Patent ID: 7108317

Claim:
A tilt sunroof unit comprising: a sunroof panel provided tiltably with respect to a plane of an opening provided in a vehicular roof; an annular frame formed so as to extend continuously along an entire periphery of the opening, the annular frame being formed of a single part in which a peripheral gutter continuing along an entire periphery thereof is integrally formed, the peripheral gutter having a substantially downwardly-convex-shape is located below the periphery of the opening; a lifting mechanism for connecting the sunroof panel and the annular frame; a female member provided on the annular frame at an opening side of the roof and having an upper member and a lower member which are formed so as to be split from each other; and a male member provided at one edge portion of the sunroof panel to engage the female member, wherein a gap is formed between the upper member and the lower member and a detachable hinge mechanism is formed by the female member and the male member as the male member is inserted in the gap, the upper member being secured to the lower member at an upwardly accessible location within the opening periphery, and the tilt sunroof unit in a subassembled state with the sunroof panel assembled thereto is assembled to the roof wherein the female member is provided within the convex-shaped gutter of the annular frame.