Front top assembly for suv

Abstract

An articulating front top cover assembly for a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof. The articulating portion is operably connected to a frame. An articulating portion movable between at least a closed position over the front vehicle compartment and open position for an open air feel.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A soft panel top assembly comprising:
 two door rails adapted for attachment at a roof opening of a vehicle;   a pivotable portion adapted to pivotally connected to a sport bar of the vehicle;   a header connected to the pivotable portion and adapted to selectively connect to the vehicle;   a rear header adapted for being coupled at the roof opening in the vehicle, said rear header adapted for being in sealing engagement with a hardtop roof portion; and   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header and rear header, where pivoting the pivotable portion allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         22 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the pivotable portion further comprises two side rail linkage assemblies adapted to provide the pivotable connection with the sport bar and allow the cover to move between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         23 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising two brackets, wherein a respective one of the brackets are each adapted to connect to a respective one of two side portions of the sport bar to provide pivot points. 
     
     
         24 . A soft panel top assembly, comprising:
 two door rails adapted for attachment at a roof opening of a vehicle, said vehicle including a sport bar including two side portions;   a side rail linkage assembly;   wherein said side rail linkage assembly is adapted to connect to the two side portions of the sport bar adapted for pivotally connecting the side rail linkage assembly to the sport bar;   a header connected to the side rail linkage assembly and adapted to being selectively coupled to the windshield area of the vehicle;   a rear header adapted to couple to the sport bar of said vehicle, said rear header adapted to being in sealing engagement with a hardtop roof portion to provide a weather tight seal;   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header and rear header, where pivoting the two side rail linkage assemblies allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         25 . A soft panel top assembly adapted for a vehicle including a sport bar comprising:
 a pivotal portion adapted to pivotally connect to the sport bar, where pivoting the pivotal portion about pivot points on the sport bar moves the pivotal portion between a closed position and an open position;   a header connected to the pivotal portion and to a cover;   a rear header operably coupled to the cover, said rear header including a bulbouous seal being adapted to being in sealing engagement with a hardtop roof portion to provide a weather tight seal, wherein the rear header is a lightweight molded material and has rear geometry adapted to follow the contour of the hardtop roof portion and adapted to seal against the hardtop roof portion.   
     
     
         26 . A soft panel top assembly comprising:
 two door rails adapted for attachment at a roof opening of a vehicle;   a pivotable portion adapted to pivotally connect to a sport bar of the vehicle at a hinge point;   a header connected to the pivotable portion and adapted to being selectively coupled to the windshield area of the vehicle;   a rear header adapted for being coupled at the roof opening in the vehicle, said rear header adapted to being in sealing engagement with a hardtop roof portion; and   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header and rear header, where pivoting the pivotable portion allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         27 . A soft top insert for a vehicle roof for inserting into an open space in the roof defined by a windshield frame, side members extending back therefrom over oppositely-disposed driver side and passenger side vehicle doors, and a cross member connecting the side members opposite the open space from the windshield frame and behind the doors, the insert including:
 two door rails adapted for attachment to the side members of the vehicle, with each door rail presenting an abutment surface for abutment with the vehicle doors;   two side rails adapted to pivotally connect to the side members;   a first bow member connected between the two side rails and including at least one latch disposed thereon, the bow member being adapted to selectively connect to the windshield frame with the at least one latch;   a cover including fabric material, the cover connected at a front edge to the bow member, where pivoting the two side rails allows said cover to move between a deployed position closing the space and an open position opening the space;   a rear header member connected to a rear edge of the cover and adapted to connect to the vehicle, where the rear header member includes a surface adapted to abut the roof adjacent the cross member to provide a weatherproof seal.   
     
     
         28 . A soft top insert for a vehicle roof for inserting into an open space in the roof defined by a windshield frame, side members extending back therefrom over oppositely-disposed driver side and passenger side vehicle doors, and a cross member connecting the side members opposite the open space from the windshield frame and behind the doors, the insert including:
 two door rails adapted for attachment to the side members of the vehicle, with each door rail presenting an abutment surface for abutment with the vehicle doors;   at least one fabric management bow being adapted to selectively connect to the windshield frame and including first and second oppositely-disposed side rails adapted to pivotally connect one to each side member;   a cover including fabric material, the cover connected at a front edge to the fabric management bow, where pivoting the two side, rails allows said cover to move between a deployed position closing the space and an open position opening the space; and   a rear header member connected to a rear edge of the cover and adapted to connect to the vehicle; where the rear header member includes a surface adapted to abut the roof adjacent the cross member to provide a weatherproof seal.   
     
     
         29 . A soft panel top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame with side sport bar members extending therefrom and a cross member operably connecting the side sport bar members adjacent to the rear of a front cockpit of the vehicle, the soft panel top assembly comprising:
 a pivotable portion adapted to pivotally connect to the sport bar members;   a header connected to the pivotable portion and adapted to being selectively connected to the windshield frame;   a rear header adapted to couple to the side members and the cross member, said rear header adapted to being in sealing engagement with a seal of a hardtop roof portion to provide a weather tight seal; and   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header and rear header, where pivoting the pivotable portion allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         30 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the pivotable portion further comprises two side sport bar rail pivot assemblies adapted to being pivotably connected with the sport bar members and allow the cover to move between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         31 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising two brackets, wherein a respective one of the brackets are each adapted to connect to a respective one of the side sport bar members adapted to being pivot points on each of the side sport bar members. 
     
     
         32 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the side rail linkage assemblies each further comprise a limiting stop adapted to keep the two side sport bar rail pivot assemblies a predetermined distance above the hardtop roof portion. 
     
     
         33 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the rear header further comprises two attachment members, each attachment member adapted to being located on top of the sport bar as the rear clamping surface is adapted to being below the sport bar, wherein one mushroom knob fastener is adapted to connect each attachment member and rear clamping surface to the respective sport bar. 
     
     
         34 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the rear header further comprises at least two feet adapted to being located on top of the cross member and setting a predetermined height for the rear header. 
     
     
         35 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising at least two locating brackets adapted to connect to the bottom of the rear header and adapted to being partly fitted under a leading edge flange of the hardtop portion to assist in locating and securing the rear header position. 
     
     
         36 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising at least two threaded fasteners that as tightened further press the rear header down against the hardtop roof portion seal. 
     
     
         37 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the pivotable portion pivots with a portion of the cover between the closed position and the open position to provide an open air feel of the soft panel top assembly without completely removing the soft panel top assembly from the vehicle. 
     
     
         38 . A soft panel top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame, a sport bar with side members extending therefrom and a cross member operably connecting the side members adjacent to the rear of a front cockpit of the vehicle, the soft panel top assembly comprising:
 at least two door rails adapted to attach to the side members of the vehicle;   a pivotable portion adapted to pivotally connect to the side members of said sports bar;   a header connected to the pivotable portion and adapted to being selectively connected to the windshield frame;   a rear header assembly adapted to couple to the side members and the cross member, said rear header assembly including a sealing system adapted for being in sealing engagement with at least one hard top seal of a hardtop roof portion to provide a weather tight seal wherein the rear header assembly includes a rear header portion that is a lightweight molded material that is a single piece or a plurality of pieces operably connected together; and   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header and rear header, where pivoting the pivotable portion allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         39 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the sealing system includes at least one rear header seal adapted to press between the hard top roof portion and the rear header assembly. 
     
     
         40 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 39  wherein when the rear header assembly is installed onto the vehicle, the at least one hard top seal comes into contact with and pushes the at least one rear header seal between an edge of the rear header assembly and a substantially vertical surface of the hard top roof portion. 
     
     
         41 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one rear header seal is selected from the group consisting of open cell foam, a closed cell foam material, ethylene propylene diene monomer, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizate a foam rubber, an extruded rubber, a formed/molded rubber mucket, and a silicone material. 
     
     
         42 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one rear header seal is a closed cell foam and less stiff than the at least one hard top seal. 
     
     
         43 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the sealing system includes at least one tertiary seal operably connected to the rear header assembly, said at least one tertiary seal is a continuous strip along the length of the rear header assembly to provide a back-up weather resistant seal. 
     
     
         44 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the rear header assembly further comprises:
 at least one upper rear header;   at least one retainer operably connected to the cover and to the upper rear header;   at least one rear header seal having an attachment portion and a sealing portion, said sealing portion being a bulbous;   at least one binding retainer operably connected to the at least one retainer and to the attachment portion of the at least one rear header seal such that the at least one retainer and the attachment portion are sandwiched together operable to retain the at least one rear seal;   wherein the at least one binding retainer, attachment portion and binding retainer are sewn together, bonded, and/or adhered together; and   wherein said sealing portion is adapted to be located substantially between the binding retainer and the hard top roof portion and in contact with the at least one hard top seal to provide the weather tight seal.   
     
     
         45 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 44 , wherein the rear header assembly is additionally adapted for being in sealing engagement with at least one other seal of the hard top portion to provide a weather tight seal. 
     
     
         46 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the rear header portion is three to five pieces operably connected together by at least one fastener, bonded and/or with adhesive. 
     
     
         47 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the rear header portion is three molded pieces operably connected together by at least one fastener, bonded and/or with adhesive. 
     
     
         48 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the pivotable portion further comprises two side rail linkage assemblies adapted to provide the pivotable connection with the side members and allow the cover to move between a closed position and an open position. 
     
     
         49 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 38 , further comprising at least one bracket adapted to connect to each of side members adapted to providing at least one pivot point on each of the two side members. 
     
     
         50 . A soft panel top assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 two door rails adapted to attach to side sport bar members of the vehicle;   a side rail linkage assembly;   two brackets, wherein a respective bracket is adapted to connect to a respective one of the two sport bar members adapted for pivotally connecting said side rail linkage assembly to said side members of said sport bar   a header connected between the side rail linkage assembly and adapted to being selectively connected to a windshield frame;   a rear header assembly adapted for being in sealing engagement with a hard top roof portion to provide a weather tight seal;   a rear header seal operably connected on the rear header assembly to provide a weather tight seal between the rear header assembly, a substantially vertical surface on the hard top roof portion, and an existing hard top seal provided on the hard top portion, said rear header assembly adapted to also compress another seal on the hard top portion to further provide a weather tight seal;   a tertiary seal operably connected on the rear header assembly along the length of the rear header assembly to provide a back-up weather tight seal; and   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header, rear header assembly and two side rail linkage assemblies, where pivoting the two side rail linkage assemblies allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         51 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the rear header assembly includes a rear header portion that is a lightweight molded material that is formed of a single piece or a plurality of pieces operably connected together. 
     
     
         52 . A soft panel top assembly for a vehicle having a windshield frame and sport bar side members extending therefrom and a cross member operably connecting the side members adjacent to the rear of a front cockpit of the vehicle, the soft panel top assembly comprising:
 two door rails adapted to attach to the side members of the vehicle, each door rail including a sealing surface adapted to allow a weather resistant seal with the front doors of the vehicle;   a pivotable portion adapted to pivotally connect to the side members;   a header connected to the pivotable portion and adapted to selectively connect to the windshield frame;   a rear header assembly adapted to couple to the side members and the cross member, said rear header assembly including a sealing arrangement adapted for sealing engagement with at least one hard top seal of a hardtop roof portion to provide a weather tight seal, wherein said sealing arrangement has at least one bulb seal, wherein the rear header assembly includes a lightweight molded material and has rear geometry adapted to follow the contour of the hardtop roof portion and adapted to seal the sealing system against the hard top portion and the at least one hard top seal;   a cover that is a soft skin roof top cover, said cover operably connected to the header and rear header, where pivoting the pivotable portion allows the cover to move between a closed position and an open position; and   a plurality of clamping surfaces provided on each door rail adapted to extend toward the vehicle interior adapted for connecting each of said two door rails to a respective one of the side members of the vehicle using a respective fastener   
     
     
         53 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 52 , wherein the sealing system includes at least one rear header seal adapted to press between the hard top roof portion and the rear header assembly. 
     
     
         54 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 53 , wherein when the rear header assembly is installed onto the vehicle, the at least one hard top seal comes into contact with and pushes the at least one rear header seal upward between an edge of the rear header assembly and a substantially vertical surface of the hard top roof portion. 
     
     
         55 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one rear header seal is selected from the group consisting of open cell foam, a closed cell foam material, ethylene propylene diene monomer, thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizate a foam rubber, an extruded rubber, a formed/molded rubber mucket, and a silicone material. 
     
     
         56 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one rear header seal is a closed cell foam and less stiff than the at least one hard top seal. 
     
     
         57 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 52 , wherein the sealing system includes at least one tertiary seal operably connected to the rear header assembly, said at least one tertiary seal is a continuous strip along the length of the rear header assembly to provide a back-up weather resistant seal. 
     
     
         58 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 57 , wherein the rear header assembly is additionally adapted for sealing engagement with at least one other seal of the hard top portion to provide a weather tight seal. 
     
     
         59 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 52 , wherein the rear header portion is three to five pieces operably connected together by at least one fastener, bonded and/or with adhesive. 
     
     
         60 . The soft panel top assembly of  claim 52 , further comprising at least one bracket adapted to connect to each of the side members to provide at least one pivot point on each side member. 
     
     
         61 . A vehicle roof system for inserting into an open space in the roof created by removing front panels of the roof and defined by a windshield frame, side members extending back therefrom over oppositely-disposed driver side and passenger side vehicle doors, and a cross member connecting the side members opposite the open space from the windshield frame and behind the doors, the system including:
 a rear header adapted to install over the remaining portion of the roof and extending across the open space, the rear header member including a surface adapted to abut the roof adjacent the cross member to provide a weatherproof seal; wherein the rear header member further includes at least two attachment brackets for connecting to the cross member using at least two fasteners, wherein the at least two fasteners are adapted to be tightened against a bottom surface of the cross member causing the rear header member to press against the roof;   a cover of flexible material attached to the rear header at one end;   a front header attached to the cover at the cover's other end opposite the rear header, the front header including at least one latch being adapted to selectively connect the front header to the windshield frame;   two door rails each adapted to connect to the rear header, with each door rail also being adapted for attachment to respective side members of the vehicle, with each door rail presenting an abutment surface for abutment with a vehicle door;   the front header including two side rails each extending from opposite ends of the front header; with each side rail terminating in a distal pivoting end;   two brackets, each pivotally connected to a pivoting end of the side rails, the brackets each being adapted to be fixed to the side members of the vehicle on opposite sides of the open space;   whereby, when the system is installed on a vehicle, the front header can move from a closed position in which the front header is attached to the windshield frame and the cover is extended to cover the open space, to an open position in which the front header pivots back about the pivoting ends of the side rails to an open position, where the front header is disposed over the rear header and the cover is folded.   
     
     
         62 . A vehicle roof system for inserting into an open space in the roof created by removing front panels of the roof and defined by a windshield frame, side members extending back therefrom over oppositely-disposed driver side and passenger side vehicle doors, and a cross member connecting the side members opposite the open space from the windshield frame and behind the doors, the system including:
 a rear header adapted to install over the remaining portion of the roof and extending across the open space, the rear header member including a surface adapted to abut the roof adjacent the cross member and including a seal disposed thereon to provide a weatherproof seal; wherein the rear header member further includes a bracket for connecting to the cross member using a fastener, wherein the fastener is adapted to be tightened against a bottom surface of the cross member causing the rear header member and the seal to press against the roof;   two door rails each adapted for attachment to respective side members of the vehicle adjacent the rear header, with each door rail presenting an abutment surface for abutment with a vehicle door;   a cover of flexible material attached to the rear header at one end;   a fabric management bow attached to the cover at the cover's other end opposite the rear header, the fabric management bow including at least one latch being adapted to selectively connect the bow to the windshield frame;   the fabric management bow further including pivoting attachments for attaching the bow pivotally on either side of the open space whereby, when the system is installed on a vehicle, the fabric management bow can pivot about the attachments from a closed position in which the bow can be attached to the windshield frame and the cover is extended to cover the open space, to an open position in which the bow pivots back about the pivoting attachments to an open position, where the bow is disposed over the rear header and the cover is folded.   
     
     
         63 . A vehicle roof system for inserting into an open space in a vehicle roof created by removing the front hard top panels and defined by a windshield frame, side members extending back therefrom over oppositely-disposed driver side and passenger side vehicle doors, and a cross member connecting the side members opposite the open space from the windshield frame and behind the doors, the system including:
 a rear header adapted to install over the remaining hard top panels and extending across the open space, the rear header member including a surface adapted to abut the roof adjacent the cross member to provide a weatherproof seal; wherein the rear header member further includes at least two attachment brackets for connecting to the cross member of the vehicle using at least two fasteners, wherein the at least two fasteners are adapted to be tightened against a bottom surface of the cross member causing the rear header member to press against the roof;   a soft and flexible cover attached to the rear header at one end;   a front header attached to the cover at the cover's other end opposite the rear header, the front header including at least one latch being adapted to selectively connect the front header to the windshield frame;   two door rails each adapted to connect to the rear header, with each door rail also being adapted for attachment to respective side members of the vehicle, with each door rail presenting an abutment surface for abutment with a vehicle door;   the front header including two side rails each extending from opposite ends of the front header; with each side rail terminating in a distal pivoting end;   two brackets, each pivotally connected to a pivoting end of the side rails, the brackets each being adapted to be fixed between the door rails on opposite sides of the open space;   whereby, when the system is installed on a vehicle, the front header can move from a closed position in which the front header is attached to the windshield frame and the cover is extended to cover the open space, to an open position in which the front header pivots back about the pivoting ends of the side rails to an open position, where the front header is disposed over the rear header and the cover is folded.