JPH0455888B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a locking device for a removable roof panel which can be removed in whole or in large part from a vehicle body if desired.

``Prior Art'' A conventional locking device for a removable roof panel is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-51164.

That is, the publication discloses a system in which a locking device is provided on both sides of the removable roof panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, and the front and rear lock pins are projected by links and engaged with the vehicle body, thereby restraining the removable roof panel. There is.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, in such conventional locking devices for removable roofs, the locking devices are provided on both sides of the removable roof panel in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, so it is difficult to seat the removable roof panel when it is installed. Unfortunately, you have to hold both sides of the removable roof panel from outside the vehicle to fit it in properly, and because of the structure, there are operating handles on both sides, so you have to move around in the narrow interior of the vehicle and operate the handles in two places. Moreover, since the locking device is provided on the side of the removable roof panel, the removable roof panel becomes heavy and requires force to be installed and removed, resulting in poor workability.

The present invention has been made by focusing on these conventional problems, and provides a removable roof that solves the above problems by making the removable roof panel easy to install, securely attachable, and light in weight. The purpose is to provide a locking device for

"Means for Solving the Problems" The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide a removable roof panel that forms the upper surface of an automobile body and is removable from the vehicle body, and a front surface of the removable roof panel. a locking/disengaging member capable of restraining one of the edge or the rear edge to the vehicle body; a striker fixed to the other both sides of the front edge or the rear edge of the removable roof panel; and a latch capable of engaging the striker. a locking mechanism provided on both sides of the vehicle body, and an operating mechanism disposed on the vehicle body side that can operate both locking mechanisms simultaneously, the locking mechanism having a locking mechanism that engages with the striker. A latch member for displacing the removable roof panel in a direction to fully close the roof panel; The present invention relates to a locking device for a removable roof panel, characterized in that it is provided with an unlocking operation section that simultaneously unlocks the locking mechanism.

"Function" Therefore, one of the front edge or the rear edge of the removable roof panel is restrained to the vehicle body via the engagement member, and the striker provided on the other of the front edge or the rear edge can be engaged with the locking mechanism. Then, the latch members of the locking mechanism on both sides are operated by the forced engagement part of the operating mechanism, and the striker is forcibly engaged and displaced. After pulling in, restrain both sides of the removable roof panel, and
The lock mechanism on both sides can be locked and unlocked using the lock/unlock operation section.

“Embodiment” An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a car body 1
A removable roof panel 20 forms the upper surface of 0, and the removable roof panel 20 has side edges 21, 21
forms the upper part of the opening of the door 11 on the vehicle body 10 side,
A leading edge 22 connects to the windshield glass 12. A rear edge portion 23 of the removable roof panel 20 straddles the upper ends of the side pillars 13, 13 of the vehicle body 10 and is connected to the back window glass 14.

On both sides of the front edge 22 of the removable roof panel 20, engagement members 30, 30 that removably engage with the vehicle body are fixed, and on both sides of the rear edge 23, strikers 2 are fixed.
4 and 24 are fixedly installed, correspondingly lock mechanisms 40 and 40 are respectively mounted on the vehicle body 10 side, and an operating mechanism 50 is disposed at an intermediate position between the lock mechanisms 40 and 40 on the vehicle body 10 side, Lock mechanism 4
0 and 40 and the operating mechanism 50 are connected by cables 60 and 60 that can be pushed and pulled.

As can be seen in FIG.
2 and a locking lever 43 are pivotally supported.

The latch member 42 has a hook portion 42a that engages the striker 24 of the removable roof panel 20, a locked end 42b that is restrained by the locking lever 43, and an operated end 42c. The hook portion 42a faces the entry groove 41a of the striker 24 formed in the base member 41, and when it is bitten, it is displaced from the imaginary line in FIG. It is arranged so as to be displaced in the closing direction.

The locking lever 43 has a locking end 43a that engages and disengages from the locked end 42b of the latch member 42, and an operated end 43a that is opposite to the operated end 42c of the latch member 42.
3b, and is biased clockwise in the figure to lock the latch member 42 by a spring 44 stretched between the latch member 42 and the latch member 42. In addition, the latch member 42 is biased counterclockwise.

The operating mechanism 50 is connected to the vehicle body 10 as shown in FIG.
An operating member 52 is pivoted via a pivot shaft 50a to a base member 51 fixed to the base member 51.

The operating member 52 has a handle end 53 and operating ends 54, 54 extending symmetrically from the pivot 50a, with biasing ends 55a, 55 of a spring 55 wound around the pivot 50a.
55a clamps one operating end 54, thereby being biased and held in the neutral position shown in FIG.

Operating ends 54, 5 of operating member 52 of operating mechanism 50
One ends 61, 61 of cables 60, 60 are connected to the locking mechanism 4, respectively, and the other end 62 of the cable 60 is extended to the locking mechanisms 40, 40, respectively, and is connected to an engagement provided at the operated end 42c of the latch member 42. Piece 4
2d and the engagement piece 43c provided on the operated end 43b of the locking lever 43, and the end 63 of the cable 60 is inserted into the base member 4 of the locking mechanism 40.
It is inserted and guided through the flange of 1.

An engagement piece 64 is fixed at a portion where the other end 62 is located between the engagement piece 42d of the latch member 42 and the engagement piece 43c of the locking lever 43, and the operating member 52 of the operating mechanism 50 is When in the neutral position, the engagement piece 64 is located at an intermediate position shown in FIG. 1, in which it does not engage with either of the engagement pieces 42d, 43c.

Next, the action will be explained.

When installing the removed removable roof panel 20, first attach the front edge 22 of the removable roof panel 20.
is aligned with the upper opening of the vehicle body 10, and the locking/disengaging member 30 is locked to the vehicle body 10.

Next, the rear edge 23 of the removable roof panel 20 is placed on the upper end of the side pillar 13 of the vehicle body 10, and the striker 24 is advanced into the entry groove 41a of the base member 41 of the lock mechanism 40. The striker 24 that has entered the hook portion 42 of the latch member 42
a, and pushes it away, reaching the bottom of the entry groove 41a.

If the striker 24 has entered sufficiently, the hook portion 42a of the latch member 42 will return against the biasing force of the spring 44, and will be in the position where it completely engages the striker 24, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and will lock. The locking end 43a of the lever 43 locks the locked end 42b of the latch member 42.

If the striker 24 enters insufficiently,
The latch member 42 cannot return to its original position and remains rotated counterclockwise as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It becomes an incomplete state where it cannot be locked.

Regardless of whether the striker 24 holding the rear edge 23 of the removable roof panel 20 is completely or incompletely engaged with the locking mechanism 40, the operating member 52 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by holding the handle end 53 of the operating mechanism 50. If there is a defect, the working ends 54, 54 will cause the cables 60, 6 to
0 is pulled, and the engagement piece 64 moves at the other end 62 of the lock mechanisms 40, 40 on both sides.

In the one shown in FIG. 1, the engaging piece 64 moves to the left, engages with the engaging piece 42d of the latch member 42, moves the operated end 42c to the left, and the latch member 42 rotates clockwise. However, the hook portion 42a forcibly bites the striker 24 and removes the removable roof panel 20.
When the striker 24 is pulled in until it is fully closed, the locking end 43a of the locking lever 43 locks the locked end 42b of the latch member 42, and the locking mechanism 40 completely locks the striker 24. You can check that it has been inserted.

To remove the removable roof panel 20, use the operating mechanism 5.
The operating member 52 is operated by the handle end 53 of 0 to rotate clockwise in FIG. The cables 60, 60 are then pushed, and the movement is transmitted to the locking mechanisms 40 on both sides.

That is, in FIG. 1, the engagement piece 64 fixed to the other end 62 of the cable 60 moves to the right, engages and pushes the engagement piece 43c of the locking lever 43, and the operated end 43b is pushed. As a result, the locking lever 43 rotates counterclockwise, and the locking end 4
3a is removed from the locked end 42b of the latch member 42, and the hook portion 42a releases the striker 24.

Since the rear edge part 23 of the removable roof panel 20 is opened, the rear part of the removable roof panel 20 is slightly lifted up, and the engaging and disengaging member 30 of the front edge part 22 is attached to the vehicle body 1.
0 and lift the entire removable roof panel 20, the removable roof panel 20 can be removed from the vehicle body 10 and the upper part of the vehicle body 10 can be opened.

Note that the front edge 22 and rear edge 23 of the removable roof panel 20 may be locked in opposite directions, and the operating mechanism may be disposed near the driver's seat.

Further, the operating mechanism is not limited to a manual type, but may be an electric type using a solenoid or the like.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the locking device for a removable roof panel according to the present invention, a locking mechanism for restraining the removable roof panel is provided on the vehicle body side corresponding to both sides thereof, and this locking mechanism can be locked at one location by the engagement of the striker. In addition to being able to perform closing and releasing operations, the striker is retracted and restrained until the removable roof panel is fully closed, making it possible to securely attach the removable roof panel and making the removable roof panel lightweight. This makes it easier to use with improved operability and workability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1 is a front view of the locking mechanism showing the removable roof in cross section;
Figure 2 is a front view of the operating mechanism, Figure 3 is Figure 2-
4 is a plan view of an automobile equipped with a removable roof, FIG. 5 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 6 is a side view of essential parts of the automobile showing a state in which the removable roof is attached or removed. 10...Vehicle body, 13...Side pillar, 20...
...Removable roof panel, 22... Front edge, 23...
Rear edge portion, 24... Striker, 30... Engagement/disengagement member, 40... Lock mechanism, 42... Latch member,
43... Locking lever, 50... Operating mechanism,
52... Operating member, 60... Cable.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A removable roof panel that forms the upper surface of an automobile body and is removable from the vehicle body; A detachable member that can restrain either the front edge or the rear edge of the removable roof panel to the vehicle body; A striker fixedly installed on the other side of the front edge or the rear edge of the removable roof panel, a locking mechanism provided on both sides of the vehicle body and having a latch member that can engage with the striker, and a lock mechanism disposed on the vehicle body side. and an operating mechanism capable of simultaneously operating both of the locking mechanisms; the locking mechanism includes a latch member that engages with the striker and displaces the removable roof panel in a direction to fully close the removable roof panel; The mechanism is characterized in that it is provided with a latch member operation part that forcibly operates the latch members of both the lock mechanisms to draw in the engaged striker, and an unlocking operation part that unlocks both the lock mechanisms at the same time. A locking device for removable roof panels.