A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A MANUALLY OPENABLE RIGID ROOF

Abstract: The roof (2) includes an opaque front part (3) and a transparent rear part (4) and is pivotally supported by two rear lateral supports (6) about a transverse axis (A). The boot lid (8) has a central recess (8b) in which the roof (2) is housed when it is pivoted backwards into the open position.

Description: A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A MANUALLY OPENABLE RIGID ROOF The present invention concerns a motor vehicle having an openable rigid roof. A primary object of the invention is to provide an openable rigid roof which can be moved from the open position to the closed position (and vice versa) by a single simple manoeuvre, without requiring the removal of the roof itself. This object is realised by way of a motor vehicle having the characteristics defined in the appended Claim 1. A further object of the invention is to provide an openable rigid roof which, when open, does not spoil the aesthetic appearance of the motor vehicle. This object is achieved by means of a motor vehicle having the characteristics defined in the appended Claim Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section taken along one of the hinges of the roof; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear three quarters of the motor vehicle in which the roof is shown in an intermediate position. A motor vehicle generally indicated 1 is provided with a roof 2 of curved profile, having an opaque front part 3 and a transparent rear part 4. The roof 2 could also be manufactured as a single piece from a material of variable transparency. The roof 2 is releasably connected at its front end to the upper cross-member of the windscreen 5 and is pivoted at its rear end about a horizontal transverse axis A on two pillars 6 of the vehicle body, which also function as roll-bars, as attachments for the safety belts, and containers for the side air bags. A fixed, rearwardly-inclined, rear window is indicated 7. A boot lid indicated 8 closes the top and rear of the luggage compartment 9. The boot lid 8 is pivoted on the two uprights 6 about the same pivot axis A as the roof 2 by means of two upwardly-inclined projections 8a disposed between the uprights 6 and the rear edge of the roof 2. The boot lid 8 has a central recess 8b in its upper surface which forms a concave seat in which the convex roof 2 is housed when it has been pivoted rearwardly about the axis A to its open position. In this position, the boot lid 8 may be opened in the conventional way, carrying with it the roof fixed thereto by means which are not shown. Therefore, in its open position the roof 2 is at the same level as the side edges of the upper part of the boot lid 8 and its transparent part 4 does not obscure visibility through the rear window 7. The fact that the roof 2, in its open position, is housed in the boot lid 8, means that it does not spoil the aesthetic appearance of the motor vehicle in this condition.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A motor vehicle having a manually openable rigid roof, characterised in that the roof (2) has an opaque front part (3) releasably connected at its front end to the upper cross-member of the windscreen (5) , and a rear part (4) which is, or which may be, transparent, pivoted about a horizontal transverse axis (A) on two side pillars (6) of the vehicle body so that the roof (2) can be opened by pivoting rearwardly about the said transverse axis (A) until it rests on the boot lid (8) . 2. A motor vehicle according to Claim 1, characterised in that the boot lid (8) is pivoted on the vehicle body about the same hinge axis (A) as the roof (2) by means of two upwardly-inclined front uprights (8a) and has an upper central recess (8b) forming a seat for housing the roof (2) which, in its open position, is at the same level as the side edges of the upper part of the boot lid (8) .

Inventors: FIORAVANTI LEONARDO, FIORAVANTI, LEONARDO
Applicants: FIORAVANTI SRL, FIORAVANTI S.R.L.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B60J7
IPC codes: B60J7