Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Bestop, Inc.

Other

Michael E Hilliard

Louis D DeLellis

William A Grabowski

Robert D Worley

Mark Alan Hickey

Leonard F Bores

Stephen K Tebbutt

Kipp D Owen

John F Miller

Philip M Jansen

Thad Scott

Keith D Montone

Nancy L Brunner

Mark G Vervaeke

John C Wainwright

Robert L Hart

A method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body tensions the soft top without a separate tensioning device. The method includes the general steps of attaching a support member to the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a transverse pivot axis, supporting an upper rear corner of the top with the support member, and tensioning the top by upwardly and rearwardly biasing the upper rear corner of the top with the support member. The support member functions to provide a spring load for tensioning the top. In the preferred method, the support member is elastically deformed for tensioning the top.

Method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body

A rear gate assembly of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle has a rear gate opening. The rear gate assembly includes a rear gate, a back glass, and a rear gate handle. The rear gate includes a rear gate top portion, a rear gate bottom portion, and an outer surface and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate bottom portion is rotatably coupled to a bottom edge of the rear gate opening. The back glass has a back glass top portion and a back glass bottom portion. The back glass top portion is rotatably coupled to a top edge of the rear gate opening and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate handle is coupled to the outer surface of the rear gate and is actuatable from a first position to a second position. The rear gate assembly sequentially releases the back glass and rear gate from the respective latched positions in response to actuation of the rear gate handle.

Dual action rear gate door handle assembly

A rear gate assembly of a motor vehicle is provided. The motor vehicle has a rear gate opening. The rear gate assembly includes a rear gate, a back glass, and a rear gate handle, The rear gate includes a rear gate top portion, a rear gate bottom portion, and an outer surface and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate bottom portion is rotatably coupled to a bottom edge of the rear gate opening. The back glass has a back glass top portion and a back glass bottom portion. The back glass top portion is rotatably coupled to a top edge of the rear gate opening and has a latched and unlatched position. The rear gate handle is coupled to the outer surface of the rear gate and is actuatable from a first position to a second position. The rear gate assembly sequentially releases the back glass and rear gate from the respective latched positions in response to actuation of the rear gate handle.

A removable door frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first portion pivotally interconnected to a second portion. The first portion is adapted to be oriented horizontally and releasably attached to a sport bar assembly of the motor vehicle. The second portion is adapted to be oriented vertically and releasably engage the body of the vehicle. The first portion is configured to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a top section of the soft top and thereby retain the soft top in a cross-car direction. Similarly, the second portion is adapted to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a side section of the soft top and longitudinally retain the side section.

Removable door frame assembly for a motor vehicle

A window assembly for a motor vehicle includes a window frame adapted to removably mount to a lower door assembly. The window assembly further includes a mounting arrangement for removably attaching the window frame to the lower door assembly such that substantially vertical translation of the window frame is required to remove the window frame. The window assembly further includes a stop surface which is carried by the motor vehicle. The stop surface is adapted to oppose vertical translation of the window frame when the lower door assembly is in the closed position. In one form, the stop surface is defined by a removable door frame assembly.

Window assembly for a motor vehicle

A top system includes a hard top which may be operatively installed over a folded soft top. The top system allows delivery of both the hard top and the soft top to the customer. Additionally, the top system allows for an expanded range of uses of the associated motor vehicle. The owner/user can have the hard top on for greater comfort and less noise on long trips and on arrival, take the hard top off and have the soft top for local use with the benefit of open air driving. The soft top is ready to be moved to its operative position or retained in the stored position for available protection from the element from adverse weather conditions. The ability of the top system to allow the hard top to be operatively installed over the folded soft top is made possible largely in part due to the several unique aspects. For example, the soft top folds back and is contained within the boundaries of the body side of the motor vehicle and the tailgate area while having a low stack height. The hard top has formations to allow the stored soft top to nest within the hard top. Additionally, retainer members welded onto the body side section allow the hard top and soft top to function interchangeable.

Top system for a motor vehicle

An apparatus for selectively mounting a hard top and a soft top to a motor vehicle includes a retainer member which mounts to an upper surface of a body side panel. The retainer element preferably includes an intermediate portion fixedly attached to the body side panel. An upper side of the intermediate portion is adapted to support the hard top. An outboard flange downwardly extends from the intermediate portion and terminates in an inner curled edge. The inner curled edge is spaced apart from the body side panel.

Apparatus for selectively mounting a hard top and a soft top to a motor

An apparatus for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle includes a retainer member for engaging a channel located in a structural element attached to the motor vehicle. In one application, the structural element is a removable door frame having a molded-in channel which opens downwardly and is disposed above a door opening. The retainer member includes a first flange adapted to fixedly attach to a lateral edge of the top section of the soft top. The retainer member further includes a second flange for engaging the molded-in channel in an interference fit. The first flange laterally extends beyond the door of the vehicle to thereby shingle the door from condensation and rain which may gather on the soft top. In an alternative embodiment, the retainer member is configured to form a trough for carrying the condensation and rain rearward away from the door.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Michael E Hilliard