IP Library Granted Patent US 7,044,539
Granted Patent B2
US 7,044,539 · App. 10/880,434 · Granted May 16, 2006

Motor vehicle roof

Assignee: Open Air Systems GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,044,539
App. No.
10/880,434
Granted
May 16, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motor vehicle roof is provided which includes a cover which can be moved into a raised position at its rear edge by a carriage which can be moved along guide rails in interaction with a cover carrier connected to the cover via a crank arrangement. The crank arrangement has at least one crank path and at least one sliding element which fits into the crank arrangement. For simple and reliable support of the cover in all phases, the crank arrangement preferably includes at least two crank paths and two sliding elements, wherein the crank paths are shaped and arranged such that when the carriage moves, a first sliding element assumes support of the cover in the direction of the height of the vehicle roof (Z-direction), while a second sliding element applies support in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle (X-direction). As the carriage continues to be displaced, a reversal of the supporting action of the two sliding elements occurs.

Claims (18)

1. A motor vehicle roof, comprising:

a cover having a rear edge and movable into a raised position at said rear edge;

a carriage for moving the cover into the raised position;

a cover carrier connected to the cover, and the carriage being connected to the cover carrier via a guide arrangement, said carriage being moveable along a guide rail in interaction with the cover carrier, said guide arrangement having at least two guide paths and first and second sliding elements which fit into respective guide paths, said at least two guide paths being shaped and arranged to cause said first sliding element to support the cover in the direction of the height of the vehicle roof (Z-direction) upon movement of the carriage, while also causing the second sliding element to apply support to the cover in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle (X-direction), wherein the direction of the support provided by said first and said second sliding elements is substantially reversed upon further displacement of the carriage by a substantial reversal of the orientation of the first and second sliding elements with respect to each other.

2. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein at least one guide path of said at least two guide paths is made on the carriage.

3. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein at least one guide path of said at least two guide paths is made on the guide rail.

4. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein said first and said second sliding elements are pivotally supported on the cover carrier.

5. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second sliding elements are located in a front area of the cover carrier.

6. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein said at least two guide paths for the first sliding element and the second sliding element cross in a projection in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle (Y-direction).

7. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein the guide arrangement further includes a third sliding element guided in a third guide path.

8. The motor vehicle roof of claim 7 , wherein the third sliding element is located in a rear area of the cover carrier.

9. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 , wherein the first sliding element ( 8 ) and the second sliding element ( 9 ) are provided on different sides of the cover carrier.

10. A motor vehicle roof, comprising:

a cover having a rear edge and movable into a raised position at said rear edge;

a carriage for moving the cover into the raised position;

a cover carrier connected to the cover via a guide arrangement, said carriage moveable along guide rails in interaction with the cover carrier, said guide arrangement having at least one guide path and at least one sliding element which fits into said at least one guide path, wherein said at least one sliding element is pivotally supported to change from an essentially vertical position into an essentially horizontal position when moved in the at least one guide path;

wherein said at least one sliding element includes a first sliding element and a second sliding element supported such that, when moved in respective guide paths, the first sliding element changes from the essentially vertical position into the essentially horizontal position, while at the same time the second sliding element changes in an opposite direction from the essentially horizontal position into the essentially vertical position.

11. The motor vehicle roof of claim 10 , wherein the cover carrier is shaped to close a resulting triangular gap (S) when the cover is raised as a lateral screen.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 15, 2014
From: WEBASTO AG
To: WEBASTO SE
Reel/Frame 032693/0463 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 11, 2014
From: OPEN AIR SYSTEMS GMBH
To: WEBASTO AG
Reel/Frame 032664/0577 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2004
From: ETTL, WOLFGANG; REIHL, PETER; WAGNER, ADAM; GRAETER, NIKO
To: OPEN AIR SYSTEMS GMBH
Reel/Frame 015888/0386 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 103 29 536 · Jun 30, 2003 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050023868A1 · Feb 3, 2005