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US4671565A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cable guide for sliding roofs of motor vehicles

Assignee: Rockwell Golde GmbH
•
Filing: 1983-06-07
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Granted: 1987-06-09
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Expires: 2003-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract A cable guide for automobile sliding roofs having two lateral guide components (9), which together displaceably guide the guide shoes (7,8) of a sliding panel, and one forward guide component (10), adjoining the two lateral guide components. To achieve a simplified construction which can be manufactured and installed at low cost while simultaneously avoiding butt joints in the region of the cable guide channels which are (19,10) continuous through all three guide components, all three guide components (9,10) have an identical cross-sectional shape and are formed from a single-piece guide frame (11).

Inventors

  • 👤 Rainer Grimm
  • 👤 Horst Bohm
  • 👤 Peter Schafer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 21:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; B60J7/057

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
A cable guide frame structure for an automobile sliding roof panel comprising: (a) a single piece guide frame formed in a generally U-shaped configuration having lateral guide components connected by a forward guide component, the guide frame having a pair of opposed side walls joined at one end by a web to form an upwardly open U-shaped cross-section defining a cavity, each of the side walls defining an upper cable and guide shoe channel and a lower guide shoe channel extending throughout the length of the frame; and, (b) a plurality of guide shoes attached to a sliding roof panel, each of the guide shoes being slidably retained in the guide channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
A cable guide frame structure for an automobile sliding roof panel comprising: (a) a single piece guide frame formed in a generally U-shaped configuration having lateral guide components connected by a forward guide component, the guide frame having a pair of opposed side walls joined at one end by a web to form an upwardly open U-shaped cross-section defining a cavity, each of the side walls defining an upper cable and guide shoe channel and a lower guide shoe channel extending throughout the length of the frame; and, (b) a plurality of guide shoes attached to a sliding roof panel, each of the guide shoes being slidably retained in the guide channels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 wherein the guide frame is formed of metal which is bent at the two corners to form the U-shaped configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 2, wherein the metal guide frame is an extrusion of malleable aluminum alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 2, wherein the metal guide frame is shaped from sheet metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1, wherein the guide frame is formed from a thermoplastics material, which is bent at the two corners to form the U-shaped configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 wherein the guide frame has integrally formed thereon an outwardly projecting fixing flange from an outer side wall of its cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 6 wherein the guide frame has integrally formed thereon an inwardly projecting guide flange projecting from a top portion of an inner side wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 43 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 7 wherein the guide frame has integrally formed thereon second inwardly projecting flanges projecting from the inner side wall of its cross-section, for guiding a sliding panel lining and for attaching a roof lining respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 52 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 wherein the guide frame has an outwardly projecting edge flange projecting from a bottom portion of an outer side wall of its cross-section to define a water channel thereabove and a fixing flange integrally formed on an outer portion of the edge flange.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 9, wherein the edge flange is cut away to facilitate bending and further comprising plastic inserts attached to the guide frame in the cut away portions after bending.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 further comprising a transverse connector interconnecting the lateral guide components.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 55 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 9 further comprising a water guide plate, connected with the rear guide shoes and extending beneath a rear edge gap between the sliding panel and an automobile roof, the discharge ends of which terminate above the water channel and means to displaceably guide the water guide plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 52 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 wherein the forward guide component of the guide frame defines an opening extending through the web wall situated between the side walls and extending into the cavity for the passage of a drive shaft of a toothed pinion in engagement with drive cables.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
A cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the cable and guide shoe channels is such that only partial regions of the channels contact the guide cables.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 30 words
The cable guide frame structure according to claim 1 wherein a pair of forward guide shoes are slidably retained in the lower guide shoe channels of the lateral guide components.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
The cable guide frame structure according to claim 15 wherein a pair of rear guide shoes are slidably retained in the upper cable and guide shoe channels of the lateral guide components.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 25 words
The cable guide frame structure according to claim 7 wherein each guide shoe has a hook-shaped projection which slidably engages the inwardly projecting guide flange.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3075807A Cited
US3290087A Cited
US3830518A Cited
US3964784A Cited
US4085965A Cited
US4272123A Cited
DE2836801A1 Cited
US4362321A Cited
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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) 1990-06-08 1990-12-08 1991-06-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-08 1994-12-08 1995-06-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-08 1998-12-08 1999-06-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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