American Sunroof Corporation

Skytrends, Inc.

Richard D George

Milton C Kaltz

David C Garascia

Barney J Bauer

Gary L VanHulle

Edward M Chojnowski

William A Sims

A modular sliding roof panel assembly for a vehicle having an opening in the roof. The sliding roof panel assembly includes a movable roof panel having front and rear guide shoes engaging guide tracks mounted to an integrally formed plastic housing affixed to the interior side of the vehicle roof. Guide blocks secured to the longitudinal edges of the movable roof panel have cam tracks formed therein which are engaged by a cam follower mounted on the rear guide shoes to lower the rear edge of the movable roof panel below the stationary roof of the vehicle as the roof panel slides to the open position and to raise the rear edge of the roof panel above the stationary roof structure when the movable roof panel is pivoted about the front end. A water trough extending transversely across the rear edge of the housing is connected to the front guide shoes for sliding movement therewith. A detector for detecting the position of the movable roof panel is connected to a drive unit and actuator switches for controlling the movement of the movable roof panel between sliding and flip-up modes of operation.

Sliding roof panel assembly

A pivotal roof vent panel apparatus includes a frame adapted to be secured to the periphery of an opening in the roof of a vehicle to support a pivotal roof vent panel therein. The roof vent panel is pivotally disposed within the frame for pivotal movement about a front edge. A two part latch is connected to the rear edge of the roof vent panel at one end and is releasably connected to the frame at the other end. The latch acts as an over-center toggle linkage which forces the roof vent panel into secure engagement with the frame in a closed position and pivots the rear edge of the roof vent panel upward to a partially opened, venting position. A locking arrangement is carried by the latch for securely locking the latch in the extended, venting position.

Pivotal roof vent panel apparatus

An adjustable and releasable locking device for a removable vehicle roof panel is disclosed. A rotating lever longitudinally projects a pair of tapered pins which mate with apertures in the windshield post and headliner. The transverse and vertical position of the tapered pins is adjustable to position the panel relative to other parts of the vehicle and provide a smooth transition between the vehicle roof and the removable panel and provide an adequate seal between the vehicle and the removable panel.

Positioning device for removable vehicle roof panels

Growing community of inventors

Brownstown, MI, United States of America

Richard D George