Patent Publication Number: US-9409469-B2

Title: Convertible top with frame locking mechanism

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2013 103 407.1 filed on Apr. 5, 2013, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a convertible top of a cabriolet vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A convertible top of this kind is known from practice and comprises a convertible top rod assembly, which, for expanding a convertible top cover, is adjustable between a closed position spanning a vehicle interior and a storage position opening the vehicle interior toward the top. In the storage position, the convertible top rod assembly is stored in a rear-side convertible top storage box together with the convertible top cover. Alternatively, instead of a convertible top cover, rigid roof segments can be mounted on the convertible top rod assembly, which form a rigid roof of the respective vehicle in the closed position. In that case, the roof would be a so-called RHT (retractable hard top). The convertible top rod assembly comprises a link arrangement on both sides, respectively, in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the convertible top, said link arrangement comprising a main link and a main column, which are pivotably mounted on a vehicle-fixed main bearing, and a front-side first frame element and a second frame element, which is arranged rearward of the first frame element in the closed position and is connected to the first frame element by way of a joint arrangement. When the convertible top rod assembly is being adjusted, the first frame element can be pivoted relative to the second element by means of an actuating link, which extends along the second frame element. In the closed position, in which the first frame element and the second frame element are substantially aligned to each other, the first frame element can be secured against pivoting relative to the second frame element by means of a locking element, which is mounted to rotate, interacts with a closing bolt and is adjustable between a locked position and an open position. In the case of the known convertible top, the closing bolt is arranged on the second frame element. Due to the arrangement of the closing bolt on the second frame element, it is necessary for the second frame element to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle beyond the joint arrangement connecting the two frame elements in the direction of the first frame element. This in turn requires that the rear-side convertible top storage box is provided with sufficient dimensions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a convertible top of the kind mentioned in the introduction which requires less structural space when in its storage position. 
     Consequently, it is the core of the invention that, in contrast to the state of the art, the locking bolt is repositioned onto a component, namely onto the actuating link, so that no protrusions or the like have to be provided on the second frame element for forming the closing bolt. Instead, when the convertible top rod assembly is actuated by pivoting the first link or frame element relative to the second link or frame element, the closing bolt can be displaced together with the actuating element in such a manner that, depending on the spatial conditions present in the respective vehicle, the convertible top rod assembly can be introduced into the convertible top storage box. The actuating link can be arranged or repositioned in its entirety rearward of the front edge of the second frame element. 
     Thus, the locking mechanism between the first link element or top link and the second link element or top link can be realized according to the invention with few components in a functionally safe and cost-saving manner. Space and weight are saved owing to an integration of functions in the convertible top rod assembly. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the convertible top according to the invention, the locking element, which is engaged with the closing bolt in the closed position of the convertible top rod assembly, is mounted on the first frame element. Thus, the locking element is pivoted together with the first frame element when the first frame element is pivoted in relation to the second frame element. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the convertible top according to the invention, the closing bolt also forms an abutment element for an abutting surface of the locking element in order to clearly define the open position of the locking element. This means that the abutting surface of the locking element abuts against the closing bolt in the closed position of the convertible top rod assembly when the locking element is adjusted into the open position. 
     The actuating link is preferably hinged to a knee lever arrangement, which is located in the area of the joint arrangement between the first link element and the second link element. A first lever of the knee lever arrangement is connected to the first link element, and a second lever of the knee lever arrangement is connected to the second link element. Starting from the closed position of the convertible top rod assembly, a pulling force, which acts from the actuating link in the rearward direction onto the knee lever arrangement, causes a pivoting of the first link element in the direction of the second link element. 
     In a convenient manner, the convertible top according to the invention comprises a drive device for the locking element. For example, the locking element is connected to the drive device via at least one link or one rod. In an alternative embodiment of the convertible top according to the invention, the drive device, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor, for example, can be connected directly to the locking element. 
     In order to be able to actuate the locking element together with a closing arrangement, which secures the convertible top rod assembly in the closed position to a forward windshield cowl of the respective vehicle, the locking element can be hinged to a coupling rod, which is in turn hinged to a front-side locking hook of the closing arrangement. 
     To prevent the locking element and/or also the locking hook from being pivoted unintentionally into the opening direction in case the drive device fails, it is advantageous for the locking element to take a position beyond the dead center in relation to the coupling rod in its locked position. Only a torque that is introduced directly into the locking element can release the lock between the first link element and the second link element. 
     Further advantages and advantageous designs of the subject-matter of the invention can be taken from the description, the drawing and the patent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Two exemplary embodiments of a convertible top according to the invention are illustrated in the drawing in a schematically simplified manner and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a convertible top rod assembly of a convertible top according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic lateral view of the convertible top rod assembly in a front-side section; 
         FIG. 3  shows a closing mechanism between a front-side frame element and a middle frame element of the convertible top rod assembly in the locked position; 
         FIG. 4  shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 3 , but in the open position of the closing mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  also shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 3 , but during the pivoting of the front-side frame element in relation to the middle frame element; 
         FIG. 6  also shows a view corresponding to  FIG. 3 , but in an end position after the pivoting of the front-side frame element in relation to the rear-side frame element; 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic lateral view of an alternative embodiment of a convertible top rod assembly of a convertible top according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 6 , a convertible top  10  of a vehicle embodied as a cabriolet is illustrated. The convertible top  10  comprises a convertible top rod assembly, which serves to expand a convertible top cover formed from a flexible, foldable material. The convertible top rod assembly  12  is adjustable between a closed position illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which spans a vehicle interior of the respective vehicle, and an open position, which opens the vehicle interior toward the top, in which it is placed in a rear-side convertible top box of the vehicle together with the convertible top cover. 
     The convertible top rod assembly  12  comprises a link arrangement  14 A and  14 B on both sides, respectively, in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, said link arrangement being pivotably mounted on a respective main bearing  16 A and  16 B attached rigidly to the vehicle. The link arrangements  14 A and  14 B are formed mirror-symmetrically to each other. Hence, for the sake of clarity, the following description is based only on the link arrangement  14 A arranged on the left side in the driving direction and the description translates directly to the link arrangement  14 B arranged on the right side in the driving direction. 
     The link arrangement  14 A, which is pivotably mounted on the main bearing  16 A via a main column  18  and a main link  20 , comprises a link or frame element  22 , which is arranged at the front side in the closed position of the convertible top, a middle second link or frame element  24 , which is arranged rearward of the first link element  22  in the closed position of the convertible top, and a rear-side third frame element, which is formed by the main column  18 . The first link element  22 , the second link element  24  and the main column  18 , which consequently form three frame elements of the convertible top rod assembly  12 , laterally delimit the convertible top cover (not illustrated). 
     The forward first link elements  22  of the two link arrangements  14 A and  14 B, which are arranged on both sides, are connected to each other by way of a front bow  26 , which is a rigid roof element, oftentimes also called front bow, and is adjacent to a forward windshield cowl of the respective vehicle in the closed position of the convertible top  10  and can be secured there. Furthermore, the two link arrangements  14 A and  14 B are connected to each other by further transverse bows  28 , whose function will not be addressed in detail here. 
     In order to be able to secure the convertible top rod assembly  12  in its closed position, the convertible top  10  comprises a closing unit  30 , which, on the one hand, secures the first link element  22  or the forward bow  26  to a locking device  32 , which is arranged at the forward windshield cowl, and which, on the other hand, secures the forward link element in relation to the middle link element  24  against unintentional pivoting relative thereto. 
     The closing unit  30  comprises a locking hook  34 , which is pivotably mounted by way of a bearing bolt  36  on the forward link element  22  and is engaged with a locking bolt  38  of the locking device  32  in its locked position. 
     A coupling rod  42  is hinged to the locking hook  34  by way of a joint  40 , said coupling rod  42  being hinged with its end facing away from the locking hook  34  by way of a joint  44  to a locking element  46 , which is formed as a locking rocker, which is mounted in an end region of the forward link element  22 , said end region being arranged at the rear side in the closed position of the convertible top rod assembly  12  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The locking element  46  is mounted by means of a bearing bolt  48 . 
     For drive, the locking element  46  is connected via a hinge point  50  to a hydraulic cylinder  52  embodying a drive device, which is supported with its end facing away from the hinge point  50  via a bearing bolt  54  on the forward link element  22 . 
     The locking element  46 , which is rotatably mounted on the forward link element  22 , comprises a closing hook  56 , which serves to prevent unintentional pivoting of the forward link element  22  in relation to the middle link element  24  in the secured position of the convertible top  10  on the forward windshield cowl. For this purpose, the closing hook  56  in its locked position is engaged to a closing bolt  58 , which is formed on an actuating link  60 . In its end region facing away from the locking element  46 , the actuating link  60 , in a manner not illustrated in detail here, is hinged to the main column  18  and to the main link  20  by way of respective joints. With its end facing away from the main link  20  and from the main column  18 , the actuating link  60  is hinged via a joint  62  to a lever  64  of a knee lever mechanism, which is formed by the lever  64  and by a lever  66 , which are connected to each other by way of a hinge point  68 . At its end facing away from the hinge point  68 , the lever  64  of the knee lever mechanism is connected by way of a joint  70  to the middle link element  24 , whereas the lever  66  of the knee lever mechanism is connected at its end facing away from the hinge point  68  to the forward link element  22  by way of a joint  72 . Starting from the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , following an adjustment of the closing unit  30  in the open position, the forward link element  22  can be pivoted in relation to the middle link element  24 , i.e. backward against the middle link element  24 , by means of a pulling force, which acts in the direction of the rear and is effected by the actuating link  60  onto the knee lever arrangement formed by the levers  64  and  66 . 
     The locking element  46  is formed in such a manner that it has an abutting surface  74 , which serves as an abutment for the closing bolt  58  when the locking element  46  is adjusted into an open position in relation to the closing bolt  58  and thus defines an end position of the locking element  46 . In this context, the forward link element  22  and the middle link element  24  are still in the extended position. 
     If now the forward link element  22  is pivoted in relation to the middle link element  24  by a pulling force acting in the rearward direction, which is effected by the actuating link  60  onto the lever  64  of the knee lever arrangement, the abutting surface  74  gains distance from the closing bolt  58 , the closing bolt  58  being displaced in the rearward direction. 
     In the storage position illustrated in  FIG. 6  between the forward link element  22  and the middle link element  24 , in which the forward link element  22  is folded against the middle link element  24  from the top, the joint area formed by a joint arrangement  76  between the middle link element  24  and the front-side link element  22  forms a front-side end of the convertible top rod assembly  12 . The position of this joint area defines the dimensions of the convertible top storage box in the direction of the vehicle front. 
     The geometry of the locking element  46  and the hinging of the coupling rod  42  and of the hydraulic cylinder  52  to the locking element  46  are selected such that the locking element takes a position beyond the dead center in relation to the coupling rod in its closed position or locked position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . This means that in case of failure of the drive unit for the closing unit  30 , formed here as a hydraulic cylinder, potential opening forces effected onto the locking hook  34  cannot cause the locking hook  34  to unlock in relation to the locking bolt  38  and the closing hook  56  of the locking element  46  in relation to the closing bolt  58 . Instead, the opening forces would induce a torque acting in the locking direction of the locking element  46  into the locking element  46 . Hence, an unintentional release of the convertible top  10  for pivoting out of the closed position into the storage position is impossible. 
     In  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of a convertible top rod assembly  12 ′ of a convertible top according to the invention is illustrated, in which components that correspond to components of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6  are given the same reference signs. In the same way as the convertible top rod assembly illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the convertible top rod assembly  12 ′ comprises a closing unit  30 , by means of which the convertible top rod assembly  12 ′ can be secured in its closed position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Correspondingly, the convertible top rod assembly  12 ′ also comprises a link arrangement  14 A and  14 B on both sides in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the vehicle, including a front-side first link element  22  and a second link element  24 , which is connected to the front-side link element  22  by way of a joint. The two link elements  22  and  24  can be pivoted in relation to each other by means of an actuating link  60 , which is hinged to a knee lever arrangement formed by a first lever  64  and a second lever  66 . The actuating link  60  can be actuated by means of an appropriate drive, which is formed by a driving link unit  77  comprising a main column and a main link. 
     The closing unit  30  of the link arrangement  14 A and  14 B illustrated in  FIG. 7  also comprises a front-side locking hook  34 , which in its locked position is engaged with a locking bolt  38 , which is arranged on a locking device  32  of a forward windshield cowl of the respective vehicle. The locking hook  34  is connected via a coupling rod  42  to a locking element  46 , which is again formed in the manner of a locking rocker and has a closing hook  56 , which in the locked position of the locking element  46  is engaged with a closing bolt  58 , which is formed or arranged on the front-side end of the actuating link  60 . 
     For driving purposes, the locking element  46  is connected by way of a joint  78  to a driving rod  78 , which is connected via a joint  80  at its end facing away from the locking element  46  to a spanning link arrangement  82 , by means of which a rear-side spanning bracket can be driven, which extends in the convertible top transverse direction. The drive for the spanning bracket is also used as a drive for the closing unit  30 , which in the closed position of the convertible top, on the one hand, secures the forward link element  22  by way of the locking hook  34  hinged thereto to the forward windshield cowl and, on the other hand, prevents the forward link element  22  from pivoting in relation to the second link element  24  in that the locking element  46  is engaged with the closing bolt  58 , which is formed at the front-side end region of the actuating link  60 .