Abstract:
A vehicle body includes, but is not limited to a frame and a roof held above the frame so as to be movable between a closed configuration in which it covers a passenger compartment and an open configuration in which the passenger compartment is uncovered. The passenger compartment has at least one door. At least one pair of pillars is mounted to the frame to the rear of the door for supporting the roof in its closed configuration. The roof is adapted to assume an intermediate configuration between its open and closer configurations in which the roof is spaced apart from said pillars.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National-Stage entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 based on International Application No. PCT/EP2007/006653, filed Jul. 27, 2007, which was published under PCT Article 21(2), and claims priority to European Application No. 06015841.7, filed Jul. 29, 2006, which are all hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a convertible vehicle body, in which a passenger compartment is delimited by side windows, a rear window, two movable rear pillars which in a closed configuration of the vehicle body fill a gap between the rear window and each of the side windows, and a roof which in the closed configuration covers the passenger compartment, and in which a storage section is provided for receiving the roof when the vehicle body is in an open configuration. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A vehicle body is disclosed in DE 199 48 666 A1. In this prior art vehicle body, the rear window is displaceable, enabling the vehicle body to assume two different open configurations, a first one in which the rear window is concealed completely within the vehicle body, similar to a conventional cabriolet body, and a second one in which the position of the rear window is the same as in the closed configuration. In this second open configuration, the rear window provides some airstream protection for the rear portion of the passenger compartment, a feature which is particularly desirable in a vehicle having front and rear seats, in order to increase the comfort of rear seat passengers when driving in an open configuration. 
         [0004]    However, the airstream protection provided by the rear window can be nothing but incomplete, since in any open configuration, the rear pillars which carry the roof are folded backwards together with the roof they carry, so that a gap exists at either side of the rear window in the second open configuration through which the rear portion of the passenger compartment may be exposed to draught. 
         [0005]    At least one object of the present invention therefore is to provide a vehicle body which is convertible between a closed configuration and at least two open configurations, one of which is similar to a conventional cabriolet configuration, and the other of which provides improved airstream protection for the rear portion of the vehicle body&#39;s passenger compartment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In a convertible vehicle body in which a passenger compartment is delimited by side windows, a moveable rear window, two moveable rear pillars which in a closed configuration of the vehicle body fill a gap between the rear window and each of the side windows, and a roof which in the closed configuration covers the passenger compartment, and in which a storage section is provided for receiving the roof when the vehicle body is in an open configuration, the vehicle body having a first open configuration in which in which the position of said rear window is essentially the same as in the closed configuration and a second open configuration in which the position of the rear window is lower than in the first open configuration, this object is achieved by the fact that the rear columns fill the gaps also in the first open configuration (i.e., the vehicle body of the invention has a first open configuration in which the rear window is raised and gaps between it and the side windows are filled by the rear columns, and a second, cabriolet-like open configuration in which the rear window is lowered and the gaps are open). 
         [0007]    For opening and closing the roof, the rear pillars are preferably displaceable into a position in which the gaps are open, and the roof is connected to a lower body portion by arms which in the closed configuration are located within the passenger compartment and which are moveable into the open configuration through said open gaps. 
         [0008]    For guiding the movement of the roof between the open and closed configurations, each arm is preferably coupled to the roof by a first joint and to the lower body portion by a second joint, the joints having axes extending transversally with the respect to the vehicle body, the first joints being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the second joints also being spaced apart in said longitudinal direction. 
         [0009]    In the closed configuration, the rear pillars may support the roof, but for moving into one of the open configurations, the roof should be detachable from the rear pillars. 
         [0010]    In case of a roof which comprises a main segment supported by the arms and a rear segment which is moveably connected to the main segment, such additional support by the rear pillars is particularly desirable for the rear segment. 
         [0011]    The rear segment is preferably moveable into a position in which it overlaps with said main segment, in order for the segments to form a compact unit which can be easily lifted away from the passenger compartment without a risk of interference with other parts of the vehicle body. 
         [0012]    The moveable connection between main and rear segments preferably is of a pivoting type. 
         [0013]    The main segment may further be moveably connected to a front segment which, in the closed configuration, extends to a front window of the vehicle body. Thus, the unit which is to be lifted away from the passenger compartment can be made still more compact. 
         [0014]    It is further preferred that the rear pillars be moveable into an idle position in which the rear pillars are concealed within the vehicle body, so that when the vehicle is moving while the rear pillars are not in their roof supporting position, they do not form an obstacle to the headwind, which might cause undesirable noise and fuel consumption. 
         [0015]    The idle position of the pillars may conveniently be inside a boot of the vehicle body. 
         [0016]    Certainly, the storage section for the roof may be inside the boot. In order to facilitate the movement of the roof between its position on top of the passenger compartment and the storage section and/or the movements of the pillars between their roof supporting/gap filling and idle positions, a boot lid of said boot is preferably pivotable about an axis adjacent to a rear edge of the boot lid. 
         [0017]    According to a preferred embodiment, the rear pillars may be mounted on the boot lid, so that by merely opening the boot lid, the rear pillars will be moved away from the gaps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, with its roof in a closed configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates the vehicle with its roof in an intermediate stage between closed and open configurations; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the roof structure, without tarpaulin; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the vehicle, in which segments of the roof are folded one above the other, and the trunk lid is open in order to receive the folded roof; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates the vehicle with the folded roof placed in the trunk; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates the vehicle in a first open configuration in which the pillars are in a support position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the vehicle illustrating the process of moving the pillars into their idle position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates a configuration of the vehicle in which the pillars are in the idle position with respect to the boot lid, and the boot lid is open; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates a second open configuration of the vehicle, in which the pillars are in their idle position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the vehicle in an open configuration according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a side view analogous to  FIG. 9  according to a third embodiment; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a side view analogous to  FIG. 9  according to a fourth embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a closed configuration. The vehicle body has a lower body portion  1  comprising front and rear wings  2 ,  3 , doors  4 , an engine bonnet  5 , and a boot lid  6 . A windscreen  7  is held between A-pillars  8 . Each door  4  carries a window pane  9  which is displaceable between an elevated position in which its upper rim is in contact with a roof  10  and a withdrawn position in which the window pane  9  is concealed within the body of door  4 . Similarly, a window pane  11  mounted at rear wing  3  is displaceable between an elevated position, shown, and a withdrawn position inside rear wing  3 . To the rear of window pane  11 , there are two C-pillars  12 . The vehicle body further has a rear window  13  which in the perspective of  FIG. 1  is concealed by the C-pillar  12  which faces the viewer, so that it is represented by a phantom line only. It is noted that the C-pillars  12  extend over a considerable length in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and that they extend to the rear far beyond the rear window  13 , conferring to the vehicle body a hatchback silhouette, although the steep orientation of the rear window is that of a notchback. 
         [0033]    A- and C-pillars  8 ,  12  support roof  10  but are not permanently attached to it. A latch or the like may be provided in order to temporarily lock the roof  10  to the A- and C-pillars  8 ,  12 . 
         [0034]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the roof  10  is formed of three segments, a main segment  14  in the centre and front and rear segments  15 ,  16 , which, in the embodiment shown, are foldably connected to the main segment  14 . In an alternative embodiment, the front and rear segments might be linearly displaceable with respect to the main segment (e.g., by means of guiding rails or the like, in order to bring them into a stacked configuration). 
         [0035]    A general structure of the roof  10  having the foldable segments  14 ,  15 ,  16  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . A support structure of the roof  10  comprises two rigid lateral metal beams  18  the ends of which are connected to arc-shaped front and rear beams  19 ,  20  by hinges  21 . In the configuration shown, beams  18 ,  19 ,  20  essentially lie in a same plane and form a roughly rectangular frame. A tarpaulin, not shown, has its edges fixed to this rectangular frame. The tarpaulin is further supported by arc-shaped webs  22 , which extend between the two longitudinal beams  18  or between parallel end portions of the front beam  19  or the rear beam  20 . In the configuration shown, the webs  22  stand upright so as to keep the tarpaulin under tension. The webs  22  are rotatably held at beams  18 ,  19 ,  20 , and they are coupled to the hinges  21  such that when the front and rear beams  19 ,  20  are folded on top of the longitudinal beams  18 , as indicated by arrows  23 , the webs  21  will rotate towards the plane of the beams  18 ,  19 ,  20  holding them as illustrated by arrows  24 , causing the tarpaulin to slacken and enabling the front and rear beams  19 ,  20  to lie flat on the longitudinal beams  18 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates the configuration of the vehicle when the front and rear beams  19 ,  20  lie flat on the longitudinal beams  18  of the main segment  14 . The roof  10  is folded into a compact package. This package is no longer supported by any of the A- and C-Pillars  8 ,  12 , but exclusively by two pairs of arcuate webs  25 ,  26 , which, as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , extend near inner sides of the C-pillars  12  while the roof  10  is closed and are connected to the longitudinal beams  18  of the main segment  14  by first articulated joints  32 , on the one hand, and to an appropriate support of the vehicle frame  1 , on the other, by second articulated joints  33 . The joints  32 ,  33  have axes extending in the transversal direction of the vehicle body. 
         [0037]    In  FIG. 4 , the boot lid  6  is opened by pivoting it around an axis  27  located near a rear edge of the boot lid  6 . For completeness, it should be noted that the boot lid  6  is also pivotable around an axis  28  (see  FIG. 1 ) located near its front edge, for loading and unloading the boot. Since this kind of operation of the boot lid  6  is familiar to the skilled person, it is not shown in the drawing. 
         [0038]    By turning the webs  25 ,  26 , the folded roof  10  is swung into the boot, as indicated by arrows  29  in  FIG. 5 . Since the quadrangle formed by the four axes of the joints  32 ,  33  has an essentially rhomboid shape, the folded roof rotates only little when it is swung into the boot and assumes an orientation inside the boot in which it is parallel to the boot lid  6  in its closed position. When the roof  10  has been placed in the boot, the boot lid  6  is closed again, and the rear window  13  is slightly moved down, so that it&#39;s upper edge becomes flush with that of the C-pillars  12 , yielding the configuration of  FIG. 6 . In this configuration, the passenger compartment is still delimited by side and rear windows  9 ,  11 ,  13  and the C-pillars  12 , but the roof  10  is completely removed. 
         [0039]    It should be noted that although the C-pillars  12  are shown to be mounted to the boot lid  6  in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a configuration similar to that of  FIG. 6  might also be achieved in case of C-pillars mounted to the rear wings  3 . 
         [0040]    According to a preferred embodiment, the C-pillars  12  are not fixed to the boot lid  6 , but are rotatable with respect to the boot lid  6  around an axis which extends in the transversal direction of the vehicle body and is denoted  30  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates an intermediate configuration which is reached if, starting from the configuration of  FIG. 5 , the C-pillars  12  are rotated around axis  30 . When the C-pillars  12  are rotated by approximately 180°, as shown in  FIG. 8 , they are located entirely underneath the boot lid  6 , and a bottom side of the C-pillars  12  is flush with the boot lid  6 . Window panes  9 ,  11  are lowered to an intermediate position, and the rear window  13  is withdrawn completely into the lower body portion  1 . In its withdrawn position, the rear window  13  may conveniently be located inside the boot (e.g., adjacent to a front wall  31  of the boot). By closing the boot lid  6  and lowering further the window panes  9 ,  11 , a second open configuration illustrated in  FIG. 9  is obtained, in which not only the roof  10  but also the window panes  9 ,  11  and the C-pillars  12  have disappeared inside the vehicle frame  1 , yielding a vehicle body of a classical cabriolet type. 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a vehicle body according to a second embodiment. It differs from the embodiment of  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 9  in that the C-pillars  12  are not mounted on the boot lid, but, quite conventionally, on rear wings  3 . The C-pillars  12  are rotatable around an axis  30  near their rear ends between an upright position in which they fill a gap between the rear window pane  13  and side window panes  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and an idle position, as shown in  FIG. 10 , in which they are hidden in the vehicle boot, and in which a cabriolet-like appearance of the vehicle body can be obtained by lowering the window panes  11 ,  13 . 
         [0043]    In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , a rear end of each C-pillar  12  is slidably held in a guiding rail, not shown, fixed to an inner side of the rear wings, and a front end of each C-pillar  12  is displaceable between a gap filling position between window panes  11 ,  13  in which it is supported by a substantially vertically oriented connecting rod  33  and an idle position by turning the connecting rod  33  as indicated by arrow  34 . 
         [0044]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , there are two connecting rods  33  forming a trapezoid linkage between C-pillar  12  and rear wing  3 . By rotating the two rods  33 , the C-pillar  12  is transferred from its gap filling position to the idle position inside the boot and back again. 
         [0045]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary or detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary or detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.