking part 53 
is guided by receiver 54, sliding pin 52B leaves connecting member 50 at 
its upper end. When the swinging motion of rear part 38 ends, locking part 
53 is pushed completely into receiver 54, hole 67 provided in locking part 
53 lies congruently to hole 66 in receiver 54. By brief actuation of the 
drive for movable roof part 36, the drive not being shown, but which is 
positioned analogously to the first embodiment and is labelled 16 in FIG. 
3, locking pin 65 (which is connected to a drive cable 63 and which is 
movably supported in a guide piece 64 on receiver 54) is pushed as a catch 
element into the two holes 66 and 67, by which complete interlocking of 
rear part 38 with rear roof part 37 is effected. Retaining bracket 52 on 
its longer arm has a bearing projection 55 on its outer side and against 
which the bottom of rear part 38 rests as the result of its own weight and 
also remains in constant contact during the following swinging movements. 
In the following, the sequence of movements produced when the vehicle roof 
is opened is described using FIGS. 14-17. 
In FIG. 14, openable roof part 36 is retracted into rear roof part 37. Side 
roof parts 35 are still interlocked with the front transverse windshield 
support. The side windows are lowered. By extending main cylinder 48, the 
drive lever 47 is moved in a counterclockwise direction around bearing 
point 47A. Since the drive carrier 46 couples the drive lever 47 to the 
cover lever 45, the cover lever 45 follows this pivoting movement. Carrier 
rod 41, which is rigidly connected to carrier bracket 42 by means of lock 
44, guides rear part 38, additionally, by pivoting around bearing point 
42A of carrier bracket 42. By extending main cylinder 48, the rear part 38 
executes a swinging motion, in the first phase of which it is raised to 
the outside from rear roof part 37 and the cover flap 61 on which it sits 
tightly in the closed state from the top. In the second phase of the 
swinging motion, rear part 38 is swung over rear roof part 37. In this 
case, the retaining bracket 52, as described above, is dragged upward at 
the same time and causes interlocking of rear part 38 with rear roof part 
37. In the position reached at this point, which is shown in FIG. 15, side 
roof parts 35 are released from the front transverse windshield support 4 
and are pivoted laterally inward against rear roof part 37. Subsequently, 
the main cylinder 48 is retracted causing the roof package formed by side 
roof parts 35, openable roof part 36, rear roof part 37 and rear part 38 
to swing rearward into the position shown in FIG. 16. The roof package is 
supported here on cover lever 45, carrier rod 41 and roof lever 49. Before 
swinging from the position shown in FIG. 15 into the position shown in 
FIG. 16, the cover flap 61, at its front edge, is swung upwards in order 
to expose the stowage space 62 in the rear part of the vehicle. In the 
view shown in FIG. 16, lock 44 between carrier rod 41 and carrier bracket 
42 is released, so that, when the main cylinder 48 is completely 
retracted, the roof package rests flat in stowage space 62, and thus, 
adapts to the contour of the vehicle. After complete retraction into 
stowage space 62 (FIG. 17), cover flap 61 is closed. The vehicle now looks 
like a convertible with cover completely lowered. 
The process of closing the two roof modules proceeds in the reverse 
sequence to the described opening process. It goes without saying for one 
skilled in the art that all parts for swinging and locking the roof parts 
in the two versions, even though described above in the singular, are 
provided on each of the two vehicle sides. In the second version, the 
attachment points located permanently on the chassis, such as bracket 43, 
bearing 48B of main cylinder 48, support 49B of roof lever 49 and the 
support of guide pin 51, are preferably combined in a cassette, which can 
be adjusted via horizontal and vertical longitudinal holes relative to 
chassis 32 during installation. 
By means of the invention, a convertible vehicle roof is devised which when 
closed due to the rigid parts used exclusively in doing so offers the 
complete protection against weather effects and accidents of a closed 
hardtop sedan or coupe and which, however, in the retracted state offers 
all advantages of a typical fabric roof convertible. Based on the 
subdivision of the vehicle roof into a rear roof part and a rear part 
which can be swung one over the other, the required stowage space for the 
entire roof package is reduced and the interface of the vehicle roof to 
cover flap 20 or 61 attached permanently to the chassis can be more easily 
handled with respect to sealing properties and tolerance compensation. 
By combining all attachment points of the roof module which are to be 
permanently attached to the chassis in a cassette, pretesting and 
installation of such a roof module is greatly simplified. 
While various embodiments in accordance with the present invention have 
been shown and described, it is understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto, and is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications 
as known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not 
limited to the details shown and described herein, and includes all such 
changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended 
claims.