Abstract:
A spacing adjustment device between a first and a second component of a convertible roof assembly for a vehicle. The space adjusting device may have a body having a first thickness at a first end and a second, greater thickness, at a second end; an inner surface configured to conform to an exterior contour of the first component and an exterior surface opposite the inner surface and configured to conform to the contours of the second component; the body having at least two sections each having a different thickness between the inner and exterior surfaces; wherein the thickness of the at least two sections increases in step wise manner from the first end to the second end of the body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/178,010, filed Feb. 11, 2014, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Described herein are modular roof assemblies for vehicles and particularly modular roof assemblies for vehicles using side rails to interchangeably mount a variety of hardtop panel configurations or a convertible soft top canopy. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vehicles can be configured for various hard top or soft top convertible roofs. Basic convertible mechanisms can be found in patent applications and patents such as: DE 197 04 173 C1, DE 199 27 234 C1, DE 199 38 605 C1, DE 199 39 724 C1, DE 199 43 765 C2, DE 10 2004 017 327 B4, DE 10 2004 017 569 B4, DE 102 42 773 B4, and DE 200 06 258 U1, the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Challenges in the art often arise from the extensive (and expensive) structures often needed for vehicle convertible tops (both soft tops and hardtops) and their associated mechanisms (collectively referred to herein as convertible assemblies). In most instances a customized convertible assembly must be developed for each vehicle application. As part of that development, convertible assemblies typically require the vehicle body (e.g., BIW or Body in White) to be modified to accommodate the attachment points of such assemblies to the vehicle, including storage areas for the roof in a retracted position. BIW refers to the stage in automotive design or automobile manufacturing in which a car body&#39;s sheet metal components have been welded together, but before moving parts (doors, hoods, and deck lids as well as fenders) the motor, chassis sub-assemblies, or trim (glass, seats, upholstery, electronics, etc.) have been added and before painting. In some vehicles, an additional complication is that there are no practical or suitable attachment points or storage areas for the convertible roof assembly within the vehicle body structure. 
     The need for design modifications or accommodations in these types of applications can significantly add to the overall cost, time, resources and even weight of the vehicle. Improved design flexibility, interchangeability and modularity in convertible assemblies are thus desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, described herein are modular roof assemblies for vehicles and, particularly, modular roof assemblies for vehicles using side rails to interchangeably mount a variety of hardtop panel configurations or a convertible soft top canopy. 
     In one approach, a modular roof assembly can have a pair of side rails configured for attachment to a pair of longitudinal roll bar members of a vehicle frame by at least one fastener, the side rails extending in a direction along a length of the vehicle frame rearward from a wind screen frame of the vehicle frame; the side rails having at least one inboard guideway to slidably receive transverse tensioning bows and a track car for a soft top; and the side rails further adapted to receive at least one hard top panel. 
     In another approach, the modular roof assembly can also include a rear assembly configured for attachment by an attachment means from a C-pillar region of the vehicle frame to a D-pillar region of the vehicle frame. The rear assembly may comprise a cassette adapted to be sealingly coupled to rearward ends of the side rails and including a motive force to drive the track car and tensioning bows along a predetermined travel path within the at least one guideway. 
     In another approach, the soft top is attached to the tensioning bows providing a weather tight seal for the vehicle roof when the tensioning bows are in an extended position. The rear assembly may also have a kinematic to lower a retracted soft top and rear cassette to a sill of the vehicle frame. The rear cassette may also have a soft top rear panel having a backlite and/or a soft top rear panel having a backlite proving a weather tight seal with a sill of the vehicle frame. In one approach, this weather tight seal with the sill of the vehicle frame can be an upwardly pivoting hatch. The modular roof assembly can also include at least one rigid roof panel, releasably attached to at least the side rails 
     In another approach, a spacing adjustment device is provided between a first and a second component of a convertible roof assembly for a vehicle having a body having a first thickness at a first end and a second, greater thickness, at a second end; an inner surface configured to conform to an exterior contour of the first component and an exterior surface opposite the inner surface and configured to conform to the contours of the second component; the body having at least two sections each having a different thickness between the inner and exterior surfaces; wherein the thickness of the at least two sections increases in step wise manner from the first end to the second end of the body. The spacing adjustment device can have at least 4 sections are provided and each section increases by about 2 mm in thickness relative to a preceding adjacent section. The interior surface of the spacing adjustment device can be configured to follow contours of a longitudinal roll-bar frame member for a vehicle. In another approach, a mechanism to attach a first component to a second component is provided having a fastener to adjustably and removably attach the first component to the second component; the fastener having a spacing adjustment device between the first and second component, comprising: a body having a first thickness at a first end and a second, greater thickness, at a second end; an inner surface configured to conform to an exterior contour of the first component and an exterior surface opposite the inner surface and configured to conform to the contours of the second component; the body having at least two sections each having a different thickness between the inner and exterior surfaces; wherein the thickness of the at least two sections increases in step wise manner from the first end to the second end of the body. The first component can be a vehicle body component and the second component can be a convertible roof assembly component. The vehicle body component can be an anti-roll bar. The fastener configuration can be latch/strikers, bolts, glues, sealants, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     In another approach, a modular roof top assembly for a vehicle can have a vehicle frame having at least one roll bar member; at least one rail attached to the at least one roll bar member by a fixing means; and the at least one rail having a guideway to slidably receive transverse tensioning bows for a soft top canopy. The fixing means can be at least one matching threaded nut and a bolt. The orientation of the at least one roll bar member to the at least one rail can be adjustable by a distance adjustment spacer provided therebetween. The distance adjustment spacer can be at least one washer having a bore through which the fixing means extends. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be become readily apparent from the following detailed description and the embodiments therein, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary vehicle framework including installed side rails, rear quarter panel, and rear cassette according to one embodiment of a modular convertible assembly, with the soft top having been retracted to a stowed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art partial vehicle body framework having a roll bar to which a modular convertible assembly according to one or more of the present embodiments may be secured. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vehicle framework of  FIG. 2  with the side rails and rear quarter panels according to one embodiment of the modular convertible assembly secured thereto. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vehicle framework of  FIG. 2  with the side rails, rear quarter panel, soft top, and rear cassette according to one embodiment of the modular convertible assembly secured thereto. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the vehicle body framework and the modular convertible assembly of  FIG. 1 , the canopy not shown for clarity and the hatch being in a raised/opened position. 
         FIG. 6  is the same view as in  FIG. 5 , but shown with the rear gate and hatch in an open position to illustrate accommodation of a large item of cargo (shown in dashed lines). 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a soft top convertible assembly attached to a vehicle framework, with the soft top canopy not being shown for clarity. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rearward portion of the soft top convertible assembly of  FIG. 8 , with the soft top canopy not being shown for clarity. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the forward portion of the soft top convertible assembly of  FIG. 8 , with the soft top canopy not being shown for clarity. 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional end view taken along section lines XI-XI in  FIG. 10  and showing an exemplary attachment of a side rail of the convertible assembly of  FIG. 10  to a roll bar of the vehicle framework via an option adjustment element. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective cutaway view of the exemplary attachment of the side rail and the roll bar of  FIG. 11  via the optional adjustment element. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustment element of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a front latch mechanism for coupling a hard top panel to the windscreen frame and/or other ‘body-in-white’ areas. 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional end view taken along a line similar to the line XI-XI in  FIG. 10  and showing one alternative embodiment of a side rail of a soft top convertible assembly and an exemplary alternative fastener for attaching the side rail to the roll bar of the vehicle framework. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly including an attached front hardtop panel, middle hardtop panel, and rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly including an attached front clear panel, middle hardtop panel, and rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly including an attached front clear panel, middle clear panel, and rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly including an attached front hardtop panel, middle clear panel, and rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly without an attached front panel but including an attached middle clear panel and rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 21  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly without an attached middle hardtop panel but including an attached front clear hardtop panel and rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hard top convertible assembly without an attached front panel and without an attached middle panel, but including an attached rear panel with backlite. 
         FIG. 23  is a side sectional fragmentary view of a vehicle taken along section lines XXIII-XXIII in  FIG. 19 , showing one exemplary attachment of a hard top panel to the wind screen frame of the hard top convertible assembly of  FIG. 19  (to the front hard top panel). 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a latch/striker of an exemplary hardtop panel to the wind screen frame. 
         FIG. 25  is a side sectional fragmentary view of a vehicle taken along section lines XXV-XXV in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 26  is a side sectional fragmentary view of a vehicle taken along section lines XXVI-XXVI in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 27  is a side sectional fragmentary view of a vehicle taken along section lines XXVII-XXVII in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Advantageously, described herein are modular roof assemblies for vehicles. In one approach, a soft top convertible assembly is provided to retract and extend a vehicle soft top canopy using a guide track disposed within prefabricated rails (e.g., side rails) and associated mechanisms. The side rails are easily adaptable to a variety of vehicle body configurations and are easy to install. The side rail components allow for easy after-market installations. 
     The present modular roof assemblies can be configured for attachment on vehicles where the soft top can be retracted to the rear of the vehicle, but still forward of the vehicle&#39;s CHMSL (Center High Mount Stop Light, or third brake light) as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6-7 . Components of some modular roof assemblies described herein may alternately include rigid roof panels to provide a hard top configuration. The rigid roof panels can be configured to be easily fastenable to and removable from the side rails. The side rails according to the present embodiments can be configured to support soft top configurations, hard top configurations, or a combination of hard top and soft top configurations. Where the side rails support both hard and soft top configurations, the soft top components are preferably removed prior to installation of any rigid panels. 
     It is also noted that the side rails according to the embodiments described herein can be built into the bodywork of a vehicle and provided as an OME option. Preferably though, the side rails are configured for attachment to a vehicle having open anti-roll bars (cage) for the upper portion of the vehicle frame. The present embodiments provide flexibility in that they are attachable to different vehicle configurations and offer several advantages. Such advantages include easy aftermarket installation of a complete convertible assembly onto a vehicle having a roll-bar cage frame. 
     Another advantage of the present roof assemblies is that no vehicle modification or alteration is necessary to install the present roof assemblies on the vehicle. The present assemblies can also be easily detached and removed from the vehicle framework and re-fitted. A further advantage is that a common rear quarter window panel can be used interchangeably between the soft top and hard top configurations of the present roof assemblies. 
     The components of the present roof assemblies are preferably designed to permit easy assembly by one individual, and are small enough to fit through a standard 36 inch door for easy and convenient storage and transport. The roof assemblies described herein provide a low profile side view roof system and improved security (due at least to the absence of zippered components). In some embodiments, the roof assemblies described herein can include removable modular components such as side windows, doors, rails, and even the roof assembly itself may be removed and later again installed. 
     The modular design of the roof assemblies described herein allow for greater design flexibility in that a design can have a simplified realization of vehicle body; improved lay-out and package; reduced number of parts required to provide a convertible mechanism; improved rigidity and stability of the modular components of the assemblies; reduction in overall assembly cost; and overall assembly weight reduction in that the assembly rigidity is provided primarily by the anti-roll bar or similar framing structure of the vehicle. 
     The preferred embodiments of the roof assemblies described herein provide a pair of roof side rails (side rails, roof rails), which are easily attachable (and removable) as an after-market accessory to predetermined points of vehicle having a roll-cage (roll-bar) framework. With the side rails installed, modular components, such as soft top convertible and/or rigid hard-top panels can then be fastened to the side rails. Optional quick release latches can allow easy removal of the entire assembly or individual components of the roof system. Preferred embodiments illustrate side rails  24  as being mirror images of each other to orient its track guide assembly  20  inboard towards the vehicles longitudinal centerline. 
     The present side rail structures can also sealingly attach to the vehicle framework. The side rails can include a mechanism and rails for the soft-top variant, the attachment elements for the hard top variant, as well as a sealing assembly for controlling water between the side rails and the convertible assemblies (both variants). The side rails can be installed to extend along the sides of the vehicle either from the windscreen frame, or further back of the windscreen frame (along the length of the vehicle) to the rear of the vehicle, or anywhere in between (such as at the top of the front and possible rear door as well as eventual rear quarter panel or window). 
     Turning now to the figures, for illustrative purposes only,  FIG. 2  shows a vehicle  10  suitable for installation of the present modular roof assemblies. Again, it is noted that other types of vehicles having exposed frame components can also be equipped with the roof assemblies described herein. As shown, vehicle  10  has a body  12 , with a forward door  16  an optional rear door  17 , and an optional rear gate  52  (having rear gate hinges  54  shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , above a sill  13  of the body  12  of the vehicle is an exposed roll cage frame  18 . This illustrated roll cage frame  18  has two longitudinal roll bars  19  generally defining the side of the passenger compartment of the vehicle  10 . Roll cage frame  18  also has cross-bar  48  and cross-bar  50  to add rigidity. Further strength is added to the roll cage frame  18  by a cross bar of the windscreen frame  36 . Each of the roll bars  19  may attach to the windscreen frame  36  at point  21  at its forward end, and to the D Pillar  46  at the aft end  23 . It is also noted that longitudinal roll bars  19  may have OME (“Original Manufacturer Equipment”) attachment points  56  at predetermined points as shown in  FIG. 2  to permit attachment of OME accessories. The attachment points  56  for the removable side rails described in more detail below are located along the vehicle length and are positioned along the length of longitudinal roll-over bars  19 . There might be one, two, three, or more attachment points  56  depending on overall length of the vehicle  10  and configuration of the side rails. The attachment points  56 , instead of being installed during manufacturing of the vehicle  10 , can be also installed during the installation of the roof assemblies according to the present embodiments, if needed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , side rails  24  permit attachment of the exemplary embodiments of modular roof assemblies to vehicle  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , side rails  24  can have be means such as a threaded bore  58  (e.g., a nut) configured to receive and fasten side rails  24  to roll cage frame  18  using fastener  22  (e.g., a bolt). Threaded bore  58  is oriented to match the corresponding preconfigured positions of attachment points  56  on roll cage frame  18 . In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each of the side rails  24  can be made as a single piece extending along the desired length (a part of the length or entire length) of the vehicle  10 , with the two side rails  24  on each side of the vehicle  10  being mirror images of each other. Optionally, one or both of the side rails  24 , instead of having a one-piece construction, can be formed from a plurality of modular sections, which can be connected in series. Optionally, attachment elements can also be placed between modular sections of the side rails  24  to allow hinging of the modular sections to conform to practically any shape of the vehicle body  12 . The modular sections themselves could optionally contain hingable connections to follow the contours of the respective longitudinal roll bar  19 . Hard top configurations (described in more detail below) can be configured in separate sections or hinged together to enable a smaller folded package volume. 
     The side rails  24  can be made out of one material or several materials in various manufacturing and assembly methods. Materials that may be used to manufacture the side rails  24  can include metals, composites, extrusions, plastics and various polymers, combinations thereof, and the like. The present assemblies can also be configured for placement on vehicles having doors with frames or frameless doors. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , longitudinal roll-bars  19  extend from the A-pillar (post)  40 , along to B-pillar  42  and C-pillar  44  to a lower corner of D-pillar  46  on both sides of vehicle body  12  and are connected to each other transversely by cross-bars  48  and  50 . The longitudinal roll-over bar  19  is attached to the corners of windscreen frame  36  of the vehicle  10 . Vertical members of roll cage frame  18  extend down to the vehicle sill  13  of B-pillar  42 , where they are mechanically attached at  43  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Aft ends  23  of the longitudinal roll-bars  19  are mechanically attached to the D-pillar  46  of the vehicle body  12 . 
     Various attachment members can be employed to fasten the side rails  24  to roll cage frame  18 , such as latch/strikers combinations, bolts, glues, sealants, combinations thereof, and the like. Side rails  24  can be attached to roll-cage frame  18  using one or more fastening means to fasten side rails  24  to roll-cage frame  18  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 11, 12 and 15 . The side rails  24  may be attached to the roll-cage frame  18  via a fixed (non-detachable) attachment or a detachable attachment. The side rails  24  may be attached directly to longitudinal roll bars  19  (or similar) structure or indirectly via a separate vehicle part attached to longitudinal roll bars  19 .  FIGS. 11, 12 and 15  show some exemplary attachment mechanisms for attachment of side rails  24  to longitudinal roll bars  19 . A weather resistant sealant can also be disposed between side rail  24  and longitudinal roll bar  19 .  FIG. 15  also shows the insertion of a spacer (washer)  25  to provide a desired spacing between side rail  24  and longitudinal roll bar  19  (distance adjustment member). Such a spacer  25  may be advantageous to orient the rails  24  per desired design specifications or to adjust to various vehicle tolerances. It is noted that more than one spacer may be applied, or even no spacer applied to achieve the desired positioning of the side rails  24  to the roll cage frame  18 . Alternately, spacer  25  can be selected by its thickness to equal the spacing needed to achieve the desired positioning of the side rails  24  to the roll cage frame  18 . 
     One embodiment of an optional means that may be used to adjust the desired space between side rails  24  and longitudinal roll bars  19  is illustrated in  FIGS. 11-13 . As shown in  FIGS. 11-12 , a tapered adjustment element  80  may be provided for ease and efficiency of installation of the side rails  24  onto longitudinal roll bars  19 , especially in the aftermarket, and permits customized installations, even beyond roll cage design tolerances. 
     Adjustment element  80  can be used to set the vertical orientation of the roll-cage  18  relative to side-rail  24 . This attachment element  80  can be fixed in different orientations via a fastener  22 , so that the distance between the longitudinal roll bar  19  and the side rail  24  can be varied as needed. As shown in  FIG. 11  for illustrative purposes, adjustment element  80  is a one piece-construction that includes a plurality of integral sections ( 86   a ,  86   b ,  86   c ,  86   d ) that provide a series of stepwise increases in thickness of the adjustment element  80  along the circumference of adjustment element  80 . Specifically, adjustment element  80  can have its greatest (i.e., maximum) thickness  84  at a first circumferential end or first section  86   a . The stepwise thicknesses of the adjustment element  80  decreases along sections  86   b ,  86   c  (second and third sections), etc. to the smallest (i.e., minimum) thickness  82  at a second circumferential end or fourth section  86   d . Although the adjustment element  80  is shown in  FIGS. 11-13  as including four sections  86   a ,  86   b ,  86   c  and  86   d  that provide a stepwise increase/decrease in thickness of the adjustment element  80 , it will be appreciated that adjustment element  80  includes four sections each having a different thickness for illustration purposes only. Namely, adjustment element  80  may be only two sections, three sections, five sections, or more sections of varying thickness, whenever necessary to accommodate for side rail  24  and/or roll bar tolerances. 
     In one approach each stepwise increase of the adjustment element  80  can be in the range of about 1-5 mm, preferably in the range of about 2-3 mm, and more preferably, 2 mm. Maximum thickness  84  of the adjustment element  80  can be in the range of about 5 to 10 mm, and minimum thickness  82  can be in the range of about 2 to 5 mm. During installation of side rail  24  to roll-cage frame  18 , the installer, based on vehicle tolerances, can establish an appropriate spacing between side rail  24  and roll-cage frame  18 , and install the adjustment element  80  in an appropriate orientation to provide a desired spacer thickness between the side rail  24  and longitudinal roll-bar  19  of the roll-cage frame  18  accordingly. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the exemplary adjustment element  80  may be U-shaped and includes a slot  88  between two arm members  81  and  83 .  FIGS. 11-12 , fastener  22  passes through longitudinal roll bar  19  and can be positioned in the slot  88  and partially surrounded by arms  81  and  83  of adjustment element  80 . When installing the side rails  24  on longitudinal roll bars  19 , the user/installer can rotate adjustment element  80  until the desired step  86 ( a, b, c , or  d ) equals or nearly equals the desired distance or gap between side rail  24  and longitudinal roll-bar  19  of roll-cage frame  18 , and then tighten fastener  22  to secure the side rail  24  to the longitudinal roll-bar  19 . 
     For permanent installations, adjustment element  80  may be positioned in the variable gap between the side rails  24  and the longitudinal roll bars  19  in an orientation that provides an appropriate thickness (along one of sections  86   a ,  86   b ,  86   c , or  86   d ) before finally attaching the side rail  24  with fastener  22  (e.g., bolt) or similar mechanical element that permits a detachable or non-detachable attachment of side rail  24  to longitudinal roll-bar  19 . For example, side rails  24  can be held in desired position relative to longitudinal roll-bar  19  by assembly brackets welded onto the roll-bars  19  or by attachment directly (by bolts or welding) to other parts of the vehicle body. 
     During installation of the side rails  24  onto longitudinal roll-bars  19  of the roll-cage frame  18 , the fasteners  22  for the attachment of the side rails  24  can be initially loosely attached to longitudinal roll-bar  19  to ease the process. The adjustment elements  80  may be then slid into the gap between the side rails  24  and the roll-bar frame  18  around the fastener  22 . Since the adjustment elements  80  have several sections ( 86   a ,  86   b ,  86   c ,  86   d ) of different heights (i.e., thicknesses), the adjustment elements  80  are rotated and/or slid into the gap between the side rails  24  and longitudinal roll-bar  19  until a desired location and orientation of the adjustment elements  80  has been reached and fastener  22  can be finally fixed into place to secure the side rails  24  to longitudinal roll-bars  19 . This method significantly reduces the amount of adjustment work, provides a more defined and robust attachment procedure and provides added security when assembling the side rails  24  to the roll-cage frame  18  of the vehicle  10 . 
     Generally  FIGS. 1 and 2-10  show various components to a convertible assembly  38  having a soft top canopy  14  attached to the side rails  24 . 
       FIG. 15  show detail of portions of one side of the convertible assembly  38  in cross section to illustrate attachment of various components, including the attachment of the side rail  24  to longitudinal roll bar  19  of the roll cage frame  18 . For example, in  FIG. 15 , the convertible assembly  38  has a side rail  24  having a first seal  28  and a second seal  30 . First seal  28  can provide a weather resistant seal between side rail  24  and the convertible soft top canopy  14 . Second seal  30  can provide a weather resistant seal between side rail  24  and vehicle doors  16  and  17 . The seals  28  and  30  may be made of rubber, polymeric, plastic, or other materials that would provide a seal when installed as shown in  FIG. 15 . The side rail includes an integrally formed or attached convertible track guide assembly  20  and a guide member  32  (which is preferably U-shaped) can be slidably attached to the side rail  24  for travel along the length of the convertible track guide  26 . Guide member  32  can attached to the various soft top framework components (e.g., cross bow  108 ) supporting soft top canopy  14 . While the preferred embodiment allows attachment to a roll bar, it is noted that the present embodiments can also be incorporated into the body-in-white. 
       FIGS. 26-27  show additional detail of the side rail  24  and vehicle soft top canopy  14  orientation per the sectional view of  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 25  seal  28  shows the added detail of water management channels and the structure of convertible track guide  26 .  FIG. 26  shows the orientation and structure of convertible track guide  26  seal  28  continue into drive cassette  124 .  FIG. 27  shows the orientation of the longitudinal sectional view XXVII of  FIG. 4  where side rail  24  terminates into drive cassette  124  and is sealed by seal  29 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , side rails  24  can be incorporated into a soft top module  100 . Soft top module  100  provides guideways  110  in side rails  104  to extend and retract a convertible roof such as soft top canopy  14 . Soft top module  100  can also be configured to optionally and additionally accommodate attachment of rigid panels, as described in more detail below. More specifically, soft top module  100  provides guideways  110  and  112  to slidably engage transverse tension bows  106  and  108  respectively. A track car  114  can be provided to facilitate sliding of the bows  106  and  108  along the length of sliding members or guideways  110  and  112 , which may be in the form of tracks. It is noted that in  FIGS. 8-10 , a soft top canopy  14  would be present in actual use, but the soft top canopy  14  has been removed in  FIGS. 8-10  for clarity of the mechanism underlying the movement of the soft top canopy  14 . Side rails  104  can also have longitudinal soft top canopy material  116  overlying the side rail element. 
     As shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 , a preferred embodiment of the convertible assembly  38  includes a rear cassette module  124  that can lower the convertible assembly  38  behind the roll-cage frame  18  (when a user desires to open the roof of the vehicle  10 ), but remain in front of a CHMSL of the vehicle  10 . In this instance, the soft top canopy  14  as illustrated remains inboard of the roll cage frame  18  ( FIG. 1 ). In the preferred embodiment, the soft top canopy  14  forms a weather (e.g., water and wind) tight seal along sill  13  of the vehicle  10  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The convertible assembly  38  also includes a sealing bow  122  where the rearward assembly abuts the vehicle body  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , sealing bow  122  is pivotally mounted to vehicle body  12  to rotate upwards to form an optional hatch  122  which is movable from a closed position ( FIG. 4 ) to an open position ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) to accommodate the storage of various items of cargo  130  in a trunk of the vehicle  10 . 
     The convertible assembly  38  may include other optional components and features. For example, a wiper system can optionally be included on the backlite  67  ( FIG. 4 ) of the convertible soft top canopy  14 . The soft top canopy  14  may be vertically attached to cross bows  102 ,  106  and  108  (shown in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 ). As shown in  FIG. 8 , cross bow  102  can be a front bar module to connect to windscreen frame  36 . Transverse front cross bow  102  can have a connection point  118  to the soft top canopy  14 . Optionally, the convertible assembly  38  may include a rear spoiler  150 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, rear cassette  124  of the convertible assembly is part of a rear module  120  ( FIG. 4 ) and is coupled to separate powered motive force to retract soft top canopy  14  along the guideways  110 ,  112 . The rear cassette  124  may be configured to provide a weather-tight seal via sealing components installed where rear cassette  124  and soft top canopy  14  engage in the aft corner of the vehicle  10 . Additional and/or alternative water management and sealing assemblies for the convertible roof assembly  38  can also be incorporated into the rear cassette  124 . That is, the convertible assembly  38  can provide a weather tight seal outboard of the roll cage frame  18  of the vehicle  10 . 
     According to one approach illustrated in  FIGS. 16-21 , a modular hard-top assembly  60  according to one exemplary embodiment is attached to the vehicle body  12  and/or side rails  24  (or quarter window  72 ). In the illustrated embodiment, structural support for the modular hard-top assembly  60  is provided mainly by longitudinal roll-bars  19  of the roll-cage frame  18 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16 , the modular hard-top assembly  60  includes a front panel  62 , middle panel  64 , and rear panel  66  with backlite  67 , which can be opened using backlite hinges  70 . The front panel  62  is preferably attached to the side rails  24 , cross-bar  48  and/or vehicle body  12  by the use of hand operated latches (or other suitable attachment mechanisms) of the front panel  62  locking onto strikers in the side rail  24 , cross bar  48  and/or vehicle body  12 . 
     An exemplary attachment of the front panel  62  to the windscreen frame  36  in cross-section to show more detail is shown in  FIG. 23 . As shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , front panel  62  can be latched to windscreen frame  36  by a front latch  74  mechanism. Front latch  74  has latch arm  76  pivotally attached front panel  62  at a latch arm pivot  78  on latch bracket  142 . Windscreen  36  has a front latch striker  75  to engage a front panel  62  latch hook  146  in a closed position. A weather tight seal is provided by seal  144  attached to windscreen frame  36 . Front latch  74  may also have a user operated handle  148  and a release mechanism  140 . 
     The middle panel  64  preferably uses the same principle of attachment to the side rail  24 , cross bar  48  and/or vehicle body  12 , with the added option of attachment of the middle panel  64  to the rear panel  66 . Rear panel  66  can be attached directly to the vehicle body  12  using bolts (or other fastening means) along a lower edge  69  of the rear panel  66  itself with optional additional attachments to the side rail  24 , quarter window  72  and middle panel  64  in a similar manner as described above. Similar to the rear cassette  124  of the convertible assembly  38  of  FIG. 1  described above, rear panel  66  includes the backlite system, seal interfaces, vision, hinging, wiring and hoses, BIW interfaces of the hard-top assembly  60 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, side rails  24  can also be used for attachment points of modular roof panels. Thus, side rails  24  can be used not only for providing guide-ways for the cross bows of a soft-top canopy  14 , but also for the attachment of modular hard-top panels of the hard-top assembly  60  such, as shown in  FIGS. 16-21 . Thus, the side rails  24  in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 16-21  are provided with guiding channels for the soft top applications, but also provide for attachment of hard fixed panels (e.g.,  62  and  64 ) as well. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the fixed panels  62  and  64  of the hard-top assembly  60  can have latches configured to removably attach at various points along the side rail  24 . For example, in  FIG. 16 , two hard panels (front panel  62  and rear panel  64 ), which may be non-transparent or transparent, are attached. These hard top panels  62  and  64  preferably have the structure and composition of typical body panels of the hard-top assembly. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the hard top assembly  60  includes a front panel  62   a  with an optional fixed clear panel component (e.g., sunroof  63 ) and a rear panel  64  as in  FIG. 16 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the hard top assembly  60  includes a front panel  62   a  with an optional sunroof  63  as well as rear panel  64   a , which has a fixed sunroof  65 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the hard top assembly  60  includes a rear panel  64   a  with an optional fixed sunroof  65  while the front panel  62  is the same as the front panel  62  of  FIG. 16 . In  FIG. 20 , the hard top assembly  60  is configured without the front panel  62 , but with a rear panel  64   a , which has a fixed sunroof  65 . In  FIG. 21 , the hard top assembly  60  is configured without the rear panel  62 , but with a front panel  62   a , which has a fixed window  63 . In  FIG. 22 , the hard top assembly  60  is configured without the front panel  62  and without the rear panel  64 . Preferably, the rear quarter panel  72  is also independently removable. With a half-door option, the convertible assemblies (soft-top assembly  38  or hard-top assembly  60 ) could be configured as a “flat-top”. 
     While preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the present embodiments.