초록 ▼

A tonneau panel mechanism engages a stationary track in a closed position and disengages from the stationary track when in the open position. The tonneau panel exhibits a first stage of motion that includes both pivotal and non-pivotal motion and a second stage of motion that consists of substantial

A tonneau panel mechanism engages a stationary track in a closed position and disengages from the stationary track when in the open position. The tonneau panel exhibits a first stage of motion that includes both pivotal and non-pivotal motion and a second stage of motion that consists of substantially rotational motion about a pivot. The tonneau panel mechanism can include a linkage assembly with at least one link that engages with a stop on the tonneau panel to alter the motion of the tonneau panel between the first and second stages of motion. The tonneau panel can also use an at least four-bar linkage wherein at least two of the links move relative to one another during the first stage of motion and are locked together during a second stage of motion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A storage compartment covering-panel mechanism comprising:a panel operable between open and closed positions; a linkage assembly including at least one link, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said panel to move between said open and closed positions; a pivot of said panel being forwar

1. A storage compartment covering-panel mechanism comprising:a panel operable between open and closed positions; a linkage assembly including at least one link, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said panel to move between said open and closed positions; a pivot of said panel being forward of a rearmost section of said panel; a stationary track; and a projection on said panel configured to engage with and move along said track, said projection engaging with said track when said panel is in said closed position and said projection disengaging from said track when said panel is in said open position. 2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said projection disengages from said track prior to said panel reaching a fully open position when said panel moves from said closed to said open position.3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said linkage includes at least a four bar linkage.4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said projection is a roller configured to roll along said track.5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said projection is locked in engagement with said track when said panel is in said closed position and said projection is locked in engagement with said track during a portion of movement of said panel between said open and closed positions.6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said projection is located on a forward portion of said panel and said track has an elongated slot within which said projection is received, and the panel is a substantially rigid tonneau panel.7. An automotive vehicle system comprising:a convertible roof system including a convertible roof operable between extended and retracted positions; a storage compartment having a rearmost point defining a substantially vertical plane; a panel operable between open and closed positions, said panel operably covering said storage compartment in its closed position, said panel having a front portion that defines a substantially horizontal plane when said panel is in said closed position; and a linkage assembly including at least one link and at least one fixed pivot axis, said linkage assembly being operable to move said panel between said open and closed positions and said linkage assembly being coupled to a central or front portion of said panel; wherein said front portion of said panel does not substantially raise above said horizontal plane during initial movement of said panel from said closed to said open position, wherein a rear edge of said panel is rearward of said rearmost and substantially vertical plane of said storage compartment when open, wherein said panel remains above all fixed pivot axes of said linkage assembly in all operative positions, and wherein said panel is substantially rigid and said convertible roof can remain in said extended position while said panel moves between said open and closed positions. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said convertible roof system includes a hardtop convertible roof.9. The system of claim 7, wherein said convertible roof system includes a soft-top convertible roof.10. The system of claim 7, wherein said panel is a tonneau panel which automatically opens to allow said convertible roof to move between said extended and retracted positions.11. The system of claim 7, wherein said panel covers a portion of said convertible roof when said convertible roof is in said retracted position and said panel is in said closed position.12. The system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of an exterior surface of said convertible roof is visible when said convertible roof is in said retracted position and said panel is in said closed position.13. The system of claim 7, wherein a portion of said panel rides along a stationary track during a portion of movement between said open and closed positions.14. A tonneau panel mechanism comprising:a tonneau panel having opposite first and second sides and operable between open and closed positions; and a linkage assembly on each of said first and second sides of said tonneau panel operable to move said tonneau panel between said open and closed positions, each linkage assembly including a single link that rotates about a single pivot and a powered actuator operable to drive said single link about said pivot; wherein said tonneau panel rotates about said single pivots through at least a portion of movement of said tonneau panel between said open and closed positions; and wherein each single link includes a flat spot that engages with said tonneau panel during said rotation of said tonneau panel about said single pivots. 15. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 14, wherein said tonneau panel has first and second stages of motion as said tonneau panel moves between said open and closed positions, said first stage of motion including both pivotal and non-pivotal sliding motion and said second stage of motion including said rotation about said single pivots.16. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 15, wherein said tonneau panel moves in said first stage of motion then moves in said second stage of motion as said tonneau panel moves from said closed position to said open position.17. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 14, wherein said tonneau panel rotates about said single pivots through a majority portion of movement of said tonneau panel between said open and closed positions.18. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 14, further comprising a stationary track and wherein said tonneau panel engages and disengages from said track during movement of said tonneau panel between said open and closed positions.19. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 14, wherein said tonneau panel moves between a forwardly inclined position and a rearwardly inclined position during when rotating about said single pivots.20. A tonneau panel mechanism comprising:a tonneau panel operable between first and second positions, said tonneau panel having a stop; and a linkage assembly including at least one link having an abutting member, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said tonneau panel to move between said first and second positions; wherein said abutting member on said at least one link engages with said stop on said tonneau panel in at least one position of said tonneau panel between said first and second positions and said stop and said abutting member both move during movement of said tonneau panel between said first and second positions. 21. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 20, wherein said abutting member is a substantially flat spot on said at least one link.22. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 21, wherein said at least one link has first and second ends, said first end is pivotally attached to said tonneau panel, said second end is pivotally attached to a fixed location and said flat spot is located on said first end.23. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 20, wherein engagement of said abutting member with said stop alters motion of said to tonneau panel as said tonneau panel moves between said first and second positions.24. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 23, wherein motion of said tonneau panel is changed from a sliding and pivoting motion to a pivoting motion when said abutting member engages with said stop.25. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 20, wherein said stop is adjustable.26. The tonneau panel mechanism of claim 20, wherein said at least one link is a goose neck link.27. A panel mechanism comprising:a panel operable between first and second positions; and a linkage assembly including at least a four bar linkage, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said panel to move between said first and second positions; wherein at least two links of said linkage assembly move relative to one another during a first portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions and said at least two links are locked together during a second portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions altering motion of said panel and at least one of said two links is directly connected to said panel. 28. The panel mechanism of claim 27, wherein one link of said at least two links is pivotally attached to a fixed location.29. A panel mechanism comprising:a panel operable between first and second positions; and a linkage assembly including at least a four bar linkage, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said panel to move between said first and second positions; wherein at least two links of said linkage assembly move relative to one another during a first portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions and said at least two links are locked together during a second portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions altering motion of said panel, and further comprising a pin on said panel, wherein a first link of said at least two links has a slot and said pin travels along said slot in said first link during said first portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions. 30. The panel mechanism of claim 29, wherein a second link of said at least two links locks said pin in said slot during said second portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions, thereby locking said at least two links together.31. The panel mechanism of claim 30, wherein said second link is pivotally attached to said first link.32. The panel mechanism of claim 31, wherein said at least two links is at least three links, and a third link of said at least three links is pivotally attached to said panel and pivotally attached to said second link.33. A panel mechanism comprising:a panel operable between first and second positions; and a linkage assembly including at least a four bar linkage, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said panel to move between said first and second positions; wherein at least two links of said linkage assembly move relative to one another during a first portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions and said at least two links are locked together during a second portion of movement of said panel between said first and second positions altering motion of said panel, wherein a first link of said at least four bar linkage is pivotally attached to a fixed location and directly pivotally attached to said panel, one of said at least two links has a pin, and said first link engages with said pin when said panel is in said second position stabilizing said panel in said second position. 34. A panel mechanism comprising:a panel operable between open and closed positions; and a linkage assembly including at least two links, said linkage assembly being operable to cause said panel to move between said open and closed positions; wherein said at least two links move relative to one another during substantially an entire range of movement of said panel between said open and closed positions and lock together when said panel is in said open position providing stability for said panel. 35. The panel mechanism of claim 34, wherein each of said at least two links are pivotally coupled to said panel which is a convertible roof-covering and substantially rigid tonneau panel.36. The panel mechanism of claim 34, wherein one of said at least two links has a projection member and the other of said at least two links has an open-ended slot configured to receive said projection and said projection resides in said slot when said panel is in said open position locking said at least two links together.37. A method of operating a convertible roof system in conjunction with a tonneau panel mechanism on an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:(a) moving a tonneau panel from a closed position to an intermediate position with a pair of linkage assemblies that couple opposite sides of said tonneau panel to the vehicle including sliding a portion of said tonneau panel along a stationary track as said tonneau panel moves from said closed position to said intermediate position, wherein each of said linkage assemblies includes a single link that rotates about a single pivot, and a powered actuator coupled to said single link and being operable to drive said single link about said single pivot; (b) moving said tonneau panel from said intermediate position to an open position by rotating said tonneau panel about said single pivots; (c) moving a convertible roof from an extended position to a retracted position; and (d) moving said tonneau panel from said open position to said closed position. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein step (b) includes disengaging said portion of said tonneau panel from said stationary track.39. The method of claim 37, wherein a forward portion of said tonneau panel defines a substantially horizontal plane when said tonneau panel is in said closed position and step (a) includes maintaining said front portion of said tonneau panel from raising substantially above said horizontal plane as said tonneau panel is moved from said closed position to said intermediate position.40. The method of claim 37, wherein step (a) includes moving a front portion of said tonneau panel out from under a portion of said convertible roof while said convertible roof is stationary and in said extended position.41. The method of claim 37, wherein each of said single links includes an abutting member, said tonneau panel has a pair of stop members and step (b) includes engaging said abutting members on said single links with said stop members on said tonneau panel while said tonneau panel moves from said intermediate position to said open position.