FR2601906A1 - Retractable hood with a roll-over bars (safety hoops) for cabriolet motor cars - Google Patents

Abstract

The field of the invention is that of retractable hoods for cabriolet vehicles. The objective of the invention is to design a retractable hood offering comfort and safety at a reasonable manufacturing cost. This objective is fulfilled with the aid of a hood which is essentially characterised in that it is made up of two roof elements (11, 12) articulated on two tiltable roll-over bars (safety hoops) (13, 14).

Description

Retractable hood with roll bars, for
automobile convertibles "
The invention relates to a retractable soft top for a convertible type vehicle.

In known manner, this type of retractable soft top is capable of taking two positions
a folded position at the rear of the vehicle, the latter then being in the uncovered car configuration, and
- a deployed position, in which the soft top covers the vehicle from the rear to the front windshield.

 Until now, convertible top covers have been produced in the form of very light folding structures covered with a waterproof tarpaulin. These light structures have the disadvantage of not providing any security to the driver and passengers when the vehicle overturns or rolls over during an accident.

 In addition, convertible convertibles are most often designed for the sole purpose of enabling discovery driving pleasure. The covered configuration with the hood extended just provides protection against bad weather, without providing real sound, volume, and environmental comfort similar to that of a normal sedan.

 Consequently, the object of the present invention is to provide a retractable convertible top system for a convertible which overcomes these drawbacks of existing devices, at a reasonable manufacturing cost.

 More specifically, a first object of the invention is to provide a hood superstructure which provides good safety in the event of rapid driving with the hood deployed (driving on the road), while allowing the pleasure of driving to be maintained air with hood folded in slow circulation (beach or city driving).

 A second object of the invention is to provide a retractable soft top which provides good protection against aerodynamic noise, especially when the soft top is deployed, and which offers the user four integral seats and an acceptable boot volume.

 An additional object of the invention is to allow the simple adaptation of the hood to a basic vehicle with three doors, while fully retaining the standard elements.

Another object of the invention is to allow a clean interior finish when the soft top is deployed, with perfect sealing of the passenger compartment, in particular at the door windows, this must result in increased comfort by eliminating both currents of air in the passenger compartment, only noises
aerodynamics.

 Another object of the invention is to combine ergonomics with aesthetics, by allowing maximum habitability for the rear seats when the soft top is deployed, and a total retraction of the soft top structure at the rear of the vehicle in position. folded back, the visible part serving as a rear shelf.

These objectives of the invention, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved by means of a retractable soft top, in particular for a two or three door automobile convertible, soft top of the type capable of taking two positions.
- a folded position at the rear of the.

vehicle, the latter then being in uncovered car configuration, and
- a deployed position, in which the hood covers the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle, hood characterized in that it consists of two elements of adjacent front and rear pavilions, articulated on two tiltable roll bars, said roll bars being locked substantially vertically on each side of the vehicle at the central door pillar and the rear body lift respectively, when the soft top is deployed, in that the central roll bar carries out in its upper part the articulated junction of the two roof elements , so that in the deployed position the roof element extends towards the windshield gutter of the vehicle, and the rear roof element is articulated by its rear end on the upper part of the roll bar rear security, and in that said roof elements are folded over one another to form the vehicle's rear shelf, in the extension of the central roll bar and against the rear rear cover tilted, when the hood is folded.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said elements of pavilions each consist either of a rectangular frame on which is stretched a continuous flexible sheet, or of a rigid rigid sheet.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the hood is locked in the deployed position by means of at least one locking hook articulated on the upper gutter of the windshield, and cooperating with a finger fixed on the front roof element.

 In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the deployment and folding operation of the hood are motorized, possibly in synchronization with the descent of the door windows. An additional feature of the invention mechanically controls the inclination of the rear seats to the position of the soft top, so as to increase the clearance in the deployed configuration.

Other advantageous features of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the attached drawings in which
FIGS. 1A and -lB represent the general appearance of a convertible convertible according to the invention, with the hood deployed and folded respectively,
FIG. 2 represents the sectional side view of a convertible illustrating the general structure and the kinematics of deployment and folding of the retractable hood according to the invention,
FIG. 3 schematically represents in cross section the central arch of the hood,
FIG. 4 schematically represents the same central arch in horizontal section along II of FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 represents the articulation of the rear arch on the rear roof element of the hood in section II-II of FIG. 2,
- Figure 6 shows the rear arch of the hood according to the invention in section
III-III of Figure 2,
FIG. V represents the mechanism for locking the front roof element of the hood in the deployed position on the front gutter of the windshield,
FIG. 8 represents the tilting mechanism of the rear seat of the convertible as a function of the position of the hood according to the invention,
FIG. 9 represents a schematic top view of the convertible of FIG. 2.

 Figures 1A and 1B illustrate very schematically the general principle of the invention.

 FIG. 1A represents a convertible fitted with the hood 10 according to the invention. In this diagram, the hood 10 is in the deployed position, and it can be seen that the two elements of the pavilions 11, 12 rest on two roll bars 13, 14. These roll bars 13, 14 are rigid and give the covered convertible great passive safety .

 Figure 1B shows the same convertible let with folded hood, for city or beach driving. The convertible top 10, including the roll bars, is fully folded down at the rear of the vehicle, and retracts completely under the belt line.

 FIG. 2 shows in detail the structure of an embodiment of the hood according to the invention. The soft top appears there both in the deployed position A, and in the folded position at the rear of the vehicle B.

 In the deployed position A, it is clearly distinguished that the hood according to the invention is formed of a first front roof element 11 and a second rear roof element 12. The two roof elements 11, 12 are articulated on a central roll bar 13. In addition, the front roof element 11 is locked against the upper windshield gutter 30 at its other end, when the hood is in the deployed position A. At this time, the rear roof element 12 is for its part articulated at its other end on the rear roll bar 14.

 These four elements 11, 12, 13, 14 of the hood are therefore all articulated in their connection to each other and to the vehicle body, the centers of rotation being as follows: the front roof elements 11 and rear 12 are articulated in the upper part of the hoop 13 in O and 03 respectively, the central hoop 13 itself being articulated in its lower part on the body of the vehicle in 02; on the other hand, the rear roof element 12 is also articulated around the center 04 on the upper part of the rear arch 14, which is itself mounted in free rotation in its lower part on the rear body lift in 01.

The assembly therefore forms a sort of parallelogram whose two main arms 13, 14 forming the hood arches are tiltable backwards in the folded position
B.

 In this folded position B, the central hoop 13 ′ retracts under the waist line of the vehicle. The two roof elements 11 ', 12' are folded one against the other in the extension of the central arch 13 ', and come to rest themselves under the line of the vehicle belt, against the rear arch 14 'folded.

 In this folded hood position B, only the "internal" face (with reference to the position.déplpyéeA of the hood) of the roof element 11 'is visible from the outside, of the roof element 11 ′, which can then serve as a rear shelf.

 The structure of the hood according to the invention thus described may also, where appropriate, include arms or additional hoops for tensioning the hood (not shown). These additional elements are deployed behind the rear arch 14 so as to conform, if necessary, the rear dropout of the hood. They are retractable in the folded position B.

 The front 11 and rear 12 roof elements can be interior frames 5, covered with a continuous tarpaulin extending to the rear seat belt.

 In another embodiment, the roof elements 3 and 4 are solid panels directly visible from the outside, the sheeted part extending only behind the rear roof element 12 up to the rear belt trunk. In this case, these flag elements 11, 12 can be painted or lined with vinyl, for example.

 Another version of the invention consists in making the roof elements 11 and 12 in the form of frames stiffened by a solid interior panel made of metal or synthetic material, although the assembly is covered with a tarpaulin. This embodiment has the advantage of providing good rigidity of the hood assembly, satisfactory sound insulation when the hood is in the deployed position, and a rear shelf 11 ′, operational when the hood is in the folded position B. Each of the hood elements will now be detailed according to the preferred embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 3 to 6.

 Figures 3 and 4 respectively show a schematic transverse and horizontal section of the central hoop 13 in the deployed position A.

 This arch 13 is composed of two elements 31, 32. The element 31 which constitutes the rigid framework of the roll bar 13 is formed of two sections assembled together so as to form a hollow rigid beam. The assembly is carried out for example by gluing, or by spot welding.

 A lining 32 is articulated on each of the lateral external faces of the beam 31 of the central arch 13, around a horizontal pivot 33. As can be seen in FIG. 4, this lining 32 carries the seals 34, 35 of the windows of front 36 and rear 37 doors. This lining is pushed elastically towards the outside by a spring 38 (FIG. 3), in abutment against a stop pad 39. In the rest position, the lining 32 is therefore projecting from the windows 36, 37, its position being immobilized by means of the stop pad 39.

 When the hood is folded down in the folded position B, the lining 32 is foldable against the frame 31 by compression of the spring 38, in order to allow the passage of the windows and / or the complete retraction of the arch 13 under the waist line rear of the vehicle.

In the upper part of each lateral upright of the arch 13 appears the housing of the centers of rotation 0 and 03 of the roof elements 11, 12. In addition, the hood cover is stretched between lateral anchoring points on the roof elements 11, 12, the part overlapping the central arch 13 being free to fold in order to pass into the folded position
B.

 The structure of the rear arch 14 appears schematically in the sections of FIGS. 5 and 6.

 As can be seen more precisely in Figure 6, the arch 14 is formed, similarly to the central arch 13, of two sections 41, 42 rigidly assembled to form a hollow core beam. These profiles are for example glued together, and they support a seal 43 ensuring the seal between the arch and the quarter glass 44. The cover 15 of the hood covers the rear arch 14 with protection by a fixed cover 45 to the hoop.

 FIG. 5 represents the articulation point 04 of the roof element 12 on the rear arch 14.0ny notes that the rear roof element 12, which provides the connection between the arches 13 and 14, is composed of a panel 52 of metal or plastic, rigidly assembled to a peripheral frame 51 of metal or plastic also, forming a beam on the periphery. The elements 51 and 52 are for example glued to one another, and externally carry a seal 53 with the upper part of the quarter glass 44. The hood cover 15 is stretched between anchoring points lateral at the peripheral frame of the roof element 12.

 The articulation point 04 of the roof element 12 on the rear arch 14 is produced between two arms 54, 55 fixed respectively to the element 12 and to the arch 14.

 This structure of the rear roof element 12 as shown in Figure 5 is substantially similar to that of the front roof element 11, not shown in cross section.

 These roof elements 11 and 12 have tension ribs of the cover 15, visible in FIG. 2. In fact, the cover 15 only comes into contact with the hood superstructure at the front edge 20 of the cover element. flag -11, a middle rib 21, and a rear rib 22 of the same front element 11, then a rear transverse rib of the rear flag element 12. It will be recalled that the cover portion 15 located at rear of the rear roof element 12 can also be shaped using additional arms not shown.

 In any event, the number of transverse ribs and additional arms is not a limiting characteristic of the invention, and clearly depends on the shape that one wishes to obtain for the soft top.

 The cover 15 is fixed to the front and the lateral parts of the roof element 11 by any means, for example by riveting. It is also fixed laterally on the rear roof element 12. As seen in the description of FIG. 6, the falling edge of the sheet, in the rear part, is pinched between the arch 14 and the hubcap 45 so as to maintain a degree of freedom. It is however rigidly fixed, for example by riveting, on the periphery of a panel 16 extending over the entire width of the rear part of the vehicle, and forming the roof of the rear boot.

 A transparent rodhold panel 17, or equivalent, provides the driver with rearward visibility when the soft top is deployed.

 The aerodynamic noises of the soft top (clicks) are limited by the tension thus ensured by the roof elements 11 and 12.

 Figure 7 shows the final tensioning mechanism of the sheet 15, of the type of closings for a sunroof. The front part of the roof element 11 is provided with a finger 25 cooperating with a hook 26 driven by a lever 28 capable of assuming a stable self-locking position 28 'in which the hook 26' forcibly stretches the finger 25 'forwards, so as to provide contiguous contact between the windshield gutter 30 and the front part of the roof element 11. The seal is preferably provided by a seal 27.

 According to a more sophisticated embodiment of the invention, this locking mechanism is motorized, for example by means of a geared motor driving a worm screw ensuring the displacement of the hook 26. An electrical contactor senses the relative position of the gutter 30 and of the front part of the roof element 11, to provide start and stop information for the geared motor.

 The transition from the hood to the folded position B is achieved by providing minimal effort due to the positioning of the articulation points and the kinematics with a simple parallelogram. The folding of the roof elements 11 and 12 one on the other, in alignment with the axis of the central arch 13 is carried out for example by meshing of two pinions each linked to one of the two elements of flag, and centered on. the axes of rotation O and 03. Due to the overall kinematics, the lifting of an element 11 brings about a symmetrical displacement of the element 12 which, due to its articulation on the tilting arch 14, causes the whole parallelogram in the folded position B, against the rear panel 16.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rear panel 16 is articulated around the center 01, so that it sinks slightly to allow the complete retraction of the hood in the folded position B, but is raised conversely when the soft top is in the deployed position A, in order to offer an optimal boot volume. This panel 16 also constitutes the rear shelf of the vehicle when the hood is in the deployed position A.

 In the folded position B, as shown in Figure 9, the hood cover 15 folds on the one hand between the roof elements 11 and 12, and on the other hand between the element 12 and the panel 16. A frame 17 fixed on the waist line of the rear part of the vehicle plays the role of closing the folded soft top. This frame 17 is provided on its internal face with a seal 18 which ensures the tight tension of the cover 15 when the hood is deployed in position A.

 FIG. 8 illustrates an optional mechanism of the invention, by means of which the inclination of the backrest 60 of the rear seats of the.

vehicle can be adjusted automatically depending on the position of the convertible top. The purpose of this mechanism is to enlarge the space available for housing the soft top in the folded position at the rear of the vehicle by raising the backrest 60. Conversely, when the soft top is in the deployed position A, the backrest 60 of the rear seats reclines further to increase the space available for the passengers seated in it. This very simple mechanism consists of an arm 61 folded at the rear arch 14 of the hood tiltable around the center of rotation 01. The free end of the arm 61 is provided for example with a roller 62 sliding in a housing 63 fixed to the rear of the seat back 60. By the movement of the movement of the arm 61 controlled by the tilting of the hoop 14, the caster 62 imposes a variation in inclination to the back 60 so that the latter is raised when the arch 14 'comes in the folded position.

 This characteristic of the invention is in particular particularly suitable for small vehicles in which the relative space saving thus obtained can be appreciable.

 Also optionally, and in order to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, deflectors can be provided at the leading edge of the roof, and the front windows. These deflectors make it possible to reduce turbulence at the level of the passengers when the hood is folded down, and to minimize the slamming of the cover when the hood is deployed.

 The operation of the hood deployment and folding operations can be ensured in two different ways: either manually or according to a motorized version.

 In the case of a manually operated operation, the folding of the hood at the rear of the vehicle must first be preceded by the descent of the rear quarter windows 44, for example by a traditional parallelogram process with a crank interior. The hood tensioning mechanism of FIG. 7 is then unlocked, and the front roof element 11 is folded upwards to ensure the tilting of the entire hood as far as the folded position B. The hood is then locked by any means on the frame 17.

 In the case of a motorized version, it is possible to use only one motor to synchronize the descent of the quarter glass windows 44, then the folding of the hood, and vice versa. The spacing of the centers of rotation also allows the use of a motor of reduced power, due to the distribution of forces.

 As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the geared motor group 70 is provided with an output toothed pinion driving a first toothed sector 71 linked to the parallelogram 73 of movement of the quarter glass, and a second toothed sector 72 linked to the main hoop 13. By the play of a clutch system mounted on each of the toothed sectors 71, 72 is carried out automatically the synchronized succession of the movement of the quarter windows, and the tilting of the central hoop 13, and return. This clutch system is for example constituted by two cam devices which each selectively separate the toothed sector 71 or 72 from the parallelogram 73, and from the arch 13 respectively, over the appropriate portion of their angular travel.

 It can therefore be seen that the optional main characteristics of the invention detailed above in a preferred embodiment as illustrated by the drawings make it possible to achieve safety and comfort objectives, which do not exist in the devices of the prior art . Safety is obtained thanks to the rigidity of the deployed and locked hood. The comfort results from the rebate system with rubber seal provided for the downward glass windows on the roof elements 11 and 12, and the arches 13 and 14, which allow a perfect sealing of the passenger compartment. Advantageously, the space available for the rear passengers, as well as the volume of the trunk are maximized for driving with the hood extended.

 The invention is not limited to the embodiment described, and an advantageous application of the invention can consist in making the central arch 13 in two parts, so as to maintain passive safety in the event of the vehicle overturning or overturning. , when the hood is folded. In this case, only part of the split hoop 13 is tilted at the rear of the vehicle with the hood folded, the other part remaining in place above the head of the driver and passengers.

Claims (9)

 1. Retractable convertible top, in particular for two or three-door automobile convertibles, of the type capable of assuming two positions  a folded position (B) at the rear of the vehicle, the latter then being in the uncovered car configuration, and  - a deployed position (A), in which the soft top covers the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle, soft top characterized in that it consists of two adjacent roof elements (11) and rear (12), articulated on two tiltable roll bars (13, 14), said roll bars (13, 14) being locked substantially vertically at the central door pillar, and at the rear body lift respectively, when the soft top is in the deployed position (A), that the central arch (13) performs in its upper part the articulated junction of the two roof elements (11, 12), so that in the deployed position (A) the roof element (11) extends in direction of the windshield gutter (30) of the vehicle, and the rear roof element (12) is articulated by its rear end on the upper part of the rear roll bar (14), and in that said roof elements (11, 12) are folded over one another at the rear of the vehicle, to form the rear shelf as an extension of the central arch (13) and against the tilted rear arch (14), when the soft top is in the folded position (B).  2. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that said roof elements (11, 12) each consist of a rectangular frame on which is stretched a flexible tarpaulin (15) continuous from the gutter (30) of the windshield to the rear belt line of the vehicle.  3. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that said roof elements (11, 12) each consist of a solid panel of metal and / or plastic.  4. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that said central arch (13) comprises on each of these lateral external faces a lining (32) carrying seals (34, 35) of windows (36, 37) of doors, said lining (32) being resiliently pushed outwardly projecting with respect to said windows (36, 37) against an abutment pad (39), and being foldable against the roll bar when tilting the hood in the folded position (B) .  5. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that said arches (13, 14) each consist of a frame formed by two metal profiles and / or plastic (30, 31; 41, 42), assembled in rigid beam shape with hollow core.  6. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that the hood is locked in the deployed position (A) by means of a locking hook (26) articulated on the windshield gutter of the vehicle, and cooperating with a finger. protruding lock (25) on the front part of the front roof element (11).  7. Hood according to claim 1> characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for straightening and tilting the backrest (60) of the rear seats of the vehicle when the hood is in the folded position (B) and deployed (A) respectively.  8. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for lowering and raising a rear panel (16) substantially horizontal forming the roof of the vehicle trunk, when the hood is in the folded position (B) , and deployed (A) respectively.  9. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that it cooperates with a geared motor group (70) for driving the mechanism (73) for moving the quarter glass (44), and for synchronized tilting of the roll bar. central (13).