Patent US3822912A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3822912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cable drive and guide for automobile sliding roofs
Assignee: Webasto Werk W Baier GmbH and Co
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Filing: 1973-04-03
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1993-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A cable drive and guide system for rigid automobile sliding roofs where the roof opening frame includes on each side a rain channel, a longitudinal ridge profile, and a guide profile for the push-pull-type drive cable, a removable upper guide profile forming part of the sliding roof guide on one side of the ridge profile and part of the drive cable guide on the other side of the ridge profile.
Inventors
- 👤 H Bienert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; B60J7/057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A cable drive and guide system for rigid automobile sliding roofs comprising in combination: a stationary roof portion having a generally rectangular opening therein; a roof opening frame fixedly attached to the stationary roof portion and bordering the latter on at least its longitudinal sides; the longitudinal portions of the frame having a crosssectional profile which includes a downwardly extending frame profile portion and an adjoining inwardly extending frame profile portion reaching toward the sliding roof assembly at a distance below the stationary roof portion; a sliding roof assembly with a sliding roof panel of an outline corresponding to that of the roof opening, the sliding roof assembly being arranged for opening and closing through longitudinal motion relative to the stationary roof portion in a known manner; means for driving the sliding roof assembly to produce the opening and closing motions, the driving means including two push-pull-type drive cables, one on each side of the sliding roof assembly; means for connecting the rear portion of the sliding roof assembly to the drive cables; means for longitudinally guiding the drive cables relative to the roof opening frame; and means for longitudinally guiding the sliding roof assembly relative to the roof opening frame; the drive cable guide means including a stationary longitudinal guide channel for each drive cable which substantially encloses the cable, one portion of the guide channel profile being constituted by the roof opening frame, another portion of the profile being constituted by an upper guide profile in the form of a removable cover part which is fastened to the inwardly extending frame profile portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A cable drive and guide system for rigid automobile sliding roofs comprising in combination: a stationary roof portion having a generally rectangular opening therein; a roof opening frame fixedly attached to the stationary roof portion and bordering the latter on at least its longitudinal sides; the longitudinal portions of the frame having a crosssectional profile which includes a downwardly extending frame profile portion and an adjoining inwardly extending frame profile portion reaching toward the sliding roof assembly at a distance below the stationary roof portion; a sliding roof assembly with a sliding roof panel of an outline corresponding to that of the roof opening, the sliding roof assembly being arranged for opening and closing through longitudinal motion relative to the stationary roof portion in a known manner; means for driving the sliding roof assembly to produce the opening and closing motions, the driving means including two push-pull-type drive cables, one on each side of the sliding roof assembly; means for connecting the rear portion of the sliding roof assembly to the drive cables; means for longitudinally guiding the drive cables relative to the roof opening frame; and means for longitudinally guiding the sliding roof assembly relative to the roof opening frame; the drive cable guide means including a stationary longitudinal guide channel for each drive cable which substantially encloses the cable, one portion of the guide channel profile being constituted by the roof opening frame, another portion of the profile being constituted by an upper guide profile in the form of a removable cover part which is fastened to the inwardly extending frame profile portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the removable upper guide profile of the drive cable guide means also constitutes part of the sliding roof guide means by forming at least part of a stationary longitudinal guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the stationary longitudinal guide channel of the drive cable guide means is so arranged that the profile portion constituted by the roof opening frame and the profile portion constituted by the removable upper guide profile each enclose at least 40 per cent of the cable circumference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the inwardly extending profile portion of the roof opening frame includes: a rain channel adjacent the downwardly extending frame profile portion; a longitudinal ridge profile spaced a distance inside the downwardly eXtending frame profile portion; and a lower cable guide profile which forms that part of the drive cable guide channel which is constituted by the roof opening frame, the lower guide profile being arranged inwardly adjacent the ridge profile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein: the upper guide profile of the drive cable guide means is removably attached to the longitudinal ridge profile of the roof opening frame, the upper guide profile being larger than the width of the ridge profile so as to form an overhang on both sides thereof, thereby constituting at least part of the sliding roof guide means on its outer overhang on the side of the rain channel, while constituting the earlier-mentioned portion of the drive cable guide channel on its inner overhang.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as defined in claim 5, wherein: the inwardly extending portion of the roof opening frame further includes: an overlay in at least the area of the lower cable guide profile, the overlay being adapted for frictional engagement by the moving drive cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as defined in claim 6, wherein: the overlay also reaches over the longitudinal ridge profile and covers part of the frame profile portion between the rain channel and the ridge profile, the latter part of the overlay forming part of the sliding roof guide means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 7, wherein: the overlay is a shaped sheet profile of a material different from that of the roof opening frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as defined in claim 5, wherein: the stationary longitudinal guide channel of the drive cable guide means includes an opening for the sliding roof connecting means in the length portion covered by longitudinal movement of the connecting means, said opening being provided in the upper guide profile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
A device as defined in claim 9, wherein: the upper guide profile further includes a downwardly extending ledge on its inner overhang which forms a portion of the drive cable guide channel, the ledge and a narrow portion of the overhang being cut away in the length portion covered by the longitudinal movement of the connecting means; and the lower cable guide profile of the roof opening frame includes an angle profile with an upstanding ledge which covers that portion of the drive cable guide channel in which the ledge of the upper guide profile is cut away.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A device as defined in claim 9, wherein: the upper guide profile further includes a downwardly extending ledge on its inner overhang which forms a portion of the drive cable guide channel, the ledge and a narrow portion of the overhang being cut away in the length portion covered by the longitudinal movement of the connecting means; the inwardly extending portion of the roof opening frame further includes a shaped overlay profile which covers at least the longitudinal ridge profile and the lower cable guide profile; and the shaped overlay includes in the area of the cable guide profile an upstanding ledge which covers that portion of the cable guide channel in which the ledge of the upper guide profile is cut away.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as defined in claim 11, wherein: the upper guide profile and the overlay profile are both removably attached to the roof opening frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |