Roof Panel Edge Structure Patents (Class 296/216.09)
  • Patent number: 11577594
    Abstract: A roof assembly for a vehicle roof having a roof opening may have a movable roof element for optionally closing and at least partially uncovering the roof opening, a strand-shaped sealing profile which is adapted on a sealing side for sealing against the movable roof element and can be fastened to a fastening side on the vehicle roof. The sealing profile may have a sealing tube which is elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) and which surrounds a hollow chamber, and a recess which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis (X) through the sealing tube, such that the fastening side is fluid-connected to a side of the sealing tube facing away from the fastening side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Webasto SE
    Inventors: Andreas Josef Zunzer, Stefan Schäufler
  • Patent number: 10926614
    Abstract: A roof arrangement for a vehicle roof with a movable roof element and underlying frame with a seal hose having a strand shaped seal profile having a drain lip extending below an uppermost web of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Stefan Schäufler, Matthias Frank, Reinhard Wenzel
  • Patent number: 10654348
    Abstract: A lid member of a vehicle roof is disclosed having a plate-like lid body having an inner and an outer large face, to which a moulded plastic portion has been moulded. The moulded plastic portion can be configured to receive an insert which is embodied as a hollow body, and which rests against the inner large face of the lid body. The insert may have an abutment flange, which limits a hollow space opening and which is provided with a circumferential sealing rib which rests against the inner large face of the lid body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Guido Bott, Peter Strohmayr
  • Patent number: 9780537
    Abstract: A switchgear enclosure has a case with a front face that surrounds an opening in the case. A flange extends from the front face and has a first surface adjacent to the opening and a second, opposing surface. At least the second surface is disposed transversely with respect to the front face. A door has a door bracket. A gasket is coupled the door bracket and forms an endless loop sized larger than a size of the opening in the case. The gasket has a seal portion. When the door is closed, the seal portion compresses against the second surface of the flange to provide a seal around the opening, and in the event of an arc in the case causing pressure to be exerted on the door, the gasket moves with the door, with the seal portion sliding along the second surface, maintaining the seal around the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Alessandro Bonfanti
  • Patent number: 9776490
    Abstract: In a window module including a molding molded along the peripheral part of a window panel in situ, the deformation of the molding due to the shrinkage following the molding process is controlled. The window module comprises a window panel and a molding molded on and attached to a peripheral part of the window panel. The molding comprises a base portion extending along and attached to the peripheral part and a projection projecting from and extending along the peripheral part, and the projection is provided with an easily deformable portion at least in a part of the projection located along a lengthwise direction of the peripheral part, the easily deformable portion being deformable in the lengthwise direction of the peripheral part more readily than a remaining part of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9623735
    Abstract: A panel body of a sunroof device able to have reduced weight and a method for producing the panel body. The panel body of a sunroof device includes: a sunroof panel; a holder attached to the peripheral rim of the bottom surface of the sunroof panel and provided with a concavity; a lid member occluding the opening of the concavity; and a resin holding member formed in a manner so as to integrate the sunroof panel, holder, and lid member. The panel body of a sunroof device includes the holder having flanges, an end of the lid member being sandwiched between the top surface of the flanges and the bottom surface of the sunroof panel, and the holding member having a sandwiched section entering the space encircled by the top surface of the flanges, the bottom surface of the sunroof panel, and the end surface of the lid member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Akuzawa, Hiroyuki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9205731
    Abstract: A weatherstrip 31 provided to a front panel is hollow and extends on all of a peripheral edge of a panel frame 21 of the front panel 11. A panel frame 22 of a rear panel 12 has a portion which faces the front panel 11 and on which a weatherstrip 32 is absent. When the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 have closed an opening 3, the weatherstrip 31 is in contact with the panel frame 22. A corner portion 213 of the panel frame 21 has an engagement portion 28 projecting outward. A corner portion 313 of the weatherstrip 31 has a recess 38 with which the engagement portion 28 is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Koshimichi
  • Patent number: 9186968
    Abstract: A roof module includes a support designed as a closed frame, to which a roof cladding element is fitted and these two components are made to form an assembly by an adhesive bead and joined by a molding made of a material that can be applied while being curable, preferably a thermoplastic polymer. In order to compensate thermal stresses caused by different coefficients of thermal expansion of the components, the molding has contact regions towards the support or the roof cladding element where there is no adhesion between the molding and the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Breuling, Martin Guckel, Erich Heidt, Juergen Schrader
  • Patent number: 9017798
    Abstract: A press-formed product includes a top panel portion and a side panel portion connected to the top panel portion through a bent portion that is curved so as to have an arc shape. The top panel portion includes a recessed portion that is curved so as to have an arc shape in a direction opposite to a direction in which the bent portion is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Topre Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuharu Hashimoto, Yusuke Tezuka
  • Patent number: 8979182
    Abstract: A panel structure for a vehicle roof device includes a holder portion and a weather strip. The holder portion includes a fitting protrusion having a narrowed portion. The weather strip includes, in an integral manner, an attaching base and a sealing portion. The attaching base has a fitting recess fitted to the fitting protrusion. The attaching base includes a body portion in close contact with an outer side surface of the fitting protrusion, an upper attaching portion in close contact with an upper outer side surface of the narrowed portion, and a lower attaching portion in close contact with a lower outer side surface of the narrowed portion. The thickness of the upper attaching portion in the upper end is set to be larger in an upper area than in a lower area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyozumi Fukami, Yuki Itsumi, Masatoshi Nojiri
  • Patent number: 8915542
    Abstract: A sunroof apparatus includes a movable roof panel including a front edge connected to an upper edge of a front window without a roof outer plate interposed between the roof panel and the front window for closing an opening portion of a roof; a seal member disposed at a circumference of an edge portion of the opening portion; a front panel holder fixed to a lower surface of at least the front edge of the roof panel for reinforcing the roof panel, wherein during closing of the opening portion of the roof, the front panel holder pressingly contacts the seal member disposed at the front edge of the roof panel, and a lower surface of the roof panel pressingly contacts directly the seal member disposed at a rear edge of the roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kanai
  • Patent number: 8915541
    Abstract: Provided is a sunroof apparatus capable of opening and closing an opening of a fixed outer roof panel of a vehicle, the closing being done by locating a front edge of a movable roof panel at a location adjacent to an upper edge of a front window without the fixed outer roof panel between the front edge of the movable roof panel and the upper edge of the front window. The sunroof apparatus comprises a front roof rail whose cross sectional shape is approximately closed, the front rail extending in a width direction of the vehicle and being attached to an inside of the upper edge portion of the front window. And the front edge portion of the movable roof panel is located over the closed cross sectional shape of the front roof rail when the opening of the fixed outer roof panel is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Kanai
  • Patent number: 8864219
    Abstract: In a method for connecting two objects, comprising applying to at least one of said objects a volume of an adhesive of the type which, when cured, is flexible and thereafter a step of bringing the other of said objects in contact with said volume of adhesive, there is the additional step of, before applying said volume of adhesive, providing a stiffening device extending from and attached to the object to which said volume is to be applied and with a height which is less than the height of the completed volume of adhesive, after which additional step the volume of adhesive is applied around said stiffening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Carolus Theodorus Wilhelmus Petrus Jansen
  • Patent number: 8814256
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting structure for mounting a film-shaped electric device to a glass panel, comprising: a resin panel attached to a surface of the film-shaped electric device to form a panel-shaped electric device having first and second edges; and first and second retaining members attached to one surface of the glass panel in correspondence with the first and second edges of the panel-shaped electric device, respectively, each first and second retaining member defining a groove such that the groove opens toward a region of the glass panel to be covered by the panel-shaped electric device, wherein the panel-shaped electric device is retained by the first and second retaining members with the first and second edges of the panel-shaped electric device being received in the corresponding grooves such that the surface of the film-shaped electric device having the resin panel attached thereto faces away from the glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Uehara, Shigehito Horiuchi, Junya Yoshioka, Tsutomu Iwaya
  • Patent number: 8807641
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kikuchi, Kazuki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20140197665
    Abstract: A panel structure for a vehicle roof device includes a holder portion and a weather strip. The holder portion includes a fitting protrusion having a narrowed portion. The weather strip includes, in an integral manner, an attaching base and a sealing portion. The attaching base has a fitting recess fitted to the fitting protrusion. The attaching base includes a body portion in close contact with an outer side surface of the fitting protrusion, an upper attaching portion in close contact with an upper outer side surface of the narrowed portion, and a lower attaching portion in close contact with a lower outer side surface of the narrowed portion. The thickness of the upper attaching portion in the upper end is set to be larger in an upper area than in a lower area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyozumi FUKAMI, Yuki Itsumi, Masatoshi NOJIRI
  • Patent number: 8668256
    Abstract: The application discloses a panel assembly for use in a open roof construction for a vehicle. The panel assembly comprises a panel main body, and at least one reinforcement member positioned in the vicinity of at least a part of the edges of said panel main body, and firmly connected thereto by means of a part molded in a molding process to said panel main body and said reinforcement member. A provision is made for locally at least reducing adherence of the moldable material to said reinforcement member and/or said panel main body during molding. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing the panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Sander De Bie
  • Publication number: 20140049076
    Abstract: A method of attaching functional components to a roof element of a vehicle, including applying a curable material in a low-viscosity state which is molded in sections by means of a first mold surface, wherein a second mold surface is used which serves for shaping further sections of the curable material, an opening remaining accessible towards the environment through which the curable material can be introduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Joachim ROEDER, Stefan VOGEL, Martin NISCACK, Pavol HURBAN, Andre SCHARPER, Andreas KUNZE, Charles WASSEN
  • Patent number: 8516749
    Abstract: A encapsulated window assembly may be fixed or movable upon installation into an opening in a vehicle body, particularly a vehicle roof. In order to keep air, water and/or dirt from entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle, an integral seal is molded onto a dielectric substrate material. The seal, upon installation of the assembly into the vehicle body opening, effectively closes the gap between the edge of the window assembly and the sheet metal surrounding the body opening, without the need for a post-applied seal, for example, a preformed bulb seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Pilkington Group Limited
    Inventors: Charles E. Ash, Scott W. Chambers, Julia B. MacLachlan, Charles Sitterlet
  • Patent number: 8505262
    Abstract: A vehicle glazing has a glazing profile provided around at least a portion of the periphery of a pane of glazing material. A rigid insert is embedded in the glazing profile, and a trim is mounted on the glazing profile, the trim engaging the insert and being retained by it. The insert is provided with at least one aperture through which the insert is engaged by at least one protrusion on the trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Pilkington Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Christoph Senge
  • Publication number: 20120292951
    Abstract: The application discloses a panel assembly for use in a open roof construction for a vehicle. The panel assembly comprises a panel main body, and at least one reinforcement member positioned in the vicinity of at least a part of the edges of said panel main body, and firmly connected thereto by means of a part molded in a molding process to said panel main body and said reinforcement member. A provision is made for locally at least reducing adherence of the moldable material to said reinforcement member and/or said panel main body during molding. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing the panel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Sander De Bie
  • Patent number: 8312688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a glazing unit comprising a glazed element (10) provided with a peripheral frame or with peripheral elements made of plastic overmolded onto said glazed element (10), said peripheral frame or said peripheral elements incorporating at least one element (13?, 14?, 15, 16, 17, 18?, 19?, 19?, 20) for reinforcing the glazed element, this reinforcing element being connected to said peripheral frame or said peripheral elements by an overmolding plastic (9) and consisting of a profile comprising a web part (11) that is arranged parallel or substantially parallel and close to the glazed element (10) and bears at least one projecting part (12) distal to the glazed element, characterized in that the projecting part or parts (12) does not or do not form a pocket that is open in the direction of the glazed element (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Frédéric Bordeaux, Sophia Gay
  • Patent number: 8196503
    Abstract: A hull for an armored vehicle is provided, comprising a set of panels constituting portions of the hull, and having a passenger cabin with an interior defined by at least some of the panels. The panels are attached to one another via a plurality of bolts. The hull comprises one or more preventing arrangements for preventing the bolts from reaching the interior of the passenger cabin in an event that they become secondary projectiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd.
    Inventors: Eylam Ran, Nir Kahn
  • Patent number: 8152229
    Abstract: A sunroof apparatus for opening or closing an opening formed on a fixed roof of an automobile includes: a movable front panel and a movable rear panel both provided in the fixed roof; a panel frame made of engineering plastic and attached around one of the panels; a hollow elastic weatherstrip attached around the panel frame attached around the one of the panels; a panel frame made of the engineering plastic and attached on a periphery end section of other one of the panels, the other one of the panels having a butt end section and the periphery end section; and a hollow elastic weatherstrip attached to the panel frame attached to the other one of the panels, wherein the opening is closed when the weatherstrip of the one of the panels and the butt end section of the other one of the panels butt against each other. This structure can enhance efficiency in molding weatherstrips since the weatherstrip attached around the two panels are in a hollow structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignees: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd., Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehito Horiuchi, Kouichi Hotta, Hiroyuki Tsukamoto, Masayuki Daio
  • Patent number: 8100468
    Abstract: A connecting structure of a resin panel and a stiffener for a vehicle, including the resin panel, a resin frame attached to a circumference of the resin panel; a weather strip attached to the frame; a metallic stiffener which is provided at the vicinity of the circumference of the resin panel; wherein the frame includes an extended part which extends outside of a side of the resin panel and the weather strip and the stiffener are integrally connected such that the weather strip and the stiffener sandwich the extended part, and wherein the frame is moved against a pinching force of the weather strip and the stiffener when the resin panel is deformed by a thermal expansion/contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuaki Uehara
  • Publication number: 20110127809
    Abstract: A connecting structure of a resin panel and a stiffener for a vehicle, including the resin panel, a resin frame attached to a circumference of the resin panel; a weather strip attached to the frame; a metallic stiffener which is provided at the vicinity of the circumference of the resin panel; wherein the frame includes an extended part which extends outside of a side of the resin panel and the weather strip and the stiffener are integrally connected such that the weather strip and the stiffener sandwich the extended part, and wherein the frame is moved against a pinching force of the weather strip and the stiffener when the resin panel is deformed by a thermal expansion/contraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuaki UEHARA
  • 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: 20110080024
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a roof panel having a segment that is formed of a thermoplastic material, a side panel having a segment that is formed of a metal, and a connection device. The roof panel may be connected to the side panel member by attaching the connection device to the side panel segment, heating the roof panel segment to melt at least a portion of it, enveloping the connection member within the melted portion of the roof panel segment; and, cooling the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Ovidiu Cristian Mihai
  • Publication number: 20110031782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting a roof element on a vehicle body, particularly of a passenger car. Relative to a roof frame element, the roof element is moved from a prefixing position into a final mounting position. In the prefixing position, the roof element is held by a prefixing pairing of at least one roof-element-side and at least one roof-frame-element-side prefixing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas DISSE, Stefan Hauser, Heiko Schramm, Johann Seefried, Holger Seibert
  • Publication number: 20100308626
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a vehicle frame, a moveable panel connected with and moveable with respect to the vehicle frame, and a seal connected with the vehicle frame. The moveable panel is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The seal includes a seal body having an external surface including an ambient-contacting section that is in contact with ambient when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The external surface of the seal body also includes a moveable-panel-contacting section that is in contact with the moveable panel when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The ambient-contacting section can move from a first orientation when the moveable panel is in the closed position toward a second orientation as the moveable panel contacts the moveable-panel-contacting section and moves toward the closed position. A seal for a vehicle and a roof assembly are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: David B. Grummett, Brent Nathaniel Gaertner, Akihiko Kuribayashi, Kenneth M. Hartlaub, Brock Jared Stull
  • Patent number: 7673932
    Abstract: A headliner and bracket cooperate to define a trim edge around a vehicle sunroof. The bracket may include a lip the wraps around an edge of the headliner and trim associated with the headliner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Dykman, James R. Mestemaker, Brian Cristea, Lynn Lashbrook
  • Patent number: 7658441
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a sunroof of an automotive vehicle is provided that includes a seal and a bracket. The seal includes a front base and a separate rear base, both of which are attached to a bottom surface of the sunroof. The front base includes a lip integrally joined to a front portion of the front base that extends at an angle in the forward and downward direction. The bracket part is attached to both the front base and the rear base and includes a flange that extends in the angled forward and downward direction similar to that of the lip. The vertical length of the lip is longer than the vertical length of the flange such that the flange is adjacent to and behind the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stewart Rich, Brock Stull, Akihiko Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 7641274
    Abstract: An arrangement for closing an opening of a vehicle and a corresponding manufacturing method, in which a shattering protection element (30, 30A, 30B) is fixed to a pane or to a functional element (60) fixed at the pane. The pane and the shattering protection element are connected via a permanently elastic adhesive connection (12) to the vehicle body or to a holding element (18) connected to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Hubert Boehm, Gerit Erbeck, Werner Paetz, Helmut Teschner, Swen Vilsmayer
  • Patent number: 7628448
    Abstract: A roof panel attached to a roof of a vehicle so that the roof panel can be tilted up, and a wind lip provided in peripheral edge portion of the lower surface of the roof panel. The wind lip projects toward the inside of the vehicle. Further, a drain groove extending in up-and-down direction is formed on an outer surface of the wind lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Katayama, Shigehito Horiuchi, Kuniyasu Aoki, Masayuki Watarai, Toshiaki Kuroi
  • Patent number: 7622177
    Abstract: A composite component comprising at least two parts that differ from one another in their respective coefficients of linear thermal expansion is disclosed. These parts are joined by at least one elastic connecting element having a height dimension and a thickness dimension and containing at least one shear element which is deformable in a shear-flexible manner. The height dimension relate to the thickness dimension in the range of 2 to 60. The inventive composite component is especially suitable for making glazing for automotive roofs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventor: Frank Krause
  • Patent number: 7591505
    Abstract: A window structure in which a metal frame is firmly bonded to a sheet material comprising an aromatic polycarbonate resin and which has wet heat resistance and a window member for the structure are provided. The sheet window member comprises: A: a sheet material (A) comprising an aromatic polycarbonate resin, B: a frame member (B) laminated along the periphery of one surface of the sheet material (A), and C: a rubber-like buffer layer (C) formed on the surface of the frame member (B), wherein the frame member (B) is formed from a resin composition comprising the following (i) to (iii): (i) 50 to 90 parts by weight of aromatic polycarbonate resin (B-1), (ii) 10 to 50 parts by weight of polyethylene terephthalate resin (B-2), and (iii) 0 to 50 parts by weight of fibrous filler (B-3) based on 100 parts by weight of the total of(B-1) and (B-2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Teijin Chemicals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Onizawa, Toshiaki Hotaka
  • Patent number: 7552965
    Abstract: An openable motor vehicle roof with a movable roof element which at least partially clears a roof opening bounded by a body-mounted frame component in the area of which a seal element is located and against which the roof element rests when the roof opening is closed. An electric motor drive for moving the roof element is monitored and which is turned off and optionally reversed, when a interfering body is detected between the roof element and the edge area of the roof opening. A stop surface is provided on the roof element for detecting an interfering body, and the motor vehicle roof is made such that, if there is a interfering body between the edge area of the roof opening and the roof element when the roof opening is being closed, the stop surface comes into contact with the interfering body before the roof element engages the seal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Stjepan Radmanic, Josef Appel
  • Publication number: 20090160224
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a convertible top includes a plurality of panel assemblies movably coupled to each other for movement between a closed position in which the panel assemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and an open position in which the panel assemblies are disposed in a storage space adjacent the passenger compartment. Each of the panel assemblies has an outer surface and a fabric trim cover separate from the other of the panel assemblies. The trim covers remain along the outer surface during movement of the top between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Wilhelm Karmann GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Loetter, Dag Reckhorn
  • Publication number: 20090085382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a roof opening with a flange surrounding the roof opening, on which a roof module with a roof frame comprising at least one frame member can be inserted through the roof opening from above, with guide rails arranged on the roof frame and with at least one roof section supported on these guide rails can be attached. The invention teaches that the roof frame is provided with a sealing frame which surrounds all sides of the roof opening which can be attached onto the flange from above, on which the guide rails and the frame members are attached, and which is sealed by means of at least one seal against the flange, and that furthermore mounting elements are provided through which the guide rails on the underside of the flange can be connected to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Alexander BERGMILLER, Walter Schatzler, Dominik Holzel, Robert Birndorfer
  • Publication number: 20090058148
    Abstract: A rear edge truck roof protector consists of an elongated substantially rigid strip of a preselected material having a predetermined length and a longitudinal arcuate edge, the arcuate edge being convex on the topside, and the rigid strip has one or more fasteners for attaching the elongated rigid strip either permanently or removably to a truck rear roof edge. Also included is a notch or a cut-out area having a predetermined configuration near the midpoint of the arcuate edge to ensure that the third brake light is not obstructed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: William Garrity
  • Publication number: 20090001772
    Abstract: A roof weather strip includes a fitting base part and a seal part having a hollow part. The seal part has a sealing wall which is configured to be brought into pressure contact with a peripheral part of a roof panel forming a roof opening, when a movable roof closes the roof opening. The seal part also has an upper connecting region so as to connect the sealing wall to an upper part of the fitting base part. The upper connecting region is provided with a corrugated part on its inner face opposed to the hollow space, and the corrugated part has a plurality of convex parts and concave parts which are alternately formed. An arm part is integrally formed so as to extend from the fitting base part downward at an outer peripheral side, and a distal end of the arm part is connected to a lower end of the seal part. Because a plurality of the concave parts of the corrugated part exist in the upper connecting region, stress is easily dispersed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicants: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISYA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Dosaki, Kiminori Mine, Toru Kotsuchihashi, Katsutoshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20080272625
    Abstract: An arrangement for closing an opening of a motor vehicle, which has a pane (14), a shatter-proofing element (30) attached to the pane or a function element located on the pane, the shatter-proofing element being connected to the vehicle body or a retaining element (18) which is connected to the vehicle body by means of a first permanent elastic cement bond (20). Furthermore, a peripheral foam (12) is provided in the edge area of the pane and is connected to the vehicle body or the retaining element by a second permanent elastic cement bond (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Werner Paetz, Eric Binder
  • Patent number: 7404598
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle with a roof opening (12) located in a fixed roof surface (10) and a cover (13) for closing the roof opening, the cover has an at least partially transparent pane (14) and a frame which is connected to the pane and which extends over at least one part of the edge of the pane. The pane (14) is a plastic pane and the frame is formed by in situ foaming (20) of a foam material onto the periphery of the pane, the shape of the pane, in at least one partial area of a connecting region between the pane and the peripheral foam, is configured such that a permanent mechanical, positive interlocking connection is created between the pane and the peripheral foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Roland Huebner, Friedhelm Wulf, Martin Pollak, Ralf Schwaighofer, Rudolf Muttenhammer, Andreas Lang
  • Publication number: 20080136219
    Abstract: A water channel for a window panel in a sunroof includes a secondary seal that is used to capture fluid that bypasses a primary seal. The secondary seal is over-molded onto the water channel and serves to direct bypassing fluid into the water channel. The secondary seal is made from a pliant material and is in an upright position when the window panel is closed to direct fluid into the water channel. The secondary seal moves to a collapsed position when the window panel is moved into an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Larry Berryhill, Adam Kyle Cramton, Anil Kumar
  • Patent number: 7360306
    Abstract: A process for producing a cover (11) with a glass pane (14) for a motor vehicle roof, in which, first, a combination film (10) with a shatter prevention film and electrical function elements (22, 24, 26, 28, 30) integrated into the combination film is produced, and then, the combination film is securely attached to a side of the pane, e.g., the side facing the vehicle interior. Furthermore the invention relates to a cover for a motor vehicle roof produced in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Hubert Boehm, Gerit Erbeck
  • Patent number: 7360826
    Abstract: A sheet member with a frame body in the present invention has the sheet member and the frame body composed of a resin material attached to a fringe of the sheet member, wherein the frame body opens in an outward direction parallel with a sheet face of the sheet member and in the frame body a fit-in groove is formed to fit in a fit-in object, and wherein the fit-in groove is formed so as to have an overlap space with the sheet member in a direction parallel with the sheet face of the sheet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignees: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited, Yachiyo Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Nakagawa, Seiji Katakura, Masatoshi Nishida, Shigehito Horiuchi, Hajime Katayama, Kuniyasu Aoki, Koichi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20080036246
    Abstract: To provide a stopper structure of a sun roof device, in which the sun roof device has a front slider (20) and a driving slider (30) attached on a roof panel (4), a connecting link (40) attached to the front slider (20) and engaging with the driving slider (30), and a stopper member (60) adapted to stop the driving slider (30). When the roof panel (4) performs tilting operation, a first engaging portion (42) and a second engaging portion (43) of the connecting link (40) respectively engage with the a first cam (61) and a second cam (62) respectively formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the stopper member (60), so that the movement of the front slider (20) in both the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vertical direction is restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsukamoto, Kazutaka Sugimoto, Masaharu Ohnishi, Keisuke Takayama, Michio Tamura, Akihiko Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 7156455
    Abstract: A sunroof panel is composed of a resin panel and a weather strip. The resin panel is a plate-like resin panel and has a vehicle interior surface and a vehicle exterior surface, which are substantially parallel to each other. The resin panel is attached to a frame by means of a urethane adhesive. The resin panel has a peripheral portion, which extends from a portion sticking to the urethane adhesive to a side face, and a central portion surrounded by the peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is thinner than the central portion. The side face of the resin panel is formed so as to be inclined inwardly toward the vehicle interior surface. An approach-R portion is formed on a peripheral portion of the vehicle exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yasushi Iimori, Kotaro Oami, Yoji Yano, Yusuke Kagotani
  • Patent number: 7140676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle body panel part, particularly a vehicle roof panel, which has a very good surface quality. The vehicle body panel part includes an outer part forming at least a portion of an outer skin, a plastic inner layer formed by back foaming on a rear side of the outer part, and at least an elongated, tubular hollow body that is embedded in the plastic inner layer. The hollow body is completely enclosed and surrounded by the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Schönebeck
  • Patent number: 7114768
    Abstract: A sunroof apparatus for a vehicle includes a sunroof panel, a panel holder, a lip member, a sealing member and a lip for wind noise. The panel holder supports the sunroof panel internally relative to a cabin of the vehicle. The lip member is attached to an end portion of the panel holder. The sealing member is attached to the lip member. The lip for wind noise extends from the lip member towards inside of the cabin. An end portion of the lip for wind noise is adapted to lie closer to the sunroof panel than an end portion of the panel holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignees: Yachiyo Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisya, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniyasu Aoki, Akira Murasawa, Shigehito Horiuti, Masaharu Ohnishi, Shuhei Hamada, Takashi Ueno, Makoto Kurita