IP Library Granted Patent US 11,654,756
Granted Patent B2
US 11,654,756 · App. 17/495,507 · Granted May 23, 2023

Folding slanted back soft top assembly for SUV

Inventors: William H. Haberkamp (Rochester Hills, MI); Eric D. Getzschman (New Baltimore, MI); Jose N. Vigil (Westminster, CO); Andy Waite (Aurora, CO); Rick H. Troeger (Westminster, CO); Blake A. Jensen (Lafayette, CO); James A. Robertson (Thornton, CO); Ronald Manzanares (Westminster, CO); George C. Stickles (Thornton, CO)
Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
B60J7/1204B60J7/1226B60J1/08B60J1/1815
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,654,756
App. No.
17/495,507
Granted
May 23, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An articulating slanted back soft top assembly for 4-door and 2-door SUVs. A fabric cover is supported by a frame that is at least partially articulatable from at least a closed position to at least one open air position. The frame includes at least one forward fabric support bow member and at least one rearward fabric support bow member. The rear fabric support bow member being positioned when in the closed position in a manner which allows the fabric to clear a sport bar or “roll bar” member of a vehicle in the closed position such that a rear portion of the top is angled from the vertical when viewing the vehicle from the side.

Claims (34)

1. A rear side window assembly adapted for a vehicle, comprising:

a rear side window;

a rear side window panel connected to the rear side window, said rear side window panel adapted to operably selectively connect to the vehicle; and

at least one retainer member adapted to operably couple at least one edge of the rear side window panel to the vehicle.

2. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one carrier, wherein the carrier includes at least one channel adapted to operably receive said at least one retainer, said at least one channel and at least one retainer arrangement is adapted to operably couple at least one edge of the rear side window panel to the vehicle.

3. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said at least one retainer is connected to the rear side window panel and selectively slidably received within at least one corresponding channel adapted to connect the rear side window panel to the vehicle.

4. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer is provided along a longitudinal edge of the rear side window panel.

5. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one second retainer operably adapted to selectively operably couple a second longitudinal edge of the rear side window to the vehicle.

6. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer incorporates an elongated rod or tube.

7. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window panel has no zippers.

8. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window panel is adapted to operably couple to the vehicle without zippers.

9. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window panel is adapted to operably connect to the vehicle and a cover or top side strip without zippers.

10. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window panel is adapted to operably couple at a side opening of the vehicle without zippers.

11. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window panel is adapted to operably couple to at least one pair of side moldings.

12. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear side window panel is adapted to operably connect to a rear window assembly.

13. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rear side window panel is a soft side window panel operably adapted for connecting to a soft top assembly.

14. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rear side window panel is fabric and said rear side window is operably secured in an opening of said rear side window panel.

15. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one edge retainer adapted to operably couple a front and/or rear edge of the rear side window panel to the vehicle.

16. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one front edge retainer adapted to operably connect the rear side window panel to a substantially vertical front moulding portion adapted to operably connect to the vehicle.

17. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rear side window assembly is adapted to operably couple to a soft roof top cover connected to a pivotal portion adapted to operably connect to the sport utility vehicle, said pivotal portion selectively moveable between a closed position and at least one open position.

18. The rear side window assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment portion adapted to operably connect the rear side window panel to a top deck portion of a roof of said vehicle.

19. A soft rear side window assembly adapted for a folding/slanted back soft top assembly adapted for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:

a rear side window;

a soft rear side window panel connected to the rear side window, said soft rear side window panel adapted to operably selectively connect at a rear side opening of the vehicle; and

at least one channel and corresponding at least one elongated retainer adapted to selectively operably couple at least one longitudinal edge of the rear side window panel to the vehicle.

20. The soft rear side window assembly of claim 19 , wherein at least one attachment member or said at least one channel and corresponding at least one elongated retainer are adapted to operably connect the soft rear side window panel to a soft top deck portion of a roof of said vehicle.

21. The soft rear side window assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rear side window assembly is adapted to operably couple to a soft roof top cover top deck coupled to a pivotal portion adapted to operably connect to the sport utility vehicle, said pivotal portion selectively moveable between a closed position and at least one open position.

22. A slide-in soft rear side window assembly adapted for a folding/slanted back soft top assembly adapted for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:

a rear side window;

a soft rear side window panel connected to the rear side window, said soft rear side window panel adapted to operably selectively connect at a rear side opening of the sport utility vehicle without zippers; and

at least one channel and corresponding at least one elongated retainer adapted to selectively operably couple at least one first longitudinal edge of the rear side window panel to the sport utility vehicle;

at least one attachment member adapted to selectively operably couple at least one second longitudinal edge of the rear side window panel to the sport utility vehicle;

at least one first retainer member adapted to selectively operably couple at least one first edge of the rear side window panel at the rear side opening of the sport utility vehicle; and

at least one second retainer member adapted to selectively operably couple at least one second edge of the rear side window panel at the rear side opening of the sport utility vehicle.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2024
From: BESTOP, INC.; BESTOP ALUMINESS, LLC; BESTOP BAJA, LLC; BESTOP TUFFY, LLC; BESTOP PRP, LLC; MGP CALIPER COVERS, LLC
To: TWIN BROOK CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVEAGENT
Reel/Frame 067173/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2021
From: HABERKAMP, WILLIAM H.; GETZSCHMAN, ERIC D.; VIGIL, JOSE N.; WAITE, ANDY; TROEGER, RICK H.; JENSEN, BLAKE A.; ROBERTSON, JAMES A.; MANZANARES, RONALD; STICKLES, GEORGE C.
To: BESTOP, INC.
Reel/Frame 057944/0589 →