Retractable roof and vehicle therewith

Abstract

A retractable roof includes a front roof panel, a back roof panel formed by joining outer and inner panel layers to each other, a lower link pivotally connected to a vehicle body member, an upper link pivotally connected to the front roof panel, and an intermediate link rigidly connected to each of the lower link and the upper link. The intermediate link is placed in between the outer and inner panel layers of the back roof panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle in which a retractable roof is in an in-use position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle in which the retractable roof is in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a linkage mechanism of the retractable roof in in-use position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the linkage mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the structure of a segmental link.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the linkage mechanism of the retractable roof when approximately one third of a position change process of the retractable roof from its in-use position to its retracted position has passed.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the linkage mechanism of the retractable roof when approximately two thirds of the position change process of the retractable roof from its in-use position to its retracted position have passed.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the linkage mechanism of the retractable roof in retracted position.

Claims

1. A retractable roof comprising: a front roof panel for covering a passenger compartment of a vehicle from above;a back roof panel, disposed on the rear side of the front roof panel, for covering the passenger compartment from the rear, the back roof panel being formed by joining an outer panel layer and an inner panel layer to each other;a lower link pivotally connected to a vehicle body member;an upper link pivotally connected to the front roof panel; andan intermediate link rigidly connected to the lower link and the upper link and placed in between the outer and inner panel layers of the back roof panel.

2. The retractable roof of claim 1, wherein the intermediate link is a reinforcement for the back roof panel.

3. The retractable roof of claim 2, wherein the back roof panel is made of resin, andthe intermediate link is made of metal.

4. The retractable roof of claim 1, wherein the intermediate link is fixed to the back roof panel, andthe retractable roof further comprises a linkage mechanism for relatively moving the front roof panel to the vehicle body member.

5. The retractable roof of claim 4, wherein the back roof panel is divided into a back window and a middle roof panel disposed between the back window and the front roof panel, andthe linkage mechanism comprises:a window link lever pivotally connected to the back window and the vehicle body member;a pair of link levers both pivotally connected to the back window and the middle roof panel; anda control link pivotally connected to any one of the back window and the link levers and pivotally connected to the front roof panel.

6. A vehicle with a retractable roof, the retractable roof comprising: a front roof panel for covering a passenger compartment of the vehicle from above;a back roof panel, disposed on the rear side of the front roof panel, for covering the passenger compartment from the rear, the back roof panel being formed by joining an outer panel layer and an inner panel layer to each other;a lower link pivotally connected to a vehicle body member;an upper link pivotally connected to the front roof panel; andan intermediate link rigidly connected to the lower link and the upper link and placed in between the outer and inner panel layers of the back roof panel.