US3036859A - Convertible top - Google Patents

Description

J. ADAMSKI CONVERTIBLE TOP May 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24. 1960 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ADAMSKI.

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J. ADAMSKI May 29, 1962 CONVERTIBLE TOP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1960 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ADAMSKI. /77 I M ATTORNEY.

J. ADAMSKI May 29, 1962 CONVERTIBLE TOP 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24. 1960 INVENTOR. JOSEPH ADAM SKI- ATTO RN E Y J. ADAMSKI May 29, 1962 CONVERTIBLE TOP 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24, 1960 FIG.8

INVENTOR. JOSEPH ADAMSKI.

J. ADAMSKI May 29, 1962 CONVERTIBLE TOP 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1960 FIG.|I

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INVENTOR. JOSEPH ADAMSKI.

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Filed Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,731 4 Claims. (Cl. 296-416) This invention relates to an improved folding top for motor vehicles.

Vehicle tops of the fabric covered, power operated, folding type comprise sectional side rails, cross bows, and links which are pivoted to the side rail sections and to each other for applying force to the side rail sections when the top is being erected or folded by the power means.

Because of space considerations, the links must be small and compactly assembled, so they operate with comparatively small mechanical advantage. During recent years, the profile of the motor vehicle has been lowered to improve appearance, while at the same time the seating space has been increased in width and length. Because of this, the top operating links have become somewhat bulky and have extended into the passenger compartment when the top is erect, to such an extent that the available headroom has been reduced.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a more compact top rail and linkage assembly which has increased mechanical advantage and improved appearance when compared with those of the prior art.

A further object is to provide a top rail and linkage assembly wherein the operating links are within the vertical plane defined by the side rail sections, and wherein the side rail sections are of channel form such that the links are substantially nested therein when the top linkage is in folded position.

A still further object is to provide a geometrical linkage construction which perrnits the top linkage to be folded more compactly such that it can be folded into the top well in such manner that a silhouette of flatter proportions is attained.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes a preferred form of the device.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the top showing the top in erected or extended position with certain parts being shown in phantom, it being understood that the near side linkage is shown, which linkage is duplicated on the far side of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the top in an intermediate position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the top in folded position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section and on a larger scale, of the central portion of the side rail and linkage assembly;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the FIG. 4 assembly;

FIGS. 6 to 12 inclusive, are sectional views on an enlarged scale taken as indicated by the corresponding section lines on FIG. 4; and

FIG. 13 is a View similar to FIG. 11, but showing the parts in folded position.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the top is illustrated in connection with a typical vehicle body having a Windshield 10, a windshield header 12, a rear seat 14, and "a rear deck 16. The upper edge of the rear wheel housing is indicated by the line 18, and the top edge or belt line of the body by line 20.

When reference is made herein to forward or rear ends of links, rail sections, etc., it is meant the positions ag't of these parts when the top is in its unfolded position as shown in FIG. 1.

The top itself comprises sectional side rails, cross bows and operating links. The side rails are identical for each side of the vehicle and consist of a front side rail section 22, a center side rail section 24 and a rear or power side rail section 26. The front rail section 22 is attached to the top header 28 which overlies the windshield header 12 and has means (not shown) for clamping to the windshield header when the top is in its up or erect position.

The rear rail section 26 is provided with an integral angularly disposed portion 30 which is pivotally attached to a support bracket 32. The latter is rigidly attached by welding or other suitable means to the body panel at this point.

The front side rail section 22 is pivotally attached to the center rail section 24 by means of a bracket or pivot plate 34. As will be more clearly seen from FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 9, this bracket is of U-shape and has an inside wall 36 of triangular shape, an outer wall 38, and a vertical web 40 which connects the two walls and the bottom web to form a very strong structure.

The rear side rail section 26 overlies the center side rail section for a portion of its length and is pivotally connected thereto by a pin 42. The rear how 44 of the top is pivotally attached to the portion 30 of the rear side rail section 26 and, as may be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, swings about its pivot points when the top folds and unfolds in accordance with the tension on the cover material 46.

A hydraulic cylinder 48 having a reciprocable piston rod 50 is mounted on the floor of the body for swinging movement, the rod 50 being pivoted at its outer end to the portion as shown.

Center rail section 24 has a rearwardly extending portion 52 which overlaps the forward end portion of rear side rail section 26 and is pivotally connected at 54 to balance link 56. The latter is pivoted at its lower end to bracket 32 below the pivotal connection of the rear rail section thereto.

The extreme front end portion of the rear or power rail section 26 is pivotally connected at 58 to a power link 60 and to one end of the center cross bow 62. A second power link 64 (or power link extension) extends forwardly from the forward end of the power link 60 to a pivotal connection with the plate 34. The power link 60 has a second pivot (FIGS. 4 and 5) vertically adjacent the first pivot which connects with a bow support link 66. The forward cross bow 68 is supported at the extreme forward end of link 66. A front rail control link 70 pivotally connects the front side rail section 22 with the link 66 as illustrated.

A rocker arm 72 pivoted to the center rail section at 74 and to the links 60 and 64 at 76 hasa pin and slot connection at 78, 79, with the link 66. This is an important feature of the invention and will be referred to again.

It will be observed that the front and center side rail sections 22, 24, are channel shaped in section, the inner web being continuous in section while the outside web has cutouts 80 to facilitate placing of pivot pins for connecting the rails to the bracket 34 (FIGS. 5, 8 and 9). It will be further observed that all of the linkage which actuates the side rails in their folding and unfolding operation lies in the vertical plane of the side rail channels and none of it protrudes outside the confines thereof. This provides a top of compact design, with more headroom and one which presents a clean appearance when viewed from the interior of the car.

The top is extremely rugged although it comprises fewer parts than conventional tops. The side rails may be of stamped or cast construction and, because of their channel section, are rigid although of light weight. Reinforcing channel brackets 82, 84, 86 and 88, are welded in the side rail channels at points of greatest stress as shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 12, and nylon spacers 90, 92, etc., are used to provide quiet operation without lubrication.

Window channel members 94 of resilient material are attached by conventional attaching means to the side rails as shown in FIG. 6.

Operation of the top may be readily understood from FIGS. 1 to 3 inclusive. When the top is in its FIG. 1 position, the operator may lower the top by releasing the clamps which secure the top header to the windshield header and actuating the switch which controls the power source for hydraulic cylinders 48. Because these components have nothing to do with the present invention and are standard on present day convertible automobile bodies, they have been omitted from the drawing.

Admission of pressure fluid to cylinder 48 on the top side of the piston thereof will cause the piston rod 50 to be moved downwardly thereby swinging rail section 26 about its pivot on plate 32 in clockwise direction. FIG. 2 shows an intermediate position of the linkage when the top is about half folded. It will be noted that balance link 56 has caused side rail 24 to swing counterclockwise about its pivot on rail 26, and power link 60 has pulled extension link 64 in a rearward direction to cause plate 34 to swing clockwise about its pivot on rail section 24 and has pulled bow support link 66 rearwardly.

Because the front rail section control link 70 connects link 66 and rail section 22, the latter is caused to fold upon rearward movement of the linkage. Rocker link 72, because of its pivotal connection 74 with rail 24 and with link 60 at 76, and its lost motion connection at 78 with link 66, exerts a breaking force upon initial movement of the linkage which is of utmost importance.

It will be noted that in the erect position of the top (FIGS. 1, 4 and the pin 78 is in the extreme bottom of slot 79 of link 72, having been forced into such position by interaction of link 60 with rails 26 and 24. When the linkage is in this position, the pin 78 exerts a locking force which tends to rigidify the whole side rail structure and thus prevent rattles. Upon initial movement of the power rail 26 and power link 60, rocker link 72 immediately exerts an upward force through pin 78 which tends to break the linkage at all pivot connections and thereby facilitate folding action.

As the linkage folds, the pin 78 slides in the slot 79 to permit free movement of bow support link 66 about its pivot on link 60 (see FIG. 2), and when the linkage reaches its folded position in the top well (FIG. 3), pin 78 again moves to the bottom of slot 79 and exerts a locking force on the linkage which prevents movement of the links with consequent rattle and chafing of the top fabric 46.

Erection of the top from its folded position to its up position is accomplished by proper manipulation of the top control switch (not shown) whereupon the piston rod 50 is moved upwardly, swinging power rail section 26 counterclockwise about its pivot on bracket 32. Initial movement of rail section 26 will interact with power link to produce an upward thrust on pin 78 which provides suflicient breaking force to start the unfolding action. When the header 28 seats on the windshield header, the driver may clamp the headers and the top is locked in full erected position.

It may thus be seen that we have provided an improved folding top having the features set forth above.

I claim:

1. In a folding top construction for a vehicle, a pair of oppositely disposed articulated side rails each comprising front, center and rear rail sections, a plate connected by spaced pivots to the adjacent ends of said front and center rail sections and providing relative swinging movement between said sections and said plate, means pivotally connecting the rear rail section at a point intermediate its ends with the center rail section at a point intermediate its ends, a balance link pivotally connected at one end to the rear end of said center rail section, means pivotally mounting said rear rail section and said balance link on the vehicle at their respective inner ends, a power link pivotally mounted at its rear end on the outer end of said rear rail section, a power link extension pivotally connected at its rear end to the front end of said power link and at its front end to said plate at a point spaced from said spaced pivots, an articulated control linkage pivotally connecting the front end of said power link with said front rail section intermediate the ends of said front rail section, and a rocker arm pivotally mounted at its rear end on said center rail section intermediate the ends of said center rail section, said rocker arm having a pivotal connection intermediate its ends with the front end of said power link and a sliding pivotal connection at its forward end with said articulated control linkage.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sliding pivotal connection consists of a pin and slot connection arranged such that the pin is engaged at the same portion of the slot in both the folded or unfolded positions of the top.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate is comprised of a U-shaped cross-section and includes an inside wall of triangular shape, an outside wall, a vertical web portion connecting said inside and outside walls, and a bottom web.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the adjacent ends of said front and center rail sections and the front end of said power link extension are pivotally connected at spaced points to the outside wall of said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,232 Smith May 4, 1937 2,540,454 Milhan Feb. 6, 1951 2,620,223 Doty Dec. 2, 1952 2,930,651 Lautenbach et al. Mar. 29, 1960

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