IP Library Granted Patent US 7,594,685
Granted Patent B2
US 7,594,685 · App. 11/722,536 · Granted Sep 29, 2009

Convertible vehicle with a movable rear shelf

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,594,685
App. No.
11/722,536
Granted
Sep 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A convertible vehicle with a roof that can be stowed in the rear area of the vehicle, wherein when the roof is closed, an area in front of the rear roof seal relative to the direction of travel and below a rear window can be at least partially covered by a cover in the manner of a rear shelf, the cover being recessed when the roof is opened. The cover comprises a center section and outer sections situated to its sides in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which, when the roof is open, are folded in relative to the center section in an at least nearly opposite orientation.

Claims (18)

1. Convertible vehicle with a roof that is stowable in the rear area of the vehicle, wherein when the roof is closed, an area, in front of a rear roof seal relative to the direction of travel (F) and below a rear window, is at least partially covered by a cover in the manner of a rear shelf, said cover being recessed when the roof is opened, wherein the cover comprises a center section and outer sections situated at each side of the center section in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle, and which, when the roof is opened, the outer sections of the cover are folded in relative to the center section of the cover to an at least nearly opposite orientation;

wherein, when the roof is being opened, the center section of the cover rests flat against a rear roof section that encompasses the rear window.

2. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, when the roof is being opened, the outer sections each pivot around a single pivoting axis relative to a part that holds them.

3. Convertible vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the pivoting movement of the outer sections is effected automatically via the movement of the roof, without a separate drive.

4. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the center section is held on a four-bar linkage with pivoting axes that lie crosswise in relation to the vehicle.

5. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the center section is held without direct contact with the roof and is mounted separately from the roof.

6. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the outer sections are articulated to roof pillars situated to the sides of a rear window, and are impinged upon at areas of the outer sections that face away from the point of articulation by guide elements allocated to the center section of the cover.

7. Convertible vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein, when the roof is closed, the guide elements engage under the outer sections, which are then raised by gliding along said guide elements as the roof is being opened.

8. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the outer sections are articulated to the center section and are foldable inwardly relative to the center section via the movement of the roof.

9. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein, when the roof is opened, the outer sections lie folded in relative to the center section and adjacent to a side of the center section that points downward when the roof is closed.

10. Convertible vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the roof comprises fixed roof sections, and in that, when the roof is being opened, roof pillars situated to the sides of the rear window are pivotable around axes that lie at least essentially parallel to the lateral edges of the rear window.

11. Convertible vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the outer sections are movable by the pivoting of the lateral pillars, which causes the outer sections to fold in relative to the center section.

12. Convertible vehicle with a roof that is stowable in the rear area of the vehicle, wherein when the roof is closed, an area, in front of a rear roof seal relative to the direction of travel (F) and below a rear window, is at least partially covered by a cover in the manner of a rear shelf, said cover being recessed when the roof is opened, wherein the cover comprises a center section and outer sections situated at each side of the center section in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle, and which, when the roof is opened, the outer sections of the cover are folded in relative to the center section of the cover to an at least nearly opposite orientation;

wherein the outer sections are articulated to roof pillars situated to the sides of a rear window, and are impinged upon at areas of the outer sections that face away from the point of articulation by guide elements allocated to the center section of the cover.

13. Convertible vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein, when the roof is closed, the guide elements engage under the outer sections, which are then raised by gliding along said guide elements as the roof is being opened.

14. Convertible vehicle with a roof that is stowable in the rear area of the vehicle, wherein when the roof is closed, an area, in front of a rear roof seal relative to the direction of travel (F) and below a rear window, is at least partially covered by a cover in the manner of a rear shelf, said cover being recessed when the roof is opened, wherein the cover comprises a center section and outer sections situated at each side of the center section in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle, and which, when the roof is opened, the outer sections of the cover are folded in relative to the center section of the cover to an at least nearly opposite orientation;

wherein the roof comprises fixed roof sections, and in that, when the roof is being opened, roof pillars situated to the sides of the rear window are pivotable around axes that lie at least essentially parallel to the lateral edges of the rear window.

15. Convertible vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the outer sections are movable by the pivoting of the lateral pillars, which causes the outer sections to fold in relative to the center section.

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 Jul 2, 2007
From: BROCKHOFF, FRANZ-ULRICH
To: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
Reel/Frame 019505/0939 →