IP Library Granted Patent US 12,269,322
Granted Patent B2
US 12,269,322 · App. 17/845,467 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Hard support corner for a soft top

Inventors: Stephen J. Lewis (Harrison Township, MI); Charles C. Turney (Toledo, OH); Jonathon G. Moore (Chesterfield, MI); Duane C. Junkin (Madison Heights, MI)
Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
B60J1/085B60J1/006B60J7/10B60J7/11B60J7/1226
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,269,322
App. No.
17/845,467
Granted
Apr 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A quarter window assembly for a soft top cover assembly that is removable. The quarter window assembly is connectable to the soft cover assembly. The quarter window assembly has a hard corner assembly mountable to features connected to a vehicle. The hard corner assembly is an injection molded plastic assembly. The quarter window assembly also has a panel carrying at least one window, and the panel is secured to the hard corner assembly.

Claims (29)

1. A quarter window assembly for a vehicle, comprising;

at least one panel portion with at least one window, said at least one panel portion being made of a soft material and having an upper attachment member adapted to connect to a mating attachment member on a soft top cover; and

at least one hard corner support connected to the at least one panel portion, said hard corner support adapted to connect toward a rear of the vehicle to provide support and an attachment location for the at least one panel portion;

wherein the quarter window assembly additionally provides an attachment location for a rear window assembly; and

wherein the quarter window assembly is selectively removable from the vehicle for maintenance, replacement, repair or when a more vehicle open air feel is desired.

2. The quarter window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hard corner support includes at least one locking feature adapted to engage a retention member connected to the vehicle to selectively locate one end of the hard corner support in position.

3. The quarter window assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one locking feature is a tongue adapted to engage the retention member, wherein the retention member is integrally formed with or operably connected to the vehicle.

4. The quarter window assembly of claim 2 , wherein the hard corner support further includes at least one attachment feature attachable to the vehicle to selectively locate the other end of the hard corner support in position.

5. The quarter window assembly of claim 4 , wherein the hard corner support is connected substantially vertically at the rear corner of the vehicle.

6. The quarter window assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one panel includes at least one retainer connected to the hard corner support for tight fabric retention around an outward surface of the hard corner support.

7. The quarter window assembly of claim 6 , wherein the at least one retainer includes a plurality of fasteners to fasten the hard corner support to fabric of the at least one panel.

8. The quarter window assembly of claim 7 , wherein part of the at least one panel wraps around an outward surface of the hard corner support and is attached to the hard corner support.

9. The quarter window assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vertical edge of the rear window assembly is operably retained to said quarter window assembly, said rear window assembly is selectively removable from the quarter window assembly.

10. The quarter window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is a zipper adapted to interact with a mating zipper on a top deck of the soft top assembly.

11. The quarter window assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel portion further comprises:

at least one bottom attachment member operably selectively connected to the vehicle; and

at least one front attachment member operably selectively connected to the vehicle.

12. A quarter window assembly for a vehicle, comprising;

at least one panel portion with at least one window, said at least one panel portion being made of a soft material and having an upper attachment member adapted to connect to a mating attachment member on a soft top cover; and

at least one hard corner support connected to the at least one panel portion, said hard corner support adapted to connect toward a rear of the vehicle to provide support and an attachment location for the at least one panel portion;

wherein the quarter window assembly is selectively removable from the vehicle for maintenance, replacement, repair or when a more vehicle open air feel is desired;

wherein the hard corner support includes at least one locking feature adapted to engage a retention member connected to the vehicle to selectively locate one end of the hard corner support in position; and

wherein the hard corner support further includes at least one attachment feature attachable to the vehicle to selectively locate the other end of the hard corner support in position.

13. A quarter window assembly for a vehicle, comprising;

at least one panel portion with at least one window, said at least one panel portion being made of a soft material and having an upper attachment member adapted to connect to a mating attachment member on a soft top cover; and

at least one hard corner support connected to the at least one panel portion, said hard corner support adapted to connect toward a rear of the vehicle to provide support and an attachment location for the at least one panel portion;

wherein the quarter window assembly is selectively removable from the vehicle for maintenance, replacement, repair or when a more vehicle open air feel is desired;

wherein the hard corner support includes at least one locking feature adapted to engage a retention member connected to the vehicle to selectively locate one end of the hard corner support in position; and

wherein the at least one locking feature is a tongue adapted to engage the retention member, wherein the retention member is integrally formed with or operably connected to the 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 Jul 13, 2022
From: LEWIS, STEPHEN J.; TURNEY, CHARLES C.; MOORE, JONATHON G.; JUNKIN, DUANE C.
To: BESTOP, INC.
Reel/Frame 060491/0653 →