Foldable Vehicle Top

Abstract

A foldable vehicle top contains a top cloth and a rear window. The rear window has an outer border with a window mount to which the top cloth is fastened. A frame is provided which, in a closed position, supports the top cloth and the rear window. The frame has a recess in which the window mount is accommodated in the closed position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a foldable vehicle top according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a vehicle top according to one embodiment of the present invention. For clarification purposes, a top cloth 1 which is visible in FIG. 2 is omitted here in order to show a top framework 6 and, in particular, a frame 4.

The vehicle top contains a transparent rear window 2 made of glass which is adhesively bonded along its upper and side edges and from above onto a second supporting surface 4.2 of the frame 4. The metallic frame 4 is coupled to the top framework 6 via two links 6.1, 6.2 in such a manner that it is moved from a non-illustrated storage position, in which it is accommodated together with the rear window 2 in a top compartment of the vehicle, into the closed position shown in the figures and, in the process, positions the rear window 2 in its final position.

A window mount 3 surrounds an outer border 2.1 of the rear window 2 generally in the region of the frame 4. A border of the top cloth 1, which is shown in FIG. 2, is integrated on the other side of the window mount 3, which side faces away from the rear window 2. For this purpose, the outer border 2.1 of the rear window and the border region of the top cloth 1 are placed together into a mold and encapsulated with a plastics material which, after cooling and curing, forms the window mount 3.

The border of the fabric top cloth 1 is reinforced by a non-illustrated plastic strip which is adhesively bonded onto it, is angled and is at least partially integrated into the window mount 3. The outer border 2.1 of the rear window 2 has a plurality of fir tree-shaped projections (not visible in the figures) which are likewise embedded in the window mount 3. This configuration of the border regions advantageously reinforces the connection of the window mount 3 to the top cloth 1 and the rear window 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the frame 4 is configured as an open profile with a first supporting surface 4.1 and with the second supporting surface 4.2 which are connected to each other by a trough which defines a recess 5 in which the window mount 3 is supported by part of its surface with a form-fitting connection. While the frame 4 is connected fixedly at its second supporting surface 4.2 to the rear window 2 by adhesive bonding, its first supporting surface 4.1 comes into contact with the top cloth 1 and tensions the latter only as it takes up the closed position. For this purpose, the first supporting surface 4.1, as can be seen in FIG. 1, is widened and angled to the side at the upper corner regions of the frame 4, and therefore the frame 4 takes on the function of a corner bow which tensions and shapes the top cloth 1.

In order to avoid the stress concentration of a sharp edge which could damage the top cloth 1 during its slight movements induced by the relative wind, the first supporting surface 4.1 is angled at its end 4.3 which faces away from the trough toward the inside of the vehicle, and therefore, in the closed position, it does not come into contact with the top cloth in its ideal contour. This rounding 4.3 also prevents damage to the top cloth 1 while the frame 4 comes into contact with the latter and tensions it into the closed position.

Claims

1. A foldable vehicle top, comprising: a top cloth;a rear window having an outer border;a window mount fastened to said outer border and to said top cloth; anda frame, in a closed position said frame supports said top cloth and said rear window, said frame has a recess formed therein in which said window mount is accommodated in the closed position.

2. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said rear window and said top cloth is fastened non-releasably to said window mount.

3. The vehicle top according to claim 2, wherein said window mount is formed from plastic, and at least one of said rear window and said top cloth is one of foamed into said window mount and encapsulated in said window mount by injection molding.

4. The vehicle top according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said outer border of said rear window and a border of said top cloth, which is foamed into said window mount or encapsulated therein by injection molding, is formed in at least one of an angled manner and with projections.

5. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said rear window and said top cloth is fastened releasably to said window mount.

6. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said window mount engages around said outer border of said rear window in a bead-shaped manner.

7. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said window mount engages in said recess in a form-fitting manner.

8. The vehicle top according to claim 1, further comprising a top linkage having a link connected to said frame.

9. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said frame has at least one of a traverse limb and at least one side limb.

10. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said frame is an open profile having a first supporting surface for supporting said top cloth, a second supporting surface for supporting said rear window, and a trough which connects said first and second supporting surfaces and forms said recess.

11. The vehicle top according to claim 10, wherein said first supporting surface is angled at an end facing away from said trough toward an inside of a vehicle.

12. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position, said frame supports said top cloth and said rear window from a inside of a vehicle.

13. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said frame supports at least one of an upper region and a lateral region of said top cloth in the closed position.

14. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said frame is connected fixedly to at least one of said rear window and said top cloth.

15. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said window mount engages around said outer border of said rear window, including along at least one of an upper outer boarder and a lateral outer border, in a bead-shaped manner.

16. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle top is a top for a passenger vehicle.

17. The vehicle top according to claim 1, wherein said frame, in an upper corner region of said rear window, supports at least one of an upper region and a lateral region of said top cloth in the closed position.