← Back to Patent Explorer
US5542735A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lengthwise movable vehicle roof

Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
•
Filing: 1994-08-05
•
Granted: 1996-08-06
•
Expires: 2014-08-05
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A vehicle roof with at least one roof cover part that can be opened during driving in the manner of a sunroof by being moved into at least one open position on guideways arranged in roof parts lying laterally to it in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. A rear roof part that is stationary, at least during this sunroof mode of operation, is fixed with the lateral roof parts and can be moved with them and the cover part into a storage space in the rear part of the vehicle to expose a convertible-type roof opening. Supporting B-columns are movable in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle, and the rear roof part is mounted to them in a pivotable manner. By pivoting the rear roof part and subsequent pivoting of the B-columns, only a very small storage space is required between the seats and the rear axle for stowage of the roof.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arpad Furst
  • 👤 Martin Danzl
  • 👤 Johann Mayer
  • 👤 Stefan Miklosi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 16:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/026; B60J7/028; B60J7/08; B60J7/12; B60J7/14; B60J7/143; B60J7/148; B60J7/20; B60J7/202

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
In a vehicle having a roof with at least one roof cover part that can be opened during driving in a sunroof mode by being moved into at least one open position, in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle and relative to roof parts lying laterally and to the rear with respect to said at least one roof cover part, a rear roof part of which is attached to lateral roof parts and the rear and lateral roof parts being fixed at least in said sunroof mode, and which can be opened to provide a convertible roof opening by moving of all of the roof parts and the at least one roof cover part into a storage space in a rear part of the vehicle, the improvement wherein the rear roof part is mounted in a pivotable manner relative to lateral columns on which it is supported; wherein lateral columns on which the rear roof part is supported are movable in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle on approximately horizontal guideways fixed on a body of the vehicle and are mounted in a manner enabling a forward and downward swinging of the columns and rear roof part into the storage space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 201 words
In a vehicle having a roof with at least one roof cover part that can be opened during driving in a sunroof mode by being moved into at least one open position, in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle and relative to roof parts lying laterally and to the rear with respect to said at least one roof cover part, a rear roof part of which is attached to lateral roof parts and the rear and lateral roof parts being fixed at least in said sunroof mode, and which can be opened to provide a convertible roof opening by moving of all of the roof parts and the at least one roof cover part into a storage space in a rear part of the vehicle, the improvement wherein the rear roof part is mounted in a pivotable manner relative to lateral columns on which it is supported; wherein lateral columns on which the rear roof part is supported are movable in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle on approximately horizontal guideways fixed on a body of the vehicle and are mounted in a manner enabling a forward and downward swinging of the columns and rear roof part into the storage space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
Vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein said at least one movable roof cover part is a cover of a spoiler sunroof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
Vechicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the roof has a rear window which is mounted to the roof for movement under the rear roof part by a drive means for opening the rear window while the vechicle roof remains in said sunroof mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
Vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the rear roof part forms a subassembly with said lateral roof parts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
Vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein triangular windows with a frame part fastened on an upper edge thereof are arranged between a rear window and said lateral columns, said triangular windows being mounted in a manner enabling each window to be lowered at a respective outer side of the storage space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
Vehicle roof according to claim 5, wherein the roof has a rear window which is mounted to the roof for movement under the rear roof part by a drive means for opening the rear window while the vehicle roof remains in said sunroof mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
Vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein at least one covering is provided for covering said storage space from above.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3180677A Cited
US4844534A Cited
DE3903358A1 Cited
GB2240519A Cited
US5209544A Cited
FR2694245A1 Cited
US5429409A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-08-06 2000-02-05 2000-08-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-08-06 2004-02-05 2004-08-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-08-06 2008-02-05 2008-08-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag