Abstract: A roof structure of a motor vehicle with a movable front cover mechanism for closing or at least partially clearing a front roof opening and with a rear hatch or rear window which is connected to the front cover mechanism and which can be swiveled up around its front edge for clearing a rear roof opening. The front cover mechanism is supported on a module frame which is assigned to the front roof opening and which is attached to the body-mounted roof frame. On a rear transverse frame part of the module frame is a swivel bearing mechanism for permitting the swiveling up and down of the rear hatch or rear window.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a movable element to be driven by a direct current motor between first and second positions includes counting ripples contained in a motor current signal as the motor rotates to drive the element. The position of the element is determined based on the counted ripples. The motor actuates, until the current signal is void of ripples, to move the element into the first position when the element is to be moved out of the first position towards the second position. The counted ripples is reset to a reset value after the motor has been actuated to move the element into the first position such that the reset value corresponds to the position of the element being in the first position. The motor actuates to move the element towards the second position after the counted ripples has been reset.

Abstract: The invention relates to glazings adapted for automotive vehicle roofs. The glazing according to the invention comprises: a first sheet of glass on the external face of the roof; a second sheet of glass at at least a portion of the internal surface arranged towards the interior; an intermediate sheet of one or more traditional thermoplastic materials used for forming laminated glazings, which extends at least over the surfaces of the sheet of glass which face each other; functional non-transparent elements arranged under the first sheet of glass; the transparent laminated portion having a luminous transmittance of less than 35 percent and an energy transmittance less than 20 percent.

Abstract: A subassembly element in the form of an intermediate product for a multipart cover element for motor vehicles contains at least two subassembly parts, e.g., for a multipart sunroof or sliding roof cover or for a multipart loading zone or cargo space cover, containing edge regions on the adjacent edges of the subassembly parts which are correspondingly shaped such that they had least partially overlap in the closed position. All subassembly parts are present in the form of one connected-together part and are shaped in accordance with the predetermined contour of the cover element. A channel-shaped depression is arranged at least in the outer side of the subassembly element in the edge region in which two respective subassembly parts adjoin one another. The contour of the channel-shaped depression is comprised of the desired contours of the edge regions of adjacent subassembly parts of the respective cover element.

Abstract: A method and a device for the operation of a cover of a tilt-and-slide sunroof of a vehicle, the cover being arranged in a first relative position in relation to a roof panel surrounding the cover when the vehicle is stationary, and the cover being moved from the first relative position into a second relative position by a vacuum force caused by an air stream when the vehicle is in motion, having the following stages in particular:

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof module for attachment to the roof frame area of a motor vehicle body, with at least one cover (11) for selectively closing and exposing a roof opening in the roof module (11), with an electric motor drive (25, 26) for actuating the cover (11), and with a front apron (13) that forms a hollow profile component of a mounting frame of the roof module (10), and in which the electric motor drive (25, 26) is held at least partially within the apron (13).

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a roof opening (12) and a body-mounted carrier frame (38) to which a roof module (14) which fills the roof opening is attached, the roof module having a module frame (20) by means of which it is attached to the carrier frame, a cover (22) which can be pushed in the module frame in the lengthwise direction of the roof, and a rear window (24) which directly adjoins the cover to the rear in the closed position of the cover, and the module frame is made such that the cover and the rear window in their closed state adjoin the module frame, forming a seal. The rear window (24) can be raised with its rear edge.

Abstract: A sunshade positioned under a motor vehicle roof and wound on a winding shaft in which the sunshade can be drawn by means of a draw bar guided on guides and can be positioned in different drawn positions. The draw bar is provided with a protective device that, in the event of a crash, mitigates the impact of a passenger against the draw bar. Additionally, an airbag is disclosed which is attached to the rear edge of the movable cover located in the roof opening of the motor vehicle roof so that in the event of a crash the impact of a passenger against the rear edge of the cover is reduced.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an automotive vehicle roof system includes first, second and third movable sunroof panels. A further aspect of the present invention provides a pair of sunroof panels that are slidable toward each other in a cross-car direction and a third movable sunroof located rearward of at least one of the pair of sunroof panels.

Abstract: Sunroof frame members are sealed together by using a two-shot molding process. A first frame member includes a seal molded along a portion of a first mount interface. The seal presents an exposed engagement surface that is pressed against an adjoining frame member to provide a sealed sunroof frame. The method of sealing sunroof frame members together includes the steps of molding the first frame member in a pre-formed mold, indexing the mold, molding the seal into the first frame member while in the mold, and securing a second frame member to the first frame member such that the seal is sandwiched between the first and second frame members.

Abstract: Assembly as an installation element for a vehicle body, in particular as a cover for a motor vehicle sliding roof, which consists of an outer plate or cover plate preferably injection-molded from a polycarbonate, and a supporting structure for this to which the plate/cover plate is connected in a particular manner at several fixing points. As the supporting structure is formed from a material which has a co-efficient of expansion different from that of polycarbonate, at the fixing points are arranged special connecting elements which, with simple design, allow stress-compensating, direction-defined and essentially free relative movements between the supporting structure and the plate/cover plate but nonetheless hold these two components firmly and reliably together under all operating conditions.

Abstract: A guide rail assembly for guiding drive elements and guide elements of an openable roof part of a motor vehicle, the guide rail assembly including a guide rail of metal with a cut edge on an end of the guide rail, and a protective cap on the end of the guide rail. The protective cap covers the cut edge of the end and has an inside wall which flushes aligns with an inside wall of the guide rail to thereby provide a flush and continuous surface. The protective cap is preferably made of plastic and plugged onto the end of the guide rail. The protective cap preferably includes a locking mechanism and an inwardly pointing face. The protective cap also includes insertion bevels which extends to an outwardly pointing face the protective cap and may further include an integrally molded a centering journal. In another embodiment, the guide rail may also include a lengthwise crosspiece, and the protective cap includes a corresponding extension.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle open air system includes a pair of vehicle side frames, one or more movement mechanisms, a back window assembly and an automatic actuator. In another aspect of the present invention, an automotive vehicle includes a front header panel, first and second vehicle side frames, first and second tracks, a sunroof panel, a back window panel and an electrical system operable to coordinate movement of the sunroof panel and the back window panel.

Abstract: A plastic sun roof panel has a central portion formed in a maximum and uniform thickness. Further, a mounting portion having a minimum and uniform thickness is formed annularly along a peripheral edge portion. Between the central portion and the peripheral edge portion, there is annularly formed a tapered portion whose thickness is gradually reduced from the central portion toward the mounting portion. A reinforcing member is arranged so as to extend along the peripheral edge portion of the sun roof panel, and is fastened to the plastic sun roof panel by means of an adhesive. A flange of the reinforcing member is fitted into a weather strip. In the peripheral edge portion, the tapered portion is situated on the inner side of the mounting portion to which the adhesive is applied.

Abstract: A motor vehicle, especially a limousine or a coupe, with a motor vehicle roof with body-mounted lengthwise-extending roof side rails (5), with a roof opening in the motor vehicle roof, with a movable roof part arrangement, especially a louvered roof, for selectively closing or at least partially clearing the roof opening, and with a rear window (13) which adjoins the motor vehicle roof, the movable roof part arrangement or the louvered roof having elements or louvers (7) which are movably guided on lateral guides and which can be lowered into a rear storage space (16) which is located essentially under the equator line (17) of the motor vehicle when the roof is opened. The rear window (13) is movable by guides on the body and can be lowered from its closed position, in which it closes a rear window opening in the vehicle body, into an open position in which it is removed from the rear window opening and is located at least partially under the trunk lid (2).

Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with at least two successive, separately openable roof systems, of which the front roof system has at least one cover (4) which can be raised at its rear edge (4D) over the fixed motor vehicle roof (1). The rear roof system is formed by a louvered roof which has a plurality of louver-shaped cover parts of which a rearmost cover part (9) is located over the rear area of a cargo space (28) of the motor vehicle, and which can be opened from back to front, beginning with the rearmost cover part (9). Preferably, the rear edge (9D) of the rear cover part (9) directly adjoins the rear hatch, the rear door, or the rear window (10) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A resin molded object 1 that may be used as a sunroof has a reinforcing rib 3 around the periphery of a window body 2 that is disposed inside a car. The window body 2 is molded using a fixed die 7 and one molding surface 8a of a first movable die 8, then the reinforcing rib 3 is molded on the window body 2 using the fixed die 7 and a second molding surface 8b of a second movable die 8 to thereby to fabricate a double-molded resin window.