Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
' A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
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This invention relates to vehicle bodies and more
particularly to removable panel arrangements for the roof of
vehicles and the method of installing such panels in the robf
portion of conventional automobiles.
Removable panels have been provided of the type in
which a pair of panels are disposed in association with the
door opening at opposite sides of the vehicle, In such an
arrangement, installation is made by cutting away openings in
, the roof leaving a portion of the original body disposed lon-
gitudinally of the body and between the openings which are to
be covered by the panels. Such arrangements are referred to
as T-tops or hatch tops and are difficult to make since they
require careful positioning of templates relative to each
other and complex installation and finishing of the perimeter
'~ 15 of the roof openings. In addition, such installations if not
properly made, could change the ability of the body to with-
stand certain loads imposed during operation of the vehicle.
' Also, the original vehicle top extending centrally often is
maintained at a relatively wide width which limits the size
of the panels openings.
It is an object of the invention to provide a
removable panel arrangement for vehicle roofs and the method
of installing such panel arrangements in which the installa- -
tion is greatly simplified
Another object of the invention i5 to provide a -
panel arrangement and method of installation in which, al-
though the roof section is reduced~ the arrangement rein-
forces and strengthens the body~
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. A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
:.......... A further object of the invention is to provide a
.~ panel arrangement and method of installation by which roof
openings to accept a pair of panels may be made large in both
the transverse and longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide
a panel arrangement and method of installation in which a
; pair of panels in closed position and at opposite sides of
... ;
the vehicle have the appearance of being substantially con-
tinuous across the vehicle roof~
Another object is to provide an improved sealing
`~ and drainage system for a removable panel arrangement for
.. vehicles which maintains the vehicle roof in weather-tight
condition.
. Basically, the invention provides a roof assembly for
a vehicle having window openings at opposite sides of the ve-
. hicle with the vehicle forming transverse opening in the ve-
` hicle roof defined by a forward edge portion and a rearward
,'- edge portion, the edge portions extending from a window open-
ing at one side of the vehicle to the window opening at the
other side of the vehicle, an H-shaped frame having a forward
frame portion and a rearward frame portion joined integrally
with a center frame portion, the H-shaped frame having said for-
ward frame protion connected to the forward edge of the roof
and the rearward frame portion connected to the rearward edge
of the roof with the center frame portion disposed on the -:
center line of the vehicle, the H-shaped frame forming a pair
of oppositely extending spaces at the opposite sides of the
center frame portion, and a pair of panels removably cov~ :
ering the openings, the H-shaped frame member forming trans-
verse extending drainage channels communicating with each other
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by a central drainage channel, the channels being adjacent
' edge portions of the panels when the later are in a closed
position relative to the openings,
~ The invention also contemplates the formation of an, 5 auxiliary channel in the H-shaped frame adjacent to the for-
ward, rearward and central edges of each of the openings for
`', supporting a weather strip member engageable with the under-
side of the panels.
. .
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roof portion
"~ 10 of a vehicle body with roof panels embodying the present
.'X
5'`' invention shown in their relative positions with one of the
~;! panels partially removed;
;~ Figure 2 is a top view of a portion of the vehicle
,'., body showing the panel portions in position;
;, 15 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the
roof panels removed;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view at an enlarged
t scale taken generally on line 4-4 in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view at an enlarged
scale taken generally along line 5-5 in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a perspective view from the interior of
' the vehicle and showing the underside of the roof and rein-
forcing portion;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally
on line 7-7 in Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a sectional view of a portion of a roof
panel taken generally on line 8-8 in Figure 2;
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
Figure 9 is a view of the latch mechanism used to
; retain the roof panel in position;
r Figure 10 is a modification of a portion of the
!.
. arrangement seen in Figure 4;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the roof portion
of a vehicle body prior to modification;
,
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a unitary frame
. structure with parts removed in the interest of clarity;
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view in perspective
.~ 10 taken on line 13-13 in Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view in perspective .
.~ taken on line 14-14 in Figure 12;
. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view in perspective -
taken on line 15-15 in Figure 12; and ;~
~ 15 Figure 16 is a plan view of a portion of the frame
i; member with parts removed in the interest of clarity. ~:
The removable roof panel arrangement of the present :
invention is incorporated in an automotive vehicle body 10
having a roof portion 12 extending rearwardly from the wind-
shield 13. The roof portion 12 is provided with a pair of
`; openings 14 and 16 which are best seen in Figure 3 and are an
extension of the window openings 18 and 20 disposed at opposite
sides of a longitudinal center line 22 of the vehicle as best
seen in Figure 2. The openings 14 and 16 are closed with de- ::
tachable panels 24 and 26, respectively, which may be removed
if desired and when in place as seen in Figure 2, form a
weather-tight roof assembly.
In general the openings 14 and 16 are formed by por- :-
tions of a forward frame member 28, a rearward frame member 30
and a central frame member 32. The frame members act to form
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: A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC. :
three sides of each of the openings 14 and 16. The fourth
side of the openings merges with the window openings 18 and 20.
, When panels 24 and 26 are in place as seen in Figure 2 the sill
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, or edge portions 34 of the panels form the fourth side and act
to engage the upper edge of the windows 36 which close the win-
dow openings 18 and 20.
~ ~ .
. The forward frame member 28 extends transversely of
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~' the vehicle rearwardly of a windshield header 38 immediately
. above the windshield 13. As best seen in Figure 4 the forward :
~;~ 10 frame member 28 is in the form of an aluminum extrusion having
a relatively complex cross section. The forward frame member
28 has a trim flange 40 adapted to engage the upper surface of
~:~ the sheet metal layer 41 forming a part of the roof adjacent
. . .
:~ to the windshield header 38. The trim flange 40 is disposed
parallel to a mounting flange 42 extending from a generally
vertically extending web 44. The trim flange and mounting
;. flange form a space 45 to receive a marginal edge 46 of the
sheet metal layer 41 of the roof and a reinforcing member 48.
The reinforcing member 48 is generally the same length as the
20 frame member 28 and lies at the underside of the sheet metal
edge portion 46 opposite to the trim flange 40. The reinforc-
:ing member 48 is held in position to sandwich the metal roof
portion between the trim flange 40 and the reinforcing member
.: 48 by a plurality of uniformly spaced screws 49 which are
threadably engaged in the mounting flange 42.
The lower end of the web portion 44 has a base por-
tion 50, the upper surface of which has a vertical wall 52
~' ~ extending parallel to the web 44 and acting with the latter and
the base 50 and wall 52 to form a trough which acts to accumu-
late and divert moisture. A bracket portion 54 is formed to
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One side of the wall 52 and is in the form of a channel having
a groove 56 disposed generally parallel to the wall 52. -~
The rearward frame member 30 has a cross section
very similar to the forward frame member 28 except that in-
stead of a web 44 a stepped web 44a is employed so that thebase portion 50a is narrower than the base portion 50 of the
`i forward frame member 28. The wall 52 and opposed portion of
the stepped web 44a form a trough similar to that associated
with the forward frame member 28. The frame member 30 is
mounted on a rearward edge portion 57 of the sheet metal roof
which extends transversely of the vehicle to the rear of the
window openings 18 and 20.
The forward frame member 28 and rearward frame mem-
ber30 are joined together by the central frame member 32 which
is best seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The central frame member
32 is an aluminum extrusion having a base portion 62 the oppo- l~
site marginal edges of which are provided with U-shaped channel `
portions having a groove 64. A central portion of the base
member 62 has a web 66 which extends generally vertically up-
wardly. Extending from opposite sides of the web portion 66
and elevated above the base 62 is a platform portion 68 which
` serves as a guide for the central or inner edge portions 70 of
the panels 24 and 26 when they are being placed into closing
position. The upper end of web 66 has a T-shaped molding 71
, 25 which engages the top of the panels 24 and 26 adjacent the in-
ner edges 70. -
As seen in Figure 6 the underside of the central
frame member 32 is provided with a reinforcing member 72 which
acts not only to facilitate fastening of the central frame
member to the forward and rearward frame members but also to
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
absorb various loads which might be imposed on the vehicle
,' during its operation. The reinforcing member 72 preferably is
of steel sheet material and as best seen in Figure 6 is gener-
ally H-shaped in configuration so that when the frame member
~" 5 is in position, the reinforcing member 72 has portions for
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' attachment not only to the central frame member 32 but also to
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portions of the forward and rearward frame members 28 and 30
.~,
which are disposed to opposite sides of the central frame mem-
ber. The reinforcing member 72 is attacned to the central frame
member by a plurality of fasteners such as screws 74. The
assembly of the central frame member 32 and the reinforcing
plate 72 are held rigidly in position relative to the forward
and rearward frame members 28 and 30 by means of bolts 76 which
pass through the forward frame member 28, the central frame
15 member 32, the reinforcing plate 72 and a tapping plate 77. A
tapping plate 77 is used in association with both the forward
and rearward frames 28 and 30. Additionally pop rivets 78 may
be used to secure the reinforcing plate 72 to the frame members
or to other transverse frame members of the body, not shown.
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Although the reinforcing plate 72 is relatively thin
, it makes it possible to use a relatively narrow central frame
member 32 so that the openings 14 and 16 have a maximum trans-
verse dimension and so that the appearance from the exterior
is that the inboard edges of the panels 24 and 26 are close to
each other. The reinforcing member 72 acts in conjunction with
the central frame member 32 to increase the beaming strength of
the vehicle body. By beamins strength is meant the tendency of
; the forward and rearward frame members 28 and 30 to move towards
each other in the absence of a central structural member. The
3 ~ horizontal cross-sectional portions of the central beam assembly
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
such as the base member 62, the platform 68 and the reinforc-
- ing member 72 serve to increase the resistance to torsional ~;
distortion of the body. Torsional distortion is the character- ~ ~-
istic of the body which causes the rearward portion of the body
to move or twist relative to the forward portion of the body
about a longitudinal axis passing intermediate the body roof
and floor. Such torsional displacement re~uires the forward
and rearward frame members 28 and 30 to move laterally relative
to each other and would require a distortion of the reinforcing
10 -member 72 -
A seal assembly including a seal retainer 80 and
a seal 82 extends around three sides of each of the openings 14
and 16. The seal retainer 80 lS in the form of an aluminum ;-
; extrusion having a general channel shaped cross section as
15 seen in Figures 4 and 5. The retainer 80 is secured in position
relative to the forward and rearward frame members and the
.. . .
, central frame member by means of self tapping screws 84, the
threads of which engage the opposing walls of the grooves 54 and
64. The seal retainer 80 extends along three sides of each of
the openings 14 and 16. The groove 85 of the channel shaped
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retainer 80 receives the seal 82 which is made of a foam like
rubber material and has a generally Y-shaped configuration with
a leg 86 which fits in the groove of the retainer and arms 87
- and 88. With the panels 24 and 26 in position the flexible arms
87 and 88 are deformed to form a weather-tight seal with the
underside of the panels. When the panels are removed the seal
portions formed by arms 87 and &8 return to their
as molded condition and any moisture that passes the arm 87
accumulates in the space between the arms 87 and 88 and is
30 ~ diverted to the side of the vehicle.
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The interior of the vehicle body in the areas of
~'~ the frame members 28, 30 and 32 may be finished by a molding
!~!; member 89 which may be fastened to the frame members in any
conventional manner as by screws to clamp the headliner 89a
which typically is used to finish off the interior of the
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vehicle.
The headliner 89a indicated in Figure 4 and S is a
semi-rigid structure. In some vehicles however the headliner
is of a flexible cloth material such as the indicated at 92
in Figure 10. With flexible headliners 92, a modified seal
retainer 94 is used which is provided with an upper flange 95
forming a slot 96 and a lower flange 97. The soft headliner
materials is pulled tightly about the flange 97 and is locked
, in position in the slot 96 by means of a retainer strip 98
~ 15 which serves to hold the flexible headliner 92 relative to the
seal assembly 94 at three sides of the panel openings 14 and
16. The openings 14 and 16 are closed by the panels 24 and 26
each of which is generally identical so that it becomes neces-
sary to refer only to the panel 24. Referring now to Figure
.,
20 8 the panel 24 includes a panel portion 100 of laminated or
tempered glass, sheet metal or plastic. The outboard edge 101
of the panel 24 is fitted with the window header or sill 34
including a latch assembly 102. The window header 34 is an
aluminum extrusion having a slot 104 for receiving the outboard
25 edge 101 of the panel 100. The header 34 supports the latch
arrangement 102 which as seen in Figure 9 is a mechanism incor-
porating a single handle 106 to move a pair of lock members 108
; at opposite ends of sill 34 adjacent the forward and rearward
edges of the panel 24. The lock members 108 are engagable with
portions of the body member indicated at 1~2 to detachably hold
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, Il~C.
the panel 24 in position. The handle 106 is pivoted about an
axis indicated at 114 and is pivotally connected to a pair of
links 116 the outer ends of which are pivotally connected by
pins 118 to the pair of lock mechanisms 108. Each of the lock
members 108 is generally L-shaped and is pivoted on the header
34 for movement about an axis indicated at 120. The inner ends
of links 116 are pivotally connected at 122. The outboard ends
of the lock members 108 are provided with adjustable seats 124
which may be adjusted by rotating them relative to the L-shaped
members 108.
The handle 106 is actually an over centered device
such that when the panel 24 is in its closed position and the
seats 124 are in engagement with the underside of the frame
members, pivotal movement of the lock members 108 about their
axis 120 is resisted due to the over centered position of the
pivot points 122 relative to the pivot 104 which tends to urge
the handle 106 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in
Figure 9. When the handle member 106 is rotated generally in
a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 9, the seats 124 are
moved out of engagement with the portions 112 and permit the
panel member 24 to be first pivoted generally upwardly about
its inner edge 70 after which it may be removed from engagement
with the central frame member 32. ~pon removal of the panel
member 24 and 26 they may be stored in the vehicle for re-
placement when needed.
The present panel consturction is particularly adaptedfor installation in the conventional bodies of vehicles having
a solid metal top roof portion. The method of converting or
modifying the roof of a conventional automotive body will best
be understood by referring to Figure 11 in which one type of
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
conventional vehicle body 10 has a roof construction including
the windshield header 38 which is supported by a pair of pillars
130 at opposite sides of the windshield and at the forward lead-
ing edge of the window openings 18 and 20. The rearward edge of
the window openings are formed by another pair of vertically
extending pillars 132 which are joined to the forward pillars
by side rails 134 at opposite sides of the vehicle also one or
more cross members 136 may be used. A sheet of material,
usually of metal is integraliy fastened to cover the windshield
header 38, side rails 134 and any other structural cross mem-
bers 136.
In preparation for installation of the roof panel
assembly of the present invention, the vehicle body is prepared
for modification by removing certain parts which are either re-
placed after installation of the panel assembly or are modified
; and reused. Some of these parts include the interior molding
adjacent to the windshield header, the sun visor, interior
moldings, liners, such as liners 89a or 92, dome lights and
shoulder belt mechanisms. Also, the exterior of the body is
prepared by removing weatherstripping around the window cavities.
With the automotive vehicle body prepared in thismanner, the vehicle body is modified by cutting the outer sheet
metal cover 41 of the roof portion of the vehicle body and the
side rails 134 along transverse lines which are generally
symmetrical to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle.
One of these lines is indicated at 140 and is closely adjacent
to the rearward portion of the windshield header 38, the other
line is indicated at 142 and extends between the rearward pil-
lars and is spaced rearwardly from the line 140. Cutting of
the roof in this manner may be accomplished with metal cutting
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-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
shears or a saw and after the two cuts are made along the lines
140 and 142 the intervening body portion 144 is removed and
discarded.
After removal of the portion 144, the forward and
rearward frame members 28 and 30, respectively, are installed
by using a liberal amount of sealer material in the spaces 45.
With the reinforcing member 48 disposed adjacent to and under-
neath the edge 46 of the sheet metal roof portion adjacent to
the header 38 the edge portion 46 and reinforcing member 48
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10 are disposed in the slot 45. Thereafter, the sheet metal -
screws 49 are tightened to sandwich the reinforcing member 48,
;' edge portion 46 and the trim flange 40 relative to each other.
"After installation of the forward and rearward frame
members 28 and 30 the center frame assembly which includes the
center frame portion 32 and the reinforcing member 48 is in-
., :
stalled by inserting the bolts 76 which pass through the for-
,~ ward frame member 28, the central frame member 32, the rein-
:,,:
~forcing member 48 and the tapping plate 77.
. ~ . .
After the central member is installed by fastening
. 20 of the bolts 76, additional holes formed in the reinforcing
plate are used as guides to drill additional holes which pass
either through the transverse forward and rearward frame mem-
-bers or through additional body reinforcing members. Fasteners
;jsuch as pop rivets may be used to fasten the reinforcing member
to such transverse members.
:After the central frame member is installed, the next
step is to install the seal assembly 79 which includes the seal
retainer 80 and the seal 82. The assemblies are installed along
the perimeter of each of the openings 14 and 16. The seal re-
t ~ 30 tainer is first installed in position by means of the screws 84
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--~ which enter the grooves 56 and 64 in the frame members 28, 30
and 32. Thereafter, the leg 86 of seal 82 is pushed into the
groove 85 of the seal retainer 80.
Prior to installation of the seal retainer, corner
molding elements are installed in the corners at the points
where the forward and rearward frame members merge with the
central frame member. Preferably the next step in the opera-
,
-~ tion is to trim the original headliner of the vehicle. Such
headliners may be of more or less rigid type which is molded
as indicated at 89a or of cloth material which is flexible as
indicated at 92. To install a semi-rigid headliner 89a, it is
; cut to fit and moldings 89 made of plastic or metal are used
,~ to clamp the headliner in position. With the headliner of
soft flexible material 92, the material is wrapped over the
. ~
flanges 95 and 97 and is held in position by a locking molding
98.
. .
` With the interior molding 89 or 98 in place, the
various interior components originally removed may be replaced. ~ -
Such components include the seat belt retractors, sun visors,
etc. Thereafter, the previously removed window moldings and
weatnerstripping may be replaced. The panels 24 and 26 may be
; placed in position by using the platform portion 68 as a guide
to engage the inner edges 70 of the panels 24 and 26. With the
panels guided into the slot formed between the shelf 68 and the
T-shaped molding 71, the panel may be pivoted downwardly so
that the underside of the panel engages the sealing lips of
- the seal 82. Thereafter, the panels 24 and 26 are locked in
position by moving the handle106 from its open to its closed
position so that the seats 114 engage the underside of the
vehicle body portions 112. Adjustment of the seats 114 and
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
the clamping pressure is accomplished by threading the seats 124
relative to the L-shaped members 108.
Referring now to Figures 12 through 16, another form
of roof panel arrangement is shown wherein a unitary frame
member 202 is used which simplifies installation of the roof
:......... assembly by replacing the separate front, rear and central frame
members 28, 30 and 32. The unitary frame 202 is generally
. H-shaped with a forward transverse frame portion 204, a trans-
,~ verse frame portion 206 and a central portion 208 all integrally
~ 10 join together. Preferably the frame member 202 is made as a
.' sheet metal stamping. ~ -
. As best seen in Figure 14 and 16 the ends of the
~ forward frame portion 204 include channel portions 210 having ¦~
,. a flange 212 extending the full width of the frame member 202
.~ 15 and adapted to be seated on top of the sheet metal roof 41 ad-
jacent to the edge 140. The rear frame portion 206 has a con-
: figuration and arrangement similar to the front frame portion
,- 204 in that its opposite ends have a channel portion 210 and a
flange 212 extending the full width of the frame member 202 and ¦ .
. 20 resting on top of the roof 41.
. Referring now to Figures 15 and 16, central frame
portion 208has a pair of channel portions 220 which are
separated by a base portion 222. The channel portions 220 i~
communicate with the channel portions 210 of the forward and
rearward frame members 202 and 204. The base portion 222
forms a central trough 223 which has its bottom raised slightly
above the level of the bottom of the channels 220 and the ends
of the trough 223 are open to drain into the transverse channels
210. An elongated edge member 214 having a generally L-shaped
cross section has one of its legs 216 welded to the underside
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of the frame 202 to form a groove 218 which extends around
the forward, central and rearward side of the openings formed
to opposite sides of the central frame member 208. Each of
the continuous grooves 218 receives a continuous lèngth of
weatherstrip or sealing material 221 to engage the underside
of the panels covering the openings 14 and 16 at opposite
sides of the vehicle.
The roof assembly also includes a reinforcing member
- 224 which has a generally H-shaped configuration conforming to
the shape of the frame 202. The reinforcing member 224 is
adapted to be positioned under the frame 202. In the assem-
bled condition as seen in Figure 14, a forward portion of the
reinforcing member 224 is complementary to a transverse beam
member 226, forming part of the vehicle and is held in place
by rivets, not- shown. Similarly, the rearward portion of the
'~ reinforcing member 224 which is complementary to the rear of the
i frame portion is riveted to a transverse reinforcing beam
~- 228 forming part of the original structure of the vehicle. `~
The reinforcing member 224 also is fastened by means of rivets
or the like to the central frame portion 208. In the fully
- assembled condition, the reinforcing member performs substan-
tially the same function as the member 72 in the first embodi-
ment of the invention.
The base member 222 which separates the channel
portions 220 extends for the full length of the central frame
portion 208 but as seen in Figure 16, terminates at its oppo-
site ends to afford transverse drainage and communicate
channel portions 210 at opposite sides of the vehicle center-
line with each otker and with the channel portions 220.
The central frame 208 receives an elongated divider
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~,` member 230 which extends the full length of the frame 202.
~-, The divider member 230 is preferably made from a formed
,, aluminum extrusion having centrally upwardly extending web
~ 232 and a plurality of downwardly extending flanges 234. A
~: -
. 5 central groove 236 is formed by a pair of the flanges 234 to
extend centrally under the web 232 and provides means for
gripping the threads of self-tapping screws 238 which act
to hold the divider 230 relative to the frame 202.
,f~ The web 232 forms part of the latch arrangement
acting to hold the inboard edges of the transparent panels 24
...
; and 26 in position relative to the vehicle. For this purpose
'~ the web 232 is formed with a pair of longitudinally spaced
;~ openings 240 as seen in Figure 12. The openings 240 are each
provided with a pair of nylon inserts at opposite sides of the
' 15 web 232. The nylon inserts 242 each form a pair of recesses
244 adapted to receive the ends of a pair of tangs 246, one
of which is associated with each of the panels 24 and 26.
.. . .
The tangs 246 are attached to the transparent panels 24 and
26 by means of fasteners 248 passing through openings in each
of the panels. The latch arrangement associated with the
opening 240 adjacent to the rearward frame member 206 is iden-
~ tical with that just described.
'~ During attachment of the panels in position relative
to the openings 14 and 16, the tangs 246 are inserted in the
recesses 244 and the nylon inserts 242 disposed at each side of
the divider web 232 act as a bumper for preventing engagement
of the edges at the inboard edge of the panels with the web
232. The nylon inserts 242 also act to insure proper alignment
of the panels 24 and 26 in a fore and aft direction and to align
the panel edges parallel to the web 232 on the vehicle centerline.
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witn the tangs 246 in latched position in the openings 244,
a latch mechanism 102 of t-he type disclosed in Figures 8 and
9 may be used to retain the panels 24 and 26 in position
relative to openings 14 and 16.
, 5 With the panels in position, the weatherstrip 221
'; engages the underside of the panel to seal passage of moisture
; from the exterior of the vehicle to the interior of the vehicle.
In addition, a molding and seal assembly 254 extends transversely
from one side of the vehicle to the other at both the front and ~;
rear frame portions as shown in Figures 14 and 13, respectively.
The seal assemblies 254 have a sealing element with a tubular
portion merging with a radially extending flange 260. The
.
- flange 260 is gripped by a trim molding 262 and is held in posi-
. .
tion for sealing engagement with the forward and rearward edges
of the transparent panels 24 and 26.
As seen in Figures 13, 14 and 15 the headliner 89a
is held in position relative to the frame 202 by a pair of
retainers 264 extending around three sides of the panel openings
14 and 16. The retainers 264 are generally L-shaped in cross
section with one leg 266 adapted to grip the headliner 89a and
the other leg 268 held in position on the strip 214 by a
fastener strip 270 which grips the leg 268 and the adjacent
leg of the member 214.
Installation of the embodiment of the invention seen
in Figures 12 through 16 is similar to the embodiment shown
in Figures 1 through 11 except that fewer parts are employed.
After the vehicle has been prepared initially by removing
certain of the parts and by cutting the outer sheet metal
cover or roof 41, the frame 202 may be inserted and fastened ~-
to the roof portion by rivets or the like.
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With the frame 202 connected by way of the flange
212 to the roof panel 41, the reinforcing member 224 is in-
stalled in position by rivets to form a rigid structure with
both the vehicle and the frame member 202. Thereafter the
5 divider member 230 may be installed in position by means of -
screws. Subsequent installation or replacement of the parts
is similar to that of the prior disclosed embodiment.
With the panels in position the weatherstrip 221 ;
engages the underside of the panels and the seal elements 258
engage the forward and rearward edges of the panels. Any
moisture which passes from the exterior to the vehicle along
the central web 232 and into rough 223 or in the channel
portions 220, flows to opposite ends of the central frame
member 208 and into the transversely extending channels 210
15 associated with the forward and rearward frame members 204 and
206~ These channels extend to opposite sides of the vehicle and
the accumulated moisture flows out at the exterior of the
vehicle. The weatherstrip 221 acts to separate the channels
210 and 220 from the interior of the vehicle. The seal elements
258 serve to minimize the amount of moisture which can pass the -
~panels into the channels 210 and 220.
A removable panel arrangement for the roofs of
vehicles and the method of installing such an arrangement has
been provided in which the removable roof panels or hatches
are used to cover openings formed in the roof at opposite sides
of the center of the vehicle. The openings which are covered
by the panels are formed by cutting the roof of the vehicle
body transversely and hy removing the intervening portions of
the roof. Thereafter the central frame member in one embodiment
of the invention and a rigid, stamped frame assembly in another
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A-306 CARS & CONCEPTS, INC.
embodiment of the invention is installed between the cut
,`,! edges so that in both cases a pair of openings are formed ;
`~ at opposite sides of the center of the vehicle. The
openings are fitted with moldings or weatherstrip which
engage the underside of the removable panels which are
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detachably attached to cover the panel openings. The central
frame member and the center portion of the stamped rigid frame
are provided with a reinforcing member which makes it possible ~
to use a narrower central section between panel openings giving -
the appearance that the inboard edges of the panels are sub-
stantially adjacent to each other. The longitudinal spacing
between forward and rearward edges of the openings can be
greater than otherwise would be possible to afford large access
openings without diminishing from the body strength of the ~-
vehicle.
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