Abstract:
A water management system for directing fluid away from a gap defined between adjacent panels of a folding hardtop of a vehicle. The water management system includes first and second seals and a tube. The seals are disposed along respective gaps between adjacent panels. Each seal has a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap. The tube is in fluid communication with the troughs of both seals and directs the fluid to an external location of the vehicle.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/636,400, filed on Dec. 15, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to retractable tops for automotive vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a water management system for collecting and guiding liquid away from a retractable top. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A retractable top for an automotive vehicle typically includes at least two panels hinged for movement between an extended position disposed end to end to cover a passenger compartment and a retracted or stowed position disposed in a compartment behind the passenger compartment. The panels typically abut to define a gap or seam in which a water management structure in the form of a seal is positioned to prevent liquid from leaking between the panels and into the passenger compartment. It remains desirable to provide an improved water management system for directing water between the seam and an exterior area of the vehicle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a water management system for a folding hardtop of a vehicle is provided, where the hardtop has at least two panels movable to an extended position covering the passenger compartment, and where the panels are positioned end to end defining a gap therebetween. The water management system includes a seal and a tube. The seal is disposed between the panels to prevent liquid from passing through the gap into the passenger compartment. The seal has a trough for collecting fluid entering the gap. The tube is in fluid communication with the trough, through which the fluid collected in the trough is directed away from the gap. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a water management system is provided for a folding hardtop of a vehicle, wherein the hardtop has at least one panel movable to an extended position covering the passenger compartment. The water management system includes a first seal and a second seal disposed along opposite ends of the at least one panel. Each seal has a trough for collecting fluid passing over respective ends of the panel. A tube is in fluid communication with the troughs of both the first and second seals, through which the fluid collected in the troughs is directed away from the ends of the at least one panel. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a water management system is provided for a folding hardtop of a vehicle, wherein the hardtop has at least one panel movable to an extended position covering the passenger compartment. The water management system includes a first seal and a second seal disposed along opposite ends of the at least one panel. Each seal has a trough for collecting fluid passing over respective ends of the panel. A first tube is in communication with the trough of the first seal. A second tube is in communication with the trough of the second seal. A third tube is coupled to both the first and second tubes for receiving fluid from therefrom and directing the fluid to an external location of the vehicle. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a retractable top having a water management system according to one embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged front perspective view of a portion of a water management system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged rear perspective view of the portion of the water management system of  FIG. 2  with a first tube coupled to a first seal; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged rear perspective view of the water management system of  FIG. 3  without the first tube; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear perspective view of the retractable top incorporating a water management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged front perspective view of the water management system of  FIG. 5  with a third tube routed to an exterior area of the vehicle; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the water management system of  FIG. 5  with a second seal coupled to first, second and third tubes by a connector; and 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of the water management system of  FIG. 7  without the second tube. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a water management system for a retractable top of an automotive vehicle. The top also includes a mechanism for articulating the top between an extended position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) covering a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a retracted or stowed position (not shown) disposed in a recess adjacent the passenger compartment. Typically, the top includes at least two panels. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the top  10  includes a front panel  12 , a rear panel  14 , and a middle panel  16  extending therebetween. A front seam or gap  18  is defined between the front  12  and middle  16  panels. Similarly, a rear gap  20  is defined between the middle  16  and rear  14  panels. Described in greater detail below, the inventive water management system collects and directs liquid away from the front  18  and rear  20  gaps defined between the panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  of the top  10 . Although one side of the top  10  and water management system is described below, it should be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the top  10  and the water management system are preferably symmetrically opposite about a fore and aft centerline of the vehicle. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the water management system includes a first seal  30  that extends longitudinally along the front gap  18 . The first seal  30  defines a bottom wall  32  and two spaced apart side walls  34 ,  36 . The bottom wall  32  extends transversely between the side walls  34 ,  36 . The side walls  34 ,  36  extend orthogonally from the bottom wall  32  to define a longitudinally extending and generally U-shaped trough  40 . Free ends of the side walls  34 ,  36  are preferably generally bulb shaped. 
   An aperture  42  is formed in one of the side walls  34 . A nozzle  44  ( FIG. 4 ) is integrally formed with the side wall  34  during mold formation of the first seal  30 , such that the nozzle  44  is axially aligned with the aperture  42 . The nozzle  44  extends axially outwardly from the side wall  34 . The nozzle  44  has a plurality of radially extending barbs  46 . The nozzle  44  is substantially rigid and formed from a plastic material, such as polypropylene. 
   A second seal  30 ′ extends longitudinally along the rear gap  20 . The second seal  30 ′ ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) has substantially the same construction as the first seal  30 , except that the aperture  42 ′ is formed in the bottom wall  32 ′ and the nozzle  44 ′ extends outwardly from the bottom wall  32 ′. In one embodiment, the seals  30 ,  30 ′ are mold formed from a rubber material, such as EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a first tube  60  extends between a proximal end  60   a  and a distal end  60   b . The proximal end  60   a  of the first tube  60  is coupled to the nozzle  44  of the first seal  30 . A second tube  62  extends between a proximal end  62   a  and a distal end  62   b . The proximal end  62   a  of the second tube  62  is coupled to the nozzle  44 ′ of the second seal  30 ′. A third tube  64  extends between a proximal end  64   a  and a distal end  64   b . A Y- or T-shaped tube connector  70  includes three prongs for connecting the proximal end  64   a  of the third tube  64  to the distal ends  60   b ,  62   b  of the first  60  and second  62  tubes. The distal end  64   b  of the third tube  64  is directed toward an exterior region of the vehicle. Exterior region means anywhere outside of the passenger compartment. By this arrangement, the troughs  40 ,  40 ′ are in continuous fluid communication with the tubes  60 ,  62 ,  64  and the exterior region of the vehicle. 
   In one embodiment, the first  30  and second  30 ′ seals are fixedly secured to opposite ends of the middle panel  16  panel for movement therewith. By this arrangement, the first tube  60  can have a substantially fixed length. In other embodiments, one or both of the seals  30 ,  30 ′ may be coupled to the front  12  and rear  14  panels, thereby requiring a tube  60  that is flexible in length to accommodate the relative displacement of the panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  during movement of the top  10  between the extended and retracted positions. 
   It should be readily appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the ends  60   b ,  62   b ,  64   a  of the first  60 , second  62  and third  64  tubes may be integrally formed together instead of using the tube connector  70  as described above. Similarly, the tubes  60 ,  62 ,  64  may be integrally formed to the seals  30 ,  30 ′ rather than coupled to the nozzles  44 ,  44 ′ as previously described. 
   In use the first seal  30  is fixedly secured to one of the front  12  and middle  16  panels. Similarly, the second seal  30  is fixedly secured to one of the middle  16  and rear  14  panels. The seals  30 ,  30 ′ and tubes  60 ,  62 ,  64  are flexible to accommodate movement of the top  10  between the extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, the free ends of the first seal  30  are pressed together between front  12  and middle  16  panels  16  and the free ends of the second seal  30 ′ are pressed together between the middle  16  and rear  14  panels to prevent liquid from passing between the panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  and into troughs  40 ,  40 ′. Liquid passing, however, between the free ends is collected in the troughs  40 ,  40 ′. The liquid is directed toward the apertures  42 ,  42 ′ and into the first  60  and second  62  tubes. Liquid from the first  60  and second  62  tubes, in turn, is directed via the connector  70  into the third tube  64 . The liquid is then expelled through the distal end  64   b  of the tube to the exterior region of the vehicle. 
   The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is, therefore, to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.