B60J7/0573

Sunroof drive apparatus and related sunroof assemblies for use with vehicles

Sunroof drive apparatus and related sunroof assemblies for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed assembly includes a sunroof panel, a rail, a guide block attached to part of the rail, a bracket beneath the sunroof panel, a link in the rail removably connected to the guide block, and a drive shoe in the rail slidably coupled to the link. The drive shoe includes first and second slots to receive respective first and second pins of the link. The link can rotate about a rotation axis from a first orientation in which the link is inseparable from the guide block to a target orientation in which the link is separable from the guide block. When the first pin enters a locking area at an end of the first slot, the drive shoe imparts one or more loads on the first pin that urge the link into the target orientation.

Drive arrangement for a sunroof and a sun blind of a vehicle
11286703 · 2022-03-29 · ·

An electromotive drive arrangement for a transparent sunroof and a sun blind, arranged beneath the sunroof, of a vehicle, comprising one motor/gearing unit for actuating the sunroof and one motor/gearing unit for actuating the sun blind, wherein the motor/gearing units are fitted at the edge of the roof cut-out for the sunroof, characterized in that the two motor/gearing units are combined into one motor/gearing block.

Deployable bed cover for a vehicle and associated deployment method
11267321 · 2022-03-08 · ·

A bed cover for a vehicle that may be deployed electromechanically, either on demand or automatically, when a vehicle operator so desires, when predetermined weather conditions are detected, when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed or experiences predetermined operating conditions, and/or when predetermined aerodynamic drag conditions are detected. The bed cover is deployable from a stowed configuration to one or more use configurations. These use configurations may include a traditional horizontal bed cover and/or an angled “cap-style” bed cover, with the angled bed cover providing enhanced aerodynamic drag reduction characteristics. A vehicle control module and camera, sensor, and/or stop trigger are used to ensure that is safe to deploy and use the bed cover, without negatively impacting an item, animal, or person present in the bed or rear cargo space of the vehicle.

Automated rigid tonneau cover

A retractable cover system includes laterally spaced apart guide rails that each provide a track. A drive assembly includes a motor operatively connected to a gear. A cover has multiple slats configured to interlock with one another in a deployed configuration. The slats cooperate with the gear and are slidable in the tracks between first and second positions within the opening in response to actuation of the drive system. The slats are stacked onto one another in a stowed configuration. A method of servicing a retractable cover system includes the step of removing an access cover from a magazine to expose a cavity housing stacked rigid slats. A method of retracting a tonneau cover includes the steps of actuating a handle and decoupling the tonneau cover from a drive mechanism.

OPENING-CLOSING BODY CONTROL DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

An opening-closing body control device for a vehicle includes: an opening-closing control unit configured to control an operation of an opening-closing body provided in an opening portion of a vehicle by controlling energization of a motor serving as a drive source. When the opening-closing body being moved based on a driving force of the motor is to be stopped, the opening-closing control unit sets a free running period during which free rotation of the motor is allowed, and executes brake control for generating a braking force in the motor after the free running period elapses.

SHADING DEVICE
20210170836 · 2021-06-10 ·

A shading device for a vehicle roof includes at least one shading length that can be rolled up for shading a light-permeable and/or open area of the vehicle roof, a tension bow that is movably mounted in a direction of travel (V), to which the shading length-is fastened, a drive mechanism that can be operated by a drive motor to move the tension and a control unit for activating the drive motor. The shading device includes at least one opposing force element for restricting a traveling movement of the tension bow, and the control unit is designed to activate the drive motor based on an opposing force when the tension bow reaches an end position (P1, P2) defined by the stop element.

Frame of a vehicle roof comprising a cable guide element

A frame of a vehicle roof which may have a cable guide element in which a cable duct for accommodating a drive cable for a displaceable roof element is formed, the cable duct being limited by a duct wall. The duct wall may have a buckling cutout whose length in the longitudinal direction of the cable duct is greater than a buckling limit length.

OPEN ROOF ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A VEHICLE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME
20210172233 · 2021-06-10 ·

An open roof assembly for use in a vehicle roof of a vehicle comprises a moveably arranged closure member for selectively covering or at least partially exposing an opening in the vehicle roof, an electric motor operatively coupled to the closure member through a mechanical drive assembly for moving the closure member, an electric driving unit for providing a supply signal to the electric motor and a control unit operatively coupled to the electric driving unit for controlling operation of the electric motor. The electric driving unit comprises four switching devices in a bridged configuration and the control unit is configured to control a motion of the closure member by controlling operation of the switching devices, and to incur a safety stop during a motion of the closure member by an immediate reversal of a polarity of the supply signal.

Drive system and a truck bed comprising a roll-up truck bed cover and the drive system

A drive system serves for reciprocating, between an extended position and a retracted position, a roll-up truck bed cover above a truck bed, said roll-up truck bed cover being composed of a rear profile, a plurality of elongate slats that are hinged together and has a foremost front slat, said drive system comprising at least one reciprocating means adapted for reciprocating the roll-up truck bed cover, and at least one reversible electric motor adapted for driving the reciprocating means. The at least one reciprocating means comprises at least one pulley system comprising at least one set of pulleys and at least one drive belt, which at least one set of pulleys includes a driven pulley and an idle pulley, and the drive belt is secured to the rear profile of the roll-up truck bed cover.

ACTUATOR APPARATUS, SUNROOF APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF ACTUATOR APPARATUS
20210284001 · 2021-09-16 · ·

An actuator apparatus includes a gear housing including an arrangement surface of a drive gear. The arrangement surface is provided at an outer side of the gear housing. The apparatus includes a cover member fixed to the gear housing in a state of covering the drive gear. The apparatus includes a guide member of a drive cable meshing with the drive gear. The guide member is provided to extend in an arrangement direction of the drive cable. The apparatus includes a fixing portion provided at the arrangement surface and configured to fix the guide member relative to the gear housing.