Rear hard enclosure for a soft top
A panel top assembly adapted for a vehicle including a pivotal portion that is rotatable between a closed position and open sunroof position, the pivotal portion is coupled to guide assemblies to selectively slide rearward to another top open position. There is provided a removable hard rear window, a rear hard drip rail; and a pair of removable hard rear side window assemblies on the side of the vehicle that wrap around to the back of the vehicle creating clear rear hard corners and that are also in sealing engagement to the rear window. The rear hard drip rail and pivotal portion selectively drop down at an angle into the rear cargo area of the vehicle when a fully open top experience is desired.
1 . A panel top assembly adapted for a vehicle, comprising:
a frame adapted to operably connect at a roof top opening of the vehicle and operably coupled to a cover, said frame operable to selectively move between a closed position closing off the opening of the vehicle and at least an open sunroof position;
at least one pair of rear rails operably adapted to couple to the vehicle; and
a pair of removable rear side window assemblies adapted to selectively operably couple to the vehicle and adapted to selectively operably interface with said at least one pair of rear rails;
wherein said at least one pair of rear rails is adapted to selectively drop down into a rear cargo area of the vehicle at least to a predetermined angle when another open position is desired.
2 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pin connected to each rear rail, said at least one pin received in a slot of the panel top assembly, wherein said at least one pin in the slot creates a top pivot location allowing the at least one pair of rear rails to selectively rock rearward with the at least one pin in the slot to bring a back end of said at least one pair of rear rails down to said rear cargo area at a predetermined angle for said at least one pair of rails.
3 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein each rear rail is operably held substantially horizontal when said panel top assembly is in said closed position or open position.
4 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is at least about 45 degrees.
5 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket adapted to operably couple to the vehicle, said bracket including a key slot to receive a carrier for each rear rail operable to transition each rear rail between a predetermined angle position and a substantially horizontal position.
6 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of guide track assemblies adapted to operably connect to the vehicle, said frame operably slidably coupled to said at least one pair of guide track assemblies.
7 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one seal operably connected to each of said rear rails, said at least one seal in sealing engagement with said pair of removable rear side window assemblies.
8 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said pair of removable rear side window assemblies are in sealing engagement with a rear window.
9 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said pair of removable rear side window assemblies are adapted to connect to the vehicle such that each rear side window assembly wraps around from a side of the vehicle to the back of the vehicle to operably interface with a rear window.
10 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said pair of removable rear side window assemblies each include at least one substantially clear hard panel and wraps around at the rear corner to provide an integrated rear side window, rear corner window, and rear window area that is substantially clear for visibility out of the rear corner region of the vehicle.
11 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said pair of removable rear side window assemblies include hard substantially clear window surfaces extending substantially from a substantially vertical side door rail to a hard rear window allowing for visibility through said pair of removable rear side window assemblies.
12 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said pair of removable rear side window assemblies include a corner latch adapted to operably selectively connect to a striker on the vehicle.
13 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of lift assists adapted to operably connect to the vehicle, said pair of lift assist mechanism holding said frame in a substantially horizontal, up position, and said pair of lift assist mechanisms including at least one release mechanism to allow said frame to be selectively rotated downward into the cargo area of the vehicle to come to rest at a predetermined angle.
14 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one selectively removable rear window operably adapted to connect to the vehicle, wherein said removable rear window and said pair of removable rear side windows are hard windows.
15 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rear window that is selectively removable and at least two pins operably connected to said hard rear window or adapted to operably connect to the vehicle, and at least two fastener members operably connected to the other of either said hard rear window or adapted to operably connect to the vehicle, wherein said at least two pins are selectively slidably received and held within said at least two fastener members adapted to selectively connect said hard rear window to the vehicle.
16 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one pair of guide tracks embedded into molded door rails adapted to operably connect to the vehicle, said frame operably slidably coupled to said at least one pair of guide tracks to selectively slide said frame between said closed position and an open position.
17 . The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein rear corners of said panel top assembly are substantially transparent.
18 . A panel top assembly adapted for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame adapted to operably connect at a roof top opening of the vehicle, said frame including a portion operable to selectively move between a closed position and at least one open position;
a removable rear window operably adapted to selectively connect to the vehicle;
a pair of rear rails; and
a pair of removable rear side windows operably adapted to selectively couple to the vehicle and operable to selectively interface with said pair of rear drip rails, said at least one pair of removable rear side windows wrap around from a side of the vehicle to the back of the vehicle forming a rear corner and are operably adapted to be in sealing engagement with said rear window;
wherein said pair of rear rails and said frame are adapted to selectively drop down into a tub of the vehicle at predetermined angles when a fully open position is desired.
19 . The panel top assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a mounted member adapted to operably couple to the vehicle, said mounted member including at least one aperture operable to slidably receive at least one slidable member operably provided on the pair of rear rails for each rear rail to be selectively operably moved rearward and downward into the tub of the vehicle when said more open position of said panel top assembly is desired, and moved forward and upward for said panel top assembly open sunroof position or closed position.
20 . A panel top assembly adapted for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
a frame adapted to operably connect at a roof top opening of the vehicle;
a removable rear window adapted to selectively connect to the vehicle;
a pair of rear drip rails; and
a pair of removable rear side windows operably adapted to selectively connect to the vehicle and being in sealing engagement with said pair of rear drip rails, said pair of removable rear side windows wrap around from opposing sides of the vehicle to a back of the vehicle each creating a rear corner and abutting against said removable rear window;
wherein said pair of rear drip rails and said movable frame are adapted to selectively move down into a tub of the vehicle in an open top panel assembly position.