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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An articulating front top cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 an articulating portion operably connected to a frame portion and in sealing engagement with a hard top portion;   a cover operably connected to the articulating portion, where moving the articulating portion allows the cover to move between at least a closed position and an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame portion comprises at least one door rail operably attached to the vehicle for operably mounting the articulating portion. 
     
     
         3 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame portion comprises a pair of door rails with at least one pivot point on each door rail to pivotally attach the articulating portion. 
     
     
         4 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame portion comprises a pair of door rails with a plurality of pivot points on each door rail to pivotally attach the articulating portion. 
     
     
         5 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame portion comprises a pair of door rails with a rail or track system to slideably attach the articulating portion. 
     
     
         6 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame portion is a cassette attachment. 
     
     
         7 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the cassette is one piece. 
     
     
         8 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the cassette is a plurality of pieces comprising at least a pair of door rails and a rear header. 
     
     
         9 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the cassette further comprises a front header. 
     
     
         10 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating portion includes at least one hinge on each side of the assembly for folding the cover. 
     
     
         11 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating portion includes at least one hinge on each side of the assembly for folding the cover and at least one hinge toward the rear of the assembly for rotating the articulating portion rearward. 
     
     
         12 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a door rail and/or track on both sides of the assembly to slide the articulating portion rearward. 
     
     
         13 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fabric management bow for managing the cover material to the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame portion includes at least one track system and wherein the cover is at least one solid panel that slides rearward in the track system. 
     
     
         15 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is at least one hinged panel that flips rearward. 
     
     
         16 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the hinged panel has a rigid framework with a soft panel insert and/or skin. 
     
     
         17 . The articulating front top cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is operably connected to a front header and a linkage assembly pivotally connected to both sides of the frame by at least one pivot point, where the front header stays in a horizontal orientation when the cover moves between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         18 . A front cover assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 an articulating portion operably slidably and/or pivotally coupled to said motor vehicle and in sealing engagement with a hard top roof portion;   a cover operably connected to the articulating portion, wherein sliding and/or pivoting the articulating portion allows the cover to move between a closed position covering a front cockpit of said motor vehicle and at least one open position.   
     
     
         19 . The front cover assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said articulating portion further includes at least one linkage assembly operably coupled to said motor vehicle at at least one hinge point operable to slide and/or pivot said articulating portion generally rearward to said at least one open position. 
     
     
         20 . A front cover assembly for a sport utility vehicle, comprising:
 at least one frame attachment assembly operably coupled to said vehicle and forming at least one sealing engagement surface;   an articulating portion operably slidably and/or pivotally coupled to said at least one frame attachment assembly and in sealing engagement with a hard top roof portion and/or at least one frame attachment assembly;   a cover operably connected to the articulating portion, wherein sliding and/or pivoting the articulating portion allows the cover to move between a closed position covering a front cockpit of said motor vehicle and at least one open position.