Aisin Technical Center of America, Inc.

Jacob Grimaldo

Michael Mixon

Joel T Runyan

Micah Wedekind

Chanli Ke

Tatsuya Matsui

Shintaro Katsura

Ryan Heins

Sunroof drive apparatus and related sunroof assemblies for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed assembly includes a sunroof panel, a rail, a guide block attached to part of the rail, a bracket beneath the sunroof panel, a link in the rail removably connected to the guide block, and a drive shoe in the rail slidably coupled to the link. The drive shoe includes first and second slots to receive respective first and second pins of the link. The link can rotate about a rotation axis from a first orientation in which the link is inseparable from the guide block to a target orientation in which the link is separable from the guide block. When the first pin enters a locking area at an end of the first slot, the drive shoe imparts one or more loads on the first pin that urge the link into the target orientation.

Sunroof drive apparatus and related sunroof assemblies for use with vehicles

A weather seal system is provided for sealing a perimeter of a vehicle sunroof. The system includes a mounting base having an outboard first channel, and an inboard second channel spaced apart from, and extending generally parallel to, the outboard first channel. At least two connecting portions are positioned between and connecting the first and second channels. A spine is supported by the at least two connecting portions so as to reside above the first and second channels when the mounting base is mounted on a vehicle. The spine extends generally parallel to the outboard first channel. At least a first and a second opposed weather strip retention projections extend from respective opposite first and second sides of the spine. A weather strip is structured to engage the opposed first and second weather strip retention projections so as to secure the weather strip to the spine.

Weather seal system for a vehicle sunroof

A motor assembly for a sunroof system is provided with a motor cover to prevent water intrusion. The motor assembly includes a motor including a motor yoke, a connector electrically connected to the motor, a central portion including a pinion gear rotated by the motor, and a motor cover. The motor cover includes a motor yoke cover that covers the motor yoke, a central cover that covers the central portion, and a connector cover that covers the connector, the motor cover configured to prevent water in the central portion from entering the motor yoke and the connector.

Water blocking motor cover for a sunroof system

A perimeter frame for a sunshade module includes a sunshade opening, a guiderail, and a housing. The guiderail includes an end face, and a guideway, a mounting flange, and an attachment channel extending therefrom. The guideway opens inwardly to the sunshade opening, the mounting flange projects outwardly away from the sunshade opening, and the attachment channel opens downwardly from therebetween. The housing includes a guiderail adaptor. The guiderail adaptor is inserted into the attachment channel, secured to the attachment channel using a fastener installed from above the attachment channel, and engages the attachment channel from below.

Perimeter frame for a sunshade module

An assembly for a sunroof can include a rail extending in a length direction of a vehicle, a bracket beneath a sunroof panel, an adapter coupled to the bracket, and a drive mechanism connected to a part of the bracket. Movement of the drive mechanism along the rail moves the bracket between a first position in which the sunroof is closed and a second position in which the sunroof is open. A catch device can slide along the rail relative to the adapter and includes a channel extending through a structure of the catch device to receive the adapter when the bracket is in the first position. When the adapter is in the channel, the structure is configured to engage the adapter to maintain the bracket in the first position and resist deflection of the bracket.

Sunroof catch apparatus and related sunroof assemblies for use with vehicles

A disclosed assembly includes a rail and an inner seal fixedly coupled to the rail that is arranged along a length of the rail. The inner seal includes a flap hiding a part of the rail adjacent the flap from view in a vehicle cabin. A shoe slidably coupled to the rail adjacent the flap is movable along the rail to open or close a sunshade held by the shoe. A channel extending through the shoe receives the flap. The shoe is engaged with a first segment of the flap folded in the channel while a second segment of the flap external to the channel is unfolded. Movement of the shoe causing the second segment to pass into the channel and fold therein as the first segment exits the channel and unfolds to prevent the part of the rail from being exposed.

Sunroof seal apparatus and related sunroof assemblies for use with vehicles

Dual panel sunroof systems and apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed sunroof for a vehicle includes a first bracket movable along a rail and coupled to a first panel. The sunroof also includes a second bracket movable along the rail and coupled to a second panel. The sunroof also includes an actuator configured to move the first or second bracket. Movement of the first bracket is to position the first panel over the second panel. Movement of the second bracket is to position the second panel over the first panel. The sunroof also includes a central guide block operatively interposed between the first and second brackets to guide movement thereof. The central guide block configured to apply a resistance to at least a first end of the first bracket to enable the actuator to raise or lower the first panel.

Dual panel sunroof systems and apparatus for use with vehicles

Tensioner apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs are disclosed. A disclosed assembly for a vehicle sunroof includes a sunshade tensioner defining a body that is configured to engage a sunshade of the vehicle sunroof to prevent the sunshade from wrinkling. The assembly also includes a first tab supported by a first component of the vehicle sunroof. The first tab is configured to extend through a first aperture positioned on the body to removably couple a first end of the body to the first support component.

Tensioner apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs

A holding assembly in a vehicle sunroof includes: a housing; a sunroof panel; a rail extending in a front-rear direction of the sunroof, the sunroof panel being slideably connected to the rail; a rail guide extending in the front-rear direction and including a rail channel extending a length of the rail guide from a first end of the rail guide to a second end of the rail guide; and a front wall extending in the front-rear direction and including a support arm and a lateral restrictor, wherein the support arm extends towards the rail guide and below the rail channel at the second end of the rail guide, and the lateral restrictor has a planar shape parallel to the length of the rail guide, is attached to the support arm, and is in contact with an exterior face of the rail channel at the second end of the rail guide.

Holding assembly for a sunroof rail system

Drain apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs are disclosed. A disclosed assembly for a vehicle sunroof includes a sunshade axle configured to receive a sunshade. The assembly also includes a sunroof drain supported by a component of the vehicle sunroof and configured to convey a fluid away from the vehicle sunroof. The sunroof drain includes a body that defines a fluid cavity and a bracket coupled to the body. The bracket is configured to hold the sunshade axle.

Drain apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs

Drive link apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs are disclosed herein. An example assembly for a vehicle sunroof includes a drive shoe. The drive shoe is movable along a rail and includes a ramp portion positioned thereon. The assembly also includes a drive link that is rotatably coupled to the drive shoe and supports a panel. The drive link includes a guide portion that is positioned thereon and configured to slidably engage the ramp portion to prevent the drive link from rotating during a sunroof operation. The guide portion includes an extension that is positioned thereon and interposed between the drive shoe and a guide block. The extension is configured to slidably engage the drive shoe, the ramp portion, or the guide block to prevent the drive link from twisting during the sunroof operation.

Drive link apparatus for use with vehicle sunroofs

A guide assembly in a vehicle sunroof includes: a housing including a lock feature; a sunroof panel; a rail, wherein the sunroof panel is slideably connected to the rail; and a rail guide extending in a front-rear direction and including a rail channel extending a length of the rail guide, wherein the rail channel is closed at a first end of the rail guide adjacent to the housing, the rail channel is open at a second end of the rail guide adjacent to the rail, and the rail channel is connected to the rail at the second end and receives the slideably connected sunroof panel, and the first end of the rail guide slides under the lock feature.

Sunroof rail guide assembly

An articulable sunroof wind deflector system for a vehicle an upper member, a mesh portion affixed on a first side to the upper member, a lower member affixed to a second side of the mesh portion, the lower member having, a member front portion, a pair of arms that protrudes from the member front portion, and a housing affixed to the vehicle, the housing having a housing front portion to receive the member front portion, and a pair of shoulder to receive the pair of arms, wherein the pair of arms can slide and rotate around the pair of shoulders to guide the member front portion onto the housing front portion.

Growing community of inventors

Northville, MI, United States of America

Jacob Grimaldo