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:
Oct. 23, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2000
Walter Pecho, Ringelai, DE;
Georg Kopp, Platting, DE;
Bonnekamp & Sparing, Duesseldorf, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a folding roof arrangement for a convertible type motor vehicle comprising a folding covering having a front section, a front crossmember, the front end section being fastened to the front crossmember, a plurality of lateral roof links defining part of a folding-top kinematic arrangement, wherein the front crossmember is shiftable in an infinite variable manner relative to the lateral roof links between a closed position and a half open position of the folding arrangement, the lateral roof links being in the same configuration in said closed position and in said half open position of the folding arrangement, and wherein in an open position of the folding roof arrangement, the front crossmember, the plurality of roof links and the folding covering are deposited one above another in a folding-top compartment so that at least two of the plurality of roof links define an essentially V-shaped folded arrangement. The invention further relates to a method for operating a folding roof arrangement for a convertible type motor vehicle, the folded roof arrangement including a folding covering having a front end section, a front crossmember, the front end section being fastened to the front crossmember, and a plurality of roof links defining part of a folding-top kinematic arrangement, the method comprising the steps of: shifting the front crossmember in an infinitely variable manner relative to the lateral roof links between a closed position and a half open position while the lateral roof links remaining unchanged, and depositing the front crossmember, the folding covering and at least two of the plurality of roof links into a folding-top compartment so as to define an open position and so that at least two of the plurality of roof links define an essentially V-shaped folded arrangement.