Abstract:
An interlocking device for the folding roof of a motor vehicle with a locking hook ( 4 ) which is pivotally mounted on the front frame part ( 1 ) of the folding roof and which can be moved by means of a multiple connecting rod mechanism and can be interlocked in latching engagement on a vehicle-mounted abutment, the multiple connecting rod mechanism, especially a four-bar mechanism ( 6, 12, 14, 15 ), containing the locking hook ( 4 ) and being located self-locking in the closed position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an interlocking device for the folding roof of a motor vehicle with a locking hook which is pivotally mounted on the front frame part of the folding roof and which can be moved by means of a multiple connecting rod means and can be interlocked in latched engagement on a vehicle-mounted abutment. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     German Utility Model DE 297 03 774 U1 discloses a lock for a cabriolet convertible top which has a latch hook which is mounted on the front end of the roof of the cabriolet so as to be able to pivot around a transverse axis of the motor vehicle and which can be pivoted by means of a four-bar mechanism which is activated by a handle into its locking position in which it keeps the roof of the cabriolet convertible top closed and locked on the apron. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide an interlocking device of the initially mentioned type which has a reliable movement mechanism and a simple structure. 
     This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in the aforementioned interlocking device by a multiple connecting rod means, especially a four-bar mechanism arrangement, being coupled to a linear drive mechanism which is movably supported on the front frame part. The linear drive mechanism offers the advantage of simple support on the frame part and reliable actuation by its own drive or by branching from a convertible top drive. A linear drive mechanism is defined as any drive mechanism which is moved lengthwise on the frame part, such as, for example, a drive rod or even a compressively stiff drive cable. 
     This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in the aforementioned interlocking device in that the multiple connecting rod means, especially the four-bar mechanism arrangement, contains the locking hook and is self-locking in the closed position. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the forces acting on the locking hook, and which are designed to move it in the opening direction, from causing opening. 
     The indicated interlocking device is suitable for any type of lowerable motor vehicle roof, especially of cabriolets, such as folding roofs or collapsible convertible tops, and especially for those convertible tops which, on the side members, have guide rails for a front roof bow which can be pushed into the partially open position, while the side members are still coupled to the vehicle-mounted abutment. The vehicle-mounted abutment is, for example, a pin which is attached to the cross member above the windshield, e.g., the windshield header, to the apron or the A column. There can be one or more interlocking means in accordance with invention on the frame, especially on the right and left roof side and on the respective side member. 
     Preferably, the linear drive mechanism is coupled to the convertible top drive so that the opening and closing motion of the convertible top or of a bow of the convertible top is used for opening and closing the locking hook. 
     In one simple configuration, the linear drive mechanism can be hinged via an intermediate lever to the pivot lever of the four-bar mechanism arrangement. Depending on the arrangement of the intermediate lever, dynamic behavior which is dependent on the path of motion can be set. 
     If, according to one embodiment, the pivot lever of the multiple-bar or four-bar mechanism arrangement has an arc-shaped drive segment and a pinion which is drive-engaged to the drive segment and also to the linear drive mechanism, a constant drive moment can be transmitted to the four-bar mechanism arrangement. 
     Self-locking of the movement mechanism or the multiple-bar or four-bar mechanism arrangement can be achieved by the four-bar mechanism arrangement assuming the dead center or top dead center position in the closed position. 
     If the locking hook has an eccentric path of contact for locking on the vehicle-mounted abutment, the pivotable locking hook can pull the frame part during the closing process against the abutment, for example, against the seal on the apron. 
     Feasibly, the front frame part is a roof tip, a transverse frame part or a side member of the convertible top frame. 
     Embodiments of the interlocking device are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of an interlocking device with a locking hook in the open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the first embodiment with the locking hook closed; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the interlocking device with a modified drive means in the open position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of the interlocking device in the closed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The convertible top of a cabriolet, such as a folding or collapsible convertible top, contains a convertible top frame with two opposing identical frame parts or side members, of which the left side member  1  is shown in FIG. 1 with its front section  2 . The locking hook  4  of the interlocking device is pivotally supported by means of a pivot bearing  5  to be able to pivot around a transverse axis  6  on the front end  3  of each side member  1 . The locking hook  4  has a hook-shaped front end  7  for reaching around a pin  8  which is attached to a vehicle-mounted part, such as, for example, a cross member above the windshield, windshield header, the apron or the A column of the vehicle, and forms a latch abutment on which the side member  1  is held locked in the closed position of the convertible top. The hook-shaped front end  7  of the locking hook  4  forms an engagement surface  9  which is faces toward the transverse axis  6  and which is at a distance (represented by arrow R) from the transverse axis  6  which decreases from the tip  10  of the hook-shaped front end  7  along the engagement surface  9  in the manner of eccentric curve so that, when the locking hook  4  is closed (pivoting motion from FIG. 1 to FIG.  2 ), the side member  1  or the transverse axis  6  is pulled toward the pin  8 , while the pin  8  slides on the engagement surface  9 . 
     The actuating means of the interlocking device for pivoting the locking hook  4  has a pivot lever  11  which is pivotally supported for rotation around a pivot axis  12  on the side member  1 . A connecting lever  13  is supported on the pivot lever  11  so as to be able to pivot on the pivot lever  11  around a pivot axis  14  and on the locking hook  4  around a pivot axis  15 , and thus, is part of a four-bar mechanism which includes the pivot axes  6 ,  12  on the side member  1 . The connecting lever  13  can thus transmit an actuating force from the pivot lever  11  to the locking hook  4 . 
     A push-rod  16  is movably supported on the side member  1  and is securely connected to a bearing arm  17  which protrudes downward and to which a second connecting lever  18  is coupled for movement around a pivot axis  19  which, on the other hand, is coupled to the pivot lever  11  at a pivot axis  20  which is adjacent to the pivot axis  14 . The push-rod  16  is coupled, either via a latch mechanism to the convertible top mechanism, such that a portion of the path of motion of the convertible top drive is transmitted to the push-rod  16 , or it has its own controlled electrical or hydraulic drive. The push-rod  16  is pushed forward along the side member  1  from the position as shown in FIG. 1, in which the side member  1  has approached the pin  8  but the locking hook  4  is still open. In doing so, it actuates, via the bearing arm  17 , the second connecting lever  18 , the pivoting swivel lever  11  and the first connecting lever  13 , and the locking hook  4  to bring the hook  4  into pivoted position which is shown in FIG.  2  and in which the licking hook  4  has pulled the pin  8  along the engagement surface  9  into the end position which is adjacent to the transverse axis  6  of the pivot bearing  5  and has pulled the side member  1  forward toward the pin  8 . 
     In this end position or closed position, the pivot lever  11  is pivoted into the front position such that the pivot axis  14  of the connecting lever  13  on the pivot lever  11  lies on or preferably above a straight line (represented by a dot-dash line in FIG. 2) between the pivot axis  12  of the pivot lever  11  and the pivot axis  15  on the locking hook  4 . The force which engages the locking hook  4  in the opening direction would thus either not swing the pivot lever  11  or press it in the closing direction (clockwise in FIG. 2) so that the closed position represents a dead center or top dead center position in which the mechanism is self-locking. 
     The interlock is opened in the opposite sequence of motions (from FIG. 2 to FIG.  1 ). 
     In one modified embodiment of the locking device (see FIGS.  3  &amp;  4 ), the pivot lever  11  contains an arc-shaped drive segment  21  with teeth  22  into which a pinion  24 , which is supported by means of the axis  23  of rotation on the side member  1 , fits. The pinion  24  engages a rack  25  which is attached to the push-rod  16  and is driven by it when the push-rod  16  is pushed in the above described manner relative to the side member  2 . 
     The closed position (FIG. 4) in turn forms the top dead center position with self-locking, in which the coupling of the connecting lever  13  (pivot axis  14 ) to the pivot lever  11  is above the straight line between the pivot axis  12  of the pivot lever  11  and the pivot axis  15  on the locking hook  4 . 
     The transmission of force from the rack  25  to the pivot lever  11  takes place, in this embodiment, with a constant torque as a result of the engagement of the pinion  24  on the arc-shaped drive segment  21 . 
     Instead of force transmission by means of teeth, a toothed belt or a chain between the pinion  24  or a wheel and the corresponding drive part on the pivot lever  11  can be used.