Patent ID: 8136864

Claim:
An operational link of a top stack linkage for a convertible top of a vehicle, the link comprising: a spine having a wall with a first side and a second side, including a main body portion and at least one offset portion disposed in a plane that is offset relative to the plane of said main body portion; at least one lateral structural member including a plurality of reinforcing ribs that extend laterally from one side of said first side and said second side of the wall and integral with the spine to maintain a spatial orientation of said offset portion relative to said main body portion; wherein at least one planar flange of the link that extends outwardly from the link; and at least one second lateral structural member selected from the group of a pin on said planar flange, a bushing on said planar flange and a receptacle boss supported about its periphery by said plurality of reinforcing ribs to form a unitary pivot link.