# US 10,118,562 B2 · Automatic sliding roof rail system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,562 B2 - Document ID: US10118562B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/202,036 - Filed: 2016-07-05 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-05 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Jose Humberto Gutierrez Gaspar; Jesus Alejandro Pena Casimiro; Juan Pablo Rios Rendon; Gabriel Yaokoatl Horta Hernandez; Norberto Mondragon Hernandez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118562B2 ## CPC - B60R 9/045: Carriers being adjustable or transformable, e.g. expansible, collapsible {(transformable into tents B60P3/36; into beds B60P3/38)} - B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars} - B62D 25/06: Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A system for providing storage on a vehicle roof is provided. The system comprises at least one partially hollow pillar for supporting the vehicle roof, a rail adapted to being raised and lowered relative to the vehicle roof between a deployed position for receiving cargo and a non-deployed position. An actuator is positioned at least partially along or within the at least one pillar for moving the rail relative to the roof. The actuator may comprise a pinion and a rack providing support for the rail. One or more supports may be connected to the rail for sliding as the rail is raised and lowered, including an active support for raising and lowering the rail in response to actuation. One or more passive supports for the rail may be slidably received in different pillars from the active support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing cargo storage on a vehicle roof, comprising: a tubular pillar for supporting the vehicle roof; a rail adapted for raising and lowering relative to the vehicle roof between a deployed position for receiving cargo and a non-deployed position; and an actuator positioned at least partially along the tubular pillar for moving the rail relative to the vehicle roof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a support for the rail, the support being positioned at least partially within the tubular pillar and projecting vertically therefrom in the deployed position of the rail. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one pillar comprises an A-pillar. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a second rail adapted for being raised and lowered relative to the vehicle roof, and further including a second actuator for moving the second rail relative to the vehicle roof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first support for the rail is slidably connected to the rail. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first support is positioned in a C-pillar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein a second support for the rail is positioned in a B-pillar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pinion and the rail is connected to a rack in engagement with the pinion, the rack positioned at least partially within the at least one pillar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a latch for latching the rail in the deployed position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the latch comprises a magnetic coupling formed between a support for supporting the rail and another pillar for supporting the vehicle roof. ### Claim 11 A system for providing cargo storage on a vehicle roof, comprising: an A-pillar for supporting the vehicle roof; a rail adapted for being raised and lowered relative to the vehicle roof between a deployed position for receiving cargo and a non-deployed position; and a support for the rail received within the A-pillar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further including an actuator for moving the rail relative to the vehicle roof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the actuator is positioned at least partially within the A-pillar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further including a plurality of pillars, and wherein a support for the rail is associated with each of the plurality of pillars. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the support is slidably connected to the rail for moving to and fro as the rail moves between the deployed and non-deployed positions. ### Claim 16 A system for providing storage for cargo, comprising: a vehicle including a roof; a rail adapted to being raised and lowered relative to the roof between a deployed position for receiving cargo and a non-deployed position; and a first support for supporting the rail, the first support connected to the rail for sliding along the rail when the rail is raised and lowered. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further including an actuator connected to the first support for moving the rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further including a second support for supporting the rail, the second support slidably connected for moving along the rail in moving between the deployed and non-deployed positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further including a third support for supporting the rail, the third support being fixed to the rail between the first and second supports and positioned at least partially within a B-pillar of the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the roof is supported by at least one pillar, the first support at least partially received within the pillar and extending therefrom in the deployed position of the rail.