Retractable backlight apparatus for vehicles

A retractable backlight for a vehicle having a roof structure with a rear window opening comprising:

• a backlight panel for closing the rear opening in the roof structure;
• panel members mounted in the vehicle on opposed sides of the backlight panel;
• a substantially vertically extending track formed in each panel member;
• the guide track having a first straight section and a second upper, curved section;
• the straight and curved sections defining means for guiding the backlight panel into engagement with the roof structure of the vehicle when in the raised position to close the rear window opening in the vehicle structure and to retract the backlight panel into a substantially vertical orientation within the interior of the body;
• roller means connected to the backlight panel and movable along the guide tracks for controlling movement of the backlight panel;
• and
• a first link connected to the roller means for moving the roller means and the backlight panel connected thereto between the raised and retracted positions.

A retractable backlight for a vehicle having a roof structure with a rear window opening comprising:

• first and second panels mounted within the vehicle on opposite sides of the backlight panel;
• arcuate guides formed on each of the first and second panel members;
• drive belts slidingly movable along the guides on each of the panels and connected at one end to the bottom of the backlight panel;
• drive means for driving the drive belts;
• guide tracks formed on the roof structure of the vehicle on opposite sides of the rear window opening;
• and
• arms connected to the backlight panel for sliding movement within the guide tracks to control movement of the upper end of the backlight panel between a raised position closing the rear window opening and a retracted substantially vertically extending position within the interior of the vehicle.