# US 2023/0054062 A1 · Transparent composite for a vehicle roof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0054062 A1 - Document ID: US20230054062A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/406,024 - Filed: 2021-08-18 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-18 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Bradley A. NEWCOMB; Joung Min CHOI; Julien P. MOUROU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230054062A1 ## CPC - B62D 25/06: Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) - B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)} - C08L 101/00: Compositions of unspecified macromolecular compounds - C08L 2201/08: Stabilised against heat, light or radiation or oxydation - C08L 2201/10: Transparent films; Clear coatings; Transparent materials - C08L 2205/16: Fibres; Fibrils - 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) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a roof for a vehicle upper body structure. The roof includes a body extending between a first side and a second side, and extending between a front end and a back end. The front end is configured to be coupled to a header. The body includes a polymer and a plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the body has a transparency of greater than or equal to about 4%. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A roof for a vehicle upper body structure comprising: a body extending between a first side and a second side and extending between a front end and a back end, the body comprising, a polymer and a plurality of fibers, the front end configured to be coupled to a header, wherein at least a portion of the body has a transparency of greater than or equal to about 4%. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the transparency is greater than or equal to about 50% to less than or equal to about 99%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein a volume percent of the plurality of fibers is greater than or equal to about 5 volume percent to less than or equal to about 35 volume percent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein a local tensile strength of the body is greater than or equal to about 40 MPa to less than or equal to about 1000 MPa. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the body is free of fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fibers is dispersed substantially homogeneously throughout the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the body includes, a first region having a first transparency and a first tensile strength, and a second region having a second transparency and a second tensile strength, the second transparency being greater than the first transparency and the second tensile strength being less than the first tensile strength. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The roof of claim 7, wherein: the first region includes a first volume percent of fibers, the second region includes a second volume percent of fibers, and the first volume percent of fibers is greater than the second volume percent of fibers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The roof of claim 7, wherein: the first region defines a first thickness, the second region defines a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The roof of claim 7, wherein the body further includes a third region having a third transparency and a third tensile strength. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The roof of claim 7, wherein the body further includes a fourth region having a fourth transparency and a fourth tensile strength. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1 wherein the body defines a transparency gradient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The roof of claim 12, wherein the transparency gradient comprises a plurality of transparency gradients. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The roof of claim 13, wherein the plurality of transparency gradients includes a first gradient and a second gradient having a substantially equal rate of change to the first gradient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: an epoxy, a polyurethane (PUR), a polycarbonate (PC), a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyacrylate (acrylic), a polyamide (PA), co-polymers thereof, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fibers is selected from the group consisting of: glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, natural fibers, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The roof of claim 16, wherein: the plurality of fibers have a shape selected from the group consisting of: cylindrical, flat, or both cylindrical and flat, and the plurality of fibers have an orientation selected from the group consisting of: continuous in a first planar direction, discontinuous in a first planar direction, discontinuous in a plurality of directions, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fibers includes a plurality of continuous fibers and a plurality of discontinuous fibers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The roof of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of: ultraviolet (UV) absorbers, quenchers, hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS), or combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 An upper body structure comprising: a first side structure; a second side structure; a header; a roof; and the roof comprising a body extending between a first side and a second side and extending between a front end and a back end, the body comprising, a polymer and a plurality of fibers, a front end configured to be coupled to the header, the first side configured to be coupled to the first side structure, the second side configured to be coupled to the second side structure, wherein at least a portion of the body has a transparency of greater than or equal to about 4%.