Removable sunroof for vehicles

A sunroof assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof, comprising:

• a frame extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a compressible seal on said frame and extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a sunroof panel adapted to overlie said opening in sealing engagement with said seal;
• and,
• front and rear, spaced apart means for removeably mounting said panel on said frame and each including latch means for latching the front and rear of said panel in an open, elevated position above said roof, and for pivotally mounting said front and rear of said panel whereby said front and rear of said panel may be selectively elevated or pivoted.

A sunroof assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof, comprising:

• a frame extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a compressible seal on said frame and extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a sunroof panel adapted to overlie said opening in sealing engagement with said seal;
• and,
• front and rear, spaced apart means for removeably mounting said panel on said frame and each including latch means for latching the front and rear of said panel in an open, elevated position above said roof, said rear mounting means including a first lever handle having at least one depression therein corresponding to an open position of the rear of said panel, and a first latching assembly having a latch member selectively extensible into said one depression.

A sunroof assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof, comprising:

• a frame extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a compressible seal on said frame and extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a sunroof panel adapted to overlie said opening in sealing engagement with said seal;
• and,
• front and rear, spaced apart means for removeably mounting said panel on said frame and each including latch means for latching the front and rear of said panel in an open, elevated position above said roof, said frame including
• (1) a first generally planar section adapted to overlie the top of said roof surrounding the perimeter of said opening,
• (2) a second section having a first surface extending downwardly and away from said first section at an oblique angle relative to said first section, and
• (3) a third section disposed below said roof and having a second surface contiguous with said first surface extending inwardly and away from the perimeter of said opening, said first and second surfaces defining a channel, said second and third sections including a pair of opposed grooves in said first and second surfaces respectively, said compressible seal being disposed within said channel and conformingly engaging said first and second surfaces, said seal extending into said opposed grooves whereby to be held by said grooves within said channel.

A sunroof assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof thereof, comprising:

• a frame extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a compressible seal on said frame and extending around the periphery of said opening;
• a sunroof panel adapted to overlie said opening in sealing engagement with said seal;
• front and rear, spaced apart means for removeably mounting said panel on said frame and each including latch means for latching the front and rear of said panel in an open, elevated position above said roof;
• substantially planar, air deflecting means extending transversely relative to said roof for deflecting air flowing across said roof through said opening;
• and,
• mounting means pivotally connecting said deflecting member in spaced relationship to the forward edge of said opening for pivotal movement about first and second transversely extending spaced apart axes.

A molding assembly for use in framing the perimeter of an opening formed in a roof sheet of a vehicle to adapt said opening to receive a removable sunroof panel, comprising:

• a first generally planar section adapted to overlay the top of said roof sheets surrounding the perimeter of said opening;
• a second section having a first surface extending downwardly away from said first section at an oblique angle relative to said first section;
• a third section disposed below the roof sheet and having a second surface contiguous with said first surface extending inwardly and away from the perimeter of said opening, said first and second surfaces defining a channel;
• a resilient seal within said channel adapted to engage said sunroof panel;
• a fourth section adjacent the juncture of said first and second sections and including a slot therein extending around the perimeter of said opening, said slot including a ledge therewithin extending in a direction generally away from said third section;
• and
• a retainer strip extending around the perimeter of said opening, said retainer strip including a first portion adapted to underlap the perimeter of a headliner beneath said roof sheet and a second portion extending upwardly away from said first portion and terminating in a hook-shaped configuration within said slot, said hook-shaped configuration being adapted to overlie said ledge within said slot, the edge of said headliner being wedged between said hook-shaped configuration and said ledge whereby to retain the edge of said headliner within said fourth section.