Abstract:
A spring assist mechanism is disclosed for aiding manual deployment of a collapsible soft top that has a frame incorporating a back bow that includes spaced side struts joined at upper ends by a crossbar. The spring assist mechanism includes a bracket securable to the body of the vehicle on one side thereof. A pivot pin extends from the bracket to a distal end and a pivot plate is rotatably supported on the pivot pin. An attachment feature is fixed to the pivot plate displaced from the pivot pin and the pivot plate forms an attachment arm configured to be fixed to a lower end of one of the side struts. The pivot plate thus facilitates pivotal movement of the side strut and back bow between a generally vertical deployed configuration and a generally horizontal stowed configuration. A biasing member, which can be a coil spring, has a first end fixed relative to the bracket and a second end coupled to the attachment feature. The biasing member is configured to urge the pivot plate and an attached side strut and back bow toward the deployed configuration thereby aiding manual deployment of the soft top. Spring assist mechanisms may be disclosed on both sides of the vehicle if desired.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Priority is hereby claimed to the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/823,542 filed on May 15, 2013. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to vehicles having retractable soft tops, and in particular to vehicles with retractable soft tops that are manually movable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Deployable soft tops for vehicles are commonly used in sport-utility vehicles that are used for recreational purposes. Such soft tops can typically be moved between a normally deployed configuration that protects the occupants of the vehicle from various weather conditions, and a stowed configuration that exposes the passenger compartment to ambience when the weather is pleasant and it is desired by the occupants to enjoy the more favorable and refreshing weather conditions while driving. Many deployable soft tops and manually deployed by the driver of the vehicle, perhaps with the assistance of another. 
     Current manually deployable soft tops are often considered quite cumbersome to move between the collapsed stowed configuration and the deployed configuration and vice versa. This is because, at least in part, the weight and size of the soft top is significant and often requires two or more people, one on each side of the vehicle, to move the soft top effectively and safely between the stowed and deployed configurations. Consequently, a need exists for a manual soft top having a fabric supporting collapsible frame that is movable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration and vice versa by a single person. Moving the soft top between the two positions should be quick, efficient, and easy for a single person standing on only one side of the vehicle. It is to the provision of such a manual soft top and to a spring assist mechanism therefor that the present disclosure is primarily directed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Briefly described, a spring assist mechanism is disclosed for aiding with the manual deployment of a soft top mounted on a vehicle. The spring assist mechanism includes a bracket configured to secure the spring assist mechanism to the body of the vehicle. A fixed pivot pin projects inwardly relative to the vehicle with the free end of the pivot pin having a first spring attachment feature. A pivot plate is rotatably mounted on the pivot pin and includes a second spring attachment feature spaced from the pivot pin and an outwardly projecting arm configured to be secured to the bottom end of a side strut of the back bow of the soft top frame. Rotation of the pivot plate causes the side strut and thus the back bow and entire frame to pivot about the pivot pin between a generally reawardly extending stowed position to a generally vertically extending deployed configuration. A coil spring is mounted on the pivot pin with an inner end of the coil spring secured within the slot of the pivot pin and the outer end of the coil spring secured to the retaining pin of the pivot plate. The coil spring is pre-tensioned such that it exerts a rotary force on the pivot plate urging the pivot plate, the attached side strut, and thereby the back bow and entire soft top from its collapsed configuration toward its deployed configuration. Due to this action of the coil spring, raising the soft top to its deployed configuration is assisted by the force applied by the coil spring such that a single person can deploy the soft top from one side of the vehicle with ease. 
     The invention will be better understood and appreciated upon review of the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, which are briefly described as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle, in this case a Jeep® brand vehicle, having a manual spring assist soft top shown in in a deployed configuration in accordance with a representative embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the spring assist soft top frame in a stowed configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the spring assist soft top in a transitional configuration moving from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the spring assist soft top in another transitional configuration moving from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the spring assist soft top in a partially deployed configuration. 
         FIG. 6A  is close-up side view of the spring assist mechanism of  FIGS. 1-5  mounted to the vehicle and the soft top with the soft top shown in a deployed configuration. 
         FIG. 6B  is close-up side view of the spring assist mechanism of  FIGS. 1-5  mounted to the vehicle and the soft top with the soft top shown in a stowed configuration. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the back bow of a soft top frame in its deployed configuration showing each side strut of the back bow secured at its lower end to a respective spring assist mechanism on opposing sides of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of the back bow of a soft top frame in its collapsed configuration showing each side strut of the back bow secured at its lower end to a respective spring assist mechanism on opposing sides of a vehicle. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a bracket of one of the spring assist mechanisms of  FIGS. 7A-7B . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional perspective view of one of the spring assist mechanism of  FIGS. 7A-7B  showing the coil spring tensioned and secured at its ends to the pivot rod and to the pivot plate. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of one of the spring assist mechanism  FIGS. 7A-7B  in a deployed configuration with a cover attached. 
         FIG. 11A  is an internal side view of the spring assist mechanism of  FIG. 10  showing the condition of the coil spring when the mechanism is in a deployed configuration. 
         FIG. 11B  is an internal side view of the spring assist mechanism of  FIG. 10  showing the condition of the coil spring when the mechanism is in a stowed configuration. 
     
    
    
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that, according to common practice, various features of the just described drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that dimensions of various features and elements of the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention, and that the shaped and configurations of features shown in the drawing are exemplary only and are not intended to narrow the scope of the invention or the claims that define the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now in more detail to the drawing figures, wherein like parts are identified with like reference numerals throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle  10  having a manually actuated and spring assisted soft top  20  in a deployed configuration over the passenger compartment of the vehicle.  FIG. 2  shows the soft top  20  after it has been moved to a stowed configuration generally disposed over the cargo hold at the rear of the vehicle  10 . In this configuration, the passenger compartment of the vehicle  10  is opened to ambience. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the soft top  20  includes a flexible canvas or fabric  22 , with a forward section  24  that is supported on a forward collapsible frame  30  and a back section  28  that is supported between the forward collapsible frame  30  and a rear pivoting frame  50 . The forward collapsible frame  30  and the rear pivoting frame  50  can be mechanically separate from each other except for being attached by the flexible fabric  22  of the soft top  20 . For example, the forward collapsible frame  30  may be coupled or secured to the main body  12  of the vehicle  10  with a spring assist mechanism  60 , while the rear pivoting frame  50  may be separately coupled or secured to the roll bar  18  of the vehicle  10 . The forward collapsible frame  30  and the rear pivoting frame  50  can together support the fabric  22  of the soft top  20  in the deployed configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , and then can collapse rearwardly and downwardly, respectively, as the soft top  20  is moved from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the forward collapsible frame  30  can include a forward crossbar  32  and a pair of forward side struts  34  that together form a front bow  33  that supports the front end of the soft top  20  and the forward section  24  of the fabric  22 . In the deployed configuration, the forward corners of the front bow  33  can be removably coupled to the body  12  of the vehicle using locking clamps  14  located proximate the windshield of the vehicle. This secures the front end of the soft top  20  into position and seals the soft top to the windshield to shield the passenger compartment against the outside elements such as wind, rain, and snow. The opposite ends of the forward side struts  34  can be rotatably connected, with a middle hinge joint  36 , to the forward ends of a pair of center side struts  38  that support the center section  26  of the fabric  22 . In turn, the back ends of the center side struts  38  can be rotatably connected, with a back hinge joint  46 , to a back crossbar  40  that extends across the width of the vehicle  10  above a second row of seats. In the deployed configuration, both the forward side struts  34  and the center side struts  38  can be substantially aligned with the horizontal roof line of the body  12  of the vehicle  10 . 
     In addition to being rotatably coupled to the center side struts  38 , the back crossbar  40  can be rigidly coupled to a pair of back side struts  42  to form a back bow  41 . The back side struts  42  can extend substantially vertically downward in the deployed configuration, with each of the lower ends of the back side struts  42  being secured to a corresponding spring assist mechanism  60 , which form pivoting joints between the lower ends of the back side struts and the body  12  of the vehicle  10  behind a second row of seats. In the deployed configuration ( FIG. 1 ), the back crossbar  40  can support both the center section  26  and back section  28  of the soft top  20 . 
     One embodiment of the spring assist mechanism  60  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 6A , which shows the soft top and frame in the deployed configuration, and in  FIG. 6B , which shows soft top and frame in the stowed configuration. With the soft top in the deployed configuration ( FIG. 6A ), the back side strut  42  is oriented generally vertically to elevate the back crossbar  40  over the second row of passenger seats. With the soft top in the stowed configuration ( FIG. 6B ), the back side strut  42  is oriented generally horizontally and extends to the rear over the cargo hold of the vehicle. The forward side strut  34 , the center side strut  38 , and the middle hinge joint  36  on one side of the vehicle  10  can be folded down to the stowed configuration atop the back side strut  42  and the spring assist mechanism  60 , so as to open the interior of the vehicle to ambience. 
     The spring assist mechanism  60  shown in  FIGS. 6A-6B  can include a bracket  62  having a horizontal mounting bar  64  secured to an outer side rail  16  of the vehicle body  12 . A side plate  66  of the bracket  62  extends downwardly along the inside face of the side rail  16 . A non-rotating or fixed pivot pin  68  projects from the side plate  66  generally toward the interior of the vehicle to a distal end. The pivot pin  68  is sized and configured to receive the pivot plate  72  rotatably mounted thereon and to receive the center portion of a coil spring  80  with the coil spring surrounding the pivot pin. The pivot pin  68  is milled or otherwise formed to define an axial slot  169  ( FIG. 11   a ) sized to receive and secure an inner end  182  of the coil spring  80 . The back side strut  42  is attached to a mounting arm  76  of the pivot plate  72  with a welded joint, although other means of attachment such as nuts and bolts are possible and considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. The pivot plate  72  also includes a retaining pin  73  that projects toward the interior of a vehicle to receive and capture the outer end of the biasing member or coil spring  80 . 
     With the base plate  72  rotated upward so that the back side strut  42  is generally vertically oriented ( FIG. 6A ), the coil spring  80  can be in a relatively relaxed and non-tensioned state. As the base plate  72  and the back side strut  42  are rotated downward and rearward to the substantially horizontal stowed configuration ( FIG. 6B ), the retaining pin  73  pulls around the outer end of the coil spring  80  to tension the spring progressively and thereby to create a biasing force that resists the downward pivoting motion. In this way, the coil spring  80  bears some of the weight of the soft top  20  as it is moved from its deployed configuration to its stowed configuration. This, in turn, makes it easier for one individual on one side of the vehicle to lower the soft top when it is desired to enjoy the fresh air while driving since much of not most of the weight of the top is born by the coil springs. The spring constant of the coil spring can be selected to provide a desired ease of lowering the soft top. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 2-5 , when it becomes desirable to raise the soft top  20  from the stowed configuration ( FIG. 2 ) to the deployed configuration ( FIG. 1 ), a single person can complete the process with ease by taking advantage of the biasing force that is captured within the tensioned coil spring  80 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the single person can first begin to raise and pivot the center side struts  38  (along with the middle hinge joint  36  and the forward side struts  34 ) about the back pivot joint  46 . Raising the side strut is done with ease because of the assistance provided by the tensioned spring on that side. Further, raising and pivoting the center side strut on one side of the vehicle is sufficient also to raise the center side strut on the other side of the vehicle particularly where both center side struts are biased by their springs to move in this direction. Since the front of the soft top is still folded, the front end of the collapsible frame  30  and the fabric supported thereby will clear the second row of seats as the back bow  41  of the collapsible frame  30  is pivoted upwardly and forwardly around the pivot pins of the spring assist mechanisms  60  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     The biasing force captured within the tensioned coil springs  80  functions to carry much of if not a majority portion of the combined weight of the top during the pivoting portion of the process ( FIG. 4 ). At the completion of the pivoting motion, the back side struts  42  arrive at their generally vertical orientations and the back crossbar  40  reaches its deployed configuration shown in  FIG. 5 . A single person has only to apply a significantly reduced force to initiate and maintain the pivoting movement of the frame  30  and soft top about the spring assist mechanisms  60 . The motion of the forward  24  and center  26  portions of the soft top  20  also are easily controlled with the individual&#39;s other hand until the soft top reaches the partially-deployed configuration shown in  FIG. 5 . At this point, the reduced weight of the forward section  24  of the fabric  22  and the front bow  33  of the collapsible frame  30  can easily be rotated forwardly about the middle hinge joint  36  by the single person until the front crossbar  32  reconnects with the attachment mechanism  14  mounted to the body  12  of the vehicle  10  proximate the windshield, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     During the upward pivoting motion of the collapsible frame  30  around the pivot pins of the spring assist mechanism  60 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear pivoting frame  50  can generally remain in place until the back section  28  of the fabric  22  draws tight between the back crossbar  40  and the rear crossbar  52 . The continued pivoting motion of the collapsible frame  30  around the spring assist mechanism  60  then operates to pull the rear pivoting frame  50  upward and forward about the rear pivot mount  56  located on the roll bar  18  of the vehicle  10 , until the rear frame  50  also reaches its deployed configuration shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The coil springs  80  located within the spring assist mechanisms  60  also assists with controlling the motion of the soft top  20  as it moved from its deployed configuration ( FIG. 1 ) to its stowed configuration ( FIG. 2 ). For example, as may be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the tension progressively stored in the coil spring  80 , which takes place during the rearward and downward pivoting motion of the back bow  41 , operates to carry the load of the top progressively more as the top is lowered. It therefore is easier for a single person to control the combined weight of the frame  30  and fabric  22  as the top falls back to its stowed configuration over the cargo hold of the vehicle. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are front perspective views of the back bow  141  and spring assist mechanism  160  in a deployed configuration and in a stowed configuration, respectively. These figures illustrate another representative embodiment of the present invention. The back bow  141  and spring assist mechanism  160  can be marketed and sold together as an aftermarket upgrade kit  100  for converting an existing or factory soft top of a vehicle that lacks a spring assist device into an updated and improved soft top having the spring assist features described above. In making the conversion, it is generally required that the movement of the collapsible frame of the existing soft top be altered so that the folded or collapsed forward sections and center sections become rotatable about a pivot point that is located proximate the side rail of the vehicle body and behind the second row of seats, rather than at some other location on the roll bar or proximate the rear of the vehicle. Changing the location of the pivot point may require removing the existing back crossbar and associated linkage bars and replacing them with the back crossbar  140  and back side struts  142  of the present embodiment that form the updated back bow assembly  141  shown in  FIGS. 7A-7B . Connection of the updated back bow assembly  141  to the spring assist mechanism  160  also may be necessary. 
     The back crossbar  140  can include back corner plates  144  that provide support and shape to the fabric of the soft top. The back corner plates  144  also locate a pair of back hinge brackets  146  at approximately the same locations as those of the original frame. This provides ready location of the back crossbar  140  with the center side struts of the existing soft top frame. The back hinge brackets  146  can be located interior to the back corner plates  144  of the new back bow  141  so that the new back corner plates  144  and back side struts  142  may be greater than that of the original back crossbar being replaced. Indeed, using the new back side struts  142  and spring assist mechanism  160  that mount to the side rails of the vehicle body (not shown) may often widen the stance or spacing at the base of the new back bow  141 . This, in turn, can provide the pivoting structure with greater stiffness, rigidity, and support than was previously available with the existing or factory soft top frame. The increased stiffness, rigidity, and support provided by the new back bow  141 , along with the dynamic assistance provided by the spring assist mechanism  160 , significantly enhances the ability of a single person to deploy and retract the converted soft where two people usually are required to manage the original or factory soft top. 
     Each spring assist mechanism  160  can generally include a pivot plate  170  that is rotatably supported on a fixed bracket  162  secured to a side rail of the vehicle (not shown). In addition, one or both of the spring assist mechanism  160  may optionally include a locking member  190  that serves to lock the back bow  141  in its stowed configuration ( FIG. 7B ) until released, and to keep the compressed spring from inadvertently raising the soft top during movement of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 8  is a close-up perspective view of a bracket  162  of one of the spring assist mechanism of  FIGS. 7A-7B . The bracket  162  can include a horizontal mounting bar  164  for mounting atop a side rail of a vehicle body (not shown). A side plate  166  extends downwardly from the mounting bar  164  along the inside face of the side rail. A fixed or non-rotating pivot pin  168  extends from the side plate  66  toward the interior of a vehicle. The pivot pin  168  can also include a first spring attachment feature. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment feature comprises a slot  169  extending axially along the pivot pin. 
       FIG. 9  shows the spring assist mechanism  160  with the pivot plate  172  and the coil spring  180  mounted thereto. The pivot plate  172  is rotatably received on the pivot pin  182  against the side plate  166 . The coil spring  180  also is received on the pivot pin adjacent the pivot plate  172  with the inner end of the pivot pin received in the slot  169  to restrain the inner end of the coil spring against rotary movement. The outer end of the coil spring  180  is formed with a hook that extends over a retaining pin  176  extending from the pivot plate  172 . Low friction washers, such as bronze washers  188 , can be disposed between the face of the rotating pivot plate  172  and the side plate  166  of the bracket  162  and also between the pivot plate and the coil spring if desired. A mounting arm  174  projects radially from the pivot plate  172  and is configured to receive and secure the bottom end of a back side strut  142  ( FIG. 7   a ) of a back bow assembly  141 . The coil spring thus applies a polar force to the attachment arm  174  that assists in the deployment of the modified soft top as discussed in detail above. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a completed spring assist mechanism  160  for the consumer market. The completed mechanism may include a housing  178  that couples with the base plate  172  to cover and protect the coil spring  180 . The cover plate  167  may be attached to the underlying pivot pin of the bracket  162 , rather than to edges of the housing  178 , so that the cover plate remains fixed in position while the pivot plate  170  rotates between the deployed and stowed configurations. The cover plate also can be coupled to the movable housing if desired and can include a brand logo. A locking member  190  can be incorporated to lock a soft top in its stowed configuration and can comprise a pawl  192  and a release handle  196 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the angular positioning  148  of the back bow  141  relative to the bracket  162 , and the range of rotation provided by the spring assist mechanism  160  are illustrated. For instance, in the deployed configuration of  FIG. 7A , the back side struts  142  can be generally vertical, meaning that they extend generally in an upward direction. Where a forward bend in the back side struts  142  is incorporated, the back cross bar  140  is positioned slightly forward from directly over the spring assist mechanism  160  so that it ma align properly with the seats and headrests of a vehicle. This can cause the angle  148 A between the horizontal mounting bar  164  ( FIGS. 8-9 ) of the bracket  162  and a line drawn between the pivot pin  168  and the back hinge  146  that connects the back cross bar  140  with the center side struts (not shown) to range from about 95 degrees to about 110 degrees. 
     Similarly, in the stowed configuration of  FIG. 7B , the back side struts  142  can be generally horizontal, meaning that they extend generally in a rearward direction. A forward bend in the back side struts  142  can raise the back cross bar  140  slightly above the tail gate of the vehicle (such as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Further, the angle  148 B between the horizontal mounting bar  164  ( FIGS. 8-9 ) of the bracket  162  and the line drawn between the pivot pin  168  and the back hinge  146  can range from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees. Thus, the total range of angular motion of the pivoting back bow  141  between the deployed and stowed configurations can generally be about 90 degrees, although in various aspects of the present disclosure the total range of angular motion can range from about 75 degrees to about 105 degrees depending upon application specific requirements. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  are internal side views of the spring assist mechanism  160  in the deployed and stowed configurations, respectively, with the protective cover removed to reveal components of the mechanism. The spring assist mechanism  160  includes optional locking member  190  that can serve to lock the back bow (not shown) in the stowed configuration until released. The locking member  190  can include a pawl  192  that is rotatably mounted to a pawl pivot  193  that extends inwardly from the side plate  166  of the bracket  162 . On one side of the pawl pivot  193 , the pawl  192  can include an arm with a recess  194  sized and shaped to engage with a locking pin  177  that projects inwardly from the base plate  172  of the pivot plate  170 . An expansion spring  198  can be coupled between the pawl  192  and the side plate  166  of the bracket  162 . The expansion spring  198  can yieldably maintain the rotatable pawl  192  in an engaging position with the locking pin  177  when the pivot plate  170  has been rotated to the stowed configuration shown in  FIG. 11B . This prevents the stowed soft top from bouncing upwardly when the vehicle encounters rough terrain. To return the soft top to the deployed configuration, a downward force can be applied to the handle  196  of the locking member  190  to rotate the pawl  192  against the bias of the expansion spring  198  and release the locking pin  177  from the recess  194 . This allows the pivot plate  170  to rotate back to the vertical position of  FIG. 11A  under the influence of the biasing force captured within the compressed coil spring  180  and/or an initiating and directing force applied by an individual. 
     A second or intermediate locking pin (not shown) can added to the base plate  172  for locking the pivoting back bow  141  in a position between the deployed and stowed configurations described above. In this way, a single person to lock the soft top in its intermediate position, move to the back of the vehicle to fold and smooth the fabric of the soft top as desired, and then pivot the back bow  141  all the way downward to its fully stowed configuration. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  perhaps better illustrate the slot  169  that is in the distal end portion of the pivot pin  168  to receive the inner end  182  of the coil spring  180  and the retaining pin  176  that extends inwardly from the base plate  172  of the pivot plate  170  to engage with the hook on the outer end  184  of the coil spring. Provisions for mounting the back side strut (not shown) to the neck portion  174  of the base plate  172 , such as bolt holes  175 , also are illustrated in the drawings. 
     The invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments and methodologies considered by the inventors to represent the best modes of carrying out the invention. However, a wide variety of additions, deletions, and modification might well be made to the illustrated embodiments by skilled artisans without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various other types of biasing members, including but not limited to linear and non-linear springs or hydraulic and pneumatic compression devices, may be used between the bracket and pivot plate of the spring assist mechanism to create the biasing force that resists the downward pivoting motion of the back bow and acts to return the rotatable pivot plates and back side struts to their substantially vertical and upright orientations. In addition, different methods or devices for attaching the biasing member between the bracket and pivoting member, other than with a fixed slot or projecting pins, are also possible. These and other revisions might be made by those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, with is constrained only by the claims.