Abstract:
The present invention (with reference to FIG.  1 ) relates to a vehicle ( 10 ) having a removable rigid roof ( 20 ) which can be attached by releasable attachment means above and covering a cabin of the vehicle  10 . The removable rigid roof ( 20 ) is provided with a pair of hinged sections ( 40 ) each hingedly connected to the remainder of the removable rigid roof ( 20 ). Each hinged section ( 40 ) can be pivoted between a first position in which the hinged section ( 40 ) lies in the plane of the rigid roof ( 20 ) and a second position in which the hinged section is pivoted upwardly out of the plane of the rigid roof ( 20 ). Each hinged section ( 40 ) has a transverse edge which lies above one of a pair of doors of the vehicle ( 10 ) when the hinged section is in the first position thereof. Pivoting of each hinged section ( 40 ) to the second position thereof creates an aperture lying adjacent one of the pair of doors, which aperture aids ingress to and egress from the vehicle ( 10 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle having a removable rigid roof.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is known for vehicles such as sports cars to be provided with removable “soft top” or “hard top” roofs. It is also known for such vehicles to be provided with both versions of roof, the “soft top” and “hard top” roofs of the vehicle being interchangeable. Furthermore, it is also known for a vehicle to be provided with a so-called “targa top” roof which typically comprises a fixed roof having a panel or panels which can be lifted out of the roof and stored, for instance, in the boot.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention seeks to provide a removable hard top roof for a vehicle which incorporates the concept of targa top panels which are in themselves removable from the hard top roof.  
           [0004]    In a first aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle having a removable rigid roof which can be attached by releasable attachment means above and covering a cabin of the vehicle, wherein the removable rigid roof is provided with a hinged section which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the removable rigid roof, which can be pivoted between a first position in which the hinged section lies in the plane of the rigid roof and a second position in which the hinged section is pivoted upwardly out of the plane of the roof and which has a transverse edge which lies above a door of the vehicle when the hinged section is in the first position thereof, whereby pivoting of the hinged section to the second position creates an aperture in the roof adjacent to the door, which aperture aids ingress to and egress from the vehicle through the door. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a vehicle fitted with a removable roof system according to the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the removable roof system according to the present invention showing a removable panel in the fully open position;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is detail perspective view of a hinge of the removable panel illustrated in FIG. 3;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is detail side elevation view of a leaf spring of the hinge of FIG. 4;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a detail view from inside and below of the removable panel in a closed position;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic illustration of one side of the closure mechanism of the removable panel shown in FIGS. 3 and 6;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a perspective schematic illustration of the other side of the closure mechanism of FIG. 7;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is schematic illustration of the closure mechanism of FIGS. 7 and 8 shown in its position in the roof structure (certain parts removed for clarity);  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 is a plan view from above of the lever handle and associated apparatus used to operate the closure mechanism of FIGS.  7  to  9 ;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 is a detail perspective view of a rotating block and associated apparatus according to the present invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of the function and operation of the rotating block of FIG. 11. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    In FIGS. 1 and 2 there can be seen a vehicle  10  with a removable hard top  20 . The hard top comprises a t-section  60  and removable targa panels  40 .  
         [0019]    The removable hard top  20  may be fitted to the vehicle  10  using any conventional fixing methods known in the art of removable hard top roofs. For instance, the top portion of the windscreen frame  12  may be provided with a recess  13  which runs transversely of the vehicle  10 . A corresponding mating projection (not shown) may be provided along the front underside edge of the removable hard top  20  which sealingly engages in the recess  13 . Resilient sealing members may be additionally provided to enhance the seal between the windscreen frame  12  and hard top  20  and to provide a resilient medium for damping vibration. A corresponding resilient sealing member (not shown) may also be provided on the top edge of rear windscreen  15  so as to interface with the underside of the hard top  20  and sealingly engage therewith.  
         [0020]    At the rear of the hard top  20 , mechanical fastening means may typically be employed to locate the rear lobes  22  of the hard top  20  to underlying body panels  18  of the vehicle  10 . Such mechanical fastening means may include releasable snap fit locking pins or other mechanical interlocking devices known in the art.  
         [0021]    With reference now to FIG. 3, the removable hard top  20  can be seen removed from the vehicle with one of the removable targa panels  40  illustrated in a fully open position. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the t-section  60  of the hard top  20  can be seen to comprise a central section  62  extending rearwardly from the front windscreen frame  12  of the vehicle  10  between the two removable targa panels  40 , after which it extends to traverse the whole width of the hard top  20 , culminating in a rearward most edge  25  having lobes  22 .  
         [0022]    Each of the removable targa panels  40  is removably attached to the central portion  62  of the t-section  60  via hinges  80  which are attachable to and detachable from recesses (not shown) provided in the central section  62 . The respective targa panels  40  extend rearwardly from the windscreen frame  12  until they are just short of the rear windscreen frame  15 , at which point the central section  62  resumes its full width  60 . Each of the targa panels provides a cant rail against which a top of a window of a vehicle door can seal.  
         [0023]    It will be appreciated, however, that the t-section  60  of the hard top  20  could be in the form of an i-section which additionally has a forward portion which traverses the width of the vehicle cabin and interfaces with the entire top edge  13  of the windscreen frame  12 . In such a case, the removable targa panels  40  would be fully enveloped by the i-section of the hard top  20 .  
         [0024]    Apart from being of reverse hand, the two removable targa panels  40  are otherwise identical and will therefore be described in this specification with reference to the left hand targa panel  40  which is illustrated in the fully open position in FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    Each targa panel  40  is provided with a locking mechanism  100  and is hingedly connected to the central section  62  of the hard top  20  via hinges  80 . The hinges  80  are attached to the targa panel  40  and provide the mechanism by which the targa panel  40  is attachable to and detachable from the central section  62  of the hard top  20 .  
         [0026]    A detailed view of the hinge mechanism  80  is illustrated in FIG. 4. Each hinge  80  can be seen to comprise an upper plate  82 , which is connectable to the targa panel  40 , and a lower plate  86  connectable to the central section  62  of the hard top  20 . Upper plate  82  can be seen to comprise a protrusion  83  formed with features which co-operate with mating features provided on the targa panel  40 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, the targa panel  40  interfaces with protrusion  83  but does not extend over or cover the upper plate  82 . The targa panel  40  may be affixed to protrusion  83  by any known mechanical fixing means and/or adhesive. As such, the connection of the targa panel  40  to the upper portion  82  may be made permanent or temporary. It will also be appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, the targa panel  40  could fully enclose the entire upper plate  82  and protrusion  83 . This is essentially an aesthetic consideration for the designer of the vehicle  10 .  
         [0027]    At the lower end of upper portion  82  there is provided a hinge portion  84  which carries a shaft  85  through its bore, about which the upper portion  82  is rotatable. Additionally, there is provided a detent means  88  at a lower central section of upper plate  82  whose function will be described further below. The shaft  85  extends from hinge portion  84  into hinge portions  87  provided either side on a lower plate  86  of the hinge mechanism  80 .  
         [0028]    Lower plate  86  is attachable to and removable from a co-operating recess provided in the central portion  62  of the hard top  20 . Attachment to and detachment from the central portion  62  is effected by locking pins  92 . Each locking pin  92  has a shank portion  94  passing through an aperture provided in the lower plate  86  and extending down into the mating structure in the central portion  62  of the hard top  20 . Rotation of the locking pin  92 , which may be effected via hoop  93  provided in the head of the locking pin  92 , causes a locking spindle  95  provided at a lower end of the shank  94  to interact with a mating structure provided (not shown) in central portion  62 , causing the lower plate  86 , upper plate  82  and targa top  40  to be pulled down and securely anchored to the central portion  62  of the hard top  20 . Typically, the locking pin is designed such that a 45 degree rotation of the pin  92  is sufficient to move the pin  92  between a secured locking position and a free unlocked position in which the entire hinge mechanism  80  (and targa panel  40 ) may be lifted from its anchor point in the central portion  62 .  
         [0029]    Additionally provided on the lower plate  86  is a leaf spring  90  secured in position by rivet  91 . As can best be seen in FIG. 5, the leaf spring  90  is of arcuate form at its end nearest to the hinge portion  84  of upper plate  82  so that when the targa panel  40  is raised into a substantially vertical position, the suitably shaped detent  88  provided on the lower portion of upper plate  82  passes under the arcuate portion of leaf spring  90  and securely holds the targa panel  40  in the fully open (i.e. substantially vertical) position. The spring force of the leaf spring  90  and/or shape of the detent  88  may be adjusted to give sufficient force to withstand undesirable forces (e.g. wind) acting to urge the targa panel  40  closed.  
         [0030]    There is additionally provided a coil spring  96  located on the shaft  85  between the hinge portions  87  on lower plate  86  and the hinge portion  84  provided on upper plate  82 . The coil spring  96  has end portions resting on and acting against the lower plate  86  and a central portion  104  provided between its two coils which acts upon upper plate  82 . The coil spring  96  acts to urge apart the upper plate  82  and lower plate  86  respectively, and this serves to reduce the apparent weight experienced by an operator when lifting the targa panel  40  by rotation about shaft axis  85 .  
         [0031]    For securing the targa panel  40  in a closed position integral with the hard top  20 , there is provided a locking assembly  100  on the underside of the outermost edge of each targa panel  40 . This arrangement is illustrated in FIGS.  6  through to  12 . The locking assembly  100  is shown separate from the targa panel  40  in FIGS.  7  to  9  for greater clarity.  
         [0032]    With reference to FIGS.  6  to  12 , the locking assembly  100  comprises lever handle  110  which is movable through 180 degrees from a first locked position to a second open position. The lever handle  110  effects locking and opening of the targa panel  40  via a lobed plate  120  which effects movement of locking mechanisms  150  via control rods  130 ,  140 . Whilst the lever handle  110  rotates through 180 degrees so as to prevent the lever handle protruding below the roof line of the targa panel  40  in either of its locked or unlocked positions, the lobed plate  120  which actuates the control rods  130 ,  140  only operates through a rotation much less than 180 degrees, typically between 90 and 135 degrees. This is achieved using a cylindrical rotating block  113  which is freely mounted on a shaft  111 . Shaft  111  is fixedly attached to lever handle  110  and is provided with a spindle  118  (see FIG. 12) which can act the on rotating block  113 . In turn, the rotating block  113  is linked to lobed plate  120  which in itself is connected to and actuates the control rods  130 ,  140 .  
         [0033]    The rotating block  113  is provided with solid sections  114  and cut away sections  115  as illustrated schematically in FIG. 12. Thus, rotation of the lever handle  110  through, say, the first 45 degrees of travel causes the spindle  118  to move freely in the cut away sections  115  without acting on the rotating block  113 . Following rotation of the lever handle  110  by 45 degrees, the spindle  118  is brought into contact with the two solid sections  114  of the rotating block  113  causing rotation of the rotating block  113  and consequent rotation of the lobed plate  120 . This, in turn, results in corresponding actuation of the control rods  130 ,  140  which are respectively connected to the lobes of lobed plate  120 . This continues for a further 135 degrees of rotation until the lever handle  110  has travelled through 180 degrees to its other extreme position. This actuation process is simply repeated on the return stroke, but the action is reversed. In order that the lever handle  110  is maintained in its two extreme positions and is not free to fall (until contact of spindle  118  is established with a solid portion  114  of rotating block  113 ) when not in use, a friction disc  112  is provided in contact alongside lever handle  110 , as illustrated in FIG. 10  
         [0034]    Each of the control rods  130 ,  140  is linked to and actuates one of the two lock mechanisms  150  provided Each lock mechanism  150  is identical, save for being of reverse hand, as illustrated in FIGS.  6  to  9 . Each lock mechanism  150  comprises a body having spaced apart side plates  152  provided with cut outs  154  and  156  which define guide tracks for pivoting or locating pins extending between the two side plates  152 .  
         [0035]    The ends of the control rods  130 ,  140  distal from the lever handle  110  are each pivotally connected to a link  158  via pin  160 . Pin  160  passes through cut-outs  154  provided in each side plate  152  and is further provided with a flange on each end thereof to permit travel of the pin  160  along the guide track  154  whilst being prevented from being dislodged from either side plate  152 . The opposite end of link  158  is pivotally connected to a detent hook  170  slidably mounted between the side plates  152  via pins  174 ,  176  which are spacedly positioned on the shank of the detent hook  170  to permit travel along the guide track  156  provided in each of the two side plates  152 .  
         [0036]    In a first open position of the lock assembly  100 , each control rod  130 ,  140  is fully retracted such that pin  160  and link  158  cause detent hook  170  to be clear of the catch  180 . This permits opening of the targa panel  40  about its hinge mechanism  80 . To achieve a second closed position, the targa panel  40  is rotated about its hinge mechanism  80  to a closed position where it is flush with the t-section  60  of the hard top  20 . Lever handle  110  is then rotated about its axis and following approximately 45 degrees of rotation, the lever handle  110  actuates the lobed disk  120  via spindle  118  and rotating block  113  causing actuation of the control rods  130 ,  140 . In turn, the control rods  130 ,  140  actuate the link  158  via the pivot pin  160  which in itself causes the detent hook  170  to travel along the guide track  156 , the motion of which is defined by the pins  174  and  176  constrained in the guide track  156 . The consequent movement of the detent hook  170  is such that it moves outboard of the lock mechanism  150  and towards the catch  180  until it is brought into contact with the catch  180 . Locking engagement of the detent hook  170  with catch  180  is achieved when the lobed disk  120  is rotated past an over centre position, the maximum compression force in the control rod  130 ,  140  being achieved at dead centre. This maximum compression force at dead centre resists movement back towards the over centre position and instead urges the detent hook  170  into locking contact with the catch  180 .  
         [0037]    In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the catch  180  for the lock mechanism  150  of the forward end of the targa panel  40  is fixedly attached to the windscreen pillar (not shown). Meanwhile, the catch  180  provided for the lock mechanism  150  at the rearward most end of the targa panel  40  is provided on the underside of the t-section  60  of the hard top  20  at a position adjacent to the lock mechanism  150 .  
         [0038]    The provision of the pins  92  allows the panels  40  to be detached from the remainder of the hard top  20  to be stored, for instance, in the boot of the vehicle. Thus, not only is the whole hard top  20  removable, but the panels  40  are also independently removable. Whilst it may not be possible to store the whole top  40  in e.g. the boot of a sports car, it will be possible to store the panels  40 . The hinged attachment of the panels  40  to the remainder of the hard top  20  allows the panels  40  to be hinged upwardly to allow ingress to and egress from the vehicle. In this regard since the cant rails of the vehicle are provided by the edges of the panels  40 , when the panels  40  are hinged upwardly and the doors opened, each of the driver and passenger are provided with an uninterrupted aperture defined by the construction of the aperture left by an open door and an aperture left by a removed panel  40 .