IP Library Granted Patent US 7,850,223
Granted Patent B2
US 7,850,223 · App. 11/852,403 · Granted Dec 14, 2010

Folding top with a top cloth which is connected to a frame link

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,850,223
App. No.
11/852,403
Granted
Dec 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A folding top for a vehicle comprises a roof frame which comprises at least one front frame part and one rear frame part, a top cloth and a frame link, which is coupled kinematically to the roof frame, for moving the roof frame from a storage position, in which the top is put away in a receiving space, into a closed position, in which the top spans a passenger compartment. The top cloth is at least partially connected laterally to the frame link.

Claims (16)

1. A folding top for a vehicle, comprising:

a roof frame including at least one front frame part, at least one rear frame part and at least one central frame part;

a frame link kinematically coupled to said roof frame, for moving said roof frame from a storage position, in which the top is stowed in a receiving space, into a closed position, in which the top spans a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

said frame link including a first end articulated on the vehicle and a second end articulated on said at least one central frame part;

a four-bar mechanism connecting together said at least one front frame part and said at least one center frame part;

a top cloth at least partially connected laterally to said frame link and to said at least one front frame part;

said top cloth not being permanently fixed to said at least one central frame part, but rather, being pressed thereon from the outside;

in the closed position of the roof frame, said frame link at least partially bearing against said at least one rear frame part and said at least one central frame part being disposed between said at least one front frame part and said at least one rear frame part; and

during a movement of said roof frame from the storage position into the closed position, said at least one front frame part substantially maintaining an orientation thereof.

2. The folding top according to claim 1 , wherein the folding top is mounted to cover a passenger compartment of a convertible passenger vehicle.

3. The folding top according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one rear frame part forms a B pillar of the vehicle.

4. The folding top according to claim 1 , wherein said first end of said frame link is articulated on a convertible top bearing of the vehicle.

5. The folding top according to claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position of the top, said frame link entirely or partially covers said at least one rear frame part from the outside.

6. The folding top according to claim 1 , which comprises a sealing element disposed on said roof frame or said frame link and directed towards the other of said roof frame and said frame link, said sealing element, in the closed position of said roof, forming a seal against said frame link.

7. The folding top according to claim 1 , which comprises a sealing element disposed on at least one of said at least one central frame part, said at least one front frame, said at least one rear frame part and said frame link, said sealing element, in the closed position, interacts in a sealing manner with a window seal of a side window of the vehicle.

8. The folding top according to claim 1 , wherein a window seal of a side window of the vehicle is formed with a sealing lip which, in the closed position of the top, interacts to form a seal with said top cloth connected to said frame link.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2010
From: FROESCHLE, MATHIAS
To: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 025153/0464 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 15, 2010
From: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
To: DR. ING H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 024689/0278 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 14, 2010
From: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (COMPANY NO. 722287)
To: PORSCHE ZWISCHENHOLDING GMBH
Reel/Frame 024684/0871 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 30, 2008
From: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (COMPANY NUMBER 722287)
Reel/Frame 021184/0926 →