US 12,233,778 B2
Transparent roof panel assembly for a vehicle roof
Sander de Bie, Nuth (NL); Theodorus van Doleweerd, Budel-Dorplein (NL); Ruud Geurts, Helden (NL); Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen, Merselo (NL); and Christian Giese, Goch (DE)
Assigned to INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V., Oostrum (NL)
Filed by INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V., Oostrum (NL)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/326,346.
Claims priority of application No. 22198890 (EP), filed on Sep. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0109482 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 3/208 (2017.01); B62D 25/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 3/208 (2017.02) [B62D 25/06 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transparent roof panel assembly for a vehicle roof of a vehicle, the transparent roof panel assembly comprising:
a panel being configured to be arranged over an opening in the vehicle roof, the panel comprising:
an exterior ply;
an interior ply having a first refractive index; and
an interlayer between the exterior ply and the interior ply, the interlayer having a second refractive index wherein the second refractive index is lower than the first refractive index, wherein the panel has a transparent area to allow visible light to pass through the transparent area between an exterior of the vehicle and an interior of the vehicle,
a light source arranged to provide light in the panel, and
an in-coupling element to in-couple light into the panel from an interior side of the interior ply, the in-coupling element being attached to the interior side of the interior ply and redirecting light from the light source into the interior ply,
wherein the in-coupling element is formed directly to the interior side of the interior ply, either extruded directly on the interior side of the interior ply or molded directly to the interior side of the interior ply.