Empire Automotive, Inc.

Other

David C Shifflett

Louis E Hough

Walter J De Vigili

A removable sunroof panel adapted to be mounted in overlying relationship in an opening in the roof of a vehicle includes front and rear mounting assemblies which allow either or both the front and rear of the panel to be held in an open position above the vehicle's roof. Each of the mounting assemblies includes a lever handle pivotally connected to the sunroof panel and a latching assembly for receiving and locking the lever handle in a plurality of positions. A frame molding mounted in the sunroof opening includes a first section overlying the roof, and second and third sections below the roof defining a channel for receiving a resilient seal against which the roof panel seats; the second and third sections include a pair of opposed grooves for captivating a pair of ribs in the seal to retain the seal in the channel. An air deflector mounted adjacent the leading edge of the sunroof opening in spaced relation to the leading edge and serves as a deflector for either directing air through the opening into the vehicle or preventing wind buffeting noise.

Removable sunroof for vehicles

A detachable sunroof panel is adapted to be secured within an opening formed in the roof of an automobile. The securement is carried out by a system of latches, all of which act on the panel to compress a resilient seal member extending about the periphery of the opening between the roof panel and a lip portion formed on a frame secured within the opening. The latch system includes a latch-handle mechanism located at the rear edge of the panel comprised of an overcenter linkage which may also be detached for removal of the sunroof panel. The latch-handle may be moved to a latched position, or to a second vent position allowing movement of the rear portion of the sunroof panel upwardly to create a vent opening. The latch system further includes a pair of latch-hinges located along the front edge of the panel, each of which also comprise a releasable overcenter linkage adapted to compress the peripheral seal in the secured or locked position and upon release allow detachment and removal of the sunroof panel. The hinging action required in the vent position of the panel is created while the latch-hinges are in the locked position by deflection of the frame lip and latch-hinges such that a biasing closing force is imposed on the sunroof panel in the vent position to tightly position the panel preventing rattle or loosening of the components.

Detachable sunroof for automobiles

A detachable sunroof panel is adapted to be secured within an opening formed in the roof of an automobile. The securement is carried out by a system of latches, all of which act on the panel to compress a resilient seal member extending about the periphery of the opening between the roof panel and a lip portion formed on a frame secured within the opening. The latch system includes a latch-handle mechanism located at the rear edge of the panel comprised of an overcenter linkage which may also be detached for removal of the sunroof panel. The latch-handle may be moved to a latched position, or to a second vent position allowing movement of the rear portion of the sunroof panel upwardly to create a vent opening. The latch system further includes a pair of latch-hinges located along the front edge of the panel, each of which also comprise a releasable overcenter linkage adapted to compress the peripheral seal in the secured or locked position and upon release allow detachment and removal of the sunroof panel. The hinging action requred in the vent position of the panel is created while the latch-hinges are in the locked position by deflection of the frame lip and latch-hinges such that a biasing closing force is imposed on the sunroof panel in the vent position to tightly position the panel preventing rattle or loosening of the components.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

David C Shifflett