US3236557A

US3236557A - Folding top structure

Info

Publication number: US3236557A
Application number: US394674A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward G Podolan
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1964-09-08
Filing date: 1964-09-08
Publication date: 1966-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-22

Description

Feb. 22, 1966 E. G. PODOLAN 3,236,557

FOLDING TOP STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 22, 1966 PODQLAN 3,236,557

FOLDING TOP STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,236,557 FOLDING TOP STRUCTURE Edward G. Podolan, St. Claire Shores, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,674 6 Claims. (Cl. 296145) This invention relates to vehicle bodies and more particularly to folding top structures for vehicle bodies.

The use of thin rigid glass instead of flexible transparent plastic material for the back window closures of vehicle body folding top structures is desirable for many reasons, principal among which are longer life and more attractive over-all appearance of the top. Balanced against these considerations in the past, however, have been many disadvantages which have inhered in the use of rigid glass material in folding top structures design according to modern styling trends. The primary disadvantage has been the diiiiculty in properly relating the size of the closure, th size of the adjacent fabric panels, and the sweep of the rear bow so as to readily accomrnodate movement of the closure into and out of the folding top well when it is moved as a unit with the folding top structure. In providing for such movement, designers have, in the past been forced to compromise styling criteria by markedly reducing the size of the rigid glass closure and increasing the size of the adjacent fabric panels so that the closure is sufficiently small to present no restriction to folding movement of the top structure.

This invention provides a folding top structure having a back window closure arrangement wherein a rigid glass or other closure member is readily movable between closed and retracted positions, either with or independently of movement of the folding top structure, but is yet of maximum size, and otherwise free of the disadvantages of the past back window closure arrangements. This is accomplished by mounting the closure on the body by means independent of the folding top structure so that the path of movement of the closure is not dictated by the geometry of the folding top. In addition, the closure mounting means are releasably connectible to the folding top structure so that the closure may move as a unit therewith, or, if desired, independently thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide a new and improved folding top structure. Another object of this invention is to provide a folding top structure having a new and improved back window closure arrangement wherein a rigid glass or other back window closure is readily movable between closed and retracted positions, but which yet may be sized to maximum desired proportions. Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a closure arrangement wherein the closure is movable between closed and retracted positions either as a unit with the folding top structure or independently thereof.

These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention with be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary partially broken away view of a vehicle body having a folding top structure according to this invention showing the back window closure thereof in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing th back window closure in a retracted position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE l; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by lines 44 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown a rear quarter area of a convertible 3,236,557 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 vehicle body designated generally as 10, the body including a rear quarter portion 12, an opposite rear quarter portion 14, a deck 16, and a floor pan 18. A folding top structure 20 is adapted for movement between a raised position as shown and a lowered position, not shown, and includes a top fabric 22 and a rear how 24 pivotally mounted on a folding top member 26 which is in turn pivotally mounted on a body bracket 28. Folding top structure 20 is of generally conventional construction, and since the remainder of the operative elements thereof are not pertinent to an understanding of this invention, they are accordingly not shown nor described.

Fabric 22 is secured at its rearward terminal edge 30 to a tacking strip 32 suitably secured to body 10 and includes a portion 23 intermediate the tacking strip and rear bow 24 provided with a back window cutout 34. A closure 36 of thin rigid glass is provided to close cutout 34. Closure 36 is adapted for movement between a raised position as shown closing cutout 34, and a lowered position, shown in FIGURE 2. Movement of the closure between these two positions is effected by two sets of linkage 42, each being located adjacent a respective quarter portion 12 or 14, and being operably interconnected to closure 36 adajcent a respective side thereof. Since these linkage sets are identical, only one is shown and described.

As seen best in FIGURE 4, a side edge portion of closure 36 has secured thereto as by cement or otherwise, a bracket 38 which has pivotally connected thereto by a shouldered threaded stud 40 one end of a link 44. The other end of link 44 is pivotally connected to a link 46 to form the linkage 42, and link 46 is pivotally mounted at its other end on a bracket 48 secured to floor pan 18. Linkage 42 is foldable from the extended position shown in FIGURE 1 to either of two generally unfolded positions, shown in full and broken lines in FIG- URE 2, wherein closure 36 is in generally retracted position. In the raised position of the closure, a pair of set screws 50 and 52 positively limit rotation of links 44 and 46.

Selectively releasable latch and connecting means for either interconnecting linkage 42 to rear bow 24 for movement of closure 36 as a unit with folding top 20 or for disconnecting linkage 42 for independent movement of closure 36 includes a cable 54 provided at its lower end with an eyelet 56 adapted to be received over a hooked end element 58 of a leaf spring squeeze latch 60 mounted to link 46. Cable 54 is pivotally secured at its other end to one leg of a generally U-shaped resilient tensioner member 62 which is pivotally mounted at 64 on a bracket 66 attached to rear bow 24, FIGURE 3. Member 62 is so shaped as to be resiliently clampingly engaged to or disengaged from a lower edge portion of rear bow 24 under manual effort applied to a finger portion 63 of the member.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the lower edge of closure 36 has mounted thereto a channel 68 which is suitably secured to an upper edge of a fabric liner 70 stitched to top fabric 22. When closure 36 is in raised position, liner 70 closely engages fabric 22, and when closure 36 is in a retracted position, shown in full lines, the lower edge of the closure is suspended by liner 70 and fabric 22. A conventional bite bow 72, shown only in section, extends transversely across body 16 immediately below deck 16 and is operably interconnected to rear bow 24 in a manner not shown to tension fabric 22 in the raised position of folding top 20 and to support the fabric against the weight of closure 36.

As also shown best in FIGURE 2, the upper edge of closure 36 is provided with a channel 74. This channel, as will be described, is adapted to move into and out of a generally channel-shaped resilient sealing member 76 which is decoratively beaded and attached to fabric 22 adjacent the upper edge of cutout 34.

In operation, as previously alluded to, the back window closure arrangement of this invention is adapted to effect movement of closure 36 between raised and lowered positions either in unison with movement of the folding top or independently thereof. If it is desired to move the closure 36 to the full line retracted position of FIGURE 2 independently of movement of folding top 20, member 62 is first manually disengaged from rear bow 24 by rotating it counterclockwise about pivot 64, thus releasing tension on cable 54 so that eyelet 56 may be removed from element 58. Linkage 42 may thus be manually lowered to the position of FIGURE 2, which movement initially occurs with slight clockwise rotation of link 34 so as to move closure 36 generally parallel top fabric 22 and out of sealing engagement between channel 74 and seal 76. Immediately thereafter, closure 36, by reason of the center of gravity thereof being somewhat below the point of attachment of bracket 38, begins to rotate generally clockwise thereabout so as to move the lower end thereof downwardly to clear the forward edge of deck 16. Thereafter, linkage 42 continues to fold upon itself to lower the closure 36 generally vertically into the convertible top well and to the full line position of FIGURE 2. To manually move the closure 36 back to raised position, the reverse process is performed by grasping link 46 and moving it generally counterclockwise. In the last stages of this movement, closure 36 moves generally parallel fabric 22 and into engagement at the upper edge thereof between channel 74 and seal 76. Eyelet 56 may thereupon be re-engaged with element 58 and member 62 is rotated clockwise into resilient clamping engagement with rear bow 24 to tension cable 54 and securely locate the closure in raised position, wherein all edges of the closure are firmly engaged against fabric portion 23.

It will be recognized that linkage 42 may be altered to any desired extent from the configuration shown to effect various different paths of movement of closure 36 between raised and retracted position. This may be desirable, for example, if seal 76 is otherwise than of the generally Channel-shaped configuration shown. Also, depending upon the longitudinal length of the folding top well, it may be desired to have the closure located more forwardly or rearwardly of the body in its retracted position than is shown. These requirements may be met by proper selection of the lengths of the links 44 and 46, and by the setting of the set screws 50 and 52, which determine the point in the path of upward travel of linkage 42 whereat the linkage moves without relative rotation between the links thereof.

If it is desired to lower closure 36 and folding top 20 as a unit, latch 60 and member 62 are left undisturbed. Since the lower edge of closure 36 is substantially free of any restrictive connection with folding top 20, and since the combined weight of the closure and linkage 42 is sufficient to insure that the closure moves in the predetermined path defined by linkage 42 independently of any influence of folding top movement, closure 36 will freely fall with folding top 24 in substantially the same path of movement as when it is lowered independently of the top, with the exception, of course, that channel 68 on the upper edge of the closure will remain engaged within seal 76.

As previously mentioned, bite bow 72 is operably connected with rear bow 24 so that when folding top 20 is retracted bite bow 72 is relaxed to permit the adjacent portion of fabric 22 and the lower edge of closure 36 to move downwardly to the broken line position of FIG- URE 2. In this position, sufficient room is made available in the folding top well to permit storage of folding top 20 over closure 36.

vided.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body having a top structure provided with an opening therein and being movable in a path between raised and lowered positions, the combination comprising a closure member adapted to close said top opening, means independent of said top structure for mounting said closure on said body for movement in a path other than the path of movement of said top structure and between a first position closing said top opening when said top structure is in the raised position thereof and a second retracted position, and selectively releasable connecting means for either connecting said closure to said top structure for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof in unison with movement of said top structure between said raised and lowered positions thereof or for disconnecting said closure for movement between said first and second positions thereof independently of movement of said top structure.

2. In a vehicle body having a top structure provided with an opening therein and being movable between raised and lowered positions, the combination comprising a closure member adapted to close said top opening, linkage means movably mounted on said body, means mounting said closure on said linkage means, said linkage means being operable to move said closure between a first position closing said top opening when said top structure is in the raised position thereof and a second retracted position, and selectively releasable interconnecting means for either interconnecting said linkage means to a portion of said top structure for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof in unison with movement of said top structure between said raised and lowered positions thereof or for disconnecting said linkage means for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof independently of movement of said top structure.

3. In a vehicle body having a top structure provided.

with an opening therein and being movable between raised and lowered positions, the combination comprising a closure member adapted to close said top opening, sealing means mounted on said top structure for engagement with an upper edge portion of said closure, closure mounting means movably mounted on said body, means connecting said mounting means to opposite side edge portions of said closure, said mounting means being operable to move said closure between a first position wherein said side edge portions engage said top structure and said upper edge portion engages said sealing means to close said top opening in the raised position of said top structure and a second retracted position, and selectively releasable interconnecting means for either interconnecting said mounting means to a portion of said top structure for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof in unison with movement of said top structure between said raised and lowered positions thereof or for disconnecting said mounting means for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof independently of movement of said top structure.

4. In a vehicle body having a top structure provided with an opening therein and being movable between raised and lowered positions, the combination comprising a closure member adapted to close said top opening, sealing means mounted on said top structure for engagement with an upper edge portion of said closure, foldable linkage means movably mounted on said body, means interconnecting said linkage means with opposite side edge portions of said closure, said linkage means being ,movable between a generally unfolded position locating said closure in a first position wherein said side edgeportions engage said top structure and said upper edge portion engages said sealing means to close said top opening in the raised position of said top structure and a generally folded position locating said closure in a second retracted position, and selectively releasable interconnecting means for either in erconnecting said linkage means to said topv structure for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof in unison with movement of said top structure between said raised and lowered positions thereof or for disconnecting said linkage means for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof independently of movement of said top structure.

5. In a vehicle body having a top structure movable between raised and lowered positions and provided with a portion having an opening therein, the combination comprising a closure member adapted to close said top opening, a pair of linkage means each movably mounted on said body adjacent a respective side thereof and in cluding a first link member pivotally mounted on said body adjacent one end thereof and connected adjacent the other end thereof to one end of a second link member, said second link members each being pivotally connected to a respective side edge portion of said closure, said linkage means being movable between a generally unfolded position thereof locating said closure in a first position wherein said side edge portions thereof are in engagement with said top structure portion in the raised position of said top structure and a generally folded position locating said closure in a second retracted position, sealing means mounted on said top structure portion for engagement with a top edge portion of said closure, said linkage means being operable in the last stages of movement thereof from folded to unfolded position to move said closure generally parallel said top structure portion and into sealing engagement at said top edge portion with said sealing means, a connecting member adapted to interconnect one of said linkage means with said top structure, selectively releasable latch means adjacent one end of said connecting member for either connecting said connecting member to said one linkage means for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof in unison with movement of said top structure between said raised and lowered positions thereof or for disconnecting said connecting member from said one linkage means for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof independently of movement of said top structure, and tensioning means connecting the other end of said connecting member with said top structure and being selectively manually operable to tension said closure into tight engagement in said first position thereof with said top structure portion.

6. In a vehicle body having a top structure provided with an opening therein and being movable between raised and lowered positions, the combination comprising a closure member adapted to close said top opening, closure mounting means movably mounted on said body, means connecting said mounting means to opposite side edge portions of said closure, means-connecting a lower edge portion of said closure to a portion of said top structure, said mounting means being operable to move said closure between a first position closing said top opening when said top structure is in the raised position thereof and a second retracted position, selectively releasable interconnecting means for either interconnecting said mounting means to said top structure for movement of said closure between said first and second positions thereof in unison with movement of said top structure between said raised and lowered positions thereof or for disconnecting said mounting means for movement of said closure between said first position thereof and an intermediate position retracted within said body, and bite bow means engageable with said top structure portion in the raised position of said top to support said closure in said intermediate position thereof, said bite bow means being operable upon movement of said top structure from said raised position to said lowered position thereof to permit movement of said closure from said intermediate position to said second position thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,495,022 1/ 1950 Robbins 296- 2,762,648 9/1956 HuZZard 296117 X 3,091,494 5/1963 Cohen 296-145 X 3,096,117 7/ 1963 Hallenbeck 296l07 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A VEHICLE BODY HAVING A TOP STRUCTURE PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING THEREIN AND BEING MOVABLE IN A PATH BETWEEN RAISED AND LOWERED POSITIONS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A CLOSURE MEMBER ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID TOP OPENING, MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAID TOP STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING SAID CLOSURE ON SAID BODY FOR MOVEMENT IN A PATH OTHER THAN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TOP STRUCTURE AND BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION CLOSING SAID TOP OPEN WHEN SAID TOP STRUCTURE IS IN THE RAISED POSITION THEREOF AND A SECOND RETRACTED POSITION, AND SELECTIVELY RELEASABLE CONNECTING MEANS FOR EITHER CONNECTING SAID CLOSURE TO SAID TOP STRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID CLOSURE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS THEREOF IN UNISON WITH MOVE-