Patent ID: 8042856

Claim:
A convertible top for a vehicle comprising: a front rail that is inverted by rotating in a first rotary direction as the roof is retracted by the action of a first four bar link; a side rail that forms part of the first four bar link and is rotated in a second rotary direction that is opposite the first rotary direction as the roof is retracted; a rear rail that forms part of a second four bar link and rotates in the first rotary direction as the roof is retracted; a vehicle engaging bow that is rotated in the second rotary direction as the roof is refracted; the vehicle engaging bow being operatively connected to the rear rail and the first four bar link that initially lifts the vehicle engaging bow in the second rotary direction as the roof is refracted and that then lowers the vehicle engaging bow in the first rotary direction into a storage compartment, wherein the vehicle engaging bow is oriented at an angle of between 30° and 60° relative to a plane defining the beltline of the vehicle with the vehicle engaging bow being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from a pair of main pivot brackets; and wherein the second four bar link compresses the front roof rail, side rail, and rear rail into engagement with the vehicle engaging bow when the top is fully retracted and stowed in said storage compartment.