Releasable Attachment Construction for Demountable Automobile Tops

This invention relates generally to automobile top constructions, and more particularly to a releasable or demountable attachment construction for detachably securing the sheet material of automobile tops to the top portion of an automobile body.

In the past a number of different arrangements have been proposed and produced for releasably securing, for example, a convertible top to an automobile body. Conventional convertible top constructions typically employ cooperable seal strips, one of which was permanently secured to the automobile body while the other was mounted at the edge of the sheet of convertible top material. The two strips were adapted for mutual abutting engagement, being held in place by multiple clamps which had manually-operable levers carried by and concealed beneath the forward edge of the convertible top.

While many of such constructions operated in a generally satisfactory manner, problems were found to occur, especially after a prolonged period of operation. Where the seal strips were under continual tension, there was a pronounced tendency for one or both members to become warped and undergo aging deformation. When this occurred, the engagement of the two strips did not constitute a tight seal, this giving rise to water leakage and also air leakage. The latter frequently resulted in annoying drafts inside the vehicle, as well as creating objectionable "wind noise" resulting from air rushing past the leakage points between the strips. In addition, very often the clamps associated with such prior convertible tops were difficult or awkward to operate, and were prone to breakage or malfunction, such conditions sometimes rendering the convertible top unusable since it would fly backward suddenly as the vehicle was being driven.

In addition, such arrangements were found to be costly to manufacture and produce. In spite of the high manufacturing costs, the performance and ease of operation of these prior arrangements frequently left something to be desired.

Still other convertible top arrangements employed canvas tops having at their peripheries a multiplicity of snap-type fasteners which could be releasably secured to cooperable fasteners on the automobile body. This has been used in the past in the class of vehicle known as "rugged-terrain". While the installation or removal of the tops was a fairly routine matter, the seal provided between the canvas top and the vehicle body was usually not especially good, resulting again in both leakage of water and air, and undesirable "wind noise".

Additionally, prior convertible tops were especially susceptible to leakage resulting from wind-driven rain or snow under certain circumstances, as when the vehicle is being driven directly into a head wind. The velocity of air travelling past the car can be as high as 90-100 miles per hour or more, depending on the speed of the vehicle and the velocity of the wind. Optimally, convertible top constructions are designed to withstand the stresses imposed by such high winds, with freedom from tearing and minimal likelihood of permitting undesirable air and water leakage, but in many cases these objectives have not been attained.

Generally, no prior devices to my knowledge were produced or were available to enable the interchanging of tops, as for example, from a convertible top to a solid or rigid top and vice versa. That is, there was lacking any kind of attachment construction which would be adaptable for use with demountable automobile tops, whether these were of the convertible foldable type or else of the rigid, non-folding type.

The above deficiencies in the prior art, the drawbacks and disadvantages of prior attachment arrangements for convertible or demountable automobile tops are obviated by the present invention, which has for one object the provision of a novel and improved releasable attachment construction particularly adaptable for securing a demountable top to the forward top portion of a car body, which construction is especially simple and economical to fabricate while at the same time providing a secure, leak-proof fastening means for the top.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved releasable attachment construction as above characterized, which is convenient in operation not only to fasten the demountable top material to the body but also to release the same when this is desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved releasable attachment construction in accordance with the foregoing, which consists of especially few parts that are structurally simple and not likely to malfunction, even over an extended period of use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment construction of the kind described above, which can be readily adapted for use in conversion operations where a solid-top automobile cab or body is to be changed over into a convertible top, or where convertible and solid automobile tops are intended to be used interchangeably.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved attachment construction as above set forth, which can be readily adapted to and installed on a forward top portion of the car body after the original car top has been cut away and removed.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved attachment means for demountable tops as above defined, wherein rust- and corrosion-resistant parts can be utilized, such as those constituted of plastic substances, without sacrificing strength and structural integrity, and without resulting in malfunction which could cause air and water leaks.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved releasable attachment construction for use in converting a solid-top cab to a convertible top or vice versa, wherein an attractive trim or finish is provided, thereby resulting in workmanship which has a professional look or appearance.

Still other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, the invention provides in its essence an elongate anchorage strip having a main body portion and a longitudinal groove therein, such anchorage strip being so constituted that it can be fabricated as a plastic extrusion. The groove in the body portion has elongate, oppositely disposed walls, and the body portion includes a mounting area that is adapted for securement to the forward top portion of the automobile body, as by the use of sheet metal screws. The anchorage strip is flexible and resilient, and readily conforms to the curvature of the automobile body so as to form therewith an effective seal. Cooperable with the anchorage strip is an elongate fastener strip which is arranged for securement to the sheet material of the convertible top, said fastener strip comprising an interlock means which is adapted to be received in the groove of the anchorage strip. The fastener strip has an abutment surface for engagement with one of the walls of said groove, and the anchorage strip has a projection or flange adjacent the other groove wall, which is adapted for engagement with the fastener strip in a manner to inhibit transverse pivotal movement of the fastener strip when the latter is seated in the groove and is being pulled-on by the convertible top. The fastener strip is easily releasable from the groove by an opposite pivotal movement, which is possible when the pull exerted by the convertible top and the resultant force on the abutment surface is lessened. The sheet material of the convertible top can be secured to the fastener sheet by any suitable means, such as by screws, stitching or the like. The anchorage strip is arranged to be clamped between an elongate attachment strip and the car roof, utilizing sheet metal screws as the draft means. All of the strips of the construction are capable of bending, to enable them to conform to the curved contours of the car roof.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a transverse, vertical sectional view through the releasable attachment construction of the invention, applied to an automobile cab top which has been converted from a solid to a convertible top.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongate anchorage strip as provided by the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the attachment strip for use with the anchorage strip of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a fastener strip adapted for use with the anchorage strip of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the releasable attachment construction of the invention, applied to an automobile cab top wherein the demountable section is of solid or rigid structure, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongate anchorage strip as provided by the invention for the construction of FIG. 5.

As shown, the present attachment construction comprises an elongate anchorage strip 10 which may be fabricated as a plastic extrusion. The anchorage strip 10 is of generally U-shaped cross section, having a body portion 12 which is essentially flat, and having an undersurface 14 adapted for engagement with the top surface 16 of an automobile cab roof 18. The body portion 12 has a fastener means 19 provided with a shallow, relatively wide groove 20 which is located in an elongate area 21 and accommodates an elongate attachment strip 22. The strip 22 has apertures 23 to receive sheet metal screws 24 which pass through corresponding aligned apertures 25 in the fastener means 19 and through the car top 18, for the purpose of securing the anchorage strip to the car.

Where the present attachment construction is to be used in a conversion job, to change from a solid cab top to a convertible cab top, the cab roof 18 is cut along a line which is a short distance to the rear of the car windshield 27, forming an edge 26 which extends parallel to the windshield from one side of the cab to the other. The existing cab ceiling construction which underlies the roof 18 is indicated generally by the numeral 28, and can have various forms which are not involved, per se, with the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, the anchorage strip 10 is provided with a downward and forward extending arcuate trim portion or skirt 30 which curls toward the front of the vehicle and constitutes an enclosure that presents a continuous, coextensive trim surface that conceals the ragged edge 26 of the car roof 18, as well as enclosing any existing roof or ceiling construction such as that designated in FIG. 1 by the numeral 28. The skirt 30 and the body portion 12 can be considered to be leg portions of the extruded strip, with the connection portion constituting a yoke portion thereof.

The improved attachment construction of the invention further comprises a shallow and relatively wide, longitudinal groove 32 in the upper surface of the body portion 12 to the rear of the fastener means 19, the groove 32 being adapted to loosely receive an elongate flexible fastener strip 34. The sheet material 36 of the convertible top is shown as having a folded back seam 38 of multiple thicknesses, which is attached to the fastener strip 34 by stitches 40. The fastener strip 34, in this instance, can be of suitable plastic material that is adapted to receive the stitches 40.

The rearmost wall 42 of the groove 32 is arranged for abutting engagement with a longitudinal abutment edge or surface 44 of the fastener strip 34, and the body portion 12 of the anchorage strip has an elongate projection or flange 46 adjacent the other wall 48 of the groove 32, said projection being adapted to overlie the forward locking edge portion 49 of the fastener strip 34. The strip 34 can optionally have a flat bead 51 for engagement with the undersurface of the flange 46, as shown in FIG. 1, the bead providing additional strength and stiffness to the strip and also serving as a guide against which the folded edge of the material 36 can be positioned, during the stitching operation that secures the material to the strip.

It will now be seen that, by such arrangement, pulling or tensile forces exerted by the sheet material 36 of the convertible top on the fastener strip 34 will cause an increased force between the rearmost edge 44 thereof and the rear wall 42 of the groove 32. The pull of the sheet 36 will tend to cause counterclockwise transverse pivotal movement of the fastener strip 34, and such movement will be prevented by the interlocking engagement of the strip with the projection or flange 46 of the anchorage strip 10. The stronger the pull exerted on the fastener strip, the more securely will it be held by the projection 46.

Preferably the rear wall 42 of the groove 32 is povided with an undercut configuration, and the wall 44 of the fastener strip is made to conform thereto whereby a more secure interlock is had.

The fastener strip 34 is somewhat less wide than the width of the shallow groove 32 whereby the strip is accommodated loosely in the groove. When it is desired to release the convertible top sheet material 36 from the cab roof 18, it is merely necessary to lessen the tensile force in the sheet material so as to permit the fastener strip 34 to be shifted forward in the groove 32. This will cause disengagement between the walls 42 and 44 of the groove and strip, and enable the latter to be slipped out of the groove by a partial clockwise, pivotal turning of the strip. The disengagement can also be facilitated by applying pressure to the seam 38 of the convertible sheet material, to force the seam forwardly or toward the front of the vehicle. This will take up the looseness in the groove 32 and enable the said disengagement of the walls 42 and 44 to occur.

It will now be readily understood that the fastener strip 34 in conjunction with the flange or projection 46 constitutes an interlock arrangement which will securely fasten the sheet material 36 of the convertible top to the cab roof 18 and yet enable easy detachment of the same when this should be desired. The interlocking arrangement also provides an effective air and water seal, particularly since the sheet 36 of the convertible top forcibly engages a top sealing surface 50 of the body portion 12 of the anchorage strip.

Due to the fact that the flange 46 projects in a rearward direction, extending past the forward locking edge portion of the fastener strip, the likelihood of wind-driven water being blown or forced between the anchorage and fastener strips is greatly minimized or eliminated. The flange 46 thus constitutes a windshield.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the attachment construction demountably secures a structurally rigid cab top to the front portion 16a,18a, 28a of the automobile body. Components similar to those already described above have been given like characters. As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rigid cab top is designated 52 and is secured in a slot 54 of a fastener strip 56, as by means of sheet metal screws 58 which pass through a clamp strip 60 and into the top member 52. The sheet metal screws 58 pass through the walls of the fastener strip 56 as shown, and in conjunction with the clamp strip 60 constitute a secure attachment for mounting the fastener strip 56 on the cab top 52.

The fastener strip 56 has a curved flange portion 62 which is adapted to be received in the groove 32 with a pivotal motion, somewhat similar to that involved with the insertion of the fastener strip 49. The strip 56 has an upper surface 64 that is engageable with the flange 46 of the anchorage strip, spreading the flange slightly from the body portion 12 and providing for a tight and effective water and air seal. At the same time, as viewed in FIG. 5, the fastener strip 56 is securely anchored to the anchorage member 10 against dislodgment therefrom while in the operative position in FIG. 5. Somewhat of a cantilever action is involved, which effects a securement of the fastener strip to the anchorage member, and release of the strip is effected by swinging it clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 while applying a removing force.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a unique, especially simple and fool-proof releasable attachment construction which is especially adaptable for use with automobile demountable tops, to facilitate the securement of the top sheet material to the cab roof at the points adjacent the windshield of the car and to the rear thereof.

The attachment construction involves simple strip members which can be readily fabricated, the member 10 being readily produced by plastic extrusion. Not only does the construction provide a quick fastening and release means, but it also produces an effective seal and provides a pleasing trim, giving a professional appearance by virtue of the shape of the extrusion, including the depending, forwardly curled skirt 30.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.