US4422687A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sliding roof panel assembly
Assignee: American Sunroof Corp
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Filing: 1982-09-29
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Granted: 1983-12-27
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Expires: 2002-09-29
Abstract
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. A detector for detecting the position of the movable roof panel is connected to a drive unit and actuator switches for controlling the movement of the movable roof panel between sliding and flip-up modes of operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton C. Kaltz
- 👤 Edward M. Chojnowski
- 👤 David C. Garascia
- 👤 Barney J. Bauer
- 👤 Richard D. George
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; B60J7/057; B60J7/0573; B60J7/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A modular sliding roof panel assembly adapted to be mounted to the stationary roof structure of a veicle having an opening in the roof thereof which is opened and closed by the sliding roof panel, said assembly comprising: an integral housing adapted to be mounted to the interior of said stationary roof structure of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture therein aligned with said opening in said roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion slidably engaging said guide rails and a second integral portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said front and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; guide blocks mounted to said movable roof panel and having a cam track formed therein, said guide blocks being positioned laterally outward from said guide rails and cam follower means pivotally mounted to said second portion of said rear guide shoes and engageable with said guide blocks for selectively raising the rear edge of said movable roof panel above said stationary roof structure of said vehicle and for lowering said rear edge of said movable roof panel below said stationary roof structure such that said movable roof panel can slide beneath said stationary roof opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A modular sliding roof panel assembly adapted to be mounted to the stationary roof structure of a veicle having an opening in the roof thereof which is opened and closed by the sliding roof panel, said assembly comprising: an integral housing adapted to be mounted to the interior of said stationary roof structure of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture therein aligned with said opening in said roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion slidably engaging said guide rails and a second integral portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said front and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; guide blocks mounted to said movable roof panel and having a cam track formed therein, said guide blocks being positioned laterally outward from said guide rails and cam follower means pivotally mounted to said second portion of said rear guide shoes and engageable with said guide blocks for selectively raising the rear edge of said movable roof panel above said stationary roof structure of said vehicle and for lowering said rear edge of said movable roof panel below said stationary roof structure such that said movable roof panel can slide beneath said stationary roof opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes front and rear mounting means adapted to mount the drive means thereon such that said drive means may be selectively mounted at either of the front and rear of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein the movable roof panel comprises: a roof panel having a shape approximate that of the roof opening, said roof panel having a peripheral edge; a casing formed of plastic material molded around said peripheral edge of said roof panel; and a plurality of mounting brackets molded in said casing along the longitudinal sides of said movable roof panel and extending downward therefrom, said front guide shoes and said guide blocks being attached to said mounting brackets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 4 wherein the roof panel is formed of transparent glass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
254 words
A roof structure for a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof comprising: an integral housing mounted to the interior of said roof of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture aligned with the opening in the roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion slidably engaging said guide rails and an integral second portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said front and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; guide blocks mounted to said movable roof panel and having a cam track formed therein, said guide blocks being positioned laterally outward from said guide rails; and cam follower means pivotally mounted to said second portion of said rear guide shoes and engageable with said guide blocks for selectively raising the rear edge of said movable roof panel above said stationary roof structure of said vehicle and for lowering said rear edge of said movable roof panel below said stationary roof structure such that said movable roof panel can slide beneath said stationary roof opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
254 words
A roof structure for a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof comprising: an integral housing mounted to the interior of said roof of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture aligned with the opening in the roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion slidably engaging said guide rails and an integral second portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said front and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; guide blocks mounted to said movable roof panel and having a cam track formed therein, said guide blocks being positioned laterally outward from said guide rails; and cam follower means pivotally mounted to said second portion of said rear guide shoes and engageable with said guide blocks for selectively raising the rear edge of said movable roof panel above said stationary roof structure of said vehicle and for lowering said rear edge of said movable roof panel below said stationary roof structure such that said movable roof panel can slide beneath said stationary roof opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing is formed of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the housing includes front and rear mounting means adapted to mount the drive means thereon such that said drive means may be selectively mounted at either of the front and rear of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The assembly of claim 6 wherein the movable roof panel comprises: a roof panel having a shape approximate that of the roof opening, said roof panel having a peripheral edge; a casing formed of plastic material molded around said peripheral edge of said roof panel; and mounting brackets molded in said casing along the longitudinal sides of said movable roof panel and extending downward therefrom, said front guide shoes and said guide blocks being attached to said mounting brackets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assembly of claim 9 wherein the roof panel is formed of transparent glass.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
233 words
A modular sliding roof panel assembly adapted to be mounted to the stationary roof structure of a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof which is opened and closed by the sliding roof panel, said assembly comprising: an integral housing adapted to be mounted to the interior of said stationary roof structure of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture therein aligned with said opening in said roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion slidably engaging said guide rails and a second integral portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said fornt and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; and means, connected to the outer end of said second portion of said rear guide shoes and said movable roof panel, for raising and lowering the rear edge of said movable roof panel as said movable roof panel moves between open and closed positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
233 words
A modular sliding roof panel assembly adapted to be mounted to the stationary roof structure of a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof which is opened and closed by the sliding roof panel, said assembly comprising: an integral housing adapted to be mounted to the interior of said stationary roof structure of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture therein aligned with said opening in said roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion slidably engaging said guide rails and a second integral portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said fornt and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; and means, connected to the outer end of said second portion of said rear guide shoes and said movable roof panel, for raising and lowering the rear edge of said movable roof panel as said movable roof panel moves between open and closed positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
262 words
A modular sliding roof panel assembly adapted to be mounted to the stationary roof structure of a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof which is opened and closed by the sliding roof panel, said assembly comprising: an integral housing adapted to be mounted to the interior of said stationary roof structure of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture therein aligned with said opening in said roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion engaging said guide rails and a second integral portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said front and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; means, connected to the outer end of said second portion of said rear guide shoes and said movable roof panel, for raising and lowering the rear edge of said movable roof panel as said movable roof panel moves between open and closed positions; and the housing including front and rear mounting means for said drive means such that said drive means may be selectively mounted on one of said front and rear mounting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
262 words
A modular sliding roof panel assembly adapted to be mounted to the stationary roof structure of a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof which is opened and closed by the sliding roof panel, said assembly comprising: an integral housing adapted to be mounted to the interior of said stationary roof structure of said vehicle, said housing having an aperture therein aligned with said opening in said roof of said vehicle; a movable roof panel; guide rails mounted to said housing and extending in the sliding direction of said movable roof panel; front and rear guide shoes mounted to said movable roof panel and engaging said guide rails for controlling the movement of said movable roof panel between open and closed positions, said front guide shoes being pivotally mounted to said movable roof panel, said rear guide shoes having a first portion engaging said guide rails and a second integral portion positioned over said guide rails and extending laterally outward therefrom; drive means operably connected to at least one of said front and rear guide shoes for moving said movable roof panel between open and closed positions; means, connected to the outer end of said second portion of said rear guide shoes and said movable roof panel, for raising and lowering the rear edge of said movable roof panel as said movable roof panel moves between open and closed positions; and the housing including front and rear mounting means for said drive means such that said drive means may be selectively mounted on one of said front and rear mounting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-26 | 1987-06-27 | 1987-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-26 | 1991-06-27 | 1991-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-26 | 1995-06-27 | 1995-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |