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A preferred embodiment of an automotive convertible roof system has a flat-fold boot cover. In another aspect of the present invention, the boot cover includes various pliable fabric materials that are laminated together to form an integrated material. A further aspect of the present invention provi

A preferred embodiment of an automotive convertible roof system has a flat-fold boot cover. In another aspect of the present invention, the boot cover includes various pliable fabric materials that are laminated together to form an integrated material. A further aspect of the present invention provides that flexible stiffeners be placed between the flexible sheets during the manufacturing process. Still another aspect of the present invention employs flexible stiffeners having a non-uniform thickness, which cause the flexible stiffeners to bend asymmetrically when subjected to a bending load.

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1. A boot cover comprising:at least one flexible stiffener having a variable thickness which enables the flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically when subjected to a bending load; anda flexible sheet having a section positioned adjacent to the flexible stiffener, such that flexing the flexible stif

1. A boot cover comprising:at least one flexible stiffener having a variable thickness which enables the flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically when subjected to a bending load; anda flexible sheet having a section positioned adjacent to the flexible stiffener, such that flexing the flexible stiffener causes the section of the flexible sheet adjacent to the flexible stiffener to acquire substantially the same curvature as the flexed flexible stiffener. 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the flexible stiffener has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and the flexible sheet has a front face and back face, the first surface of the flexible stiffener being positioned adjacent to the back face of the flexible sheet. 3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the first surface of the flexible stiffener is attached to the back face of the flexible sheet. 4. The cover of claim 1, wherein the flexible stiffener has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and the flexible sheet has a front face and back face, the second surface of the flexible stiffener being positioned adjacent to the front face of the flexible sheet. 5. The cover of claim 4, wherein the second surface of the flexible stiffener is attached to the front face of the flexible sheet. 6. The cover of claim 1, wherein applying a compressive load to opposed edge surfaces of the flexible stiffener causes the flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically. 7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the flexible stiffener is made of at least one material selected from plastic, fiberglass, and an engineering grade polymer. 8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the flexible stiffener has a tapered thickness. 9. The cover of claim 1, wherein the flexible stiffener is substantially flat when not subjected to a bending load. 10. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover can be folded between the flexible stiffeners. 11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is operable to produce a curved surface contour when placed in a functional position and lays substantially flat when placed in a non-functional position. 12. An automotive convertible roof system comprising:a convertible roof movable from an open position to a stored position; anda convertible roof boot cover operable to cover at least a portion of the convertible roof when the convertible roof is in its stored position, the boot cover having at least one flexible stiffener that flexes when subjected to a bending load and returns to a substantially flat configuration when the bending load is removed, and a flexible sheet positioned adjacent to the at least one flexible stiffener. 13. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has a variable thickness. 14. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 13, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener is elongated and has opposed longitudinal ends, such that applying a compressive load to the longitudinal ends of the at least one flexible stiffener causes the flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically. 15. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 13, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has opposed edge surfaces, such that applying a compressive load to the opposed edge surfaces causes the at least one flexibie stiffener to bend asymmetrically. 16. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 13, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has elongated side edges, such that applying a compressive load to the side edges of the at least one flexible stiffener causes the flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically. 17. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 12, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has a substantially constant thickness. 18. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 17, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener is elongated and has opposed longitudinal ends, such that applying a compressive load to the longitudinal ends of the at least one flexible stiffen er causes the at least one flexible stiffener to bend symmetrically. 19. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 17, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has opposed edge surfaces, such that applying a compressive load to the opposed edge surfaces causes the at least one flexible stiffener to bend symmetrically. 20. An automotive convertible roof system comprising:a convertible roof movable from an open position to a stored position; anda convertible roof boot cover operable to cover at least a portion of the convertible roof when the convertible roof is in its stored position, the boot cover having at least one flexible stiffener that flexes when subjected to a bending load and returns to a substantially flat configuration when the bending load is removed, and a flexible sheet positioned adjacent to the at least one flexible stiffener, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has a substantially constant thickness, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has elongated side edges, such that applying a compressive load to the side edges of the at least one flexible stiffener causes the at least one flexible stiffener to bend symmetrically. 21. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 12, wherein flexing the at least one flexible stiffener causes a section of the at least one flexible sheet adjacent to the at least one flexible stiffener to acquire substantially the same curvature as the flexed at least one flexible stiffener. 22. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 12, wherein the flexible sheet lays substantially flat when not attached to an automotive vehicle. 23. An automotive convertible roof system comprising:a convertible roof movable from an open position to a stored position; anda convertible roof boot cover operable to cover at least a portion of the convertible roof when the convertible roof is in its stored position, the boot cover having at least one flexible stiffener that flexes when subjected to a bending load and returns to a substantially flat configuration when the bending load is removed, and a flexible sheet positioned adjacent to the at least one flexible stiffener, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has a substantially constant thickness, wherein the flexible sheet can be folded between the at least one flexible stiffener. 24. The automotive convertible roof system of claim 12, wherein the contour of an outer peripheral edge of the flexible sheet has substantially a “C” shape. 25. An automotive convertible boot cover comprising:a pliable cover; andat least one flexible stiffener attached to the pliable cover and which bends asymmetrically when subjected to a bending load. 26. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 25, wherein the pliable cover is further comprised of at least two layers of flexible sheets. 27. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein adhesive is used to bond together the at least two layers of flexible sheets. 28. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein heat is used to bond together the at least two layers of flexible sheets. 29. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein the at least two layers of flexible sheets are attached to one another along a periphery. 30. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener is positioned between the at least two layers of flexible sheets. 31. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein at least one flexible sheet of the at least two layers of flexible sheets is made of a polymeric material. 32. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 31, wherein the polymeric material is vinyl. 33. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein at least one flexible sheet of the at least two layers of flexible sheets is made of a resilient cushioning material. 34. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 33, wherein the resilient cushioning material is polyuret hane. 35. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein at least one flexible sheet of the at least two layers of flexible sheets is made of a cloth material. 36. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 26, wherein each flexible sheet of the at least two layers of flexible sheets has substantially the same size, shape and outer peripheral edge contour as the other layers. 37. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 25, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has a variable thickness. 38. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 25, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener is made of at least one material selected from plastic, fiberglass, and an engineering grade polymer. 39. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 25, wherein a compressive load applied to opposed edge surfaces of the at least one flexible stiffener causes the flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically. 40. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 25, wherein the boot cover can be attached to a body of an automotive vehicle. 41. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 40, wherein attaching the boot cover to the vehicle body causes the at least one flexible stiffener to bend asymmetrically. 42. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 40, wherein the boot cover lays substantially flat when not attached to the automotive vehicle. 43. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 25, wherein the boot cover can be folded between the at least one flexible stiffeners. 44. An automotive convertible boot cover comprising:a “C” shaped pliable cover; andat least one flexible stiffener attached to the pliable cover, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener flexes when the cover is installed and returns to a substantially flat configuration when the cover is removed. 45. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 44, wherein the pliable cover is further comprised of the at least two layers of flexible sheets between which the at least one flexible stiffeners are positioned. 46. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 45, wherein each of the at least two layers of flexible sheets has substantially the same size, shape and outer peripheral edge contour as the other layers. 47. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 44, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener has a substantially constant thickness. 48. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 44, wherein the at least one flexible stiffener is made of at least one material selected from plastic, fiberglass, and an engineering grade polymer. 49. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 44, wherein a compressive load applied to opposed edge surfaces of the flexible stiffener causes the at least one flexible stiffener to bend symmetrically. 50. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 44, wherein the boot cover can be attached to a body of an automotive vehicle. 51. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim of claim 50, wherein attaching the boot cover to the vehicle body causes the at least one flexible stiffener to bend symmetrically. 52. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 50, wherein the boot cover lays substantially flat when not attached to the automotive vehicle. 53. The automotive convertible boot cover of claim 44, wherein the boot cover can be folded between the at least one flexible stiffeners. 54. A method for using a boot cover, having at least one flexible stiffener, to cover a convertible roof of an automotive vehicle that is movable between extended and retracted positions, the method comprising:(a) placing the boot cover over the fully retracted convertible roof;(b) applying a compressive load to opposed ends of the at least one flexible stiffeners so to cause the at least one flexible stiffeners to bend asymmetrically in an upward direction away from the retracted convertible roof; and(c) attaching a periphery of the boot cover to a body of the automotive vehicle. 55. The m ethod of claim 54, further comprising the steps of:(a) detaching the periphery of the boot cover from the automotive vehicle; and(b) releasing the compressive load applied to the opposed ends of the flexible stiffeners so as to cause the at least one flexible stiffeners to return to a substantially flat shape; and(c) removing the boot cover from the vehicle. 56. The method of claim 54, further comprising the steps of:(a) flattening the boot cover; and(b) folding the boot cover along multiple fold lines that pass between the at least one flexible stiffeners.