A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening in a roof part thereof, comprises a closure which is movable by an operating mechanism including at least a guide rail extending in a longitudinal direction of the roof system. A slide which is slidable in the guide rail cooperates at least with a closure support. The slide comprises a body and at least two curves provided in the body and each cooperating with at least a cam. The cams are provided on at least the closure support and the curves have such extent that they cross each other between their ends. The curves are arranged in substantially parallel walls of the body of the slide that face away from each other.

A mounting package includes a sunroof assembly, a roof crossbeam, and a hanger hanging the roof crossbeam underneath the sunroof assembly. The sunroof assembly includes a guiderail. The hanger includes a lower hook hooked with the roof crossbeam, and an upper hook hooked with the guiderail. The hanger is configured to flexibly accommodate multidirectional movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail. The multidirectional movement includes lifting movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail.

A mounting package includes a sunroof assembly, a roof crossbeam, and a hanger hanging the roof crossbeam underneath the sunroof assembly. The sunroof assembly includes a guiderail. The hanger includes a lower hook hooked with the roof crossbeam, and an upper hook hooked with the guiderail. The hanger is configured to flexibly accommodate multidirectional movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail. The multidirectional movement includes lifting movement of the roof crossbeam relative to the guiderail.

A tilt and slide apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle includes a movable panel, a drive shoe configured to slide in a forward/rearward direction relative to the front of the vehicle, a lift guide connected to an end of the movable panel, and a check assembly including a locking component. The check assembly couples the drive shoe and the lift guide when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction to the lift guide. A guide ramp formed on the drive shoe is an angled indented surface configured to align a portion of the locking component in order to couple the drive shoe and the lift guide. The guide ramp is formed as a tapered groove that has a width in a vehicle width direction that is continuously broadened from a front end of the groove toward a rear end of the groove.

A support mechanism for an open-roof assembly, comprising a moveable panel, comprises at least one of a front flexible portion and a rear flexible portion. A guide assembly of the open-roof assembly comprises an elongated guide rail extending in a longitudinal direction, a front mechanism slideably arranged in the guide rail and a rear mechanism arranged in the guide rail. The front mechanism and the rear mechanism are provided with means for providing a relatively high mechanism stiffness, while the at least one of the front and rear flexible portions is provided with a relatively low bending stiffness in the width direction and with a relatively low rotational stiffness in respective main directions such that orientation deviations between the panel support assembly and the guide assembly result in larger rotational deformation in the at least one of the respective flexible portions than in the respective mechanisms.

In a guide assembly for an open-roof system of a vehicle, a closure member selectively covers or at least partly uncovers an opening in a vehicle roof. The assembly comprises a guide extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; a mounting element for mounting the closure member; a first support mechanism operatively coupled to the mounting element, the first support mechanism slidably supporting the mounting element in the guide; and a second support mechanism coupled to the guide and comprising a support element slidably supporting the mounting element, the second support mechanism being configured for moving the mounting element to a tilted position, a tilt direction being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The assembly is provided with a release mechanism for releasing the mounting element from at least one of the first support mechanism and the second support mechanism and for remounting the mounting element.

A guide assembly of an open roof assembly comprises a center rail element. The center rail element comprises a first wall member and a second wall member, the second wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member. A transverse wall member extends between the first wall member and the second wall member. A first guide channel is arranged in the first wall member and a second guide channel is arranged in the second wall member. A cable channel is provided on the transverse wall and is arranged between the first guide channel and the second guide channel. Thus, a modular center rail element is provided that may be used with all vehicle types without further vehicle specific adaptation.

A manufacturing method of a sunroof apparatus includes a panel drive unit including a first guide rail arranged at each end portion of a roof opening portion, a panel support member configured to displace a movable panel to open and close the roof opening portion in accordance with a movement of a first moving portion, and a shade unit including a second guide rail arranged inward relative to the first guide rail in the vehicle width direction. The first guide rail and the second guide rail are separately provided. The manufacturing method of the sunroof apparatus includes a first process connecting the movable panel to the panel support member, and a second process connecting the first guide rail and the second guide rail to the movable panel after the first process.

An apparatus and method for a sunroof of a vehicle, including a pivot link pivotally coupled to a drive shoe, the pivot link having a first pivot pin configured to slide along a first guide channel of a guide block to control tilting of a movable panel as the drive shoe slides, a lift guide, and a check assembly including a mechanical lock. The mechanical lock includes an inner surface having a locking guide channel to guide a second pivot pin of the pivot link, the locking guide channel includes an upper guide portion. The pivot link is configured to pivot to a raised position to tilt the movable panel when the drive shoe is slid in the forward direction and becomes coupled to the lift guide by the check assembly. The upper guide portion engages the second pivot pin to lock the pivot link in the raised position.

In a sunroof device, a driving shoe includes a first plate being made of metal and including a first engaging wall engaging with a first guide portion of a support member, a second plate being made of metal and including a second engaging wall engaging with a second guide portion of the support member, and a sliding portion sliding with a guide rail. The driving shoe, by moving along the guide rail with the first engaging wall and the second engaging wall engaging with the first guide portion and the second guide portion, respectively, causes a rear edge portion of a movable panel to ascend or descend via the support member. In the driving shoe, the first plate and the second plate are coupled to each other in a width direction by the sliding portion.