IP Library Granted Patent US 7,134,708
Granted Patent B2
US 7,134,708 · App. 10/531,683 · Granted Nov 14, 2006

Convertible

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,134,708
App. No.
10/531,683
Granted
Nov 14, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A convertible having a roof is provided with stiff parts, at least one rear roof part, and an upper roof part, which is mounted in front of the rear roof part relative to the direction of travel in the closed state and is located above a passenger area. The upper roof part of the convertible encompasses an at least substantially transparent plate member which can be displaced counter to the direction of travel like a sliding roof; is held parallel to a rear window that is embraced by the rear roof part in the open position thereof; and can be moved along with the roof in the parallel position in order to be opened and closed.

Claims (10)

1. Convertible ( 1 ) with a roof ( 2 ; 102 ) that consists of rigid parts and comprises at least a rear roof part ( 3 ; 103 ) and an upper roof part ( 7 ; 107 ), which in the closed state of the roof is arranged above a passenger compartment and in front of the rear roof part in the direction of travel (F), wherein the upper roof part ( 7 ; 107 ) comprises an at least essentially transparent plate member ( 13 ; 113 ), which can be moved horizontally in a direction opposite the direction of travel (F), is supported in its open position parallel to a rear window ( 6 ; 106 ) enclosed by the rear roof part ( 3 ; 103 ), and can be moved in this parallel position with the roof ( 2 ; 102 ) to open or close the roof, and in this process the plate member ( 13 ; 113 ), in both the open position and in the closed position, is held by its front end region ( 14 ) in a guide ( 16 ) assigned to the upper roof part ( 7 ) and by its rear end region ( 14 a ) in a guide ( 17 ) assigned to the rear roof part ( 3 ).

2. Convertible ( 1 ) with a roof ( 2 ; 102 ) that consists of rigid parts and comprises a rear roof part ( 3 ; 103 ) and an upper roof part ( 7 ; 107 ), which in the closed state of the roof is arranged above a passenger compartment and in front of the rear roof part in the direction of travel (F), wherein the upper roof part ( 7 ; 107 ) comprises an at least essentially transparent plate member ( 13 ; 113 ), which extends at least almost over the entire length of the upper roof part ( 7 ; 107 ), can be moved horizontally in a direction opposite the direction of travel (F), is supported in its open position parallel to a rear window ( 6 ; 106 ) enclosed by the rear roof part ( 3 ; 103 ), and, to open or close the roof, can be moved in this parallel position with the roof ( 2 ; 102 ) in such a way that the rear roof part, in order to open it, can be swiveled into the automobile body, such that the surface of the rear roof part that forms the outside when the roof is closed faces downward when the roof is in its lowered position.

3. Convertible in accordance with claim 2 , wherein a front end region of the plate member ( 13 ) in the open position is held by means of arms ( 14 ) coaxially with an axis of a pivot joint ( 12 ), which joins the rear roof part ( 3 ) and the upper roof part ( 7 ).

4. Convertible ( 1 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the roof ( 2 ) can be moved by means of an articulated parallelogram assigned to the rear roof part ( 3 ), wherein the rear roof part ( 3 ) is divided into lateral main posts ( 4 ) and a middle section ( 5 ) that lies between them and encloses the rear window ( 6 ), such that the main posts ( 4 ), on the one hand, and the middle section ( 5 ) on the other hand, form parts of the articulated parallelogram.

5. Convertible in accordance with claim 4 , wherein a joint ( 11 ) of the middle section ( 5 ) with the automobile body ( 20 ) and a joint ( 12 ) of the middle section ( 5 ) with the upper roof part ( 7 ) are each located above planes of the joints ( 9 ; 10 ) of the main posts ( 4 ), and in the open state, the rear window ( 6 ) is held above the main posts ( 4 ).

6. Convertible in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plate member ( 13 ) can be moved over the rear window ( 6 ), and an upwardly projecting sealing edge is assigned to the upper edge of the rear roof part ( 3 ), and a downwardly directed opposing edge that grips behind a sealing edge of the rear roof part ( 3 ) is assigned to the rear edge of the plate member ( 13 ).

7. Convertible in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the plate member ( 113 ) is completely supported on the upper roof part ( 107 ) in the closed state and is completely supported on the rear roof part ( 103 ) in the open state.

8. Convertible in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the roof ( 102 ) can be moved both with the plate member ( 113 ) open and with the plate member ( 113 ) closed.

9. Convertible in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the roof ( 2 ; 102 ) can be moved at least practically horizontally between a closed position, in which the upper roof part ( 7 ; 107 ) is supported indirectly or directly on a windshield frame ( 8 ), and an intermediate position, in which the mounting connection between the roof ( 2 ; 102 ) and the windshield frame ( 8 ) is released.

10. Swiveling roof ( 2 ; 102 ) for a convertible ( 1 ) in accordance with claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2013
From: WILHELM KARMANN GMBH
To: VALMET AUTOMOTIVE OY
Reel/Frame 031485/0597 →