Patents Assigned to Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
  • Patent number: 9227488
    Abstract: A tensioning device for tensioning a flexible elongate member, such as a cord, comprises a first winding member which can rotate around an axle for, directly or indirectly, winding and unwinding the elongate member at a first end thereof, and a second winding member which can rotate around said axle for, directly or indirectly, winding and unwinding the elongate member at the second end thereof. The first and second winding members are interconnected by a tensioning member striving to cause a relative rotation between the first and second winding members for creating a prestress or tension in the elongate member. A restriction device is provided for limiting the maximum possible relative rotation between the first and second winding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Christiaan Leonardus Johannes Manders
  • Patent number: 9227493
    Abstract: A roof system includes a closure that opens a roof opening in a vehicle. An operating mechanism for the closure includes a first device including a lever configured to move the rear edge of the closure towards a raised position above the roof. A second device includes a lever configured to move the front edge of the closure in a vertical direction. At least one of the levers has a first pivotal connection at a first end of the closure, and spaced second and third connections connecting the respective lever at least to a guiding slide. At least one of the levers is pivotally connected to a sliding member at one of said second and third connections. The sliding member is separate from the guiding slide, slides in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and is supported by the guide rail in directions perpendicularly to the longitudinal sliding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Ruud Geurts
  • Patent number: 9168816
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a roof opening provided in a stationary roof part, a movable panel for opening and closing said roof opening and a wind deflector assembly proximate a forward edge of the roof opening. The wind deflector assembly comprises a frame part extending substantially in a transverse direction and movable between a retracted position and extended position below and above, respectively, the level of the stationary roof part and a flexible member attached to said frame part at a first end and attached to a stationary part of the vehicle at a second end. The wind deflector assembly further comprises a guide rod for the flexible member extending in a transverse direction and movable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The guide rod is moves so that the flexible member is maintained in a taut state in all positions of the frame part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Jean Marie Victor Bertholee
  • Patent number: 9168817
    Abstract: A folding type sunroof deflector structure may include a deflector gate formed penetrating the front frame in the widthwise direction of the vehicle a first deflector which is stored inside the front frame to be moved up and down through the deflector gate and projectable outside of the opening section; a second deflector, an upper part of which is rotatably connected to a hinge joint located at a bottom of the first deflector and which is projectable outside of the opening section according to a movement of the first deflector; and a pair of deflector arms having a rear end portion of which is rotatably coupled to a pair of side frames to be connected to sides of the opening section; and a front end portion of which is coupled to both sides of the first deflector to move the first deflector up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Jeong-Min Lee, Hwa-Kyoung Sung
  • Patent number: 9090150
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a stationary roof part, a roof opening provided therein and a panel movably mounted in said stationary roof part for opening and closing said roof opening. A movable wind deflector is disposed proximate a forward edge of the opening and comprises an upper elongate member extending substantially parallel to said forward edge. The wind deflector includes a flexible wind deflecting material having an upper end attached to said elongate member and a lower end attached to the stationary roof part. A movable control part extends parallel to said forward edge and was a first end attached to the stationary roof part and an opposite second end connected to the wind deflecting material at an engagement position between the upper and lower ends of the wind deflecting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: John Dean Krauss, Marko Walhout, Andrew Michael Roberts, Robert Rikkert
  • Patent number: 9090147
    Abstract: A sunshade assembly includes a sunscreen of which the longitudinal edges are provided with guide strips which are substantially rigid in transverse direction. Opposed elongated longitudinal guide rails each include a guide channel section defining a guide channel in which the respective guide strip is accommodated when the sunscreen is moved between open and closed positions. The guide channel of each guide rail being bounded on the side facing the opposed guide rail by a guide flange (14) supporting the guide strip in a direction towards the opposed guide rail. A part of the guide channel section of at least one guide rail is resilient such that at least the portion of the guide flange supporting the guide strip is resiliently yieldable in a direction towards the opposed guide rail under the influence of forces exerted by the sunscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Stephan Christiaan Vervoort
  • Patent number: 9073418
    Abstract: A rollo assembly is provided, comprising a rotatable winding shaft and a flexible sun screen having forward and rearward ends. The rearward end of the sun screen can be wound on or off the winding shaft and the forward end of the sun screen is provided with an operating beam. The winding shaft is received in a housing that comprises an opening for the passage of the sun screen with a length at least substantially corresponding with a transversal width of the sun screen. The operating beam at its side facing towards the housing carries a sealing member extending above the sun screen transversally over a length at least substantially corresponding with the length of the opening in the housing, for engaging the housing when the sun screen is maximally wound onto the winding shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Broeren, Marinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs
  • Publication number: 20150185108
    Abstract: A vibration test jig may include an upper jig frame to which a vibration test object is fixed and a lower base frame mounted to an oscillator, and a plurality of double parallelograms connected between the jig frame and the base frame, for generating displacements in an upward/downward direction and/or a forward/rearward direction. Each of the double parallelograms may include a complex four-articulation link structure and a wire rope isolator. The vibration test jig can simulate a deformation mode due to generation of resonances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Kyung Wook BAEK, Dae Jin KIM, Hwa Kyong SUNG, Joo Hoon LIM
  • Patent number: 9067480
    Abstract: A winding mechanism for a sunscreen for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle includes a winding tube which is rotatable around a central axis of rotation for winding and unwinding the sunscreen. At least one spring member biases the winding tube in a direction for winding the sunscreen thereon. A sleeve protects the spring member from causing noises and is manufactured of a flexible layered material, having at least a first and a second layer connected to each other and having different properties so that the layer in contact with the spring is wear resistant and the other layer has an elastic ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Johnny Elizabertus Anna Wulms
  • Patent number: 9051773
    Abstract: A rollo assembly comprises a rollo screen with opposite longitudinal ends and opposite transverse ends, a winding shaft for winding and unwinding the rollo screen at one of said longitudinal ends, a pull beam connected to the other one of said longitudinal ends and two longitudinal guides for cooperation with the transverse ends of the rollo screen and for guiding the pull beam. At least one support member for the rollo screen extends underneath the rollo screen between two opposite longitudinal support member guides. The support member moves in said longitudinal direction along the support member guides when the rollo screen moves between its fully wound position and a partially wound off position, and is kept stationary in an end position when the rollo screen moves between its partially wound off position and its fully wound off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Marinus Josephus Clephas, Michael Cornelis Anthonius Relouw
  • Publication number: 20150151617
    Abstract: Disclosed is a center reinforcement structure of a panoramic sunroof that is coupled in a vehicle width direction between a front glass and a rear glass disposed at a ceiling of a vehicle. The center reinforcement structure may include a frame which is disposed in the vehicle width direction, and has one end that is tightly attached and fixedly coupled to a lower portion of the rear glass, and a first center reinforcement which is coupled to a lower portion of the frame, and has a first closed cross-sectional portion that is formed at one side of the first center reinforcement by sequentially bending a first plate to provide a first closed space, and a first joint portion that is formed at the other side of the first center reinforcement by overlapping both ends of the first plate substantially in parallel so that both ends of the first plate are in surface contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Sang-Sub UM, Do-Won SUNG, Sun-Gyu HWANG
  • Publication number: 20150151620
    Abstract: A folding type sunroof deflector structure may include a deflector gate formed penetrating the front frame in the widthwise direction of the vehicle a first deflector which is stored inside the front frame to be moved up and down through the deflector gate and projectable outside of the opening section; a second deflector, an upper part of which is rotatably connected to a hinge joint located at a bottom of the first deflector and which is projectable outside of the opening section according to a movement of the first deflector; and a pair of deflector arms having a rear end portion of which is rotatably coupled to a pair of side frames to be connected to sides of the opening section; and a front end portion of which is coupled to both sides of the first deflector to move the first deflector up and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Jeong-Min LEE, Hwa-Kyoung SUNG
  • Patent number: 9039076
    Abstract: Open roof construction for a vehicle is provided, comprising a roof opening provided in a stationary roof part of the vehicle and movable means for opening and closing the roof opening. At least a first and second drive member are provided for cooperation with the movable means, which at least first and second drive member are movable in a direction of the vehicle by a common drive source and are spaced in said direction. At least one elongate buckling resistant member is provided extending substantially in said direction and movable between a disconnect position in which the first and second drive members of the movable means are operatively disconnected and a connect position for operatively connecting the first and second drive members of the movable means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Alphonsus Theodorus Bernardus Rooijakkers, Theodorus Gerardus Franciscus Van Rooij
  • Publication number: 20150108796
    Abstract: A structure of a sunroof deflector may include a roof panel which is disposed at a ceiling of a vehicle, and has an opening portion that is openable and closable by a sunroof glass; a sunroof frame, a deflector bracket disposed between a rainwater drainage portion and a sealing weather strip, a first deflector which is accommodated in the deflector bracket to be slidable upward and downward, selectively protrudes to an outside of the opening portion, and has a first catching portion formed to a rear surface of an upper end thereof; a second deflector which is accommodated in the deflector bracket to be slidable upward and downward, selectively protrudes to the outside of the opening portion, and has a second catching portion that is formed to a front surface of a lower end thereof and protrudes to be selectively caught by the first catching portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Jeong-Min LEE, Hwa-Kyoung SUNG
  • Patent number: 9004584
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening comprises at least a closure member supported by the stationary part and configured to open and close the roof opening. A wind deflector is positioned near the front of the roof opening and is movable between an ineffective position below the fixed roof and an effective position projecting above the fixed roof. The wind deflector includes flexible wind deflecting material attached to an upper elongate element. The wind deflecting material is also connected at its lower end to a stationary part. An intermediate element is attached to the material between its upper and lower ends and extends along substantially the width of the wind deflecting material. At least a part of the intermediate element is biased toward a first position is displaced in a direction toward an edge of the roof opening when the wind deflector to the effective position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Gaston Edgar Valencia Cadena
  • Patent number: 8991912
    Abstract: A drive mechanism comprising a guide channel and a cooperating slide shoe the which guide channel comprises a first part extending in a substantially horizontal direction configured to move the shoe on a first level and a second part extending downwardly relative to said substantially horizontal direction configured to move the shoe to a lower second level an elongate drive member is attached to the shoe and extends along the channel, substantially in parallel to the first part of the channel. At least one portion of the shoe moves relative to the remainder of the shoe so as not to interfere with the drive member when the shoe is positioned at the lower second level. The drive member is located within the vertical projection at a level above the level assumed by the lowermost part of the slide shoe when the slide shoe is positioned at the lower second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Ruud Geurts
  • Patent number: 8991911
    Abstract: A vehicle open roof construction includes a closure element movably supported and adjusted by a driving slide. A front longitudinal guide track extends along a roof opening, whereas a rear longitudinal guide track is mounted at least substantially rearward of the roof opening. A front support which is movably guided by said front longitudinal guide track supports the closure element, while a rear support also supports the closure element and includes a lifting device and a guiding device for engagement in said rear longitudinal track upon rearward movement of the closure element. The lifting device and the guiding device are integrated as a rotatable element. A forcing mechanism determines whether the rotatable element acts either as the lifting device or the guiding device. The rotatable element is adjustable in vertical direction with respect to and independently of the rear guide track when the movable element acts as the lifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Wilhemus Maria Nabuurs, Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen
  • Patent number: 8973644
    Abstract: A rollable screen comprises a rotatable winding tube for a screen mounted for rotation in a stationary mounting assembly and a spring for loading said winding tube in a direction for winding the screen onto the winding tube. A first end of said spring is connected to the winding tube and a second end is connected to a mounting part positioned within the winding tube and connected to the stationary mounting assembly. Said mounting part comprises projecting locking elements for cooperation with corresponding locking members of the mounting assembly and for a rotation relative thereto between a first rotational position in which the mounting part can be inserted in or removed from the mounting assembly, and a second rotational position in which the locking elements and locking members prevent any translational movement of the rollable screen relative to the stationary mounting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Paulus Johannes Wilhelmus Munsters
  • Patent number: 8960782
    Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a guide channel and a slide shoe. The guide channel comprises a first part extending in a substantially horizontal direction for moving the shoe on a first level, and a second part extending downwardly relative to the horizontal direction for moving the shoe to a lower second level. A drive member attaches to the shoe and extends along the channel, substantially parallel to the first part. The guide channel defines two spaced guide channel parts cooperating with two corresponding slide shoe parts. The slide shoe between its spaced slide shoe parts includes a recess allowing the slide shoe to move from the first to the second level without engaging the drive member. The drive member is located within the vertical projection at a level above the level assumed by at least one of the slide shoe parts when the slide shoe is at its second level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Ruud Geurts
  • Patent number: 8931829
    Abstract: An open roof construction includes at least one closure element for selectively opening and closing a roof opening and a wind deflector assembly having a wind deflector arm pivotally connected to a stationary part and a wind deflector body extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A spring biases the wind deflector assembly in an upward direction to a first, operative position, in which the wind deflector body is positioned above the surface of the roof opening, from a second, inoperative position in which the wind deflector body is positioned in a storage position, below the surface of the roof. At least one guiding clamp guides the wind deflector assembly, at least during a part of the movement from the first operative position to the second inoperative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Alexander Nienkemper