Vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device

Abstract

A vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device includes a first roof panel, a second roof panel and a rear window panel, a retracting mechanism moving the first roof panel so as to overlap the second roof panel and moving the first roof panel and the second roof panel so as to further overlap the rear window panel, a lift mechanism moving those panels so as to be stored within a luggage space, the retracting mechanism including plural rotational link members provided among the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel, the rear window panel including a protruding portion formed so as to cover one of: a side surface of the second roof panel; and both a side surface of the first roof panel and the side surface of the second roof panel, and the rotational link members supported by the protruding portion of the rear window panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrated an oblique perspective view of a vehicle having a vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device related to the present invention while roof panels cover a compartment of the vehicle, where a part thereof is illustrated in a cross sectional view;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the vehicle in the state illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an oblique perspective view of the vehicle having the vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device related to the present invention, where a front roof panel and a rear roof panel overlapping each other are moved so as to be above the rear window panel;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the vehicle in the state illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the vehicle having the vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device related to the present invention, where the front roof panel, the rear roof panel and the rear window panel, which are overlapping each other, are moved so as to be stored within the luggage space; and

FIG. 6 illustrated an oblique perspective view of the vehicle having a vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device related to the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device comprising: a first roof panel and a second roof panel positioned above a compartment of a vehicle;the second roof panel positioned behind the first roof panel in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;a rear window panel provided at a rear portion of the compartment of the vehicle;a retracting mechanism moving the first roof panel so as to overlap the second roof panel and moving the first roof panel and the second roof panel, which are overlapped each other, so as to further overlap the rear window panel;a lift mechanism moving the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel, which are overlapped each other, so as to be stored within a luggage space provided at a rear portion of the vehicle;the retracting mechanism including plural rotational link members provided among the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel;the rear window panel including a protruding portion formed so as to cover one of: a side surface of the second roof panel; and both a side surface of the first roof panel and the side surface of the second roof panel, while the first roof panel and the second roof panel are positioned above the compartment; andthe rotational link members supported by the protruding portion of the rear window panel.

2. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 1, wherein the plural rotational link members include a drive link, a driven link, a first auxiliary link and a second auxiliary link, and the drive link is provided in a manner where one end of the drive link is rotatably connected to the first roof panel by means of a first connecting member, and the other end of the drive link is rotatably connected to the protruding portion by means of a second connecting member; the driven link is provided in a manner where one end of the driven link is rotatably connected to the first auxiliary link by means of a third connecting member, the other end of the driven link is fixed to the second roof panel, and the driven link is rotatably connected to the drive link at a central portion thereof by means of a forth connecting member; the first auxiliary link is provided in a manner where one end of the first auxiliary link is rotatably connected to the first roof panel by means of a fifth connecting member, and the other end of the first auxiliary link is rotatably connected to the one end of the driven link by means of the third connecting member; and the second auxiliary link is provided in a manner where one end of the second auxiliary link is rotatably connected to the other end of the driven link, which is fixed to the second roof panel, by means of a sixth connecting member, and the other end of the second auxiliary link is rotatably connected to the protruding portion of the rear window panel by means of a seventh connecting member.

3. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 1, wherein an actuating mechanism for actuating the rotating link members is provided at the protruding portion of the rear window panel.

4. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 2, wherein an actuating mechanism for actuating the rotating link members is provided at the protruding portion of the rear window panel.

5. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 1, wherein, while the first roof panel and the second roof panel are positioned above the compartment, only one of break lines existing between the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel is seen at side surface of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 2, wherein, while the first roof panel and the second roof panel are positioned above the compartment, only one of break lines existing between the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel is seen at side surface of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 3, wherein, while the first roof panel and the second roof panel are positioned above the compartment, only one of break lines existing between the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel is seen at side surface of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 4, wherein, while the first roof panel and the second roof panel are positioned above the compartment, only one of break lines existing between the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel is seen at side surface of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device according to claim 1, wherein the second roof panel is comprised of plural panels.

10. A vehicle roof automatic opening/closing device comprising: a first roof panel and a second roof panel positioned above a compartment of a vehicle;the second roof panel positioned behind the first roof panel in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;a rear window panel provided at a rear portion of the compartment of the vehicle;a retracting mechanism moving the first roof panel so as to overlap the second roof panel and moving the first roof panel and the second roof panel so as to further overlap the rear window panel;a lift mechanism moving the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel, which are overlapped each other, so as to be stored within a luggage space provided at a rear portion of the vehicle;the retracting mechanism including plural rotational link members provided among the first roof panel, the second roof panel and the rear window panel;the rear window panel including a protruding portion formed so as to cover a side surface of the second roof panel while the first roof panel and the second roof panel are positioned above the compartment; andthe rotational link members supported by the protruding portion of the rear window panel.