Abstract:
A motor vehicle roof with a lowerable roof part ( 12 ) which can be moved via a lowering mechanism ( 48 ) from a raised into a lowered position and which has a closing device ( 14 ), with which the lowerable roof part ( 12 ) can be locked both in the raised and also in the lowered position, the closing device ( 14 ) with the lowerable roof part ( 12 ) raised interacting with a first pivot support ( 11 ) which is fixed on a stationary roof part ( 20 ). The lowerable roof part ( 12 ) can be locked securely in the raised and in the lowered position without high construction cost, and which enables universal use is created by the closing device ( 14 ) with the lowerable roof part ( 12 ) lowered interacting with a second pivot support ( 62 ) which is fixed on an element of the lowering mechanism ( 48 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a motor vehicle roof with a lowerable roof part which can be moved via a lowering mechanism from a raised into a lowered position and which comprises a closing device by means of which the lowerable roof part can be locked both in the raised and also in the lowered position, the closing device, with the lowerable roof part raised, interacting with a first pivot support which is fixed, at least temporarily, on an at least partially a stationary roof part. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There are manifold possibilities for stably locking a lowerable roof part, especially a lowerable roof part of a convertible, in the raised and lowered position. Thus, for example, German Patent DE 40 10 276 C2 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,789 disclose a foldable roof structure which comprises a roof plate and a rear window plate which is hinged to the roof plate, a lower edge area of the roof structure pivotably connected with a rear part of the body. The roof plate and the rear window plate can both be stowed by folding them together underneath a protective hood which is provided on the rear part of the motor vehicle, and in the folded-out state, are supported and can be locked to the side members and cross members of the passenger compartment, for which purpose there are several separate locking mechanisms. The roof plate is provided on opposite sides in the front area with a roof plate locking mechanism, and in the middle area in front of the top edge of the rear window plate there is a rear window locking mechanism, these two locking mechanisms being actuated by hand. Finally, a motorized protective hood locking mechanism is located on the rear part structure in order to securely fix the side edges of the protective hood on the rear part structure. The two initially mentioned locking mechanisms are used to prevent fluttering of the plates when they are in the folded-out position, conversely the locking mechanism of the protective hood is designed to suppress fluttering of the protective hood both in the folded-out position and also in the folded-in, stowed position of the plates. 
     German Patent DE 43 24 708 C2 discloses a lowerable roof for motor vehicles with a roof shell which has a roof plate and a rear roof post and which can be moved with the roof post into an accommodation space between the side walls of the body behind the passenger seat and forward of the rear wheels, according to which it is held aligned in a transverse plane of the motor vehicle. The rear window can be moved from the position of use to a position of non-use in which its glass surface is spaced from the roof plate by a short distance. There are guide means for motion control of the roof shell and the rear window, and the roof shell can be lowered via two sliding guides which are located in the accommodation space and the sliding guides are arranged independently of the guide means of the rear window. In each of the two corner areas of the face sides of the roof posts, there is a sliding pin which fits into the respective sliding guide. The two sliding guides extend with a curvature which causes the roof to move forward in the direction of travel, proceeding from the top edge of the side wall downward, the horizontal distance between the sliding guides having a narrowed site at roughly half the height of the side wall. By increasing the distance of the sliding guides underneath the narrowed site in the bottom end position of the lowered roof, the desired rest position is induced and can be stably maintained. Furthermore, to lock the roof shell in a position which covers the passenger compartment, there are front closures. 
     The hardtop motor vehicle known form German Patent DE 44 45 580 C1 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,470 is provided with a roof structure which has a roof part and a rear window part which is pivotably connected to it, which can be lowered by a forced control means, so as to pivot around a rear axle mounted on the motor vehicle which is supported in the rear area of the motor vehicle body, into a concealed box, e.g., the vehicle trunk. The forced control means has a control element which is made as linkage which engages a guide part in the area of the pivot axis of the roof with a guide rod and a main guide rod, and which with a pivoting connecting rod which is connected to a drive element forms an articulated parallelogram which moves the roof part and the rear window part. If the roof structure is in its open position which is lowered into the trunk, the control element which is formed by the linkage can be moved into a stable end position which forms a support in the manner of a toggle lever. The roof structure which is placed in the trunk of the motor vehicle is afterwards sealed in its rest position with the rear hatch/trunk lid. In its closed position, which covers the passenger compartment, the roof part is fixed via connecting elements on the windshield frame. 
     In the movable roof structure disclosed in German Patent DE 196 34 511 C1 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,375, has a front, dimensionally stable and likewise rear roof part for an open passenger car, there is a double-sided parallelogram rod by which the front roof part can be moved between its closed and its open position. Between the two parallelogram connecting rods, on each side of the parallelogram rod, there is a locking mechanism which rigidly couples the respective rear parallelogram connecting rods to the adjacent forward parallelogram connecting rod and prevents relative movement between the parallelogram connecting rods and thus also between the front and the rear roof shell in the closed position of the roof part. 
     A generic motor vehicle roof with a front roof part and a rear window part is known from DE 195 07 431 C1 and its corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,778 which can be supported in the closed position which covers the rear on the windshield frame via connecting elements which are located on the front roof part and after pivoting back towards the rear area of the motor vehicle in an open position can be placed in a rear-side concealed box (trunk). The connecting elements which are provided on the front roof part interact in pairs with locking parts which are attached on the body-side in the rear area of the motor vehicle with the roof structure resting in the rear-side trunk, and thus, fix the folded-together roof structure. The locking parts which interact with the connecting elements attached to the front roof part with essentially the same action both in the area of the windshield frame and also in the rear area are components. A drive element which is formed by a hydraulic cylinder enables automatic fixing of the roof structure both in the closed position and in the stowed position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, a primary object of the invention is to devise a motor vehicle roof of the initially mentioned type in which the lowerable roof part can be locked securely in the raised and in the lowered position without high construction cost and which enables universal use. 
     This object is achieved in a motor vehicle roof with a lowerable roof part which can be moved via a lowering mechanism from a raised into a lowered position and which comprises a closing device by means of which the lowerable roof part can be locked both in the raised and also in the lowered position, the closing device interacting with a first pivot support which is fixed at least temporarily on an at least partially stationary roof part with the lowerable roof part raised by the closing device interacting with a second pivot support which is fixed on an element of the lowering mechanism with the lowerable roof part lowered. 
     The lowerable roof part is held in the lowered position without recourse to body-side elements in a space-saving stowed position. The number of interfaces between the lowerable roof part and the motor vehicle body is reduced and there is greater freedom in the placement and configuration of the closing device. In addition, it is possible without great cost to detachably connect the lowerable roof part to the body if necessary, also via a coupling device which can be actuated by the operator since, even with the roof part removed, retention in the compact stowed position is ensured. 
     The at least partially stationary roof part can be a permanently stationary roof part, as for example, a forward cross beam which runs above the windshield (windshield frame) around lateral rear columns (B or C columns) or a rear cross beam which runs between the lateral rear columns. In addition, the at least partially stationary roof part itself can also be made movable, for example, lowerable, as is the case, for example, in lowerable, side rear columns. The lowerable roof part can essentially comprise the entire roof surface structure as far as the windshield frame or simply one rear roof part, and in both cases, the lowerable roof part can, furthermore, have a rear part with a rear window and also side parts. 
     Thus, the ease of operation and reliability of operation can be increased when the closing device can be actuated by an auxiliary force actuation device. The auxiliary force actuation device preferably comprises a drive motor or a hydraulic cylinder. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, there is also a roof part which can be opened while traveling and which is supported by the lowerable roof part at least in its open position. The openable roof part can be a folding roof, a louvered roof, a sliding roof, or sliding and lifting roof with at least one openable cover in a conventional configuration. As a result of the support of the openable roof part at least in its open position in or on the lowerable roof part, the openable roof part can be lowered jointly with the lowerable roof part. To do this, it is especially provided that the openable roof part can be locked, at least in its open position, with reference to the lowerable roof part. Actuation of the openable roof part can be produced via an auxiliary force actuation device which can conventionally comprise a drive motor with compressively stiff cables for transmitting the actuation force to the openable roof part. 
     In particular, the auxiliary force actuation device actuates both the closing device and also the opening and closing motion of the openable roof part. 
     The lowering mechanism can be made as a four-bar arrangement which especially comprises a first and a second connecting rod, the connecting rods each being pivotalby connected to the lowerable roof part and to a main bearing which is fixed on the motor vehicle body. Here, the second pivot support is preferably fixed on the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement and is advantageously located roughly in the middle between the two pivot axes of the first connecting rod. 
     If the second pivot support is movably connected to the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement, the second pivot support with reference to the closing device can execute relative motion when the lowerable roof part is locked in its lowered position. In doing so the second pivot support is connected preferably with a swivelling capacity to the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement, the pivot axis of the second pivot support running essentially parallel to the pivot axes around which the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement can be pivoted with reference to the lowerable roof part and the main bearing. 
     Advantageously, the second pivot support can be moved into a rest position by means of a prestressed spring arrangement which is supported on the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement, which position the second pivot support assumes at least if is does not interact with the closing device. Especially in interacting with the closing device, can the second pivot support be moved from its rest position into a deflected position against the action of the prestressed spring arrangement. 
     In the deflected state, the second pivot support can adjoin a rubber-elastic stop which is provided between the second pivot support and the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement. In this way, not only is the stop damped, but the return of the second pivot support into its rest position after release of the locking between the first pivot support and the closing device is supported. 
     To support the lifting of the lowerable roof part into its raised position, a spring arrangement can be coupled to the first and/or on the second connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement. The spring is supported on the motor vehicle body, and a spring force is applied to the lowerable roof part in the direction toward the raised position to compensate at least for part of the weight the component of the lowerable roof part acts in the lowering direction. The spring arrangement can comprise a gas pressure spring, if necessary in combination with a damper. 
     In particular, with manual actuation of the lifting and lowering motion of the lowerable roof part, the spring arrangement is preferably made such that the spring force acts on the lowerable roof part essentially only between the lowered position and an intermediate position which precedes reaching the raised position. After unlocking the lowerable roof part from the at least temporarily stationary roof part, the lowerable roof part can follow an essentially unpowered idle path from its raised position to the intermediate position, from which it is then manually brought into its lowered position. Conversely, proceeding from the lowered position, after releasing the lock, the raising of the lowerable roof part is supported until the intermediate position is reached. Here, the amount of spring force is advantageously chosen such that the lowerable roof part is stably held by the spring arrangement in the intermediate position. 
     To accomplish an idle path essentially without transfer of force between the spring arrangement and the first or second connecting rod in the area between the raised position and the intermediate position of the lowerable roof part, the spring arrangement can be coupled via a rocker which is pivotably connected to the first or second connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement and which decouples the motion of the lowerable roof part from the actuation of the spring arrangement between the raised position and the intermediate position of the lowerable roof part; starting with reaching the intermediate position, the pivoting of the rocker is blocked with reference to the connecting rod. In particular, it is provided that the rocker be connected to the first connecting rod of the four-bar arrangement at a point which is near the pivot axis around which the first connecting rod can be pivoted with reference to the main bearing. 
     The spring arrangement is supported on the body side, preferably, on the main bearing so that indirect support of the spring arrangement takes place with reference to the motor vehicle body. 
     In the following one advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in detail using the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle with a lowerable roof part which is made as a roof cassette, in the raised position, and a folding roof as the openable roof part, locked in the raised position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle from FIG. 1, the roof cassette supporting the folding roof which is located in the open position and together with it has been moved into and locked in the lowered position; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle from FIG. 1, in which for reasons of clarity, only one part of the frame of the roof cassette is shown, a lowering mechanism which controls the lifting and lowering motion of the roof cassette and dismounting of side members which extend between the rear side columns and the front cross beam which runs above the windshield being shown schematically; 
     FIG. 4A is a side view in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 3 of the lowering mechanism which is on the left when viewed in the direction of travel together with the roof cassette and a main bearing which is fixed on the body and which supports the lowering mechanism, the roof cassette being located in the raised position and being shown without the folding roof; 
     FIG. 4B shows a side view in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 3 of the components reproduced in FIG. 4A, the roof cassette being shown in cross section; 
     FIG. 5A is a side view similar to that of FIG. 4A, but showing the roof cassette in the intermediate position; 
     FIG. 5B is a side view similar to that of FIG. 4B, but with the roof cassette in the intermediate position; 
     FIG. 6A is a side view similar to that of FIG. 4A, but with the roof cassette in the lowered position; 
     FIG. 6B is a side view similar to that of FIG. 4B, but with the roof cassette in the lowered position; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closing device, a locking hook of the closing device being located in its rear catch position in the locking position; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the closing device of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view in the direction toward the bearing plate of the closing device of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view in the direction toward the guide rail of the closing device of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic partial section along the line  11 — 11  in FIG.  7 . illustrating the bolt block couplings of a driving slider which can be moved by a motor to a link body which controls the motion of the locking hook of the closing device and to a roof edge slider of the folding roof; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the closing device, the locking hook thereof being in its rear catch position in the locking position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 to  3  show a motor vehicle  10  with a motor vehicle roof  1 , the motor vehicle roof  1  comprising a folding roof  30  which can be actuated by a drive motor  36  as an openable roof part, a lowerable roof part which is made as a roof cassette  12 , a rear part  6  and side members  28 , the side members  28  extending between the rear side columns of the motor vehicle  10  (B-columns  20 ) and a front cross beam  2  which runs above the windshield. The folding roof  30  is movably supported in each of two guide rail sections on both the left and the right side viewed in the direction of travel, of which a rear guide rail section  22  is arranged in the roof cassette  12  and a front guide rail section  26  is arranged in the side member  28 . By means of the drive motor  36 , the folding roof  30  can be moved in its opening direction  32  or opposite thereto in a closing direction via compressively stiff cables (not shown) and can be moved into any intermediate positions between its open position (compare FIGS. 1 and 2) and its closed position. In the open position, the folding roof  30  is supported in the roof cassette  12 , and all parts of the folding roof  30  which can be moved in guide rail sections  22  and  26  are held in the rear guide rail section  22  in the roof cassette  12 , and they can be locked with reference to the roof cassette  12 . In doing so, the folding roof  30  is pushed to the rear so far in the opening direction  32  that the front edge  34  of the roof lies essentially flush with the front edge of the roof cassette  12  in the open position. 
     The side members  28  are detachably joined to the motor vehicle  10 , for which purpose there are front side member bearings  13  in the area of the joint between side members  28  the front cross beam  2  which runs above the windshield and front side columns (A-columns  3 ) and there are rear side member bearings  15  in the area of the top end of the rear side columns (B-columns  20 ). To dismount the side members  28 , as shown in FIG. 3, first the rear side member bearings  15  are unlocked, the side members  28  are raised on their back end in the direction of the arrow  8  and then pulled out from the front side member bearings  13  in the direction of the arrow  9  to the rear. The dismounted side members  28  can be placed in the motor vehicle  10  in corresponding receiving devices, for example, in a rear door  5 . A rear cross beam  4  can extend in the manner of a roll bar between the B-columns  20  which are rigidly connected to the motor vehicle body. 
     The rear guide rail sections  22  which are located in the roof cassette  12  are attached to the closing devices designated  14  as a whole and which, for their part, are fixed on the roof cassette  12 . A closing device  14  is attached to both the right and left side of the roof cassette  12  in the direction of travel, symmetrically to an axis of symmetry which runs in the lengthwise direction of the motor vehicle within the roof cassette  12 . Each closing device  14  interacts with a first pivot support  11  which is fixed near the top end of each of the B-columns  20  in order to enable locking and unlocking of the roof cassette  12  with reference to the B-columns  20  when the roof cassette  12  is located in the raised position. The roof cassette  12  is motion-controlled via a lowering mechanism which is made as a four-bar arrangement  48  and which is described further below with reference to the motor vehicle body, and after releasing the locking, can be moved into a lowered position between the closing device  14  and the first pivot support  11  which is provided on the B-columns  20 . In the lowered position, the top of the roof cassette  12  comes to rest essentially at the height of the equator line of the motor vehicle. To lock the roof cassette  12  in the lowered position, there is a second pivot support on the four-bar arrangement  48  itself which is labeled  62  as a whole and with which the closing device  14  interacts in a manner similar to the first pivot support  11 . 
     The roof cassette  12  comprises a plastic, U-shaped frame  38  with lateral short legs  40  which run essentially in the direction of travel and a rear long leg  42  which is located essentially transversely to the direction of travel. On the frame  38  of the roof cassette  12  the rear part  6  of the motor vehicle roof  1  is fixed and comprises a rear pane  18  of folding plastic material and likewise folding side parts  16 . The bottom  7  of the rear part  6  can be placed against the rear door  5  and can be folded up in order to improve access to the stowage space which is located in the motor vehicle rear. The rear door  5 , for its part, is pivotally connected at its bottom with the motor vehicle body and can be folded down independently of the position which the bottom  7  of the rear part  6  assumes and also with the roof cassette  12  lowered. To increase the stability of the rear part, and to attach a lock latch for the rear door  5 , a cross beam can be provided on the bottom  7  of the rear part  6 . 
     In FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  5 A,  5 B,  6 A, and  6 B, the four-bar arrangement  48  which is on the left when, viewed in the direction of travel and a left main bearing  46  via which the four-bar arrangement  48  is connected to the motor vehicle body, are shown in detail, the corresponding right-hand components being made in mirror image. The four-bar arrangement  48  comprises a first connecting rod  50  and a second connecting rod  52  which are each connected via a pivot bearing  54  and  56  on a bearing block  44  which is made in one piece with the arm  40  of the roof cassette frame  38 . Proceeding from the pivot bearings  54  and  56 , the first and the second connecting rods  50  and  52  of the four-bar arrangement  48  extend to the pivot bearings  58  and  60 , the first connecting rod  50  being coupled by means of the pivot bearing  58  and the second connecting rod  52  by means of the pivot bearing  60  to the main bearing  46 . The main bearing  46 , for its part, is fixed on the motor vehicle body in the area of the inside bottom end of the B-column  20  via mechanical connecting elements, as is illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     Roughly in the middle between the two pivot bearings  54  and  58 , the second pivot support  62  is attached with a pivoting capacity by means of a pivot bearing  68  to the first connecting rod  50  which, like the second connecting rod  52 , is made as a molded plastic part. The second pivot support  62  comprises a pivot arm  64  and a pin  66  which is located on the end of the pivot arm  64  which faces away from the pivot bearing  68  and interacts in the manner described below with the closing device  14 . In its rest position which is shown in FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  5 A, and  5 B, the pivot arm  64  is essentially perpendicular to the first connecting rod  50 , the end of the pivot arm  64  which bears the pin  66  projecting beyond the outside contour of the first connecting rod  50 , i.e., the contour facing away from the second connecting rod  52 . In this rest position, the pivot arm  64  of the second pivot support  62  is elastically prestressed by means of a bending spring  70  so that it adjoins a fixed stop  72  which is made in one piece with the first connecting rod  50 . On the side of the pivot arm  64  facing away from the fixed stop  72 , a rubber element  74  is fixed on the first connecting rod  50 , as a rubber-elastic stop, at a position which is chosen such that the second pivot support  62 , if it is pivoted against the action of the bending spring  70  when it interacts with the closing device  14 , comes to rest against the rubber element  74 . 
     Via a pivot bearing  88  which is adjacent to the pivot bearing  58 , the first end of a rocker  86  is coupled to the first connecting rod  50  of the four-bar arrangement  48  and the cylinder of a gas pressure spring  76  is connected to its second end via a coupling element  82 . The piston rod of the gas pressure spring  76  is supported by a coupling element  78  on the main bearing  46  with a pivoting capacity, there being a pivot bearing  80  between the coupling element  78  and the main bearing  46 . The axes of the pivot bearings  80 ,  84 , and  88  which are assigned to the gas pressure spring  76  and the rocker  86  run essentially parallel to the axes of the pivot bearings  54 ,  56 ,  58 , and  60  which are assigned to the connecting rods  50  and  52 . The same also applies to the axis of the pivot bearing  68  around which the second thrust bearing  62  can be pivoted with reference to the first connecting rod  50 . In the raised position of the roof cassette  12  as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the gas pressure spring  76  is in the completely extended position and the rocker  86  projects with its end which carries the pivot bearing  84  beyond the outside contour of the first connecting rod  50  on the side of the first connecting rod  50  facing the second connecting rod  52 . When the roof cassette  12  is lowered from the raised position into the intermediate position as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rocker  86  is pivoted essentially freely, i.e., essentially without the transfer of force to the first connecting rod  50 , around the pivot axis  88  until the rocker  86  adjoins a stop  90  which is molded in one piece to the first connecting rod  50  and prevents further pivoting of the rocker  86  with reference to the first connecting rod  50 . The intermediate position of the roof cassette  12  is reached when the rocker  86  adjoins the stop  90  with the gas pressure spring  76  essentially fully extended. In this position, the roof cassette  12  is stably held by the force exerted on the first connecting rod  50  by the gas pressure spring  76  and can be moved manually against the action of the force of the gas pressure spring into the lowered position which is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. 
     The closing device  14 , which is explained in greater detail below, comprises a locking hook  94  which can be pivoted into and against the direction of the arrow  96 , which can be moved into and against the direction of the arrow  98  (compare FIG.  4 A), and which is moved preferably by means of motorized actuation by the drive motor  36 , and a U-shaped receiving groove  92  which with the roof cassette  12  raised is opened essentially in the X direction. In order to fix the roof cassette  12  in the raised position with reference to the B-columns  20 , proceeding from the intermediate position, the roof cassette  12  is moved manually into the raised position, the roof cassette  12  approaching the B-columns  20  according to the kinematics dictated by the four-bar arrangement  48 , and a pin which is part of the first pivot support  11  is inserted into the receiving groove  92  of the closing device  14 . To do this, the locking hook  94  which is located in FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  5 A and  5 B in its front catch position in the locking position is pivoted upward in the direction of the arrow  96 , traveling from the locking into a release position, in which the pin of the first pivot support  11  can travel into the receiving groove  92 . When the pin is held, the locking hook  94  can be pivoted back into its locked position opposite the direction of arrow  96 , and can be pushed opposite the direction of the arrow  98  from its front into its rear catch position, the pin of the first pivot support  11  traveling in the X-direction deeper into the receiving groove, and the sealing elements which are provided towards the vehicle interior to seal the roof cassette  12  are exposed to a predetermined contact pressure. The guide rail sections  22  and  26  are brought into alignment with the B-columns  20  in the coupling process of the roof cassette  12  by centering means which comprise a centering element  100 , and thus, are aligned with reference to one another as is shown in detail in the commonly assigned patent application filed at the same time in the name of Burkhard Reinsch, entitled “MOTOR VEHICLE ROOF GUIDE RAIL,” and claiming priority of German Patent Application No. 199 27 234.4-21, which application is incorporated herein by reference. As soon as the coupling process has been completed, locking of the parts of the folding roof  30  which are movably held in the rear guide rail section  22  are raised with respect to the rear guide rail section  22  and the folding roof  30  is pushed from its open position in the direction to its closed position, i.e., opposite the direction of the arrow  32  (see FIG.  1 ). 
     In order to decouple the roof cassette  12  from the first pivot support  11  which is provided on the two B-columns  20 , first the folding roof  30  is moved into its open position in which all the parts of the folding roof  30  which are movably held in the rear guide rail sections  22  and  26  are located entirely in the rear guide rail section  22 . The locking hook  94  is pushed in the direction of the arrow  98  from its rear catch position into its front catch position and is raised in the direction of the arrow  96  upwards into the release position so that the pin of the first pivot support  11  disengages from the receiving groove  92  of the closing device  14 . The roof cassette  12  can now be moved into its intermediate position in which it is held by the gas pressure spring  76 . The roof cassette  12  is transferred manually against the action of the gas pressure springs  76  in the direction of the arrow  102  (compare FIG. 2) from the intermediate position, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, into the lowered position shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Shortly before reaching the lowered position, the second pivot support  62  interacts with the closing device  14  such that the pin  66  of the second pivot support  62  is inserted into the receiving groove  92  of the closing device  14 . To do this, it can either be provided that the locking hook  94  is first held in its release position, and by interaction with the second thrust bearing  62 , especially with the pin  66 , disengages from its release position and travels into the locking position which locks the pin  66 , or the locking hook  94  is located, first of all, elastically prestressed in its locking position and is raised by interaction with the pin  66  in the direction of the arrow  96 , the locking hook  94  again returning into its locking position as soon as the pin  66  has been inserted far enough into the receiving groove  92  to be able to be locked by the locking hook  94  in its front catch position. The locking hook  94  can now draw the pin  66  opposite the direction of the arrow  98  more deeply into the receiving groove  92 , the pivot arm  64  of the second pivot support  62  being pivoted against the action of the bending spring  70  around the axis of the pivot bearing  68  and the second pivot support  62  striking the rubber element  74 . Thus, the roof cassette  12  is held stably in the lowered position and assumes a compact stowed position. 
     Specific embodiments of the closing device  14  will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7-12. 
     The closing device  14  of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-11 comprises a bearing plate  35  with a receiving element which is made as a receiving groove  193  and into which a pin  47  of the pivot support which is attached to the B-column  20  can be inserted in the displacement direction  98  (see, FIGS. 4 a  &amp;  9 ) and can be locked by means of a locking groove  43  of a locking hook  94 . Here, the locking groove  43  is placed in the front arm  39  of the locking hook  94  which is pivotally mounted via a bearing pin  57  in an angled bearing lever  159 . The bearing pin  57  of the locking hook  96  is located roughly in the middle between the front arm  39  which encompasses the locking groove  43  and a rear arm  41 , and the locking hook,  94  can be pivoted around the axis of the bearing pin  57  in the pivot direction  96  (see FIG. 7) between a locking position and a release position which are shown in FIGS. 7, &amp;  9 . Furthermore, in the locking position, the locking hook  94  can be shifted in the displacement direction  98  between a front catch position  53  which is shown in FIG. 9 in broken lines and a rear catch position  55 . 
     The bearing lever  159  is made in two parts and comprises two congruent halves which are spaced apart in the Y direction by the thickness of a sleeve  63 ; their distance is such that the locking hook  94  and another control lever  185 , which is described below, can be accommodated between them. The sleeve  63  is pushed onto an axle  61  which penetrates an arm  65  of the bearing lever  159  in the Y direction such that it projects above the halves of the bearing lever  159  on either side so that, on the one hand, it is held in the bearing plate  35 , and on the other hand, is held in a bearing clip  59  which fits around the arm  65  and which, for its part, is fixed on the bearing plate  35 . The bearing lever  159  can be pivoted around the axis  60  by means of a control pin  69  which is fixed on its second arm  67 , the control pin  69  projecting beyond the bearing lever  159  in the −Y direction and fitting into a control path (cam groove)  73  of a control link  75  in which it is guided via a slide block  71 . 
     The control link  75  is integrated in a link body  81  which has a second control link  79 , in the control path  77  of which a control pin  83  which is fixed on the control lever  185  is movably accommodated and causes it pivot around the axis of the bearing pin  57 , by means of which the control lever  185 , jointly with the locking hook  94 , is supported in the bearing lever  159 , the control lever extending in the direction to the front arm  39  of the locking hook  94 . A bent tab  92  of the control lever  185  fits into a recess  85  of the locking hook  94 , which recess is open in the −Z direction, and is used to drive the locking hook  94 , when the control lever  185  is pivoted clockwise, from the control path  78  via its control pin  83  (the terms clockwise and counterclockwise used here relate to viewing in the Y direction). 
     A retaining lever  89  is pivotally mounted on the locking hook  94  by an extension pin  91  roughly in the middle in the area between the recess  85  and the locking groove  43 , a tension spring  191  being provided between a projection  88  which is located on the first arm  93  of the retaining lever  89  and a bent tab  187  of the control lever  185 . By means of the tension spring  191 , a pretension is impressed clockwise on the control lever  185  such that the bent tab  92  of the control lever  185  fits without play in the recess  85  of the locking hook  94 , at the same time, the retaining lever  89  likewise being pivoted clockwise and prestressed against a holding pin  87  which is fixed on the bearing plate  35  and which extends in the −Y direction by means of a sloped surface  95  which is provided on its first arm  93 , if the locking hook  94  is located outside of its release position. The sloped surface  95  which is located in the first arm  93  of the holding lever  89  above a catch area  199  which is opened essentially in the X direction is made such that, via the pre-tensioned contact of the sloped surface  95  with the holding pin  87 , a force is exerted on the locking hook  94 , the latter turns counterclockwise around the axis of the bearing pin  57 , and the locking hook  94  rests on a bent tab  188  of the bearing plate  35  via a slide surface  190  which runs in the displacement direction  98  and which lies, when viewed in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle  10 , behind the locking groove  43  (i.e., is arranged offset from the locking groove  43  in the positive X direction). Furthermore, the holding pin  87  is used as a capture device into which the catch area  199  of the retaining lever  89  fits when the locking hook  94  is in its release position. 
     A second arm  195  of the retaining lever  89 , which is located underneath the extension pin  91  (i.e., is offset with reference to it in the negative Z direction), has a projection  97  which protrudes upward essentially in the X direction and which, in order to fix the control lever  185  with reference to the locking hook,  94 , can be placed against the bottom of the bent tab  92  of the control lever  185  as soon as the locking hook  94  approaches its rear catch position  55 . 
     An alignment plate which extends essentially in the X direction and which is labeled  100  throughout is connected to the bearing plate  35  via several screws  99  which, at the same time, penetrate the lower area of the guide rail section  22 , which in addition is fixed, via blind rivets which are not shown, in its top area directly on the bearing plate  35 , strong cohesion of the bearing plate  35 , the guide rail section  22  and the alignment plate  100  is achieved. The guide rail section  22  has a bottom and a top slide way  101  and  103  which are separated from one another by a partition  104  which runs in the X-Z plane. The lower slide way  101  is bounded laterally by the partition  104  and the rear wall of the bearing plate  35  and to the top and bottom by legs which extend from the partition  104  in the Y direction, and is open in the +/−X direction. It is used for accommodation of the link body  81  which, for its part, has a stopping edge  108  which projects upward in the Y direction and which extends through an opening  106  in the partition  104  into the area of the slide way  103 ; this accommodation can be moved in the +/−X direction. Here, the link body  81  can be moved in the +/−X direction between a rear end position and a front end position. 
     The slide way  103  is bounded to the top and bottom by legs  112  and  110  which extend in the Y direction and by means of fixed links  109 , which are located vertically on the legs  110  and  112 , is divided into two open chambers  111 ,  113 , of which the inner chamber  110  is used to accommodate a driving slider  114  and the outer chamber  113  is used to accommodate the slider  116  of the roof edge  34 . Both sliders  114  and  116  can be moved in the +/−X direction. On the driving slider  114 , a compressively stiff cable  174  is attached which can be moved via a motor which is fixed on the roof cassette  12  and is guided in a cable channel  118  which is held laterally next to the slide way  103  in the partition  104 . 
     Between the top  119  of the alignment plate  100  and the bottom of the leg  110 , a probe slider  120  which can be moved in the +/−X direction is held as part of a pivot support detection means which is pre-tensioned by the action of a tension spring  122  which is attached between the probe slider  120  and the alignment plate  100  in the −X direction, such that its probe tip  124  projects over the front edge  125  of the guide rail section  22 . On the end of the probe slider  120  which is opposite the probe tip  124  viewed in the X direction, there is a releasing device  126  which interacts with a release arm  128  of an angled catch lever  130  which, for its part, is mounted to pivot around an axis  131  between the bearing plate  35  and the alignment plate  100 . On the arm  132  of the catch lever  130  extending essentially perpendicular to the release arm  128  there is a catch projection  133  which is designed to fit into a stopping edge which is formed in a complementary manner, but which is not shown, on the bottom of the link body  81  when the link body  81  stops in a warning position which is located behind its front end position. Here, the warning position of the link body  81  is located with reference to the bearing plate  35  at a point which is located between the front position and the rear end position of the link body  81 , the front end position corresponding to a smaller X-coordinate than the rear end position. 
     The catch lever  130  is loaded counterclockwise by means of a spring arm  134  of a combination spring  138  which has two spring arms  134  and  136  so that the catch projection  133 , with the link body  81  in the warning position, is pre-tensioned against its stopping edge and prevents the link body  81  from reaching its forward end position, if the pivot support is not located in its specified position with reference to the closing device  14 . The link body can be moved in this case only between its rear end position and its warning position. Conversely, if in the process of coupling the closing device  14  to the pivot support, the specified position of the pivot support is reached relative to the closing device  14 , the probe tip  124  of the probe slider  120  makes contact with the pivot support, the probe slider  120  is pushed in the X direction against the force of the tension spring  122  so far that the releasing device  126  actuates the release arm  128  of the catch lever  130  and pivots the latter around the axis  131  clockwise against the action of the spring arm  134 , and the catch projection  133  of the catch lever  130  disengages with reference to the stopping edge on the bottom of the link body  81 . The link body  81  can now be pushed further forward (therefore in the −X direction) in the direction to its front end position. The second spring arm  136  of the combination spring  138  is pre-tensioned upward in the Z direction and can be deflected downward against its pre-tensioning by the rear arm  41  of the locking hook  94  when the locking hook  94  is in its release position. In doing so, the spring arm  136 , in its upwardly pre-tensioned base position, actuates an electric microswitch  140  which is fixed with the combination spring  138  on the bearing plate  35 , the microswitch  140  delivering a corresponding signal “locking hook in the locking position.” This signal is supplied as the input quantity to the electrical control which controls the motorized actuation of the closing device  14  and which likewise assumes control of the motorized actuation of the opening and closing motion of the folding roof  30 . 
     Furthermore, it can be provided for the spring arm  136 , instead of its upward elastic pre-tensioning, to be connected by form-fit to the rear arm  41  of the locking hook  94  so that the latter actuates the spring arm  136  in both directions, i.e., up and down. 
     As an alternative to the interaction of the probe tip  124  of the probe slider  120  with the pivot support, there can also be an interaction of the probe tip  124  with the side member  28 , when the side member  28  is in the specified position and it is locked especially to the vehicle. In this case, the probe slider  120 , in the coupling process of the closing device  14  to the pivot support, is actuated by the side member  28  and is pushed in the X direction so far that the catch projection  133  of the catch lever  130  no longer locks the link body  81  in its warning position. If the side member  28 , on the other hand, is removed from the vehicle or it is not located for some other reason in its specified position with reference to the closing means  14  in the coupling position, the probe tip  124  is not actuated in the coupling process, or is not actuated far enough in the X-direction, and the link body  81  is locked when it reaches its warning position, even if the pivot support is in the specified position. Thus, the pivot support detection means is, in principle, used for side member detection. This has the further advantage that, when the closing device  14  is coupled to the other pivot support which is attached to the quad joint, the link body  81  cannot be pushed any further than into its warning position, since the pivot support which is provided on the quad joint is in the specified position, but there is no side member. This prevents the locking of the roof edge slider  116 , which is described further below, from being released with reference to the closing means  14 , when the closing device  14  is coupled to the pivot support of the quad joint. 
     An alignment fork  152  on the front end of the alignment plate  100  is used to align the closing device  14  in the Y and Z direction with reference to the front guide rail section  26 , for which purpose, the alignment fork  152  fits into an alignment bearing which is shaped in a complementary manner and which forms a unit with the front guide rail section  26  which is supported floating on the side member  28 . The alignment strip  24 , which is fixed on the guide rail section  22  of the closing device  14  and which is located in the Z direction above the alignment fork  152  and can be caused to engage the front guide rail section  26 , prevents inclination of the front guide rail section  26  around the X-axis with reference to the guide rail section  22 . The alignment surface  150  is placed on one side surface of the alignment fork  152  in the X-Z plane and can be placed against the end face of the pin  47  of the pivot support which is attached to the B-column  20 , so that in interaction with the mirror-image left closing device and the left pin, the alignment of the entire roof cassette  12  takes place with reference to the two pins  46  which are attached to the body, this alignment being symmetrical when viewed in the Y direction. 
     On the bent tab of the alignment plate  100 , which runs in the Y direction, an end position spring  146  is fixed which comprises two spring arms  142  and  144 , of which the spring arm  142  fits from underneath into the chamber  113  in which the roof edge slider  116  is held, which is connected to the roof edge  34  of the folding roof  30  and which causes the opening and closing motion of it. The second spring arm  144  is designed to mechanically actuate an electric microswitch  148  when the roof edge slider  116  is in the holding position, the microswitch  148  delivering the signal “roof edge slider in the holding position” to the electronic control device. In this position, the roof edge slider  116  is held completely in the guide rail section  22  of the closing device  14  and can be locked with reference to the guide rail section  22 . With the roof edge slider  116 , all movable parts of the folding roof  30  are held in the guide rail section  22  and can be decoupled together with the roof cassette  12  from the pivot support mounted on the body. 
     With the folding roof  30  closed, the roof edge slider  116  and the driving slider  114  are located in the front guide rail section  26  and are joined to one another by form-fit by means of a bolt block  164  which is movably held in the Z direction in the roof edge slider  116 . The roof cassette  12  is fixed via the closing devices  14  on the B-columns  20  of the motor vehicle  10 , the locking hook  94  stopping in the locking position in its rear catch position  55 . 
     The link body  81  is in its front end position and in the latter is held in a recess  162  of the bearing plate  35  by a bolt block  156  which is movably supported in the Y direction and which can catch in its end positions by means of a ball  158  which is loaded via a compression spring  160 . While the control pin  69 , which controls the pivoting motion of the bearing lever  159 , and thus, the displacement motion of the locking hook  94  with the sliding block  71 , is on the back end of a holding area  204  of the control path  73  of the control link  75 , the control pin  83  of the control lever  185  is in the holding area  206  of the control path  77  of the control link  79  which is responsible for the pivoting motion of the locking hook  94 . The retaining lever  89  is pivoted counterclockwise by its sloped surface  94  adjoining the holding pin  87  such that its projection  97  fits under the bent tab  92  of the control lever  185  and fixes it with reference to the locking hook  94 . Since the position of the control lever  185  is strictly dictated by its receiver, both in the bearing lever  159  (by the bearing pin  57 ) and also in the holding area  206  of the control link  79  (by the control pin  83 ), the locking hook  94  is ultimately blocked in its locking position. So that the link body  81  can be located in its front end position, of course as described above, the pivot support and the side member  28  must be in the specified position, the probe slider  120  must be actuated and the catch projection  133  of the catch lever  130  must be disengaged with reference to the stopping edge which is located on the bottom of the link body  81 . 
     In order to decouple the roof cassette  12  from the B-column  20 , first the folding roof  30  must be opened by the roof edge slider  116  being pushed to the rear in the opening direction  32 . The displacement motion is impressed on the roof edge slider  116  by the driving slider  114  which is moved by the conventional compressively stiff cable  174  via the electric motor  222  which is held in the roof cassette  12 . Both the roof edge slider  116  and also the driving slider  114  finally travel from the front guide rail section  26  into the guide rail section  22  of the closing device  14 , the roof edge slider  116 , as soon as it has reached its holding position, striking a stop  168  which is provided in the guide rail section  22  and preventing further displacement of the roof edge slider  116  to the rear (in the X direction; see FIG.  11 ), also, as described above, the electric microswitch  148  being actuated by the spring arm  144 . The driving slider  114  has now reached its transfer position which is shown in FIG.  11 . If the driving slider  114  is furthermore exposed to a force in the X direction by the electric motor  222  via the compressively stiff cable  174 , the sloping surface  170  in a recess  166  which holds the bolt block  164  in the driving slider  114  exerts a force on the bolt block  164  in the Z direction, which force is enough to displace the bolt block  164  in the Z direction so far that the bolt block  164  disengages from the recess  166  in the driving slider  114  and is pushed with its end facing away from the driving slider  114  into a recess  172  in the guide rail section  22 . Thus the roof edge slider  116  is held by form fit in the guide rail section and the driving slider  114  is released for further displacement in the X direction, the side of the driving slider  114  facing the roof edge slider  116  being made such that release of the form-fit connection between the roof edge slider  116  and the guide rail section  22  by displacement of the bolt block  164  in the roof edge slider  116  in the −Z direction is precluded. After traversing a predetermined path, the coupling surface  176  of the driving slider  114  strikes the stopping edge  108  of the link body  81  which is located in the front end position as shown in FIG.  11 . At the same time, a recess  180  in the side of the driving slider  114  facing the link body  81  which is shaped in a complementary manner to the bolt block  156  comes to rest over the bolt block  156 . As a result, when force continues to be exerted on the driving slider  114  in the X direction, the latter entrains the link body  81  via the coupling surface  176  abutting the stopping edge  108 , so that the sloped surface  178  in the recess  162  which holds the bolt block  156  in the bearing plate  35  exerts a force on the bolt block  156  in the Y direction which shifts the bolt block  156  in the link body  81  into its second end position in which the bolt block  156  disengages from the recess  162  and engages within the recess  180 . The bolt block  156  releases the form-fit connection of the link body  81  to the bearing plate  35 , and at the same time, forms a connection between the link body  81  and the driving slider  114  which entrains the link body  81  in the direction to its rear end position. Here, the displacement of the bolt block  156  in the −Y direction, out of the recess  180 , is precluded not only as a result of the spring-loaded ball  158  which keeps the bolt block  156  in its end position, but also by the fact that the side of the bearing plate  35  facing the driving slider  114  behind the sloped surface  178  is moved accordingly near the link body  81 . 
     It should be pointed out that the driving slider  114  entrains the link body  81  in its back end position in the X direction via the coupling surface  176  which abuts the contact surface  108 . The link body  81  is entrained in the direction toward its front end position (in the X direction) by means of the form-fit connection between the driving slider  114  and the link body  81 , which connection is caused via the bolt block  156 . 
     Alternatively to the above described locking of the bolt block  156  in its two end positions, the bolt block  156  can also be locked only in its end position which is shown in FIG. 11 by means of the spring-loaded ball  158 , the ball  158  and its spring  160  being shown in FIG.  8 . 
     When the link body  81  is displaced in the X direction towards its back end position, the sliding block  71  which is held on the control pin  69  of the bearing lever  159  travels first from the holding area  204  into a displacement area  208  of the control path  73 , an area which runs to the rear in the manner of a ramp. Here, a clockwise pivoting motion is forced on the bearing lever  159  around its axis  60  and this motion is converted via the bearing pin  57  into a displacement motion of the locking hook  94 , the locking hook  94  being pushed from its rear catch position  55  in the displacement direction  98  forward in the X-axis direction towards its front catch position  53  and sliding over its sliding surface  190  on the bent tab  188  of the bearing plate  35 . The front catch position  53  is reached when the sliding block  71  is at the lowest point of the ramp-shaped displacement area  208  of the control path and passes into a front holding area  212  in which it is essentially horizontally guided so that the bearing lever  159  no longer pivots. 
     Approximately when the front catch position  53  is reached, further displacement of the link body  81  in the X direction initiates pivoting of the locking hook  94  from its locking position into its release position by the control pin  83  of the control lever  185  leaving the holding area  206  of the control path  77  and meeting the area of an upwardly directed pivot cam  210 , which cam forms a recumbent Y with the front area of the control path  77 . The control pin  83  follows the upper leg of the recumbent Y, and via the bent tab  92 , impresses a pivoting motion on the locking hook  94  around the axis of the bearing pin  57  which also pivotally connects the control lever  185  with the bearing lever  159 . As soon as the locking hook  94  has been raised into the release position, the catch area  199  of the retaining lever  89  locks into the holding pin  87  and keeps the locking hook  94  in its release position. In doing so, the actuation of the microswitch  140  is canceled via the spring arm  136 , and the pin  47  of the thrust bearing disengages from the locking groove  43  of the locking hook  94 , so that the roof cassette  12  is decoupled from the B-column  20 , and, as already described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 &amp; 2, can be lowered. 
     The coupling process of the roof cassette  12  by means of the closing device  14  to the pivot support which is located on the body proceeds analogously in the reverse sequence, reference being made to the following particulars. If the link body  81  is in its rear end position, the control pin  83  is in front of the forward edge of the cam  210 . If the closing device  14  is pressed manually against the pivot support, first of all, the pin  47 , from forward, strikes the second arm  195  of the retaining lever  89 , i.e., the arm projecting into the receiving groove  193 , by which a counterclockwise pivoting motion is impressed on the lever. When the pin  47  makes contact with the rear wall of the locking groove  43 , it exerts on the locking hook  94  a force with a line of action which runs underneath the bearing pin  57  so that a counterclockwise torque is impressed on the locking hook  94  in addition to the force exerted by the tension spring  191 . In this way, the catch area  199  of the retaining lever  89  disengages from the holding pin  87 , and the locking hook  94  can pivot into its locking position without the control pin  83  hindering this motion since it is outside the control path  77 . As soon as the sloped surface  95  of the retaining lever  89  abuts the holding pin, the locking hook  94 , as already described, is pre-tensioned by the tension spring  191  in the direction toward the locking position. When the link body  81  continues to moved forward (in the X direction) the control pin  83  of the control lever  185  is deflected down by the cam  210  and is inserted into the lower arm of the recumbent Y. This motion is not transferred to the locking hook  94 , since the bent tab  92  of the control lever  185  has not yet reached underneath the projection  97  of the retaining lever  89 , but rather can drift down from the recess  85  of the locking hook  94 . Only when the locking hook  94  is pushed further in the direction toward its rear catch position  55  is the retaining lever  89  pivoted counterclockwise to such an extent that the control lever  185  is fixed with reference to the locking hook  94  by fitting underneath the lower edge of the bent tab  92  by means of the projection  97  of the retaining lever  89 . If the pivot support and/or the side member  28  should be out of its specified position, the probe tip  124  of the probe slider  120  is not actuated or is not actuated far enough in the X direction and the link body  81  is stopped in the warning position, before reaching the front end position, by the stopping edge located on the bottom striking the catch projection  133  of the catch lever  130 . In doing so, the electric motor  222  which actuates the compressively stiff cable  174  is blocked and turned off. Conversely, if the pivot support is in the specified position, the link body  81  can be pushed into its front end position, in which, when the driving slider  114  continues to be exposed to the force in the −X direction, the bolt block  156  is pushed by the sloped surface  182  in the recess  180  of the driving slider  114  in the −Y direction into the recess  162  in the bearing plate  35 , and at the same time, the driving slider  114  disengages from the link body  81 . The bolt block  156  is held in this position by the ball  158 , while the driving slider  114  is pushed further forward into the transfer position where it comes to rest against the roof edge slider  116  by means of a coupling surface  184 . In doing so, via the compressively stiff cable  174 , a force is exerted forward on the roof edge slider  116 , a force which is enough to push the bolt block  164  of the roof edge slider  116  in the −Z direction out of the recess  172  and into the recess  166  of the driving slider  114  via a sloped surface  186  on the front of the recess  172  in the guide rail section  22 . In this way, the coupling between the roof edge slider  116  and the guide rail section  22  is canceled and coupling between the roof edge slider  116  and the driving slider  114  is established. 
     FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a closing device which differs from the one shown in FIGS. 3 to  7  essentially only in that a retaining lever corresponding to the retaining lever  89  of the first embodiment is eliminated, and the locking hook  192  does not have a rear arm corresponding to the rear arm  41  of the locking hook  94 . The elastic pre-tensioning of the locking hook  192  in the direction to its locking position is applied by a tension spring  196  which extends between the bent tab  194  on the locking hook  192  and the holding projection  198  on the bearing plate  35 . A modified control lever  200 , instead of the control pin  83  of the control lever  185 , has a control tab  202  which is molded on the control lever  200  in one piece and which interacts with the control path  77  in order to control the pivoting motion of the locking hook  192 . The bent tab  193  of the control lever  200 , as is likewise the case for the control lever  185  of the first embodiment of the closing device, is pre-tensioned clockwise from underneath against the locking hook  192 , but the pre-tensioning force in the second embodiment of FIG. 12 is delivered by the tension spring  191  which, in contrast to the first embodiment, extends between the bent tab  187  on the control lever  200  and the bent tab  194  on the locking hook  192 . 
     When the link body  81  approaches its back end position, the control tab  202 , like the control pin  83  of the first embodiment, travels to in front of the forward edge of the swivel cam  210 . Since the locking hook  192  is not held in its release position by a retaining lever, it now swivels freely into the locking position. When the closing device as shown in FIG. 12 is coupled to the pivot support which is mounted on the vehicle body, therefore the locking hook  192  which in the locking position is in its front catch position must first be raised by the pin  47  into the release position, for which the locking hook  192  on its front side has a sloped surface  214 . There is as little blocking of the locking hook  192  in the locking position, in contrast to the first embodiment of the closing device, as the microswitch  140  for interrogating the swivel position of the locking hook  192 . 
     While a single embodiment in accordance with the present invention has 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.