JPS6256003B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a vehicle roof, particularly a fixed roof, with a roof opening, and a frame on the underside of the fixed roof so as to correspond to the peripheral edge of the roof opening. A movable roof for opening and closing the roof opening is provided on the frame via a sliding body so as to be slidable back and forth, a drive cable for sliding the movable roof back and forth is provided on the frame, and a movable roof is provided on the underside of the fixed roof. This invention relates to an improvement of an automobile roof comprising a roof lining material facing the passenger compartment side.

(Prior Art and Problems) In the case of conventional vehicle roofs of this type, as shown for example in West German Application No. 1157495, the frame is made of sheet metal and is spot-welded to the underside of the fixed roof. The roof lining material covers the inside of the vehicle from the passenger compartment side. The roof lining material is also glued to the edge of the frame.
It extends across the entire passenger compartment side of the vehicle roof.

This sheet metal frame usually consists of a large number of parts, and the sliding body and guide groove for the movable cable are bent and formed into one piece, so bending of the sheet metal material is required during manufacturing. However, the disadvantage is that the work is complicated and takes a long time, and the manufacturing cost is high. Since the frame also functions as a rain gutter, the connecting parts of each part must be carefully painted to prevent rust. Furthermore, fixing the roof lining material to the frame using adhesive means increases labor costs, and when assembling a movable roof to a mass-produced vehicle, there is a drawback that it is not compatible with production line manufacturing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In view of the conventional problems, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle roof that can be manufactured and installed extremely easily and at low cost. A roof opening is provided on the fixed roof of the vehicle, a frame is provided on the underside of the fixed roof corresponding to the peripheral edge of the roof opening, and the movable roof that opens and closes the roof opening is slid back and forth on the frame via a sliding body. The movable roof can be freely installed, and a drive cable for sliding the movable roof back and forth is provided on the frame, and a roof lining material facing the passenger compartment is provided on the underside of the fixed roof.The frame is made of plastic material. A sliding surface for guiding a sliding body and a guide groove for a drive cable are provided on the upper surface side of the frame, and the lower surface of the frame is at least part of the roof lining material facing the passenger compartment. It is something.

(Effect of the invention) In the case of the vehicle roof according to the present invention, the frame together with the sliding surface of the sliding body and the guide groove of the drive cable can be manufactured in one piece in a single working process, and the plastic material can be made of the desired material if necessary. can be colored in any color, so no further work or treatment, such as painting, is required. Moreover, since the lower surface of the frame constitutes a part of the roof lining material, there is no need to cover the frame with the roof lining material inside the vehicle. Due to its coloring effect and/or its surface structure, the frame performs the function of a roof lining or part thereof. The plastic material that makes up the frame has a greater cushioning effect than a sheet metal frame, so if a driver suddenly stops in an accident while driving, his body lifts up, and his head hits the frame, there is no risk of injury. This improves safety. Furthermore, by adopting a foamed plastic frame for at least the frame facing the passenger compartment,
The risk of injury can be reduced.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower side of the frame extends to the outer limit edge of the inner sheet metal layer of the fixed roof, so that the frame forms the entire roof lining. The part of the roof lining lying outside the frame is also preferably constituted by a part made of plastic material, which part is inserted between the outer edge of the frame and the outer limit edge of the fixed roof.

Particularly when the movable roof is made of transparent or translucent material, a movable lining material is provided on the underside of the movable roof that can be slid back and forth independently. At times, the amount of light entering from the movable roof side can be adjusted arbitrarily. In those with a movable lining, the frame must be provided with a bearing to support it, but in the case of a conventional sheet metal frame, it is necessary to provide the bearing using a separate part. However, in the case of the frame made of plastic material according to the present invention, there is no need for a separate work process, and a support portion for supporting the movable lining material can be integrally provided during frame molding.

Attachment of the frame to the fixed roof is preferably done by means of screws or rivets secured to the inner layer of the fixed roof, which inner layer is provided in a conventional manner to reinforce the roof and surround the roof opening.

Since the frame usually has a gutter section, in order to eliminate sealing problems between the frame and the fixed roof, the mounting points should be located outside the area of the gutter section through which rainwater flows. is advantageous. For this purpose, the attachment point can be provided at a corresponding point located above the bottom wall of the rain gutter.
At the same time, the frame can be provided with vertical walls parallel to the front and side edges of the roof opening, which vertical walls are attached to the vertical walls of the inner sheet metal layer of the fixed roof. The frame may include horizontal edges extending outwardly along the leading and side edges of the roof opening, which are attached to the horizontal edges of the inner sheet metal layer of the fixed roof. A watertight seal may optionally be provided between the opposing surfaces of the frame and the inner sheet metal layer of the fixed roof.

In another embodiment of the invention, the frame is provided with vertical walls parallel to the front and side edges of the roof opening, which are brought into close contact with the lower seal of the fixed roof, so that the frame is screwed from below to the inner sheet metal layer of the fixed roof on the outside of the vertical wall.

In order to form a guide groove for the drive cable, the frame can be provided with parallel ribs on the front edge and on both side edges, the top of the guide groove defined by these ribs being at least partially covered by the cover. Closed. Providing a guide groove for guiding the sliding body is done in a similar manner. Attaching this cover with screws makes the proposal according to the invention even stronger than in the case of conventional sheet metal frames.
This is because, due to the small thickness of the sheet metal, there is always a risk that the sheet metal will tear in the area of the screw hole.

The frame can be manufactured from a range of different plastic materials. The use of polyester reinforced with glass fibers has proven particularly advantageous.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated example.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vehicle roof showing a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a fixed roof 46 of a vehicle has an outer sheet metal layer 1 in which a rectangular roof opening 2 is provided. In the outer sheet metal layer 1,
An inner sheet metal layer 3 is provided to strongly reinforce the peripheral edge of the roof opening 2, and this inner sheet metal layer 3 is formed into an outer sheet metal layer 1 at the peripheral edge of the roof opening 2 by a flange operation.
connected to. The frame 4 is arranged under the fixed roof 46 so as to correspond to the peripheral edge of the roof opening 2, and is made of plastic and is integrally formed in one piece. Frame 4 is roof opening 2
having a rain gutter 5 corresponding to the front edge and side edge areas of the rain gutter 5;
To form this rain gutter 5, an essentially horizontal bottom wall 6 and an essentially vertical vertical wall 7 are connected to the frame 4.
It is integrated into the . At the upper end of the vertical wall 7, the frame 4 is provided with an outwardly projecting horizontal edge 8, which is attached from below by a screw 9 to a horizontal edge 10 at the lower end of the inner sheet metal layer 3. The frame 4 is made of plastic material,
A sliding surface 11 for guiding a sliding body 12 is provided on the upper side of the frame 4, and the sliding body 12 is attached to a movable roof 14 by a carrier 13. The movable roof 14 is for opening and closing the roof opening 2, and when it is in the closed position at the front end, it closes the roof opening 2, and when opening the roof opening 2, it closes the roof opening 2. It can be slid backwards on the lower side. The movable roof 14 is supported and guided by the frame 4 and can slide back and forth by the driving force of a rigid drive cable 15 even under pressure. You will be guided. The guide groove 16 is formed by a rib 17 that is integral with the frame 4, and the rib 17 is parallel to the front edge and side edge of the frame 4.
At least a portion of the top of is closed by a cover 18. The cover 18 projects laterally so as to overlap the sliding surface 11 provided for the sliding body 12, and these sliding surfaces 11 and the cover 18 form a guide groove for the sliding body 12 in the side edge area of the frame 4. It is formed. The cover 18 is fixed to the frame 4 with screws (not shown). The leftmost rib 17 in FIG. 1 forms a regulating barrier for the guide groove that supports the sliding body 12, and at the same time functions as a dividing wall for the rain gutter 5. A movable roof 14 is provided on the inner edge of the frame 4.
A support portion 19 is integrally provided to support a movable lining member 20 disposed below from below so as to be slidable back and forth. The movable lining 20 is selectively movable independently of the movable roof 14 by suitable means.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
1, and between the roof lining 21 formed by the frame 4 and the outer limit edge of the inner sheet metal layer 23 of the fixed roof 46, there is another roof made of plastic material. A lining material 22 is provided. The roof lining 22 is integrally connected to the inner sheet metal layer 23 by a clamp 24 and is in contact with the frame 4 on the other side.

The connection point between the frame 4 and the inner sheet metal layer 3 is located sufficiently above the bottom wall 6 of the rain gutter 5, as shown, to prevent rainwater from flowing from the rain gutter 5 into the passenger compartment. There is no danger of entry. Also Edge 8,
A flat seal can be provided between the 10 opposing surfaces.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, parts similar to or the same as those shown in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Those with the same symbol followed by a are listed,
The frame 4a is the inner sheet metal layer 30 of the fixed roof 46a.
is extended to the outer limit edge of the roof lining material 2.
It forms the entirety of 1a. Therefore, in this case, the roof lining material 22 shown in the first diagram is unnecessary. In this embodiment, the vertical wall portion 7a of the frame 4a is fixed directly to the vertical portion 31 of the inner sheet metal layer 3a of the fixed roof 46a by screws. This threaded joint is disposed sufficiently above the bottom wall 6a of the rain gutter 5a, as described above, so that rainwater cannot enter the passenger compartment of the vehicle from the rain gutter 5a. In this example,
The drive cable guide groove 16a is provided close to the vertical wall portion 7a. In addition, in order to protect the guide groove 16a from rainwater as much as possible, the rib 17a
has a height which actually forms the outer partition wall of the rain gutter 5a. The guide groove 16a is partially closed at the top by a cover 18a, as in the embodiment according to FIG. Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG.
The cover ring of the guide groove of the sliding body 12a is provided with its own dedicated cover 32, and
It is fixed to the upwardly protruding rib 33 with a screw. The cross-section shown in FIG. 2 is made of the sliding body 12a on the rear side of the movable roof 14a, and is intended to show the device 34 necessary for lowering the rear edge of the movable roof 14a, but only its essential parts are shown. . In FIG. 2 a connection is shown employing a carrier 35 between the drive cable 15a and the slide 12a, which carrier 35 extends through a slit between the rib 17a' and the cover 18a.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, parts that are similar to those shown in the first drawing are indicated by the same reference numerals with a suffix "b" added thereto. In this embodiment, the frame 4b is extended to the outer limit edge of the fixed roof 46b, as in the embodiment according to FIG. The leading edge 40 of the frame 4b is arranged such that a sealing contour 41 provided for the windscreen 42 engages therein. An essentially horizontal horizontal portion 43 is provided at the front of the inner sheet metal layer 3b, and a frame 4b is attached to the rear end of the horizontal portion 43 from below with screws 44.

In this embodiment, the vertical wall portion 7b has a fixed roof 46
erected at a position approaching the outer sheet metal layer 1b of b,
Its upper edge is in close contact with a seal 45 provided on the outer sheet metal layer 1b. The cross section shown in Figure 3 is the roof opening 2.
The guiding configuration of the slide is not shown since it is done on the leading edge of the slide. In the area of the side edges of the roof opening 2 it is possible to provide guides for the slides in the manner shown in the first diagram.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vehicle roof along a sectional line perpendicular to one side edge of the roof opening, showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle roof taken along a cross-sectional line perpendicular to the front edge of the roof opening. 2, 2a, 2b... Roof opening, 4, 4a, 4b
... Frame, 5, 5a, 5b ... Rain gutter, 7, 7
a, 7b... Vertical wall portion, 11, 11a... Sliding surface, 12, 12a... Sliding body, 14, 14a, 1
4b...Movable roof, 15, 15a, 15b...Drive cable, 16, 16a, 16b...Guide groove,
17, 17a, 17b...rib, 18, 18a,
18b...Cover, 20, 20a, 20b...Movable lining material, 46...Fixed roof.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A movable roof in which a fixed roof 46 of a vehicle is provided with a roof opening 2, a frame 4 is provided below the fixed roof 46 in correspondence to the peripheral edge of the roof opening 2, and the roof opening 2 is opened and closed. 14 is provided on the frame 4 via a sliding body 12 so as to be slidable back and forth, and a drive cable 15 for sliding the movable roof 14 back and forth is provided on the frame 4. In the case where roof lining materials 21 and 22 facing the sides are provided, the frame 4 is integrally formed of plastic material, and the upper surface side of the frame 4 has a sliding surface 11 that guides the sliding body 12 and a drive cable 15. A vehicle roof characterized in that a guide groove 16 is provided, and the lower surface of the frame 4 is at least part of roof lining materials 21 and 22 facing a passenger compartment. 2. A movable lining material 20 supported and guided by the frame 4 and slidable independently of the movable roof 14 is provided below the sliding roof 14.
2. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, further comprising a support portion 19 for slidably supporting the movable lining material 20. 3 Ribs 1 parallel to the front edge and both side edges of the frame 4
7, a guide groove 16 for the drive cable 15 is formed between the ribs 17, and at least a part of the top of the guide groove 16 is closed by a cover 18. or the vehicle roof described in paragraph 2. 4 The frame 4 has a horizontal edge 8 extending outwardly along the front and side edges, and is connected to the horizontal edge 10 of the inner sheet metal layer 3 attached to the fixed roof 46 so as to surround the roof opening 2. Claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal edge 8 is fixed.
The vehicle roof described in paragraph 2 or 3. 5. The frame 4a includes a vertical wall 7a parallel to the front edge and side edge of the roof opening 2a, and the vertical wall 7a is attached to the vertical edge 31 of the inner sheet metal layer 3a surrounding the roof opening 2a. A vehicle roof according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that: 6. The frame 4b is provided with a vertical wall portion 7b parallel to the front edge and side edge of the roof opening 2b, and the upper edge of the vertical wall portion 7b is in close contact with the lower surface of the fixed roof 46b, and a fixed portion surrounding the roof opening 2b is formed. The vehicle roof according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein a portion of the frame 4b outside the vertical wall portion 7b is fixed to the inner sheet metal layer 3b of the roof 46b from below. . 7 Sliding surfaces 11, 1 for sliding bodies 12, 12a
A regulating barrier formed by standing ribs 17, 33 is provided on one side of 1a, and sliding bodies 12, 1 are provided together with covers 18, 32.
Claims 1, 2, 3, and 4, characterized in that the guide groove 2a is formed of a guide groove.
The vehicle roof described in paragraph 5 or 6. 8 Fix the lower part of the frames 4a and 4b to the roof 46
a, 46b extending to the outer limit edge 30 of the inner sheet metal layer.
The vehicle roof according to item 2, item 3, item 4, item 5, item 6, or item 7. 9 Claims 1, 2, and 3, characterized in that the frames 4, 4a, and 4b are made of polyester material reinforced with glass fibers,
The vehicle roof according to paragraph 4, paragraph 5, paragraph 6, paragraph 7 or paragraph 8.