EP0281568A1

EP0281568A1 - Folding hood for cross-country vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP0281568A1
Application number: EP87902493A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kurt Taubitz
Original assignee: Gebr HASLBECK GmbH
Current assignee: Gebr HASLBECK GmbH
Priority date: 1986-09-22
Filing date: 1987-04-10
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Also published as: WO1988001950A1; US4850634A; DK267988D0; DE8625322U1; JPS6387315A; DK267988A

Abstract

Un toit décapotable pour voitures tout-terrain, camionnettes ou analogue présente un bâti tendeur avant (10, 11) et un bâti tendeur arrière (12, 13, 14, 15, 18) comprenant chacun une paire de supports latéraux (10; 13, 14, 14a, 14b) montés pivotants sur les côtés de la carosserie dans le sens longitudinal du véhicule, ainsi qu'une grande traverse (11, 18) enjambant la largeur du véhicule et reliant les unes aux autres les extrémités libres des supports. Une entretoise latérale (21a, b) supérieure s'étendant dans le sens longitudinal du véhicule est montée, de manière articulée, sur chaque support dans la région de son extrémité libre reliée à la grande traverse (11, 18). Les entretoises latérales (21a, b) supérieures et les supports latéraux arrière (14a, b) sont constitués respectivement de sections d'entretoise de support reliées entre elles de manière articulée et dont la rotation en sens inverse peut être empêchée par un dispositif de verrouillage (23; 17) consistant en un mécanisme à cran d'arrêt. Une bâche formant un toit et constituée de plusieurs parties aboutables se fixe sur les bâtis tendeurs et les entretoises latérales (21a, b), de telle sorte que l'espace intérieur du véhicule peut être séparé hermétiquement de l'air extérieur. Lorsque le toit est décapoté, les parties de bâche sont roulées.A convertible roof for off-road cars, vans or the like has a front tensioner frame (10, 11) and a rear tensioner frame (12, 13, 14, 15, 18) each comprising a pair of side brackets (10; 13, 14, 14a, 14b) pivotally mounted on the sides of the bodywork in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as well as a large crosspiece (11, 18) spanning the width of the vehicle and connecting the free ends of the supports to each other. An upper lateral strut (21a, b) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is mounted, in an articulated manner, on each support in the region of its free end connected to the large crosspiece (11, 18). The upper side struts (21a, b) and the rear side struts (14a, b) respectively consist of support strut sections hingedly connected to each other and whose reverse rotation can be prevented by a locking device (23; 17) consisting of a detent mechanism. A tarpaulin forming a roof and consisting of several abutting parts is fixed on the tensioning frames and the side struts (21a, b), so that the interior space of the vehicle can be hermetically separated from the outside air. When the roof is opened, the tarpaulin parts are rolled up.

Description

Folding roof for off-road vehicles

The invention relates to a folding roof for off-road vehicles with a front and a rear clamping frame, formed from a pair of front and rear side struts, which are pivotally arranged on the body and are connected at their free ends by a crossbar across the vehicle width, for support a tarpaulin forming the top.

The known folding tops of the off-road vehicles have the disadvantage that their side struts are arranged in the closed state of the top in the viewing area of the side windows and, as a result, apart from the reduced visibility, represent abrasion surfaces and a certain risk of injury for the passengers. As a rule, the known convertible tops can either only be fully opened or, alternatively, only the rear tarpaulin can be rolled up, while the side surfaces of the convertible top remain closed. However, this means that the opening possibilities of the known folding tops are limited. In addition, experience has shown that the opening process of the known convertible tops takes about 5 to 10 minutes, since the handling of the individual mechanisms of the supporting device for the tarpaulin is laborious and time-consuming.

However, since it is preferred to vary the opening options of a folding top and this is to be accomplished in a short time, in particular with a few simple steps, the object of the invention is to create a folding top which allows simple and quick handling and also allows variable opening positions.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that in the region of the ends of the front and rear side struts connected to the cross bars in the vehicle longitudinal direction, upper side struts are articulated and that the upper and rear side struts are each formed from articulated upper and rear strut sections . As a result of the arrangement and design of the struts used to support the tarpaulin, the field of vision of the windows is fully retained. A shock and abrasion ride for the passengers is also avoided by avoiding lateral vertical struts when the convertible top is closed. Due to the articulated connections provided between the different strut sections, the transmission paths are compulsory, so that this results in simple handling for the opening or closing process.

Since according to a preferred embodiment of the folding top, locks are provided for locking the respectively desired angular position of the strut sections, at least one lock being designed as a latching device which automatically locks two articulated interconnected strut sections in its one position (locking position) in a predetermined angular position and in it another position (ßewegungsstellunn) allows an angular movement of the strut sections relative to each other, for example in bad weather, the open folding top can be closed extremely quickly due to the self-locking of the brakes. Since already existing receptacles or locking devices are used to attach the folding top according to the invention to an off-road vehicle, converting a conventional off-road vehicle for the attachment of the folding top according to the invention is possible with relatively simple means without starting points for a rust attack due to additional holes in the exterior of the body would.

Since, according to a further preferred embodiment of the folding top according to the invention, the dimensions of the strut sections are coordinated with one another in such a way that, when folded, the upper lateral strut sections approach each other at an acute angle, approximately adjacent to the rear wall of the rear seats, while the central, rear crossbar is approximately horizontally transverse is behind the rear seat above the vehicle floor, with the roof open, an optimal viewing area and a hardly reduced storage space is also achieved without the passengers being disturbed by the linkage of the roof. The tarpaulin for the folding top, which also forms part of the invention, is such that the side edges of the roof tarpaulin and the rear tarpaulin are each connected to the edges of the side tarpaulins forming the side surfaces with a zipper.

As a result, the greatest possible number of opening positions of the soft top. For example, you can not only roll up the tarpaulin, as with the conventional roofs, but also roll up the side tarpaulins at the same time or only at once, without having to operate the folding mechanism at all. However, it is also possible to leave only the top located above the driver's seat and to open the total part of the top located behind the driver's seat by actuating the folding mechanism of the rear folding top.

Since the tarpaulin located above the front seats is attached to the rear seats completely independently of the roof, side and rear tarpaulins, these can also be opened or closed independently of one another. This also results in numerous opening combinations of the convertible top, all of which can be initiated in a simple manner, for example by pulling adjusting knobs or by pivoting adjusting levers, and then inevitably reach their predetermined angular position.

As a result of this, due to the constriction of the invention, the transmission paths are optimally optimal, since one will no longer prefer, as previously, to avoid cumbersome, time-consuming manipulations to leave the top in its existing position. Details of the invention follow from the following Description of an embodiment based on the

Drawing.

Show here

1 is a perspective view of an off-road vehicle with a closed folding top,

2 is a side view of the linkage of the closed top,

3 shows a view of the linkage according to FIG. 2 corresponding to a viewing direction according to arrow X,

4 is a view of the linkage of FIG. 2 seen from above,

5 shows a side view of the linkage according to FIG. 2 with the linkage drawn in, partially collapsed linkage,

6 shows a side view of the linkage according to FIG. 2 with the linkage drawn in, completely collapsed linkage,

Fig. 7 is a side view of the linkage acc. 5 with rolled up side and rear tarpaulins,

Fig. 8 is a view of FIG. 6 with rolled up

Side and rear tarpaulins and the course of the roof tarpaulin in the open position of the folding top,

9 is a sectional view through a lock that connects two strut sections of the linkage, 10 is a plan view of the lock shown in FIG. 9,

11 is a side view of a tensioning device for fastening the struts of the folding top to the roll bar, and

Fig. 12 is a side view of a tensioning device for fastening the roof tarpaulin located above the driver's seat.

In an all-terrain vehicle 1 there is a sleeve 3 serving as a plug-in connection for the rear linkage of a folding top for fastening a conventional top in the rear region of the side edges of its body 2. Immediately in the area of the roll bar 6 located between the vehicle door 4 and the rear part of the vehicle 5, namely on the upper edge of the side body, a locking device 8 is arranged, the locking opening of which serves as a pivot axis 8a for the front linkage, which, like the sleeve 3 for the folding tarpaulin tarpaulin is used.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show the struts used to support the top tarpaulin formed from the roof and rear tarpaulins 9a, 9b and two side tarpaulins 9c. Two front side struts 10 are each at their lower End provided tab 10a mounted in the pivot axis 8a of the locking device 8. The upper ends of the side struts 10 are connected to one another by a tubular bracket 11 which extends across the body 1. The rear side struts 12 are formed from three strut sections 13, 14 and 15. The lower strut section 15 is inserted into the sleeve 3. It is connected in an articulated manner to the central strut section 14 via a pivotable arrester 16, the construction of which is described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10; the upper strut section is connected to the central strut section 14 by a joint 17 13 on. The opposite upper strut sections 13 are also connected to one another by a cross tube 18 crossing the body 2.

From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the central strut section 14 is formed from two tube pieces 14a and 14b, which are approximately at right angles to each other at their connection point and are welded together there. The pipe section 14 a is curved. The end of the pipe section 14a connected to the upper strut section 13 runs approximately parallel to the pipe section 14b, but is offset inwards. The cross tube 18 connecting the upper strut sections 13 continues freely on both sides beyond its connection points with the strut sections 13. Its ends 18 a are drawn down in such a way that they are approximately with the pipe section 14 b are aligned, but already end at a distance in front of this, so that a certain distance remains between the tube section 14 b and the ends 18 a of the cross tube 18, which permits pivoting movements of the tube sections 13 and 14. The tube sections 18 a and 14 b define the vehicle edges in the rear area, the strut sections 15 and 14 b and the cross tube 18 with its free ends 18 a form the rear outer frame of the folding top. The strut sections 14 a and 13 can be pivoted relative to one another with the aid of the joints 17 provided between them and the strut sections 15 and 14 b with the aid of the articulated connections 16. A stop 17 a on the articulated strut 13 prevents buckling outwards during the folding process. See in particular FIGS. 5 and 6.

At the connection points between the front struts 10 and the cross tube 11 connecting them as well as in the area of the connection points of the cross tube 18 and the upper strut sections 13, articulated connections 19 and 20 are arranged. Lateral struts 21, which in turn are each formed from two strut sections 21 a and 21 b, are mounted in these. The strut sections 21 a and 21 b are connected to one another by a joint 22 provided with a locking device 23. The lock 23 corresponds completely to the lock 16, which is inserted between the struts 15 and 14 of the rear roof frame. in the In the area of the articulated connection 22 of the strut sections 21 a and 21 b, a cross tube 24 is provided which runs across the body 2 and connects the strut sections 21 b which run parallel to one another and lie opposite one another and run laterally to the side of the body. This cross tube 24 is used to support the convertible top tarpaulin to avoid its fluttering while driving.

The above-described, articulated struts or strut sections and the three transverse tubes 19, 20 and 24 arranged in the area of the articulated connections create a frame for the folding top, the angular position of which, in the closed state, is achieved by its fastening devices provided on the body 2 the sleeves 3 and the pivot axes 8, 8a on the one hand and by its connection to the roll bar 6 on the other hand and by the installation of locks 16 and 23 is fixed.

The so-called locks 10 and 23 are identical. In Figures 9 and 10 is shown for lock 23, which is provided at the junction of the mutually adjacent ends of the strut sections 21 a and 21 b.

The strut sections 21 a and 21 b are hinged together at 22. The hinge axis is through one of both Strut sections 21 a and 21 b penetrating guide 25 formed, which is formed by a screw 23 with nut 27. Between the overlapping ends of the strut sections 21 a and 21 b is a gluit disk 28.

The end of the strut section 21a is widened in the form of a tab 29 within the overlap region of the two strut sections 21a and 21b.

In the region of the free end of the strut section 21 b, at a distance from the joint 22, a bolt 31 provided with an adjusting knob 30 is guided in a sleeve 32 so as to be displaceable. The bolt 31 is tensioned by a spring 33 which is supported on a shoulder 34 in the interior of the sleeve and on a projecting shoulder 35 of the bolt 31. As soon as the central longitudinal axis of the bolt 31 is aligned with the central longitudinal axis of a bore 36 in the strut section 21 a, the spring 33 can relax and thereby drive the end of the bolt 31 into the bore 36. This fixes the position of the two strut sections 21 a and 21 b to one another in such a way that their longitudinal axes are aligned with one another.

The bolt 31 can be pulled out of the bore 36 by tensioning the spring 33 by means of the adjusting knob 30 in order to move the strut sections 21 a and 21 b relative to one another to pivot the joint 22 and pull it downwards, that is to say towards the body 2. The free end of the bolt 31 slides along the tab 29 (circular path shown in dashed lines) and the spring 33 remains constantly under tension. The strut 10 is pivoted about the pivot axis 8.

A solution of the lock 23 is only to be made if the connection of the front struts 10 and the cross tube 11 connecting them to the roll bar 6 has also been released by hand.

For the attachment of the front struts 10 to the roll bar 6, a projection 37 is arranged on the cross tube 11. In this projection 37, a hook 38 of a tensioning device 39 engages with the tensioning lever 40, which is attached to the roll bar 6. (Fig. 11)

The folding process for opening the folding top can only begin when the lock 16 between the strut sections, which works according to the lock 23, between the struts 15 and 14 b is released by hand by pulling its adjusting knob 30, so that the strut sections 15 and 14 can be pivoted relative to each other and thus also enable a pivoting movement of the struts 14 and 13 around the joints 17 and 20. The course of movement of the struts during the collapsing of the closed folding top can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6. The folding process is ended when the struts are in the angular position shown in FIG. 6. Here, the struts 21 a lie against the course of the rear wall of the rear seats 44 of the vehicle, and the struts 21 b connected to the struts 21 a and the struts 13 run at acute angles to one another. The middle cross tube 24 is then behind the rear seats 44 across the vehicle floor.

In order to be able to open the folding top, which in the closed state is covered by the roof and rear and side tarpaulins 9a, b and c, it is first necessary, as can be seen from FIG. 1, to open a zip fastener 42 which covers the side tarpaulin part 9 c separates from the roof tarpaulin 9 a and the rear tarpaulin 9 b. In addition, the button closures 46 along the lower edge of the side tarpaulin 9 c must be opened. As a result, the side tarpaulin 9 c is rolled up to the roll bar 6 outwards and fastened there.

As can be seen from the drawing, in particular from FIG. 7, the side tarpaulin 9 c is provided along its one edge with a Velcro fastener 43, which prevents the individual fabric layers of the rolled-up side tarpaulin 9 c from slipping prevented each other.

This Velcro 43 extends along the upper edge of the side tarpaulin 9 c. The two contact tapes necessary for a Velcro fastener are arranged on the outside and once on the inside of the side tarpaulins 9 c, so that when the side tarpaulins 9 c are rolled up, the desired adhesive effect of the fabric layers of the side tarpaulins 9 c is achieved.

When the convertible top is closed, the outer contact strip of the Velcro fastener 43 of the side tarpaulin 9 c engages in a band of the roof tarpaulin 9 a which is extended in parallel thereto and which is designed in this area as a zipper cover.

The rear frame part, formed from the struts 13, 14, 15 and 18, covering rear tarpaulin 9 b, after opening the zipper 42 a, rolled up to the cross tube 18 and fastened to it. The tarpaulin section 9 a forming the roof area between the cross tubes 18 and 11 is inseparable with its front edge on the cross tube 11 and with its rear edge on the cross tube 18 and is loosely attached to the cross tube 24 with a Velcro fastener. Before folding the Velcro fastener on the cross tube 24 must be released. When the struts are folded together, this area of material 9 a hangs loosely and can, after reaching the final state of the folding state, that is to say when it is fully open Folding top, see Figure 6, over the fabric roll formed from the rear tarpaulin 9 b are pulled. See Figures 7 and 8.

The top area located above the front seats 41 is completely separated from the folding top described above. The convertible top tarpaulin 45 is fastened along its three edges by means of the fastening devices originally located on the vehicle along the upper edges of the body 2. Only the free rear edge 47 of the tarpaulin tarpaulin 45 ends at a cross tube 48, which is fastened to the roll bar 6 with the insertion of a sealing element 50 by means of a tensioning device 49, as shown in FIG. 12.

To attach the tensioning device 49 to the roll bar 6, there is an extension 51 on both sides of the roll bar 6, which projects from the roll bar 6 to the front of the vehicle. On the extension 51, the cross tube 48 designed as a square tube is placed with the end of the tarpaulin 45, the seal 50 extending over the entire length of the square tube 48 between the extension 51 and the transverse tube

48 is inserted. The cross tube 48 is with the help of a U-profile clamping element 52 of the clamping device

49 held in place. The U-profile 51 is connected to a threaded rod 53 which is guided in the guide part 57. The free end 53 a of the threaded rod 53 penetrates a driver 55 which together with adjustable GKT nuts 56 allows the span.

The guide part 57 is welded to a fastening part 58. The fastening part 58 is in turn screwed to the vehicle roof beams 60 above the entrance doors with fastening screws 60 a.

The driver 55 is attached to the clamping device 49.

By pivoting a tensioning lever 54 of the tensioning device 49, the cross tube 48 with the seal 50 is pressed or released onto the roll bar 6 by means of a toggle lever 49a.

Claims

1.Folding roof for off-road vehicles with a front and a rear tensioning frame, each formed from a pair of front and rear side struts, which are pivotally arranged on the body and are connected at their free ends by a crossbar across the width of the car, to support the Tarpaulin-forming tarpaulin, characterized in that, in the region of the ends of the front and rear side struts (10 and 12) connected to the cross bars (11, 18), upper side struts (21) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are articulated, and that the upper and the rear side struts are each formed from upper or rear strut sections (21a, b or 13, 14, 15) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner.

2. Folding roof according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n e e c h n e t that on the struts (15, 16 or 21a, b) locks (16, 23) are provided for locking the angular position of the strut sections.

3. A folding top according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one lock is designed as a locking device which automatically locks two articulated strut sections in its one position (locking position) in a predetermined angular position and in its other position (weighing position) an angular movement of the Strut sections allow relative to each other.

4. A folding top according to claim 3, characterized in that the latching device (23) has an actuating bolt (31) which is arranged on the one strut section (21b) and is under spring pressure (33) and which in the locking position is in a bore (36) of the other strut section ( 21 a) engages and frees it from its bore in its position of movement, rests on a tab (29) provided on the other strut cut (21 a) and optionally slides along it.

5. folding roof according to one of claims 1 to 4, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that at least one lock is provided between the upper side strut sections (21a, 21b).

6. folding roof according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that at least one lock is provided between the rear side strut sections (14, 15).

7. A folding top according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one tensioning device (39) is provided on the body, preferably on a so-called roll bar (6) spanning the body in the region of the front seats (41), with which the front side struts (10 ) are pressed against the body.

8. A folding top according to one of the preceding claims, that the tensioning device (39) is connected in a manner known per se by a hinge to a tensioning lever (40)

Hook (38) is formed, the joint for the tensioning lever being arranged on the roll bar (6) and the hook (38) engaging around a projection (37) provided on the front crossbar (11).

9. A folding top according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear struts (13, 14, 15) are formed from three strut sections, a first lower strut section (15) being designed as a plug-in element and into a plug-in sleeve provided on the body (3 ) is insertable that the lower strut section (15) is articulated with the interposition of a lock (16) with a central strut section (14) and that the central strut section is articulated with an upper strut section (13) which acts as a support for a rigid connected with this rear crossbar (18).

10. A folding top according to one of the preceding claims, that the upper strut sections (21a, 21b) extending on both sides of the body are connected by a crossbar (24) which overlaps the body.

11. A folding top according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closed state the front struts (10) run along the roll bar (6) and bear tightly against this.

12. A folding top according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dimensions of the strut sections are matched to one another so that in the folded state the upper lateral strut sections (21 a, b), approximate each other at an acute angle, approximately adjacent to the rear wall of the rear seats , while the middle rear crossbar (18) lies approximately horizontally across the rear of the rear seat above the vehicle floor.

13. Tarpaulin for a folding top according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the lateral edges of the roof tarpaulin (9a) and the rear tarpaulin (9b) each with a zipper (42, 42a) with the edges of the side panels forming the side panels (9c ) are connected.

14. A tarpaulin as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the side surfaces (9c) and the tarpaulin sections forming the rear surface (9b) are provided with a Velcro fastener (43) in order to prevent the layers of fabric from slipping together when rolled up.

15. A tarpaulin according to claim 13 or 14, so that the side tarpaulins (9c) are fastened rolled up on the front strut (10) when the folding top is open.

16. A tarpaulin according to one of claims 13 to 15, so that the rear tarpaulin (9b) is fastened rolled up on the rear crossbar (18) when the folding top is open.

17. A tarpaulin according to one of claims 13 to 16, so that the roof tarpaulin (9a) is drawn over the rolled-up rear tarpaulin (9b) after the side strut sections (2a, b) have been folded together.

18. Folding roof according to one of the preceding claims with a convertible top plans for the area between the roll bar and the windshield, the front edge and the side edges of which are connected to the conventional fastening means provided on the body, characterized in that the roll bar (6) facing the Motor vehicle spanning edge (47) of the tarpaulin (45) is provided with a profile strip (48) which is pressed onto the profile of the roll bar (6) by means of a tensioning device (49) with the insertion of a sealing element (50).