Control device for the sliding roofs of vehicles

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive means is in the form of a reciprocating push-pull cable operated by a crank.

Claim 4

A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the blocking means includes two blocking members, one member being stationary and the other one being movable as a result of being connected to the movable part, the blocking members engaging one another in the zero position of the movable part so as to block the motion of the latter.

Claim 5

A device as defined in claim 3, wherein: one of the blocking members is a pivotable catch hook which moves with the movable part and the other blocking member is a catch element which is stationary.

Claim 6

A device as defined in claim 3, wherein: one of the blocking members is a pivotable rocker arm and the other blocking member is a cooperating catch element, the rocker arm including two oppositely oriented catching hooks on opposite ends thereof which are alternately engageable by the catch element; the blocking means further includes a frame in which the rocker arm is pivotably mounted, and a transverse pivot pin in the frame for the rocker arm; and the releasing means includes a spring connected to the rocker arm near its midpoint and an elongated pivot hole in the rocker arm extending to both sides of the spring connection, the spring being so arranged that it tends to alternately retract that hook end of the rocker arm which is engaged by the catch element.

Claim 7

A device as defined in claim 3, wherein: one of the blocking members is a pivotable catch hook and the other blocking member is a cooperating catch element.

Claim 8

A device as defined in claim 6, wherein: the pivotable catch hook is movable between a catching position in which it is aligned to engage the catch element and a release position in which the blocKing members can move past one another; the releasing means includes a spring which biases the pivotable catch hook toward the release position and means for retaining the hook in the catching position against the spring bias until the catch element engages and displaces the hook, thereby de-activating the retaining means and releasing the hook to be retracted by the spring, as the hook is disengaged from the catch element in the release motion.

Claim 9

A device as defined in claim 7, further including resetting means adapted to return the hook to its catching position in which it is held by the retaining means.

Claim 10

A device as defined in claim 7, wherein the pivotable hook includes an elongated body, a hook shape on one extremity thereof, a transverse pivot pin at a distance from the hook shape, and a transverse retaining pin at a distance from the pivot pin; and wherein the blocking means further includes a frame in which the hook is mounted, the pivot pin being displaceable laterally in an elongated hole in the frame, and the retaining pin being displaceable laterally and in the direction of hook pivoting in an inverted L-shaped slot in the frame, the latter slot and the retaining pin being a part of the retaining means.

Claim 11

A device as defined in claim 9, wherein the pivotable hook further includes at a distance from the pivot pin opposite the hook shape a cam portion which, when the hook has been pivoted out of its catching position, can be engaged by the catching element to return the hook to the catching position.