Convertible sliding top
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are embodiments of a convertible sliding top assembly for use with a vehicle. The convertible sliding top assembly can create an opening on the top of the vehicle by rotating a plurality of arms and folding over a soft cover. The assembly can be designed and shaped to improve aerodynamics when the vehicle is moving and prevent the buildup of water on the soft cover.
1. A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
a frame support including a base;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link; and
a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position;
wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered; and
wherein the front link pivots about on an axis a shorter distance from the base than a distance between an axis about which the rear link pivots and the base.
2. The folding top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover support is sloped downwards from back to front in the open position.
3. The folding top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear link comprises a pair of rotatable arms and the front link comprises a pair of rotatable arms.
4. The folding top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the folding frame assembly comprises a parallelogram linkage.
5. The folding top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly.
6. The folding top assembly of claim 5 , wherein the single-piece bar is bowed on both the aft perimeter and side perimeters.
7. The folding top assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a pair of cover attachment components connected to the side perimeters of the single-piece bar, the cover attachment components each having a channel configured to retain a portion of the cover.
8. A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link; and
a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position;
pressing the folding top assembly upwards; and
moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself;
wherein the front link pivots about on an axis a shorter distance from the base than a distance between an axis about which the rear link pivots and the base.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cover support is sloped downwards from back to front in the open position.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the rear link comprises a pair of rotatable arms and the front link comprises a pair of rotatable arms.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the folding frame assembly comprises a parallelogram linkage.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the single-piece bar is bowed on both the aft perimeter and side perimeters.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a pair of cover attachment components connected to the side perimeters of the single-piece bar, the cover attachment components each having a channel configured to retain a portion of the cover.
15. A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
a frame support including a base;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link; and
a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position;
wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered; and
wherein the cover support is sloped downwards from back to front in the open position.
16. A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
a frame support including a base;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link; and
a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position;
wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself;
wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered;
wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly; and
wherein the single-piece bar is bowed on both the aft perimeter and side perimeters.
17. A folding top assembly for covering an opening of a vehicle, the folding top assembly comprising a folding frame assembly and a cover attached to the folding frame assembly and the vehicle, the folding frame assembly comprising:
a frame support including a base;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
a cover support extending from adjacent a first side of the cover to adjacent a second side of the cover and rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the cover support is movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly; and
a pair of cover attachment components connected to the side perimeters of the single-piece bar, the cover attachment components each having a channel configured to retain a portion of the cover;
wherein in the open position, the opening is exposed and the cover folds upon itself; and
wherein in the closed position, the opening is covered.
18. A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link; and
a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position;
pressing the folding top assembly upwards; and
moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself;
wherein the cover support is sloped downwards from back to front in the open position.
19. A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link; and
a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position;
pressing the folding top assembly upwards; and
moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself;
wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly; and
wherein the single-piece bar is bowed on both the aft perimeter and side perimeters.
20. A method for using a soft cover and folding top assembly covering an opening of a vehicle, the method comprising:
unlatching the folding top assembly comprising:
a frame support attached adjacent the opening of the vehicle;
a rear link rotatably coupled to the frame support;
a front link rotatably coupled to the frame support proximal of the rear link;
a cover support assembly rotatably coupled to both the rear link and the front link, the center link assembly being movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the cover support comprises a single-piece bar configured to form the aft and side perimeters of the folding frame assembly; and
a pair of cover attachment components connected to the side perimeters of the single-piece bar, the cover attachment components each having a channel configured to retain a portion of the cover;
pressing the folding top assembly upwards; and
moving the folding top assembly backwards to expose the opening and fold the soft cover upon itself.