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US 6,669,278 B2Granted
Automotive vehicle roof system having multiple sunroofs
AssigneeASC Incorporated
InventorsJeffrey S. Patelczyk, Gregory M. Beauprez, Christopher C. Dowdey, Bernard W. Schaller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A preferred embodiment of an automotive vehicle roof system includes first, second and third movable sunroof panels. A further aspect of the present invention provides a pair of sunroof panels that are slidable toward each other in a cross-car direction and a third movable sunroof located rearward of at least one of the pair of sunroof panels.
Claims17
An automotive vehicle sunroof system comprising:
- a first sunroof panel having an inboard peripheral edge and an outboard peripheral edge;
- a first mechanism coupled to the first panel, the first mechanism including a scissor linkage being operable to lower the inboard peripheral edge of first panel and a pivoting link being operable to lower the outboard peripheral edge of the first panel when the first panel is slid from a closed position to an open position;
- a second sunroof panel located adjacent the first panel, the second sunroof panel having an inboard peripheral edge and an outboard peripheral edge;
- and
- a second mechanism coupled to the second panel, the second mechanism including a pivoting link, the second mechanism being operable to pivotably lower the inboard peripheral edge of the second panel without substantially lowering the outboard peripheral edge of the second panel when the second panel is operably slid in a substantially linear manner from its closed position to its open position;
- wherein the first and second panels are slid toward each other in opposite directions when moved from their closed positions to their open positions, and the first and second panels overlap each other when in their open positions;
- and
- wherein the mechanisms prevent the panels from being raised substantially vertically above their closed positions.
5 more elements
A sunroof comprising:
- a track having a channel defined in part by an upstanding wall with an aperture, the track being elongated in a first direction;
- a leading element slidable in the channel;
- a member operably pushing and pulling the leading element;
- an arm projecting from the leading element, the arm having a hook projecting in a second direction substantially facing the upstanding wall;
- a trailing element slidable in the channel, the trailing element having a finger substantially projecting in the second direction;
- a linkage assembly coupling the leading element to the trailing element;
- and
- a sunroof panel assembly coupled to the linkage assembly;
- the hook being slidable relative to the trailing element when the linkage operably lowers the sunroof panel assembly and when the finger of the trailing element engages the aperture of the track;
- the hook operably engaging the finger and causing simultaneous movement of the leading and trailing elements when the sunroof panel assembly is moved from a closed position to an open position, and the finger operably disengaging the aperture of the track when the elements move together.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.