Patent Publication Number: US-7585012-B2

Title: Adjustable vehicle roof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/696,042, filed Apr. 3, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,346, which claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2006 016 853.4, filed Apr. 7, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a convertible vehicle having a roof kinematic system which movably couples a roof to the vehicle body to be movable between a closed position in which the roof extends over and covers the vehicle interior and a storage position in which the roof is lowered into and stored within a storage compartment of the vehicle. 
   2. Background Art 
   DE 103 31 987 A1 (corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,962,386) describes a convertible vehicle having a multiple part roof. A roof kinematic system moves the roof between a closed position in which the roof parts extend over and cover the vehicle interior and a storage position in which the roof parts are lowered into and stored within a storage compartment of the vehicle. A cover is movably connected to the vehicle to open and close the compartment. The cover is lowered to close the compartment with the roof stored therein. The cover is raised to provide access for the roof to be moved into and out of the compartment. The cover is kinematically connected, through a connecting link and a transfer link, with a main link of the roof kinematic system. The connecting and transfer links form a kinematic chain such that movement of the main link about its vehicle body-side joint transfers movement to the cover and the cover is raised about its vehicle body-side joint. The cover has along its side edges, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a guide slot in which a pin of the connecting link is slidably supported. As an actuator moves the roof kinematic system, the connecting link swivels about a vehicle body-side joint and the pin is guided along in the guide slot on the cover thereby raising the cover. The transfer of movement from the roof kinematic system through the coupling kinematic system to the cover presumes a sliding block guide in the side area of the cover. 
   DE 101 17 767 A1 describes a cover kinematically coupled to the roof kinematic system. The cover functions as a rear parcel shelf that extends within the vehicle interior beneath the rear roof part when the roof is in the closed position. A coupling kinematic system couples the cover to the roof kinematic system. The coupling kinematic system is an over-center kinematic system which crosses a dead-center position when the roof moves between its closed and storage positions, after which the swinging up movement of the cover to open a passage into the compartment reverses and the cover is closed again. However, the coupling kinematic system is complicated, having six links which control the movement of the cover. At first, the swinging movement of the main link of the roof kinematic system is transferred through a torsionally rigid lever to another intermediate lever, which makes a swinging connection with a body-mounted coupling lever, which in turn is articulately connected to a transfer lever of the cover link. Moreover, a body-mounted control lever makes a swinging connection with the transfer lever of the cover link. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is using simple measures to kinematically couple the movement of a storage compartment cover to the movement of a roof of a convertible vehicle as the roof moves between closed and storage positions. 
   In carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides a vehicle having a compartment, a roof, a roof kinematic system, a cover, a cover link, and a coupling kinematic system. The roof has a plurality of roof parts and is movable between a closed position in which the roof parts extend over the vehicle interior and a storage position in which the roof parts are stored within the compartment. The roof kinematic system has a main link movably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint and connected to at least one of the roof parts to move the roof between the closed and storage roof positions. The cover is movable between a closed position in which the cover covers the compartment and an opened position in which the cover is raised from the compartment. The cover link is movably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint and connected to the cover to move the cover between the closed and opened cover positions. The coupling kinematic system has a connecting link coupling the main link of the roof kinematic system to the cover link such that the cover is coupled to the roof kinematic system to move about the vehicle body-side joint of the cover link as the roof moves between the closed and storage roof positions. The connecting link passes through a lined-up position in which the connecting link and the vehicle body-side joints of the main link and the cover link run along a straight line during movement of the roof between the closed and storage roof positions. 
   Further, in carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides a roof assembly for a vehicle having a compartment and a cover movable between a closed position in which the cover covers the compartment and an opened position in which the cover is raised from the compartment. The roof assembly includes a roof, a roof kinematic system, a cover link, and a coupling kinematic system. The roof has a plurality of roof parts. The roof is movable between a closed position in which the roof parts extend over the vehicle interior and a storage position in which the roof parts are stored within the compartment. The roof kinematic system has a main link movably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint and connected to at least one of the roof parts to move the roof between the closed and storage roof positions. The cover link is movably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint and connected to the cover to move the cover between the closed and opened cover positions. The coupling kinematic system has a connecting link coupling the main link of the roof kinematic system to the cover link such that the cover is coupled to the roof kinematic system to move about the vehicle body-side joint of the cover link as the roof moves between the closed and storage roof positions. The connecting link passes through a lined-up position in which the connecting link and the vehicle body-side joints of the main link and the cover link run along a straight line during movement of the roof between the closed and storage roof positions. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling kinematic system through which the movement of the roof kinematic system is transferred to the cover exclusively consists of links that are connected to one another or with the roof kinematic system and the cover through joints. This transmission path between the roof kinematic system and the cover has a maximum of three links including a connecting link. The connecting link is directly pivotably coupled to the cover and is a component of the coupling kinematic system. The connecting link passes through a lined-up or dead-center position in which the connecting link and the vehicle body-side joints of the roof kinematic system and the cover link (i.e., the cover kinematic system) form a straight line when the roof moves between its closed and storage positions. 
   This embodiment has various advantages. First, it is possible to build small kinematic systems as the use of exclusively rotatable links means that only relatively little space is required and relatively little movement space is required for the coupling kinematic system. Translational displacements, which require more space and/or elaborate sliding block guides are unnecessary. Second, rotational coupling of the links among one another and/or with the cover and/or the roof kinematic system simplifies the structure over prior-art designs. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling kinematic system includes the connecting link. The connecting link makes a pivoting connection with the cover through a joint at one end and makes a pivoting connection through another joint at the other end with a component of the roof kinematic system. For instance, the component of the roof kinematic system is a main link of the roof kinematic system. This embodiment represents a simple construction having a minimum number of moving components. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling kinematic system includes a coupling link in addition to the connecting link. One end of the coupling link makes a pivoting connection with the connecting link. The other end of the connecting link makes a pivoting connection with a component (such as the main link) of the roof kinematic system. For an unambiguously determined transfer of movement it can be advantageous to support the coupling link on a vehicle body-side joint, for example by a support link, or to mount the coupling link itself directly through a vehicle body-side joint. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the link of the coupling kinematic system that is coupled to the roof kinematic system advantageously acts on the roof kinematic system at a distance from the vehicle body-side joint of the main link so that the lever motion between the body-mounted axis of rotation of the main link and the joint to the coupling kinematic system functions as a control movement for the cover. It is advantageous for the connection or coupling link of the coupling kinematic system to act directly on the main link of the roof kinematic system. Alternatively it is also possible to connect the coupling kinematic system through another lever or link of the roof kinematic system. 
   The above features, and other features and advantages of the present invention as readily apparent from the following detailed descriptions thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a roof having front and rear roof parts in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which the roof is movable between a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  in which the roof parts extend over and cover the interior of a vehicle and a storage position in which the roof parts are folded together, lowered, and stored in a storage compartment of the vehicle with a movable cover covering the compartment; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a roof kinematic system for moving the roof between its closed and storage positions, a cover link kinematic system for moving the cover between a cover position in which the cover covers the compartment and an opened position in which the cover uncovers the compartment, and a coupling kinematic system which kinematically couples the roof and cover kinematic systems in which the roof and the cover are in their respective closed positions; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the kinematic systems when the roof is beginning to move from its closed position to its storage position with the cover swung open towards its opened position; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the kinematic systems when the roof is further advanced towards its storage position with the joints of a connecting link of the coupling kinematic system and a vehicle body-side joint of a main link of the roof kinematic system being lined up; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the kinematic systems when the roof is in its storage position with the main link of the roof kinematic system also being stored in the compartment and the cover being in its closed position covering the compartment; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic of the cover and the kinematic systems when the roof is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) and when the roof is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines) with the cover being in the same closed position in both situations; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic of the cover and the kinematic systems when the roof is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) and when the roof is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines) with the cover being in a vertically lower closed position when the roof is in its closed position than when the roof is in its storage position; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic of the cover and the kinematic systems when the roof is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) and when the roof is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines) with the cover being in a vertically higher closed position when the roof is in its closed position than when the roof is in its storage position; 
       FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , and  13  illustrate side views of the roof having another embodiment of the coupling kinematic system in accordance with the present invention in which the coupling kinematic system has three pivoting links shown between the closed position of the roof (shown in  FIG. 9 ) and the storage position of the roof (shown in  FIG. 13 ); and 
       FIGS. 14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 , and  19  illustrate side views of the roof having another embodiment of the coupling kinematic system in accordance with the present invention shown between the closed position of the roof (shown in  FIG. 14 ) and the storage position of the roof (shown in  FIG. 19 ). 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
   The figures denote like components by the same reference numerals. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a roof  2  having rigid front and rear roof parts  3 ,  4  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Roof  2  is movable between a closed position shown in  FIG. 1  in which roof parts  3 ,  4  extend over and cover the interior of a convertible vehicle  1  and a storage position in which roof parts  3 ,  4  are folded together, lowered, and stored in a storage compartment  8  of vehicle  2 . A movable cover  6  covers compartment  8 . Rear roof part  4  includes a rear window  5 . In the closed position of roof  2  as shown in  FIG. 1 , front roof part  3  borders a windshield frame  7  of vehicle  1 . 
   In this embodiment, roof  2  is a hardtop roof having two roof parts. In other embodiments, roof  2  may be a soft top with a cloth stretched over a frame assembly and/or roof  2  may have more than two roof parts. 
   Storage compartment  8  of vehicle  1  holds roof parts  3 ,  4  therein when roof  2  is in its stored position. Cover  6  is movably connected to the vehicle body so as to swing through a vehicle body-side joint to open and close relative to the top side of compartment  8 . In its closed position, cover  6  extends horizontally over compartment  8  and closes off compartment  8 . In its opened position, cover  6  is swung up from compartment  8  to allow access into and out of compartment  8 . As such, cover  6  is moved from its closed position to its opened position to allow roof parts  3 ,  4  to move into and out from compartment  8  when roof is moving between its closed and storage positions. After roof  2  is stored in compartment  8 , cover  6  is moved back from its opened position to its closed position. In its closed position, cover  6  lies beneath rear roof part  4  within the interior of vehicle  1 . Cover  6  functions as a rear parcel shelf that extends within the vehicle interior beneath rear roof part  4  when roof  2  is in its closed position. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , an embodiment of a roof kinematic system  9  for moving roof  2  between its closed and storage positions, a cover kinematic system  17  for moving cover  6  between its closed and opened positions, and a coupling kinematic system  12  which kinematically couples roof kinematic system  9  and cover kinematic system  17  together is shown.  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of kinematic systems  9 ,  17 , and  12  when roof  2  and cover  6  are in their respective closed positions.  FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of kinematic systems  9 ,  17 , and  12  when roof  2  is beginning to move from its closed position to its storage position with cover  6  swung open towards its opened position.  FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of kinematic systems  9 ,  17 , and  12  when roof  2  is further advanced towards its storage position with joints  14 ,  15  of a connecting link  13  of coupling kinematic system  12  and a vehicle body-side joint  11  of a main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9  being lined up.  FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of kinematic systems  9 ,  17 , and  12  when roof  2  is in its storage position with main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9  also being stored in compartment  8  and cover  6  being in its closed position covering compartment  8 . 
   Roof kinematic system  9  is coupled to at least one of roof parts  3 ,  4  to move roof  2  between its closed and storage positions. Main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9  is pivotably attached to the vehicle body via vehicle body-side joint  11 . Main link  10  swings about the axis of rotation of joint  11  back toward the rear of vehicle  1  as shown by the direction of arrow  19  in  FIG. 2  into compartment  8  in order to move roof  2  from its closed position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to its storage position (shown in  FIG. 5 ). Cover  6  swings up from compartment  8  in the opposite direction of main link  10  in order to enable roof  2  and main link  10  to move into compartment  8 . 
   Cover kinematic system  17  is a cover link  17  which is coupled to cover  6 . Cover link  17  is pivotably coupled to the vehicle body via a vehicle body-side joint  18 . 
   Coupling kinematic system  12  is between roof kinematic system  9  and cover kinematic system  17  (i.e., cover link  17 ). Coupling kinematic system  12  couples the movement of cover link  17  to the movement of roof kinematic system  9 . In this embodiment, coupling kinematic system  12  includes only connecting link  13 . One end of connecting link  13  is connected through a joint  14  that can pivot on a projection  16  of main link  10 . The other end of connecting link  13  is pivotably connected with cover link  17  through another joint  15 . Connecting link  13  does not undergo any other movements. Main link projection  16  is connected to the main section of main link  10 . Joint  14  between main link projection  16  and connecting link  13  is arranged at a distance from vehicle body-side joint  11  of main link  10 . The connection through coupling kinematic system  12  moves cover  6  in a kinematically unambiguous manner as a function of the movement of roof  2 . The movement of roof  2  is produced through a swinging movement of roof kinematic system  9 . As such, the connection through coupling kinematic system  12  moves cover  6  in a kinematically unambiguous manner as a function of movement of roof kinematic system  9 . 
   In this embodiment, the axes of rotation are arranged parallel to one another and run in the transverse direction of vehicle  1 . Viewed in the vertical direction and forward direction of vehicle  1 , vehicle body-side joint  11  of main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9  lies beneath and behind vehicle body-side joint  18  of cover link  17 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates kinematic systems  9 ,  17 , and  12  in a first intermediate position as roof  2  moves from its closed position to its storage position. Main link  10  of roof kinematic system has already swung a little toward the back, in the direction of the storage position, and at the same time cover  6  has been moved about its vehicle body-side joint  18  into a swung-up position. The swinging movements of main link  10  and cover  6  are oriented opposite to one another. The swinging of cover  6  creates space for the storage movement of roof  2  and opens a passage into compartment  8 . Cover  6  at least partly covers the opening of compartment  8  when roof  2  is in either of its closed or storage positions. 
     FIG. 4  shows coupling kinematic system  12  in a lined-up or dead-center position. In this lined-up position, two end joints  14 ,  15  of connecting link  13  lie in a line with vehicle body-side joint  11  of main link  10 . The lined-up position is the position in which cover  6  is swung into its furthest opened position. Once the lined-up position is passed, the movement of cover  6  is reversed and cover  6  is once again swung back in the direction of its closed position. This closing movement of cover  6  being in the same direction as the storage movement of roof kinematic system  9  and roof parts  3 ,  4 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , the storage position of roof  2  has been reached in which roof  2  and main link  10  are stored in compartment  8 . Cover  6  has once again reached its horizontal closed position covering the top side of compartment  8 . This position of cover  6  may coincide or slightly differ from the starting closed position of cover  6  which is associated with the closed position of roof  2 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , various situations in which cover  6  is found when roof  2  is in its closed and stored positions are shown. Cover  6  is indicated by a solid line when roof  2  is in its closed position. Cover  6  is indicated by a dashed line when roof  2  is in its storage position. 
   More particularly,  FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic of cover  6  and roof kinematic system  9 , coupling kinematic system  9 , and cover kinematic system  17  when roof  2  is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) and when roof  2  is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines) with cover  6  being in the same closed position in both situations.  FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic of cover  6  and kinematic systems  9 ,  12 , and  17  when roof  2  is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) and when roof  2  is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines) with cover  6  being in a vertically lower closed position when roof  2  is in its closed position than when roof  2  is in its storage position.  FIG. 8  illustrates a schematic of cover  6  and kinematic systems  9 ,  12 , and  17  when roof  2  is in its closed position (indicated by solid lines) and when roof  2  is in its storage position (indicated by dashed lines) with cover  6  being in a vertically higher closed position when roof  2  is in its closed position than when roof  2  is in its storage position. 
   As such,  FIG. 6  shows an embodiment in which cover  6  assumes the same position when roof  2  is in either of the closed and storage positions. By contrast, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  provides that when roof  2  is in its storage position, cover  6  is in a position above that which is associated with the closed position of roof  2 .  FIG. 8  shows the reverse: when roof  2  is in its storage position, cover  6  lies in a position beneath that which is associated with the closed position of roof  2 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 , and  13 , side views of roof  2  having another embodiment of coupling kinematic system  12  through which the movement of main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9  is transferred to cover  6  in accordance with the present invention are shown.  FIG. 9  illustrates roof kinematic system  9 , coupling kinematic system  12 , and cover kinematic system  17  when roof  2  is in its closed position.  FIG. 13  illustrates kinematic systems  9 ,  12 , and  17  when roof  2  is in its storage position. 
   In this embodiment, coupling kinematic system  12  includes three pivoting links. In particular, coupling kinematic system  12  includes a coupling link  20  and a support link  22  in addition to connecting link  13 . The advantage of this embodiment, with coupling kinematic system  12  having three links between roof kinematic system  9  and cover kinematic system  17  (i.e., cover link  17 ), which can pivot about body-side joint  18 , is that it allows greater geometric freedom with respect to the choice of the links&#39; pivot points. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates roof  2  in its closed position in which cover  6  is in a horizontal starting position directly beneath rear roof part  4 . Main link  10  swings about vehicle body-side joint  11  toward the back when roof kinematic system  9  actuates, as is indicated in  FIG. 9  by the direction of arrow  19 , automatically causing coupling kinematic system  12  to move cover  6  into an upright position. This movement is kinematically unambiguous without extra degrees of freedom. Connecting link  13  acts on cover link  17  through joint  15  to adjust cover  6 , which is coupled to cover link  17 , through vehicle body-side joint  18  into a swung-up position (shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12 ). The upright swinging movement of cover  6  about vehicle body-side joint  18  is in the direction opposite the storage movement of main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9 . 
   On the side opposite of cover link  17 , connecting link  13  is rotatably connected through joint  14  with coupling link  20 . Coupling link  20  is rotatably coupled on the opposite face through another joint  21  so that it can pivot with main link projection  16 . To bind extra degrees of freedom of movement, coupling link  20  is supported with respect to the vehicle body through support link  22 . One end of support link  22  is pivotably connected through joint  24  with coupling link  20 . The other end of support link  22  is pivotably attached through a vehicle body-side joint  23  to the vehicle body. 
   During the storage movement of roof  2 , coupling kinematic system  12  passes through a dead-center or lined-up position (shown in  FIG. 11 ). In the lined-up position, joints  14 ,  15  at the ends of connecting link  13  lie in a common line with joint  21  between coupling link  20  and main link projection  16 . This lined-up position simultaneously characterizes the position in which cover  6  is swung the furthest upward. If main link  10  swings further about its vehicle body-side joint  11  in the direction of the storage position, then coupling kinematic system  12  crosses the lined-up position and cover  6  is pivoted back in the direction of its original horizontal starting position (shown in  FIG. 13 ). This end position of cover  6  corresponds to that of the starting position when roof  2  is closed, but can slightly deviate from it and lie above or below the starting position as described with reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 . 
   Also in this embodiment, vehicle body-side joint  18  of cover  6  lies above vehicle body-side joint  11  of main link  10  and further forward when viewed in the forward direction of vehicle  1 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 , and  19 , side views of roof  2  having another embodiment of coupling kinematic system  12  through which the movement of main link  10  of roof kinematic system  9  is transferred to cover  6  in accordance with the present invention are shown.  FIG. 14  illustrates roof kinematic system  9 , coupling kinematic system  12 , and cover kinematic system  17  when roof  2  is in its closed position.  FIG. 19  illustrates kinematic systems  9 ,  12 , and  17  when roof  2  is in its storage position. 
   Roof kinematic system  9  with main link  10  that can swing about vehicle body-side joint  11  holds roof  2  with roof parts  3 ,  4 . In the closed position of roof  2  (shown in  FIG. 14 ), the approximately horizontal cover  6  extends directly beneath rear roof part  4  to its lower edge. A sealing element  31  is on the inside along the lower edge of rear roof part  4  to provide a wind-tight and watertight seal against cover  6 . 
   Cover  6  can swing about vehicle body-side joint  18 . Coupling kinematic system  12  kinematically couples the rotating movements of main link  10  and cover  6 . During the storage movement of roof  2 , main link  10  swings about vehicle body-side joint  11 , as shown by the direction of arrow  19 . At the same time cover  6 , which is attached to cover link  17 , swings in the opposite direction about vehicle body-side joint  18 . Coupling kinematic system  12  includes, in addition to connecting link  13 , which acts in a swiveling manner on cover link  17  through joint  15 , first coupling link  20 , a first support link  22 , a second coupling link  29 , and a second support link  25 . First and second support links  22 ,  25  are supported on the vehicle body. 
   The end of connecting link  13  remote from cover link  17  is connected through joint  14  with first coupling link  20 . First coupling link  20  is T-shaped in this embodiment. Joint  14  to connecting link  13  is located on the middle section of the T. First coupling link  20  has on its transverse section two other joints  24  and  27 . Joint  24  is rotatably coupled to first support link  22 . In turn, first support link  22  is supported through body-side joint  23 . The opposite joint  27  is rotatably coupled to second support link  25 . In turn, second support link  25  is supported on the vehicle body through a vehicle body-side joint  26 . Second support link  25  has an acute angle with vehicle body-side joint  26  being located in the middle section of second support link  25 . Opposite joint  27 , through which the connection is made with first coupling link  20 , second support link  25  makes a rotating connection with second coupling link  29  through another joint  28 . The end of second coupling link  29  remote from second support link  25  makes a rotating connection with main link projection  10  through another joint  30 . This joint  30  is separated from vehicle body-side joint  11  of main link  10 . 
   The two vehicle body-side joints  23  and  26  on first and second support links  22  and  25 , respectively, when taken together with joints  24  and  27  of coupling link  20  that lies between them and connects them form a four-bar mechanism. Main link  10  drives the four-bar mechanism through second coupling link  29 . An advantage of this embodiment is that joint  14 , through which the middle section of first coupling link  20  makes a rotating connection with first connecting link  13 , at first, during the initial storage movement of roof  2 , describes a rotation about the opposite joint  15 , through which first connecting link  13  makes a rotating connection to cover link  17 , so that during this initial storage movement of roof  2  at first there is no transfer of motion to cover link  17  despite the movement of coupling kinematic system  12  and cover  6  remains in its starting position at first. This situation is shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   During the course of further roof storage movement shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  17 ,  18 , and  19 , the movement starts to be effectively transferred through coupling kinematic system  12  to cover  6  so that cover  6  is swung up about its vehicle body-side joint  18  in the opposite direction to the storage movement of main link  10 . In the maximally swung-up position (shown in  FIG. 17 ) coupling kinematic system  12  reaches a lined-up or dead-center position. In this dead-center position, joints  24 ,  27  of first coupling link  20 , which connect first coupling link  20  to first support link  22  and second support link  25 , line up with vehicle body-side joint  26  of second support link  25 . When this lined-up position is passed, the movement of cover  6  is reversed and cover now moves in the same direction as main link  10  as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19  back in the direction of its starting position. As soon as roof  2 , including roof kinematic system  9 , has reached the storage position ( FIG. 19 ), cover  6  also reaches its at least approximately horizontal final position, which coincides with or slightly deviates from its starting position when roof  2  is closed so that a final position above or below the starting position is also possible. 
   LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
   
       
         1  Convertible vehicle 
         2  Vehicle roof 
         3  Front roof part 
         4  Rear roof part 
         5  Rear window 
         6  Cover 
         7  Windshield frame 
         8  Storage compartment 
         9  Roof kinematic system 
         10  Main link 
         11  Vehicle body-side joint 
         12  Coupling kinematic system 
         13  Connecting link 
         14  Joint 
         15  Joint 
         16  Projection 
         17  Cover link 
         18  Vehicle body-side joint 
         19  Arrow direction 
         20  Coupling link 
         21  Joint 
         22  Support link 
         23  Body-side joint 
         24  Joint 
         25  Second support link 
         26  Vehicle body-side joint 
         27  Joint 
         28  Joint 
         29  Second coupling link 
         30  Joint 
         31  Sealing element 
     
  
   While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.