Mercedes-benz Aktiengesellschaft

Walter Cornel

Martin Guckel

Helmut Rottler

Klaus P Claar

Jurgen Schrader

Stefan Orth

Karl Koster

Jurgen Schnader

The invention relates to a folding top for motor vehicles with a dimensionally stable rear window which, when the top is opened, can be folded down from an upright, position of use into a flat position of non-use. The top cover encloses the rear window and is connected along the lower edge side of the rear window and laterally thereto to a material retaining section arranged at the lower termination of the top. The rear window exhibits an axis of articulation extending approximately parallel to the lower edge side of the rear window which is displaced rearwards relative to the material retaining section during movement of the rear window toward a position of non-use. The axis of articulation is arranged to be displaceable to ensure the displaceability of the rear window. In order also to permit appropriate rearward displacement of the rear window with top arrangements in which the lower edge side of the rear window extends at a relatively short distance from the material retaining hoop when the top is closed, the top cover is provided on both sides of the rear window with a fabric zone of variable length, the fabric zones being capable of being drawn apart by the rearward displacement of the rear window when the folding top is laid flat and being capable of shortening to their initial length when the folding top is erected into the closed position of use.

Folding top for motor vehicles

A folding hood for motor vehicles has a hood frame supporting the hood cover and being fordable to an open position in order to stretch the hood cover, and a reinforcement of the stretched hood cover, adjoining a strut supporting the cover, by way of a shaping shell mounted between the strut and the hood cover. Because of its dimensional rigidity, the cover interacts in a shaping manner with the hood cover resting flat thereon. The shaping shell is positioned under the hood cover via a tensile connecting device extending transversely to the strut and stretched tightly when the hood frame is folded open. In order to permit a space-saving storage position of the folding hood even with a larger-sized shaping shell the shaping shell is transversely deformable, in a flexurally resilient manner, about a longitudinal axis extending along its bearing position on the strut. When the folding hood is open, the shaping is retained in a relaxed initial position. The shaping shell can only be bent into its shaping position of use by way of the tensioning advance of the tensile connecting devices when the folding hood is closed.

Motor vehicle folding hood

Growing community of inventors

Sindelfingen, Germany

Walter Cornel