Slidable vehicle roof assembly

Claim 2

A movable section for a vehicle roof including: a. a panel lying in the plane of said roof in a first position; b. support means near the front of said panel to which said panel is pivotally attached; c. said support means being carried by a guide member; d. means movable both horizontally and vertically for supporting the rear of said panel; e. means for moving said rear support means vertically; f. means for moving said rear support means horizontally; g. whereby said rear support means and said panel may be lowered out of the plane of said roof and moved rearwardly under the stationary portion of said roof to a second position; h. said means for moving said rear support means vertically including a lost-motion linkage; and i. whereby moving said rear support means horizontally forward moves the rear of said panel from the closed position upwardly out of the plane of said roof.

Claim 3

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 1 and including a spring means between said panel and said rear support means for biasing said panel in a forward direction.

Claim 4

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 1 and wherein; said lost-motion linkage includes a pin-in-slot connection.

Claim 5

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 3 and wherein; said rear support means includes a crosspiece laterally disposed of said roof.

Claim 6

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 4 and including; spring means between said panel and said rear support means for biasing said panel in a forward direction.

Claim 7

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 5 and wherein said spring means includes: a. a cylinder attached at one end to said panel; b. a piston in said cylinder and having a piston rod attached to said rear support means; and c. a spring between the face of said piston and the end of said cylinder.

Claim 8

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 5 and including; a rain gutter formed in said rear support means and having an outlet into a lateral rain gutter of the vehicle.

Claim 9

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 7 and including; rails for guiding the horizontal movement of said rear support means.

Claim 10

A movable section for a vehicle roof including: a. a panel lying in the plane of said roof in a first position and able to be lowered at its rear out of said plane and moved rearwardly under a stationary portion of said roof to a second position; b. first support means being pivotally attached to the front end portion of said panel for allowing a limited pivotal displacement of the front end portion upwards about a pivot-axis provided by said support means, out of the plane of the roof to a third position; c. said first support means being carried by a guiding member; d. a crosspiece located beneath the rear portion of the panel and horizontally movable on guides that are laterally disposed of said roof; e. means for moving said crosspiece horizontally; and f. second support means movable both horizontally and vertically for pivoting the rear of said panel in said third position by moving said crosspiece horizontally in relation to the panel, when the panel is in said first position.

Claim 11

A movable section for a vehicle roof including: a. a panel lying in the plane of said roof in a first position and able to be lowered at its rear out of said plane and moved rearwardly under a stationary portion of said roof to a second position; b. first support means being pivotally attached to the front end portion of said panel for allowing a limited pivotal displacement of the front end portion upwards about a pivot-axis provided by said support means, out of the plane of the roof to a third position; c. said first support means being carried by a guiding member; d. a crosspiece located beneath the rear portion of the panel and horizontally movable on guides that are laterally disposed of said roof; e. means for moving said crosspiece horizontally; and f. second support means movable both horizontally and vertically for pivoting the rear of said panel in said third position by moving said crosspiece horizontally in relation to the panel, when the panel is in said first position.

Claim 12

A movable section for a vehicle roof as set forth in claim 9 and wherein: a. said means for moving said crosspiece vertically include a lost-motion linkage; and b. whereby moving said crosspiece horizontally forward moves the rear of said panel from the closed position upwardly out of the plane of said roof.

Claim 13

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 10 including spring means between said panel and said crosspiece for biasing said panel in a forward direction.

Claim 14

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 10 and wherein; said lost motion linkaGe include a pin-in-slot connection.

Claim 15

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 12 and including a spring means between said panel and said crosspiece for biasing said panel in a forward direction.

Claim 16

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 13 and wherein said spring means include: a. a cylinder attached at one end to said panel; b. a piston in said cylinder and having a piston rod attached to said crosspiece; and c. a spring between the face of said piston and the end of said cylinder.

Claim 17

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 13 and including a rain gutter formed in said crosspiece and having an outlet into a lateral rain gutter of the vehicle.

Claim 18

A movable section for a vehicle roof as in claim 15 and including rails for guiding the horizontal movement of said crosspiece.