Arvin Meritor Technology, LLC

Intier Automotive Closures Inc.

Meritor Light Vehicle Systems, Inc.

John E Long

Troy Donavan Allan

Daniel Cooney

Hyong Chol Park

Karim Dayoub

Bryan Tice

Roch J Tolinski

Steven John Engelgau

Joachim Roeder

Robert Brady Mooney

Robert Dickie

David Lawrence Newkirk

Douglas Chester Carson

Gregory Kerwin

John Raasakka

Michael Cherry

Keith Roberts

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 movable panel assembly includes a panel movable between open and closed positions and also movable to a vented position. In the vented position a mesh member attached on one side to the panel and on another side to a guide or gutter structure extends to substantially cover the opening. The mesh member is flexible and collapses with the gutter guide assembly. The mesh member inhibits the intrusion of water into the passenger compartment and reduces wind noise.

Roof wind deflector/rain protector

A water management system of the present invention provides a sunroof drain member formed as a continuous piece. The drain member supports a sunroof guide track, and removes water from the guide track and sunroof area. The sunroof guide track is secured to the drain member by a plurality of interlocking features. By forming the interlocking features as integral parts of the guide track and drain member this prevents leakage in weakening in the areas where fastening devices would otherwise need to be attached.

One piece plastic water management system for sunroof

A vehicle roof panel assembly comprises a vehicle roof panel and a track to receive the vehicle roof panel. The track has a track link and a track width. A guide is connected to the panel and slides on the track and has a portion that is selectively alterable between a first dimension and a second dimension less than the first dimension. A cable connected to the guide moves the vehicle panel along the track length and may actuate the guide portion between the first dimension and the second dimension. A drive unit is connected to the cable.

Friction reducing sunroof mechanism

A sunshade for a roof assembly in a vehicle includes a substrate having a plurality of tube members arranged parallel to each other. The axes of the tube members are positioned at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the substrate. The oblique orientation reduces the amount of light flow into the vehicle through the opening across which the sunshade extends. In one example, polygonal tube members establish a honeycomb-like structure that is rigid and self-supporting. The inventive sunshade allows for reduced light transmission through an opening in a vehicle while still allowing ventilation through that opening.

Sunshade for a vehicle

A vehicle roof closure assembly is movable between open and closed positions. A wind deflector is biased to an extended position at which it extends vertically upwardly of a forward portion of an aperture. The wind deflector serves to deflect wind away from the cab of a vehicle. However, when the closure member is moved to its closed position, it contacts and forces the wind deflector to a stowed position. The present invention reduces the complexity of wind deflector structures.

Simplified wind deflector for vehicle roof closure

Growing community of inventors

Highland, MI, United States of America

John E Long