Slidable, foldable, and removable vehicle sunroof
First Claim
1. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle comprising:
- (a) a fixed structure assembly including;
1. a frame attached to the vehicle and having an aperture therein;
2. means for driving a retractable panel assembly to aperture open and aperture closed positions, the driving means affixed to the frame;
(b) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the fixed structure assembly and having aperture open and aperture closed positions, including;
1. a foldable fabric sized to cover the aperture when the panel assembly is in the closed position;
2. a front header attached to the fabric;
3. means for gathering the fabric when the panel assembly is in the aperture open position;
4. a rear header for releasably anchoring the fabric to the fixed roof structure assembly rearward of the front header, at least one of the front header and rear header having means for releasable attachment to the drive means; and
5. means for removal of the retractable panel assembly from the vehicle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible fabric sunroof retracts by means of cable driven guide shoes driving a front header to the open position and thereby moving odd numbered position bows 3 and 5 along horizontal side tracks within the roof. Even numbered position bows 2, 4 and 6 are biased upwardly to lift the slack fabric above the roof plane during retraction. The fabric sunroof may be totally removed from the roof structure to provide for the largest possible roof opening by removal of a rear header attached to the rear roof frame and detachment of the front header from the guide shoes. A wind deflector is provided which is concealed within sunroof when in the closed position.
78 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle comprising:
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(a) a fixed structure assembly including; 1. a frame attached to the vehicle and having an aperture therein; 2. means for driving a retractable panel assembly to aperture open and aperture closed positions, the driving means affixed to the frame; (b) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the fixed structure assembly and having aperture open and aperture closed positions, including; 1. a foldable fabric sized to cover the aperture when the panel assembly is in the closed position; 2. a front header attached to the fabric; 3. means for gathering the fabric when the panel assembly is in the aperture open position; 4. a rear header for releasably anchoring the fabric to the fixed roof structure assembly rearward of the front header, at least one of the front header and rear header having means for releasable attachment to the drive means; and 5. means for removal of the retractable panel assembly from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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13. the guided bows and free bows spaced alternately along the guide track and attached to the top fabric,the guided bows being placed forward of the respective alternative free bows, and
(b) means for attaching the guided bows to the respective free bows, the attachment means including means for biasing the free bows to a position vertically spaced from the guided bows.
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24. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle aperture comprising:
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(A) a fixed structure assembly attachable to the vehicle, the structure having a cavity and means for driving a retractable panel assembly to cover the aperture; the panel driving means including a guide shoe comprising; a. a movable base plate having; 1. a substantially rectangular plate lying in a vertical plane, 2. at least one bearing affixed to the base plate, - View Dependent Claims (28)
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25. a base pin extending from a side of the base plate, andmeans for attachment to a motive source;
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b. a tilt plate having; 1. a vertically extending portion, the vertically extending portion having; i. side legs fittable over the movable base, ii. a rearwardly downwardly extending slot formed therein fitting over the base pin, iii. a bottom flange extendable below the movable base and fittable within the fixed structure assembly cavity, 2. a horizontal portion located above the side legs having means for releasable attachment to a retractable panel assembly, (B) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the driving means and being carried thereon, the panel assembly having; a. a fabric cover, and b. means for folding the fabric cover; and (C) means for removing the panel assembly from the driving means.
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26. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle aperture comprising:
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(a) a frame attachable to the vehicle at the peripheral of the vehicle aperture, (b) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the frame and having aperture open and aperture closed positions, the retractable panel assembly including; 1. a foldable fabric sized to cover the aperture when the panel assembly is in the closed position,
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27. a front header attached to the fabric, the front header having means for attachment to a means for driving the retractable panel,means for gathering the fabric when the panel assembly is in the aperture open position,a rear header anchoring the fabric at a periphery of the vehicle aperture rearward of the front header,
(c) means for driving a retractable panel assembly to aperture open and aperture closed positions, and (d) means for removal of the retractable panel assembly from said frame.
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29. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle aperture comprising:
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(a) a frame attachable to the vehicle at the peripheral of the vehicle aperture, (b) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the frame and having aperture open and aperture closed positions, the retractable panel assembly including;
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30. a foldable fabric sized to cover the aperture when the panel assembly is in the closed position,a front header attached to the fabric, the front header having means for attachment to a means for driving the retractable panel, the means for attachment being releasable,means for gathering the fabric when the panel assembly is in the aperture open position,a rear header anchoring the fabric at a periphery of the vehicle aperture rearward of the front header,
(c) means for driving a retractable panel assembly to aperture open and aperture closed positions, and (d) means for removal of the retractable panel assembly from the vehicle.
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31. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle aperture comprising:
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(a) a frame attachable to the vehicle at the peripheral of the vehicle aperture, (b) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the frame and having aperture open and aperture closed positions, the retractable panel assembly including; 1. a foldable fabric sized to cover the aperture when the panel assembly is in the closed position,
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32. a front header attached to the fabric, the front header having means for attachment to a means for driving the retractable panel,means for gathering the fabric when the panel assembly is in the aperture open position,a rear header anchoring the fabric at a periphery of the vehicle aperture rearward of the front header, the rear header having a means for releasably anchoring the fabric to the aperture periphery.
(c) means for driving a retractable panel assembly to aperture open and aperture closed positions, and (d) means for removal of the retractable panel assembly from the vehicle.
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33. A slidable, foldable, removable fabric cover device for a vehicle aperture comprising:
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(a) a frame attachable to the vehicle at the peripheral of the vehicle aperture; (b) a retractable panel assembly attachable to the frame and having aperture open and aperture closed positions, the retractable panel assembly including; (1) a foldable fabric sized to cover the aperture when the panel assembly is in the closed position; (2) a front header attached to the fabric, the front header having means for attachment to a means for driving the retractable panel; (3) means for gathering the fabric when the panel assembly is in the aperture open position; (4) a rear header anchoring the fabric at a periphery of the vehicle aperture rearward of the front header; (c) means for driving a retractable panel assembly to aperture open and aperture closed positions; (d) means for removal of the retractable panel assembly from the vehicle; and (e) a wind deflector blade attached to the frame having an operable upwardly deflected position when the retractable panel assembly is in an aperture open position, and a stowed position wherein the wind deflector blade is stowed within a front header when the retractable panel assembly is in an aperture closed position.
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Specification