Vehicle overhead cover system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465479-B2
Application number	US-202017069956-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2020
Priority date	Oct 14, 2020
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A convertible top system for a vehicle having structural support for a vehicle roof includes an overhead cover system having a perimeter frame configured to couple to the structural support and defining a plurality of overhead openings, and a plurality of cassettes configured to releasably couple to the perimeter frame such that each cassette of the plurality of cassettes is operably associated with one of the overhead openings. Each cassette of the plurality of cassettes includes at least one of a retractable mesh screen and a retractable shade configured to be moved between a fully open position that does not cover the associated overhead opening, and a fully closed position that covers the associated overhead opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible top system for a vehicle having structural support for a vehicle roof, the system comprising:
an overhead cover system comprising:
a perimeter frame configured to couple to the structural support and defining a plurality of overhead openings; and
a plurality of cassettes configured to releasably couple to the perimeter frame such that each cassette of the plurality of cassettes is operably associated with one of the overhead openings,
wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes includes at least one of a retractable mesh screen and a retractable shade configured to be moved between a fully open position that does not cover the associated overhead opening, and a fully closed position that covers the associated overhead opening.

2. The convertible top system of claim 1 , wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes includes both the retractable mesh screen and the retractable shade, and wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes is modular and interchangeable between each overhead opening of the plurality of overhead openings.

3. The convertible top system of claim 1 , wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes further includes a housing rotatably supporting a roller bar operably associated with a retractor mechanism.

4. The convertible top system of claim 3 , wherein each of the at least one retractable mesh screen and retractable shade include a first end coupled to the roller bar and are configured to be rolled up on the roller bar.

5. The convertible top system of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least one retractable mesh screen and retractable shade further include an opposite second end having a handle with an attachment device, wherein a user is able to grasp the handle to draw the mesh screen or the shade to the fully closed position and couple the attachment device to the perimeter frame.

6. The convertible top system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one retractable mesh screen and retractable shade are configured to slide along a track formed in the perimeter frame when moving between the fully opened and fully closed positions.

7. The convertible top system of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter frame comprises:
a pair of laterally spaced main side frame members; and
a pair of laterally spaced forward side frame members.

8. The convertible top system of claim 7 , wherein the perimeter frame further comprises:
a forward transverse frame member coupled between the forward side frame members;
an intermediate transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members; and
a forward dividing frame member coupled between the forward transverse frame member and the intermediate transverse frame member,
wherein the forward transverse frame member, the intermediate transverse frame member, and the forward dividing frame member define (i) a driver overhead opening over a driver seat of the vehicle and (ii) a passenger overhead opening above a passenger seat of the vehicle, each of (i) and (ii) configured to receive and be selectively covered by one of the cassettes.

9. The convertible top system of claim 7 , wherein the perimeter frame further comprises:
a front intermediate transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members;
a rear intermediate transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members; and
a rearward dividing frame member coupled between the front intermediate transverse frame member and the rear intermediate transverse frame member,
wherein the a front intermediate transverse frame member, the rear intermediate transverse frame member, and the rearward dividing frame member define (i) a second row driver side overhead opening over a second row seat and (ii) a second row passenger side overhead opening over the second row seat, each of (i) and (ii) configured to receive and be selectively covered by one of the cassettes.

10. The convertible top system of claim 7 , wherein the perimeter frame further comprises:
an intermediate transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members; and
a rearward transverse frame member,
wherein the intermediate transverse frame member and the rearward transverse frame member define a rear cargo area overhead opening disposed above a rear cargo area of the vehicle and configured to receive and be selectively covered by one of the cassettes.

11. The convertible top system of claim 7 , wherein the perimeter frame further comprises:
a pair of laterally spaced apart vertical members;
a rearward transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members; and
a liftgate frame member rotatably coupled to at least one of the vertical members and the rearward transverse member and movable between a closed position and an open position,
wherein the liftgate frame member defines a rear opening configured to receive and be selectively covered by one of the cassettes.

12. The convertible top system of claim 11 , wherein the perimeter frame further comprises a telescoping frame telescopically coupled to the liftgate frame member and defining a telescoping frame opening configured to be selectively covered by one of the cassettes to establish a shaded canopy when the liftgate is in the open position and the telescoping frame is telescoped.

13. The convertible top system of claim 1 , further comprising the vehicle roof, which is configured to removably couple to the vehicle over the overhead cover system, such that the overhead cover system is disposed between the structural support and the vehicle roof.

14. The convertible top system of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle roof is a hard top assembly configured to be removably coupled to the vehicle.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a body;
a structural support for a vehicle roof; and
an overhead cover system comprising:
a perimeter frame configured to couple to the structural support and defining a plurality of overhead openings; and
a plurality of cassettes configured to releasably couple to the perimeter frame such that each cassette of the plurality of cassettes is operably associated with one of the overhead openings,
wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes includes at least one of a retractable mesh screen and a retractable shade configured to be moved between a fully open position that does not cover the associated overhead opening, and a fully closed position that covers the associated overhead opening.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the overhead cover system further comprises the vehicle roof, which is configured to removably couple to the vehicle over the overhead cover system, such that the overhead cover system is disposed between the structural support and the vehicle roof.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes includes both the retractable mesh screen and the retractable shade, and
wherein each cassette of the plurality of cassettes further includes a housing rotatably supporting a roller bar operably associated with a retractor mechanism.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the perimeter frame comprises:
a pair of laterally spaced main side frame members;
a pair of laterally spaced forward side frame members;
a forward transverse frame member coupled between the forward side frame members;
a front intermediate transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members;
a rear intermediate transverse frame member coupled between the main side frame members;
a rearward transverse frame member coupled between the main side

Assignees

• Krapfl Clifford
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Krapfl Clifford

Classifications

• B60J7/106 Primary

  readily detachable hard-tops (storage compartment for collapsible flexible tops B60J7/20) · CPC title

• B60J7/145 Primary

  at least two elements being folded in clamp-shell fashion · CPC title

• B60J7/11

  Removable panels, e.g. sunroofs · CPC title

• B60J7/085

  winding up, e.g. for utility vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2021/132

  Roll bars for convertible vehicles · CPC title