Abstract:
A convertible roof system employs a convertible roof assembly and a cover assembly which operably covers at least a portion of a vehicular area within which the convertible roof is stowed. In a further aspect of the present invention, the cover assembly includes a dual-acting deck lid. Another aspect of the present invention employs a movable main pivot bracket for the convertible roof assembly. Furthermore, an additional aspect of the present invention allows a stowed and collapsed convertible roof assembly to at least partially move with a stowage area cover when the cover is opened to allow rearward access into the stowage area.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/880,225, filed on Jan. 12, 2007. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to a convertible roof system and more particularly to an automotive vehicle having convertible roof and deck lid assemblies. 
   BACKGROUND 
   The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
   In some automotive vehicles, it is desirable to retract a convertible roof into a stowed position in a trunk. Traditionally, this has rendered the trunk unusable for miscellaneous article storage when the roof is stowed therein. Various recent attempts have been made to resolve this problem by employing dual-acting deck lids (also known as trunk lids). For example, reference should be made to the following U.S. patent Nos.: 2004/0222658 entitled “Retractable Roof Structural System” which published to Dilluvio on Nov. 11, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,788 entitled “Decklid Mechanism for Vehicle with Retractable Top” which issued to Plesternings on Oct. 5, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,606 entitled “Hard-Top Vehicle” which issued to Schenk et al. on Oct. 20, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,766 entitled “Convertible Hardtop Vehicle” which issued to Schaible et al. on Jul. 7, 1998; all of which are incorporated by reference herein. While some of these conventional constructions have improved the field, it is noteworthy that the deck lid movement is mechanically unrelated to the convertible roof top-stack movement and the stowed convertible roof may still be difficult to circumvent when a vehicle operator is trying to access the trunk. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with the present invention, a convertible roof system employs a convertible roof assembly and a cover assembly which operably covers at least a portion of a vehicular area within which the convertible roof is stowed. In a further aspect of the present invention, the cover assembly includes a dual-acting deck lid. Another aspect of the present invention employs a movable main pivot bracket for the convertible roof assembly. Yet another aspect of the present invention provides either a retractable soft-top roof, a retractable hard-top roof or a combination thereof. Furthermore, an additional aspect of the present invention allows a stowed and collapsed convertible roof assembly to at least partially move with a stowage area cover when the cover is opened to allow rearward access into the stowage area. In still another aspect of the present invention, a movable locking device is operable to selectively allow or prevent movement of a roof pivot bracket. Moreover, a method of making and using a convertible roof system is also provided. 
   The convertible roof system of the present invention is advantageous over known devices in that the present invention provides for multi-functional movement mechanisms with at least some mechanical portions being shared and common for both retraction movement and movement to clear the stowage area for the convertible roof assembly. Such sharing of components simplifies modularization for easier manufacturing plant assembly, localizes mechanisms in order to reduce storage space encroachment, and achieves easier mechanical couplings between these traditionally separate mechanisms. The commonality and mechanical coupling of the movement mechanisms further ensures desired cooperation and coordination between the convertible roof assembly and the stowage area cover assembly which thereby reduces the risk of undesired collision between the roof and cover. The present invention advantageously provides greater stowage area access to the vehicle operator while maintaining a collapsed state of the roof. 
   Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       FIGS. 1-8  are diagrammatic side views showing the preferred embodiment of a convertible roof system of the present invention employed in various movement positions; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view, essentially opposite that of  FIG. 1 , showing the preferred embodiment of the convertible roof system, with a convertible roof assembly in a raised position and a decklid assembly in a closed position; and 
       FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic rear view showing a bracket locking device employed with the preferred embodiment convertible roof system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , an automotive vehicle  21  employs a convertible roof assembly  23  and cover assembly, preferably a dual acting deck lid assembly  25 . A body of automotive vehicle  21  includes stationary front header panels  27 , a front windshield  29 , a passenger compartment  31  and a roof stowage area or compartment, preferably a trunk  33 . A reference line  35  indicates a belt-line of the vehicle. 
   Convertible roof assembly  23  includes a predominantly rigid, hard-top front roof  41  and a predominantly rigid, hard-top rear roof  43  movably coupled together by a hinge. Such a hinge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,709 entitled “Hinge for a Folding Roof in a Convertible Automotive Vehicle” which issued to Rahn on Feb. 13, 1996, and is incorporated by reference herein. A rigid glass back window, also known as a backlite,  45  is mounted to and moves with rear roof  43 . Furthermore, weatherstrips are mounted to roofs  41  and  43 . 
   A top-stack mechanism  47 , located on each side of the vehicle, operably raises and lowers roofs  41  and  43  between their fully raised positions shown in  FIG. 1  to their fully retracted positions shown in  FIG. 4 . Each top-stack mechanism  47  includes an elongated primary link  61 , an elongated supplemental link  63 , a power link  65 , a coupling drive link  67 , a main pivot bracket  69 , a mounting bracket  71 , a top-stack actuator  73  and a lift-assist actuator  75 . Either of elongated links  61  or  63  may be considered a balance link. A distal end  81  of link  61  is pivotally coupled to a bracket  83  secured to a side rail of front roof  41 . An opposite and proximal end  85  of link  61  has a generally cylindrically shaped bushing  87  which operably rotates about a main pivot  89  attached to an upper section of pivot bracket  69 . A distal end  91  of link  63  is pivotally coupled to a rearward segment of bracket  83  attached to front roof  41 . An opposite and proximal end  93  of link  63  is pivotally mounted to a rearwardly extending arm of pivot bracket  69  at pivot  95 . Thus, a generally four-bar linkage arrangement is defined by the elongated links  61  and  63  as well as brackets  83  and  69 . Top-stack actuator  73  preferably includes a hydraulic cylinder connected to a hydraulic pump and a programmable controller, such as a micro processor, which is automatically actuated in response to a vehicle occupant-actuated switch. The cylinder of actuator  73  is pivotally mounted to bracket  71  at pivot  101 . A piston rod is extendable from the cylinder and is pivotally coupled to link  65  at pivot  103 . A lower end of link  65  is pivotally coupled to a rearwardly extending second arm of pivot bracket  69  at pivot  105  and an upper end of link  65  is pivotally coupled to link  67  at pivot  107 . An opposite and forward end of link  67  is pivotally coupled to a rearwardly facing leg  111  affixed to bushing  87  at pivot  113 . Thus, top-stack actuator  73  is automatically actuated to retract its piston rod and thereby drive links  65  and  67  to cause rearward rotation of link  61 , which in turn, causes retraction movement of roofs  41  and  43  as shown by comparing  FIGS. 1-4 . Reverse operation causes the roofs to be raised to their closed positions. 
   The electronic control unit automatically actuates a deck lid movement mechanism  201 , shown in  FIG. 2 , to rotate and forwardly open a deck lid panel  203  and a selectively attached deck lid frame  205  about a rear pivot axis or multiple axes to allow front access into the trunk stowage area  33 . This can best be observed by comparing  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Such a mechanism is disclosed in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,606 to Schenk et al. and 5,775,766 to Schaible et al. This deck lid and deck lid frame movement can be simultaneous with the roof retraction by employing potentiometers or other sensors, or the deck lid and frame may be fully opened prior to roof retraction.  FIG. 4  shows the convertible roof assembly in its fully retracted position within trunk storage compartment  33  but with the deck lid  203  and deck lid frame  205  still in their fully raised and forwardly open positions. Subsequently,  FIG. 5  illustrates deck lid  203  and deck lid frame  205  in their fully closed positions where deck lid  203  covers a rearward half of the fully retracted front roof  41 . Accordingly, the forward half of the external surface of front roof  41  is visibly exposed when viewed from outside the vehicle and is generally flush with belt-line  35  (see  FIG. 1 ) and the adjacent body panels, including deck lid panel  203 . It is envisioned that in some vehicular constructions, the forward edge of deck lid  203  may have a generally C-shape when viewed from above such that forwardly extending side portions of the decklid either cover or are adjacent to side edges of front roof when the convertible roof assembly is fully retracted and the decklid is fully closed. 
   Referring now  FIGS. 6 through 8 , lift-assist actuator  75  is preferably an automatically actuated, hydraulic cylinder and piston rod, or alternately may be a manually driven fluid dampener-type device such as a pneumatic strut, which serves to control rotational movement of main pivot bracket  69  about a front pivot  231  attached to bracket  71 . Bracket  71  is mounted to the vehicular body structure, such as a quarter inner panel, floor pan, trunk pan or the like. Upon release of a lock (which will be described in greater detail hereinafter), the rear of pivot bracket is operably raised through an angle α which will thereby cause the entire collapsed convertible roof assembly  23  to raise from the fully retracted position shown in  FIG. 7  to an intermediate yet still collapsed orientation as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . Hence, when deck lid  203  is rearwardly opened and pivoted about a forward pivot axis or axes, the collapsed convertible roof assembly is either automatically or manually lifted to allow the vehicle operator to access the miscellaneous storage space within trunk stowage area  33  below convertible roof assembly  23 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a lock  271  employed to selectively allow movement of main pivot bracket  69  on each side of the vehicle. When the deck lid is automatically or manually opened to allow rear access to the trunk stowage area, the programmable controller will automatically energize an electromagnetic actuator, preferably an electric motor  273 . At output gear  275  of electric motor  273  will then rotate a sector gear  277  enmeshed therewith. Sector gear  277  will accordingly rotate a coupled crank  279  which has a pair of rod members  281  or cable members coupled thereto for inserting or withdrawing pins  283 . Pins  283  and/or members  281  are guided within channels of guide blocks  285  and pins  283  selectively move into and out of one of the apertures  287  (also see  FIG. 7 ) in each main pivot bracket  79 . Optionally, a hydraulic cylinder  289  can drive crank  291  in order to drive members  281  instead of electric motor  273  and sector gear  277 . 
   It is noteworthy that the present invention provides one or more common pivot axes for both the deck lid and top-stack devices in combination with moving the convertible roof assembly out of the way for normal deck lid opening. The linkage mechanisms control the convertible roof to optimize positioning for the most efficient cargo area space and access. The method of manufacturing and operating the convertible roof assembly includes attaching the linkages and actuators as disclosed, and moving the roofs, stowage area cover and mechanisms as disclosed hereinabove. For example, the method includes moving a main pivot bracket of a convertible roof assembly relative to the vehicle, especially while the roof assembly remains fully collapsed. It is also envisioned that an object sensor would be employed in the trunk stowage area to prevent undesired stowed roof damage. 
   While the preferred embodiment of the convertible roof system has been disclosed, other variations of the convertible roof system can be employed. For example, the convertible roof assembly can use a fabric covered and pliable roof spanning over underlying roof bows and side rails; see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,952 entitled “Dual Acting Decklid” which issued to Dilluvio on Apr. 25, 2006, and is incorporated by reference herein. Furthermore, a retractable hard-top can alternately have three, four and five rigid roof panels coupled together and retracted into the roof stowage area. It is also envisioned that the roof stowage area can be a boot entirely forward of and separated from a trunk or rear engine compartment, and the cover may be a rigid tonneau cover, although various advantages of the present invention may not be realized. Alternately, a solenoid-actuated pin, locally positioned adjacent each pivot bracket, can be substituted in place of the central, crank operated lock. Moreover, other linkage constructions, numbers and shapes for the top-stack mechanism and cover movement mechanism may be used, although various advantages of the present invention may not be realized. It is intended by the following claims to cover these and any other departures from the disclosed embodiments which fall within the true spirit of this invention.