Vacuum blocker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10023037-B2
Application number	US-201615367273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2016
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A vacuum blocker for a movable roof panel is provided and moves between an open position and a closed position and between a seated position and a lifted position when in the closed position relative to an opening formed in a fixed roof panel of a vehicle. A seal member is supported by the fixed roof panel and forms a first seal at a junction of the fixed roof panel and the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is in the seated position. A flap extends between the seal member and the movable roof panel and forms a second seal at a junction of the seal member and the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is in the closed position and is moved from the seated position to the lifted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum blocker for a movable roof panel movable between an open position and a closed position and between a seated position and a lifted position when in the closed position relative to an opening formed in a fixed roof panel of a vehicle, the vacuum blocker comprising:
a seal member supported by the fixed roof panel and operable to form a first seal at a junction of the fixed roof panel and the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is in the seated position; and
a flap extending between said seal member and the movable roof panel and affixed to the movable roof panel, the flap extending down from the movable roof panel and including a sealing surface in contact with the seal member and operable to form a second seal at a junction of said seal member and sealing surface of the flap when the movable roof panel is in the closed position and is moved from the seated position to the lifted position, said flap moving in response to movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position to maintain said second seal throughout a range of movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position wherein said sealing surface is in contact with said seal member throughout said range of movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position and slides along said seal member when the movable roof panel is moved between the seated position and the lifted position.

2. The vacuum blocker of claim 1 , wherein said flap is in contact with said seal member and the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is in the seated position, said flap being compressed between said seal member and the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is in the seated position.

3. The vacuum blocker of claim 1 , wherein said flap is urged into engagement with the movable roof panel by said seal member when the movable roof panel is in the seated position.

4. The vacuum blocker of claim 1 , wherein said flap is affixed to the movable roof panel by a binding member, said binding member disposed at an outboard edge of the movable roof panel.

5. A vacuum blocker for a movable roof panel movable between an open position and a closed position and between a seated position and a lifted position when in the closed position relative to an opening formed in a fixed roof panel of a vehicle, the vacuum blocker comprising:
a seal member supported by the fixed roof panel and operable to form a first seal at a junction of the fixed roof panel and the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is in the seated position; and
a flap extending between said seal member and the movable roof panel and affixed to the seal member and operable to form a second seal at a junction of the moveable roof panel and sealing surface of the flap when the movable roof panel is in the closed position and is moved from the seated position to the lifted position, said flap moving in response to movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position to maintain said second seal throughout a range of movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position wherein the sealing surface of the flap is in contact with the movable roof panel throughout said range of movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position and slides along the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is moved between the seated position and the lifted position.

6. The vacuum blocker of claim 5 , wherein said flap is formed from a flexible material that biases said flap into engagement with the movable roof panel.

7. The vacuum blocker of claim 6 , wherein said flap is integrally formed with and extends from said seal member.

8. The vacuum blocker of claim 7 , wherein said flap extends from said seal member toward the movable roof panel.

9. A vehicle comprising:
a fixed roof panel having an opening;
a movable roof panel movable between an open position and a closed position and between a seated position and a lifted position when in the closed position relative to said opening:
a seal member supported by said fixed roof panel and operable to form a first seal at a junction of said fixed roof panel and said movable roof panel when said movable roof panel is in said seated position; and
a flap extending between said seal member and said movable roof panel and affixed to the movable roof panel, the flap extending down from the movable roof panel and including a sealing surface in contact with the seal member and operable to form a second seal at a junction of said seal member and sealing surface of the flap when said movable roof panel is in said closed position and is moved from said seated position to said lifted position, said flap moving under fluid pressure in response to movement of said movable roof panel from said seated position to said lifted position to maintain said second seal throughout a range of movement of said movable roof panel from said seated position to said lifted position wherein said sealing surface is in contact with said seal member throughout said range of movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position and slides along said seal member when the movable roof panel is moved between the seated position and the lifted position.

10. A vehicle comprising:
a fixed roof panel having an opening;
a movable roof panel movable between an open position and a closed position and between a seated position and a lifted position when in the closed position relative to said opening:
a seal member supported by said fixed roof panel and operable to form a first seal at a junction of said fixed roof panel and said movable roof panel when said movable roof panel is in said seated position; and
a flap extending between said seal member and the movable roof panel and affixed to the seal member and operable to form a second seal at a junction of the moveable roof panel and sealing surface of the flap wherein the sealing surface of the flap is in contact with the movable roof panel throughout said range of movement of the movable roof panel from the seated position to the lifted position and slides along the movable roof panel when the movable roof panel is moved between the seated position and the lifted position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein said flap is formed from a flexible material that biases said flap into engagement with the movable roof panel.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein said flap is integrally formed with and extends from said seal member toward the movable roof panel.

Assignees

• Kleinhoffer Richard
• Reitzloff Cliff R
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Kleinhoffer Richard
• Reitzloff Cliff R

Classifications

• B60J10/90 Primary

  specially adapted for non-fixed roofs, e.g. foldable roofs or removable hard-tops · CPC title

• B60J10/32

  using integral U-shaped retainers · CPC title

• B60J10/24

  having tubular parts · CPC title

• B60J10/30

  characterised by the fastening means · CPC title

• B60J10/40

  characterised by contact between two or more cooperating sealing arrangements · CPC title