Soft top for a motor vehicle, particularly a convertible, comprising a folding roof

1. A top for a convertible vehicle of the type having a body with a windshield frame at a forward end of a passenger compartment, comprising:

a foldable roof having a top linkage operable to move the foldable roof between a closed position in which it can be fixed to a windshield frame and an open position in which it is stowed in a rear side stowage position;

a latching apparatus having a drive member and at least one closure hook connected thereto by a linkage, the at least one closure hook being movably supported on the roof, the latching apparatus operable to fix the foldable roof to the windshield frame when the roof is in the closed position; and

a locking apparatus for locking the roof in the rear-side stowage position, the locking apparatus having at least one locking member and a counter-bearing disposed on the vehicle body, the at least one locking member being separate from the at least one closure hook and being separately and movably supported on the roof;

wherein both the locking apparatus and the latching apparatus are actuated by the drive member.

2. A top in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

a main bearing disposed on the vehicle body, the top linkage being interconnected with the main bearing;

the counter-bearing being integral with the main bearing; and

the locking member being fixable in the counter-bearing when the top is in the rear-side stowage position.

3. A top in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the locking member is a locking hook.

4. A top for a convertible vehicle of the type having a body with a windshield frame at a forward end of a passenger compartment, comprising:

a foldable roof having a top linkage operable to move the foldable roof between a closed position in which it can be fixed to a windshield frame and an open position in which it is stowed in a rear side stowage position;

a latching apparatus having a drive member and at least one closure hook connected thereto by a linkage, the latching apparatus operable to fix the foldable roof to the windshield frame when the roof is in the closed position; and

a locking apparatus for locking the roof in the rear-side stowage position, the locking apparatus having at least one locking member and a counter-bearing disposed on the vehicle body;

the locking member being a locking hook having a bolt-like member;

the counter-bearing having a cut-out defined therein; and

the bolt-like member of the locking hook engages the cut-out in the counter-bearing when the top is in the stowage position

wherein both the locking apparatus and the latching apparatus are actuated by the drive member.

5. A top in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the drive member actuates the locking member of the locking apparatus via the linkage of the latching apparatus; and

the drive member being disposed at a front end of the top generally centrally with respect to a width of the vehicle.

6. A top for a convertible vehicle of the type having a body with a windshield frame at a forward end of a passenger compartment, comprising:

a foldable roof having a top linkage operable to move the foldable roof between a closed position in which it can be fixed to a windshield frame and an open position in which it is stowed in a rear side stowage position;

a latching apparatus having a drive member and at least one closure hook connected thereto by a linkage, the latching apparatus operable to fix the foldable roof to the windshield frame when the roof is in the closed position; and

a locking apparatus for locking the roof in the rear-side stowage position, the locking apparatus having at least one locking member and a counter-bearing disposed on the vehicle body, the locking apparatus further having a coupling rod connecting the linkage to the locking member for actuating the locking member, the linkage extending generally in the transverse direction of the top;

wherein both the locking apparatus and the latching apparatus are actuated by the drive member, the drive member actuating the locking member of the locking apparatus via the linkage of the latching apparatus, and the drive member being disposed at a front end of the top generally centrally with respect to a width of the vehicle.

7. A top in accordance with claim 6 , wherein:

the linkage includes a drive rod which is pivotally connected to the closure hook;

the coupling rod is substantially coaxial with the drive rod.

8. A top for a convertible vehicle of the type having a body with a windshield frame at a forward end of a passenger compartment, comprising:

a foldable roof having a top linkage operable to move the foldable roof between a closed position in which it can be fixed to a windshield frame and an open position in which it is stowed in a rear side stowage position;

a latching apparatus having a drive member and at least one closure hook connected thereto by a linkage, the latching apparatus operable to fix the foldable roof to the windshield frame when the roof is in the closed position;

a locking apparatus for locking the roof in the rear-side stowage position, the locking apparatus having at least one locking member and a counter-bearing disposed on the vehicle body;

a latching member for latching roof parts of the foldable roof to one another; and

at least one connection rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the connection rod having one end pivotally interconnected with the locking member and an opposite end interconnected with the latching members;

wherein both the locking apparatus and the latching apparatus are actuated by the drive member.