# US 7,410,198 B1 · Automotive vehicle with repositionable D-pillar roof structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,410,198 B1 - Document ID: US7410198B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/162,771 - Filed: 2005-09-22 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-22 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Lawrence Queener; Henry W. Hausler; Andrew Sarkisian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7410198B1 ## CPC - B60P 3/423: {from transport of persons to transport of goods} - B60J 1/17: vertically - B60J 7/04: with rigid plate-like element or elements {, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels (B60J7/061 takes precedence)} - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract An automotive vehicle body includes a tailgate and a repositionable D-pillar structure which is slidingly engaged with the body and movable from a first position adjacent the tailgate to a second position forward of the tailgate. A sliding backlite may either be retracted within the tailgate or carried upon and moved with the D-pillar structure. In one embodiment, quarter window panels, which may be either glass or other types of solid panels, are positionable within either the window openings of the D-pillar roof structure or within housings contained within the vehicle's quarter panels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automotive vehicle body, comprising: a plurality of passenger access doors; opposing quarter panels extending rearwardly from the location of at least two of said access doors; a tailgate attached to a trailing portion of said body adjacent the most rearward portions of said quarter panels; a repositionable D-pillar structure slidingly engaged with said quarter panels and movable along said quarter panels from a first position adjacent said tailgate to a second position forward of said tailgate; and a sliding backlite having at least a first position in which said backlite is retracted within said tailgate and a second position in which the backlite is carried upon and movable with said D-pillar structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of quarter window panels, with each of said panels having a first position within a window opening in said D-pillar structure and a second position within a housing contained in a mating one of said quarter panels at a location above a roadwheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An automotive body according to claim 2, wherein said quarter window panels comprise a plurality of generally horizontal glazing panels having a first position in which said panels are stacked vertically in one of said window openings and a second position in which said panels are stored side-by-side within a housing contained within one of said quarter panels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, wherein said backlite is sealingly engaged with a bulkhead within said body when said D-pillar structure is in said second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An automotive body according to claim 4, wherein said bulkhead comprises a second row of seats within said body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An automotive body according to claim 5, wherein each of said seats is independently operable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, further comprising a slidable roof panel mounted within said D-pillar structure and slidable upon a first set of tracks formed in said D-pillar structure and a second set of tracks formed in a fixed roof panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, further comprising a slidable roof panel mounted within said D-pillar structure and slidable upon a single set of tracks formed in a fixed roof panel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, wherein said D-pillar structure is mounted upon a first set of tracks carried by said quarter panels and a second set of tracks carried by a fixed roof panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, further comprising a portable window drive mechanism for positioning said sliding backlite, with said portable drive mechanism being selectively carried upon either said tailgate or said D-pillar structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An automotive body according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of quarter window panels which slide telescopically and horizontally as said D-pillar moves slidingly along said quarter panels. ### Claim 12 An automotive vehicle body, comprising: a plurality of passenger access doors; opposing quarter panels extending rearwardly from the locations of at least two of said access doors; a tailgate attached to said body adjacent the trailing portions of said quarter panels; a motor-driven, repositionable D-pillar roof structure slidingly engaged with said quarter panels and with a fixed roof panel, with said D-pillar roof structure being movable from a first position adjacent said tailgate to a second position forward of said tailgate; a motor-driven backlite having at least an open position in which said backlite is retracted within said tailgate, a closed position in which the backlite extends between said tailgate and said D-pillar structure, and a traveling position in which the backlite is released from said tailgate and carried upon and translationally movable with said D-pillar structure; and a plurality of motor-driven retractable quarter window panels, with each of said panels having a first position within a window opening in said D-pillar structure and a second position within a mating one of said quarter panels at a location above a roadwheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An automotive body according to claim 12, further comprising a slidable roof panel mounted within said D-pillar structure and slidable upon a first set of tracks formed in said D-pillar structure and a second set of tracks formed in a fixed roof panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) An automotive body according to claim 12, wherein said slidable roof panel is operable in a first mode in which said slidable roof panel moves independently from said D-pillar structure, as well as in a second mode, in which slidable roof panel moves with said D-pillar structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) An automotive body according to claim 12, further comprising a slidable roof panel mounted within said pillar structure and slidable upon a set of tracks carried externally of said body upon a fixed roof panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) An automotive body according to claim 12, wherein said quarter window panels comprise glazing panels. ### Claim 17 A method for operating a sliding D-pillar roof structure in an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: raising a backlite from a tailgate and into an immobilized position within a sliding D-pillar roof structure; lowering a plurality of generally horizontal quarter window panels from positions within said D-pillar roof structure and into stored positions within housings contained within opposing quarter panels above roadwheels associated with said quarter panels; and sliding said D-pillar roof structure, incorporating said backlite, forwardly upon a first set of tracks carried by said quarter panels and a second set of tracks carried by a fixed roof panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein said backlite is raised from said tailgate and into an immobilized position within said sliding D-pillar roof structure by means of a portable backlite drive module carried selectively upon said sliding D-pillar structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein said quarter window panels comprise glazing panels.