Granted Patent B2

US 12,734,866 · App. 18/171,834 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Stephen J. Lewis (Harrison Township, MI); Eric D. Getzschman (New Baltimore, MI); Duane C. Junkin (Madison Heights, MI); David A. Smith (Macomb Township, MI); Charles C. Turney (Toledo, OH); Edward S. Piec (Warren, MI); Jonathon G. Moore (Chesterfield, MI); Brandon Kincaid (Curtice, OH); Eric J. Hanson (Dearborn, MI)

Assignee: Bestop, Inc.

B60J7/1247B60J7/1265

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A folding soft top cover assembly adapted for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:

a pivotal portion adapted for attaching at a roof top opening of a vehicle;

a cover connected to the pivotal portion to selectively close off the roof top opening and open up the roof top opening for an open air experience;

a pair of front rails; and

at least one lift assist assembly providing lift assist to said pivotal portion, wherein each at least one lift assist assembly includes an internal gas strut located within each front rail of the pivotal portion.

2 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein each at least one at least one lift assist assembly further includes a front rail tube having at least one cylinder and plunger located within said front rail tube and positioned with a stop.

3 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one lift assist assembly further includes a cylinder riding along a surface of a guide.

4 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover engages a surface of at least one door rail for a weather tight seal.

5 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of attachment members adapted to operably attach the assembly to a hardtop of the vehicle.

6 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retainer connected to the cover and connected to a rear header.

7 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rear header adapted to connect adjacent to the roof top opening.

8 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a retainer connected to the cover, said cover connected to the rear header.

9 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second retainer, said second retainer fastened to a rear header.

10 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of door rails creating a sealing surface along an outer surface for the cover.

11 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a tensioning member connected along opposite side edges of the cover to place tension against the door rail for a weather tight seal.

12 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tensioning member is a cable sewn to the cover.

13 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lift assist assembly is a plunger or cam lift assist system.

14 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lift assist assembly includes at least one compression spring.

15 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lift assist assembly is a compression spring in a cylinder lift assist system.

16 . The folding soft top cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of stops, where each one of the pair of front rails contacts a respective one of the pair of stops when the pivotal portion is in an open position operable to set a height of the front rail off the vehicle.

17 . A folding soft top cover assembly adapted for connecting to a sport utility vehicle, comprising:

a pivotal portion adapted for attaching at a roof top opening of a vehicle and selectively rotatable to close off the roof top opening and open up the roof top opening for an open air experience;

a pair of front rails including a tubular section;

at least one pair of lift assist assemblies including a lift assist mechanism located within the tubular section and including a rounded end extending out of the tubular section; and

a pair of guides each including a predetermined guide surface profiled for the rounded end to travel along the surface operable to provide lift assist in combination with the lift assist mechanism.

18 . A lift assist assembly adapted for a rotatable soft top cover assembly, comprising:

at least one lift assist mechanism adapted to fit inside a tubular member of the rotatable soft top cover assembly, said at least one lift assist mechanism includes a buffering lift assist member and a cylinder riding along a predetermined contoured surface of a guide, wherein said at least one lift assist mechanism is incorporated as part of a plunger or cam assist system.

19 . The lift assist assembly of claim 18 , wherein the buffering lift assist member includes at least one compression spring.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (34)