US2015246605A1PendingUtilityA1

Vacuum blocker

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 28, 2014Filed: Mar 2, 2015Published: Sep 3, 2015
Est. expiryFeb 28, 2034(~7.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Richard KleinhofferCliff R. Reitzloff
B60J 10/30B60J 10/24B60J 10/82B60J 10/27B60J 7/0046B60J 10/90B60J 7/12B60J 10/32B60J 7/061B60J 10/40B60J 10/0091B60J 10/10B60J 10/0054B60J 10/0031
43
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Claims

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.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
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 operable to form a second seal at a junction of said 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, said flap moving under fluid pressure 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.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 1 , wherein said flap is fixed for movement with the movable panel. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 2 , wherein said flap extends down from the movable panel and includes a sealing surface in contact with said seal member. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . 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. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 1 , wherein said flap is attached to the movable roof panel by a binding member, said binding member disposed at an outboard edge of the movable roof panel. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 1 , wherein said flap is fixed for movement with said seal member. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 8 , wherein said flap includes a sealing surface 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. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 8 , wherein said flap is formed from a flexible material that biases said flap into engagement with the movable roof panel. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 10 , wherein said flap is integrally formed with and extends from said seal member. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum blocker of  claim 11 , wherein said flap extends from said seal member toward the movable roof panel. 
     
     
         13 . 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 operable to form a second seal at a junction of said seal member and said movable roof panel 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.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein said flap is fixed for movement with said movable panel. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein said flap extends down from said movable panel and includes a sealing surface in contact with said seal member. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing surface is in contact with said seal member throughout said range of movement of said movable roof panel from said seated position to said lifted position and slides along said seal member when said movable roof panel is moved between said seated position and said lifted position. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said flap is fixed for movement with said seal member. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein said flap includes a sealing surface 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. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein said flap is formed from a flexible material that biases said flap into engagement with the movable roof panel. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein said flap is integrally formed with and extends from said seal member toward the movable roof panel.

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