Bestop, Inc.

Timothy J Gile

Rick H Troeger

James A Robertson

Michael C Stevens

Nancy L Brunner

Bryan Early

Frank Ells

Joseph C Jacobucci

A convertible soft top for a vehicle includes a foldable, collapsible frame and a fabric attached to it. The frame has front and rear bow members with the rear bow member mounted for rotation about a first, fixed axis. The front bow member is pivotally mounted to the side legs of the rear bow member for movement about a second axis spaced from the first axis. The front bow member can be moved with the rear bow member about the fixed axis and also pivotally moved relative to the rear bow member about the second axis. Other features of the top include a sunroof and supporting structure to facilitate its operation and an arrangement to automatically secure the front bow member to the vehicle door frame as the top is moved to its raised position.

Convertible soft top for a sport utility or similar vehicle

A retainer system for vehicle soft tops and tonneau covers. The system includes a belt attached to the edge of the fabric of the top or tonneau cover and a channel member mounted on the vehicle to selectively receive the belt. The belt is provided with a stop mechanism to positively prevent the belt from peeling out of the retaining channel member farther than desired. In the preferred embodiments, the stop mechanism is a notch or cutout in the belt. With the present retainer system, the notch will effectively stop the peel or withdrawal of the belt from the retaining channel at a predetermined location along the channel. In this manner, the belt and attached top or tonneau cover can be partially removed from engagement along the channel member to make it easier and quicker for the operator to perform a number of desirable tasks.

Retainer system for vehicle soft tops and tonneau covers

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Loveland, CO, United States of America

Timothy J Gile