The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 07, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 24, 1993
Steven J Skornicka, Tecumseh, MI (US);
David R Farkas, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Wickes Manufacturing Co., Charlotte, NC (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for attaching the rear edge of the fabric top and a sling to the periphery of a convertible top storage well are disclosed. A convertible vehicle has a top storage well located behind the rear seat for receiving the folded top through a top opening. A sling lines the well and is attached to the well periphery at the top opening. The rear edge of the convertible top cover is attached to a tacking strip which has a plurality of spaced holes that receive threaded studs welded to body structure. A plurality of nuts are screwed onto the studs atop the tacking strip to secure the tacking strip to the well walls. Each nut has an enlarged outwardly rounded head and a retention groove. An elongated strip of elastic material sewn to the sling incorporates a plurality of spaced slotted apertures and a central locating aperture. The slotted apertures are horizontally wider than the fastener heads and vertically smaller than the fastener heads to elastically deform to distort and pass over a head and into a groove. The locating aperture is sized smaller than the head of its mating fastener and has four radial slits forming flaps which deform to pass over the nut head into the retention groove. The sling is attached by pushing the retention members onto the fasteners. The front of the sling is mounted on the seat back by a boot attachment member.