Arvin Meritor Technology, LLC

Magna Closures Inc.

Intier Automotive Closures Inc.

David Lawrence Newkirk

Troy Donavan Allan

Robert Brady Mooney

Robert Dickie

Douglas Chester Carson

John E Long

Daniel Cooney

James Nicholson, Jr

A retractable roof assembly () is provided for a motor vehicle () having a rear seat () and spaced apart roof side frame members () defining a roof opening (). The retractable roof assembly () includes a split rail assembly () having a fixed rail () adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the roof side frame members () and extending along a portion thereof, and a movable rail () extending rearward of the fixed rail () along a remaining portion of each of the roof side frame members (). A plurality of roof panels () extends between the roof side frame members () and slidably engages the split rail assembly () for selective movement into a stacked configuration above the movable rail (). A linkage assembly () is operably connected to the movable rail () for pivoting and articulating the movable rail () relative to the fixed rail () when the plurality of roof panels () is in the stacked configuration in order to stow the plurality of roof panels () behind the rear seat () of the motor vehicle () such that the entire roof opening () is exposed.

Panoramic retractable top

A panel assembly for covering and uncovering an opening in a vehicle includes a guide rail extending longitudinally therealong. A panel extends between front and rear edges and is movable relative to the guide rail. A guide mechanism is slidably coupled to the guide rail. A carrier bracket is fixedly secured to the panel and slidably coupled to the guide mechanism. A latch is operatively coupled to the panel and slidably coupled to the guide rail. The latch is operable between a locked position preventing longitudinal movement of the panel and an unlocked position allowing longitudinal movement of the panel. A motor drives the guide mechanism forward along the guide rail moving the panel from a close position to a venting position, and rearward along the guide rail actuating the latch to the unlocked position and moving the panel from the close position to an open position.

Venting spoiler glass moving mechanism

A vehicle sunroof is provided with side shields formed of a mesh material. The side shields prevent inadvertent pinching of an occupant's hand by the mechanism for driving the sunroof panel to move, when the panel is in its vent position. The mesh material allows flow of air into the cab of the vehicle when the panel is in the vent position. The side shield is also formed to have a shape such that the rear end of the side shield extends for a greater length then does the forward end. In this way, the shape of the side shield better matches the pivoting movement of the panel, and there is less unnecessary material which must be accommodated when the sunroof is in its closed position. Also, the side shield has a better visual appearance then does the prior art side shield.

Mesh side shield for vehicle sunroof

Growing community of inventors

Sterling, MI, United States of America

David Lawrence Newkirk