Abstract: Vehicle roof with at least one cover that, alternatively, closes or at least partially opens an opening in a fixed roof surface of the vehicle, carries a solar power source for supplying power to at least one power consuming device that is separately located from the cover, and with a contact device for producing an electrical connection between the solar power source and the consuming device. The contact device is made as a switch arrangement that incorporates the cover so that the power consuming device is connected to the solar power source in one or more predetermined cover positions and is disconnected from the solar power source in all other cover positions.

Abstract: A railroad car having an upper and lower level is disclosed. The lower level is positioned above a flat center sill extending along the length of the car and supported above the axles of the wheels at either end of the car. The upper level is positioned vertically above the lower level. Each of the levels includes doorways opening to the floor region of the respective levels. Having a doorway at each level permits a freer flow of passenger and railroad service personnel traffic between railroad cars. The upper level includes an observation deck having an integral window member which has a substantially vertical portion, a curved portion, and a generally horizontal portion. The shape of the duct system ensures that forced air is evenly distributed along the car.

Abstract: An automobile body structure includes a canopy of plastic having a pair of thicker portions projecting on an inner surface of the canopy and spaced from each other in the fore-and-aft direction of the automobile body structure, and a rigid support member embedded in each of the thicker portions. The canopy includes a roof, and front and rear windows formed therewith of a unitary, undivided construction, the thicker portions being disposed near upper edges of the front and rear windows. The thicker portions are arch-shaped. The rigid support member comprises a solid rod or a hollow pipe.

Abstract: A vehicle sunshade roof construction (16) is disclosed as including a transparent roof panel (28) and a sunshade (32) for opening and closing the area below the transparent roof panel. The sunshade (32) includes a plurality of laterally elongated blades (34) connected by a flexible sheet-like shade (38) and utilized in association with a pair of roof mounted guides (40) that support the sunshade for movement between the closed and open positions. In the closed position, the blades (34) are spaced with the shade (38) extending therebetween; and in the open position, the blades (34) are stored in a single vertical stack with the shade (38) folded therebetween at a location that exposes the occupant compartment to the transparent roof panel (28). A front end (32f) of the sunshade includes a handle (41) that is manually grasped to move the sunshade between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: Electrical connectors for providing direct connection of the output of a dedicated power supply to a movable sunroof panel when the panel is within a limited distance that extends from its fully closed position. Such connections are made and broken to a sunroof panel that utilizes electrically activated light transmittance control materials or light emitting elements. A first embodiment includes a ramped conducting surface on a relatively fixed block and a spring loaded contact element carried on the rear portion of the movable sunroof. A second embodiment contains a spring loaded contact within a bore formed in an insulator block. The block and contact are mounted in a relatively fixed position aligned with a conductive probe mounted on the rear portion of the movable sunroof. A circuit provides timing protection to the dedicated power supply by ensuring that the electrical connectors are in contact before allowing the power supply to be energized.

Abstract: A vehicle sunshade roof construction (16) is disclosed as including a transparent roof panel (28) and a sunshade (32) for opening and closing the area below the transparent roof panel. The sunshade includes a plurality of laterally elongated blades (34) connected by a flexible sheet-like shade (38) and utilized in association with a pair of roof mounted guides (40) that support the sunshade for movement between the closed and open positions. In the closed position, the blades (34) are spaced with the shade (38) extending therebetween; and in the open position, the blades (34) are stored in a stacked relationship with the shade (38) folded therebetween at a location that exposes the occupant compartment to the transparent roof panel (28). A power operated drive mechanism (42) is preferably provided for moving the sunshade between the closed and open positions and utilizes flexible drive tapes (48) and ramps (64) that make and uncouple connections (50) between the drive tapes and the sunshade blade ends (36).

Abstract: A sunshine roof structure of a vehicle, comprising a roof panel having an opening formed therein, a light-transmitting panel pivotally movable between an angular position closing the opening and an angular position allowing the opening to be open, a light-shield panel underlying and pivotally movable with the light-transmitting panel, and a latch mechanism for providing releasable engagement between the light-transmitting and light-shield panels so that the light-shield panel can be detached from the vehicle body by unlatching the latch mechanism.

Abstract: A sliding roof assembly for motor vehicles of the type having a translucent, rigid sliding cover that closes a roof opening of a fixed roof part in a closed position and is lowerable down and out of the opening and is slidable behind a rear roof part in an open position as well as a sliding headlining that is slidable independently of the sliding cover and jointly therewith is improved in accordance with the present invention by the construction of guide channels for the sliding headlining by surfaces of a U-shaped shield connected to the sliding cover and a portion of an upper surface of lateral tracks used to guide the sliding cover.

Abstract: A device for vertical and horizontal adjustment of a sliding cover for an opening in a vehicle body member such as a sliding roof or the like of a motor vehicle of the type wherein the cover is guided on each side by means of at least one guide shoe along guide tracks disposed on the body member is designed to provide an arrangement which requires extremely little room and extends as little as possible beyond the inner edge of the roof frame surrounding the roof opening, allows precise adjustment of the sliding cover relative to the guide shoe support, both vertically and laterally, and is readily accessible.

Abstract: An automobile rear window structure for closing a rear window opening formed in an automobile body, the opening having front and rear edges and opposite sides. The window closing structure includes a pair of rear pillars extending along both sides of the rear window opening and having trough sections formed therein. Transparent material closing the rear opening includes a rear section and a pair of side sections positioned on opposite sides of the rear section. The side sections have transverse curvatures which are contiguous with a transverse curvature of the rear section. The rear section is formed separately from the side sections and is arranged to cover the rear window opening and has an upper end hinged to the body for swinging movement between closed and open positions.

Abstract: A transparent plastic panel to replace the conventional metal roof panel removably received by attachment latches in the sun roof opening of a motor vehicle is held in place by fore and aft over center latches designed to mate with the sockets provided by the auto manufacturer for lever operated means on his metal roof panel. In addition to the fore and aft attachment latches on the plastic roof panel a metal edge trim is provided peripherally of the plastic panel, and a seal is mounted to this edge trim.

Abstract: A translucent glass panel particularly adapted for deployment with a land vehicle is defined by a laminar structure of a photometric glass sheet, a vinyl fabric, a reflective coating and a heat absorbing glass sheet. The translucent glass panels hereof are optimally employed as roof panels for land vehicles.