Soft Front Cockpit Cover Pivoting Roof Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable roof systems for vehicles, particularly in sport-utility vehicles, are either cumbersome and difficult to open or require removal and storage of bulky hard top panels, which is time-consuming and ergonomically disadvantageous, lacking a quick and easy way to provide an open air feel without compromising weather sealing.
Innovation Solution
A foldable soft panel top assembly that seals against a hard top roof, featuring lightweight design, quick release latches, and minimal framing, allowing for easy operation and installation without modifying the vehicle, with a pivotal portion that can be folded back to provide an open air experience without removing the top, and includes sealing mechanisms to maintain weatherproof integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard top is used to provide roof protection, then weather sealing is improved, but the ability to provide open air feel is worsened because the entire top must be removed which is time-consuming and requires storage
Solution Approach 1:
The roof assembly is divided into a hard top portion and a separate soft panel top assembly that can be independently manipulated. The soft panel top assembly includes a pivotal portion that can be folded back to provide open air feel while the hard top portion remains in place to maintain weather sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft panel top assembly is designed with a pivotal portion that can dynamically change position between covering the cockpit (closed position) and folding back (open position). This dynamic capability allows the roof to adapt between providing weather protection and providing open air feel without removing the entire top.
2Ease of operation
If hard top panels are removed to provide open air feel, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity is worsened due to storage requirements and multiple knobs and latches
Solution Approach 1:
The roof system separates the soft panel top assembly from the hard top portion, allowing the soft panel to be independently folded back without removing the entire hard top. This eliminates the need for multiple knobs and latches and removes storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft panel top assembly is designed to be self-contained with its own pivotal mechanism that allows it to be folded back and forth without requiring removal from the vehicle or complex fastening mechanisms. The panel serves itself by providing both weather protection and open air feel capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a soft panel top assembly is used to provide easy folding, then ease of operation is improved, but weather sealing is worsened compared to hard top systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of soft panel tops (ease of folding) with hard top portions (weather sealing) into a hybrid roof assembly. The soft panel top assembly is integrated with the hard top portion through pivotal connections, combining the flexibility of soft materials with the sealing capability of hard structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The roof assembly uses a composite structure combining soft panel materials (fabric, foam, vinyl) with hard top portions (rigid framework, seals). This composite construction allows the soft panel to provide ease of operation while the hard top portion and integrated seals maintain weather sealing integrity.
4Ease of operation
If the soft panel top assembly is made lightweight for easy operation, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The soft panel top assembly uses flexible materials such as fabric, foam, and vinyl in thin film form to create a lightweight structure. These flexible shells provide sufficient strength for the intended application while minimizing weight, allowing easy manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotal portion is designed to be lightweight to enable easy folding and manual operation. The dynamic nature of the pivotal connection allows the lightweight panel to be easily moved between positions while still providing adequate structural support when in the closed position through its integration with the hard top portion.
Data Source
AI summary
A soft panel top assembly for a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof. The soft panel top assembly has a fixed portion attached to the vehicle and a lightweight pivotal portion that folds back to provide a quick and easy open air effect. Two door rails of the soft panel top assembly are connected to the vehicle. Two side rail linkage assemblies are attached to the header, which is secured to a windshield frame when in a closed position, and are connected at pivot points created with a bracket attached to the door rails to allow the pivotal portion to pivot to an open position. The soft panel top assembly includes a rear header that is lightweight and has a sealing arrangement that engages with the hard top roof portion and existing seal of the hard top roof portion to provide a weatherproof seal.