Soft front cockpit cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10046630-B2
Application number	US-201615344140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 2, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

A foldable roof assembly having a soft panel top assembly for a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof. The soft panel top assembly has a fixed portion attached to the vehicle and a lightweight pivotal portion that folds back to provide the occupant a quick and easy open air effect. Two door rails of the soft panel top assembly are connected to the vehicle. Two side bows are attached to a first bow member, which is secured to a windshield frame when in a closed position, and are connected at a pivot point created with a bracket attached to the door rails to allow the pivotal portion to pivot to an open position. The soft panel top assembly includes a rear header that is a wireframe and engages with seals in the hard top roof portion to provide a weatherproof seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a cross member connecting said side members adjacent to the rear of a front cockpit of said vehicle, said panel top assembly comprising:
two door rails attached to said side members of said vehicle;
two side rails pivotally connected to said at least two door rails;
a first bow member connected between said two side rails and adapted to selectively connect to said windshield frame;
a roof top opening cover, said cover connected to at least said first bow member wherein pivoting said two side rails allows said cover to move between a closed position and an open position; and
a rear header member adapted to connect to said cover and to connect to said cross member, wherein said rear header member is in engagement with a hard top roof portion.

2. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least two extrusions each connected to a respective one of said two side rails, wherein said cover is connectable to said at least two extrusions.

3. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising two brackets, wherein a respective one of said brackets are each connected to a respective one of said two door rails to provide at least one pivot point on each of said two door rails.

4. The panel top assembly of claim 3 , wherein said pivot points are provided with a bushing and screw arrangement allowing for the pivotal connection between each of said two brackets and said two side rails, such that said two side rails are pivotal about each pivot point.

5. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said two door rails further comprises a plurality of clamping surfaces extending toward the vehicle interior for connecting each of said two door rails to a respective one of said side members of said vehicle using at least two fasteners.

6. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two side rails and first bow member pivot with a portion of said cover between said closed position and said open position to provide an open air feel of the panel top assembly without completely removing the panel top assembly from said vehicle.

7. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the two door rails each extend between an A-pillar and a B-pillar of said vehicle.

8. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said front edge of said cover is secured to said first bow member, and covers at least an outward portion of said first bow member when connected to said windshield frame.

9. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said cover is secured to said rear header member and covers at least an outward portion of said rear header member.

10. The panel top assembly of claim 1 , wherein said rear header member further comprises at least two attachment brackets for connecting said cross member of said vehicle to said rear header member using at least two fasteners.

11. The panel top assembly of claim 10 , wherein said at least two fasteners are knob type fasteners and as said knobs are tightened against a bottom surface of said cross member said rear header member is pressed against seals between said rear header and said hard top roof portion.

12. A panel top assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
two door rails attached to side members of said vehicle;
two brackets, wherein a respective one of said brackets are each connected to a respective one of said two door rails;
two side rails pivotally connected to said at least two door rails wherein a respective one of said brackets connects each side rail to each door rail creating at least one pivot point on each of said two door rails;
a first bow member connected to said two side rails and adapted to selectively connect to a windshield frame;
a roof top opening cover, said cover connected to said first bow member, wherein pivoting said two side rails about said pivot points moves said cover between a closed position and an open position; and
a rear header member that is adapted to connect to said cover, wherein said rear header member is in engagement with a hard top roof portion.

13. The panel top assembly of claim 12 , further comprising at least two extrusions connected to a respective one of said two side rails, wherein side edges of said cover are connectable to said at least two extrusions.

14. The panel top assembly of claim 13 , wherein said cover is sewn to said at least two extrusions.

15. The panel top assembly of claim 12 , wherein said pivot points are provided with a bushing and screw arrangement allowing for the pivotal connection between each of said two brackets and each of said two side rails, such that each one of said two side rails are pivotal about each respective one of said pivot points.

16. The panel top assembly of claim 12 , wherein said two door rails further comprises a plurality of clamping surfaces extending toward the vehicle interior for connecting each of said two door rails to a respective one of said side members of said vehicle using at least two fasteners.

17. The panel top assembly of claim 12 , wherein the two side rails and first bow member pivot with a portion of said cover between said closed position and said open position to provide an open air feel of the panel top assembly without completely removing the panel top assembly from said vehicle and without an operator exiting the vehicle to deploy or open the panel top assembly.

18. The panel top assembly of claim 12 , wherein said rear header member further comprises at least two attachment brackets for connecting said cross member of said vehicle to said rear header member using at least two fasteners, wherein said at least two fasteners are tightened against a bottom surface of said cross member causing said rear header member to press against said hard top roof portion.

19. A panel top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a cross member connecting said side members adjacent to the rear of a front cockpit of said vehicle, said panel top assembly comprising:
two door rails attached to said side members of said vehicle;
two brackets, wherein a respective one of said brackets are each connected to a respective one of said two door rails;
two side rails pivotally connected to said at least two door rails wherein a respective one of said brackets connects each side rail to each door rail creating at least one pivot point on each of said two door rails;
a first bow member connected between said two side rails and adapted to selectively connect to said windshield frame;
a roof top opening cover, said cover connected to said first bow member, wherein the pivot points create a pivotal portion comprising said two side rails and said first bow member where pivoting said two side rails about said pivot points moves said cover between a deployed position and an open position; and
a rear header member adapted to connect to a top surface of said cross member, wherein the shape and connection of said rear header member to said cross member brings said rear header member into engagement with a hard top roof portion.

Assignees

• Bestop Inc

Inventors

• Haberkamp William H
• Stickles George C
• Junkin Duane C

Classifications

• B60J7/1291 Primary

  Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies · CPC title

• B60J7/10

  readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins (covering of loads on vehicles by tarpaulins B60P7/04) · CPC title