Soft top convertible wind deflector

US10800236B2 · US · B2

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-10800236-B2
Application numberUS-201916276945-A
CountryUS
Kind codeB2
Filing dateFeb 15, 2019
Priority dateFeb 15, 2019
Publication dateOct 13, 2020
Grant dateOct 13, 2020

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

A vehicle includes a header extending laterally between A-pillars, and a soft top, including a movable frame defining a roof of the vehicle and having a header bow that is selectively securable to the header, the frame movable between a forward closed position and a rearward retracted position. A wind deflector is mounted to the frame adjacent to the header bow and movable with the frame between the closed position and the retracted position, with the wind deflector positioned in front of the header bow when not in the closed position.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a header extending laterally between A-pillars; a soft top, including a movable frame defining a roof of the vehicle and having a header bow that is selectively securable to the header, the frame movable between a forward closed position and a rearward retracted position; and a wind deflector mounted to the frame adjacent to the header bow and movable with the frame between the closed position and the retracted position, with the wind deflector positioned in front of the header bow when not in the closed position, wherein the wind deflector includes a deflector beam configured to direct air up over the header bow when the soft top is not in the closed position, and wherein the deflector includes a pair of longitudinally extending arms that support the deflector beam on the header bow. 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the arms are configured to pivot the deflector beam under the header bow when the soft top is in the closed position and pivot the deflector beam in front of the header bow when the soft top is not in the closed position. 3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the header bow is configured to be exposed to an air stream flowing past the vehicle when in the retracted position. 4. A method of operating a soft top of a vehicle comprising: releasing a header bow of a soft top from a header of the vehicle; pivoting a wind deflector from under the header bow to in front of the header bow as the header bow moves out of contact with the header; and redirecting air flow, with the wind deflector, up and over the header bow as the vehicle moves forward. 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: moving the wind deflector rearward with the header bow as the soft top moves rearward from the closed position to the retracted position. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wind deflector includes a laterally extending deflector beam and arms extending from the deflector beam that mount the deflector beam to the header bow; and the arms pivoting the deflector beam from a position under the header bow when the soft top is in the closed position to in front of the header bow when the soft top is not in a closed position. 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the wind deflector includes a laterally extending deflector beam and arms extending from the deflector beam that mount the deflector beam to the header bow; and the arms pivoting the deflector beam from a position under the header bow when the soft top is in the closed position to in front of the header bow when the soft top is not in a closed position. 8. A vehicle comprising: a header extending laterally between A-pillars; a soft top, including a movable frame defining a roof of the vehicle and having a header bow that is selectively securable to the header, the frame movable between a forward closed position and a rearward retracted position; and a wind deflector mounted to the frame adjacent to the header bow and movable with the frame between the closed position and the retracted position, with the wind deflector positioned in front of the header bow when not in the closed position, wherein the wind deflector is configured to pivot the deflector beam under the header bow when the soft top is in the closed position and pivot the deflector beam in front of the header bow when the soft top is not in the closed position.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • B60J7/223Primary

    specially adapted for convertible cars · CPC title

  • Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US10800236B2 cover?
A vehicle includes a header extending laterally between A-pillars, and a soft top, including a movable frame defining a roof of the vehicle and having a header bow that is selectively securable to the header, the frame movable between a forward closed position and a rearward retracted position. A wind deflector is mounted to the frame adjacent to the header bow and movable with the frame betwee…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Ford Global Tech Llc
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification B60J7/223. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Tue Oct 13 2020 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 6 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).