France Design

Seba (societe Europeenne De Brevets Automobiles)

Albéric Sorin

Gérard Queveau

Apparatus for improving the rigidity of a vehicle structure, and particularly a vehicle having a retractable roof. The apparatus includes an electromagnet carried by either an edge of a door of the vehicle that swings outwardly when the door is open, or by an opposing edge of bodywork of the vehicle which faces the edge of the door when the door is closed. The electromagnet serves as a first element which, when the door is closed, is positioned opposite a second element made of a magnetic material. One of the elements is able to move toward the other element when the electromagnet is provided with an electric current. One of the elements is provided with a protuberance formed in the shape of a truncated cone, and the other element is provided with an axially-aligned recess which has a size and shape to receive the protuberance therein.

Device for improving a vehicle structural rigidity, in particular a vehicle with retractable roof

The invention concerns roof elements () mobile between a first position wherein they cover the vehicle passenger compartment, a second position wherein the front roof element () is located above the rear roof element (), a third position wherein the two roof elements () are stowed in the vehicle rear deck. The mechanism () for lifting the front roof element () comprises two intersecting levers () articulated at their intersection () one of the ends of said levers () being articulated to a front telescopic element (), the other end of said levers () being linked to means for displacing each of said ends in opposite directions oriented in a direction parallel to the front telescopic element ().

Growing community of inventors

Le Pin, France

Albéric Sorin