Movable or removable closures – Mounted for multidirectional or oblique movement – Initial or terminal movement transverse to sliding movement...
Patent
1989-05-02
1990-06-19
Kannan, Philip C.
Movable or removable closures
Mounted for multidirectional or oblique movement
Initial or terminal movement transverse to sliding movement...
49408, 296213, 296222, E05D 1510, B60J 7053
Patent
active
049340980
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a guide device for a sliding panel, such as a sliding panel in the roof of a motor vehicle, for guiding the panel over the edges of the opening in the top of the roof, and for improving sealing between panel and the top of the roof, when the panel is in its closing position.
In some cases, the panels of opening roofs are guided along shaped slideways which, on opening and on closing, enable the panel to be swung away from or towards the bodywork so as to enable the panel not only to slide over the bodywork, but also to press firmly against a gasket disposed around the opening by the panel moving vertically towards the bodywork as the roof is being closed. This swinging motion is obtained in conventional manner by the shape of the slideways in which the panel slides by means of lateral skids. In most cases, these skids are at the same level as the panel and as a result, when the panel is in its low position, its bottom face is situated no higher than the top face of the bodywork and it may be lower. It is then necessary for the sealing gasket which presses against the panel when in its closed position to be provided at a level which is lower than the level of the bodywork. Locations then necessarily exist between the panel and the slideways constituting pockets in which rainwater is retained, which water seeps, by capillarity, between the panel and the gasket at the lowest points of the water-retaining pockets.
The present invention seeks to provide an assembly which mitigates this drawback by implementing means for eliminating such rainwater retention spaces, thus allowing the water to escape freely.
To this end, the invention therefore provides a sealing and guide device for a panel sliding horizontally over an opening through a wall, the device being constituted by two slideways disposed along and above the lateral edges of the opening, with each of the slideways being constituted by two longitudinally successive parts, each receiving a guide skid fixed to the panel, each part comprising two portions at different distances from said wall and interconnected by a slope for imparting a swinging action to the panel on opening and closing, the device being further constituted by a sealing gasket facing upwards and disposed between the slideways to make contact with the panel when said skids are in those slideway portions which are closest to the wall.
According to one of the main characteristics of the invention, said guide skids are disposed in a plane different from the plane of the panel and beneath the panel, with said gasket then standing proud above the outside face of the wall.
In a preferred embodiment, the skids are coupled to the panel by means of a section bar fitted over the longitudinal edges of the panel and having a downwardly stepped outer section which is lower than its section fitted over the edge.
Finally, each slideway is coupled to the wall by means of a support which includes transverse evacuation channels in its base.
The invention will be better understood from the following description given purely by way of non-limiting example and also serving to show up secondary characteristics and advantages.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagramatic representation of the conventional means used in the present invention for causing the closure panel to swing; and
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view through one edge of the panel in its position for closing the opening in bodywork.
With reference to the figures, a horizontal wall 1 can be seen forming the top of a car roof, which top has an opening 2 of which only one edge 2a is shown in FIG. 2. Along this edge, which is a longitudinal edge of the opening, there is a slideway 3 which is generally U-shaped, having an internal lining 3a for facilitating panel sliding. The slideway is contained in a support 4 for fixing it to the vehicle bodywork and having a protective extension 4a which also serves to hide the slideway for reasons of appearance.
FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic view a
REFERENCES:
patent: 1712562 (1929-05-01), Jeffers
patent: 4043590 (1977-08-01), Pizzuti
patent: 4426112 (1984-01-01), Mori
patent: 4811985 (1989-03-01), Kruger et al.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 8, No. 274 (M-345) (1711), 14 Dec. 1984, and JP, A, 59143719 (MAZDA K.K.), 17 Aug. 1984.
Jeuffray Jean-Marie
Prouteau Philippe
Ets Farnier & Penin
Kannan Philip C.
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