Folding Top Frame Corner Bow Guide Track and Stop

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing folding top frames for adjustable vehicle roofs lack a secure mechanism to maintain the roof in a closed position during individual adjusting movements, as they rely on slotted guides that do not effectively hold the corner bow in place.

Innovation Solution

A folding top frame design featuring a corner bow with a fork and bearing arm, supported by a load-bearing support with a slot-shaped guide track, where the journal is guided in the slot to secure the corner bow in a closed position using a lower stop, ensuring the roof remains secured.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a slotted guide is used to control the movement of the corner bow, then the guidance function is provided, but the corner bow cannot be securely held in the closed position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring of closed positionVSAvoidguide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide arm combines two functions into a single integrated component: the slot-shaped guide track for movement control and the lower stop for position securing. This merging eliminates the need for separate guiding and stopping mechanisms, achieving reliable closed position holding while maintaining guide structure simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The journal acts as an intermediary element that engages with both the slot-shaped guide track and the lower stop. It transfers the corner bow's movement through the guide track and allows positive engagement with the stop to secure the closed position, mediating between the moving corner bow and the stationary guide structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the guide track is extended to provide guidance during movement, then the guidance function is improved, but the ability to securely hold the closed position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguided movementVSAvoidsecured position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide arm integrates the slot-shaped guide track and lower stop into a single component, allowing the guide track to extend for movement guidance while the lower stop provides positive engagement to secure the closed position. This merging ensures both guided movement and reliable position holding are achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a separate stopping mechanism is added to secure the closed position, then the reliability of position holding is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecured closed positionVSAvoidguide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide arm merges the guiding function (slot-shaped guide track) and the stopping function (lower stop) into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate stopping mechanisms while providing reliable closed position holding, thereby improving reliability without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9016757B2Folding top frame for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.04.28 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A folding top frame has a corner bow with a lower end connected pivotably to a main bow. A load-bearing support is articulated pivotably on a folding top bearing, and has a guide slot, at an end opposite the folding top bearing. The corner bow is guided in the guide track by way of a journal. In the closed position of the folding top frame, the journal is at a lower end stop of the guide slot so that the corner bow is supported.