CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE

Abstract: A convertible vehicle body including a roof structure which comprises a front roof panel section (7) and a rear roof panel section (8) both of a rigid structure. The front roof panel section is supported by a swingable pillar (10) of an inverted U-shape which has a pair of legs (11) pivotably connected to side panels (F) of the body for movement between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the front roof panel section is retracted into a storing space located just behind the rear seat (51) provided in the passenger compartment. The rear roof panel section is mounted so that it can be drawn into a rear storing space provided in the rear package space of the body by being guided by a guide mechanism incuding guide rails (33,34) in the rear storing section and sliding shoes (36,37) provided on the rear roof panel section.

Description: The present invention relates to a vehicle body structure and more particularly to a convertible vehicle body structure. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a convertible vehicle body having a roof structure which is divided into front and rear roof portions which are retracted separately into the vehicle body. Description of the Prior Art A typical type of convertible vehicle body is the one which has a roof structure made of a foldable hood. Since the foldable hood is flexible in nature, it has a tendency of fluttering under a high speed operation of the vehicle. Further, the foldable hood structure does not give an attractive appearance. The Japanese laid-open patent application JP-A-57617/78 corresponding to the Italian patent application IT-A-69625/76A filed in Italy on November 2, 1976 (see also FR-A-2369113, GB-A-1566587, US-A-4165122 or DE-A-2747835) discloses a convertible vehicle body structure having a rigid roof. According to the teaching of the Japanese patent application,the front part of the roof is separated from the rear part and the front part is retracted by means of a linkage and a guide mechanism into a space provided behind the passenger's seats. The Japanese patent application however does not teach at all with respect to the rear part of the roof. The British patent GB-A-2,086,316 discloses a convertible vehicle body which has roof structure including a rigid front roof panel and a foldable rear hood section. The front roof panel is designed so that it can be removed by hand. The rear hood section has at a front edge portion a roll hoop member of an inverted U-shape which is swingable between an extended position in which the hoop member stands upright from the body and a retracted position in which the hoop member is retracted into the body. The structure disclosed by the British patent is disadvantageous in that the front roof panel must be removed by hand to obtain an open top feature. Further, the foldable hood adopted in the rear section does not make the appearance of the body attractive. The U.S. patent US-A-2,939,742 discloses a convertible vehicle body structure including a roof structure having a front and rear roof sections both made of rigid panels. The front roof panel is hinged at the rear edge portion to the front edge portion of the rear roof panel and the front and rear roof panels are moved simultaneously between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the roof panels are laid one over the other and stored in a rear portion of the vehicle body. The structure proposed by the U.S. patent is not recommendable in that it would not be easy to secure the space for storing the roof panels because of the interference with the tire houses for the rear wheels. Further, the mechanism for actuating the roof panels will become complicated. The U.S. patent US-A-4,557,502 discloses another type convertible vehicle body which has a roll bar of an inverted U-shape for supporting a rear edge portion of a rigid roof panel. The roof panel is removed by hand and the roll bar is powered to move between an extended position and a retracted position. This structure is not convenient for providing an open top feature because the roof panel must be manually removed. Further, the structure cannot be easily applied to a vehicle body having rear seats. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has an object to provide a convertible vehicle body having a rigid roof structure which can be readily retracted into the body structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a roof structure for a convertible vehicle body which are divided into a front and rear roof sections which are retractable into the body structure. A further object of the present invention is to provide a convertible vehicle body including a roof structure having a front and rear roof sections which are retractable into different portions of the vehicle body. According to the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a convertible vehicle body including a body structure having front windshield means, side panel means defining a side belt line at upper edge portions thereof, a passenger compartment provided in the body structure rearwards the front windshield means and between the side panel means, characterised by a roof structure including a rigid front roof panel section and a rigid rear roof panel section, swingable pillar means connected with said front roof panel section and having leg means pivotably connected with said side panel means for movement together with said front roof panel section between an erected position wherein said front roof panel section is engaged at a front edge portion with said front windshield means and a retracted position wherein said swingable pillar means and said front roof panel section are stored in a front storing section provided in said body structure rearwards the passenger compartment, a rear storing section provided in said body structure rearwards the front storing section, guide means provided in said rear storing section and inclined downwards toward rearward, slide means connected with said rear roof panel section and movable along said guide means whereby said rear roof panel section is movable between an extended position wherein said rear roof panel section is engaged at a front edge portion with a rear edge portion of the front roof panel section and a retracted position wherein said rear roof panel section is retracted into said rear storing section. According to the features of the present invention, the front and rear roof panel sections are stored in different storing sections so that a versatility is obtained in determining the locations of the storing sections. For example, the front storing section for storing the front roof panel section may be provided just behind the passenger's seats which will be provided in the passenger compartment. The rear storing section may be located with a space with respect to the front storing section. For example, the rear storing section may be located rearwards the rear tire houses which may be provided in said side panel means. Thus, according to the features of the present invention, the external profile of the vehicle body will not be affected by the provision of the storing sections for the front and rear roof panel sections. Further developments in line with the invention defined in claim 1 are referred to in the dependent claims. The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of a preferred embodiment taking reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle body in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism for moving the front roof panel section; Figure 3 is a view as seen in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the mechanism for moving the rear roof panel section; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the front roof panel section and the swingable pillar; Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C in Figure 6; and, Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line D-D in Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figure 1, there is shown a vehicle body 1 having a front windshield assembly 3 provided at an upper edge portion with a front header 4. The body 1 further has a pair of said panels each including a rear fender F defining a side belt line 12 at an upper edge portion thereof. The rear fender F has a front edge which defines a side door opening in which a side door 14 is positioned. A rear body section 5 is provided by the the rear fenders F and other panel members which are well known in the art. In the body 1, there is defined a passenger compartment 6 including a front compartment section 6a and a rear compartment section 6b. In order to cover the top portion of the compartment 6, there is provided a roof structure 2 which includes a front roof panel section 7 and a rear roof panel section 8. The rear roof panel section 8 is provided with a transparent rear window glass panel 9. As shown in Figure 6, the front roof panel section 7 is connected with a swingable pillar 10 of a substantially inverted U-shape. The swingable pillar has a pair of leg portions 11 and an intermediate portion 11a and the intermediate portion 11a is attached to the inner surface of the front roof panel section 7. The front roof panel section 7 is of a substantially rigid structure and may be made of a molded plastic material. Similarly, the rear roof panel section 8 is of a substantially rigid structure and may be made of a suitable material such as steel sheets or other sheet metal. Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section of the front roof panel section 7. As shown, the roof panel section 7 has a peripheral portion of an increased thickness so that the rigidity of the panel section is increased. A weather strip 7a is provided along the rear edge. The swingable pillar 10 is of a closed cross-section including an outer panel 10a and an inner panel 10b which are welded together. At the intermediate portion 11a the pillar 10 is adhesively attached to the inner surface of the front roof panel section 7. Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that the rear fender F includes an inner panel 13 and an outer panel 13a which are welded together with an appropriate spacing therebetween. At each side of the vehicle body 1, the leg portion 11 of the swingable pillar 10 is pivotably connected with the inner panel 13 of the rear fender F by means of a pivot pin 15 which is provided in the vicinity of the front edge portion of the front fender F. At the lower end portion, the leg portion 11 of the swingable pillar 10 is attached with an arm 11b which extends into the space between the inner panel 13 and the outer panel 13a of the rear fender F. A front roof driving mechanism is provided in the space between the inner panel 13 and the outer panel 13a and includes an electric motor 23. The motor 23 has an output shaft connected with a worm 22 which is engaged with a worm wheel 22a. A second worm 21a is provided coaxially on the worm wheel 22a and engaged with a worm wheel 21 which has a shaft secured to one end of a lever 24. The other end of the lever 24 is pivotably connected through a pivot pin 25 with one end of a link 26 which is in turn pivotably connected at the other end through a pivot pin 11c with the arm 11b. Figure 2 shows the linkage in a position wherein the front roof panel section 7 is in the extended or erected position to cover the front top portion of the passenger compartment 6. In this position, the lever 24 and the link 26 extend substantially along a straight line. The front roof panel section 7 is engaged at the front edge with the front header 4 of the front windshield. An appropriate weather strip may be provided on the front header 4. When the motor 23 is operated to rotate the worm wheel 21 in the direction shown by an arrow B, the arm 11b is turned in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2. The swingable pillar 10 is then swung in the same direction so that the front roof panel section 7 is retracted in the rear body section 5. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle body 1 is provided with front seats 50 in the front compartment 6a and rear seats 51 in the rear compartment 6b. Before retracting the front roof panel section 7, the seat back of the rear seat 51 is folded forwardly as shown by phantom lines in Figure 1 and the front roof panel section 7 is retracted in the position shown by dotted lines 7b in Figure 1. In this embodiment, a storing section for the front roof panel section 7 is provided just behind the rear seats 51. It will be noted that the front roof panel section 7 can be stored in front of tire houses T formed in the rear fender F for providing spaces for the rear wheels W. Referring now to Figure 4, it will be noted that the rear body section 5 is provided with a package space 30 which is intended to store packages for the passengers. In the package space 30, the inner panel of the rear fender F at each side is provided with a roof guide assembly 31 which includes a first guide rail 33 and a second guide rail 34 both of a channel shaped cross-section. It will be noted in Figure 4 that the first guide rail 33 is substantially straight. The second guide rail 34 which is located rearwards the first guide rail 33 is substantially straight in a substantial part of its length and arranged in parallel with the first guide rail 33. It should be noted, however, that the upper portion of the second guide rail 34 is bent upwardly as shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, the rear roof section 8 has a rear pillar portion 32 at each side. It is preferable that the first and section guide rails 33 and 34 are oriented to incline downwards toward rearward and the angle of inclination is substantially the same as that of the rear pillar portion 32 of the rear roof panel section 8. A sliding plate 35 has a pair of sliding shoes 36 and 37 which are respectively engaged with the guide rails 33 and 34. The sliding plate 35 is secured to the lower end portion of the rear roof panel section 8. There is provided a driving mechanism 40 for driving the rear roof panel section 8. The driving mechanism 40 includes a driving motor 47 which has an output shaft connected with a worm 46. The worm 46 is engaged with a worm wheel 46a which is integral with a driving drum 43 as shown in Figure 8. A wire 44 is wound around the driving drum 43 and passed around pulleys 41 and 42 provided on the inner panel of the rear fender F at the opposite end portions of the guide mechanism 40. The first pulley 41 is located adjacent to and in front of the upper end portion of the guide rail 33. The second pulley 42 is located adjacent to and in front of the lower end portion of the guide rail 34. The wire 44 is fixed to the sliding plate 35 at the opposite ends so that a rotation of the motor 47 is transmitted through the worm mechanism and the wire 44 to the sliding plate 35 to drive the rear roof panel section 8 between an extended position shown by solid lines in Figure 1 and a retracted position wherein the roof panel section 8 is retracted along the guide mechanism 40 into the package space 30 as shown by phantom lines in Figure 1. In order to maintain the wire under a sufficient tension, there may be provided a wire tensioner 45 of a known type. In Figure 1, the phantom line 8a designates the trace of the front edge of the rear roof panel section 8 in the course of movement between the extended position and the retracted position. In operating the roof structure 2 from the extended position to the retracted position, the rear roof panel section 8 is at first started to move so that the panel section 8 is slidably retracted along the guide mechanism 40. In the course of the movement, the front edge of the panel section 8 is at first lifted and then moved downward along the line 8a. The front edge of the rear roof panel section 8 is engaged with the weather strip 7a in the extended position as shown in Figure 7. By moving the rear panel section as described above, it is possible to prevent the weather strip 7a from being damaged by the movement of the rear roof panel 8. This movement of the front edge of the rear roof panel section 8 can be accomplished by the configuration of the second guide rail 34 as previously described. When the rear roof panel section 8 is moved by a sufficient extent, the front roof panel section 7 is started to move. Thus, the front roof panel section 7 is actuated to the retracted position. It will be noted in Figure 1 that the storing section for the front roof panel section 7 is provided just behind the rear seats 51 but in front of the rear tire house T. The storing section for the rear roof panel section 8 is spaced rearwardly from the storing section for the front roof panel section 7 and located rearwards the rear tire house T. The structure described above provides a versatility for designing the profile of the vehicle body without being restricted by possible interference between the tire house and the roof panel storing section. The vehicle body as illustrated is of a type having rear seats, however, the concept of the present invention can be applied even to a vehicle body having only front seats.

Claims: 1. A convertible vehicle body comprising a front windshield (3), side panel means (F) defining a side belt line (12) at upper edge portions thereof, and a passenger compartment (6) provided rearwardly of the front windshield and between the side panel means; characterised by a roof structure including a rigid front roof panel section (7) and a rigid rear roof panel section (8), swingable pillar means (10) connected with the front roof panel section (7) and having leg means (11) pivotably connected with the side panel means for movement together with the front roof panel section between an extended position wherein the front roof panel section is engaged at a front edge portion with the front windshield and a retracted position wherein the swingable pillar means and the front roof panel section are stored in a front storing section provided rearwardly of the passenger compartment, a rear storing section, provided rearwardly of the front storing section, guide means (33, 34) provided in the rear storing section and inclined downwardly and rearwardly, slide means (36, 37) connected with the rear roof panel section and movable along the guide means whereby the rear roof panel section is movable between an extended position wherein the rear roof panel section is engaged at a front edge portion with a rear edge portion (7a) of the front roof panel section and a retracted position wherein the rear roof panel section is retracted into the rear storing section. 2. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 1, in which the side panel means (F) includes inner panel means (13) and outer panel means (13a) which are connected together with a space therebetween, the means (11) extending downwardly beyond the side belt line (12) and being pivotably connected to the inner panel means. 3. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 1, which includes power drive means (23) connected through link means (24, 26) to a lower portion of the leg means (11) of the swingable pillar means (10) to drive the swingable pillar means. 4. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 3, in which the link means for connecting the power drive means with the leg means of the swingable pillar means includes two link members (24, 26). 5. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 4, in which the link members (24, 26) of the link means are connected together so that the link means extend substantially along a straight line when the front roof panel section is in the extended position. 6. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 5, in which the side panel means (F) includes inner panel means (13) and outer panel means (13a) which are connected together with a space therebetween, the power drive means (23) and the link means (24, 26) being positioned in the space in the side panel means (F), and the leg means (11) of the swingable pillar means (10) and the link means (24, 26) being connected through arm means (11b) which extends through the inner panel means. 7. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide means includes a pair of substantially parallel guide rails (33, 34). 8. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 7, in which one of the guide rails (34) is positioned rearwardly of the other (33) of the guide rails. 9. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 8, in which the one guide rail (34) is curved upwardly at its upper end. 10. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the leg means (11) of the swingable pillar means (10) is provided with sliding shows (36, 37) respectively engaged with the guide rails (33, 34). 11. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 10, in which the guide rails (33, 34) are of a channel shaped cross-section. 12. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, which further includes second power drive means (47) connected with the rear roof panel section (8) for driving the section (8) along the guide means (33, 34). 13. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 12, in which the second power drive means (47) includes wire means (44) passed around pulley means (41, 42) and connected with the rear roof panel section (8) at the opposite ends thereof. 14. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 13 when dependent at least on claim 7, in which the pulley means including a first pulley (41) located adjacent to and in front of an upper end portion of a forward one (33) of the pair of guide rails, and a second pulley (42) located afjacent to and in front of a lower end portion of a rearward one (42) of the pair of guide rails. 15. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 13 or claim 14, in which the second power drive means (47) includes a driving drum (43) on which the wire means (44) is wound. 16. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, in which the swingable pillar means (10) is of an inverted U-shape having an intermediate portion (11a) attached to an inner surface of the front roof panel section (7). 17. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, in which the front storing section is located behind passenger seat means (50, 51) provided in the passenger compartment (6). 18. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, which includes a rear body section provided with rear tire house means (T), the front storing section being located in front of the tire house means, and the rear storing section being located rearwardly of the tire house means. 19. A vehicle body in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, which includes a rear body section (5) provided with a package space, the rear storing section being provided in the package space.

Inventors: KONISHI, TAKESHI, TUCHIYA, TAKANORI
Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60J7
IPC codes: B60J7