IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,583,297
Granted Patent B2
US 12,583,297 · App. 18/346,562 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Roof structure for vehicle

Inventors: SunKi Choi (Hwaseong-si, KR); Yujeong Kim (Yongin-si, KR); Ji Won Chang (Seoul, KR); Inbum Lee (Seoul, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
B60J7/11B60J7/0435B60R11/02B60R2011/0028B60R2011/0084B60R2011/0085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,583,297
App. No.
18/346,562
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment roof structure for a vehicle includes a roof rail assembly configured to be connected to side structures disposed on both sides of a vehicle body, the roof rail assembly including an opening defined therein, a removable roof panel detachably provided in a first section of an area of the roof rail assembly, the first section including an edge region of the opening, and a fixed roof panel connected to a second section of the area, the second section being outside the first section.

Claims (53)

1 . A roof structure for a vehicle, the roof structure comprising:

a roof rail assembly configured to be connected to side structures disposed on both sides of a vehicle body, the roof rail assembly comprising an opening defined therein;

a guide rail portion provided along a predetermined section of the roof rail assembly;

a rail slot in the guide rail portion;

a removable roof panel detachably provided in a first section of an area of the roof rail assembly, the first section comprising an edge region of the opening; and

a fixed roof panel connected to a second section of the area, the second section being outside the first section wherein the roof rail assembly comprises a concave forming part in the second section.

2 . The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein:

the second section is connected with the fixed roof panel by a weld; and

a first closed cross-section is defined between the concave forming part and the fixed roof panel.

3 . The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the removable roof panel comprises:

a lower panel engaged with the first section; and

an upper panel connected by a weld to the lower panel to define a second closed cross-section.

4 . The roof structure of claim 3 , further comprising a weld nut in the lower panel, wherein the weld nut engages with an engage bolt that penetrates the first section.

5 . The roof structure of claim 1 , wherein the roof rail assembly comprises:

a pair of transverse direction rail bodies connected to the side structures along a vehicle width direction; and

a pair of longitudinal direction rail bodies connected to the pair of transverse direction rail bodies along a front to rear direction of the vehicle body.

6 . The roof structure of claim 5 , wherein the roof rail assembly defines the opening between the pair of transverse direction rail bodies and the pair of longitudinal direction rail bodies.

7 . The roof structure of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member connected to an edge portion of the removable roof panel to seal between the removable roof panel and the fixed roof panel.

8 . A roof structure for a vehicle, the roof structure comprising:

a roof rail assembly configured to be connected to side structures disposed on both sides of a vehicle body, the roof rail assembly comprising an opening defined therein;

a guide rail portion provided along a predetermined section of the roof rail assembly;

a rail slot in the guide rail portion;

a removable roof panel detachably provided in a first section of an area of the roof rail assembly, wherein the first section comprises an edge region of the opening; and

a fixed roof panel connected to a second section of the area, the second section being outside the first section.

9 . The roof structure of claim 8 , further comprising:

a pair of bearing assemblies provided on the guide rail portion and configured to slide through the rail slot; and

a link member rotatably connected to the pair of bearing assemblies, respectively.

10 . The roof structure of claim 9 , wherein the link member comprises a pair of link slots spaced apart from each other along a length direction to allow the pair of bearing assemblies to move in a slidable manner.

11 . The roof structure of claim 9 , wherein the link member is equipped with a user experience product.

12 . The roof structure of claim 8 , wherein the guide rail portion and the rail slot are provided in a front or a rear portion of the roof rail assembly along a front to rear direction of the vehicle body.

13 . The roof structure of claim 8 , further comprising a sealing member connected to an edge portion of the removable roof panel to seal between the removable roof panel and the fixed roof panel.

14 . A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a pair of side structures coupled to both sides of the vehicle body, respectively, the pair of side structures extending in a front to rear direction of the vehicle body;

a roof rail assembly connected to upper portions of each of the pair of side structures, wherein an opening is defined in the roof rail assembly;

a guide rail portion provided along a predetermined section of the roof rail assembly;

a rail slot in the guide rail portion;

a removable roof panel detachably provided in a first section of an area of the roof rail assembly, the first section comprising an edge region of the opening; and

a fixed roof panel connected to a second section of the area, the second section being outside the first section.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein:

the roof rail assembly comprises a concave forming part in the second section;

the second section is connected with the fixed roof panel by a weld; and

a first closed cross-section is defined between the concave forming part and the fixed roof panel.

16 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the removable roof panel comprises:

a lower panel engaged with the first section; and

an upper panel connected by a weld to the lower panel to define a second closed cross-section.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising:

a weld nut in the lower panel; and

an engage bolt penetrating the first section, wherein the weld nut is engaged with the engage bolt.

18 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the roof rail assembly comprises:

a pair of transverse direction rail bodies connected to the side structures along a vehicle width direction; and

a pair of longitudinal direction rail bodies connected to the pair of transverse direction rail bodies along the front to rear direction of the vehicle body, wherein the opening is defined between the pair of transverse direction rail bodies and the pair of longitudinal direction rail bodies.

19 . The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a sealing member connected to an edge portion of the removable roof panel to seal between the removable roof panel and the fixed roof panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: CHOI, SUNKI; KIM, YUJEONG; CHANG, JI WON; LEE, INBUM
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064140/0256 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0144934 · Nov 3, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240149649A1 · May 9, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 4601511A · Nakamura · 1986 [cited by examiner]
US 4767154A · Okamoto · 1988 [cited by examiner]
US 6877796B2 · Kimura · 2005 [cited by examiner]