Slidable Panel Patents (Class 296/216.04)
  • Patent number: 11571953
    Abstract: A sunshade structure is disclosed. The sunshade structure includes a sunshade; a guide rail; a sunshade stopper configured to stop a movement of the sunshade, the sunshade stopper including a first side wall and a second side wall; and an end cap configured to cap an end of the guide rail, the end cap including a bottom plate, a first sunshade stopper retention wall extending vertically from the bottom plate and configured to extend around the first side wall a second sunshade stopper retention wall extending vertically from the bottom plate and configured to extend around a junction of the first side wall and the second side wall a third sunshade stopper retention wall extending vertically from the bottom plate and configured to extend around the second side wall; and a fourth wall extending vertically from the bottom plate and configured to extend from an end of the second side wall to the end of the guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Lindsey Blair, Joel Runyan, Takayuki Umeki, Scott Cullen
  • Patent number: 11001204
    Abstract: Disclosed is a roof rack attachment arrangement for a roof rack for carrying a load on a vehicle roof including an elongated attachment member body. The attachment member body has a length along a longitudinal axis thereof. The attachment member body includes a first portion that is configured to be attached to a vehicle and a second portion that is configured to be attached to a roof rack. The attachment member body is configured to be movable between an operative position and a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: Joakim Persson, Anders Nilvius, Morgan Lindell, Eric Gustavsson, Niklas Kronborg
  • Patent number: 10857862
    Abstract: Dual panel sunroof systems and apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed sunroof for a vehicle includes a first bracket movable along a rail and coupled to a first panel. The sunroof also includes a second bracket movable along the rail and coupled to a second panel. The sunroof also includes an actuator configured to move the first or second bracket. Movement of the first bracket is to position the first panel over the second panel. Movement of the second bracket is to position the second panel over the first panel. The sunroof also includes a central guide block operatively interposed between the first and second brackets to guide movement thereof. The central guide block configured to apply a resistance to at least a first end of the first bracket to enable the actuator to raise or lower the first panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jacob Grimaldo
  • Patent number: 10647184
    Abstract: A sunroof apparatus includes: a movable panel adapted to open and close an opening in a roof of a vehicle; a guide rail provided at each of both-side edge portions of the opening; a cable which has a driving-side engagement portion and is driven to move in a forward and backward direction of the vehicle; a slide member having a driven-side engagement portion engaging with the driving-side engagement portion, linked to each of both-side edge portions, and provided to be movable in the forward and backward direction, along the guide rail, so that movement of the slide member causes the movable panel to open and close; and a holding portion protruding from the slide member in the width direction of the vehicle and positioned backward of the cable to abut against or close to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Umeki, Satoru Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 10427506
    Abstract: A sunroof device includes support members, which are attached to a movable panel, sliding members, which are slidable along guide rails, movable members, rotating bodies, two front-side rack gears, and two rear-side rack gears. Each movable member is fixed to one of the sliding members and supported by the corresponding one of the support members to be movable. Front and rear-side rotating bodies are respectively supported by front and rear portions of the movable panel. The front-side rack gears are coupled to the front-side rotating body such that the distances from the center of the movable panel to the front ends of the two movable members are equal. The rear-side rack gears are coupled to the rear-side rotating body such that distances from the center of the movable panel to the rear ends of the two movable members are equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Hiramatsu, Shinji Sakai
  • Patent number: 10421342
    Abstract: An arrangement for a movable roof element (101) for a motor vehicle (100) has: a carriage (103) which is designed to be guided in a rail (104) and to be moved relative to the rail (104) and which has a first component (105) and a second component (106), and a drive cable (107), wherein the second component (106) at least partially surrounds the first component (105) and the drive cable (107) in order to form a coupling (108) between the drive cable (107) and the carriage (103), wherein the coupling (108) has: a roughening (109) of the first component (105) in order to form a non-positive and/or integrally bonded connection between the first (105) and the second (106) component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventor: Dominik Hölzel
  • Patent number: 9827836
    Abstract: A rollo assembly intended for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle, comprises a rotatable winding shaft, a rollo screen of which a rear end can be wound on or off said winding shaft and of which an opposite forward end is provided with an operating beam, and opposite guide channels for in a longitudinal direction guiding opposite side edges of the rollo screen and opposite ends of the operating beam. Each of the guide channels is divided into a removable first guide channel part closest to the winding shaft and a second guide channel part further away from the winding shaft, wherein aligning means are provided for, in an assembled position of the rollo assembly, aligning respective ones of the first and second guide channel parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Eduardus Christianus Van Boxtel, Bart Johannes Maria Van Neer, Suyanto Teri Wahiyu Ten-Jet-Foei, Franciscus Antonius Gerardus Vogels
  • Patent number: 9475370
    Abstract: A sunroof assembly for a vehicle includes first and second side rails adhesively attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle glass roof, which has an aperture formed therethrough and between the side rails. A movable glass sunroof panel is movable along the side rails between a closed position and an opened position. When the movable panel is in its closed position, the movable panel is disposed at the aperture and has its upper surface generally co-planar with the upper surface of the vehicle glass roof. When the movable panel is moved from its closed position towards its opened position, the movable panel moves downward and rearward along the side rails and along and below a portion of the vehicle glass roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darin J. Snider, Linh Pham
  • Patent number: 9248725
    Abstract: A panoramic vehicle sunroof system is provided. The panoramic sunroof system has a movable roof panel operable to define a sunroof opening extending generally from a front pillar to a rear pillar. A sunroof controller is configured to receive input indicative of vehicle speed and automatically control movement of the panel. The sunroof controller commands movement of the roof panel from a first open position to a second open position having an opening distance less than in the first position when speed exceeds a threshold. In the second position, wind noise is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Comfort, Bryan Underwood, Artem Poliakov
  • 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: 9180917
    Abstract: A vehicle panoramic sunroof assembly includes a vehicle frame including a medial pillar that extends vertically from a lower frame portion to a longitudinal member of a roof frame portion. A top portion of the medial pillar includes a supplemental support flange. A panoramic sunroof frame is set within and connected to the longitudinal member of the roof frame portion and connected to the supplemental support flange. The supplemental support flange is mechanically connected to the panoramic sunroof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Rick H. Wykoff
  • Publication number: 20150097397
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle body with a lateral roof frame, a sliding roof structure and an angled connecting flange with a first web and second web. The first web is connected in a frictionally and/or positively joined manner to the lateral roof frame by means of a first elongated hole arrangement. The second web is connected to the sliding roof structure in a frictionally or positively joined manner by means of a second elongated hole arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Ingo Fettel, Ralf Krug, Axel Boywitt
  • Publication number: 20140354017
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening in its fixed roof comprises a stationary part and at least a panel supported by the stationary part and configured to close the opening in the fixed roof. The panel include two substantially parallel sheets connected and sealed to each other at least along their circumference in order to create a space there between containing gas. The space communicates with a pressure equalizing device equalizing the pressure in the space with the ambient pressure. The pressure equalizing device can be an open or closed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Martinus Wilhelmus Maria Nabuurs, Robert Rikkert, Sander De Bie
  • Publication number: 20140246883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle sliding roof device with a cover unit that is shiftably supported on guides of the sliding roof device by a support device and that can be adjusted between a closed position covering a roof opening and at least one open position, whereby it is provided in accordance with the invention that a locking device which detachably locks the cover unit at least in its closed position and that an arresting device with which the cover unit can be arrested from shifting relative to the guides at least in different opening positions can be activated by a manually operated activation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Webasto SE
    Inventors: Gioacchino Inzerillo, Pasquale Marrocco
  • Publication number: 20140159434
    Abstract: A glass roof of a motor vehicle includes a fixed part and a panel that is mobile with respect to the fixed part. The panel is able to close an opening formed in or next to the fixed part in a closed position. Movement of the mobile panel is implemented with the aid of two shuttles guided in translation respectively in two rails, each of the shuttles engaging with a peg secured to the mobile panel. The mobile panel carries two bearing elements that bear against bearing surfaces formed respectively on a longitudinal portion of the rails, defining a third movement zone in which the mobile panel is slid with respect to the fixed part, parallel to the rails. The bearing surface is interrupted in an end portion of each of the rails so as to allow the bearing elements to move in a direction perpendicular to the rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANCED COMFORT SYSTEMS FRANCE SAS - ACS FRANCE
    Inventor: Mickael Desbois
  • Publication number: 20140117724
    Abstract: A sunshade device is provided with a shading sheet adapted to shade light incident through an opening formed in the vehicle to an interior of a passenger compartment or to permit the passage of the light. The shading sheet moves along a pair of guide rails having guide passages, which slidably support both ends of the shading sheet in the lateral direction of the vehicle. The sunshade device is provided with shielding members extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails and shielding the guide passages from the interior of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Shinichi Hiramatsu, Kazuki Sawada
  • Patent number: 8672398
    Abstract: Continuous cross sectional profile guide tracks in an outer sliding sunroof/moonroof are provided where both the front and rear mechanism or mechanism links travel fore/aft in the same channels as each other and have fore/aft travel that is limited only by vehicle architecture. The guide track channel is partly or entirely outside/outboard of the primary water/wind sealing system of the sunroof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Paul Gruss, Marcus Christensen
  • Patent number: 8567844
    Abstract: A car having: a frame provided with two external vertical posts, which are arranged facing each other on opposite sides of the car, and two internal vertical posts, which are arranged between the two external vertical posts and at a given distance from the external vertical posts; a passenger compartment; a sun roof, which is supported by the frame and can be set in an open position or a closed position with respect to the passenger compartment; a housing for containing the sun roof when the sun roof itself is set in the open position; a movable cover for closing the housing; and a rear window, which is mounted in a sliding manner so as to move between an extracted position, in which the rear window projects from the car body, and a withdrawn position, in which the rear window is housed inside the car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Ugolini
  • Publication number: 20130249254
    Abstract: A roof weather strip capable of being readily attached to the motor vehicle with reduced costs. The roof weather strip adapted to effect a seal between a sliding panel and a fixed panel composing a vehicle roof, includes a base portion for attachment to an edge of a fixed base panel adapted to attach the fixed panel, and a seal portion for contacting the sliding panel. The base portion includes a panel engaging section for engagement with the edge of the fixed base panel, and a rim engaging section for engagement with a panel rim attached to the edge of the fixed panel. The panel engaging section is formed on the lower surface side of the base portion, and the rim engaging section is formed on the upper surface side of the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: KOICHI KIKUCHI, Kazuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20130241243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sealing the aperture of a tipped-back sliding roof of a car. The device has a control device designed to monitor the gearbox of the car and ensure that the aperture is sealed when the reverse gear is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GEMO G. MORITZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Kari Rudolfi
  • Publication number: 20130193720
    Abstract: A sunroof apparatus including a front panel and a rear panel closing a roof opening, having a slider coupling mechanism interlocking between a front slider actuating the front panel and a rear slider actuating the rear panel while achieving a simplified structure and compacted size thereof with its number of parts reduced. The coupling arm is swingably pivotally supported by the rear slider, and the coupling arm is provided with a stopper for regulating the back-and-forth movement of the rear slider by fitting to a locking hole formed in the guide rail, and the front slider is provided with a coupling pin and the coupling arm is provided with a coupling cam groove, and the front slider is moved backward so that the coupling pin and the coupling cam groove are engaged with each other to thereby swing the coupling arm so that the stopper is disengaged from the locking hole and the rear slider being interlocked with the front slider is rendered to be moved back and forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Webasto SE
    Inventor: Osamu Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130154312
    Abstract: A sliding structure of a panorama sun roof for a vehicle, wherein a roof panel of the vehicle may be mounted with the panorama sun roof, may include a guide rail mounted to the panorama sun roof, wherein an end of the guide rail may be molded with an elastic member, and a guide member mounted in the guide rail for the panorama sun roof to slidably move along the guide rail of the roof panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: Inalfa Roof Systems Korea Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Lee, Hwa Kyong Sung
  • Publication number: 20130147237
    Abstract: A vehicle sunroof device includes a movable panel, guide rails, rear slide members, an electrical drive source, and check mechanisms. When the rear slide members are moved toward the front of the vehicle along the guide rails when the movable panel is in a totally closed state, the movable panel is changed to a tilt-up state. Check release mechanisms provided to the rear slide members are changed to an engaged state when the rear slide members are further moved toward the front of the vehicle with the movable panel in the tilt-up state and without involving operation of the movable panel. In the engaged state, when the rear slide members are moved toward the rear of the vehicle afterward, the check release mechanisms move the entire check mechanisms while switching the check mechanisms to a movable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8459696
    Abstract: An active material-enabled overhead protection system (24) for protecting the occupants of vehicles (20) with overhead glass (22), such as sunroofs or panoramic windshields, during rollover events. The system (24) includes a protective structure (26) and a deployment device (28). The protective structure (26) has a stowed condition in which it does not obstruct the overhead glass (22), and a deployed condition in which it is interposed between the overhead glass (22) and the heads of the occupants of the vehicle (20). The deployment device (28) moves the protective structure (26) from the stowed condition to the deployed condition. The deployment device (28) includes a trigger (30) operable to initiate movement of the protective structure (26), and the trigger (30) includes an active material which can change shape in response to an actuation signal, and the change in shape initiates deployment of the protective structure (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Paul W. Alexander, Jennifer P. Lawall, Nancy L. Johnson, Hans P. Lawall, Gregory J. Vargo
  • Publication number: 20130038092
    Abstract: A vehicle roller blind arrangement, with a roller blind web that can be wound or unwound in an extension direction, a band-shaped guide element that extends along the extension direction and is guidable in a guide rail, which can be coupled fixedly to a vehicle, in such a manner that said guide element extends parallel to the roller blind web, and a band element that extends along the extension direction and is arranged between the roller blind web and the guide element and, on a first longitudinal side, is coupled fixedly to the roller blind web and, on a second longitudinal side, is coupled fixedly to the guide element. The band element has a T-shaped or Y-shaped cross section, is formed of a different material from the roller blind web, and has a smaller material thickness than the roller blind web. In addition, the invention relates to correspondingly configured subassemblies and roof arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG (EFH)
    Inventors: Andreas Rockelmann, Martin Pollak, Dominik Hoelzel, Erwin Steiner, Tobias Nowack, Ulrike Bruggaier, Susanne Schandel, Manfred Faerber
  • Publication number: 20130020837
    Abstract: A roof apparatus for a vehicle includes a shoe member and a support member including an end portion rotatably connected to the shoe member within a predetermined rotation range. One of the end portion of the support member and the shoe member integrally includes first and second vertical wall portions and a support portion including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion. The other of the end portion of the support member and the shoe member includes a bearing portion pivotally supporting the large diameter portion and including an opening through which an insertion and removal of the small diameter portion is allowed in a state where the support member is positioned out of the predetermined rotation range and through which the insertion and removal of the small diameter portion is prohibited in a state where the support member is positioned within the predetermined rotation range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tetsuya HIRATA, Chitose Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8336954
    Abstract: There is provided a feeder apparatus for a slide panel so as to reduce the thickness of a panel of a car body the slide panel is attached to. The feeder apparatus 1 includes a wire harness 14 routed between a roof portion 2 and a sunroof 3, and a protector 15. The protector 15 includes a first protector 18 that is attached to rails 5a provided in the roof portion 2 and formed in the long-length shape parallel to the sliding direction of the sunroof 3 and accommodates one end portion 17a of the wire harness 14, and a second protector 2 that includes a protector body 26 slidably provided in the first protector 18 along the sliding direction of the sunroof 3 and a hook portion 27 the other end portion 17b of the wire harness 14 is attached to being attached to the sunroof 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masataka Yamamoto, Keiji Mori, Takehiko Uehara
  • Publication number: 20120193944
    Abstract: A roof apparatus includes a functional bracket supporting a movable panel, a guide rail, a drive shoe moving along the guide rail, a front link connected to the functional bracket to move in conjunction with the movement of the drive shoe, a rear link connected with the drive shoe to support the functional bracket, front and rear restriction portions arranged at the front link, front and rear restriction portions arranged at the rear link, a first distance defined between the front restriction portion of the front link and the rear restriction portion of the rear link, and a second distance defined between the rear restriction portion of the front link and the rear restriction portion of the rear link, wherein the front link and the rear link are arranged at different positions on a plain surface extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the guide rail extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20120112496
    Abstract: A roof apparatus for a vehicle, includes a pair of guide rails, a movable panel, a housing, a casing, and a first spur tooth rack belt and a second spur tooth rack belt for transmitting a drive force of a drive mechanism to the movable panel. The first spur tooth rack belt includes plural first spur teeth and the second spur tooth rack belt includes plural second spur teeth, and a slope portion inclined upward toward a rear side of the vehicle is provided forward of each of the pair of guide rails. A pair of guide portions is provided at each of the guide rails for guiding the first spur tooth rack belt and the second spur tooth rack belt. A cutout portion is formed at a front end portion of each of the guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jun MARUYAMA, Youji NAGASHIMA, Noboru IWANAGA
  • Patent number: 8167019
    Abstract: A shade apparatus for a vehicle includes a guide rail mechanism adapted to be arranged along a side portion of an inner periphery of an opening formed in an interior ceiling member of the vehicle, a shade panel mechanism slidably supported by the guide rail mechanism, configured to open and close the opening of the interior ceiling member, and including first and second shade panels, an engaging member arranged at one of the first and second shade panels, and an elastic member arranged at the other of the first and second shade panels and including a fixing portion and a deformable portion. The first and second shade panels move as a unit in the moving direction after one of the first and second shade panels moves relative to the other of the first and second shade panels in the moving direction and the engaging member engages with the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Muranaka, Shinji Sakai, Kazuki Sawada, Kazushige Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8152230
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a tailgate, a panoramic roof assembly and a dual-action rear hatch. The panoramic roof assembly has a plurality of positions including a closed position and a raised position. The dual-action rear hatch has a sliding mode wherein the hatch is movable from a closed position to a slide forward position wherein the rear hatch is received under the roof assembly when in the raised position, and has a flip-open position wherein the rear hatch is flipped-open while in a slide closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Michael A. Schrader, Matthew Weyand Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20120032476
    Abstract: A roof device for a vehicle is disclosed. Guide rails extend in a direction along the front and back of the vehicle on both sides of an opening of a vehicle roof. Operation mechanisms are guided by the corresponding guide rails and support a movable panel. A toothed belt has a plurality of rack teeth arranged in a longitudinal direction of the toothed belt. A drive-side guide section guides movement of the toothed belt. A rail-side guide section guides movement of the toothed belt. A sliding section is formed integrally with each toothed belt. A fitting section is formed in at least each drive-side guide section or each rail-side guide section. The fitting section restricts movement of the rack teeth of each toothed belt toward the corresponding opposite face of the drive-side guide section or rail-side guide section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hirata, Chitose Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8100467
    Abstract: A vehicle roof is proposed having a roof opening system (12) which comprises a cover element (16) by means of which a roof opening (14) can be optionally closed or at least partially opened and which interacts, in the closed position, with a separating device which surrounds the roof opening (14) and separates a wet area from a dry area, wherein the cover element (14) comprises, on both sides with respect to a longitudinal central plane of the vehicle, a front, driven sliding element (24) which lies in the dry area and is guided in a first guide device (30), and a rear sliding element (28) which lies in the wet area and is guided in a second guide device (32). According to the invention, the rear sliding elements (28) are actively driven by means of a drive device (46) in a coupling-free fashion with respect to the front sliding elements (24), so that said rear sliding elements (28) move in the second guide devices (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Webasto AG (Advotec)
    Inventor: Dominik Hölzel
  • Publication number: 20120001458
    Abstract: A vehicle sunroof device includes a movable panel, guide rails, rear slide members, an electrical drive source, and check mechanisms. When the rear slide members are moved toward the front of the vehicle along the guide rails when the movable panel is in a totally closed state, the movable panel is changed to a tilt-up state. Check release mechanisms provided to the rear slide members are changed to an engaged state when the rear slide members are further moved toward the front of the vehicle with the movable panel in the tilt-up state and without involving operation of the movable panel. In the engaged state, when the rear slide members are moved toward the rear of the vehicle afterward, the check release mechanisms move the entire check mechanisms while switching the check mechanisms to a movable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Kazuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20110227371
    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: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Stephan Christiaan Vervoort
  • Publication number: 20110204682
    Abstract: A sun shade device is positioned on an inner surface of a panorama roof panel. The sun shade device includes a sheet-shaped shade member that can be pulled out and retracted in back and forth directions of a vehicle, and a shade cover member that can cover the wound shade member. The shade cover member is made of an elongated rigid body and is laterally bridged in right and left directions of the vehicle along a winding axis of the shade member. The shade cover member is secured to a vehicle main body at both ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicants: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Masayuki Kamei, Yusuke Yoshita, Yukio Matsuda, Hideaki Terai, Hirotaka Inaba
  • Patent number: 7992930
    Abstract: A vehicle having a reconfigurable cargo area. A tailgate selectably closes off a rear portion of the vehicle and is positionable between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position. A roof is bifurcated along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A fixed roof panel closes off a first portion of the roof. A movable roof panel is slidable along a transverse axis of the vehicle, and has a closed position edgewise adjacent to the fixed roof panel and an open position facially adjacent to the fixed roof panel. In its closed position the movable roof panel closes off a second portion of the roof. The second roof portion is exposed when the movable roof panel is in its open position. The cargo area is configurable to closed and open arrangements according to the positions of the tailgate and the movable roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Michael A. Schrader
  • Publication number: 20110187161
    Abstract: In a vehicle roof system for closing and opening a roof opening (2a) formed in a fixed roof panel (2) of a vehicle with a moveable roof panel (4), an electric motor (24) mounted on a front edge of the roof opening actuates the moveable roof panel via a pair of push-pull cables (22). The drive section of at least one of the push-pull cable includes a bulging section bulging in a forward direction, and the elongated direction of the main body of the electric motor extends substantially in parallel with a sloping inboard side of the bulging section of the one push-pull cable. Therefore, the push-pull cable can be bulged forward without any restriction so that the push-pull cable can be laid out so as not to include any part having an unduly small radius of curvature. Therefore, a relatively friction free guidance of push-pull cables can be accomplished in actuating the moveable roof panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime KATAYAMA, Ayumi MIHASHI
  • Publication number: 20110187160
    Abstract: In a vehicle roof system for closing and opening a roof opening (2a) formed in a fixed roof panel (2) of a vehicle with a moveable roof panel (4), a pair of push-pull cables (22) extend from an electric motor (24) mounted on a front frame (12) extending along the front edge of the roof opening to either side of the moveable roof panel, and cross each other at three locations (P1-P3) on the front frame in plan view. Idle cable section of the first push-pull cable (22l) that meshes with the rear side of a drive gear of the electric motor crosses the drive cable section of the second push-pull cable (22r) at one location (P1), and the drive cable section of the first push-pull cable includes a bulging section bulging forward by crossing the idle cable section of the second push-pull cable at two locations (P2 and P3). Thereby, the radius of curvature of the drive cable section of the first push-pull cable can be maximized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime KATAYAMA, Ayumi MIHASHI
  • Patent number: 7922241
    Abstract: A sunshade for a vehicle having a first guide and a second guide spaced from the first guide. The sunshade has a pair of edges and includes a substrate layer and an aesthetic layer fixed to the substrate layer to present a show surface. Slide portions are disposed along each of the edges and are adapted to move within the first and second guides as the sunshade moves between an open position and a closed position. The slide portions define a generally corrugated configuration to provide a force that must be overcome to move the sunshade between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Simco Automotive
    Inventor: Scott Kloock
  • Publication number: 20110080022
    Abstract: A positioning structure for a blind cover which is arranged between a guide rail and an outer roof panel of a vehicle in a sunshade device for the vehicle, the blind cover including: a plate shaped shielding portion which is arranged between the guide rail and the outer roof panel and a supporting portion which is inserted into an installation groove formed in the guide rail, wherein the supporting portion includes a engagement portion which is flexible in a groove width direction of the installation groove, and the engagement portion is fit into an engaged portion which is an opening formed in the installation groove to position the blind cover with respect to the guide rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Uehara, Yuya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20100308625
    Abstract: A support mechanism for an opening and closing member slidably moving to open and close an opening formed in a vehicle body, includes a support frame adapted to be arranged at the opening and closing member to support the opening and closing member relative to the vehicle body, a guide rail adapted to be arranged at the vehicle body along a side edge of the opening and including first and second guide portions that are parallel to each other, and a guided member including a cylindrical portion and a bearing portion continuously formed with the cylindrical portion and coaxially supporting a shaft portion that is arranged at the support frame, the cylindrical portion having an outer peripheral surface formed into a tapered shape and contacting the first and second guide portions in a biased manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Akitoshi Shoji, Yoshitake Ide, Kazuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20100225147
    Abstract: The roof assembly includes guide rails extending parallel and at a distance from each other. The guide rails each include a guide groove being defined between an upper and lower flange of the guide rails. The guide grooves open in a direction towards each other, and further comprise at least one closure panel, in particular a sunshade panel, having two opposite sides substantially parallel to the guide rails and each including at least two laterally projecting tabs for engagement into the respective guide groove. At least one of said lower and upper flanges of each guide rail has at least one cut-out for allowing the tabs of the closure panel to enter the guide groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B. V.
    Inventors: Petrus Christiaan Martinus Lenkens, Jean Marie Victoir Bertholee, Brian Thomas Fairchild
  • Publication number: 20100164252
    Abstract: The invention relates to a panel device for a sliding roof arrangement of a vehicle, having a panel element for closing a gap between a frame of the sliding roof arrangement and an externally-guided sliding cover when the latter is situated in a ventilator position, having a holding element in which the panel element can be at least partially held, having an actuating element which deploys the panel element relative to the holding element in a first direction, and having force absorbing means, by means of which a force which acts in a second direction perpendicularly on a side of the panel element and perpendicularly to the first direction can be absorbed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Manfred Färber, Alexander Bergmiller
  • Patent number: 7717500
    Abstract: A roof hatch for a collapsible or fixed vehicle roof includes panels which are displaceable away from an opening in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The panels are disposed in guides along the front and rear edges of the opening. The arching of the panels is adapted to follow the contours of the vehicle roof, seen from the sides of the vehicle. Where a collapsible roof is employed, extra storage space may be made available in the luggage compartment when the vehicle roof is in its collapsed position. The extra space is created in that light luggage is stored in the opening of the roof hatch when the panels are located in their open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Von Malmborg Innovation AB
    Inventors: Johan von Malmborg, Ulla von Malmborg
  • Patent number: 7712825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a folding top for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one first and at least one second structural element (6, 7), which are covered by a flexible roof panel (8). Said structural elements (6, 7) are designed to be mounted and detached transversally to the direction of the vehicle by means of a roof opening (2) and once attached, are fixed at the front to the windscreen frame (3) and at the rear to a bow (4) that spans the width of the vehicle. The flat structural elements (6, 7) are interconnected by means of guide devices (14, 15) and can be displaced in relation to one another transversally to the direction of the vehicle by means of said devices (14, 15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Bunsmann, Juergen Theuerkauf
  • Publication number: 20100045076
    Abstract: A belt supporting apparatus includes a bottom portion, first and second wall portions integrally formed with the bottom portion so as to be parallel to each other, a holding portion integrally formed at the second wall portion and an opening formed at the bottom portion opposes the holding portion, wherein the housing houses a toothed belt so as to be slidably in such a way that a toothed portion of the toothed belt is facing the first wall portion, and a back surface formed at the other surface of the toothed belt is facing the second wall portion, and the toothed belt is prevented from being moved out of the housing in the vehicle height direction by means of the holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20100026055
    Abstract: A sunshade for a vehicle having a first guide and a second guide spaced from the first guide. The sunshade has a pair of edges and includes a substrate layer and an aesthetic layer fixed to the substrate layer to present a show surface. Slide portions are disposed along each of the edges and are adapted to move within the first and second guides as the sunshade moves between an open position and a closed position. The slide portions define a generally corrugated configuration to provide a force that must be overcome to move the sunshade between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Scott Kloock
  • Publication number: 20090284049
    Abstract: A sunroof mounting assembly may be configured so that a ring reinforcement is secured along an edge of a sunroof hole and a sunroof rail for guiding movement of a sunroof is mounted to the ring reinforcement. The ring reinforcement may include: a first reinforcement mounted to front and side edges of the sunroof hole to selectively receive the sunroof therein; and a second reinforcement provided on a rear edge of the sunroof hole, wherein the second reinforcement couples each distal end of the first reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Kyung LEE
  • Patent number: 7611189
    Abstract: A vehicle with a sliding glass roof system capable of operating in multiple modes, such as a rear liftgate, a sunroof, a retractable roof, and a convertible, is provided. The vehicle includes a retractable glass roof, lift glass, and carrier assembly in a single system. In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle includes a sliding roof panel configured to engage a carrier that also holds and supports a glass cargo liftgate. The sliding roof panel is configured to open in a sunroof and a convertible mode. The glass cargo liftgate is configured to open as a liftgate and in the convertible mode. The sliding roof and liftgate system includes a combination of attachments, gas struts, hinges, latches, seals and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Brian Nielander, Michael Shinedling