Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-30
2001-05-15
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S216090, C049S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231118
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sunshade system for a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, vehicle sunroofs with sunshades have been mounted in the roof of a vehicle such that the sliding roof member made of glass, synthetic resin or the like could be moved forwardly and rearwardly to open and close the sunroof system.
The slidable member moves in a frame that is installed into a cut out section of the roof of the vehicle. The frame is usually made of a metal material or plastic material and defines the boundaries of the opening and of the sunshade. The sunshade laterally moves within the confines of the frame. In previous embodiments, various components were attached to the lateral edges of the sunshade to facilitate the sliding motion and to prevent rattles from occurring. The sunroofs are held within the side rails by separate springs or slide shoe structures attached to the retractable sunroof assembly. One such structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,183 to Sigmund. In this disclosure, the structure is arranged to have at least one separate prestressed spring attached thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,672 discloses a sunshade that has sliders extending along the lateral ends of the sunshade for slidably engaging into a guide groove of the sunshade frame. Stay members are mounted at each side of the front of the sliding roof sunshade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to eliminate the separate stay member, springs, slide shoe structure or other components that need to be assembled with the sunshade.
It is further an object to provide a sunshade which is a unitary piece having integral side or lateral springs molded thereon.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a sunshade that minimizes manufacturing and assembly time and also simplifies the assembly process.
A further object of the invention is to provide a cost-effective sunroof assembly that also provides a means for minimizing storage space by providing the unitary structure for the sliding sunshade.
It is further an object to keep lost parts at a minimum at the manufacturing and assembly locations. In the past many springs required for attachment to the lateral sides of the sunshade would be misplaced during transit or at the assembly site, therefore incurring loss of revenue. As a result, lost man-hours is also kept to a minimum by keeping the search for alternative or replacement springs an unnecessary task.
The present invention provides a sunshade that is manufactured by injection molding that includes an integral spring for maintaining the sunshade within rails of a sunroof frame located in an aperture of a vehicle.
The present invention further provides a rattle-free sliding roof made from a unitary member. The present invention provides a sunshade that can be easily installed within a sunroof frame while also eliminating the cost of the spring clips and their installation.
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Pape Joseph D.
Sarnamotive Blue Water, Inc.
Young & Basile P.C.
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