Locking lift assist for folding soft tops

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10166848-B2
Application number	US-201615354663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A soft top assembly which includes lift assist with improved fabric management and a lift assist locking mechanism. The soft top is rotatable between a closed, open sunroof position, and open position. When a cam of the lift assist locking mechanism is in a locked position, the soft top is prevented from moving from the open sunroof position to the open position. When a release mechanism of the lift assist is actuated, the cam is moved to an unlocked position allowing the soft top to be moved rearward into the open position. A handle lockout of the lift assist locking mechanism selectively positions a cam lockout to prevent the soft top from moving/rotating back to the open sunroof position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A soft top assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a pair of frame members operably connected to the vehicle;
a pair of side rails slidably connected to the frame members;
a pivotal sunroof portion pivotally connected to the pair of side rails;
a cover operably connected to at least the pivotal sunroof portion, wherein pivoting the pivotal sunroof portion moves the cover between a closed position and an open sunroof position;
a lift assist locking mechanism operably connected to the vehicle and operably coupled to the pair of side rails to selectively allow the soft top assembly to move between the open sunroof position and a rearward open position;
wherein the lift assist locking mechanism comprises at least one cam that is rotatably mounted and at least one rotatable member that is rotatably mounted, wherein when the cam is in a first locking position the cam engages a protruding surface on the rotatable member to prevent the soft top assembly from moving to the rearward open position, and, when the cam is rotated to a second unlocking position the cam allows for the soft top assembly to move to the rearward open position.

2. The soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pivotal sunroof portion further comprises at least one fabric management arrangement operably coupled to the cover to manage and fold the cover when the pivotal sunroof portion is pivoted.

3. The soft top assembly of claim 2 , wherein the fabric management arrangement further comprises a first fabric assist bow member articulatingly connected between a front bow and an intermediate bow member, wherein the first fabric assist bow member is operably connected to a first bow assist linkage that is pivotally connected to a pivot arm of the pivotal sunroof portion.

4. The soft top assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a second bow assist linkage operably connected to the first fabric assist bow member, wherein the intermediate bow is operably connected to a first linkage arm pivotally connected to the pivot arm and operably connected to the second bow assist linkage.

5. The soft top assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a second fabric assist bow member articulatingly connected between the intermediate bow member and a first rear bow member.

6. The soft top assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a third pivotal fabric assist linkage pivotally connected to a second linkage arm pivotally connected to one of the side rails and a fourth fabric assist linkage operably pivotally connected to the side rail.

7. The soft top assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a lift assist mechanism operably located between the fourth fabric assist linkage and the side rail, wherein the lift assist mechanism is operably connected to the side rail by way of lost motion arrangements comprising bushing members provided to slide in slots formed in the side rails.

8. The soft top assembly of claim 7 , wherein the lift assist mechanism further comprises a first and second gas cylinder including respective first and second actuation shafts received in first and second cylinder bodies which are connected in force opposition between the fourth fabric assist linkage and the side rail such that one of the gas cylinders is compressed when the pivotal sunroof portion is in the closed position and the other of the gas cylinders is extended, wherein when the pivotal sunroof portion is opened to the open sunroof position the force in the compressed gas cylinder applies force to the fourth fabric assist linkage assisting the pivotal sunroof portion in an opening direction and the other cylinder is compressed, and upon closing the pivotal sunroof portion the now compressed cylinder provides force assistance for closing the pivotal sunroof portion, and wherein the first and second gas cylinders connected between respective bushing members provides lost motion during initial opening and closing actions of the pivotal sunroof portion.

9. The soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift assist locking mechanism further comprises at least one release mechanism operably coupled to the at least one cam operable to cause the cam to rotate between the locked and unlocked positions.

10. The soft top assembly of claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism includes at least one cable connected to an end of the cam and to a release handle, wherein operating the release handle causes the cable to move for rotating the cam to the unlocked position.

11. The soft top assembly of claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism is located on a rear bow member that is operably connected to a first arm member, wherein the first arm member is rotatably connected to the lift assist locking mechanism and moves substantially downward when the soft top assembly is moved to the rearward open position.

12. The soft top assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a second arm member operably coupled to the rotatable member and operably coupled to a first rear bow member, wherein when the cam is in the locked position the second arm member cannot rotate, and, wherein when the cam is in the unlocked position the second arm member is rotatable between an upward position and downward position to allow the soft top assembly to move to between the open sunroof position and rearward open position.

13. The soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift assist locking mechanism includes at least one cam lockout that is rotatably connected and at least one handle lockout that is rotatably connected, said handle lockout having an elongated aperture operably sized to retain a guide pin of the cam lockout, wherein selectively rotating the handle lockout moves the aperture along the guide pin to position the cam lockout for preventing the soft top assembly from rotating back to the open sunroof position.

14. The soft top assembly of claim 13 , wherein when the handle lockout and cam lockout are in the locked position, the soft top can be operably removed from the vehicle.

15. A soft top assembly for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
a pair of frame members operably connecting the soft top assembly to the vehicle, wherein the frame members include channels;
a pair of side rails slidably connected within the channels;
a pivotal sunroof portion including at least one pair of pivot arms;
a cover operably connected to the pivotal sunroof portion, wherein pivoting the pivotal sunroof portion moves the cover between a closed position and an open sunroof position;
a lift assist mechanism to assist pivotal movement of the pivotal sunroof portion between the closed position and open sunroof position;
a lift assist locking mechanism to control movement of the soft top assembly between the open sunroof position and a downward open position.

16. The soft top assembly of claim 15 , wherein the lift assist locking mechanism further comprises:
at least one cam rotatable between a locked and unlocked position;
at least one rotatable cam lockout;
at least one rotatable handle lockout;
at least one rotatable member abutting the cam at rest to hold the soft top assembly in the open sunroof position; and
at least one release mechanism, wherein actuating the release mechanism causes the cam to rotate to the unlocked position out of engagement with the rotatable member to allow the soft top assembly to be rotated into the downward open position.

17. The soft top assembly of claim 16 , wherein the release mechanism is a cable system operably coupled to the cam and operably connected to a release lever engaged by an operator for rotating the cam to the unlocked position.

Assignees

• Bestop Inc

Inventors

• Lewis Stephen J
• Lutzka Tavis

Classifications

• B60J7/061

  sliding and folding · CPC title

• B60J7/062

  for utility vehicles (B60J7/065 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60J7/185 Primary

  Locking arrangements (locks in general E05B) · CPC title