CA1232927A - Lifter apparatus for pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides a lifter apparatus for a pivotal-sliding roof panel in a vehicle having a roof opening comprising: a guide rail mounted on the vehicle; a guide shoe slidably disposed within the guide rail; a link having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally connected to the guide shoe; an attachment member secured to the roof panel and having an aperture formed therein; the second end of the link being slidably disposed within the aperture in the attachment member; a cam block mounted on the guide shoe, the cam block engaging the attachment member and urging the attachment member and the roof panel upward to close the roof opening; and the link pivoting about the first end as the guide shoe moves further within the guide rail such that the second end slides within the aperture in the attach-ment member and urges the attachment member and the roof panel upward to a vent position in which the rear edge of the roof panel is disposed above the vehicle roof.

Description

~3;~27 This invention relates, in general, to vehicle roof structures and, more specifically, to a pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly having lifter devices for lifting a movable roof panel between lower, closed and vent positions.
In particular -the present invention relates to a lifter apparatus for a pivotal-sliding roof panel in a vehicle having a roof opening.
This application is a divisional application of copending application No. 441,091 filed November 14, 1983.
Vehicles having a movable, sliding roof panel are well known. Such roof panels are movable between a closed position in which the roof panel sealingly closes an opening in the roof of the vehicle and an open position in which the roof panel is disposed beneath the vehicle roof structure to open the roof opening.
It is also known to provide such movable roof panels with the capability to be raised to a flip-up venting position in which the rear edge of the roof panel is raised a short distance above the roof of the vehicle. In order to raise the roof panel from a lowered position in which the panel slides fore and aft to a closed position sealing the roof opening and from the closed position to the venting position, various lifter mechanisms have been devised. Such lifter mechanisms typically incorporate a linkage which is mounted between the sliding members of the roof panel apparatus and the roof panel itself for moving the roof panel between the lowered, closed and venting positions. Despite the variety of types of lifter mechanisms which have been previously devised, all such lifter mechanisms must meet the dual re~uirements of reliable opera-tion and compact size in ~rder to minimize the amount of inte-rior space within the vehicle that is consumed by the roof panel apparatus.
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'l'hus, it would be de~irable to provide a lifter apparatus for a vehicle having a rnovable roof panel which i9 operative to raise the roof panel between lowered, closed and venting positions. It would also be desirable to provide a lifter apparatus for a movable roof panel which is small and compact in size.
There is disclo~ed here1n a new'and improved lift apparatus for ~ vehlcle having a movable roof panel which is adapted to open and clo~e an opening in the l~ vehicle roof and is further ralsable to a vent position.
The lifter apparatus includes Q link pivotally connected at a first end to a slidnble guide shoe m~ynted in a longitudinally extending guide rail. The second end of the link is slidingly disposed in an aperture formed in an uttachment member upward such that the roof panel is moved from the lowered position to the closed position in which it is disposed in registry with the edges of the roof opening.
Further forward movement of the guide shoe causes the link to further pivot about'the first end such that the second end slides along the aperture in the attachment member and urgeY the att~chment member and roof panel attached thereto upward to the partially raised vent position.
In one embodiment, the cam block i~s ad~ustably mounted on the guide shoe so as to en~ble vertical adjustment of the roo~ panel in the closed position. In addition, the cam block and the attachment member are formed with complementary c~m surfaces inl'the form of planar, inclined faces~ for sliding engagement there-between.

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According to another feuture of the present inYention, means are provided for preventing premature lifting of the roof p~nel a~ the roof panel slides from the open pOSitiOIl towards the closed position. Means are S also provided for preventing removal o the roof panel from the opening when the ~oof panel is'in the closed position so as to prevent unauthorized entry into the vehicle through the roof opening.
In a seaond embodiment a pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly includes an integr~lly formed housing constructed of a plastic material which is, adapted to be mounted to the interior of the stationary roof structure of the vehicle. A movable roof panel is movubly mounted within the housing. Drive means, mounted ~n the hous}ng, are oper~bly connected to the movable roof panel for causing selective movement o the roof panel. Guide rails are mounted on the housing and extend in the sliding direction of the movable roo panel. Lifter means, connected between the housing and opposed sides of the movable roof panel9 are provided for raising and lowering the roof panel. Each of the lifter means includes first and second pivotally connected links which are operative to raise and' lower the roof,panel. Guide means are slidably disposed within the guide rails and are connected to and moved by the drive means. A slider member is slidably disposed within the guide means. The first and second links are pivotally connected between the guide means, slider member and the movable roof panel for controlling movement of the movable roof panel. Stop means are provided for~ stopping the forward movement o

-3-- ' ' ~23~7 the fir~t link such that the lifter means moves to a p~rtially extended position from a collapsed position raising the roof panel to the closed position and, upon continued driving movement, to a fully extended position.
In the second embodiment, the first link is pivotally connected ut a first end to an intermediate portion of the second link and, at a second end, to the slider member disposed within the guide means. The second link is pi~otally connected at a first end to the guide means and, at Q second end, to the movable roof panel.
The drive meanj comprises a drive motor mounted on the housing and first and second belts which are respectively connected to opposed ones of the guide means. Preferably, the first and second drive belts are in the orm of elongated, flexible stripsland include a plurality of spaced Apertures formed along their length.
Means, rotatably driven by the motor, engages the uper-tures in the belts so as to cause selective reversible moYement of the belts.
The second embodiment ~lso includes detector , means operatlve to detect when the movablë roof panel is in the closed position closing the opening in the roof of ~' . .
the vehicle. The detector me~ns further }ncludes control 25~ means~ responsive to the detector me~ns, for selectively connecting an actuator mean~ to the drive motor to Rnergize th~ drlve mo~or to move tl~ roo~ p~nel from the closed posltlon to elther one of the fully opened or partially opened ventlng positlons.

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~3~927 Tlle pivot~ liding ~oof panel assembly of the present invention provides many significant advanta~es over similar prior art sliding roof assemblies. Con-struction of the pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly from a relatively small number of lightweight components results in a roof panel assembly which i~ light in weight, which makes it ideally suited for toduy's smaller and lighter automobiles. The pivotal-sliding roof p~nel assembly may also be constructed as a modular assembly and installed on a vehicle as a one-piece unit which greatly simplifies the installation procedure. ~inally, the unique lifter mechanism incorporated into the pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly of the present invention is compact in size which contributes to increased head room within the vehicle and an enlarged viewin~ area on the ~ovable roof panel.
The various features, advalltages a~nd other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the followillg detailed description and drawing in wh~ch:
~igure 1 ls a partlal, perspective view of a ~ vehlcle having a pivotal-slldlng root panel assembly ; mounted therein which inciudes a lifter apparatus constructed in ~ccordance with the teachings of the present invention;
~igure 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the housing of the roof panel assembly;
Figure 3 is a cross-section~l view, generally taken along line 3-3, in ~igure 1, showing the construc-~30 tion of the lif~er app~ratu- of the presen~ invention;

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l~igure 4 i9 a perspective view of the lifter apparatus of the present invention depicted in the lowered position;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, generally taken ulong line 5-5 in Figure 3? showing the position of the components of the lifter apparatus when the roof panel i9 in the closed position;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that depicted in Figure 5, but showing the position of the cornponents of the llfter app~ratus when the roof panel is in the vent position;
Figure 7 is a cross-~ectionQl view, generally taken along llne 7-7 in Yigure 5;
~igure 8 is a cross.-sectional view of the roof panel position sensor;
Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the control apparatus used to control movement of the roof panel;
Figure 10 is a partial, perspective view of a second embodiment of the inve~tion in the..form of a ~: 20 vehicle havin~ a pivotal-sliding roof panel assembly constructed in accordance wlth the teachings of the ~: present invention mounted therein;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the control ~ unit of the present invention;
-~ Z5 Flgure 12 i5 an exploded, perspecti.ve view o~
~ the pivot~l~s!id~ng rooi panel assembly of the present .~ , ,.
; . invention; l Figure 13 is an exploded, perspective view of .
:~ : the movable roo~ panel assembly;
: 30 Figure 14 is a perspective view, partially sectioned, of the lifter mechanism;

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Fi~ure 15 i~ a cross-sectional view gen~rally taken along line 15-15 in ~igure 14;
Figure 16 is a partial, perspective view of the lifter mechanism showing the po~ition of the components of the lifter mechanism when in the partially extended position;
Figure 17 is a partial, perspective view of the lifter mechanism ~howing the position of the components of the lifter mechanism when in the ¢ollapsed position;
Figure 18 is a perspective view of one of the drive belt corner guides;
Figure 19 is a partial, perspective view of the roof panel locking means; and Figure 20 is a partial, sectional view of the ~5 right end of the wateF trough.
Throughout the following description and drawing, identical reference number~ are used to refer ; to the same component shown ~n multiple figures of the drawing~ . .
20 . Referring now to the drawing, and to Figure 1 in ; particular, there is illustrated a pivotal-sliding roof : pallel assembly 10 which is ad~pted to be mounted on the ~ roof of a vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 includes a sta-: tionary roof structure 14 having an opening 1~ formed 25 - therein. Preferably, the opening 16 has a rectangular configuration and i9 situated over the~front seat of the ~: vehicle 12. The roof opening 16 is opened and closed by~: a movable roof panel 22 whieh 91 ides between closed and :~ 30 open positions as well as pivoting Rbout a front edge to a flip-up vent posit~o~. .
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~3~92~7 A~ ~hown ln Pigures 3, 5 and 6, the pivotal-sliding roof panel a~embly lO include~ a rectangulsrly shaped roof panel 22 which is preferably formed of a transparent gl~ss. The roof panel 22 ha~ approximately the same shape ns ~he roo~ openlng 16 so as to completely close the opening lB when the roof panel 22 is moved to the fully closed position. A casing or gasket 24 formed of ~ plas$ic material, such as a polyvinyl chloride, is molded around the peripheral edge of the roof panel 22.
The casing 24 i8 formed with an upper lip 26 which 13 In reg~stry wlth the perlpher~l edge o~ the upper surface of the roof p~nel 22 and a downwardly extending flange portion 28 whlch depends from the upper lip 26 along the slde of the roof panel 22 and is in registry with the bottom surface of the roof panel 22.
Suitable attachment members, whlch will be described in greater detail hereafter, are integrally molded between the casing 24 ~nd the roof panel 22 to provide a means for mounting the roof panel 22 on the vehiole 12.
~;~20 ~ ; Referring now to ~igure 2, there is depicted a ~: frame or housing assembly 40 which is adapted to be - mounted ~o the interior o~ the stationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 12. The frame Rssembly 40 includes an ::
~; . integr~lly formed, substantlally reotangular housing 42.
~; 25 The housing ~2 includes an aperture 44 which is con-figured to the approximate shape of the roof opening 16 :and a planar, solld rear section 46.
Preferably, the housing 42 is formed ~s an : Integral unit from a stamped, lightweight material, such :~ 30: ~ as fiberglr~ss sheet mo~lding cornpound (CSMC). Other .
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materials~ 9Uch as nylon or polypropylene based compounds, having the requisite hlgh strength and light-weight properties, may al50 be used to form the housing 42.
The housing 42 Is integrally formed with mounting brackets, drain openings and stiffening ribs.
The housing 42 also includes opposed side flanges 48 which extend longitudinaliy along th¢ sides of the housing 20.~ An Intermediate, upwardly extending flange 50 is formed on each side flange 48 of the housing 42 and divides the flange 48 into an inner portion which serves us a base for the guide rail~, to be described in greater detail hereafter, and an outer channel or drain 52. Each of the side drain troughs 52 communicates with the like formed drain troughs situated along the front and rear edges oi the housing 42. The corners of the housing 42 are formed with hollow conduits 54 which are adapted to .
be connected to suitable conduits or tubes which extend through the body o~ the vehlcle 12 to form means for diverting water collected in the d~ain troughs of the housing 42 away from the roof panel assembly 10.
The housing 42 also includes front and rear mounting pads 56 and 58, respectively. The mounting pads ~ 56 and 58 serve as a means for mounting the dr~ve means, des~ribed hereafter, on the housing 42. This enables the ; ~ ~ dr~ve means to be selectively mounted;on ei~her of the front or rear edges of the housing 42 depending`upon the :
p~rtlcular vehicle construction.
As shown in Figu~es 2 and 3, the housing 42 is adupted to be mounted ~o R panel openi~g reinforcement 60 . ~ , .
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' ~;~3~9~7 which is of substantially rectangular configuration. The panel opening reinforcement 60 i3 forrned of a metallic material, such as steel, and i~ secured to the interior stationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 12 by suitable means, such as by weldlng. A resilient padding member 62 is interposed between the outer edges of the housing 42 and the panel opening reinforcement 60. The housing 42 is then secured by conventional fasteners to ~ the panel opening reinforcement B0 so as to mount the housing 42 to the ~tationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 1~.
- Drlve means 70 are provided for moving the roof panel 22 between open and closed posltions as well as between the closed and vent positions. As is conventional, the drive meHns 70 includes a reversible, electric drive motor 72 which has an output shaft con-nected to un output gear as 5 embly mounted on either of the front or rear mounting pads 56 and 58 such that the bevel gear extends downward through fln aperture in the mounting pads 56 and 58.
The roof panel 22 is driven by the drive motor 72 and gear assernbly via thrust transmitting drive cables 74 aild 76 which have one end secured to rear guide shoes, described hereafter. The drive cables 74 and 76 I-ave 25 ~ helically wound outer surfaces adRpted to engage the bevel gear of the drive means 70. As the bevel gear , :
~ rotates; the cables 74 and 76 are linearly moved ;~ resulting in movement o the roof panel 22 between its open and closed positions. A guide block 78 is mounted on the bottom sides of~each of the front ~nd rear , ,, ~: ' ' . .

mounting p~d~ 56 ~nd 58 and includes u pa~r of longi-tudinally extending 910t9 thereln which are udapted to slidingly receive the thrust transmitting drive cables 7 and 76. A perpendlcularly ~rlented bora extend~ throu~h the ~uide block 78 centrally betwaen the longitudinally extending slots and recelves the bevel gear thereln such that the bevel gear eng~ges ~he sides of the drive cables 74 and 76 to cau~e translRtion thereof.
In a re~r mounted drlve motor configuration, such as that depicted in Figure 2, an idler cuble 80 i~
~ttached at one end to one oi the ~ront guide ~hoes of the roof panel ~ssambly 10. The other end o~ the idler cable 8U enters the housing of ~ sensor me~ns 82 and engages an actuator disposed therein, as described in greater detail hereafter.
A~ ~hown ln Figures 2-~, a pair of elongated gulde tracks or rail~ 9U and 92 are mounted on the inwardly extending side flanges 48 of the housing 42 and extend in the sliding direction of the movable roof panel 22. The guide rRils 90 and 92 ~re identically constructed and include a base 94, upwardly extending spRced side wall9 96 and 98 and Inwardly extending flanges 100 and 102. The guide rRils 90 and 92 have a channel configur~tion and are Adapted to slidingly receive the guide shoes connected to the mov~ble roof panel 22. The juncture between the base 94 and one of :~ the side walls~ such as side wall 98, of each guide rail 9U and 92 i8 formed with a circulur recess.104.
;~ As is conventional, the roof panel assembly 10 ; 30 ~ ~ is provided with front~and rear pRirs of guide shoes ' .

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which control the fore and aft sliding movement of the roof p~nel 22. The front gulde shoes, not,shown, comprise pivotal links which are conne~ted on opposed sides of the roof panel 22 adjacent the front edge thereof. ~he front guide shoes enable the roof panel 22 to be pivoted such that the rear edge of the roof panel 22 can be lowered and slid rearwardly underneath the syationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 12, raised to a closed positlon wherein the roo~ panel 22 is substan-tlally ln registry with the edgea of the roof opening 16 ,~ and pivoted about the front edge to a partially raise,d vent posltlon.
As shown in ~igures 4-7, each of th~ identical rear guide shoes 110 are formed with a planar base 112 having outwQrdly extendlng slde flanges 114 and 116. One of the side flanges 114 has a substantially square con-figuration and is adapted to ride between the base 94 and the upper flange 100 of the guide rail. The opposed side flange 116 has a circular cross 'section which slides within the circular recess 104 in the guide rail and is formed with a hollow bore 118 extending'therethrough which is adupted to securely receive one of the thrust transmitting drive cables 74 or 7B. In this mannert translation of the drive cables 74 and 76 causes movement of each of the rear guide shoes llU longitudinally within the gu~de rails 90 and 92. ~ "
-~ ~ Each of the rear guide shoes 110 further includes a centrally located, upwardly extending flange 120 having first and second raised bosses 122 and 124 ~;~ 30 respectively, formed at~ opposite ends therebf.
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~23~9;27 According to the teuching~ of the present invention, a lifter apparatus, denoted in general by reference number 130 In Figure 4, 1~ provided for raising the roof panel 22 between lowered, closed ~nd vent positlons. The lifter apparatus 13U inciudes a link 13a, a cum or wedge block 170, and a panel attachment member 150.
The link 132 i~ in the form of an elongated member having spaced, laterally offset, first and second ends 134 and 138, respectively. The first end 134 of the link 132 i9 pivotally connected to the rear guid~ shoe 110 by means o~ a pivot pin 136 which extends through aligned bores formed In the boss 124 of the rear guide shoe 110 and the first end 134 of the link 132. The second end 138 of the link 132 is thus disposed for pivotal movement about the first end 134.
A slider member 140 is attached to the second end 138 of the link 132. The slider member 140 comprises an elongated shaft havlng a first reduced diameter por-;20 tion 14a and an outer enlarged.head 144.
The panel attQchment member 150 is in the form : of a bracket having a planar upper surface 152. The : I outermost end 154 of the panel attachment member 150 is ; bent inward und spaced above the planar top surface lS~.
~25 The opposed, spaced surfaces of the outermost end 154 nnd the planar top surface 153 o~ the panel attachment. member 150 are adapted to engage the edges.of the top and bottom .
: surlQces of the roof panel 22. Preferably, the outermost edge portions of the panel attachment member 150 are ~ mounted on the roof panel 22 by integrally molding the - , , .
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~2~329~7 outermost edges of the panel attachment member 150 within the casing or gasket 24, as shown in Figure 3.
The panel attachment member 150 further includes a depending flange portion 156 having an aperture 158 formed therein. Preferably, the aperture 158 is in the form of an elongated slot having a first smaller width section 160 nnd a larger width outer section 162. The first and second portion~ 160 and 162 of the aperture 158 ¢orre~pond in ~i~e to the flrst and ~econd portions 142 and 144, re~pectively, oi the sllqer member 140 aStached to the second end 138 of the llnk 132. The aperture 15 slidingly receives the slider member 140 therein such that the slider member 140 is slidable along the length of the aperture 158 during movement of the lifter appara-tus 130 of the present invention, as will be described in greater detail hereafter. The depending flange portion 156 of the panel attachment member lS0 is further pro-vided with Q first cQm surface 184, adjacent one end thereof. The cam surface 164 has a planar, vertically 20 ~ extending, inclined form.
Ag shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the lifter ~ apparatus 130 includes a cam or wedge block 170. The cam ;~ ~ block 170 has a generally cubical configuration and is formed with a cam surface 172 which is shaped complemen-.
~ 25 ~ tary to the c~m surface 164 formed on the panel attach-.
ment member 150. Thus, the cam surface 172 on the cam block 170 has ~ planar, vertically extending, inclined form.
The c~m block 170 i8 mounted to tha first boss 30 ~ 12a on the rear guide ~hoe 110. According ~o a pre~erred :

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, 2~7 embodiment 7 the cam block 170 i8 adjustably mounted in u verticul dlr~ctlon to the rear gulde ~hoe 110 90 US to enable the vertlcul position of the roof punel 22 to be adjusted so as to ensure a fully closed, water- and air-S tight seul between the roof panel 22 and the peripheral edges of the roof opening 16 when the roof panel 22 is in the closed position.
A vertically extending, elongated slot 174 is ~ormed in the first boss 122 on thç rear guide shoe 110 and has a first enlarged wldth section 176 and a second reduced width section 178. A plurallty of serrutions 180 are formed on the vertically extending sides of the reduced width section 178 of the slot 174 and correspond to serration~ formed in a vertical 810t on the catn block 170. In this manner, the cam block 170 may be adjusted vertically to align the serrutions thereon with selected serrations in the slot 174 on the first boss 122 so as to vary the vertical position o~ the cam block 170 with respect to the rear guide shoe 110. A suitable fastening means 182, such us a shoulder ~crew, is inserted ehrough : the aligned slots in the first bos~ 122 and the cam block 170 to securely mount the c~m block 170 to the rear guide shoe 110 in the desired vertical position.
In describing the operation of the lifter mecha-nism 130 of the present invention in moYing the roof panel 22 between lowered, alosed and vent positions, it : will be assumed that the lifter mechanism 130 is initiully , ;~ disposed in the position depicted in Figures 3 and 4 which corresponds to the lowered position of the roof panel 22 in which tbe roof panel 22 i9 disposed beneath . the stationary roof structure 14 of the vehicle 12.

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; When the drive me~ns 70 has been energized to move the roof panel 22 from the open position to the closed position, the thrust transmittin~ drive cables 74 and 76 will push the rear guide shoes 110 forward along the guide traeks 90 and 92. As the link 132 is in a substantially horizontal orientation, with the pivot pin 13~ ~nd the ~lider 140 aligned along the same hori~ontal plane, ~nd the complement~ry oam ~urf~¢es 1~4 und 112 oY
. the panel attachrnent member 150 ~nd the cam block 170, respectively, are in abutting relation3hip, the entire : roof panel 22 will be slid towards the front of the vehicle 12 upon forward movement of the rear guide shoes 110 until the front guide ~hoes engage stops mounted on the hou~ing 42 not shown, which terminate further forward movement of the roof panel 22. At thi~ point, the drive means ~0 continues to urge the rear guide shoes 110 in a forwurd direction such th~t the cam surface 154 on the p~nel attachment member 150 will ~lide upwards along the mating cam surf~ce 172 of the c~m block 170 and urge the rear edge of the roof panel 22 upward ~nd pivot the link 132 about the first end 134 until the cam block 170 slide~ completely underne~th the lower surface of the depending fl~nge portion 156 of the panel attachment ; ~ member 150, a~ ~hown ln Figure 5. At this position, the : roof panel 22 has been raised into registry with the edges of the roof opening 16 of the vehicle 12.
If it is desired to move the roof panel 22 to the vent position shown in ~igure 6, the drive means ~0 will be energized to urge the rear guide ~hoes 110 in a 30 ~ ~urther forward direct~on. However, as forward ~ovement : . ,- -:

of the front edge of the roof panel 2a i9 prevented, con-tlnued for.ward movement of the rear gulde shoes llO will pull the f~rst end of the llnk 134 horizontally forward oausing the ~econd end 138 of the link l3~ to pivot upwards in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6, until the link 130 haj n~sumed Q substantially vertlcal posltlon, A8 shown in Flgure B, which corresponds to the vent posltion of the roof panel 22.
ln this position, the rear edge of the roof panel 22 i3 ra{sed n short dlstanoe above the 3tationary roof struc-ture 14 of the vehicle l2.
Reversal of the drive meuns 70 ~ill reverse the above-described operation of the.lifter apparatus 130 and cause lowering of the roof parlel 22 from the vent to the lS closed position or from the closed to the lowered posi-tion wherein it can be slid aft under the stationary roof structure 14 o~ the vehlcle 12.
Additional eatures of the lifter apparatus of the present invention are illustrated in ~igures 5 and '7.
According to another embod.ment of the present invention, means are provided for preventing premature and inadver-tent r~ising of the roof panel 22 as it is being moved from tile open to tlle clo~ed po81tlon. Th0 me~n~ for pre-ventlng such premature ralslng of the roo~ panel 22 lncludes an outwardly e~tending projection l90 f.ormed on an intermediate portion of the link 132. As shown in : phantom in ~igure 5 9 the projection l90 is positioned so as to ride beneath the upper flange lO0 of the guide rail 90. A discontinuity or opening- 192 is formed in the upper flan~e lO0 of th~ guide rail 90 at a location where : . -17-, , the roof p~nel 22 ~an begin to be urged upward to the cIosed position. In this manner, the proJection 190 i~
held beneath the upper flange 100 until the roof panel 20 can rise to the closed position, At this point, as the link 130 pivots about the first end, ~ described ~bove, to raise the roof panel 22 to the closed position, the projection 190 will pass throu~h the discontinuity 192 in the upper flange 100 of the guide rail 90 so as to permit upward movement of the link 132 and roof panel 22.
The pro~ectlon 190 als~ serves as a means for preventing undesired removal of the roof papel 22 from the roof opening 16 when the roof panel 22 is in the closed position. An L-sh~ped mem~er or bracket 194 is mounted between the side flange 48 of the panel housing 40 and the guide rail 90 and includes an upwardly extending side wall 196 and an inwardly extendin~ upper flaIlge 198.
As shown in Figure 7, the upper flange 1~8 of the ~racket 194 is spaced above the upper flange 100 of , the guide rail 90. ~urther, the bracket ,194 is located on the guide rail 90 such that the projection 190 is disposed beneath the upper flange 198 when the roof panel 22 has been moved to the closed position. Thus, it can be seen that the upper flange 198 prevents upward move-ment of the roo~ panel 22 such as would ,re,sult when the roof panel 22 i8 attempted to be removed from the rooY
opening 16 from the exterlor of the vehicle 12.
During movement of the roof panel 22 from the closed position to the vent position,'the guide shoes 110 will initially translate towards the front of the vehicle ' : :

~23~ 7 12 such that the projectlon 190 w1il pas~ from undernsath the upper flange 198 o~ the bracket 1~4 und be free to move upward a~ the llnk 13q plvots to the vent position A5 noted above, the pivotal-sl1ding roo~ panel assembly 10 of the present invention is provided with sensor mean~ 82 which oper~tes to sense when the roof panel 22 is in the closed posltion. The sensor means 82, shown in ~igure 2 and in greater detail in Figure 9, comprises a housing 210, i3 hollow and is formed with an outwardly extendlng hollow tube 212 wh}ch is adapted to slidubly receive the end of one o~ the drlve cables, such as drive cable 74. In ~ rear mounted drive motor configuration~ the idler cable B0 is connected to the end of the guide cable 74 and acts as an extension of the drive cable 74 for activating the sensor means 82.
The end of the idler cable 80 is slidingly receivable within the interior o~ the housing 210 and contacts ~n ~ctuator 214 which is movably disposed within the housing 21U. The actuator 214 i9 biased to a central : 20 loeation within the interior of the housing 210 by suitable biasing means, such an an elongated coil spri~g 21B.
The housing 210 is positioned on the frame 40 sueh that the end of the idler cable 80 will contact the actuntor 214 at the central or neutral position when the roof panel 22 is in the closed position. An arming pin .
218 is removably inserted through a bore 220 formed in a side of the housing 210 to engage and contaet the actuator 214 and hold it in the central neutral position until the housing 210 is properly positioned on the frame "
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, , ~;~329~7 40 ~nd the end of tlle idler cable 80 is in contact with the actuator 214~
When in the central or neutral position, the actuator 214 engages a movable plunger 22i which is con-nected to a convention~l electrlcal llmit ~witch ~2~.
Depression of the plunger 222 by the actuator 214 cuuses t5~e output of the limit switch 224 to move the contact switch 22~, ~igure 9, from a normally closed position to an open position.
When the roof panel 22 has moved from the closed position to either the vent or open posi,tion, the actuator 214 will be moved by the idler cable 80 or the bias spring 216 away from the central or neutral position such that the plunger 222 of the limit'switch 224 extends outward therefrom which results in the,output,contact 226 of the limit switch 224 switching back to,the normally closed state.
As shown in Figure ~, the output contact 226 of the limit switch 224 ~orms a part of a control apparatus 220 which functions to control the movement,of the roof panel 22 between the open, closed and vent positions.
~, The control appuratus 228 1~ pre~erably mounted within a ;, module located within the vehicle 12 and,is connected to a soitable source of electrical power, such as the lav ~25 power provided by the vehicle battery.
In a preferred embodiment of ,the presen ,~ invention, the control apparatus 228'includes a manually - operable switch means 229 having ~irst and second con-tacts 230 and 232, respectively, which are connected between the BOurCe of electrical power ~nd to the drive ~ . ' .
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~:32~2'7 motor 72. Cont~cts 230 and 232 are switchable between two distinct states corresponding to forward and rearward movement of ~he roof panel 22 and operate to connect electrical power in one of two opposite polarities to the drive motor 72 in order to control the direction of rota-tion of the output shaf~ of the drive moLor 72.
Preferably, the switch me~ns 229 comprises a double pole, doubl~ throw switch in whi~ll the contacts 230 ~nd 232 are ganged together and are normally biased to a neutral or center position, a~ shown in Figure 9.
The control apparatus 228 further includes a conventional rectifying bridge circuit 234 which supplies power to the logic elements used in the control apparatus 228 of the present invention.
Means, responsive to the sen~or mean~ 224, ure provided for di~connecting the drive motor 72 from the source of electrical power when the roof panel 22 reaches the closed position from either the vent or open position Preferably, the disconnecting means includes a first control means 236, such ~s an electromechanical relay, wllich h~ its coil connected to the sorce of electrical power through the first switch means 22~ and the output contact 226 of the sensor means 224. The control meuns or relay 236 includes a ~witch~ble contact 238 which switclles, when the rel~y coil 236 is ener.gized upon acti-vation of the fir~t switch means 229 and the roof. panel : 22 i~ positioned away rom the closed position, from a .
~Ir~t st~te, ~hown in ~igur~ ~, to ~ second Bt~tC wil~reln : electrical power i~ upplled therethrough to the drive ~ 30 motor 72 to effect Movement of the roof p~nel 22.
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When the roof panel 22 reuches the closed position, the sensor means 214 will depress the plunger 216 and cause contact 226 to switch to the open state, as described above, which breaks the circuit to tlle relay coil 236, thereby de-energizing the relay coil 236 which causes its out~ut cont~ct 238 to switch to the first state disconnecting electrical power i'rom the drive motor 72. As shown in Pigure ~, in the flrst state the relay . contact 238 i~ connected ucross the OUtpllt terminals of the drive snotor 72 so as to short out the drive motor 72 which causes an instantaneous breaking or ~toppage of the drive motor 72 and prevents undesired coasting or addi-tional movement of the roof panel 22 irom the closed position.
When the roof panel assembly 20 is in the fully closed position, the contact 226 will be in an open state and the contact 238 of the relay 236 will be in a posi-tion shorting out the drive motor 72 such that electrical power is not applied thereto. In order.to move the roof panel 22 f~om the closed position to either the vent or open po~ition, the control apparatus 22~ is provided with mean~ for momentarily oonnecting electrlcal power to the drive motor 72 so a8 to cause initial movement of the roof panel 22 from the closed position until the sensor ~: 25 :~ 214 disengages from the plunger 216 and output contact 226 again switches to the closed position to maintain the relay coil 236 in an energized stnte. I
~: The means for momentarily.connecting electrienl ~: power to the drive motor 72 includes a switch means 240 comprised of two serially connected transistors and an ~;
~ .
~ . .

~3~9~7 ~C timer network cornprised of a serially connected resistor and capacitor. The switch means 240 and RC net-work 242 are responsive to the sequential de-activa$ion and re-activation of the first switch means 229 such that the switch means 240 switches to a close~ state, thereby connecting power to the relay coil 236 which causes its output contact 238 to switch to a state whereby electri-cul power is connected to the drive motor 72 to effect initial movement of the roof panel 22 from,the closed position. As the output of the switch means 240 is con-necte~ in parallel with contact 226, power will be applied to the relhy coil 236 despite the contact 226 being in the open state.
AB de~icrlbe~ ubove, the contact 226 wlll ~witch to the closed state shortly a~ter the roof panel 22 moves from the closed position 90 as to continually apply power to the relay coil 236, thereby maintaining it in an energized state such that electrical power ,is applied throu~h the relay contact 238 to the drive motor 72 to move the roof panel 20 to the vent or open position.
The switch means 240 provides a momentary output which is controlled by the tlme required to charge the ; CapQCi tor in the RC network 242. At the completion of ' this predetermined time period,, which is'preferably less than one second in duration, the switch means 240 will be de-energized to await the next siequential de-uctivution nd re-~ctiYatlon of the qWitch meansi 229.
Referring now to the drawing, anid to Figure ll :
in p~rticular, there is shown a~second example of the present invention in t~e form of Q pivotal-sliding roof ~ .
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~L23;~%~

patIel assembly 10' which is adapted to be mounted in the roof of Q vehicle 12'. The vehicle 12' includes a sta-tionary roof structure 14' having an opening 16' formed therein. The opening 16~ is preferably of rectangular configuration and i5 situated over the.front seat of the vehicle 12'. The opening 16' is opened und closed by a movable roof punel which'~lid~ between closed and opened positions as well as pivoting to a flip-up position.
Referring now to ~igure 12j there is shown a ~rame or hou~ing as~embly 18' which i9 adupted to be mounted to the interior of the stationary roof structure 14' of the vehicle 12'~ The frame 18' includes ~n integrally ~ormed~ substantIally rectangular housing 20'.
The housing 20' includes an aperture 22' ~ich is COII-figured to.the ~pproximate shape of the opening 16' in the roof 14' of the vehicle 12' and a planar solid rear section 2~'.
Preferably, the housing 20' is~formed in an integral, one-piece unit from a stampqd, lightweight material, such as fiber~lass sheet molding compound ~CSMC). Other materials, such as nylon or polypropylsne : based compounds, having the requisite high strength and lightweight properties, may also be used 'to 'form the housing. The housing 20' is formed to include mounting ~:; 25 brackets, drain openings and stiffening ribs, as will be ~ .
described In greater detail hereafter.
Specifically, the hou~ing 20' is formed with ' : side drain troughs 26' and 28' which extend longitudi-nally along the sides of the housing 20'. The housing 20I is formed with an ~utwardly extending 1ange portion -24-' ' :: :

~ -~;~3~2~ `

30' which is adapted to be secured to a panel opening reinforcement member 8a~. Each of the identically formed side drain troughs, such U9 drain trough 26', is formed with a channel-like trough section which is connected between the outward flange 30' and an inward extending flange portion 34' which serves as a mounting base for the guide rails of the pivotal-sliding roo~ panel assembly 10', as described in greater detail hereafter.
The side drain troughs 26' and 28' co~municute with a front drain trough 36', shown in ~igure 12, which extends across the front of the housing 20'. The corners of the housing 201 are formed into hollow conduits 38' which are adapted to be connected to suitable conduits or tubes 39' which extend through the body of the vehicle 12' to form means for diverting water coliected in the drain troughs 26', 28~ and 36' of the housing 20' from the pivotQl-sliding roof panel assembly 101 of the present Invention.
~inally, the housing 20' is formed with front and rear mounting pads 40' and 42', respectively. The mounting pads 40' and 42' SerYq as a ~eans for mounting the drive means, described hereafter, to the housing 20'.
This enables the drive means to be selectively mounted on either of the front or rear ends of the housing 20', depending upon the particular vehicle constru~tion and ~ applicatlon of the pivotal-slidln~ roof pnnel assembly : 101, As shown in Figure 12, the housing 20' is udapted to be mounted to a panel opening reinforcement ring 327 which is of s~bstantially rectangular .

~3;~9127 configuration. The panel openlng reinforcement ring 32' is formed of a metalllc materlal, such as steel, and Is adapted to be secured to the interlor st~tionary roof structure 14' of the vehi¢le 12' by sultable means, such a8 by welding~ The hou lng 20' i3 then se~ured by COI--vcntlon~1 faatenor0 throuull m~untln~ br~ok~t~ 44' to tha reinforcement ring 32' to thereby mount the roof panel assembly 107 to the interior roof structure of the vehicle 12'.
l~eferring now to ~igure 13, there is shown the detalled construction o~ the mov~ble rooY panel assembly 50'. The moYabl0 roof panel assembly 50' includes ~ rec-tangularly shaped panel 52' which Is preferably formed of trani3p~rent gl~ss, although other translucent or opaque mAterials may ~lso be used. The panel 52' is forlned to approximately the ssme shQpe a~ the opening 16' in the roof 14' of the vehlcle 12' so ~i3 to completely close the opening 16' when moved to the fully closed"positlon. A
caslng or ~asket 54' formed of a plastic material, such as polyvlnyl chloride, Is molded around the peripheral edge of the panel 52' ~nd forms a means f~r supporting the panel 52to As shown In greater det~ll in ~igure 15, the casing 54 ~ s formed wlth,an upper lip 56' which extends over the upper surface of the panel 52' and a base por-tion 58' wh~ch Is disposed in reglstry'with ths,bottom surfa~e of the roof panel 52'. DownwQrdly extending fl~nges 60' and 62' extend from the baise portion 58' and .; .
h~ve a v~rylng cross section ~ong the length of the panel sa~. Mountlng b~ackets 64' ~nd 66''are integrally -2~

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~23Z~

molded in the c~sing 54' along opposed side edges of the panel 52~ and extend downward therefrom to provide a suitable mouIlting means for connectin~ the movable rooi panel S0' to the lifter means, as described In gre~ter detail hereafter. Preferably, the mounting brackets 64' and 6B' are located adjacent the rear edge of the roo panel 52'. Forwardly located br~ckets 65' and 67' are also molded in the cusing 5~' ~or connection to the front guide shoes of the roof panel apparatus 10'.
As shown ln Figure 15, the brackets 64', 65', 66' and ff7' have a substantially T-~haped conflguration wlth ~n upper por~ion being molded in the casing 54'. A
flange or leg 68' extends downward ~rom the upper portion thereof and has an aperture formed thereln for mounting the slidlng roof panel 52' to the other components o~ the pivotal-sliding roof panel as~embly 10'.
As shown ln ~Igure 13, the movable roof panel assembly 50' ~lso includes a manually operable sunscreen 70' formed of an opaque m~terial. The sunscreen 70' rides within the houslng and enables the interiot of the vehicle 12' to be completely closed off from view.
handle 72' is affixed to the front of the sun~creen 70' to en~ble the sunscreen 70' to be manually moved between ; opened and clo~ed positions as desired.
As shown in Figure~ 12, 14 and 15J the pivotul-slldlng roof panel assembly 10' further includes a pair of guld~ rails 80' and 82' whi~h are mounted on opposed :
sldes of the inward extending flange 34' of the housing 20'. The gulde rsils 80' and ~2' ~re in the form of 30~ elongated member~ whlc~ are oriented to extend in the ~lIdlng directIon o~ the movable panel 50'.
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~23~9~

As shown in ~Igure 15, each of the gulde r~lls, such ss guide rail 80', is formed as an extrusion having a chunnel-like cross section deflned by a substantially flat bottom 83' and a palr of spaced, upw~rd extending side walls 84' and 86~, each of compleY eonfiguration.
The first side wall 84' has a vertical wall por-tlon 88' extending upward from the bottom wall 83' and a pair of hor~æontally e~tendln~ spaced flanges 90' ~nd 92' extending outward therefrom. The flanges 90' and 92' define a slot ~1' therebetween which slidably receives the sunscreen 70' shown in Flgure 13.
The ~econd upstanding side wall 86' of the guide rull 80' is formed with a vertical wall section 94' which extends upward from the bottom wall 83' and termlnates in 15 . a horizontal top flange 96'. Spaced pairs of aligned slots are formed in the bottom wall 83' adjacent the second side wall 86' and the top flange 96' of the second side wall 86' to ~orm flrst and second spaced, ~ubstantially horizontally extending channels 98? ~nd 100', respectively.
Referrlng again to ~igure 12, thqre is shown a ; drlve means 110' which is provided for movlng the roo~
panel 50' between closed, partially opened and fully ~ opened positions. According to the preferred embodiment : 25 : ~ of the present Invention, the drlYe means 110' comprIsea a reversible electric motor 11~' havlng a vertically extendlng output shaft 114'. A sprocket ~ ar 116' having R plurality of outwardly extending teeth or project~ons i9 fixedly mounted to the output sh~ft 114' ior rotary movement therewi tho ~ .

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~.2~292~7 The motor 112' Is mounted on either of the front or rear mounting pads 40' or 42' on the housing 20' depending upon the partIcular applieation of the pivotal-sliding roof panel a3sembly 10' of the present inventlonc The drive meanis 110' ~urther include~ a pair of dr~ve belts 118' and 120'. Each of the drlve belts 118' and 120' Ig In the form of a fl~t, planar~ elong~ted strip formed of a flexlble plastlc materi~l, although other materials may ~190 be used. ~ach of the belts 118' umd 120' has a plur~illty o~ ~paced apertures 122', preferably In the form of square or rectangular window~
form¢d along lts length. The apertures 122' are eIlguiged by the teeth ~n the sprocket gear 113~ whlch cuu~e~ movo-ment of the drive belts 118' and 120' when the motor 112' Is energlzed.
~ As shown in ~igure 12, the drive beltqi 118' and 120' are orlentad on edge so a~ to puiss on opposod slde~
of tha sprocket Kear 11B' and be angaged and drlven by : the sprocket gear 116' In elther forward or reverse 20 ~ directions.
As shown in ~igure 12 and in greater detail In Figure 18, aorner guide means 123' ~nd 1~4' are mounted : along opposed sldes uf the front edge of the housin~ 20'.
Each of tha corner guide means 123' and 124! has a 25 . substantially arcuate shape and Includes a bottom member 126' and a top cover member 128'.
~ The cover member 128' has a substantially : ~ L-~haped, cross-sectlonal configuration wi,th one le~
being mounted in a slot I30' formed along.the front flange of tha housing 20'~ A block member 132' ' - : -29-~23;~9~7 integrally formed with the cover member 128' is adapted to engage the end of one of the gulde rails, ~uch as gulde rail 80'. A key 134' 1~ dlsposable withln the block 132' to engage the ~econd channel lD0' in the guide rall 80' 30 as to allgn the gulde means 123' ~nd 124' with the opposed gulde ralls 80' and 82'.
~ach of the bottom members 126' of the guide mean~ 123' and 124' has a flr~t, arcuate, internal slot or channel Iormed thereIn, ~uch as channel 136' In the guide means 1~3'. One end of the channel 136' is allgned and comnunicates with the first channel 98' in the guide rails to form a contlnuou~ extension thereof. In this m~nner, the drive belts 118' ~nd 1201 are dlrected in a controlled manner from the gulde ralls 80' and 82', around the front corners of the housing 20', across the front of the housing 20' flnd past the drlve motor 112' and sprocket gear 116'.
As shown in Figure 18, one of the gulde means, such u8 guide means 123', ha~ u second Internal slot or channel 1387 formed thereIn. The ~econd channel 138' is ~: sub6t~ntially U-shaped wlth its ends aligned in u common plane so ag to loop back on itsel~. In thls manner, the end of one o- the drive belts, such as drlve belt 120', looped ba¢k on ltself to prevent intec~erence with the : other drive belt 118' a~ the belts move.
The pivot~l-slidin~ roof panel assembly 10' of : the present inventlon includes lifter means connected ~` ~ between opposed sides of the housing and the roof panel assembly 50' for effecting raising and iowering of the : .: roof panel u~sembly 5~'. As each of the lifter me~ns is ~ : , :: -30-~, . .. . .
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~3Z~

identic~lly constructed, only one o~ the lifter means, such ag llfter me~ns 150' ~llustrRted in ~igure 14, will be descrlbed in detail hereaiter. The li~ter mean~ lS0' includes a linkage 15~' comprl~ed of ~irst and second pivotally ~onnected llnks 154' and 156', respectively.
The lifter means 150' further Includes guide meuns 158' which is slid~bly disposed withln the second channel 100' In the guide rail 80' and slider means 160' slid~bly disposed within ths gulde m~an~ 158~o Stop means 162' are provided ~or llmitlng forward movement of the lifter means 150' at a predetermined posltion along the guide rall 80'.
As shown in ~igure~ 14 and 15, the guide means 158' is in the form of an elongated block having upper and lower, outwardly extendlng projectiQns 166' and 168 which are disposable within and slide along the slots forming the ~econd channei 100' in the guide rail 80'.
The block 158' further in~ludes an internal slot 170' wllich has an enlar~ed slde portion 172', as shown in Figure 15.
The slider member 160' includes a plate 174' which is slidably disposed withln the enlarged portion 172' of the slot 170' ln the gulde block 158'. An out- -w~rdly extending, cylindrical pivot pln 176' is joined to :~25 one side of the plate 174' and extends;outw~rd therefrom.
The fir~t link 154' has a planar elongated form Wit31 apertures ~ormed at oppo~ed ends ~hereo~. The first : link 154' is plvotally eonnected about the pivot pin 176' at a f~rst end 178'. The opposed or second end 180' of the ~rst llnk 154' is~plvotally onnçcted by pivot pln 182' to an intermediate portion of the second link 156'.
3~
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~3~%7 The second lInk 15~' has a flattened V-shape such that ies 0nds 184' ~nd 186' are disposed at a pre-determined angul~r rel~tionshlp. The first end 184' of the 3econd link 156' is pivotally eonnected by pivot pin 188' to the guide block 158'. Preferably, ~s shown In ~igure 15, the plYot p~n 1~8' extends completely through the guide block 15B' and drive belt 118' to secure the second link 15~' to both the drlve belt 118' ~nd the gulde block 15~'. The second or oppo3ed end 186' of the secoIld link 156' is ~dapted to be connectQd by sultable fastening means 190' (~igure 15) to the mounting bracket 64' attached to the movable roof panel assembly 50'.
: The stop means 1~2' i5 in the form of an elongated plate 192' which i9 secured to the bottom w~ll 83' of the guide rail 80' by suitable fasteners. The stop means 162' has an upwardly extending catch portion - 194' formed ~t one end thereof which is adapted to catah and hold the first end 178' of the first link 154' to prevent further forward horizontal motion of the first ~ llnk I541.
Referrlng now to ~igures 14, 16 and 17, the operation of the lifter means 150' of the present inven-t~on will now be described~ In ~igure 14, the lifter means 150! is deplcted in the partially extended position in which the roo~ panel assembly 50' completely closes :
: ~ tbe roof open~ng 16' in the vehicle 12'. In this : ~ ~ position, the first end 178' o~ the first link 154' : engages and is held ln a fixed position by the catch 194' on the stop~means 1~2' and the sllder member 160' is : , ,j, .
disposed substantiAIly`centrally withln the guide block 158'.

' ~' ~;: '. ' ~' :, ;11.~3~7 In order to move the rooi panel assembly 50' to the parti~lly opened, ventlng posltlon illustrated in ~igure 16, the drive motor 112' ~s energized to move the drive belts 118' and 120~ toward the front of the vehiele 12'. This pulls the guide block 158' attached to the drive belts 118~ in a forward dlrection causing the flrst end 184' of the second link 156' to likewise move in a forward, hori~ont~l dlrect~on towards the first link 154'. In 90 do~ng, the ilr~t llnk 154' pivots about the pln 176' ln a aounterclo~kwl~e dlrectlon cau~lng the pivot pin 182' to simllarly move along a counterclockwise arcuate path. This has the effect of causing the second end 186' of the ~econd llnk 156' to move In an upward clockwise path r~ising the movuble roof panel assembly S0' upward to the venting positlon.
To lower the roo~ panel to the ~ully closed positlon again, the drlve motor 112 " s reversed so as to move the drive belts 118' and 120' in a r~arward direc-tion which separates the Iirst ends 178' and 184' of the first and second llnks 154' and 156' ~nd partinlly collapses the lInkage 152'.
In order to move the roof panel assembly 50' from the closed position to the fully opened position in .
which the roof opening 16' is completely exposedt the drive motor 112' Is continually energl~ed ln a reverse manner causing the drlve belts 118' and 120' to aontinue to move in a rearward directlon. This pushes each guide block 158' and the first end 184' of ths second l~nk 156' In a rearward dlrect~on caus~n~ the second end 18~' of the second l~nk 156' ~d the mov~ble roof panel ~sembly . ' . - , ' ~3~

S0' connected thereto to iower so as to slip the rear edge of the movable roof panel assembly 50' below the ~tation~ry roof panel ~tructure 1~' o~ the vehicle 12'.
The movable roof panel 5~' lower3 untll the flrst ~nd second link~ 154~ ~nd 156~ are disposed in an in-line, substanti~lly horizontal orlentatlon, a~ shown in Figure 17, which provide~ a rlgld llnkage for driving the mov~ble roof panel as~embly 50' in a substantially horl~ontal, rearw~rd dlre¢tion.
As the movable rooi panel ~embly 50~ 1~ movod from u fully spened to the iully clQsed positlon, the allgned first and ~econd llnk~ 154' and 156' again pro vide a rigld link~ge for pulllng the roof panel ~ssembly 5UI towards the front end o~ the veh~cle. As the first link 154' nears the stop means 162', lt ls neces~ary th~t the rigld liIlkage between the aligned first and second : links 154' and 156' be broken su~h that the li~ter means 150' may be moved to the e~tended positlon. Thus, cam means 200' secured to the gulde rail 80' ls provided.
The cam means 200' includes a plate 202' and an inclined portion 204' which is engaged by the pivot pin 182' con-nectin~ flrst and second links 154' and 156' Q~ the er meaIl~ lS0' moves tow~rds the forw~rd ~nd ot tlle vehicle. The pivot pln 182' thu~ rides up along the incline 204', bre~king the rigld connection between the first and second links 154' and 156', enabling the li~ter mesns 150' to move to the extended position when the ~Irst end 178' oi the ~Ir~t link 154' enga~es the catch : 194' o~ the stop means 162', ~ described prevlously.
~: 30 ' .

~3~

In order to prevent any rearward movement o~ the roof panel assembly 50' before the re~r edge thereof has dropped balow the edge of the ~tatlonary roo~ structure of the vehicle, a locklng means 210' is provided. The locking means 210~, as shown in Flgure 19, functions to hold the forw~rd end of the roof panel assembly 50' sta-tlonary until the llfter means l50' hHs collapsed and lowered the rear edge of the roof panel assembly 50'.
The lockIng means 210' includes ~ spring clip 212' whlch is ~Ixed to a w~ter trough 230' at on~ end~
The spring clip 21~' is formed of a resilient material and is bi~sed In a downward dlrection. The clip 212' has a depression ~14' formed centrally therein which is adapted to engage a recess or notch 216' formed in the guide rall 80'. A finger 218' extends outward from the guide block 158' to engage ~n upstandlng flunge formad at the end of the clip 212' and dI~engage the depress~on 214' from the notch 216'.
In operation, the depression 214' in the clip 212' will be seated ~n the not~h 21B' when the roof panel assembly 50' is in the flip-up, venting position. As the roof panel S0' is lowered, the guide block 158' moves in a rearward direction. ~lowever, the clip 212' will hold ~; the trough 230' and front guide shoes which are connected together vi~ a connecting rod a20' in a fixed p~sition.
When the rear edge of the roof panel 50' has been lowered ~ufflciently to clear tha re~r ~tationary roof structure of the vehicle, the guide block 158' will have moved rearward to a position in which the finger 128' engages the upstandIng flange~on the clip 212' and urges the clip : ., .

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5L~3~:9~7 212' upwurd until the depression 214' ls released from tl~e notch 216'. 'rlll~ free~ the entire movuble roof panel 50' for rearward horizontal movement.
Referring now to Flgure~ 19 and 20, there is shown a water trough a30~ whlch is adaptsd to divert water from the rear edge of the movuble roof panel assembly 50 to the sides o~ the housing 20'. The trough 230' is In the form of a channel-llke member 232' whlch extend~ l~terally ~oro~ t~Ie Yehicle. AccordilIg to the pre~rr~d ombodlIn~IIt~ th~ w~ter trou~ So~ nov~blu 1 conjunction wlth the movement of the movable roof panel assembly SU~ between open and closed poBitionS 90 ~s to divert water entering the roof opening adjacent the re~r edge of the movable roof panel asseInbly 50' to the sides : 15 of the ho~sing 20' ~nd thence through the draln conduits out of the vehlcle. Accordlngly, a pair of guide shoes 234', each associated wlth one of the guide rails 80' and 82', are secured to the bottom surface of the channel melnber 232' ut opposlte ends thereof. The guide siloe~
234' ure formed with un outer flange portion 236' which r{dcs in one of the chunnels of the guide rail3 to - control the sliding movement o~ the water trough 230'.
Mean~9 denoted in gener~l at reference number 220', is provided ~or connecting t~e water trough 230' to the front guide shoes so as to transmit movement of the first guide shoes to the w~ter trough 230'. According to the pre~erred embodlment, the connecting rne~ns 22U' iB in the form o~ an elongated rod member haYing its first end secured or molded to the front gulde shoe and its rear end molded or otherwise secured to the guide shoe 234' ~ . .

~fflxed to th~ water trough 230'. In thls m~nner, the water trough 230' move~ concurrently wlth m~vament of the ~ront gu~de ~hoes betwean open ~nd ~lo~ad po~itlon~. In a~itIon, tha water trou~h ~30' rernuIn~ in it~ forward position adjacent the rear edge of the roof opening 16' when the mov~ble roof panel assembly 50' is pivoted to the flip-up venting posltion.
A~ shown 1n ~igure 12 and In greater det~il in ~gure 11, the pivot~l-slldlng roo~ panel apparatu~ 10' further lncludes control means ~or eontrolling the move-ment of the movable roof panel 50' between open and closed posltIons and between closed and ventlng positions. The control me~ns includes .Q housing denoted in general at re~erence number 240' whlch i9 mounted to the Internal roo~ structure of the vehlcle adjacent the -~ront o~ the roof panel houslng 20'. The housing 240' Includes a hollow bore 242' whlch is adapted to receive one end o~ one of the drive belt~, such a3 drive belt 118' shown in Figure 12. One end of the drive belt 118' i9 slldably Insertable wlthln the Interior o~ the houslng 240' and contacts a movable actuator 244' whlch 1~ blased by a biasing means 2~6', such ~8 a coil spring, to a central or neutral position within the housing 240' 7 as shown In Flgure 11. The housing 240' is positioned such that the end o~ the drive belt 118' will urge the actuator 2~4' to the n~utral positlon when the movable roof panel assembly 50' is in the completely closed ~; position. An arming pln 243', shown in Figure la, 1s removably inserted through an aperture in the housing .
240' to eng~ge the act~ator a44' and hold it in the .

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:`' ~3Z~3~'~

neutral posltIon until the houslng 240' I~ secured In the deslred posltlon on the hou~Ing 20'.
In the neutral posltion, the actuator 244' trips a plunger 248' connected to a conventional electrical limit switch 250', causlng the output contacts of the limit switch 250' to move to a closed position. The contacts of the lim~t swIt'ch 250' are ¢onnected In a sultable co~trol clrcult arPangement, not shown,'wlth the drlve motor 11~' and occupant-operated actuator m~an~ or swItches for controll~ng the movement of the roof panel between open and closed posltlons.
Thus, there h~s been d~sclosed a plvotal~sliding roof panel assembly for a vehicle hnving an opening in the roof thereof. The npparatus ls constructed as a modular unit wh~ch can be Installed as a' one-piece unit on the vehicle, thereby simpll~ylng and expediting the Installation process.
The unique pivotal-slidin~ roof panel assembly disclosed herein includes a novel lifter mechanism which is operative for moving the roof panel between closed, fully opened and partially opened venting positions. In ' addltion, the lifter mechanlsm is compact in si~e such that the amount of interior ~pace withln the vehlcle that 19 cons~led by the roof panel apparatus 19 minimized.

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Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A lifter apparatus for a pivotal-sliding roof panel in a vehicle having a roof opening comprising: a guide rail mounted on the vehicle; a guide shoe slidably disposed within the guide rail; a link having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally connected to the guide shoe; an attachment member secured to the roof panel and having an aperture formed therein; the second end of the link being slidably disposed within the aperture in the attachment mem-ber; a cam block mounted on the guide shoe, the cam block engaging the attachment member and urging the attachment mem-ber and the roof panel upward to close the roof opening; and the link pivoting about the first end as the guide shoe moves further within the guide rail such that the second end slides within the aperture in the attachment member and urges the attachment member and the roof panel upward to a vent position in which the rear edge of the roof panel is disposed above the vehicle roof.

2. The lifter apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the aperture in the attachment member is an elongated slot; and the link includes a slider member connected to the second end thereof and adapted to slidingly engage the slot in the attachment member.

3. The lifter apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cam block and the attachment member are formed with complementary engaging cam surfaces.

4. The lifter apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cam surfaces have a planar inclined form.

5. The lifter apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cam block is vertically adjustable with respect to the guide shoe.