Automotive vehicle open air system
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorsGeorge A. Corder, James E. Tousignant, Bernard W. Schaller, Christopher H. Purcell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automotive vehicle open air system includes a pair of vehicle side frames, one or more movement mechanisms, a back window assembly and an automatic actuator. In another aspect of the present invention, an automotive vehicle includes a front header panel, first and second vehicle side frames, first and second tracks, a sunroof panel, a back window panel and an electrical system operable to coordinate movement of the sunroof panel and the back window panel.
Claims25
An automotive vehicle system comprising:
- first and second vehicle side frames extending in a substantially fore-and-aft direction;
- at least one movement mechanism coupled to the side frames, the movement mechanism including an elongated and substantially flexible member;
- a back window assembly coupled to the movement mechanism, the back window assembly being located substantially between the side frames;
- an automatic actuator energizable to drive the movement mechanism and the back window assembly between a closed position and an open position, the back window open position being substantially horizontal and higher than the closed position;
- energization of the actuator operably causing the substantially flexible member to move relative to the first side frame which further causes the back window assembly to move relative to the side frames;
- and
- a sunroof panel movable between a closed position and an open position, the sunroof closed position being located substantially in front of and substantially flush with the back window assembly when the back window assembly is in its closed position.
An automotive vehicle system comprising:
- first and second vehicle side frames extending in a substantially fore-and-aft direction, an elongated track affixed to the first side frame;
- an elongated and substantially flexible member;
- a back window assembly located substantially between the side frames;
- an elongated bracket secured to the back window assembly and movably engaging an undercut of the track;
- an automatic actuator energizable to drive the bracket and the back window assembly between a closed position and an open position, the back window open position being substantially horizontal and higher than the closed position;
- and
- energization of the actuator operably causing the substantially flexible member to move relative to the first side frame which further causes the back window assembly to move relative to the side frames.
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a front header panel extending in a substantially cross-car direction;
- first and second vehicle side frames extending in a substantially fore-and-aft direction, the side frames being stationarily coupled to the front header panel;
- first and second tracks affixed to the respective side frames;
- a sunroof panel spanning between the side frames and being movably coupled to the tracks;
- a back window panel movably coupled to the tracks, the entire back window panel being slidable along the tracks;
- and
- an electrical system operable to coordinate movement of the sunroof panel and the back window panel;
- the sunroof panel being located below the back window panel when at least one of the panels is moved from a first position to a second position in response to a signal from the control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.