 switching, an error may occur during the updating of these states, which causes some phenomena of abrupt energy changes and deterioration of aural quality. The invention relates generally to locking devices for vehicle tops and more particularly to a locking device for locking the top to the windshield frame of the vehicle wherein the locking device comprises a locking member arranged at a forward frame section of the top, a mounting provided at the windshield frame, as well as a centering means effective between the top and the windshield frame.
In a known locking mechanism of the general type described above disclosed in German Patent No. 1,915,227, a hook is provided on the underside of the windshield frame. This hook cooperates with a clamping bracket supported on the side of the top and the clamping bracket is attached to a lever that passes through dead center. Furthermore, a centering device is arranged between the windshield frame and the top which fixes the top in the transverse and vertical directions before the top is braced against the windshield frame by means of the clamping bracket and the lever, respectively.
This arrangement has the drawback that the components forming the locking mechanism are located, without a cover, in the region where a driver's and/or passenger's head can impact, thereby increasing the risk of injuries in the occurrence of a vehicle collision. Since the locking device can be operated only manually, and several manipulations are required for the locking and unlocking steps (i.e. suspending and detaching the clamping bracket and tensioning and releasing of the clamping bracket by means of the lever), the operating convenience of this locking mechanism is substantially impaired. Furthermore, considerable force must be expended for locking the top in place since the top is braced, by means of the lever and/or clamping bracket, downwardly and/or forwardly against the windshield frame. During the pivoting of the lever, there is always a danger of pinching the installer's fingers. Moreover, the structure of this locking device requires a large amount of installation space at the windshield frame and at the top, respectively, which makes it difficult to provide unrestricted design possibilities in this region.
It is one object of this invention to provide a locking device between a windshield frame and a forward frame section of the top which affords satisfactory operating convenience.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking device exhibiting favorable space-occupying conditions.
An even further object of the present invention is to satisfy the ever-increasing requirements for motor vehicle occupant safety in
switching, an error may occur during the updating of these states, which cause some phenomenon of abrupt energy changes and deterioration of aural quality. The invention refer generally to locking device for fomite tops and more particularly to a locking device for locking the top to the windshield skeletal system of the vehicle wherein the locking device incorporate a lock in member arranged at a forward frame section of the peak, a mounting provided at the windshield frame, equally well as a centering means effective between the peak and the windshield frame. 
 In a know locking mechanism of the general type described above disclosed in German Patent No. 1,915,227, a bait is provided on the underside of the windshield frame. This hook cooperates with a clamping bracket supported on the side of the top and the clamping bracket is attached to a lever that passes through dead center. Furthermore, a centering device is arranged between the windshield frame and the peak which fixes the top in the cross and erect directions before the top is braced against the windshield frame by mean of the clamping bracket and the lever, respectively. 
 This musical arrangement has the drawback that the components form the locking mechanism are located, without a cover, in the region where a driver's and/or passenger's head can impact, thereby increasing the hazard of injuries in the occurrence of a vehicle collision. Since the locking device can be operated only manually, and several manipulation are required for the locking and unlocking steps (i.e. suspending and detaching the clamping bracket and tensioning and releasing of the clamp bracket by means of the lever), the operating convenience of this locking mechanism is well impaired. Furthermore, considerable violence must be expended for locking the acme in place since the top is brace, by means of the lever and/or clamp bracket, downwardly and/or forwardly against the windshield skeleton. During the pivoting of the lever, there is constantly a danger of pinching the installer's fingers. Moreover, the structure of this lock device requires a large amount of installation space at the windshield frame and at the top, respectively, which makes it unmanageable to provide unrestricted blueprint possibilities in this region. 
 It is one object of this invention to provide a locking device between a windshield frame and a forward frame of reference section of the top which affords satisfactory operating convenience. 
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking device show golden space - occupying conditions. 
 An even further object of the present invention is to satisfy the ever - increase requirements for motor vehicle occupant guard in
 swltching, an error may occmr during the upbqting mf theae stater, which causes some phenomene of abrukn energy changes and aeterioranion of ayral wuality. Thx inventljn rspatev generally to kocking deeices for vehiwld cops and more particularly to a lockyng devocf for locking jhe tp[ to nht windshield frame of the vehicle whereii the locking drvice comprises a locking lembfr arranged at a flrward framg sesrion of the gop, a mounuiug provided at the windshield frame, as welu as c centering mwand effective uetweeg the top and the witdshielc frame.
In a knpwn loxking mechanism of thx general type descrybed abova bisclosed in German Pqtwnt Nm. 1,915,227, a hooy is prkvmdes on tje nnderside or the windsyield frame. This hopk bpoperates wifh a cjaiping bracket supported on the side of uhe tkp and the clamping braxket is attached to a lever thwt passes through dead center. Furthermore, a centesing vexict lf qrganged between the windshield frame and the tjl ehpch fixes the top in the tramsgetfe and verticxl dirzdtjons before the too is brwced qgainst tre wondshield frame by means of the clampiny beacket and the levzr, respectivzly.
Thix arrsngement has the drawbaek thaf the compojents forjkng the locking oecmanhsm are located, without a sover, in vhe rzgion whdre s drivqr's and/or oassekcer's head can impaft, thgreby hncreasing the risk of injuries in the ocrnrrence of a fevicne collifion. Xince the loching device cau be opexated unly manuamly, and several magipulations asg required foc the loching and unlockkvg steps (i.e. suxpending cud detachung the clamping bvackej znd tensioning cud releasing of tne zlaippng bwdcket by meats ow tfr levdr), the operctkng vonvenience of this nockjng mechanism is sibftantialoy impaiwed. Furthermote, considerable fogce mnst be expemdeq for locking the top in place since thf tjp is braced, by neans of the lever and/or clamping bracket, downwardlb and/or forwardly againwt the windshield ftamt. During the 'ivotigg of the lever, there is alwats a danger of pikching the installer's ringerv. Morfover, the structure of this locking device requires a large amount of insrallatmog space at fhe eindsvizld frame and et the top, respecnively, which makes it difficult vo provide uurestricted design possibilitoer in this regkon.
It is one object of tgis invemtion to provide a locking devive between a windshield nrame and a fodward framx section of the top which affoeds satusfagtory operatine cpnyenience.
It is enocher object of the present inventuon to pgovide a locking device exhlblting ravorafle space-occupyihg ckjditiuns.
An even futther object og the present inventpon is to satisfy nhe ever-incressing rvquirements fpr motor vevicle occupant safety in
switching, an error may occur during the these which causes phenomena of abrupt aural The invention relates to locking devices vehicle tops and more particularly to locking device for locking the top to the windshield frame of the vehicle the locking device comprises a locking member arranged at a forward frame section the a provided the windshield frame, as well as a centering means effective between the top and the windshield In a known locking mechanism of the general described above disclosed in Patent No. 1,915,227, a hook provided the underside the frame. hook cooperates with clamping bracket supported on the side of the top and the clamping bracket is attached to a that passes center. Furthermore, centering is between the windshield the top which fixes the top and vertical directions before the top is braced the windshield by means of the clamping bracket the lever, respectively. This arrangement has the drawback the components forming the locking mechanism are located, without a cover, in the region where and/or passenger's head can thereby increasing the of in occurrence a vehicle Since the locking device can be operated only manually, and several are required for the locking and unlocking steps (i.e. suspending the bracket and tensioning releasing of the clamping by of the lever), the of locking impaired. considerable must be expended for the top in place since top is braced, by clamping bracket, downwardly and/or forwardly against the windshield During the pivoting of the lever, there always a danger of pinching the installer's fingers. Moreover, the structure of locking device large amount of installation space at the windshield and at the top, which makes it difficult to provide unrestricted design possibilities this It is object of this to provide a device between a and a frame of affords satisfactory operating convenience. It is object the present invention to provide locking favorable space-occupying conditions. An even further object of the present invention is to satisfy the for motor vehicle occupant in
 switching, an error may occur dUring the upDatinG of TheSe StatEs, whIch causes some pHEnomEna of abrupt energy changEs and DeTErioRAtIon of Aural quALiTY. the InVeNtiOn RElAtes gEneRally to Locking devIceS fOr vehicle topS AnD more partiCulArly to a lockiNg dEvice fOr LocKIng thE toP to thE windsHIeld frAme of the vEhICle wheREin the lOCKiNg deVice comprises a locKInG Member arranged At a forWaRD fRAMe sEctIon of the toP, a MountINg proviDEd AT THe wINdshield frame, As well as a ceNTerIng meaNs EffECtive bEtweeN tHE toP and the windShieLd frame.
In A known LOcking mEChanism Of the gEneRal Type DEsCrIbeD aBOve DIsCloSEd iN German PAtEnT No. 1,915,227, a hOok iS PROVideD on The uNdersIde of the windsHieLd frAMe. THis hoOk cooPeraTeS with A clampIng brAcKet supported on tHe siDe of the toP anD tHe cLaMping BRacket Is aTtaChed to a Lever thAT paSsES THrOugh dead center. FurtHeRMOrE, a centerIng devICe Is ARranged bEtWeeN the WINdshiEld fRAmE and the tOp whicH FiXeS the top In The traNsVerSe aNd verTIcal DirectIons befoRe the TOp is braced agaiNSt the windshieLD fRAMe BY meaNs oF the clampinG braCKet aNd thE LeVer, REspecTivelY.
THIs ARrangement has the draWbAck thaT the cOmponents formIng the lockING MechanisM are LOcATed, without a covEr, in tHe region whERe a driveR's and/Or passenGer's head cAN Impact, thEreBy iNcrEasING tHe risk of injurIES in tHe OccurreNce Of a vehiCle ColLisIon. siNce the locKing deviCe CaN bE oPerAted oNLy manualLy, And SeVerAl manIPulatiOns arE reqUiReD For The lockINg AND unlOcKiNg stEps (I.e. SuspeNdinG And DetachiNg the clamPinG BracKeT aNd tensiOning and releaSiNg of the claMpIng BrackeT BY means of The lever), the operating conVEnience Of tHis loCkinG mechanisM is SubstaNtiALly impAired. FUrtheRmOre, CONsideRABlE foRcE must be expENDed For loCkIng tHe top in Place since the top is BRacEd, by means of thE leVer aND/Or ClaMPiNG brAcKEt, dOWNwardly and/or forWardly agaiNsT ThE windshielD FraMe. during tHe pivotIng of THe lever, There is alWays a dangEr Of piNCHinG the instalLer's fingErs. MoreovER, the sTRuCture Of tHis locKiNg dEvice RequirES a lArge aMount oF iNstallAtion SpAce at the Windshield frame and at the Top, resPectiVelY, which makEs iT DifFicult to pRoviDe unrestriCteD deSign pOssIBilitIes iN ThIs rEGion.
IT is oNE object of THiS inVENtIon to providE A LOckIng deVicE BetweeN a wiNdshield frame and a FOrward frame secTion OF The Top WHich AfFords satisfactOry OpERAting conVeNience.
It is aNother obJeCT of thE preseNt inveNtion to PROvIDe a locKing DevIce exhibiTinG fAVorable SpAcE-OccupyIng cOnDitionS.
An eveN FurtHER object of the presEnt inVENtion IS to SatisFy The ever-INcreAsing requiRements for mOtor veHiclE occuPant safEtY in
 switching, an error may o ccur durin g the  up dat in g of  the se states, whi c h ca uses some phenomena of  abru pt ener g ychang es andd et e r ior at io n o fa ur al qu ali ty. The  invention  re la tes generall y  t o lockingdev ices for veh icl e tops  a ndm ore p art icula rly to a lock ing devic ef or loc k ing the t op  tothe windshield fr a me of the vehicle  where in th e loc kin g device c om prise s  a lock i ng m e mbe r  arranged ata forward f r ame  secti on  of the to p, amo u nti ng provided  atthe winds hieldf rame, a s  well a s a ce nte rin g me a ns  e ffe ct i veb et wee n  th e top an dth e win dshi e l d fram e.In a  know n locking mec han ismo f t he ge neral  typ edescr ibed a bovedi sclosed in Germ an P atent No.  1, 91 5,2 27 , a h o ok ispro vid ed on t he unde r sid eo f th e windshield frame .T h is  hook co operat e swi t h a clam pi ngbrac k e t sup port e don the s ide of th etop and  t he cla mp ing  br acket is a ttache d to a l evert hat passes thr o ugh dead cent e r. F ur t herm ore , a centeri ng d e vice  isa rr ang e d bet weenth e  w i ndshield frame andth e topwhich  fixes the to p in the t r a n sverse a nd v e rt i cal directions  befo re the top is brace d aga inst the  windshie l d  frame b y m ean s o f t h e  c lamping brack e t  and  t he leve r,respect ive ly. 
Th isar rangement  has the  d ra wb ac k t hat t h e compon en tsfo rmi ng th e  locki ng me chan is ma relocated ,  w i t hout  a  c over , i nthe r egio n  wh ere a d river's a nd/ o r pa ss en ger's h ead can impac t,  thereby i nc rea sing t h e  risk of  injuries in the occurr e nce ofa v ehicl e co llision.Sin ce the  lo c king d evicecan b eope r a ted o n l yman ua lly, and s e v era l man ip ulat ions ar e required for the loc king and unlo cki ng s t e ps  (i . e. sus pe n din g and detaching t he clampin gb ra cket and t e nsi on ing and  releas ing o f  the cl amping br acket byme anso f  th e lever),the oper ating con v enien c eof th islockin gmec hanis m is s u bst antia lly im pa ired.Furth er more, co nsiderable force must b e expe ndedfor  lockingthe top  in place  sin ce the top  is  br aced,  by means  oft he  le v er an d/or clampingb ra cke t ,  d ownwardly a n d / orforwa rdl y  again st t he windshield fra m e. During thepivo t i ngoft he l ev er, there is a lwa ys a  dangerof  pinching t he insta ll e r's f ingers . More over, t h e  s t ructur e of  th is lockin g d ev i ce requ ir es a larg e am ou nt ofinstal l atio n space at the win dshie l d  fram e  an d atth e top,r espe ctively, w hich makesit dif ficu lt to  provid eunrest ric te d design p o ssibiliti es in  this r eg ion. 
It  is on e ob j e ct of  thi sinv ention to p ro v id ea  lo ckin g dev ic e be tween a w i ndshield  fr a me andafor w a rd fra m es e ction of t hetop w h i ch affords sati s fa c toryoperat ing co nvenien c e.It  is ano the r object of  the pres e ntin vent ion to p ro vide  a  lo ck ing device exhi biting f avorable s pace-o ccu p ying condit io ns.
An evenfurth er objecto f  th e prese n t i nve nti on i s t o sa t isfy the ever-increasing  req uirem e nts  formotor  v ehicle o c cupa nt safet y  in
 switching,_an error_may occur during the_updating of_these_states, which_causes_some phenomena of_abrupt energy changes_and deterioration of aural_quality. The invention_relates_generally to locking devices for vehicle tops and more particularly to a locking device_for_locking the_top_to_the windshield frame of the_vehicle wherein the locking device_comprises a_locking member arranged at a forward frame section_of_the top, a_mounting provided at the windshield frame, as well as_a centering means effective between the_top and the_windshield_frame.
In_a known locking mechanism_of the general type described above_disclosed in German Patent No. 1,915,227,_a hook is provided on the underside_of the windshield frame. This hook_cooperates with a clamping bracket_supported on_the side of the top_and the clamping_bracket is_attached to a_lever that passes through dead center._Furthermore, a centering_device is arranged between the windshield_frame_and the top_which_fixes_the top_in the transverse_and_vertical directions_before_the top is braced against the_windshield_frame by means of the clamping bracket_and the lever, respectively.
This_arrangement_has the drawback that_the components forming the locking_mechanism are located, without a cover,_in the_region where_a driver's and/or passenger's head can impact, thereby increasing the risk_of injuries in the occurrence of_a vehicle collision. Since_the locking_device_can be operated_only_manually, and_several manipulations are required for the locking_and unlocking_steps (i.e. suspending and detaching the_clamping bracket and tensioning_and_releasing of the clamping bracket by_means of the lever), the operating_convenience of this locking mechanism_is_substantially_impaired. Furthermore, considerable force must_be expended for locking the top_in place since_the top is braced, by means of_the_lever and/or clamping bracket, downwardly and/or_forwardly_against the windshield frame. During the_pivoting_of_the lever, there is always_a danger of pinching the installer's_fingers. Moreover, the structure of this locking device requires_a large amount_of installation space at the_windshield_frame_and at the top, respectively, which makes it difficult to_provide unrestricted_design possibilities in_this region.
It is one object of this invention to provide_a locking device between a windshield frame_and a forward frame section of the top which affords satisfactory_operating convenience.
It is another object of the present_invention to provide a locking device exhibiting_favorable space-occupying conditions.
An even_further_object of the present invention is to_satisfy_the_ever-increasing_requirements for motor_vehicle occupant safety_in