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:
Dec. 25, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1999
David MacFarland, Unterschleissheim, DE;
Dura Convertible Systems GmbH, Cologne, DE;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for the attachment of a mounting rail, as well as to a connecting device for a mounting rail. In the process for the attachment of a mounting rail to a rod which is, if necessary, at least partially premounted, of a folding top for a motor vehicle, particularly for a convertible, a tubular connecting element (,), which has at least one stopping surface (stopping surface [,]), is inserted through a hole (,) in the mounting rail (,). The tubular connecting element (,′) is inserted through an additional hole (,) in the rod (,) and secured in its position, and the mounting rail (,) is moved forward up to a predetermined position on the rod (,), whereby the tubular connecting element (,′) is plastically deformed and a connection between the rod and the mounting rail is brought about. The connecting device in accordance with the invention comprises a tubular connecting element (,′), which extends both through a hole (,) in the mounting rail (,) as well as through a hole (,) in the rod (,) and is, during the production of the connection point (,), least partially plastically deformed.