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:
May. 11, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 22, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Steven G Laurain, Riverview, MI (US);
Michael T Willard, E-S Lake Oswego, OR (US);
William A Sims, Lincoln Park, MI (US);
Assignee:
ASC Incorporated, Southgate, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60J / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
318265 ; 318286 ; 318467 ; 296107 ; 2961801 ; 2961805 ;
Abstract
A convertible roof actuation mechanism includes a pliable roof cover, a top stack mechanism supporting the roof cover, and at least one roof bow of the top stack mechanism independently movable relative to the remainder of the top stack mechanism for selectively reducing and increasing tension of the roof cover during latching. In another aspect of the present invention, at least one roof bow is retracted closer to a bottom pivot of a rear roof rail when stowed to optimize packaging space within a convertible roof storage compartment.