IP Library Granted Patent US 7,681,938
Granted Patent B2
US 7,681,938 · App. 11/661,435 · Granted Mar 23, 2010

Convertible vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,681,938
App. No.
11/661,435
Granted
Mar 23, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a cabriolet vehicle having a roof that can be stored underneath a cover part in an open position, at least two displaceable engagement organs and an associated drive being provided to secure a closed cover part. The drive interacts with the engagement organs to transmit a driving force through a force transmission element having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. A driven organ can lie in a transverse direction of the vehicle and generally on the same plane as the force transmission elements. In addition, a gear mechanism can be displaced by a rectilinear coupling organ that is connected to the force transmission element and runs parallel to the drive organ.

Claims (10)

1. A convertible vehicle comprising:

a roof which can be stowed beneath a cover part in its open position, with at least two movable engagement members for securing of the cover part in a closed position and at least one drive provided which is in operative connection with the engagement members for the transmission of the drive force via force communicators each outwardly engaging with a component in a transverse direction of the vehicle;

characterized in that the at least one drive comprises a drive member disposed generally in the transverse direction (q) of the vehicle and generally in a plane of the force communicators, with a transmission redirecting the direction of movement for a second force communicator being movable via a coupling member movable along a substantially straight line and generally parallel to said drive member and connected to a first force communicator, the first communicator being fixedly connected to the drive member.

2. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the drive includes at least one transmission element which is movable along a substantially straight line, and is connected to a force communicator and is provided with a first coupling arrangement for the indirect or direct engagement of the drive and with a second coupling arrangement for the engagement of a manual emergency actuation.

3. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 2 , wherein at least one of the coupling arrangements is formed by a gear rack portion.

4. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the coupling arrangements are perpendicular to one another.

5. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a first transmission element is arranged parallel to a piston of a hydraulic drive member which can be pushed out.

6. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 5 , wherein a gear is rotatable via the first transmission element and a second transmission element, which is movable in a straight line, can be driven by it.

7. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the first transmission element and the second transmission element are movable in opposite senses to one another.

8. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the force communicators are made as pull-push bars.

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 Dec 27, 2007
From: SOLLO, HEINRICH; HEIDTMANN, HERMANN
To: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
Reel/Frame 020310/0029 →