RETRACTABLE REAR WINDOW

• Main Authors: MILTON C. KALTZ, MICHAEL P. ALEXANDER
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.09.1988
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: CHECKS FOR WINGS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS; KEYS; LOCKS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORVEHICLES; SAFES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILARDEVICES FOR VEHICLES; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

A retractable backlight apparatus for vehicles includes arcuate-shaped guide tracks mounted within the vehicle on opposite sides of the backlight panel. Rollers operably driven by a drive motor and connected to the backlight panel ride within the guide tracks to move the backlight panel between a raised, angled position closing the rear opening in the vehicle roof structure to a retracted, substantially vertical, stowed position within the interior of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a link is connected between a roller and the backlight panel and provides a final pivoting movement of the bottom edge of the backlight panel to bring the backlight panel into secure, sealing engagement in the vehicle roof structure when in the raised condition. A closure panel is pivotally mounted within the vehicle forward of the backlight panel and operably connected to the backlight panel to control the tilting movement of the backlight panel as the backlight panel moves between the raised and retracted positions.