A top accessory to be mounted on an open-topped vehicle includes a front mounting mechanism and a rear mounting mechanism. A forward-running guide is located generally in a plane between the front and rear mounting mechanisms in the accessory's mounted position and is resistant to forces having a component normal to the plane. A flexible top interacts with the rear mounting mechanism, the front mounting mechanism, and the guide. Embodiments of the accessory can be constructed in such a way as to allow an occupant of the vehicle to deploy its top without leaving his or her seat.

A removable vehicle top assembly for use with a Jeep-type vehicle for attaching a combination hard top and flexible soft top cover. A first hard top cover is fastened over a forward passenger area of the vehicle. A rearward storage area of the vehicle is defined in part by a pair of roll bars which extend to a rear of the vehicle. A first U-shaped and extensible assembly is pivotally secured to the sides of the vehicle and envelops the roll bars. A second generally U-shaped member is pivotally mounted to a rearward end of the roll bars and includes a spaced middle elongated portion. The flexible cover is drapped over the second U-shaped member and is attached to the U-shaped extensible assembly and to portions of the sides and rear of the vehicle. The second U-shaped member includes a pivot mechanism which rotates the second member between a material installing, a material tautening and a rearward non-use position.

A dual bow assembly for supporting a flexible covering member of a Jeep-type vehicle in proximity to a forward top covering member. The vehicle includes a forwardly situated seating area upon which the forward covering member is secured and a rearwardly situated storage area defined by a belt line extending around sides and a rear of the vehicle. A pair of spaced apart roll bars extend along the seating and storage area of the vehicle and the flexible covering member is associated with the vehicle storage area. A first substantially "U" shaped bow is located proximate a forward end of the vehicle storage area and envelopes the spaced apart roll bars. Opposing and linearly extending ends of the first bow each include a linkage member pivotally associated with the linearly extending ends at a first location and pivotally engaged with the vehicle belt line at a second location. A second generally U-shaped bow has first and second opposing ends secured to the storage area of the vehicle or roll bar as in the L-shaped second bow. A flexible cover includes an area defined by a top and at least one side which overlays the second U-shaped bow and which is secured to the first U-shaped bow and to at least a portion of the sides and rear of the vehicle. The first and second bows are manipulated in directions between the sides and rear of the vehicle to selectively install and remove said flexible cover from the storage area of the vehicle.

A flexible-roof support for a vehicle. The vehicle has a door opening on each side, each door opening having an upper part. The flexible-roof support includes two side bows, each side bow having a short leg, a long leg, and an elbow where the short and long legs are connected, and distal ends opposite the elbow. The distal ends of the short legs are pivotally attachable to the vehicle above the belt line and behind the door openings, such that the side bows are alignable with the sides of the vehicle and the long legs of the side bows are alignable with the upper part of the door openings. Another embodiment is a flexible-roof support which includes a front bow, two front bow arms, each front bow arm having two ends and, two bow pivots, such that the support may be folded back to form a sun roof, to the flexible-roof support or to a portion of the flexible roof which remains over the passenger compartment. The front bow has a member which substantially spans the width of the vehicle and has two ends. Each end of the front bow is connected to an end of one of the front bow arms. At the other end of each of the front bow arms, A bow pivot is connected.

A convertible top for a vehicle having a rear egress. The convertible top includes a dynamic rear bow which rests on a rear portion of the vehicle body and is pivotable for providing access to the rear of the vehicle.