Composite soft top assembly for SUV, both 2 and 4 door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9415668-B2
Application number	US-201514605339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2015
Priority date	Nov 16, 2012
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A composite soft top assembly having a convertible roof portion that provides an open air feel with a soft, flexible outer layer. The composite soft top assembly further includes soft sides with hard glass or hard polymer materials connected to a frame, which is connected to the soft sides of the assembly. Additionally, the rear window has a removable horseshoe frame structure about which the hard rear window is connected with hinges to allow for the rear window to pivot about at least one hinge between an open and closed position. Additionally, the rear window can have a wiper or electronic wire mounts for a center high mount stop lamp. Additionally, the horseshoe frame structure allows for the connection of other electrical components such as a rear defrost system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composite soft top assembly comprising:
a rigid rear window horseshoe forming a frame portion with a rear window mounted to the frame;
a front edge frame rail;
a soft skin roof top connected at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe and a front edge to said front edge frame rail, wherein the front edge frame rail pivots with a portion of said soft skin roof top between a deployed position and an open position to provide an open air feel of the composite soft top assembly, without completely removing the composite soft top assembly from a vehicle;
at least two side rails extending between said rigid rear window horseshoe and said front edge frame rail, wherein a respective one of at least two side edges of said soft skin roof top are each connectable to a respective one of said at least two side rails;
at least one left side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge of the at least one left side quarter panel to said rigid rear window horseshoe and having a soft skin portion, such that a portion of said at least one left side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame portion and at a top edge to one of the at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one left side quarter panel each has a respective attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle;
at least one right side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge of the at least one left side quarter panel to said rigid rear window horseshoe and having a soft skin portion, such that a portion of said at least one right side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame portion and at a top edge to one of the at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one right side quarter panel each has a respective attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle; and
a hard window connected to said soft skin portion on each one of said at least one left side quarter panel and said at least one right side quarter panel.

2. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear window is pivotally mounted to the frame portion allowing the rear window to pivot between an open position and a closed position.

3. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear edge of said soft skin roof top wraps around and covers a portion of the frame portion when connected to the frame portion.

4. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two side rails are each bolted on to and extend between an A-pillar and a B-pillar of said vehicle.

5. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two side edges have a J-lock retainer for connecting to a flange formed on each of the at least two side rails.

6. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the front edge of the soft skin roof top has a C-clamp that connects to a rounded portion of the front edge frame rail.

7. The composite soft top assembly of claim 1 , wherein the soft skin roof top has a second layer underneath an outer layer, where the second layer has two or more stationary roof bows and a moveable roof bow for supporting the soft skin roof top.

8. The composite soft top assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a layer of foam material located below the two or more stationary roof bows and the moveable roof bow.

9. A composite soft top assembly comprising:
a rigid rear window horseshoe forming a frame portion with a rear window mounted to the frame portion;
a front edge frame rail;
a soft skin roof top, wherein the soft skin roof top has a second layer underneath an outer layer, where the second layer has two or more stationary roof bows and a moveable roof bow for supporting the soft skin roof top;
a layer of foam material located below the two or more stationary roof bows and the moveable roof bow of the second layer;
at least two side rails extending between said rigid rear window horseshoe and said front edge frame rail, wherein a respective one of two side edges of said soft skin roof top are each connectable to a respective one of said at least two side rails;
at one left side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe, such that a portion of said at least one left side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame portion and at a top edge to one of at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one left side quarter panel each has a respective attachment mechanism for connection to a vehicle;
at least one right side quarter panel connectable at a rear edge to said rigid rear window horseshoe such that a portion of said at least one right side quarter panel wraps around the frame portion of the rigid rear window horseshoe when said rear edge is connected to the frame portion and at a top edge to one of the at least two side rails, wherein a bottom edge and a front edge of said at least one right side quarter panel each has a respective attachment mechanism for connection to said vehicle; and
a hard window connected to said soft skin portion on each one of said at least one left side quarter panel and said at least one right side quarter panel.

Assignees

• Haberkamp William H
• Stickles George
• Bestop Inc

Inventors

• Haberkamp William H
• Stickles George

Classifications

• B60J7/123 Primary

  characterised by means for fastening the soft top cloth to the arches or vehicle body work · CPC title

• B60J5/101

  for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans · CPC title

• B60J7/1226 Primary

  Soft tops for convertible vehicles · CPC title

• B60J1/007

  received in frames to be attached to vehicle · CPC title

• B60J5/105

  comprising door or part of door being pivotable about vertical axis · CPC title