Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-15
2001-08-14
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273501
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a wind deflector for a vehicle roof closure wherein the wind deflector is moved between extended and stowed position based upon movement of the closure member.
Modern vehicles are often provided with a closure in the roof which is movable between an open and closed position. These closures are typically known as moon roofs or sunroofs. The closures are selectively moved between the open position at which they open an aperture in the ceiling, or to the closed position at which they close the aperture.
When the closure is the open position, a good deal of wind may move into the cab of the vehicle. Since this wind is often directed at the vehicle occupants, the closures are often provided with wind deflectors forward of the aperture. The wind deflectors serve to direct wind around the wind deflector, such that it is not directed at the occupants of the vehicle.
However, the wind deflectors have also needed to be moved between a stowed position when the closure is closed, and to an extended position when the closure is opened. The movement has presented design challenges.
Known wind deflectors have been relatively complex, and have typically relied upon separate drive members to move between the extended and stowed position. The prior art wind deflectors are thus quite complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a wind deflector is positioned forward in an aperture in a vehicle roof. The wind deflector is biased toward one of a stowed or open position, and moved to the other upon movement of the closure member. In a preferred embodiment, the wind deflector is biased to an extended position at which a deflector portion extends upwardly of the aperture. A spring biases the deflector to this position. The closure member moves against the wind deflector to force it to its stowed position.
Preferably, the wind deflector is mounted within a mount portion such that it has a stop member which stops further movement of the wind deflector when the wind deflector is biased to its extended position. In a preferred embodiment, this stop is provided with a tab extending downwardly from the wind deflector which contacts a portion of the mount. The stop prevents further movement of the wind deflector. In a most preferred embodiment of this invention, the wind deflector is pivotable about a pivot axis, and spring biased about the pivot axis to its extended position. The stop prevents further movement of the wind deflector. The closure member contacts the wind deflector and acts in opposition to the spring bias to force the wind deflector to its stowed position.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4342481 (1982-08-01), Kanou et al.
patent: 4362332 (1982-12-01), Garnham
patent: 4681364 (1987-07-01), Bienert et al.
patent: 4971387 (1990-11-01), Bohm et al.
patent: 5971472 (1999-10-01), Schreiter et al.
patent: 3100731 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 543498 (1955-06-01), None
Long John E.
Raasakka John
Tolinski Roch
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Meritor Light Vehicle Systems, Inc.
Pedder Dennis H.
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