Sliding roof assembly for vehicles and method of mounting same

Claim 2

A sliding roof assembly for vehicles comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame and adapted to rest on the vehicle roof, a lining attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, generally horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extends inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of said lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange.

Claim 3

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 1, wherein a resilient filler is positioned between the bottom flange and the lining.

Claim 4

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 2, wherein the lining, during use, is of a color different from that of the vehicle roof lining.

Claim 5

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 1, including brackets mounted on the outer surface of the vertical portion of the frame, the fastening bolts having heads positioned between said brackets and the supporting rim.

Claim 6

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 4, wherein the heads of the individual fastening bolts are non-rotatably connected to the respective brackets.

Claim 7

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame has a horizontal top flange, the covering panel being swaged over the horizontal top flange of the frame along its edge surrounding said opening.

Claim 8

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting rim of the covering panel is curved downwardly, and including a filler member positioned in the curvature formed thereby.

Claim 9

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 7, wherein said filler member is provided with bores accomodating the fastening bolts.

Claim 10

A sliding roof according to claim 1, wherein the supporting rim of said covering panel is connected to the vehicle roof by welding or riveting.

Claim 11

A vehicle provided with a sliding roof assembly, said sliding roof assembly comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, the vehicle comprising an aperture in its roof of substantially the same dimensions as the frame, the sliding roof assembly being inserted into the roof aperture so that the supporting rim of the covering panel rests on said vehicle roof around the roof aperture, said covering panel being connected to the vehicle roof, the vehicle roof including a roof lining, a substantially rectangular opening of smaller dimensions than the roof aperture being cut out of the roof lining, the inner edge of the roof lining overlapping the roof aperture and being glued from below on to the underside of a roof lining extending around the periphery of the horizontal bottom flange of the frame, a strip covering the joint between the roof lining and the lining covering the bottom flange, brackets suspended from at least some fastening bolts, the covering strip having snap-in elements pressed into holes in a horizontal bottom flange of the brackets.

Claim 12

A vehicle provided with a sliding roof assembly, said sliding roof assembly comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, the vehicle comprising an aperture in its roof of substantially the same dimensions as the frame, the sliding roof assembly being inserted into the roof aperture so that the supporting rim of the covering panel rests on said vehicle roof around the roof aperture, said covering panel being connected to the vehicle roof, the vehicle roof including a roof lining, a substantially rectangular opening of smaller dimensions than the roof aperture being cut out of the roof lining, the inner edge of the roof lining overlapping the roof aperture and being glued from below on to the underside of a roof lining extending around the periphery of the horizontal bottom flange of the frame, a strip covering the joint between the roof lining and the lining covering the bottom flange, brackets suspended from at least some fastening bolts, the covering strip having snap-in elements pressed into holes in a horizontal bottom flange of the brackets.

Claim 13

A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein holes are formed in the vehicle roof around the roof aperture receiving fastening bolts extending downwardly from the supporting rim of the covering panel, and including nuts screwed from below onto said bolts.

Claim 14

A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the supporting rim of the covering panel is of greater curvature than the vehicle roof at the point of contact, and including a filler element positioned in the gap between said supporting rim and the vehicle roof.

Claim 15

A vehicle according to claim 12, wherein holes are formed in the filler element and in a reinforcing section which are aligned with the holes in the roof surrounding said roof aperture, said fastening bolts passing through the filler element and the reinforcing section.

Claim 16

A vehicle with a sliding roof assembly, comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, said supporting rim of the covering panel resting on the vehicle roof, the covering panel being connected to said vehicle roof, a lining attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, substantially horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extending inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of the lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange, and a resilient filler positioned between the bottom flange and the lining, said lining being of a color different from that of the vehicle roof lining.

Claim 17

A vehicle with a sliding roof assembly, comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, said supporting rim of the covering panel resting on the vehicle roof, the covering panel being connected to said vehicle roof, a lining attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, substantially horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extending inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of the lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange, and a resilient filler positioned between the bottom flange and the lining, said lining being of a color different from that of the vehicle roof lining.

Claim 18

A sliding roof assembly for vehicles comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame and adapted to rest on the vehicle roof, a plurality of spaced, downwardly extending fastening bolts being mounted non-rotatably on the supporting rim of said covering panel, a lining being attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, generally horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extending inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of said lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange.

Claim 19

A sliding roof assembly for vehicles comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame and adapted to rest on the vehicle roof, a plurality of spaced, downwardly extending fastening bolts being mounted non-rotatably on the supporting rim of said covering panel, a lining being attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, generally horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extending inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of said lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange.

Claim 20

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 15, wherein a resilient filler is positioned between the bottom flange and the lining.

Claim 21

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 16, wherein the lining, during use, is of a color different from that of the vehicle roof lining.

Claim 22

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 15, including brackets mounted on the outer surface of the vertical portion of the frame, the fastening bolts having heads positioned between said brackets and the supporting rim.

Claim 23

A sliding roof assembly according to claim 18, wherein the heads of the individual fastening bolts are non-rotatably connected to the respective brackets.

Claim 24

A vehicle provided with a sliding roof assembly, said sliding roof assembly comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, the vehicle comprising an aperture in its roof of substantially the same dimensions as the frame, the sliding roof assembly being inserted into the roof aperture so that the supporting rim of the covering panel rests on said vehicle roof around the roof aperture, holes being formed in the vehicle roof around the roof aperture receiving fastening bolts extending downwardly from the supporting rim of the covering panel, and including nuts screwed from below onto said bolts, a vehicle roof lining, a substantially rectangular opening of smaller dimensions than the roof aperture being cut out of the vehicle roof lining, the inner edge of the vehicle roof lining overlapping the roof aperture and being glued from below on to the underside of a lining extending around the periphery of the horizontal bottom flange of the frame, a strip covering the joint between the roof lining and the lining covering the bottom flange, brackets suspended from at least some of the fastening bolts, the covering strip having snap-in elements pressed into holes in a horizontal bottom flange of the brackets.

Claim 25

A vehicle provided with a sliding roof assembly, said sliding roof assembly comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, the vehicle comprising an aperture in its roof of substantially the same dimensions as the frame, the sliding roof assembly being inserted into the roof aperture so that the supporting rim of the covering panel rests on said vehicle roof around the roof aperture, holes being formed in the vehicle roof around the roof aperture receiving fastening bolts extending downwardly from the supporting rim of the covering panel, and including nuts screwed from below onto said bolts, a vehicle roof lining, a substantially rectangular opening of smaller dimensions than the roof aperture being cut out of the vehicle roof lining, the inner edge of the vehicle roof lining overlapping the roof aperture and being glued from below on to the underside of a lining extending around the periphery of the horizontal bottom flange of the frame, a strip covering the joint between the roof lining and the lining covering the bottom flange, brackets suspended from at least some of the fastening bolts, the covering strip having snap-in elements pressed into holes in a horizontal bottom flange of the brackets.

Claim 26

A vehicle with a sliding roof assembly, comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, said supporting rim of the covering panel resting on the vehicle roof, the covering panel being connected to said vehicle roof, a lining attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, substantially horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extending inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of the lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange, said lining being of a color different from that of the vehicle roof lining.

Claim 27

A vehicle with a sliding roof assembly, comprising a frame, a roof member slidably mounted in said frame, a covering panel mounted on said frame and having a substantially rectangular aperture in its front portion of substantially the same size as the roof member, said covering panel having a rear portion covering the roof member when the latter is moved rearwardly to uncover said aperture, said panel having a peripheral supporting rim projecting outwardly from the frame, said supporting rim of the covering panel resting on the vehicle roof, the covering panel being connected to said vehicle roof, a lining attached to the underside of an inwardly directed, substantially horizontal bottom flange of the frame, said bottom flange being bent upwardly at its inner edge and then extending inwards horizontally to form a step, the outer edge of the lining being secured to an external surface of a vertical frame portion, the inner edge of said lining being secured to the upper surface of the inwardly extending inner edge of the bottom flange, said lining being of a color different from that of the vehicle roof lining.