KR20240164307A - Roof system for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roof system for a vehicle comprising a stationary guide rail (13) on each longitudinal side of a roof opening, which slideably guides a movable closer and an operating mechanism for operating the closer in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The operating mechanism comprises a first device comprising a lever (7) for moving the closer. The lever is longitudinally slidable within a guide channel (23) of the stationary guide rail (13) and is pivotally connected to a sliding member (22) supported by the guide rail in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal sliding direction. A guide flange (24) having at least a vertical flange portion (24A) engaged by the sliding member and a first horizontal flange portion (24B) is provided in the guide channel of the guide rail. The first horizontal flange portion (24B) of the guide flange is connected to an upper end of the vertical flange portion (24A) and cooperates with a portion of the sliding member (22) engaged with an upper surface of the first horizontal flange portion (24B). Then, the sliding member (22) and the lever (7) connected to the sliding member are stably supported.

Description

ROOF SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening within a roof portion of the roof system, comprising: at least one closure, the closure being moveable between a closed position, in which the closure closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which the closure opens the roof opening, the closure being positioned at least partially over an adjoining roof part; A roof system for a vehicle, comprising: a stationary guide rail on each longitudinal side of said roof opening, said stationary guide rail being adapted to slidably guide an operating mechanism for operating said closer in the longitudinal direction of said vehicle; said operating mechanism comprising at least one first device comprising a lever for moving said closer towards a raised position relative to said closed position and above said adjacent roof portion; said lever being pivotally connected to a sliding member; said sliding member being longitudinally slidable within a guide channel of said stationary guide rail and supported by said guide rail in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal sliding direction; and wherein a guide flange is provided in the guide channel of said guide rail having at least a vertical flange portion and a horizontal flange portion engaged by the sliding member.

A loop system of this type is known from US 8,857,903. This prior art loop system comprises a sliding member enveloping a vertical flange portion and a lower horizontal flange portion. The sliding member according to the prior art has several disadvantages. First of all, the stability of the sliding member is not optimal due to various reasons, such as the phenomenon of sticking to the lever, resistance to wind loads and the ability to be easily lubricated during manufacturing.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a loop system in which at least one of the above disadvantages is avoided or at least reduced.

To achieve these and other objects, the present invention is characterized in that a first horizontal flange portion of the guide flange is connected to an upper portion of the vertical flange portion and cooperates with a portion of the sliding member that is engaged with an upper surface of the first horizontal flange portion.

Then, the sliding member is stably supported because the sliding member is suspended under the first horizontal flange portion, and this horizontal flange portion can be manufactured large in the transverse direction to increase the supporting force.

Preferably, the second horizontal flange portion of the guide flange is connected to a lower end of the vertical flange portion and cooperates with a portion of the sliding member that is engaged with a lower surface of the second horizontal flange portion.

These surfaces can provide support if an upward force acts on the pivot pin of the lever.

The sliding member may be provided with ribs that join the horizontal and vertical flange portions of the guide flange.

The lip ensures that dirt will not collect on the sliding surface but will be removed to the area next to the lip. The lip may extend in the sliding direction or transversely thereto.

In one embodiment, the first and second horizontal flange portions extend from the same side of the vertical flange portion, the first horizontal flange portion is connected to the remainder of the guide rail at its end facing away from the vertical flange portion, and the sliding member engages the vertical flange portion only at a side facing away from the horizontal flange portion.

In this way, the sliding surfaces of the guide flange are easily accessible for cleaning and lubrication purposes.

The sliding member may have a small gap from the guide flange on the side facing away from the lever.

This prevents the sliding member from getting caught on the guide flange.

The sliding member can be pivotally connected to the lever by means of a pin having a head adjacent a vertical wall of the sliding member facing away from the lever, the pin clinched to the lever, the pin having a stepped diameter such that the larger diameter portion is inserted into an opening in the sliding member with the smaller diameter portion attached within the opening in the lever by means of a sliding fit.

This connection between the lever and the sliding member can be made very rigid, especially if the flat vertical surface of the sliding member is adjacent to the flat vertical surface of the lever, thus providing a large supporting force.

In a particular embodiment, the lever of the first device is for moving a front edge of the closure in a vertical direction, the open roof structure for a vehicle further comprises a second device for moving a rear edge of the closure toward a raised position relative to the closed position and above the adjacent roof portion; and a guiding slide slidably received within each of the guide rails and actuable by a driving member to move the closure both vertically and horizontally via the first device and the second device.

The guide flange of the guide rail may be substantially C-shaped, with the sliding member almost completely surrounding the guide flange, the guide flange having only a sliding surface on its outer side.

This configuration allows access to the sliding surface, which is advantageous for cleaning and lubrication.

The present invention can provide an operating mechanism for a loop system with increased stability while maintaining a low package height.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of an exemplary loop system with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a vehicle having one embodiment of a roof system in a closed position.
Figure 2 is a drawing corresponding to that of Figure 1, but showing the panels of the loop system in the open position.
Figure 3 is an enlarged exploded view of portions of the open loop structure of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 illustrates parts of Figure 3 from the other side.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the front portion of the panel bracket with attached lever and sliding member of FIG. 3.
Figure 6 shows the assembly of Figure 5 from the other side.
Figure 7 shows a larger scale view of portions of the lever and attached sliding member of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is an exploded view of parts of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a guide rail having a sliding member.
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the guide rail and the mounted operating mechanism.
Figure 11 is a side view of the front portion of the guide rail and operating mechanism.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a part of a vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising a roof opening (1) (fig. 2) formed in a (fixed) roof part (2). Here, a closure in the form of a panel (3) can be moved between a closed position (fig. 1), in which the closure closes the roof opening (1), and an open position (fig. 2), in which the closure opens the roof opening (1) and the panel is positioned at least partially above a roof part (2), here a fixed roof part adjacent to the rear of the roof opening (1).

As known per se, such a roof system (also known as a top slider roof) may comprise additional components, such as for example a tiltable wind deflector positioned in front of the roof opening (1), or additional movable or stationary panels positioned behind the panels (3) when in their closed position, for example. In fact, in this embodiment the roof part behind the roof opening (1) is formed by roof panels (2'), which may be stationary roof panels or movable panels.

The movement of the panel (3) from the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to the open position as illustrated in FIG. 2 is governed by actuating mechanisms, some of which are illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 11. It should be noted that FIGS. 3 to 11 illustrate embodiments of the actuating mechanisms on one longitudinal side of the loop structure, i.e., one longitudinal side of the panel (3), and it should be appreciated that the corresponding actuating mechanism would typically be provided as a mirror image on the opposite longitudinal side.

Figures 3 to 11 illustrate parts of one of the operating mechanisms. This mechanism is connected to the panel (3) via a closure support, which is a panel bracket (4) which is fixed to the lower side of the panel (3) in any known manner, for example via encapsulation or attachment to another encapsulated part, in the vicinity of its longitudinal edge. The operating mechanism comprises a first or rear device (5) and a second or front device (6) (see Figure 4).

The second device or front device (6) comprises a lever (7). This lever comprises a lower pivot shaft, here a pivot pin (8), an upper pivotal connection (9) pivotally connecting the lever (7) to the panel bracket (4) of the panel (3), and an intermediate guide connection (10), here in the form of a cam. Near the intermediate guide connection (10), but on the other side of the lever (7), i.e. on the side opposite to the parts (8, 9 and 10), a guide element (11) in the form of a guide cam is arranged. This guide element (11) is adapted to be in sliding engagement with a stationary guide curve (12). As illustrated in FIG. 11, the stationary guide curve (12) comprises a rear portion (12') extending substantially parallel to the guide rail (13) (and panel (3) when in the closed position), a front portion (12'') extending substantially at an angle to the rear portion (12'), and a connecting portion (12'') connecting both portions (12' and 12'') to each other. Since the guide member (11) has a substantially elliptical shape, the height of the guide curve (12) varies along its length, depending not only on the orientation of the guide curve (12), but also on the projected orientation of the lever (7) and changes in this orientation of the lever (7) along the length of the guide curve (12).

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 11, it is shown that the front part (12'') and the connecting part (12'') of the stationary guide curve (12) are manufactured in a plastic insert (12A) which is attached to a stationary guide rail (13) which is attached directly or via a frame to the vehicle roof. The guide rail (13) extends at least along the roof opening (1) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The main part of the rear part (12') of the stationary guide curve (12) will typically be formed by a flange (13') of the stationary guide rail (13) (see FIG. 11). The stationary guide curve (12) locks the horizontal movement of the panel (3) when the panel is in its forward position (passing through the part (12')) and locks the vertical movement of the panel (3) when the panel is in its rearward position (passing through the part (12')).

The intermediate guide connection (10) will typically be directly connected to a drive mechanism, for example an electric motor driving a push and pull cable (not shown), and thus cooperates with a guide slide (14) (Figs. 3 and 4) which acts as a drive slide. The guide slide (14) is slidably guided within a stationary guide rail (13) and determines the movement of the panel (3). The guide slide (14) comprises a front guide curve, here a guide slot (15), in which a cam of the intermediate guide connection (10) is slidably engaged. The front guide curve (15) comprises a substantially vertical front locking portion, a lower front part and a rear part. The extent of the front guide curve (15) determines the vertical movement of the front edge of the panel (3).

The first device or rear device (5) of the operating mechanism comprises a lever (16) (Figs. 3 and 4). This lever (16) comprises a lower (forward) pivot shaft or pivot pin (17), an upper (rear) pivotal connection (18) and an intermediate guide connection (19). Both levers (7 and 16) extend in opposite directions, i.e. the front lever (7) extends rearwardly and downwardly from its connection to the panel (3), whereas the rear lever (16) extends forwardly and downwardly from the panel (3). As a result, both levers can be controlled by the same guide slide (14) having a relatively short length, whereas the levers (7 and 16) are connected to the panel (3) at a position close to its front or rear edge, respectively. This close connection to the front and rear edges of the panel (3) results in a very stable support of the panel (3).

A slidable connection between the rear lever (16) of the first device (5) and the guide slide (14) is achieved by engaging the cam of the pin (17) and the intermediate guide connection (19) with the rear guide track. The rear guide track (20) in the guide slide (14) has a forward portion for the pin (17) and a rear portion for the intermediate guide connection (19) of the lever (16), since their paths do not overlap.

The pivot pin (8) according to the operating mechanism of the loop system of the present invention is not connected to the guide slide (14), but is supported by a separate auxiliary sliding member (22). This sliding member (22) is guided directly within the guide rail (13), i.e., within its guide channel (23).

The foregoing description somewhat describes the operating mechanism according to US patents, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the operation of the front and rear devices of the operating mechanism of the loop system will be similar to that described in US 8,857,903.

The following description relates to novel features with respect to this prior art.

Figures 5, 7 and 8 clearly illustrate the sliding member (22), and Figures 9 and 10 clearly illustrate its cooperation with the guide rail (13).

The guide channel (23) of the guide rail (13) is mainly formed by a guide flange (24) including a vertical flange portion (24A), a first horizontal flange portion (24B) connected to an upper end of the vertical flange portion (24A) and a second horizontal flange portion (24C) connected to a lower end of the vertical flange portion (24A). These flange portions (24A-C) form a substantially C-shaped guide flange (24). On the other hand, the sliding member (22) has a roughly G-like shape surrounding the C-shaped guide flange (24) such that the guide flange (24) has only a sliding surface on its outer face. The advantage is that these surfaces are easily accessible for cleaning or lubrication. In detail, the sliding member (22) connects the upper surface of the first horizontal flange portion (24B), the outer surface (looking at the lever (7)) of the vertical flange portion (24A) and the lower surface of the second horizontal flange portion (24C). A small gap exists between the free end of the guide flange (24), i.e. the end of the second horizontal flange (24C), and the sliding member (22), which allows the sliding member (22) to run smoothly on the guide flange (24) and prevents jamming. Support in that direction is still possible, but the lever (7) is already supported in the corresponding transverse direction by the guide slide (14).

As illustrated in the various drawings, each of the vertical side walls (22A) and the horizontal lower wall (22C) of the sliding member (22) has longitudinal ribs (ribs; 25A and 25C) that engage the respective sliding surfaces of the vertical flange portion (24A) and the second horizontal flange portion (24C). These ribs (25A and 25C) are positioned close to each other, i.e., outside the center of their respective sliding surfaces where support is required. The upper wall (22B) of the sliding member (22) has two transverse sliding ribs (25B) positioned as far apart from each other as possible to optimize the stability of the sliding member (22). A cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 through the middle of the sliding member (22) shows that an additional short rib (25A') is present.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate in more detail the connection between the sliding member (22) and the lever (7). A metal, i.e. steel, pivot pin (8) used to provide a pivotal connection between the lever (7) and the sliding member (22) has a stepped shaft (26) and a large head portion (27) having a flat side facing the shaft (26). This flat side of the head portion (27) engages a cooperating flat surface of a side wall (22A) of the sliding member (22). The opposite flat surface of the side wall (22A) abuts a flat vertical surface of the lever (7). The stepped structure of the shaft (26) of the pivot pin (8) includes a large diameter portion (26A) that engages a circular opening (28) in the side wall (22A) of the sliding member (22) using a sliding fit. A small diameter portion (26B) of the shaft (26) is fitted into an opening (29) in the lever (7). The free end of the pivot pin (8) is clinched so that the pivot pin (8) is securely attached to the steel lever (7), and the side surface of the steel lever is pressed against the shoulder of the large-diameter portion (26A) of the shaft (26). The large-diameter portion (26A) of the shaft (26) of the pivot pin (8) is left to rotate freely within the opening (28) of the sliding member (22). This structure ensures a strong and stable connection between the lever (7) and the sliding member (22).

The sliding member (22) includes a recess (30) that allows the support of the clinching tool to engage with the head portion (27) of the pivot pin (8) while pivotally attaching the sliding member (22) to the lever (7). The opening (28) and the recess (30) within the sliding member (22) are positioned at their center when viewed in the longitudinal direction and near the lower wall (22C) of the sliding member (22).

The sliding member (22) may be made entirely of plastic, or may have a metal core. The sliding member (22) is free from the bottom of the guide channel (23), so that any dust present on this bottom does not affect the sliding properties of the sliding member (22). The lip on the sliding member (22) also prevents dust from entering the area next to the lip.

Figure 11 shows the lever (7) and its connection to the sliding member (22), and additionally how the sliding member (22) is supported by the flange (13') of the guide rail (13). This drawing also shows in detail how the insert (22A) is mounted to the guide rail (13) and how the guide member (11) is connected to the stationary guide curve (12).

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an operating mechanism for a loop system with increased stability while maintaining a low package height. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above, which may be modified in different ways within the scope of the appended claims. The features of the different embodiments may be combined in different ways.

Claims (15)

A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening within a roof portion of a roof system,
At least one closure moveable between a closed position that closes said loop opening and an open position that opens said loop opening, said closure being positioned at least partially over an adjacent loop portion; and
A stationary guide rail is provided on each longitudinal side of the above loop opening and is suitable for slidably guiding an operating mechanism for operating the closer in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
The above operation mechanism is,
At least one first device comprising a lever for moving said closure toward an elevated position relative to said closed position and above said adjacent loop portion;
The above lever is pivotally connected to the sliding member,
The above sliding member can slide longitudinally within the guide channel of the above stationary guide rail and is supported by the guide rail in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal sliding direction,
The guide channel of the above guide rail is provided with a guide flange having at least a vertical flange portion and a first horizontal flange portion that are connected by the sliding member,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the first horizontal flange portion of the guide flange is connected to an upper end of the vertical flange portion and cooperates with a portion of the sliding member that is engaged with an upper surface of the first horizontal flange portion. In paragraph 1,
The second horizontal flange portion of the above guide flange,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the sliding member is connected to a lower end of the vertical flange portion and cooperates with a lower surface of the second horizontal flange portion. In claim 1 or 2,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the sliding member is provided with lips (libs) that engage with horizontal and vertical flange portions of the guide flange. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The first and second horizontal flange portions extend from the same side of the vertical flange portion,
The above first horizontal flange portion is connected to the remainder of the guide rail at its end located away from the above vertical flange portion,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the sliding member is engaged only on a side of the vertical flange portion facing away from the horizontal flange portion. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A vehicle roof system, wherein said sliding member has a small gap from a side facing away from said lever to said guide flange. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A vehicle roof system wherein said sliding member is pivotally connected to said lever by means of a pin having a head portion adjacent a vertical wall of said sliding member facing away from said lever. In paragraph 6,
The above pin is clinched to the above lever,
A vehicle roof system wherein said pin has a stepped diameter such that the larger diameter portion is inserted into an opening in said sliding member using a sliding fit and the smaller diameter portion is attached to an opening in said lever. In any one of claims 1 to 7,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the flat vertical surface of the sliding member is adjacent to the flat vertical surface of the lever. In any one of claims 1 to 8,
The above sliding member almost completely surrounds the above guide flange,
A vehicle roof system wherein the guide flange is substantially C-shaped and has only a sliding surface on its outer side. In any one of claims 1 to 9,
The lever of the first device is for moving the front edge of the closure in a vertical direction,
The above open loop structure for a vehicle is,
a second device for moving the rear edge of said closure toward a position raised relative to said closed position and above said adjacent loop portion; and
A vehicle roof system further comprising a guide slide slidably received within each guide rail and actuable by an actuating member to move the closer both vertically and horizontally through the first device and the second device. A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening within a roof portion of a roof system,
At least one closure moveable between a closed position that closes said loop opening and an open position that opens said loop opening, said closure being positioned at least partially over an adjacent loop portion; and
A stationary guide rail is provided on each longitudinal side of the above loop opening and is suitable for slidably guiding an operating mechanism for operating the closer in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
The above operation mechanism is,
At least one first device comprising a lever for moving said closure toward an elevated position relative to said closed position and above said adjacent loop portion;
The above lever is pivotally connected to the sliding member via a pivot pin,
The above sliding member can slide longitudinally within the guide channel of the above stationary guide rail,
The pivot pin extends through an opening in the sliding member and an opening in the lever,
The above pivot pin comprises a fixed head portion which is engaged at one end with a vertical wall portion of the above sliding member,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the other end of the pivot pin is fixed to the lever. In Article 10,
The pivot pin has a stepped diameter, such that the large diameter portion is inserted into the opening of the sliding member by means of a sliding fit, and the small diameter portion of the pivot pin is inserted into the opening of the lever.
A vehicle roof system, wherein the pivot pin is clamped so that a shoulder portion of the pin between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion contacts the lever by clinching the pivot pin to the lever. In clause 10 or 11,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the flat vertical surface of said sliding member is positioned to contact the flat vertical surface of said lever. A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening within a roof portion of a roof system,
At least one closure moveable between a closed position that closes said loop opening and an open position that opens said loop opening, said closure being positioned at least partially over said loop portion; and
A stationary guide rail is provided on each longitudinal side of the above loop opening and is suitable for slidably guiding an operating mechanism for operating the closer in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,
The above operation mechanism is,
At least one first device comprising a lever for moving said closure toward an elevated position relative to said closed position and above said adjacent loop portion;
The above lever is pivotally connected to the sliding member,
The above sliding member can slide longitudinally within the guide channel of the above stationary guide rail and is supported by the guide rail in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal sliding direction,
The guide channel of the above guide rail is provided with a guide flange which is substantially C-shaped and is engaged by the sliding member through a sliding surface,
The above sliding member almost completely surrounds the above guide flange,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the above guide flange has only a sliding surface on its outer side. In Article 14,
The above guide flange has a vertical flange portion and first and second horizontal flange portions which together form a substantially C-shaped guide flange,
A vehicle roof system, wherein the sliding member connects the sliding surface to the vertical flange portion and the sliding surface connects the sliding surface to the horizontal flange portion.

Images