Patent Publication Number: US-6983976-B2

Title: Cabriolet vehicle with facilitated loading

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a cabriolet vehicle with a convertible top, a stowage space which uses part of the trunk space, and a convertible top hatch which encompasses the trunk lid, and the convertible top being movable between a closed position in which it covers the passenger compartment, and a stowage position in which it is held as a folded package in the stowage space which is covered by the convertible top hatch, and the convertible top upon clearance of the stowage space opening, being adjusted by moving the convertible top hatch from a loading position farther into an intermediate position in which it projects as a folded package out of the stowage space. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A motor vehicle of the initially mentioned type is known from German Patent DE 199 60 010 C1. There, a folding convertible top is shown in which a convertible top part is coupled via a parallelogram-connecting rod drive to a bearing bracket which is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle. The pivot axes of the parallelogram connecting rod and the pivot axis of the bearing bracket are parallel to one another. A hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the bearing bracket and has a piston rod which is connected to one of the connecting rods of the parallelogram-connecting rod drive. The bearing bracket itself can in turn be pivoted via a hydraulic cylinder which is coupled to the motor vehicle. 
   In the folding convertible top known from DE 199 60 010 C1 the residual trunk space which is not required by the convertible top in the stowage position is more easily accessible when the convertible top is located as a folded package in the intermediate position. 
   The disadvantage in this approach is that the indicated convertible top kinematics requires a complex structure and the convertible top in the intermediate position must be held by the hydraulic cylinders; this can lead to unforeseeable problems when the hydraulic system fails. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the invention is to improve the known folding convertible top and thus to overcome the indicated disadvantages. 
   The invention is based on the prior art in that, for opening of the stowage space, the convertible top hatch can be pivoted around a first pivoting device, and that the trunk lid can be pivoted around a second pivoting device independently of the convertible top hatch for opening the trunk. The first and/or the second pivoting device can be formed, for example, by a four-bar or multibar linkage. 
   This invention can fundamentally be accomplished with all types of convertible tops. This invention is used most advantageously on folding hardtops with roof elements of stable shape, since they are bulky as a folded package and occupy a considerable volume; this often makes it difficult to load the remaining trunk space. 
   The kinematics of the convertible top hatch and of the trunk lid which is connected to it leads to the fact that the convertible top can be attached with a simple structure to the cabriolet vehicle. 
   This invention is furthermore based on the prior art in that the convertible top, in an intermediate position can be locked against motion out of this position and/or that the convertible top hatch in its loading position can be locked against motion out of this position. 
   This results in that the indicated components, in their assigned positions, are held independently from the assigned drives, so that failure of the drive does not lead to motion of one of the components, and thus, to a damaging collision between them. It is expressly indicated that the feature of a locking capacity can also be implemented in combination with one or more of the aforementioned features. 
   For example, the cabriolet vehicle can be made in a structurally simple manner which is economical in production engineering, such that the convertible top is connected to the motor vehicle via a convertible top-connecting rod mechanism which is coupled to the vehicle, that the convertible top hatch is connected to the motor vehicle via the hatch-connecting rod mechanism which is coupled to the motor vehicle, and that the trunk lid is coupled via the lid-connecting rod mechanism which is coupled to the convertible top hatch. 
   This construction makes it possible for the convertible top-, the hatch- and the lid-connecting rod mechanisms to be movable independently of one another. Alternatively, it is also possible to couple the connecting rod mechanisms to one another to prevent collisions of the individual components. 
   Since the pivot bearing bracket which is utilized in the prior art can be omitted, the convertible top and the convertible top hatch can also be very easily driven in that a connecting rod of the convertible top-connecting rod mechanism, which rod is connected to the vehicle, and a connecting rod of the hatch-connecting rod mechanism, which rod is coupled to the vehicle, are connected to a respective drive device which is supported securely on the vehicle. 
   Movability of the convertible top and convertible top hatch independently of one another can be achieved by correspondingly independent locking of the indicated components. This can be implemented, for example, in that on the convertible top and on the convertible top hatch, preferably on the convertible top- and the hatch-connecting rod mechanisms, especially preferably on the assigned drive devices, there is at least one locking mechanism on each. Alternatively, to save money and to reduce production cost there, can also be at least one locking mechanism only on the convertible top or convertible top hatch, for example, if these components are coupled for common motion. 
   Locking can be guaranteed independently of an external power supply in that the locking mechanism of the convertible top and/or the convertible top hatch is made as a catch mechanism and is provided with a catch element which is pre-tensioned in the catch direction. One especially favorable construction is achieved by the catch mechanism of the convertible top and/or of the convertible top hatch each making ready a surmountable catch. Then, catching can be achieved by the force of the drive device or drive devices. 
   If locking is not attainable by the force of the convertible top and/or the convertible top hatch drive, the convertible top system can be made such that, on the catch mechanism of the convertible top and/or convertible top hatch, there is a release device, especially a switchable magnet, for releasing the catch. 
   Alternatively, it is also possible for the locking mechanism of the convertible top and/or the convertible top hatch to have a locking element which is adjustable by a regulating device between the locking position and the release position. This offers the possibility of designing the locking element to accommodate especially high forces, and thus, to more reliably avoid unintentional movements of the convertible top and/or convertible top hatch. 
   Another safety aspect is to prevent pinching of body parts of, for example, an individual loading or unloading the remaining trunk space. This can be achieved, on the one hand, in the form of mechanical covers of the moving mechanism parts. On the other hand, it is also possible to prevent pinching by the drive devices of the convertible top and/or convertible top hatch, by driving the components assigned to it for movement out of the intermediate position or out of the loading position only with a continuously activated actuating element which is located preferably in the trunk space. 
   As follows from the description above, the convertible top system comprised of a convertible top, stowage space and convertible top hatch forms an essential component of the cabriolet vehicle in accordance with the invention. Therefore independent protection is sought for this convertible top system. 
   The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings using preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention with a three-part hardtop convertible top in the closed position, 
       FIG. 2  shows the motor vehicle from  FIG. 1  during stowage of the convertible top, 
       FIG. 3  shows the motor vehicle from  FIG. 1  with the convertible top stowed in the stowage space, 
       FIG. 4  shows an enlarged view of the area IV in  FIG. 3 , 
       FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of the area V in  FIG. 3 , 
       FIG. 6  shows the motor vehicle from  FIG. 3  with the trunk lid opened, 
       FIG. 7  shows the motor vehicle from  FIG. 6  with the convertible top hatch in its loading position and the convertible top in its intermediate position, 
       FIG. 8  shows an enlarged extract of the area VIII in FIG.  7  and 
       FIG. 9  shows an enlarged extract of area IX in FIG.  7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIG. 1 , a motor vehicle  10  in accordance with the present invention has a three-part hardtop  12  is located in the closed position in which it spans the passenger compartment  14 . In this position, the front roof part  12   a  adjoins a transverse roof brace  16  which borders a front windshield (not shown). The front roof part  12   a  is connected to the middle roof part  12   b  via a connecting rod mechanism  18 , while the middle roof part  12   b  is connected to the rear roof part  12   c  via a connecting rod mechanism  20 . A seat  22  is shown in the passenger compartment  14  by dot-dash lines for orientation. The hardtop  12  is coupled to a vehicle-mounted convertible top bearing  28  with a first connecting rod  24  and with a second connecting rod  26 . With their ends away from the convertible top bearing  28 , the connecting rods  24  and  26  are coupled to the connecting rod mechanism  20 . 
   The motor vehicle  10  in accordance with the invention, according to one aspect of the invention, furthermore, has a convertible top hatch  30  with a hat rest part  32  and a trunk lid  34 . The hat rest part  32  is located on the support frame  36  on which the trunk lid  34  is located to be able to move via a four-bar linkage  38 , especially to be able to swing around an axis which runs essentially in the transverse direction of the vehicle. 
   The support frame  36  is coupled to the vehicle-mounted convertible top hatch bearing  44  via two connecting rods  40  and  42 . 
   For the convertible top, the connecting rod  24  is driven by a piston-cylinder unit  46  which is connected to the convertible top bearing  28  pivot around a point  48 . 
   Similarly, the connecting rod  40  is driven via a piston-cylinder unit  50  which is attached to the convertible top hatch bearing  44  pivot around a point  52 . A rear shock absorber  54  of the vehicle is shown for orientation. 
   In  FIG. 2 , the hardtop  12  has been moved into a folded package in which the roof parts  12   a  to  12   c  are located on top of one another in order to occupy a volume of space that is as small as possible. 
   The convertible top hatch  30  is raised and swung to the vehicle rear by pivoting the connecting rods  40 ,  42 , by which it clears a stowage opening  56 . Access to the stowage space  58 , which forms part of the trunk  60 , for the hardtop  12  which has been moved into the folded package, is enabled through the stowage opening  56 . 
   In  FIG. 3 , the roof  12  is ultimately accommodated, as a folded package, in the stowage space  58  and the convertible top hatch  30  closed over it. 
     FIG. 4  shows an enlarged extract of the area labeled IV in FIG.  3 . 
   The piston  62  of the piston-cylinder unit  46 , according to one aspect of the invention, is provided on a side, preferably on the side facing towards the pivot point  48 , with a rack which meshes with a gear  64  which is permanently connected to the connecting rod  24  and which has the pivot point  48  at its center. 
   On the piston  62 , there is a spring-loaded catch element  66  which can lock with the catch recess  68 . The catch recess  68  is made in the inside wall of the cylinder of the piston-cylinder unit  46  near the end on the piston outlet side. In  FIG. 4 , the piston  62  is retracted into the cylinder. Alternatively, the catch recess  68  can also be located on the convertible top bearing  28 . In addition, there can also be a catch element  66  on one of the connecting rods  24  or  26 . 
     FIG. 5  shows enlarged the area labeled V in FIG.  3 . 
   The connecting rod  40  has a locking recess  70  into which a locking element  72 , driven by a magnet (not shown), fits if the locking recess  70  and the locking element  72  are aligned collinearly. 
   The position of the convertible top in  FIG. 6  corresponds essentially to that shown in  FIG. 3 , but with the trunk lid  34  open. 
   In  FIG. 7 , the convertible top hatch  30  is in its loading position, i.e., it is raised relative to the position shown in  FIG. 3 , having pivoted counterclockwise around an axis which runs essentially in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The hardtop  12 , which has been moved into a folded package, is likewise raised so that a higher loading gap is available for loading of the trunk  60  from the vehicle rear. 
   It can be seen from the views of  FIGS. 8 &amp; 9  that the convertible top, in its intermediate position, is held by catching of the catch element  66  in the catch recess  68  ( FIG. 8 ) and that the convertible top hatch  30  is held in its loading position by the locking element  72  fitting into the locking recess  70 . 
   The features of the invention which are disclosed in the aforementioned description and accompanying drawings and are important both independently and also in any combination for implementation of the invention.