Patent ID: 7841643

Claim:
A linkage assembly for a folding roof, the linkage assembly comprising: a front frame element having a rear end portion extending at an acute angle therefrom, the rear end portion having a front end joined to the front frame element and a rear end; a rear frame element having a front end portion extending substantially at a right angle therefrom, the front end portion having a bottom end joined to the rear frame element and a top end; a first linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the front end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the first linkage arm being pivotally connected to the bottom end of the front end portion of the rear frame element; a second linkage arm having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the rear end of the rear end portion of the front frame element, the rear end of the second linkage arm being pivotally connected to the top end of the front end portion of the rear frame element; and a control rod having a front end connected to the front frame element such that pulling movement of the front end of the control rod towards the rear frame element when the front frame element is in the closed position causes the front frame element to move to the opened position and such that pushing movement of the front end of the control rod away from the rear frame element when the front frame element is in the opened position causes the front frame element to move to the closed position; wherein the front frame element is movable relative to the rear frame element via the pivotal connections of the linkage arms and the end portions of the frame elements between a closed position in which the frame elements are extended from one another along a longitudinal direction and an opened position in which the front frame element is folded over the rear frame element with the rear end portion of the front frame element being folded over the front end portion of the rear frame element.