Patent ID: 8056957

Claim:
A convertible top for a vehicle having a vehicle body with a passenger compartment defined therein; a convertible top linkage assembly including a plurality of roof elements, the linkage assembly being movable between an extended position wherein the roof elements extend over the passenger compartment and a retracted position wherein roof elements are stowed at least partially in the vehicle body, the linkage assembly having a mid position defined such that the linkage assembly passes through the mid position when the linkage assembly is moved between the extended and retracted positions; and a spring system for assisting movement of the linkage assembly from the extended position to the mid position and from the retracted position to the mid position, the spring system including; a first spring element having a loaded position and a released position, the first spring element being biased from the loaded position to the released position, the first spring element being interconnected with the top linkage assembly such that the first spring element is in the loaded position when the linkage assembly is in the retracted position and is in the released position when the linkage assembly is in the mid position, the first spring element urging the linkage assembly from the retracted position to the mid position; and a second spring element having a loaded position and a released position, the second spring element being biased from the loaded position to the released position, the second spring element being interconnected with the top linkage assembly such that the second spring element is in the loaded position when the linkage assembly is in the extended position and is in the released position when the linkage assembly is in the mid position, the second spring element urging the linkage assembly from the extended position to the mid position.