Patent ID: 6179373
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
A vehicle roof assembly, comprising:a roof structure with an opening;a panel that is selectively moved across the opening;a blind sheet that is positioned below the panel and selectively wound on a spool that is supported by the roof structure, opposing side edges of the blind sheet being guided in a sliding manner in guide rails in a direction of movement of the blind while being maintained in the guide rails in a second direction that is transverse to the direction of movement, the guide rails having grooves with a guide area that is offset relative to a level of the blind sheet, the blind sheet having strengthened borders at opposing side edges, the borders being selectively folded over for engagement with the guide areas offset relative to the level of the blind sheet and selectively restored to a straight, unfolded position when a corresponding portion of the sheet is received on the spool; anda feed element at one end of each of the guide rails between the guide rails and the spool, each feed element having a guide channel that receives an edge of the blind sheet near a first end of the feed element adjacent the spool and directs the edge of the blind sheet into the guide rail at a second end of the feed element as the sheet moves through the feed element, the guide channel first end being situated approximately at the level of the blind sheet, the guide channel second end being spatially rotated relative to the first end and aligned with the corresponding guide groove in the corresponding guide rail.