IP Library Granted Patent US 7,506,914
Granted Patent B2
US 7,506,914 · App. 10/577,030 · Granted Mar 24, 2009

Convertible vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,506,914
App. No.
10/577,030
Granted
Mar 24, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a convertible vehicle ( 1 ) having a movable roof ( 2 ), which has a flexible cover ( 4 ) at least in its back area ( 6 ), said cover being held in a tensioning bracket ( 8 ) in the back area thereof, which can be displaced upwards from a tensioned position forming the closed roof ( 2 ). The convertible vehicle is configured in such a way that at least one folding device ( 13 ) acting upon a border area of the cover ( 4 ) that is located beneath and in front of the tensioning bracket ( 8 ) in driving direction (F) of the cover ( 4 ) is assigned to said cover ( 4 ), said folding device exerting a constraining folding force upon said border area when the roof is being opened ( 2 ).

Claims (8)

1. Convertible vehicle ( 1 ) with a movable roof ( 2 ), which has a flexible roof covering ( 4 ) at least in its rear area, wherein the rear of the roof covering ( 4 ) is held on a tension bow ( 11 ), which can be moved upward from a tensioned position that forms the closed roof ( 2 ), wherein at least one externally acting folding device ( 13 ), which acts on lower marginal regions of the roof covering ( 4 ) that are located in front of the tension bow ( 8 ) with respect to the direction of vehicle travel (F), and generates a tension force with a vertically upwardly directed component for lifting the covering from the tension bow, is assigned to the roof covering ( 4 ) and exerts a force on these marginal regions that forces the regions to fold in during the opening of the roof ( 2 ).

2. Convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein exactly one folding device ( 13 ) is assigned to each longitudinal side of the vehicle.

3. Convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one folding device ( 13 ) extends between a front region of the roof, a so-called roof top ( 16 ),and the rear tension bow ( 8 ).

4. Convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , the at least one folding device ( 13 ) includes a traction cable ( 14 ), by means of which the folding device ( 13 ) engages the section of the sealing line ( 12 ).

5. Convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the traction cable ( 14 ) consists of polyamide.

6. Convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the at least one folding device ( 13 ) includes a tension spring ( 14 a ).

7. Convertible vehicle in accordance claim 1 , wherein the roof ( 2 ) includes at least one tensioning device ( 25 ), which is assigned to a sealing line ( 12 ) situated in the lower marginal region of the roof covering ( 4 ), acts in its tensioned position on the sealing line ( 12 ) with a force that presses on a region of the automobile body ( 5 ) that serves as a support, and can be relaxed in a well-defined direction by the folding device ( 13 ).

8. Convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a body-mounted cover part ( 7 ), on which, in the closed position, the rear end ( 6 ) of the roof tightly rests, and which is to be opened to receive the roof ( 2 ) in the automobile body ( 5 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2013
From: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
To: VALMET AUTOMOTIVE OY
Reel/Frame 031485/0597 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2007
From: SCHONHORST, HEIKO; WIETHEGER, THORSTEN; LICHER, KLAUS
To: WILHELM KARMAN GMBH
Reel/Frame 018796/0772 →