Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Karl Simon Shargabian

James Francis Collins

Joseph F Koral

Ervin H Strem, Jr

In a preferred embodiment, a dual panel vehicle rear closure assembly is actuated by a cable drive assembly. Cables push a rear panel upward from a closed position to a second position above the roof. The cables may then push both panels forward toward a third position to open a rear opening in the roof. A motor pushes the cables through channels to slide the rear panel. Free ends of cables are guided into cable return tubes. Compression assist springs in the tubes are compressed by the cables when the rear panel is in its closed position and provide a counterbalance force to assist in opening the panel. The compression springs may be shorter than the full cable. The shorter springs can be made stronger for applying the balancing forces to the lower portion of the panel travel.

Counterbalanced rear closure for a vehicle

A vehicle body sunroof includes a vehicle body roof panel having a roof opening defined by a downward facing flange of the roof panel. A rectangular carrier frame, preferably of plastic construction, has an outer peripheral edge portion which underlies the downward facing body flange and an inner peripheral edge portion which faces upwardly into the roof opening and defines a sunroof opening in the carrier frame. A roof panel seal is mounted on the outer portion of the carrier frame and is adapted for vertically compressed sealing engagement with the downward facing body flange. A closure panel, preferably of glass, is smaller than the roof panel opening and has a peripheral edge portion adapted to overlie the inner portion of the carrier frame in sealing engagement with a closure panel seal mounted on the inner portion of the carrier frame. One end of the closure panel is connected to the carrier frame by a hinge and the other end is connected by a toggle linkage which selectively pivots the closure panel to a pivotally raised ventilator position or latches the closure panel in a closed position vertically compressing the closure panel seal. An operating mechanism including a track mounted on the body beneath the roof panel moves the carrier frame between a vertically raised closed position vertically compressing the seal vertically against the downward facing body flange and a stored position moved longitudinally of the roof opening so that the roof opening is opened for air communication with the outdoors.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Karl Simon Shargabian