Webasto-Werk W. Baier Gmbh & Co.

Erich Handler

Walter Schatzler

A sliding panel device for a cutout in a vehicle body panel, such as a sliding top of an automobile roof, of the type having a sliding panel that is movable between open and closed positions, a headliner displaceable between open and closed positions, a drive cable attached to the sliding panel for displacing the sliding panel and a stationary cantilevered guide for slidably guiding the movement of the cable is improved by the provision of a support attached to the headliner for supporting the cantilevered end of the stationary guide, the support being slidably engageable therewith. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support supports the guide at at least a pushed-back open position thereof. Furthermore, according to one preferred embodiment the support is a tubular bearing member which surrounds the guide with a sliding seat, while in another preferred embodiment the support is constituted by a longitudinal groove in the top side of the headliner, at least one sliding block being connected to the guide and engaging this groove.

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Starnberg, Germany

Erich Handler