Convertible vehicle and method for fitting an inflatable soft top

Abstract

Convertible vehicle (1) with an inflatable soft top (5) comprising air chambers (13-23) which are filled with compressed air when the soft top (5) is inflated, wherein the air chambers (13-23) of the soft top (5) extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a front body part (3) and a rear body part (4) of the body of the convertible vehicle (1) when inflated, characterized in that small air chambers (27-29) have a cross-sectional size that is five to ten times smaller than the cross-sectional size of large air chambers (24-26), wherein the small air chambers (27-29) are arranged along an outer wall (11, 12) of the soft top (5), and wherein the small air chambers (27-29) are arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle between the large air chambers (24-26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a convertible vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for mounting an inflatable convertible top in or on such a convertible vehicle.

[0002] The generic US patent application US 3,227,486 A discloses an inflatable car roof that can interact with a car windshield and comprises the following: walls forming a plurality of inflatable chambers extending substantially side by side across the entire width of the roof and defining individual columns, each running substantially parallel to the length of the car, wherein the walls forming the columns essentially act as longitudinal beams that resist lateral bending and thus give the roof a defined shape without the need for additional reinforcement or a supporting frame. The German patent application DE 10 2008 028 668 A1 discloses a roof for a motor vehicle with multiple air chambers that can be filled with compressed air to close or unfold the roof, wherein compressed air can be vented from the air chambers to open or fold the roof.German patent DE 40 23 348 C1 discloses a roll-up, inflatable roof for a vehicle, which, when inflated, extends between a windshield frame and a rear section of the body, wherein the roof is divided into a plurality of air chambers. American patent US 2 838 341 A discloses a removable soft top or roof for an open vehicle, comprising an inflatable, flexible body element, wherein the body element has an inner and an outer layer of flexible material, as well as means for airtight sealing of the circumferential edges of the layers to one another and for maintaining a gap between them.

[0003] The object underlying the invention is to improve a convertible vehicle functionally and / or in terms of manufacturing technology according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] This problem is solved by a convertible vehicle with the features of claim 1 and by a method with the features of claim 6. The longitudinal direction of the vehicle is also referred to as the x-direction. Similarly, a transverse direction of the vehicle is also referred to as the y-direction. A vertical direction of the vehicle is also referred to as the z-direction. The inflatable soft top encloses the interior of the convertible vehicle in the vertical direction. The convertible vehicle can also be operated with the top down, i.e., without the inflatable soft top. In its inflated state, the inflated soft top forms a stable roof for the convertible vehicle. In its deflated state, the soft top is advantageously easily foldable or rollable. Thus, in its deflated state, the soft top can be easily stored in a relatively small storage space.The design and arrangement of the air chambers directly influence the convertible top's shape and handling, both when inflated and deflated. In areas where high forces occur or are expected when the top is inflated, the cross-section of the air chambers can be enlarged, or the number of air chambers can be increased. Furthermore, suitable recesses, particularly bulges, can be incorporated into the inflatable top in the area of ​​the driver's or passenger's head. The top can be inflated manually using a suitable air pump or with an electric pump. The air or electric pump can be external, meaning located outside the convertible. Alternatively, a suitable pump can be integrated into the convertible.A suitable electric pump can, for example, be housed in the area of ​​a roll bar, which forms the rear body section of the convertible. Existing pressure lines in the convertible can be used particularly advantageously to supply the air for inflating the soft top. Such pressure lines are typically associated with an air suspension system in convertibles. The claimed combination of such small and large air chambers in the convertible's inflatable soft top has proven advantageous with regard to the vehicle's operational stability. Large air chambers are positioned closer to the interior of the inflatable soft top, relative to its outer walls. This allows for the creation of a sufficiently stable soft top with simple means and relatively little material.The fact that the small air chambers are arranged in a transverse direction between the large air chambers has proven particularly advantageous with regard to undesirable vibrations during operation of the convertible vehicle at high speeds.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the convertible vehicle is characterized in that the air chambers in a cross-section all have the same shape but different cross-sectional sizes. This allows the stability of the inflated convertible top to be varied relatively easily and designed according to requirements.

[0006] Another preferred embodiment of the convertible vehicle is characterized in that at least a number of the air chambers have a polygonal, in particular rectangular, cruciform, or X-shaped, or a round, in particular circular or oval, cross-section. The polygonal cross-sections of the air chambers can be regular or irregular. Depending on the design of the inflatable soft top, a desired stability profile can be achieved through the size and shape of the air chambers. The air chambers can also be interconnected. An air chamber does not necessarily have to be a closed system. The soft top can also be viewed as an air chamber reinforced by ribs / struts.

[0007] Another preferred embodiment of the convertible vehicle is characterized in that the inflatable soft top is combined with at least one attachment component and / or window sealing component. The attachment component serves, for example, to connect the inflatable soft top to a frame or body of the convertible vehicle. The window sealing components serve, for example, to connect to door seals of windows in vehicle doors.

[0008] Another preferred embodiment of the convertible vehicle is characterized in that the air chambers are bounded by a flexible material. This flexible material simplifies the storage of the convertible top in its deflated state. The flexible material is, for example, a sufficiently rigid plastic. When inflated, the convertible top made of this flexible material is stable enough to withstand the required pressure in the air chambers. Furthermore, the flexible material is also designed to ensure that the inflatable convertible top provides adequate occupant protection even in extreme accident situations. The occupants are protected to the same extent as with a conventional convertible top. In an accident, this prevents objects from flying into or out of the vehicle, but it does not contribute to structural safety.

[0009] In a method for mounting an inflatable convertible top in or on a previously described convertible vehicle, the above-mentioned task is solved alternatively or additionally by attaching the inflatable top to a roll bar and a cowl frame of the convertible vehicle. The top can be inflated manually using an air pump or by an electric pump. The top can be installed in its deflated state. However, it can also be installed in its inflated state.

[0010] The invention further relates to an inflatable convertible top for a previously described motor vehicle. The inflatable convertible top is separately marketable.

[0011] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A perspective view of an inflatable convertible top in cross-section; Fig. 2 an embodiment of the inflatable canopy made of Fig. 1 in cross-section; Fig. 3 another embodiment of the inflatable canopy made of Fig. 1 in cross-section; Fig. 4 a convertible vehicle with an inflatable roof, as it is in Fig. 1. shown in perspective in section, in a top view in an assembled state between a front and a rear body part; Fig. 5 a side view of the convertible vehicle Fig. 4 with the inflatable canopy in a deflated state; and Fig. 6 the same side view as in Fig. 5 with the convertible top in its inflated state.

[0012] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a convertible vehicle 1 with a windshield 2, only partially depicted in a top view. The interior of the convertible vehicle 1 is enclosed vertically by an inflatable soft top 5.

[0013] The inflatable soft top 5 is in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, that is to say in Fig. 4 is mounted horizontally between a front body panel 3 and a rear body panel 4. The front body panel 3 forms a cowl frame. The rear body panel 4 is designed as a roll bar.

[0014] The in Fig. The convertible vehicle 1 shown in Figure 4 is combined with only indicated connection components 6, 7 and window sealing components 8, 9, 10. Connection component 6 serves to connect the inflatable soft top 5 to the windshield frame 3. Connection component 7 serves to connect the inflatable soft top 5 to the roll bar 4.

[0015] Window sealing components 8, 9 serve to connect the inflatable soft top 5 to the side windows of the convertible vehicle 1. Window sealing component 10 serves to connect the inflatable soft top 5 to a rear window, which in the convertible vehicle 1 is combined with the roll bar 4.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 4 indicates by horizontal lines 40 that the inflatable roof 5 has air chambers running parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. These air chambers extend, as shown in Fig. 4 is indicated by the horizontal lines 40, continuously in the inflatable roof 5 between the front body part 3 and the rear body part 4.

[0017] In the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is the convertible vehicle 1 from Fig. 4 shown in a side view. Fig. Figure 5 shows the convertible top in its uninflated, i.e., deflated, state 35. Fig. 6. The air chambers in the inflatable canopy 5 are filled with compressed air. That is to say, in Fig. 6 the inflatable canopy 5 is in its inflated state 36.

[0018] In the perspective section view of the Fig. Figure 1 shows that the inflatable roof 5 has a multitude of air chambers 13 to 21 extending in the longitudinal direction or x-direction of the vehicle. Fig. Figure 1 illustrates that the air chambers 13 to 21 can have very different cross-sections.

[0019] Air chamber 13 has a circular cross-section. Air chamber 14 has an oblong cross-section. Air chamber 15 has a rectangular cross-section. Air chamber 16 also has a rectangular cross-section. Air chamber 17 has a diamond-shaped cross-section.

[0020] Air chamber 18 has a polygonal cross-section. Air chamber 19 has an X-shaped cross-section. Air chamber 20 has a rectangular cross-section. Air chamber 21 has an oval cross-section.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 1 further shows that the inflatable canopy 5 has an upper outer canopy wall 11 at the top and a lower outer canopy wall 12 at the bottom. The outer canopy walls 11 and 12 are made of a flexible material.

[0022] In Fig. Figure 2 shows that the inflatable roof 5 can also have cutouts 31, 32 for the heads of vehicle occupants. In the area of ​​the cutouts 31, 32, the inflatable roof 5 is bulged outwards.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 2 further shows that the inflatable convertible top only has air chambers 22, 23 with a circular cross-section. However, the air chambers 22, 23 with the circular cross-section are of different sizes. Large air chambers 22 occupy most of the space between the upper outer wall 11 of the convertible top and the lower outer wall 12. Small air chambers 23 are, as can be seen in Fig. 2 is located adjacent to the lower outer wall of the canopy 12.

[0024] In Fig. 3 is a version of the inflatable canopy 5 without the cutouts that are in Fig.Sections 2, labeled 31 and 32, are shown in cross-section. The cross-section shows that the inflatable canopy 5 has a multitude of large air chambers 24 to 26 and small air chambers 27 to 29 between the outer canopy walls 11 and 12.

[0025] Air chambers 24 to 29 all have a circular cross-section. Between each pair of adjacent large air chambers 25 and 26, two small air chambers 27 and 28 are arranged. Small air chamber 27 is located in close proximity to the upper outer wall 11 of the convertible top. Small air chamber 28 is located in close proximity to the lower outer wall 12 of the convertible top. Reference sign 1 convertible 2 Windscreen 3 front body panel 4 rear body panel, roll bar 5 inflatable canopies 6 Connection component 7 Connection component 8 Window sealing component 9 Window sealing component 10 Window sealing components 11 upper convertible top outer wall 12 lower outer canopy wall 13 air chambers 14 air chambers 15 air chambers 16 air chambers 17 air chambers 18 air chambers 19 air chambers 20 air chambers 21 air chambers 22 air chambers 23 air chambers 24 large air chambers 25 large air chambers 26 large air chambers 27 small air chambers 28 small air chambers 29 small air chambers 31 recess 32 recess 35 airless state 36 inflated state 40 horizontal lines

Claims

Convertible vehicle (1) with an inflatable soft top (5) comprising air chambers (13-23) which are filled with compressed air when the soft top (5) is inflated, wherein the air chambers (13-23) of the soft top (5) extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle between a front body part (3) and a rear body part (4) of the body of the convertible vehicle (1) when inflated, characterized in that small air chambers (27-29) have a cross-sectional size that is five to ten times smaller than the cross-sectional size of large air chambers (24-26), wherein the small air chambers (27-29) are arranged along an outer wall (11, 12) of the soft top (5), and wherein the small air chambers (27-29) are arranged in a transverse direction of the vehicle between the large air chambers (24-26). Convertible vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the air chambers (13-23) in a cross-section all have the same shape but different cross-sectional sizes. Convertible vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a number of the air chambers (13-23) have a polygonal, in particular rectangular, cruciform or x-shaped, or a round, in particular circular or oval, cross-section. Convertible vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inflatable soft top (5) is combined with at least one connection component (6,7) and / or window sealing component (8-10). Convertible vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air chambers (13-23) are bounded by a flexible material. Method for mounting an inflatable soft top (5) in or on a convertible vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inflatable soft top (5) is attached to a roll bar (4) and to a wind guide frame (3) of the convertible vehicle (1). Inflatable soft top (5) for a convertible vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 .

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