Abstract:
A retractable top for a Jeep® CJ- 7 ® or Wrangler® or other vehicle with an open passenger compartment and an open rear compartment. The top attaches to the floor of the open rear compartment. A number of expanding linkage arms allow the cover to be deployed forwardly over both the rear compartment and the passenger compartment. Windscreen brackets fasten the cover to the vehicle&#39;s windscreen.

Description:
This application is a continuation of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/175,253, filed Jan. 10, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to a retractable top for a vehicle, and in particular to a retractable top for the Jeep® CJ-7® or Wrangler®. These two vehicles have an open passenger compartment and an open rear compartment for carrying gear. An optional soft top is available that can be attached to the vehicle to enclose the passenger compartment, but to do so requires a number of snap fasteners to be engaged, taking several minutes. In the event of inclement weather, passengers and gear may get wet while this soft top is fastened to the vehicle. 
     There is a need for a retractable top for a CJ-7® or wrangle® that can be attached to the floor of the rear compartment and quickly and easily deployed over the passenger compartment. 
     The retractable cover must be able to rise far enough to cover the high roll bar in the rear compartment of the vehicle, yet must be compact enough in the folded state to fit within the cramped dimensions of the rear compartment. For example, the cover must rise at least twenty-nine inches to clear the roll bar, yet when folded must take up at most fourteen inches of vertical space in the rear compartment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A retractable top for a vehicle, the vehicle resting on the ground, the vehicle having an open passenger compartment with a windscreen and door openings and an open rear compartment rearward of the passenger compartment, the rear compartment having a floor, the retractable top comprising: 
     a) a pair of substantially horizontal support plates attachable to the floor of the rear compartment and a substantially vertical base plate attachable to each of the substantially horizontal support plates; 
     b) a plurality of expanding linkage arms adapted to moving the retractable top from a fully retracted position in which the retractable top is folded upon itself within the open rear compartment to a fully deployed position covering the passenger compartment; and 
     c) right and left windscreen brackets attachable to the vehicle&#39;s windscreen and right and left windscreen clips locking the retractable top to the respective right and left windscreen brackets. 
     A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that is attachable to an unmodified Jeep® CJ-7® or Wrangler®. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it can be deployed from a retracted position in a matter of seconds. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it takes up very little vertical space in the vehicle&#39;s rear compartment when the cover is retracted. Thus, it does not block the driver&#39;s rear view of the road. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it seals the passenger compartment from the sides as well as from the top. 
     Another principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it has sufficient vertical displacement to clear a roll bar in the rear compartment. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the retractable top of the present invention, shown in the deployed position, with the fabric cover removed to show internal parts; 
     FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the retractable top being retracted to a point between the deployed position and retracted position; 
     FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the retractable top approaching the retracted position; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle with the retractable top in the deployed position, with the fabric cover removed; 
     FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but shows the fabric cover in place; 
     FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, with the retractable top in the retracted position; 
     FIG. 7 is front perspective view of the vehicle, with the retractable top in the deployed position; 
     FIG. 8 is a detail of the left and right door brackets of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a detail of the attachment of the top frame of the present invention to the vehicle&#39;s windscreen. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The retractable top of the present invention is generally shown in the Figures as reference numeral  100 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, a vehicle V is shown, having an open passenger compartment P with a windscreen W and door openings  0  and an open rear compartment R rearward of the passenger compartment P, the rear compartment R having a floor F. 
     A retractable top  100  is attached to the floor F of the open rear compartment R by attaching means  110 . 
     A plurality of expanding linkage arms  120  are adapted to move the retractable top  100  from a fully retracted position (FIGS. 3 and 6) to a fully deployed position (FIGS.  1  and  4 ). In the fully retracted position, the retractable top  100  is folded upon itself within the rear compartment R. In the fully deployed position, the retractable top  100  covers the passenger compartment P. 
     The retractable top  100  also comprises means  130  for removably locking the retractable top  100  to the vehicle&#39;s windscreen W. 
     Turning now to FIG. 1, more detail of the invention is shown. 
     The means  110  for attaching the retractable top  100  to the floor F preferably comprises a pair of substantially horizontal support plates  1  attachable to the floor F and a pair of substantially vertical base plates  3  attachable to the substantially horizontal support plates  1 . 
     First  5  and second  7  linkage arms are pivotally attached to the substantially vertical base plates  3  at first  5 A and second  7 A pivot points. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first  5  and second  7  linkage arms are in spaced parallel relation with one another. This is important to allow the third linkage arm  9  to remain parallel to the ground during deployment, as will be further discussed. 
     A third linkage arm  9  is pivotally attached to the first  5  and second  7  linkage arms at third  9 A and fourth  9 B pivot points. The third linkage arm  9  has a first end  9 C and a second end  9 D. 
     A fourth linkage arm  11  is pivotally attached to the third linkage arm  9  intermediate the first end  9 C and second end  9 D of the third linkage arm  9 , at a fifth pivot point  9 E. The fourth linkage arm  11  has a first end  11 A and a second end  11 B. 
     A fifth linkage arm  15  is pivotally attached to the fourth linkage arm  11  intermediate the first end  11 A and the second end  11 B at a sixth pivot point  11 C, and is also attached to the first linkage arm  5  at a seventh pivot point  5 B. 
     A sixth linkage arm  13  is pivotally attached to the fourth linkage arm  11  at the second end  11 B of the fourth linkage arm  11  at an eighth pivot point  11 D. 
     A windscreen and top frame  19  is pivotally attached to the sixth linkage arm  13  at a ninth pivot point  13 C and is also pivotally attached to the third linkage arm  9  at a tenth pivot point  9 F. 
     Left  22  and right  22 A windscreen brackets are attachable to the vehicle&#39;s windscreen W, as best seen in FIG.  6 . 
     Left and right windscreen clips  14  lock the windscreen and top frame  19  to the left and right windscreen brackets  22 ,  22 A, as best seen in FIG.  9 . 
     A fabric cover  34  is attachable to the windscreen and top frame  19 . A rod  20  and bow  21  may be attachable to a seventh linkage arm  17  to support the cover  34 . Another rod  20  and bow  21  may be attachable to the fourth linkage arm  11  to support the cover  34 . The cover  34  may be further supported by a rear bow  25 , attachable to the vehicle by chassis brackets  23 . 
     Left  24 A and right  24 B door brackets (FIG. 8) are attachable to the vehicle V adjacent the door openings O. The third linkage arm  9  sealingly engages the door brackets  24 A,  24 B. The third linkage arm  9  has a curved portion  9 G, the left and right door brackets  24 A,  24 B have curved portions  24 C, and the curved portion  9 G of the third linkage arms  9  sealingly engage the curved portions of the left and right door brackets. 
     The first linkage arm  5  is attached to the door bracket  24 A,  24 B by door bracket clamp  27 . If the vehicle has a roll bar B, the top  100  may be attached to the roll bar B by roll bar clamps  28 . 
     The substantially vertical base plates  3  have adjustment slots  3 A allowing the retractable top  100  to be adjustably positioned forwardly and rearwardly in the rear compartment R. 
     The substantially vertical base plates  3  have adjustment slots  3 A allowing the retractable top  100  to be adjustably positioned vertically within the rear compartment R. 
     To deploy the cover  100  from the retracted position (FIG.  3 ), one merely grasps the top frame  19  and pulls it upward and forwardly, causing the top frame to rotate to the position shown in FIG.  2 . This also causes the third linkage arm  9  to rise essentially parallel to the ground, pivoting about the first  5  and second  7  linkage arms, and causing the first  5  and second  7  linkage arms to pivot about the base plate  3 . At the same time, the rod  20  and bow  21  move upward as the fifth linkage arm  15  pivots on the fourth linkage arm  11  and the first linkage arm  5 . 
     As the operator continues pulling on the top frame  19 , the top frame  19  is moved forwardly to the windscreen, as shown in FIG.  1 . The third linkage arm  9  continues to move essentially parallel to the ground. The fifth linkage arm  15  and the sixth linkage arm  13  now extend, helping to keep the top frame  19  in the deployed position and supporting the rods  20  and bows  21  which in turn engage the fabric cover  34 . Finally, the operator locks the top frame  19  into position on the left and right windscreen brackets  22 ,  22 A. 
     Because of the unique arrangement of the linkage arms, the cover  100  can be deployed very easily and quickly. Applicant has found that it takes less than ten seconds to deploy the top, as compared to twenty minutes to erect the standard, removable Jeep® soft top. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.