Abstract:
A foldable roof is disclosed, which is adapted to a convertible vehicle, and which includes first and second rigid roof elements connected to one another by a first articulation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to French Patent Application No. 0405622, filed May 25, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a roof comprising a plurality of foldable roof elements, for a convertible vehicle; the vehicle itself; the locking system for the roof elements with respect to one another and between at least some of them and the body structure of the vehicle in the open folded position of the roof; as well as the means of reversibly locking the roof in its closed position above the passenger compartment and the open folded position. 
     BACKGROUND 
     More specifically, one object of the invention is to simplify and improve the locking and/or the centring or positioning of the roof in both the closed and open (also called stored) positions, in the case of a convertible vehicle, such as a cabriolet for example. 
     SUMMARY 
     In this context, an object of the invention is a foldable roof comprising at least a first and a second roof elements that are mobile and suited to cover the passenger compartment of the vehicle in a first, open position, and that may be folded towards one another in a second position, said roof elements having a longitudinal axis and, each a first transversal side and a second transversal side that are longitudinally opposed, said first and second roof elements being connected to one another by at least a first articulation which guides their relative movements, such that in their first, open position, the second transversal side of the first roof element and the first transversal side of the second roof element substantially touch one other, the second roof element comprising moreover at least a second articulation, so that is articulated with respect to the body and the first roof element comprising, towards its first and second transversal sides, respectively first reversible locking means and second reversible locking means, these second reversible locking means being, in the first open position of the roof and in a locked position, inserted into additional locking means positioned towards the first transversal side of the second roof element. 
     The roof may be pre-assembled independently of the vehicle; the pre-assembled roof contains the complete locking system as well as its controls. It only requires mechanical and electrical connections when assembled to the vehicle. 
     It may be noted that these characteristics may be advantageously used on the vehicle, as a whole, once the roof has been fitted. 
     For more effective locking and better reliability in time, it is recommended that, for the first roof element, the first and second reversible locking means are connected to one another, at least on one side of the said longitudinal axis, by means of common actuating means controlled by at least one actuator, also located in this first roof element, such that the movements of the first and second locking means are coordinated. 
     To lock the roof in the closed position above the passenger compartment, the invention has taken account of connecting and sealing problems, favouring a simple, efficient and reliable solution. 
     It is also recommended that if the front roof element is the roof element located the furthest forward, at least in the closed position, such that its front edge is substantially in contact with an element of the body structure located close to the windscreen, it is designed so that the first and second reversible locking means can act, both in the closed and opened positions of the roof, by inserting: 
     in the closed roof position, respectively the said body element located close to the windscreen and the rear roof element, and; 
     in the opened position of the said roof, the front and rear parts corresponding to the body structure, respectively. 
     It is even recommended that these first and second reversible locking means preferably act as thrust or traction means, even exerting in these two positions a certain locking force along the longitudinal direction of the first roof element, on the said adjacent additional means. 
     To complete the above-mentioned roof positioning solution, it is furthermore recommended: 
     that the front roof element includes moreover first and second support means located respectively towards its front and rear edges, preferably overhanging, seated on additional support means of the body structure or the rear roof element, depending on whether the roof is open or closed, so that this front roof element is on the one hand positioned by the support means and on the other hand locked by the said locking means, 
     and/or that this same roof element comprises first and second centring means respectively located towards its front and rear edges, the said second centring means being, in the closed and locked position of the roof, second reversible locking means inserted with additional centring means located towards the front edge of the rear roof element and the said first and second locking means being, in the opened, folded position of the roof and in the locked state of the first and second reversible locking means, inserted with additional centring means connected to the body structure of the vehicle. 
     It can be advantageously provided that these support means and these centring means are made as common parts performing both functions. 
     To simplify the locking operations both when the roof is closed or open and therefore folded, we include the following recommendations: 
     that in the closed position of the roof and in a locked state, the first centring means and the first reversible locking means of the front roof element be respectively inserted into additional centring means and additional locking means located on a said element of the body structure close to the windscreen, with which the front edge of this front roof element comes substantially into contact in the said closed position of the roof, 
     and that the articulations connected to the front and rear elements of the roof, as well as all of the reversible locking means be adapted and positioned to cooperate equivalently with the front roof element, both in its closed position and its opened position, such that this front roof element be centred and locked identically in both positions. 
     As concerns the centring, it is furthermore recommended that the additional centring means provided both on the said element of the body structure located close to the windscreen and on the rear roof element on the body structure of the vehicle be identical in that they cooperate equivalently with the said first and second centring means of the front roof element, whether the roof is in the opened or closed position. 
     Positioning close between the locking and centring means concerned helps precise positioning of the front roof element, in both its opened and closed positions. 
     Still in the aim of helping precise and reliable positioning and efficient locking, it is further recommended that the reversible locking means have hooks whose open side faces upwards, that are inserted from below the additional locking means and that cooperate with the said centring means and/or the support means which are then positioned above and bear on their additional respective means to hold the front roof element in both upward and downward directions in a locked state. Centring means and/or support means which act as indicated above may be advantageously used to support a pre-assembled roof module during transport. The roof module may also be locked using its own locking system. 
     In a preferred embodiment, it is further provided that the rear roof element is comprised of several parts. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more detailed description of the invention is provided below, in reference to the appended drawings given by way of example and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a vehicle, 
         FIG. 2  is a partial schematic view in a longitudinal section along axis  21  of a part of the removable roof, shown in the closed position above the passenger compartment, 
         FIG. 3  is also a schematic view along the same longitudinal axis of the vehicle, where the roof is in the opened position, here shown folded in the boot of the vehicle, under the closed boot lid, 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are two schematic views from above along arrow III of  FIG. 3  of the front roof element essentially showing its locking means control mechanism, 
         FIG. 6  is a transversal cross section, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, of an embodiment of the rear roof element, when the latter is made up of several different parts, 
       and  FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a longitudinal cross section of another embodiment of the roof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , we can see a vehicle  1  comprising a body structure, also called the bodywork or structure of the vehicle, which here incorporates doors shown by  5 , a boot  7  closed by a pivoting boot lid  9  and a frame  11  limited by a windscreen  13 , in particular. 
     On the body structure,  3 , a removable roof  15  is articulated such that the vehicle  1  constitutes a convertible, typically a vehicle that may be transformed into a cabriolet. 
     The roof  15  moves between a closed position shown in a solid line in  FIG. 1 , as well as in  FIG. 2 , and an opened folded position shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 1  as well as in  FIG. 3 . 
     In the closed position, the roof extends above the passenger compartment  17  of the vehicle which it encloses, at least essentially on its upper part, whilst in the opened position, the roof is here located behind the passenger compartment. 
     The roof  15  comprises several rigid, mobile roof elements, suited to cover the passenger compartment  17  in their first, relatively extended position ( FIG. 2 ), whilst being capable of being folded in the second opened stored position of the roof ( FIG. 3 ). 
     In  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the roof  15  comprises two roof elements  15   a ,  15   b , respectively defining a front roof element and, behind along axis  21 , a rear roof element.  FIG. 1 , the longitudinal axis of element  15   a  is noted  20   a , and that of element  15   b  is noted  20   b.    
     The front and rear roof elements each have, in the raised closed position of the roof, a front edge  19   a  and a rear edge  19   b  which extend transversally, here substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis  21  of the vehicle movement, when the front roof element  15   a  is therefore above the passenger compartment, here shown more or less in the horizontal position. 
     The front  15   a  and rear  15   b  roof elements are moreover connected to one another by at least a first articulation shown schematically by  23   a  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       FIG. 1 , an arm  23  articulated on the rear of element  1 , around a transversal axis  25   a , furthermore drives this element between its opened and closed positions. The arm (each lateral arm)  23  is articulated moreover at its other end  25   b , with respect to the body  3 . 
     Furthermore, the rear roof element  15   b  is itself articulated with respect to the body structure  3  by means of at least a second articulation noted  23   b  in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , positioned on the end of a bracket or connector arm  27  such that this articulation that is transversal to the axis  21 , permits the rear roof element  15   b  to pivot with respect to the body structure  3  between the opened and closed positions of the roof. 
     More details concerning the roof kinematics may be found in FR-A-2 805 218 (pages 3 to 5). 
     In  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that in the folded position of the front and rear roof elements, the front roof element  15   a  remains above the rear element  15   b , the two elements being positioned more or less horizontally, the front element  15   a  being in position, whilst the rear element  15   b  is turned over having pivoted through approximately 180° around the front pivot ( 23   a  or  23   b ), the two roof elements  15   a ,  15   b  thus presenting their concave sides  150   a ,  150   b , face to face ( FIG. 3 ). 
     To move between its opened and closed positions, the roof has a space freed when the lid  9  shown here pivoting at the rear of the vehicle (ARR,  FIG. 3 ) around an axis  9   a  that is transversal to the longitudinal axis  21 , the arrow of  FIG. 3  showing the opening of the lid  9 . 
     Thus in the opened position, the roof elements  15   a ,  15   b  are shown here housed inside the rear boot  7  covered by the lid  9 , behind the passenger compartment and extending towards the front (AVT) and top to move to the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 , typically controlled by at least one actuator (not shown). 
     In  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that in the closed position, the rear edge  19   b  of the front roof element  15  and the front edge  19   c  of the rear roof element  15   b  are substantially in contact with one another to ensure the continuity and the seal. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the rear roof element  15   b  incorporates the central rear shelf  31  and thus defines a pivoting frame. In this figure, the connecting rod  27  has been shown as bent. 
     Overhanging at its front and rear edges,  19   a ,  19   b , the front roof element  15   a  respectively comprises first and second mobile locking means  33   a ,  33   b.    
     For the efficiency of the locking operations (or even centring operations), it is strongly recommended that the locking and/or centring is carried out towards the front and rear edges of the roof element  15   a.    
     In the closed roof position as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first and second reversible locking means  33   a ,  33   b , shown in short dotted lines in the locked position, are inserted into additional locking means, respectively front and rear  35   a ,  35   b , respectively positioned towards the rear edge  37   a  of the upper transversal beam  37  of the windscreen bay which is part of the surrounding structure  11  and towards the front edge  19   c  of the rear roof element  15   b.    
     In the preferred embodiment shown, the mobile locking means  33   a ,  33   b , located on the roof element  15   a  each consist of a hook which is inserted into a striking plate that is part of a roll bar  35   a  or  35   b  for example solidly attached the upper transversal beam  37 , or another element of the body close to the windscreen, or to the roof element  15   b , especially at the position of a recess  39  which opens onto the front edge  19   c  and the top face  15   c  of the element  15   b.    
     In this way, the locking is performed by the moving parts  33   a ,  33   b , and unlocking in the opposite direction. 
     In the opened position of  FIG. 3 , the same front and rear locking means  33   a ,  33   b , can be found connected to the front roof element  15   a  into which are also inserted additional fixed locking means,  41   a ,  41   b , located respectively opposite the front and rear edges  19   a ,  19   b  and thus connected to parts of the body structure  3  of the vehicle. 
     As the additional locking means  35   a ,  35   b , the additional locking means  41   a ,  41   b , extend transversally, in this case perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis  20   a  of the roof element  15   a  and therefore in this case substantially perpendicularly to the general direction in which the hooks are opened. 
     In a version considered as favourable in terms of cost, performance and maintenance, all of the additional locking means, both in the closed and opened positions of the roof elements (thus  35   a ,  35   b;    41   a ,  41   b ) will be identical. Moreover, they will be located in a relative position such that the movements of the front and rear roof elements  15   a ,  15   b , guided by the above-mentioned articulations will bring the front roof element  15   a  and consequently its mobile locking means, front and rear  33   a ,  33   b , more or less to the same position as the initial position, which here is more or less horizontal, offset in height and axially more or less towards the front or rear of the vehicle, along the longitudinal axis  21 . 
     Angled positions with respect to the horizontal axis, or even vertical, are obviously possible for the folded roof thanks to adequate positioning of the additional locking means. 
     For its positioning with respect to the parts surrounding it, the front roof element  15   a  comprises moreover support and/or centring means, which here are the same, identified as  43   a  and  43   b , on  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     Advantageously, these means will define suspension means for the front roof element, at least in the opened, folded position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The support means  43   a ,  43   b , are respectively situated towards the front and rear edges  19   a ,  19   b  which they overhang along the longitudinal axis  20   a.  They are preferably fixed parts with respect to the roof element  15   a.    
     The support means  43   a ,  43   b  bear on additional support elements of the body structure ( FIG. 3 , or at the front in  FIG. 2 ) or the rear roof element  15   b  (at the rear in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , it can be seen that the additional support elements  45   a ,  45   b , on which the support means  43   a ,  43   b  bear and are positioned, are part of units globally noted  47  which themselves are part of or solidly attached to the body  3  ( FIG. 3 ) either at the transversal beam of the bay  37   a  or at the rear roof element  15   b  in  FIG. 2 . 
     In preference, both the support means  43   a ,  43   b  and the additional locking means  41   a ,  41   b  will be integrated or attached to the respective parts  47  connected to the body  3  or to the roof element  15   b , depending on the case. 
     In the position of at least certain of these units  47 , in preference each unit, the additional support means  45   a  or  45   b  is located above the level of the corresponding additional locking means ( 43   a  or  43   b ). It may be in its vertical axis. In any case, they are close to one another and preferably positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the element  15   a  for efficient positioning and locking of the element  15 . 
     The support elements  43   a ,  43   b , comprise, preferably all, therefore both at the rear and the front, projecting pins with round ends or ball joints at their ends which are located in a support cradle corresponding to the surfaces  45   a ,  45   b , which may also be rounded. 
     Each one of these support cradles will thus house the said support pins at the position of the upper surface of the corresponding part (element  15   b  or body  3 ); ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     Thus, the element  15   a  is fitted, longitudinally at the front (AVT) and at the rear (ARR), both in the opened position ( FIG. 3 ) and the closed position ( FIG. 2 ). 
     To facilitate movement, it is the upper side of the hooks  33   a ,  33   b  which are open and they are thus not obstructed by the support pins  43   a ,  43   b.  Moreover, in this way, the front roof element is locked upwards by means of the hooks as well as downwards, longitudinally and laterally by means of the support pins. 
     In the above description, it can be seen that the additional support means ( 43   a ,  43   b ,  45   a ,  45   b ) may be considered as longitudinal centring means (axis  20   a ) for the roof element  15   a  and more generally for the roof in the closed position (element  15   a  and  15   b  with respect to one another) and for the roof with respect to the body structure (opened position,  FIG. 3 ). 
     When locking, in order to attach the roof element  15   a  solidly, and thus the roof as a whole, either in the closed or opened position, the locking will preferably generate a certain longitudinal tension on the element  15   a , more or less along the axis  21 , under a traction or thrust force, depending on the part in question. 
     In this case, this concerns an axial traction force exerted longitudinally on the element  15   a  due to the form of the hooks  33   a ,  33   b  and the additional means  43   a ,  43   b , behind which the hooks act. 
     Advantageously, the mobile longitudinal locking means  33   a ,  33   b , are controlled by common means  49  located inside the roof element  15   a  and controlled by an actuator  51  carried by the element  15   a , which here is an electric motor or an electric-hydraulic power source. 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the output shaft  53  of the actuator  51  moves around a transversal articulation axis  55  a bracket connected to a longitudinal rod  49  which controls the front and rear locking means  33   a ,  33   b , here by means of the corresponding articulation levers  59   a ,  59   b , guides by slides  61   a ,  61   b  via nipples or pins. 
     The front and rear are preferably locked and unlocked together, a mark of efficiency and reliability. 
     In the schematic view from above of  FIG. 4 , the four axial lock pins, front  33   a   1 ,  33   a   2  (identical to  33   a ), and rear  33   a   3 ,  33   a   4  (identical to  33   b ) are controlled together, on either side of the longitudinal axis  21 , by the electronic actuator  51  via the lateral arms  63   a   1 ,  63   a   2  connected to the rods  49   a   1 ,  49   a   2  (identical to  49 ) which are each linked as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  to move the locking hooks. It is easy to envisage other types of control devices such as traction/thrust cable devices for example. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the lock pin controls which act axially, respectively on the left and right of the longitudinal axis  21 , are separated functionally but have identical constructions. 
     Two actuators  51   a ,  51   b , act via their output shaft respectively on the axial rods  49   a   1 ,  49   a   2 . 
     The rest of the controls and the locking hooks are identical to those previously presented in relation to  FIGS. 2 to 4 . 
     It is possible, in place of the hooks (such as  33   a ,  33   b ) to use mobile pins that are more or less axial (preferably parallel to the general plane  70  in which the front roof element  15   a  extends) to be inserted into or cleared from additional recesses located opposite them in the second roof element  15   b  (roof closed) or the body structure  3  ( FIG. 3  roof opened). 
     The mobile pins could be also used as axial locking means (axis  20   a ) and support means for the roof element  15   a.  However, hooks are preferable as they provide an effective mechanical solution, easy and effective to use to obtain the axial tension mentioned previously and/or the high/low positioning of the element  15   a  in relation with the support/centring means  43   a ,  43   b.    
     It may also be noted that the roof element  15   a  which, on  FIGS. 1 to 3 , is the roof element the furthest forward of the mobile roof  15 , could consist of an intermediate roof element located between a roof element further forward and at least a roof element further behind (at least in the closed state of the roof, above the passenger compartment). 
     As concerns the rear roof element  15   b  of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , it may be made up of several parts. 
     In  FIG. 6 , we can see a variation of this embodiment of the rear roof element in which this rear roof element identified as a unit as  15   b   1  comprises a central roof element  150  and laterally, on either side of the longitudinal median axis  21 , a rear right hand lateral roof element  151  and a rear left hand lateral roof element  153 , the section being made vertically and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis  21   
     It should be noted that the invention also has an application especially if the rear roof element comprises several parts positioned one behind the other with the roof in the closed state as shown in  FIG. 7  where the rear roof element  15   b   2  can be seen to comprise an intermediate roof element  155  and a roof element  156  more to the rear which here defines the frame for the rear windscreen  157 , the vehicle as a whole being identified as  100 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , the front roof element  15   a  remains the element the furthest forward of the roof  158 , which is to say that its front edge comes substantially into contact with the upper transversal bay of the windscreen  13 , in the closed state of the roof as shown. 
     To move the roof from the closed position to lock it open, the procedure is as follows: 
     the roof elements (such as  15   a ,  15   b ) are in a relatively extended position as shown in  FIG. 2 , with the locking system ( 33   a ,  33   b;    45   a ,  45   b ) locked and the support means/centring means bearing on their additional receiving means  45   a ,  45   b , the front element  15   a  is released and the various elements of the roof are tilted by articulating them with respect to one another and with respect to the body  3 , until the folded position is reached, here shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
     in the open folded position, the roof articulation means (lever  23   a ,  27 , . . . ) therefore bring the element  15   a  to rest on the additional means  45   a ,  45   b  of the body ( FIG. 3 ), the element  15   b  itself extends folded next to it. It is held by its articulations  23   a ,  23   b.  The hooks  33   a ,  33   b  are released. Guided and positioned in support by its centring devices,  43   a ,  43   b;    45   a ,  45   b , the front element  15   a  of the roof may then be locked onto the body  3 . A coordinated movement of the hooks at the front and the rear locks the element  15   a  both upwards and downwards (see above) and advantageously places it slightly under tension longitudinally (axis  20   a ). 
     In the embodiments described, each hook has an opening facing upwards. The openings may face in any direction, provided that they are facing the centring and/or support means ( 43   a ,  43   b ).