Patent ID: 7325858

Claim:
A folding top assembly for a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising: a roof system having a main link for rotatably coupling a roof to the vehicle body, the main link having a first end for coupling to the roof and a second end for rotatably coupling to the vehicle body such that the main link is rotatable to move the roof between a closed position in which the roof covers the vehicle interior and an opened position in which the roof exposes the vehicle interior, wherein the second end of the main link includes a main link extension; and a transmission system having a tilting lever and a drive lever, the tilting lever having first and second arms extending out from a center apex, the drive lever having first and second ends; wherein the first tilting lever arm is coupled to an actuator via a rotary joint, the second tilting lever arm and the first end of the drive lever are rotatably coupled to one another via a rotary joint, the second end of the drive lever and the main link extension are rotatably coupled to one another via a rotary joint, and the center apex of the tilting lever is rotatable about a pivot point such that the tilting lever, the drive lever, and the main link rotate upon the first tilting lever arm being actuated by the actuator to thereby move the roof between the closed and opened positions; wherein the tilting lever and the drive lever are in a first extension position in relation to one another when the roof is in the closed position such that unintentional movement of the roof into the opened position is prevented; wherein the tilting lever and the drive lever are in a second extension position in relation to one another when the roof is in the opened position such that unintentional movement of the roof into the closed position is prevented.