Multi configurable half top assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022055465-A1
Application number	US-202117520085-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Apr 11, 2017
Publication date	Feb 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A top for a Jeep type vehicle is provided having a rear cargo area and parallel spaced roll bars. The top includes parallel spaced apart C pillars, each C pillar including front and rear vertical columns, the rear columns having a perpendicularly connected seat belt pass-through. The C pillars also have bottom plates connecting the front and rear columns that extend beyond the rear column. A top plate connects the front and rear columns together. The C pillars include pivotally connected sealing plates for sealing a top end of a rear door, the sealing plates being connected to the roll bars. A vertical rear window extending between said C pillar rear columns is provided, the rear window having a cutout portion for allowance of passage of a seat belt therethrough. A fabric cover providing a top deck extends over said front and rear seating portion of said vehicle and also covers the C pillars. A tonneau cover is provided for covering the rear cargo area providing a flat surface enclosure over the cargo area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of providing a top system for a four-door Jeep type vehicle having a cargo area rear of a rear seating portion of said vehicle, said cargo area juxtaposing rear wheel wells of said vehicle, said cargo area being closed by a pivotal rear cargo gate, said vehicle having parallel spaced roll bars with a horizontal portion adjacent at least a rear seating portion of said vehicle and said roll bars having an inclined portion slanted towards said cargo area, said method comprising:
providing parallel spaced apart C pillars, said C pillars including a front vertical column and a rear vertical column, said rear column having a perpendicularly connected seat belt pass-through extending towards a longitudinal centerline of said vehicle, said C pillars also having longitudinal extending bottom plates connecting said front and rear columns, said bottom plate extending beyond said rear column, and said C pillar also including a top plate connecting said front and rear columns along a top end of said front and rear columns and said C pillars including connected sealing plates for sealing a top end of a rear door, said sealing plates also being connected to said roll bars; providing a vertical rear window extending between said C pillar rear columns, said rear window having a cutout portion for allowance of passage of a seat belt; providing a fabric cover providing a top deck extending over a front and said rear seating portion of said vehicle, said cover also covering said C pillars and said rear window; providing a rear bow connecting said C pillars' rear columns adjacent a bottom end of said columns; and providing a tonneau cover for said rear cargo area providing a flat surface enclosure of said rear cargo area.

2 . The top method as provided in claim 1 wherein said top deck has an openable panel.

3 . The top method as provided in claim 1 further including providing a front panel openable over the front seating portion and a rear panel openable over said rear seat seating portion.

4 . The top system as provided in claim 3 having a hard mid deck between said front and rear panels.

5 . The top method as provided in claim 1 having a sliding top deck.

6 . The top method as provided in claim 1 having a hard tonneau cover.

7 . The top method as provided in claim 1 having a soft fabric tonneau cover.

8 . The top method as provided in claim 17 having a rolled soft fabric tonneau cover.

9 . The top method as provided in claim 17 having a sliding opening top deck.

Assignees

• Bestop Inc

Inventors

• Stickles George C
• Getzschman Eric D
• Lewis Stephen J

Classifications

• B60J7/1291 Primary

  Soft tops for closed vehicle bodies · CPC title

• B60J10/70 Primary

  specially adapted for windows or windscreens · CPC title

• B60Y2200/141

  Light trucks · CPC title

• B60J7/146

  all elements being folded in same orientation and stacked fashion · CPC title

• B60R2021/132

  Roll bars for convertible vehicles · CPC title