US 12,296,663 B2
Thermoplastic hardtop roof
John S. Muglia, Shelby Township, MI (US); Mohan Girijeshwar, Sterling Heights, MI (US); Keijo J. Huotari, Fenton, MI (US); Brian Staley, Bloomfield, MI (US); Larry Richard Erickson, Birmingham, MI (US); Marc Cogswell, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); Robert M. Horner, Ferndale, MI (US); and Luyao Zhu, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC., Ontario, CA (US)
Appl. No. 18/016,517
Filed by Magna Exteriors Inc., Concord (CA)
PCT Filed Jul. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/042483
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 17, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/020420, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/054,722, filed on Jul. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271487 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B60J 7/10 (2006.01); B60J 7/00 (2006.01); B60J 7/19 (2006.01); B60J 10/25 (2016.01); B60J 10/90 (2016.01); B62D 29/04 (2006.01)
CPC B60J 7/106 (2013.01) [B60J 7/0084 (2013.01); B60J 7/194 (2013.01); B60J 10/25 (2016.02); B60J 10/90 (2016.02); B62D 29/043 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A removable hardtop for a vehicle comprising:
a roof, a separate left side, and a separate right side of a hardtop for a vehicle that is removable from the vehicle;
the roof includes a top frame formed of at least two longitudinal sides and at least one cross vehicle piece, wherein the at least two longitudinal sides and the at least one cross vehicle piece are formed from fiber reinforced polymer;
at least one roof panel forming an outer surface of the roof of the hardtop and formed of thermoplastic material connected to the top frame;
the left side includes a left side frame formed of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material, the left side frame includes at least one longitudinal top side and two laterally extending sides that extend perpendicular to the at least one longitudinal top side in a downward direction away from the at least one roof panel, wherein the left side frame is connected to the top frame at a connection,
the right side includes a right side frame formed of fiber reinforced thermoplastic material, the right side frame includes at least one longitudinal top side and two laterally extending sides that extend perpendicular to the at least one longitudinal top side in a downward direction away from the at least one roof panel, wherein the right side frame is connected to the top frame at a connection, and
a side panel connected to each of the left side frame and the right side frame, wherein each side panel is formed of thermoplastic material and forms an exterior side of the separate left side and an exterior side of the separate right side of the hardtop.