Abstract:
A convertible has at least one rollover protective structure, in particular a roll bar, which is extendable through an opening which is closable by a covering. In order to further optimize the opening movement of the covering during the extension of the rollover protective structure of the convertible, the covering is attached to a bodywork part with the aid of a multi-bar linkage which controls the opening movement of the covering.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German application DE 10 2010 036 675.7, filed Jul. 28, 2010; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a convertible with at least one rollover protective structure, in particular a roll bar, which is extendable through an opening which is closable by a covering. 
         [0004]    Published, French patent application FR 2 894 208 A1 discloses a covering for an opening in a trim panel, the covering being held in a closed position by a clip connection or latching connection. The covering is opened by extension of a roll bar, the covering being held on the trim panel by a strap. 
         [0005]    2. Summary of the Invention 
         [0006]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a convertible which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, which optimizes the opening movement of a covering during the extension of a rollover protective structure of a convertible. 
         [0007]    The object is achieved in a convertible with at least one rollover protective structure, in particular a roll bar, which is extendable through an opening which is closable by a covering in that the covering is attached to a bodywork part with the aid of a multi-bar linkage which controls the opening movement of the covering. A defined and reproducible opening movement is ensured in a simple manner by the multi-bar linkage. According to one aspect of the invention, the multi-bar linkage is a two-bar linkage, but may also be, for example, a four-bar linkage. 
         [0008]    A preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the multi-bar linkage contains a bar which is coupled to a rear end region of the covering. Within the context of the present invention, the terms rear and front relate to a forward direction of travel of the convertible. The multi-bar linkage is preferably coupled to the lower side of the covering. 
         [0009]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the bar has at least one contact surface with which the rollover protective structure, upon being extended, comes into contact in such a manner that the covering opens up the opening through which the rollover protective structure extends. The opening movement of the covering, which opening movement is controlled by the multi-bar linkage, is triggered in a simple manner by the rollover protective structure. This has the advantage that a separate triggering mechanism for opening the covering can be omitted. 
         [0010]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the bar has two contact surfaces spaced apart laterally from each other for the rollover protective structure. This reduces the risk of the covering and/or of the multi-bar linkage tilting or jamming. 
         [0011]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the bar is of substantially U-shaped design. The bar which is of substantially U-shaped design is coupled at one free end to the covering. At the other free end thereof, the bar which is of substantially U-shaped design is coupled to a bodywork part of the motor vehicle in such a manner that the covering, upon being opened, can be moved out of the region of the opening. For this purpose, the concave side of the bar of U-shaped design faces the opening when the covering is closed. 
         [0012]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the multi-bar linkage is configured as a four-bar linkage with a rear bar which is arranged between two front bars which are coupled to a front end region of the covering. The front bars are preferably configured to be curved to a greater extent than the rear bar. 
         [0013]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the front bars are coupled further forward and closer to the bodywork part than the rear bar. This optimizes the opening movement of the covering, which opening movement is controlled by the four-bar linkage. 
         [0014]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the bar or the bars is or are configured and coupled in such a manner that, upon being opened, the covering moves forward under a relatively flat enveloping surface or envelope. This affords the advantage that the opening movement of the covering is not adversely affected by a rear window which can be arranged at a small distance above the covering. 
         [0015]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the bar or the bars is or are coupled to two frame parts which are fastened to the bodywork part. The frame parts may be connected integrally to the bodywork part. 
         [0016]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the bodywork part to which the covering is attached is a convertible top compartment lid which contains the opening through which the rollover protective structure is extendable. The covering serves to close a receiving space for the rollover protective structure as long as the rollover protective structure is in the retracted position thereof. 
         [0017]    Another preferred exemplary embodiment of the convertible is characterized in that the covering contains a covering flap which constitutes a means for coupling the multi-bar linkage, in particular the four-bar linkage. This simplifies the production of the multi-bar linkage, in particular the four-bar linkage. 
         [0018]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a convertible, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0020]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a convertible top compartment lid of a convertible obliquely from the rear according to the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a four-bar linkage with which a covering is coupled to a lower side of the convertible top compartment lid from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the convertible top compartment lid from  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the covering closed; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a side view as in  FIG. 3  with an enveloping surface of the opening movement of the covering; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view as in  FIG. 2  according to another exemplary embodiment with a two-bar linkage; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a greatly simplified schematic illustration of a similar exemplary embodiment as in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to  FIGS. 1-4  thereof, there is shown a convertible  1  with a rear region  2  in various views. A convertible top compartment lid  3  which has openings  5 ,  6  permitting the passage of rollover protective structure elements is arranged in the rear region  2  of the convertible  1 . A roll bar  8  which is extendable from a retracted position into an extended rollover protection position protrudes from the opening  5 . 
         [0028]    When the roll bar  8  is in the non-illustrated retracted position thereof, the opening  5  is closed with a covering  10  in order to prevent dust or dirt from penetrating through the opening  5  into a receiving space, which is arranged below the convertible top compartment lid, for the roll bar  8 . The covering  10  has a covering flap  12  which is coupled to the convertible top compartment lid  3  with the aid of a four-bar linkage  14 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  indicates a forward direction of travel of the convertible  1  by an arrow  16 . When the roll bar  8  is in its extended position illustrated, the covering flap  12  is arranged in front of the roll bar  8  in the forward direction of travel  16 . 
         [0030]    It is seen in  FIG. 2  that the four-bar linkage  14  includes a rear bar  20  and two front bars  21 ,  22 . A contact surface  25  for the roll bar is provided on the rear bar  20 . The contact surface  25  merges into two contact surfaces which are spaced apart laterally from each other and are formed on the rear bar  20 . 
         [0031]    The rear bar  20  is coupled at one end to two frame parts  31 ,  32 . The other end of the rear bar  20  is coupled to a rear end region of the covering  10 . Furthermore, one end of a front bar  21 ,  22  is coupled to each of the two frame parts  31 ,  32 . 
         [0032]    The two front bars  21 ,  22  are of curved design and are arranged to the sides of the rear bar  20 . The other ends of the front bars  21 ,  22  of the four-bar linkage  14  are coupled to a front end region of the covering  10 . The covering  10  itself together with the covering flap  12  constitutes a means of coupling the four-bar linkage  14 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates the covering  10  in the closed position thereof in a side view or in section. If the roll bar arranged below the covering  10  is extended, the roll bar strikes against the contact surfaces on the lower side of the covering  10  and pushes the latter open. The opening movement of the covering  10  is controlled here by the four-bar linkage  14 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates an enveloping surface  44  of the opening movement of the covering flap. By means of the four-bar linkage, the enveloping surface  44  can be designed to be flat enough such that the opening movement of the covering is not adversely affected by a rear window  40  which is arranged at a small distance above the opening through which the roll bar extends. The flat envelope curve  44  is achieved in particular by the rear bar  20  being designed to be relatively short. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates a similar exemplary embodiment as in  FIG. 2 , which contains a two-bar linkage  52  instead of the four-bar linkage  14  in  FIG. 2 . The two-bar linkage  52  contains a bar  60  which has two limbs bent away from each other. A free end of the bar  60  is coupled to two frame parts  61 ,  62  which are fastened to the bodywork part  3 . The other end of the bar  60  is coupled to a rear region of the covering  10 . 
         [0036]    Like the rear bar  20  in  FIG. 2 , the bar  60  contains a contact surface or two contact surfaces spaced apart laterally from each other for the roll bar. Within the context of the present invention, it has been found that the desired opening movement of the covering  10  or of the covering flap  12  may also be produced with the aid of the two-bar linkage  52  and without the front bars  21 ,  22  from  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  illustrates a similar two-bar linkage  68  as in  FIG. 5  in a greatly simplified view from the side. The two-bar linkage  68  contains a substantially U-shaped bar  70  which has a base from which two limbs are bent, in particular at right angles. One of the limbs is coupled at the free end thereof to the bodywork part  3  at a first coupling point  71 . The other limb  70  is coupled at the free end thereof to the rear end region of the covering flap  12  at a second coupling point  72 . 
         [0038]    When the covering  12  is closed, the base of the bar  70  of U-shaped design is arranged substantially parallel to the covering flap  12 . The open position of the covering flap  12  is likewise illustrated in  FIG. 6  by a bar  70 ′ illustrated by dashed lines. When the covering flap  12  is open, the base of the bar  70 ′ of U-shaped design is arranged perpendicularly to the bodywork part  3 . When the link  70 ′ is in the open position thereof, the covering  12  is arranged laterally offset with respect to and not above the opening  6 , and therefore a roll bar can extend through the opening  6  without the extension movement being obstructed by the covering  12  or the bar  70 ′.