Having Associated Air Deflector Or Guide Patents (Class 296/217)
  • Patent number: 8381368
    Abstract: A centering clip device can include a clip base having an opening for receiving a clip. The clip base can have a top surface that has a first bump, a second bump and a third bump all spaced away from each other. A clip can be included that has a substantially elongated body, a bottom flange formed on a bottom end of the clip, a top flange, an annular slot formed between the top flange and the bottom flange, and an umbrella structure. The top flange may also be formed as an umbrella structure having an inclined camming surface formed on its lower surface. The clip base can be configured to releasably engage the clip within the clip base. The camming surface can be biased against the first, second and third bumps to center the clip within the clip base, and permit connection between a first vehicle component, such as a roofliner, to a second vehicle component, such as a roof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haithi Donahue-Yan, Shinichi Yamase, James Seale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8360513
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a vehicle is provided. The wind deflector includes a movably mounted deflector element and an actuator for moving the deflector element. The actuator can move the deflector element in a linearly oscillating manner in one direction in space, especially vertically. The linear movement can be performed regardless of a curvature of a class A surface of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Engelbert Kusch, Ludwig Schauwecker, Volker Schwarz, Marion Algermissen
  • Patent number: 8353557
    Abstract: A movable wind deflector assembly for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle comprises at least one pivoting wind deflector arm that with a first end is pivotally connected to the vehicle at a hinge point and at its opposite second end carries a wind deflector body extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The wind deflector assembly further comprises an operating mechanism for moving the wind deflector arm and wind deflector body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Alphonsus Theodorus Bernardus Rooijakkers
  • Publication number: 20120313401
    Abstract: A sliding roof system is described including a guide rail, an adjustable cover, a bearing block mounted to the guide rail, a side panel one end of which is mounted to the bearing block by means of a slotted guide, and a spring which urges the end of the side panel facing away from the bearing block against the cover. Further described is a method of controlling the lifting movement of a side panel of a sliding roof system, in which when the cover of the sliding roof system is adjusted to a ventilating position, the rear end of the side panel follows the opening movement of the cover while the front end performs a lift that is smaller than the lift of the cover, the side panel being shifted forward relative to the cover at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Georg Luecke
  • Publication number: 20120299336
    Abstract: A wind deflector mountable on a roof of a vehicle in front of a roof opening, includes an elongated web structure having two end portions which are longitudinally opposite to each other, and at least one lateral reinforcing unit bonded to at least one of the end portions, and having at least one lateral reinforcement strip that extends longitudinally of the web structure, that is welded to one of the end portions, and that has a lateral welded face fixed to the web structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 8303024
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and associated devices for reducing the noise produced by an open cavity within a moving automobile (such as open sunroofs and open windows). The invention proposes placing microjet orifices proximate the open cavity. These inject small but rapidly moving columns of air into the prevailing flow. The projected columns reduce the formation of large coherent structures in the prevailing flow. As these large coherent structures are a critical component of the resonance which is responsible for much of the noise produced across the open cavity, the overall noise level is reduced by the microjets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Farrukh S. Alvi
  • Patent number: 8292360
    Abstract: In a deflector device for a sunroof device, a pair of arm members (7) extend in a fore and aft direction, and are each pivotally supported by a fixed roof panel part at a rear end thereof, and a blade (6) extends laterally between front ends of the arm members. A link member (13, 13?) is pivotally connected to a fixed roof part at a base end thereof, and engaged by an intermediate part of each arm member at a free end thereof so that the free end may be moveable along a lengthwise direction, and a coil spring (15, 15?, 16, 16?) is connected between the free end of the link member and a part of the arm member so as to urge the arm member in an upward direction. Thereby, the blade can be supported in the deployed or raised position with an adequate spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuaki Uehara
  • Patent number: 8282159
    Abstract: A roof apparatus for a vehicle includes a guide member sliding along a guide rail, a support member supporting a movable panel, a drive member driving the movable panel and the guide member, a first garnish supported by the guide rail and covering a clearance between the support member and the guide rail from an interior space of the vehicle under tilt-up and opening operations of the movable panel, a second garnish supported by the movable panel and covering the support member from the interior space, the second garnish covering the guide member under a fully closed state and the tilt-up operation of the movable panel; and a third garnish connected to the guide member or the support member and covering an opening portion between the first and second garnishes from the interior space under the tilt-up and opening operations and the fully closed state of the movable panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hirata, Masaji Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20120248829
    Abstract: A deflector apparatus for a vehicle includes a fixed frame, a movable frame positioned at an upper side of the fixed frame and being rotatable between a raised position and a retracted position, a mesh member connected to the fixed frame and the movable frame and brought to a raised state and a retracted state, and a spring member. The spring member includes a sliding portion fitted to a guide groove formed at the movable frame and slidably making contact with the guide groove to transmit a biasing force of the spring member in a state where the movable frame is rotating. The spring member further includes an engagement portion engaging with the movable frame when the movable frame is in the raised position. The movable frame is configured to be maintained at the raised position by the engagement with the engagement portion of the spring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Kiyozumi Fukami, Hiroyuki Ida, Satoshi Isobe
  • Publication number: 20120248828
    Abstract: A deflector apparatus for a vehicle including a fixed frame provided at the roof portion, a movable frame positioned at an upper side of the fixed frame and being rotatable between a raised position and a retracted position, a mesh member connected to the fixed frame and the movable frame and brought to a raised state and a retracted state by a rotation of the movable frame, the mesh member extending above a surface of the roof portion in the raised state, and a spring member biasing the movable frame to the raised position. The fixed frame includes a connecting portion connected to the mesh member and provided at an upper side of a drain portion that is formed along a front-inner periphery of the opening. The connecting portion is arranged to have a clearance relative to the drain portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Kiyozumi Fukami, Hiroyuki Ida, Satoshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8267465
    Abstract: A structural reinforcing member for motor vehicle wind deflectors has a shaped configuration with at least one curved portion, and a plurality of mutually spaced apart, plastically formed deformation sections which provide structural rigidity to maintain the shaped configuration and geometry of the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: TB & C Outsert Center GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Wetzels, Harald Weber, Mehrdad Shahgohli
  • Patent number: 8246111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening, which can be closed and opened, in a roof panel of a vehicle. According to the invention it is contemplated that an elastic element, which is fixed with respect to the frame of the roof opening, engages on the wind deflector arm and applies a force thereon in of the longitudinal direction, and an arm, which at one end is connected to the wind deflector arm rotatably about the transverse direction, is mounted at the other end rotatably with respect to the frame of the roof opening in of the transverse direction. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a wind deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Webasto SE
    Inventors: Erwin Kohout, Robert Birndorfer, Norbert Elbs
  • Patent number: 8246110
    Abstract: There is provided a deflector mechanism for a sunroof apparatus which can reduce the number of parts, assembling processes, and a production cost. The sunroof apparatus includes a pair of guide rails provided at both sides of an opening formed in a roof of a vehicle in a widthwise direction, a sunroof panel which slides along the guide rails, a resin-made front frame which interconnects front ends of the guide rails, and a deflector mechanism which ascends/descends along a front edge of the opening of the vehicle. The deflector mechanism includes a deflector including a pair of arms and a blade that connects these arms together, a pair of support members each of which supports a basal end of each arms, a retainer formed at a front frame, and an urging means which urges the deflector upwardly, and the retainer is formed together with the front frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Katayama, Ayumi Mihashi
  • Patent number: 8220868
    Abstract: A retractable panel assembly includes a cover panel slidingly engaged with a rail assembly and having an open position and a closed position, where the cover panel translates along the rail assembly as the cover panel translates between open and closed positions. The retractable panel assembly further includes a shade located between the rail assembly and the cover panel, the shade having an engagement member, and a retention assembly having a retention member engaged with the engagement member of the shade, where, when the cover panel translates between open and closed positions, the retention member works in conjunction with the engagement member of the shade to prevent the shade from translating and the retention assembly retrains at least a second portion of the shade in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Josh David Fraley
  • Patent number: 8191962
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a deflector of a sliding roof system including a blade provided along on an front edge of an opening of a fixed roof and moving upward and downward along with an opening and closing movement of a roof panel; arms installed on right and left end portions of the blade, each of the arms provided with a cam pin and a support pin; a cam groove that guides the cam pin so as to define a movement trajectory of the blade; and a support groove that guides a frontward and backward movement of the support pin, wherein the support groove includes a guide frame that guides a frontward and backward movement of the roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Katayama
  • Publication number: 20120112497
    Abstract: A roof assembly for a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof, comprises a frame, a movable closure for opening and closing the roof opening, and guide rails in or on the frame extending laterally of the roof opening. A closure moving mechanism is guided in the guide rails. A wind deflector is positioned at a front edge of said roof opening and is movable between an inoperative lower position in which it is positioned substantially below the level of the vehicle roof and at least one operative upper position in which it at least partially extends above said level. The wind deflector is supported by arms, each extending substantially rearwards. The arms are adapted to move the wind deflector between the inoperative and operative positions. The wind deflector arms are positioned in plan view at least partly within the lateral boundaries of the respective guide rails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Eduardus Christianus Henricus Van Boxtel
  • Publication number: 20120091752
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a vehicle is provided. The wind deflector includes a movably mounted deflector element and an actuator for moving the deflector element. The actuator can move the deflector element in a linearly oscillating manner in one direction in space, especially vertically. The linear movement can be performed regardless of a curvature of a class A surface of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Gerhard Algermissen, Marion Algermissen, Engelbert Kusch, Ludwig Schauwecker, Volker Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8157319
    Abstract: A sunroof device comprises a movable panel being able to open and close an opening section provided on a roof of a vehicle, and a deflector. The deflector has a body section arranged at a front end portion of the opening section, arranged to be able to spread out over a surface of the roof in correspondence to the position of the movable panel or to retract under the surface, and extending in the width direction of the vehicle; and support sections associated with both ends of the body section in the width direction and pivotably supporting the body section relative to the roof. The deflector is further provided with a plurality of protruding portions at an upper portion of the body section and at a part in the width direction of the body section which part corresponds to the position of a low strength place on the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Hori, Hiroyuki Ida, Masaji Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20120086239
    Abstract: In a deflector device for a sunroof device, a pair of arm members (7) extend in a fore and aft direction, and are each pivotally supported by a fixed roof panel part at a rear end thereof, and a blade (6) extends laterally between front ends of the arm members. A link member (13, 13?) is pivotally connected to a fixed roof part at a base end thereof, and engaged by an intermediate part of each arm member at a free end thereof so that the free end may be moveable along a lengthwise direction, and a coil spring (15, 15?, 16, 16?) is connected between the free end of the link member and a part of the arm member so as to urge the arm member in an upward direction. Thereby, the blade can be supported in the deployed or raised position with an adequate spring force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TATSUAKI UEHARA
  • 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: 20120056449
    Abstract: A deflector apparatus for a vehicle includes the deflector body configured to be provided along a front edge portion of an opening portion formed on a roof portion of a vehicle and to be deployed by projecting above a surface of the roof portion. The deflector body includes a mesh member extending along the front edge portion of the opening portion. The deflector apparatus for the vehicle also includes a pair of resin frames provided at end portions of the mesh member in a widthwise direction of the mesh member respectively to extend in a lengthwise direction of the mesh member over an entire length of the mesh member. The pair of resin frames is resin-molded integrally with the mesh member and covers the end portions of the mesh member including edges of the mesh member in the widthwise direction of the mesh member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Kazuki Sawada, Yoshitaka Ide, Shinichi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8123270
    Abstract: A motor vehicle roof is provided that included, but is not limited to a base roof and a roof segment essentially vertically adjustable relative to the base roof. The roof segment is designed, essentially, to fit closely with the base roof in a closed state and to provide a space in relation to base roof in an open state. The roof segment can include, but is not limited to at least one upper, relatively adjustable, roof element connected with the roof segment, and/or the base roof can include, but is not limited to at least one lower, relatively adjustable roof element connected with the base roof. Through the adjustable roof element the storage space can be open and closed. As a result, the transportation of objects is improved without significantly compromising safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gian Luca Baccelli
  • Publication number: 20110285180
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening, which can be closed and opened, in a roof panel of a vehicle. According to the invention it is contemplated that an elastic element, which is fixed with respect to the frame of the roof opening, engages on the wind deflector arm and applies a force thereon in of the longitudinal direction, and an arm, which at one end is connected to the wind deflector arm rotatably about the transverse direction, is mounted at the other end rotatably with respect to the frame of the roof opening in of the transverse direction. The invention further relates to a method for actuating a wind deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventors: Erwin Kohout, Robert Birndorfer, Norbert Elbs
  • Patent number: 8056968
    Abstract: A device is provided for guiding a movement of a bar-type wind deflector in relation to a roof frame in a region between a position of use and a position of non-use, especially on a cabriolet. At least one pair of rotary levers is provided on the wind deflector. The rotary levers are mounted on the wind deflector at a first rotary lever end such that they can rotate about a first rotational axis, and on the roof frame at a second rotary lever end such that they can rotate about a second rotational axis, the rotational axes being parallel to each other. The rotary levers of each pair are staggered in relation to each other at least in the direction of a normal of one of the rotational axes. The rotational axes of each pair form the vertexes of a parallelogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Serkan Fidan, Bernd Plocher
  • Publication number: 20110260505
    Abstract: A movable wind deflector assembly for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle comprises at least one pivoting wind deflector arm that with a first end is pivotally connected to the vehicle at a hinge point and at its opposite second end carries a wind deflector body extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The wind deflector assembly further comprises an operating mechanism for moving the wind deflector arm and wind deflector body forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Alphonsus Theodorus Bernardus Rooijakkers
  • Patent number: 8002342
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuaki Uehara, Yuya Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110198892
    Abstract: There is provided a deflector mechanism for a sunroof apparatus which can reduce the number of parts, assembling processes, and a production cost. The sunroof apparatus includes a pair of guide rails provided at both sides of an opening formed in a roof of a vehicle in a widthwise direction, a sunroof panel which slides along the guide rails, a resin-made front frame which interconnects front ends of the guide rails, and a deflector mechanism which ascends/descends along a front edge of the opening of the vehicle. The deflector mechanism includes a deflector including a pair of arms and a blade that connects these arms together, a pair of support members each of which supports a basal end of each arms, a retainer formed at a front frame, and an urging means which urges the deflector upwardly, and the retainer is formed together with the front frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Katayama, Ayumi Mihashi
  • Publication number: 20110175402
    Abstract: A convertible has a roof (8) that can be adjusted between an opened and covered positions and a wind deflector (12) that can be adjusted between a retracted position (RS) and a deployed position (WS). The wind deflector (12) is mounted movably on longitudinal sides (2) of the convertible (1) adjacent to interior paneling (10) and has a section underneath the interior paneling (10). Openings (17) for a soft top linkage of the convertible can be closed or opened by flaps (16) on the longitudinal sides (2) of the convertible (1) adjacent to the wind deflector (12). The convertible (1) also has a control device (19) for the roof arrangement (8) and a position-detection device (27) for the flap (16). The control device (19) permits adjustment of the roof (8) only if the position- detection device (27) detects an open position (P2) of the flap (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Lars Schulz, Reiner Armbruster
  • Publication number: 20110148154
    Abstract: A sunroof device comprises a movable panel being able to open and close an opening section provided on a roof of a vehicle, and a deflector. The deflector has a body section arranged at a front end portion of the opening section, arranged to be able to spread out over a surface of the roof in correspondence to the position of the movable panel or to retract under the surface, and extending in the width direction of the vehicle; and support sections associated with both ends of the body section in the width direction and pivotably supporting the body section relative to the roof. The deflector is further provided with a plurality of protruding portions at an upper portion of the body section and at a part in the width direction of the body section which part corresponds to the position of a low strength place on the roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Kenji Hori, Hiroyuki Ida, Masaji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7946648
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Manfred Färber, Alexander Bergmiller
  • Publication number: 20110049940
    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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventor: Dominik Hoelzel
  • Patent number: 7878582
    Abstract: A drive for moving a lamella of a wind deflector is provided. The drive includes at least one coupling mechanism by which the lamella can be adjusted from a non-use position into a use position and vice versa. The mechanism is articulatedly connected at one end to the lamella and at the other end to the roof frame. The coupling mechanism is designed as a crank-rocker mechanism which raises the lamella away from the roof frame into the use position, and lowers the lamella onto the roof frame into the non-use position, in a substantially parallel fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Serkan Fidan, Bernd Plocher, Daniel Seifert
  • Patent number: 7866741
    Abstract: The present invention provides a deflector including a blade along a front edge of an opening of a fixed roof, movable upward and downward when the opening is opened and closed; a deflector arm whose one end is coupled to a frame on a vehicle body and whose other end is rotatably coupled to the blade via a first coupling shaft; a link arm whose one end is coupled to the frame on the vehicle body and whose other end is rotatably coupled to the blade via a second coupling shaft; and urging means for permanently urging a force to displace the blade upward. A cam member including first and second cam slots is provided on the frame on the vehicle body, a middle portion of the link arm is slidably engaged via a first pin with the first cam slot and one end of the link arm is slidably engaged via a second pin with the second cam slot, and the blade is housed in a laid down state with its upper portion displaced backward, and gradually stands up as displaced upward from a position where the blade is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehito Horiuchi, Hiroyuki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7862109
    Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle comprises a roof opening in a fixed roof part and a roof assembly having a movable panel for opening and closing said roof opening. At opposite sides of the panel flexible cover members are provided for covering lateral gaps created when the panel moves towards an open position. Further it comprises two guide members extending along corresponding opposite sides of the roof opening for guiding respective parts of the open roof construction. The cover members are integrally connected with the respective guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Gerardus Henricus Geerets
  • Publication number: 20100320808
    Abstract: A sunroof assembly with a composite water management assembly having side rails with a water trough connected at one end to end caps and to a pair of corners at the other, which connect to a front rail at substantially right angles to the side rails. This composite assembly can be connected by vibration welding. A reinforcement bar can be connected at substantially right angles to the rearward end of vertically oriented slide tracks snap fitted into substantially the length of the side rails. A pair of mirror slide mechanisms with vertically oriented mounts are retained, but free to slide, within a channel of the slide track and outboard of the water trough. A movable panel such as a glass sunroof are attached to the slide mechanism. A sunshade can be added that also combines water shedding ribs to channel water to the water trough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Craig T. Marx, Steven H. Klotz, Thomas Murray, Michael J. Mcisaac, James D. Sahlaney, Randall W. Budnick, Lisa Marie Pomeroy, Joachim Juergen Gernot Klesing
  • Patent number: 7850230
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a movable roof part, which by means of a tilt lever, which is connected in an articulated manner close to the rear edge of the roof part, can first be tilted into a ventilating position and can then be slid above the vehicle roof or above an at least partially fixed roof part for the at least partial release of an opening in the vehicle roof, the movable roof part being continuously supported in the area of its rear edge when it is slid from the ventilating position backwards and the movable roof part having a continuous side skirt in the area of its side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Manfred Faerber
  • Patent number: 7837258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening of a vehicle, which can be closed an partially opened by means of a displaceable roof part, comprising a bow-like base element which can be arranged in a roof opening edge area of the motor vehicle, a bow-like deployment element which is arranged over said base element and which is arranged in such a manner that it can pivot in relation to the base element, a deflector element which can be clamped between the base element and the deployment element, and at least one sealing element which is secured to the deployment element for reducing vehicle noises. The deflector element is secured directly to the sealing element. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of wind deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Alexander Bergmiller
  • Publication number: 20100283294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle that is provided with a roof opening system comprising at least one cover element for selectively closing or at least partially opening a roof section. A wind deflector (20) is arranged in the front edge area (18) of the roof section, said wind deflector comprises a deflector element (22) that can be adjusted between a lowered idle state and an operational state and is pre-tensed in the direction of extraction. The extent of extraction can be adjusted by means of an adjusting device that comprises at least one flexible element (28A, 28B) which is fixed to a first end on the deflector element (22) and exerts a retaining force which is active in a downward manner on the deflector element (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Oguzhan Gündogdu
  • Patent number: 7823965
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a partially releasable opening of a roof of a motor vehicle, which can be closed by means of a mobile roof part, said opening comprising a glass element forming an edge of the roof opening and/or part of the roof, a connection element which is fixed to an edge section of the glass element, facing the interior of the motor vehicle, a detachable element which can be detached from the glass element, and a clampable deflector element which is fixed to the detachable element with one of the edge sections thereof and to the connection element with the other edge section thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Roland Hahn, Dominik Hoelzel
  • Publication number: 20100244498
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a deflector of a sliding roof system including a blade provided along on an front edge of an opening of a fixed roof and moving upward and downward along with an opening and closing movement of a roof panel; arms installed on right and left end portions of the blade, each of the arms provided with a cam pin and a support pin; a cam groove that guides the cam pin so as to define a movement trajectory of the blade; and a support groove that guides a frontward and backward movement of the support pin, wherein the support groove includes a guide frame that guides a frontward and backward movement of the roof panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hajime KATAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20100231008
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a roof opening of a vehicle, which can be closed an partially opened by means of a displaceable roof part, comprising a bow-like base element which can be arranged in a roof opening edge area of the motor vehicle, a bow-like deployment element which is arranged over said base element and which is arranged in such a manner that it can pivot in relation to the base element, a deflector element which can be clamped between the base element and the deployment element, and at least one sealing element which is secured to the deployment element for reducing vehicle noises. The deflector element is secured directly to the sealing element. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of wind deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: WEBASTO AG
    Inventor: Alexander Bergmiller
  • Patent number: 7775582
    Abstract: An active air dam adapted for use with a vehicle, includes a deflector pivotally translatable relative to the vehicle, so as to be caused to achieve stowed and deployed conditions, wherein the deflector, when in the deployed condition, is configured to occlude air flow beneath the vehicle, and further includes an active material actuator comprising an active material drivenly coupled to the deflector, and configured to cause the deflector to pivot to one of the stowed and deployed conditions as a result of activating the material, and the vehicle is preferably configured to cause the actuator to pivot the deflector when a pre-determined vehicle or external condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Dynalloy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Kevin B. Rober, Nancy L. Johnson, James H. Brown
  • Patent number: 7762623
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with two cover elements (14, 16), a front one of which can be deployed and a rear one of which serves as the sliding cover, can be lowered under the stationary vehicle roof and displaced. An embodiment of the invention relates to an actuating mechanism of a drive slide which interacts with a deployment lever in order to swivel the front cover element (14), said lever being hinged to a support of the front cover element (14). The deployment movement of the deployment lever is supported by a spring. According to another aspect of the invention, the actuating mechanism comprises a slide unit which comprises one control track each for the front cover element (14) and for the rear cover element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventor: Chris De Jong
  • Publication number: 20100164254
    Abstract: A device is provided for guiding a movement of a bar-type wind deflector in relation to a roof frame in a region between a position of use and a position of non-use, especially on a cabriolet. At least one pair of rotary levers is provided on the wind deflector. The rotary levers are mounted on the wind deflector at a first rotary lever end such that they can rotate about a first rotational axis, and on the roof frame at a second rotary lever end such that they can rotate about a second rotational axis, the rotational axes being parallel to each other. The rotary levers of each pair are staggered in relation to each other at least in the direction of a normal of one of the rotational axes. The rotational axes of each pair form the vertexes of a parallelogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Serkan Fidan, Bernd Plocher
  • Patent number: 7735910
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a sunroof. The wind deflector includes a first electrode proximate an edge of a sunroof opening. A second electrode is proximate the first electrode. An insulator is intermediate the first and second electrodes. A power supply is coupled to the first and second electrodes. An electrical signal generated by the power supply is coupled to the first and second electrodes. An electric field generated between the electrodes due to the electrical signal ionizes air proximate the electrodes, thereby deflecting an air flow field away from the sunroof opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Thomas Ramsay
  • Publication number: 20100078963
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (1) has a wind deflector (13) adjacent an upper cowl (8), a roof arrangement (10) behind the wind deflector (13) and an air-guiding device (16) behind the roof arrangement (10). The wind deflector (13) is extended into a first operative position (WS1) and the rear air-guiding device (16) is transferred into first lifting position (HS1) if the roof arrangement (10) is open and if the driving speed (VF) of the motor vehicle (1) is below a predetermined first value (V1). The wind deflector (13) is transferred into a second operative position (WS2) and the rear air-guiding device (16) is transferred into a second lifting position (HS2) above the first lifting position (HS1) if the roof arrangement (10) is open and if the driving speed (VF) is above a predetermined, second value (V2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Wolfgang Dittrich, Kurt Pfertner, Jurgen Bayer, Thomas Aussem
  • Patent number: 7669919
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuating device for a wind deflector device in a vehicle, with a roof opening and a roof closure element, wherein the actuating device has at least one actuating cable which can be coupled to a sun-shielding device, wherein the actuating cable can actuate the sun-shielding device when it is coupled to the sun-shielding device, wherein the actuating cable can be moved in a first direction in which the sun-shielding device uncovers the roof opening, wherein the actuating cable can be decoupled from the sun-shielding device in a predetermined position, and wherein, in the state in which it is decoupled from the sun-shielding device, the actuating cable can be moved further in the first direction and, in the process, can adjust the wind deflector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Wingen, Thomas Pongratz
  • Publication number: 20100019545
    Abstract: The present invention provides a deflector including a blade along a front edge of an opening of a fixed roof, movable upward and downward when the opening is opened and closed; a deflector arm whose one end is coupled to a frame on a vehicle body and whose other end is rotatably coupled to the blade via a first coupling shaft; a link arm whose one end is coupled to the frame on the vehicle body and whose other end is rotatably coupled to the blade via a second coupling shaft; and urging means for permanently urging a force to displace the blade upward. A cam member including first and second cam slots is provided on the frame on the vehicle body, a middle portion of the link arm is slidably engaged via a first pin with the first cam slot and one end of the link arm is slidably engaged via a second pin with the second cam slot, and the blade is housed in a laid down state with its upper portion displaced backward, and gradually stands up as displaced upward from a position where the blade is housed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: YACHIYO INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigehito HORIUCHI, Hiroyuki TSUKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7641275
    Abstract: A wind deflector noise reduction system is provided. The wind deflector noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle having a rear side window in an open position. The system includes a panel attached to the B-pillar of a motor vehicle and operable to move between a closed position and an open position. When the panel is in the open position, wind is deflected from entering the moving vehicle. An actuator associated with the panel and operable to move the panel between the closed and the open position can be energized by a controller. The controller can be activated by the user of the motor vehicle and/or by a sensor that detects the position of the rear side window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Campbell, Scott B. Smith, Todd M. Remtema
  • Publication number: 20090309393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind deflector for a vehicle roof comprising a roof opening (14) which can be closed by means of a displaceable cover element (16), said wind deflector comprising a deflector element (20) which is arranged along a front edge (17) of the roof opening (14) and can be displaced between a lowered inoperative position and a deployed operating position, in which there is a gap between the deflector element (20) and the front edge (17) of the roof opening (14) for the flow to pass under the deflector element (20), wherein at least one turbulence-generating device (24) made of a foldable flat material is arranged between the deflector element (20) and the front edge (17) of the roof opening (14), in the mounted state, said turbulence-generating device being effective when the flow passes under the deflector element (20), being arranged in the path of the flow passing under the deflector element (20) in the deployed operating position thereof and being deposited in a folded manner in the low
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Johann Pihale, Andreas Sedlmeir