US5775769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor vehicle roof
Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
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Filing: 1996-04-01
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2016-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A motor vehicle roof with a cover (3) which can be activated by means of cover mechanism (6) and which selectively closes an opening (2) in a fixed roof surface (1) or at least partially exposes the opening (2) by being raised at its rear edge, achieves increased safety against the cover being forced out to the top and enables the vehicle roof to be configured so as to eliminate height adjustment, by the cover (3) resting in the closed state with both its front edge (4) and its rear edge (5) underlying the fixed roof surface (1). Advantageously, a pretensioning force is exerted by the cover (3) on the fixed roof (1), so that one of these two parts impresses its outline on the other.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Reihl
- 👤 Bernhard Wingen
- 👤 Wolfram Salz
- 👤 Johann Mayer
- 👤 Martin Danzl
- 👤 Arpad Furst
- 👤 Thomas Zirbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/02; B60J7/04; B60J7/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
Motor vehicle roof with a cover comprising a cover panel and a cover displacement mechanism by which the cover selectively closes and at least partially exposes an opening in a fixed roof surface, the cover panel having a raised position in which a rear edge thereof is raised above the fixed roof surface and a closed position in which the cover panel rests with a front panel edge and a rear panel edge thereof disposed under the fixed roof surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
Motor vehicle roof with a cover comprising a cover panel and a cover displacement mechanism by which the cover selectively closes and at least partially exposes an opening in a fixed roof surface, the cover panel having a raised position in which a rear edge thereof is raised above the fixed roof surface and a closed position in which the cover panel rests with a front panel edge and a rear panel edge thereof disposed under the fixed roof surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the cover panel exerts a pretensioning force on the fixed roof surface with at least one of the front and rear edges thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 2, wherein said at least one of the front and rear edges of the cover panel has a higher 1 than the areas of the fixed roof surface under which they are disposed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 3, wherein said at least one of the front and rear edges of the cover panel has a lower stiffness than the areas of the fixed roof surface under which they are disposed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Motor vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the pretensioning force is applied by means of said cover displacement mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the cover displacement mechanism comprises means for lowering the front and rear edges of the cover panel at the start of the opening movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
Motor vehicle roof with a cover and a cover displacement mechanism by which the cover selective closes and at least partially exposes an opening in a fixed roof surface, the cover having a raised position in which a rear edge thereof is raised above the fixed roof surface and a closed position in which the cover rests with a front edge and a rear edge thereof disposed under the fixed roof surface; and wherein the cover displacement mechanism comprises a means for lowering and moving the cover forward from said closed position and for then raising the rear edge of the cover into said raised position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
Motor vehicle roof with a cover and a cover displacement mechanism by which the cover selective closes and at least partially exposes an opening in a fixed roof surface, the cover having a raised position in which a rear edge thereof is raised above the fixed roof surface and a closed position in which the cover rests with a front edge and a rear edge thereof disposed under the fixed roof surface; and wherein the cover displacement mechanism comprises a means for lowering and moving the cover forward from said closed position and for then raising the rear edge of the cover into said raised position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 7, wherein the cover displacement mechanism comprises front and rear slide elements which are displaceable along guide rails attached to the fixed roof surface at opposite sides of the cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 8, wherein a locking block is provided as a means for automatically coupling and decoupling the front and rear slide elements with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 9, wherein the locking block forms a means for automatically coupling the front slide element to the guide rails when the front and rear slide elements are decoupled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 8, wherein the cover displacement mechanism further comprises a front pivot lever which is pivotally jointed to the cover at an upper end thereof and is pivotally connected to the front slide element at a lower end thereof and wherein a control pin is located between said upper and lower ends of the pivot lever, said control pin engaging a control cam which is not parallel to the guide rails.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 11, wherein the cover displacement mechanism further comprises a rear pivot lever that has an upper end which fits into a crank slot secured to the cover in a slidable and pivotable manner and that has a rear end which is pivotally connected to the rear slide element, and wherein a rear control pin is located between the upper and rear ends of the rear pivot lever, said rear control pin at least temporarily engages in a rear control cam which has a path that is divergent relative to the guide rails in a first direction of movement along the path and is convergent relative to the guide rails in an opposite second direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 12, wherein the front and rear levers are connected at their upper ends to side cover carriers, wherein a cover inside sheet is located on an inner side of the cover, and wherein an elastically prestressed screw connection is disposed between the cover inside sheet and the cover carriers as a means for changing the distance between the cover inside sheet and the cover carriers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 1, wherein the cover displacement mechanism further comprises a front pivot lever which is pivotally jointed to the cover at an upper end thereof and is pivotally connected to the front slide element at a lower end thereof and wherein a control pin is located between said upper and lower ends of the pivot lever, said control pin engaging a control cam which has a path which is divergent relative to the guide rails in a first direction of movement along the path and is convergent relative to the guide rails in an opposite second direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 14, wherein the cover displacement mechanism further comprises a rear pivot lever which has an upper end which fits into a crank slot secured to the cover in a slidable and pivotable manner and has a rear end which is pivotally connected to the rear slide element, and wherein a rear control pin is located between the upper and rear ends of the rear pivot lever, said rear control pin at least temporarily engaging in a rear control cam which has a path which is divergent relative to the guide rails in a first direction of movement the path and is convergent relative to the guide rails in an opposite second direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
Motor vehicle roof according to claim 12, wherein the front and rear levers are connected at their upper ends to side cover carriers; wherein a cover inside sheet is located on an inner side of the cover; and wherein an elastically prestressed screw connection is disposed between the cover inside sheet and the cover carriers as a means for changing the distance between the cover inside sheet and the cover carriers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |