Abstract: A sliding and lifting roof for vehicles having a cover that is guided in lateral guide rails and that can selectively be either lowered at its rear side out of an opening in the roof and then slid back under a fixed part of the roof, or tilted out so that its rear side is lifted above the fixed part of the roof. The cover, close to its rear edge, at each side, has a hold-down device which, when the cover is tilted out, passes through an opening in the corresponding guide rail, and when the cover is being closed, engages against an upstanding guide surface in the area of the rear edge of the opening, and which, when the rear side of the cover is being lowered and pushed back under the fixed part of the roof, dips into the guide rail and is secured by said guide rail against upward adjusting movements.

Abstract: An opening roof assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a rigid panel adapted to close an opening in the vehicle roof with the panel supported at each side by front and rear guide means on respective guide tracks extending along each side of an opening in the vehicle roof and behind said opening below the vehicle roof. The front guide means permit pivotal movement of the panel about a horizontal axis at right-angles to the guide tracks and each rear guide means comprises a guide shoe arranged to be driven along the corresponding guide track and a chain comprising first and second links, the first link having a first pivot at one end connected to the shoe and a second pivot at the other end connected to one end of the second link, the other end of which has a third pivot connected to the roof panel.

Abstract: A lifting/sliding roof for vehicles having a cover for the selective closing and at least partial exposing of an opening in the roof. The cover, starting from its closed position, can be swung around a transverse axis located near its front end into a tilted-up position wherein its rear edge is lifted up, and can be, for selected embodiments, slid rearwardly either over or beneath the roof along guide rails, extending on both sides of the opening in the roof, into an open position. A catching device that is automatically adjustable as a function of the motion of the cover can be engaged with a counterbearing in the closed position of the cover for holding down the rear end of the cover. The counterbearing is attached at a stationary part of the roof.

Abstract: An open roof construction for a vehicle which has a roof opening comprises a panel that is movable downwardly from a closed position in the roof opening to an open position at least partially under the fixed roof and which panel also can be tilted from its closed position so that it inclines upwardly and rearwardly for ventilation. The panel is moved by moving a slide plate that is guided in a stationary, substantially horizontal guide. The slide plate and panel are connected by a link that has three legs, with a first leg being pivotally connected to the panel and to a further slide piece also guided in the stationary guide and with the second leg being connected to the first leg intermediate the ends of the first leg.

Abstract: A sliding roof for closing an opening in the roof of a vehicle, the sliding roof including a panel for insertion into the opening, a bracket attached to each side of the panel, a front shoe pivotably attached to the front end of each bracket, a guide slot affixed to each bracket, the guide slots each including a horizontal portion and an inclined portion rising rearwardly therefrom, a pair of guide links each pivotably movable at its rearward end on a rear shoe and having at its upper forward end a guide pin engaging one of said guide slots and at its lower forward end a roller pin, a pair of engaging pins, each affixed to an individual bracket, a pair of guide rails, one on each side of said sliding roof for guiding the related front shoe, rear shoe and engaging pin, a stationary block disposed within each guide rail, each block including a pair of horizontally displaced inclined grooves, one in the path of movement of the corresponding engaging pin and the other in the path of movement of the corresponding

Abstract: A controller is provided for vehicle sunroofs and the like, of the type having a retractable door or closure. The controller comprises two tracks mounted in a main frame portion of the sunroof, along opposite sides of the closure. Guides project laterally outward from the sides of the closure, and are matingly received in the tracks to slidingly support the closure for fore-to-aft translation between open and closed positions. A seal is located between the closure and the frame to form a weathertight seal therebetween. The guides include cams or eccentrics that are positioned in the tracks, and are shaped so that rotation of the eccentrics raises and lowers the closure in the main frame. When the eccentrics are rotated to a locked position, the closure is raised into abutting, compressive contact with the seal to sealingly close the opening. When the eccentrics are rotated into an unlocked position, the closure is lowered out of abutting contact with the seal to permit the closure to be freely opened.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the height adjustment and installation of a slidable and/or raising, rigid roof member, to be built into a roof opening of an automobile roof, which roof member, after its height adjustment, is screwed to elements of the roof construction which do not participate in the height adjustment movement, a rapid and reliable height adjustment and installation are achieved in that, first the actuating elements are moved into the closed position, whereupon the roof member is inserted, by means of an installation template engaging over the roof opening and to be positioned onto the automobile roof, into the roof opening in a defined position with pressing of the roof member front edge onto the associated roof opening edge and simultaneous height adjustment, whereafter finally the screwing of the roof member in this position takes place.

Abstract: The invention relates to an open roof-construction for a vehicle having a roof opening, comprising a panel, which is movable from the closed position in the roof opening to a rearwardly and downwardly inclined position, from which the panel is displaceable to a completely or partially opened position under the fixed roof, whereafter the panel may be returned again to the closed position, while furthermore the panel can be moved from the closed position to a rearwardly and upwardly inclined ventilation position and from this ventilation position can be moved back again to the closed position, while for displacing the panel a pull-push means on at least one side engages a slide plate which is guided in a stationary, substantially horizontal rail, the panel being displaceably supported near its front side, while the panel and the slide plate are connected with each other at a distance from the front side of the panel by a relatively pivotally moveable two leg link connection means having a guide pin on one leg,

Abstract: A movable roof apparatus for vehicles includes a movable roof disposed on a roof of the vehicle so as to open and close an aperture formed in the roof. Seal member is provided on a rim portion of one of the movable roof, thereby the movable roof being positioned in the aperture in the airtight state. A driving mechanism is provided on the roof and operatively connected with the movable roof through a cam mechanism for moving the movable roof.

Abstract: A sliding/lifting roof for motor vehicles having a cover closing an opening in the roof in its closed position and, at both longitudinal sides of the opening in the roof, being guided in a slideable manner, by means of a respective guiding member in a longitudinal guide. The cover is disposed so that it can be pivoted around a swivel axis extending transversely, is connected, via a tilt-out mechanism, with a drive member, and, by a sliding of the drive member, can be swung out, while lifting its rear edge, above the roof surface, or is slideable, by lowering its rear edge, under the fixed roof surface. The tilt-out mechanism has a link that is connected with the drive member and a tilt-out lever that engages with the link, with the tilt-out lever being rotatably coupled to the cover and, with respect to the link, being longitudinally movable in the sliding direction of the roof by a certain distance as well as being swingable.

Abstract: A vehicle roof of the type having a cover that closes a roof open and is slidably and tiltably displaceable out of a position closing the roof opening is constructed to avoid the problem of making the outside contour of the cover match the outside contour of the fixed roof part, particularly, with respect to contours that convexly curve in a direction transverse to the cover displacement direction. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, this problem is solved by adjusting the transverse contour of the cover, when the cover is in its closed position, through a balancing of upward and downward forces effected by a rain gutter and respective pivot mechanisms for the cover and gutter.

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof arrangement having a cover that can be slid and/or tilted out with respect to an opening in the roof. The cover is movable by means of an electric motor through at least one incompressible driving cable. The electric motor is mounted at a front side of the opening in the roof on a stationary part of the roof, and by means of a secondary drive wheel of an intermediate drive, drives a pinion that is engaged in the driving cable. The pinion is arranged in a front rain groove of a roof frame essentially on the center longitudinal axis of the roof of the motor vehicle. The intermediate drive is located in a gear housing to which the electric motor is flanged to form a drive unit. A secondary drive gear of the intermediate drive is detachably connected with a shaft of the pinion by mating internal and external gear elements.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a pivotal/sliding roof panel powered by a reversible electric drive motor operative to move a roof panel from a closed position in a roof opening in a vehicle to either of a venting or an open position. The control apparatus includes a first, operable switch which connects electrical power in one of two opposite polarities to the electric drive motor. A sensor detects when the roof panel is in the closed position. A control device, energizable by the activation of the first switch and the output of the sensor when the roof panel reaches the closed position from either of the venting or open positions, switches its output to disconnect the drive motor from the source of electric power.

Abstract: A tilting type sunroof comprises a roof panel supported with a lift link which is pivotally connected with a shoe. An arm of the lift link is engaged with an inclined groove of a stationary guide. The arm slides along the inclined groove to rotate with a linear movement of the shoe. The roof panel is driven to open or close a roof opening by the rotation of the arm. The inclined groove of the stationary guide has a portion of a large inclination and a portion of a small inclination such that a shift amount of the panel with respect to a shift amount of the shoe is large where the panel is substantially opened, while small where the panel is substantially closed.

Abstract: A sliding roof for automobiles, comprising a raisable lid associated with a roof opening, which lid is pivotally journalled in the region of its forward edge about a horizontal axis oriented transversely to the direction of travel, is supported slidably on lateral guide rails on the forward third of its length and thereby can be displaced partly over the rear, fixed roof surface in its raised position while maintaining its raised angle, a raising device consisting of a threaded telescopic device participating displacements being provided in the region of the support on each side of the lid, the threaded nut of which is connected rotationally locked with a pinion coaxial therewith, which is in engagement with a threaded cable, journalled displaceably in tension and compression transmitting manner, of a drive device.

Abstract: Bearing device for a telescoping tube of a sliding roof for vehicles, especially motor vehicles, said tube being displaceble lengthwise and being pivotable about a pivot axis running transversely to its lengthwise axis. The bearing device is provided with a guide traversed by the telescoping tube, said guide being fastened to a bearing member. The bearing member comprises a support for the guide which permits the pivoting of the guide by spring action.

Abstract: A crank drive for the control of the sliding movement and of the tilting movement of the cover of sliding-lifting roofs of motor vehicles. A crank is provided that is rotatably disposed on a support to be mounted in a stationary manner, with said support having an internal toothing that is concentric with respect to the rotating axis of the crank, a toothed ring having an external toothing being in mating engagement with said internal toothing. The toothed ring is disposed on an eccentric firmly connected with the crank, with respect to rotation, so that it can be rotated around an axis which, with respect to the rotating axis of the crank, is radially displaced by an amount that is about equal to the difference of the tooth-root circle radii.

Abstract: A lifter apparatus for moving a roof panel between closed, open and vent positions in an opening of a roof of a vehicle. The lifter apparatus includes a link pivotally connected at a first end to a slidable guide shoe mounted in a longitudinally extending guide rail attached to the vehicle. The second end of the link is slidingly disposed in an aperture formed in an attachment member secured to the roof panel. A cam block mounted on the guide shoe engages the attachment member to urge the attachment member upward such that the roof panel is urged into registry with the roof opening to close the roof opening. Further movement of the guide shoe causes the link to pivot about the first end to a substantially vertical orientation such that the second end of the link slides along the aperture in the attachment member and urges the attachment member and roof panel upward to the vent position.

Abstract: A vehicle roof with a movable portion is provided which covers a roof opening accompanied by lateral drip mouldings and can be pushed back along guideways formed in the drip mouldings over the fixed roof portion. The movable roof portion (1) is in the form of a sandwich component, preferably made of plastic, which covers the whole width of the roof and is supported with lateral slide flanges (11) directly on the basis of the lateral external drip mouldings (9) of the roof frame (3) by means of an elastic sealing material (12). The movable roof portion (1) is pivotally supported at its leading edge to the roof frame (3) and fixed at its rear edge by a separable toggle hinge (22). The movable roof part (1) can be pushed back over the roof external surface after opening of its rear edge and releasing of the toggle hinge (22) by hand, whereby the lateral slide-flanges (11) are received by guideways (15) of the lateral rainwater deflectors (14).

Abstract: An operating mechanism for operating a sliding and tilting roof panel includes an electric motor driving the panel through a cable. A rack and a pinion are arranged so that the rack will be pushed by the cable and the pinion will be rotated by the rack. A switch operating member engages with the pinion so as to be moved according to the rotation of the pinion. Additionally, first and second limit switches are operated by the switch operating member. The first limit switch is operated to cut off the actuation of the motor when the roof is slid to its fully closed position, and the second limit switch is operated to cut off the actuation of the motor when the roof is tilted to its fully closed position, so that the roof is automatically stopped at its fully closed position when the roof is slid or tilted. The first and second limit switches are so arranged that just when the first limit switch starts to be operated the second limit switch takes a position just short of operation.

Abstract: A modular sliding roof panel assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof. The sliding roof panel assembly includes a movable roof panel having front and rear guide shoes engaging guide tracks mounted to an integrally formed plastic housing affixed to the interior side of the vehicle roof. Guide blocks secured to the longitudinal edges of the movable roof panel have cam tracks formed therein which are engaged by a cam follower mounted on the rear guide shoes to lower the rear edge of the movable roof panel below the stationary roof of the vehicle as the roof panel slides to the open position and to raise the rear edge of the roof panel above the stationary roof structure when the movable roof panel is pivoted about the front end. A water trough extending transversely across the rear edge of the housing is connected to the front guide shoes for sliding movement therewith.

Abstract: A pivotal-sliding roof panel apparatus for a vehicle having an opening in the roof. The apparatus includes a housing securable to the roof structure of the vehicle. A movable roof panel is slidably mounted within the housing and is selectively movable between closed, fully-opened and partially opened, venting positions. A drive motor and a pair of drive belts are connected to the movable roof panel for selectively moving the movable roof panel between various positions. Guide rails are mounted on the housing for directing the sliding movement of the movable roof panel. First and second lifters are mounted on opposed sides of the roof panel and are operative for raising and lowering the roof panel.

Abstract: A sliding-rising roof for motor vehicles having a rigid cover plate which, in its closed position, closes a roof cut-out while forming an encircling marginal gap. The cover plate has front and rear slide blocks by which it is laterally guided on guide rails in the roof cut-out and is driven by pressure-resistantly and displaceably guided cables which engage the rear slide blocks. The roof can be either raised in the manner of front hinged ventilator flaps, by having its rear edge raised or, once its rear edge has been lowered, moved under the rear rigid roof cover.

Abstract: A sliding roof for a vehicle is provided including a panel. In the forward position, the panel closes an opening in a fixed roof. Upon operation of an actuating member, the rear edge of the panel is raised and is partly displaceable outside the roof opening into positions above the fixed roof. The panel is supported near its front edge by a horizontal cross-shaft of at least one front support. The front support is movable backward and forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At least one cross-pin at the upper end of a lever engages the panel backwards from the front support. The lever is pivotally supported at its lower end for pivotal movement about a horizontal transverse axis. The actuating member engages the front support and moves the same in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to displace the panel while the cross pin at the upper end of the lever is rotatably and slidably engaged with a slot formed underneath the panel.

Abstract: A sunroof for a roof opening defined by a downward facing roof flange includes a rectangular carrier frame which underlies the roof flange and has a central sunroof opening therein. A glass closure panel is connected to the front of the carrier frame by hinges permitting pivoting of the closure panel to an angularly raised ventilator position. A seal mounted on the carrier frame is adapted for vertically compressed sealing engagement with both the roof flange and the closure panel. A track extends longitudinally along each side of the roof opening. A rear guide block slidable along the track is connected to the carrier frame by a lifter link which is pivoted to the carrier frame and stands vertically upright to hold the carrier frame closed against the roof panel and compress the seal therebetween. The lifter link is connected to the rear guide block by a pin and slot connection which permits the lifter link to remain vertically upright and stationary while the rear guide block is driven further forward.

Abstract: A sun roof is arranged to descend without tilting (thus avoiding abrasion of the weather stripping) into a space below the roof panel and thereafter to slide into a housing for same. The actuating mechanism either reduces or maintains the distance between the shoes, which serve as bogies for the roof, to induce smooth sliding of the unit when moving in and out of the storage position, and applies the driving force to the leading pair of shoes to further increase the smoothness of the sliding when moving the unit from the storage housing. When tilting the sun roof for ventilation, the mechanism lifts one end and maintains the other end essentially stationary by applying a slight lift which offsets the tendency for the other end to sink due to the tilting. Again the weather strip is protected from abrasion.

Abstract: A vehicle body sunroof includes a vehicle body roof panel having a roof opening defined by a downward facing flange of the roof panel. A rectangular carrier frame, preferably of plastic construction, has an outer peripheral edge portion which underlies the downward facing body flange and an inner peripheral edge portion which faces upwardly into the roof opening and defines a sunroof opening in the carrier frame. A roof panel seal is mounted on the outer portion of the carrier frame and is adapted for vertically compressed sealing engagement with the downward facing body flange. A closure panel, preferably of glass, is smaller than the roof panel opening and has a peripheral edge portion adapted to overlie the inner portion of the carrier frame in sealing engagement with a closure panel seal mounted on the inner portion of the carrier frame.

Abstract: A vehicle body member such as a roof of a motor vehicle is provided with an opening surrounded by a frame and a cover panel for opening and closing the body member opening. The cover is guided in guide tracks by front and rear sliding shoes for displacement in a direction parallel to the guide tracks and is mounted for pivotable movement about an axis running at right angles to the displacement direction near a forward edge thereof. The cover is further provided with lifting elements which are connected to the rear sliding shoes, which shoes are drivingly connected to incompressible cables arranged in guide tubes and displaceable by an actuating device that is mounted on the cover panel. According to a preferred embodiment, so as to provide a significantly simpler design that is capable of being manufactured much less expensively, the ends of the above-noted guide tubes are displaceably mounted in or on the rear sliding shoes and are running approximately parallel to the guide tracks.