Patents Assigned to Inalfa Industries B.V.
  • Patent number: 6030031
    Abstract: A vehicle having an opening bounded by an edge in its fixed roof is provided with an open roof construction comprising at least one rigid panel, which is movable between a closed position, in which it closes the opening in the fixed roof, and a ventilating position, in which it slopes upwards to the rear. A downwardly extending sealing flap is formed on the side edges of said panel, which sealing flap forms a seal against the edge of the roof, which comprises a downwardly extending flange, in the ventilating position of the panel. The sealing flap comprises an outwardly projecting part near its lower side, which substantially abuts against the underside of the flange in the ventilating position of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Christiaan Martinus Lenkens
  • Patent number: 6027162
    Abstract: An opening roof for a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof, comprises a frame to be mounted around the opening, a flexible cover for selectively closing or exposing the opening, a control beam attached to the front side of the cover and being guided with its lateral ends in guide rails extending along each side of the opening in longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and latch means for holding the control beam in a forward position when the opening roof is closed. Said latch means includes at least a latch member which is operative between the control beam and the frame. An electric motor is coupled to the control beam through drive cables in order to slide it for opening and closing the opening roof. A transmission mechanism between the latch member and the drive cables ensures to tighten the control beam into the forward position with a greater driving force during its last closing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 6012768
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a stationary part to be secured to the roof of the vehicle and a movable closing element, which is movably supported by said stationary part and which can be adjusted by a drive unit. The closing element can move between a closed position, and an open, rearward position, at least partially above the fixed roof, in which position the roof opening is at least partially cleared. The stationary part is fitted with at least a first longitudinal guide extending along the roof opening, and with a second longitudinal guide on the fixed rood, rearward of the roof opening. The closing element is supported near its front side by a slideshoe which is slidably supported in said first longitudinal guide, and rearward thereof it is supported by a guide element which is capable of sliding movement in said longitudinal guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs, Petrus Christiaan Martinus Lenkens
  • Patent number: 5836644
    Abstract: An opening roof for a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof comprises a frame to be mounted around the opening, and a flexible cover for selectively closing or disposing the opening. A cover plate is fixed to the front side of the cover and is guided at its lateral ends through glide shoes in guide rails extending along either side of the opening in longitudinal direction of the frame. The opening roof is provided with an electric motor and drive cables coupled to the cover plate in order to slide it for opening and closing the opening roof. A displacement mechanism is arranged between the cover plate and the glide shoes, onto which the drive cables act for tightening the cover plate in a forward and downward direction relative to the glide shoes during the final closing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 5820206
    Abstract: An opening roof for a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof, comprises a frame to be mounted around the opening, a flexible cover for selectively closing or exposing the opening, a control beam attached to the front side of the cover and being guided with its lateral ends in guide rails extending along each side of the opening in longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a latch for holding the control beam in a forward position when the opening roof is closed. Said latch includes at least a latch member which is operative between the control beam and the frame. An electric motor is coupled to the control beam through drive cables in order to slide it for opening and closing the opening roof. A transmission mechanism between the latch member and the drive cables ensures to tighten the control beam into the forward position with a greater driving force during its last closing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 5765907
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for moving a panel with respect to a roof of a vehicle between a first position, in which said panel closes an opening provided in the roof of the vehicle, and a second position, in which said panel releases the opening provided in the roof of the vehicle at least for the greater part. The panel is near its sides supported by supports, which are first pivoted obliquely upwards by means of a setting mechanism so as to move the panel from the first position to the second position, and which are then moved to a position above the roof portion located beside the opening. A support is coupled, via a gear transmission which is movable by means of the setting mechanism, to a rack which is capable of movement with respect to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs
  • Patent number: 5749621
    Abstract: An opening roof includes a drive motor for driving a connecting device between a front carrier and a frame for sliding the front carrier along guiderails in order to open and close the opening roof. A mounting assembly for the drive motor is so arranged that after the drive motor has moved the front carrier substantially into a forward position through the connecting device and, preferably, a latching device has come into engagement. The drive motor is allowed to move and to transmit its movement through a transmission mechanism to the cover in order to tension the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 5673965
    Abstract: A tilt-sliding roof for a vehicle comprises a panel displaceable between a first position, in which a panel closes an opening provided in the fixed roof of the vehicle, and a second position, in which the panel opens the opening provided in the fixed roof of the vehicle at least for the greater part. The panel is further tiltable between the first closed position and a third position in which the panel is tilted at least partially from a vehicle. The tilt-sliding roof further comprises a screen which is displaceable between the first closed position and an open position, and a displacement mechanism with which, in operation, the screen is opened at least a predetermined distance if the panel is moved by this displacement mechanism into the third tilted position. The displacement mechanism includes a displaceable element, a first gear rack coupled to this displaceable element, a second gear rack coupled to the screen and a gear wheel cooperating with the first and second gear racks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Christiaan Martinus Lenkens
  • Patent number: 5531501
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roof panel assembly for a vehicle comprising a roof panel, which is adjustable from a position closing the opening in the roof to a first ventilating position, in which the roof panel has been pivoted upwards from its closed position about a pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a second sliding position, in which the roof panel has at least partially been moved downwards from its closed position, in such a manner that the roof panel can be moved under the roof of the vehicle. The roof panel assembly is provided with a guide rail to be secured to the roof, along which an operating means is movable. A first lift arm, which is pivotable about a pivot axis located near the guide rail, is movably and pivotally connected with the roof panel by means of a pivot axis and is provided with a guide groove for receiving a cam connected with the operating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Inalfa Industries, B.V.
    Inventor: Martinus W. M. Nabuurs