Guide rails for guide components used in open-roof systems

Abstract

A guide assembly for an open-top vehicle assembly includes an intermediate track element. The intermediate track element includes a first wall member and a second wall member, the second wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member. A transverse wall member extends between the first and second wall members. A first guide channel is disposed in the first wall member, and a second guide channel is disposed in the second wall member. A cable channel is disposed on the transverse wall and between the first and second guide channels. Therefore, a modular intermediate track element is provided that can be used for all vehicle types without requiring further vehicle-specific adaptations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an open roof system for a vehicle roof, and more particularly to a guide assembly for such an open roof system. Background Technology

[0002] Open roof systems for vehicles are known. The roof may have an opening, and the open roof system provides a closing member, such as a glass panel. The closing member can be movably arranged such that, in a closed position, the closing member covers the opening in the roof, while in an open position, the opening is at least partially uncovered.

[0003] In the aforementioned known open roof assembly, the movable closure member can be supported by a guide assembly. The guide assembly supports the closure member and provides a suitable trajectory of movement. In the exemplary known open roof assembly, it is known that the rear end of the closure member is first lifted away from the plane of the roof to an inclined position, and then the closure member can be slid backward, wherein the front end of the closure member can also be lifted.

[0004] In a known guide assembly, the guide assembly includes a guide rail, a first support mechanism, and a second support mechanism. The guide rail extends in a longitudinal direction, which typically corresponds to the normal travel direction of the vehicle. The first support mechanism is slidably supported in the guide rail, and the second support mechanism is arranged in the guide rail. A closure member is mounted to a mounting element. The mounting element is supported by the first support mechanism and slidably supported by the second support mechanism.

[0005] Known guide components are designed and constructed to provide functionality and manufacturability. However, known guide components are not designed for open-top components with different configurations. For example, in a first configuration, the motor drive for operating the guide component may be located in the front portion of the open-top component, while in a second configuration, the motor drive may be located in the rear portion. Therefore, depending on the configuration of the open-top component, a custom guide component is required for that configuration. Furthermore, the space required for the guide component should be kept minimal to provide the maximum opening size while maintaining sufficient top clearance. Therefore, customization requires additional engineering and manufacturing efforts, thus increasing the cost of the open-top component.

[0006] More generally, each vehicle type requires a guide assembly tailored to its characteristics, such as roof size and curvature. Therefore, a dedicated guide assembly needs to be constructed and manufactured for each vehicle type, while the main functional components share a fundamentally similar design. However, the cost increases due to the construction and manufacture of separate guide assemblies for different vehicle types. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide a guide component with improved cost-effectiveness.

[0008] This objective is achieved in a guide assembly for an open-top vehicle assembly, wherein the guide assembly includes an intermediate track element. The intermediate track element includes a first wall member and a second wall member, the first wall member including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second wall member including a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, the second wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member, and the third surface opposite to the second surface of the first wall member. Furthermore, the guide assembly includes a transverse wall member extending between the second and third surfaces. A first guide channel is disposed in the second surface, and a second guide channel is disposed in the third surface. A cable channel is provided on the transverse wall, wherein the cable channel is disposed between the first and second guide channels.

[0009] The guide assembly according to the invention is a compact guide assembly, wherein the drive cable is arranged between a first guide channel and a second guide channel. Furthermore, the location of the cable channels allows the guide assembly to be designed such that it can be used in combination with a motor drive in the front portion or the rear portion of an open-top assembly without any further functional adaptation modifications.

[0010] In the prior art, the drive cable is arranged outside the functional package of the guide assembly. As used herein, the term "functional package" refers to the space required for the moving parts of the guide assembly's mechanism. For example, if all moving parts are arranged within a guide rail, the functional package can correspond to a volume defined by the guide rail. In such known guide rails, the cable channel can be arranged precisely outside the functional package. For example, the cable channel can be provided on a first side of the sidewall or lower wall of the guide rail, while the moving parts are arranged on the opposite second side of the wall. Thus, as seen in the cross-sectional view, the cable channel protrudes from the functional package. While such a cable channel outside the functional package is easily accessible, depending on which side it is positioned on, the drive cable needs to follow a sharp curvature or pass through the functional package toward the motor driver. Typically, when the motor driver is located in the front portion, the sharp corners can be mitigated, while when the motor driver is located in the rear portion, the drive cable can be positioned behind the functional package. Therefore, for the front driver (i.e., the motor driver is located in the rear portion), the drive cable should be arranged on the other side of the functional package, compared to the rear driver (i.e., the motor driver is located in the rear portion).

[0011] With the cable channel arranged between the first and second guide channels within the functional package, the drive cable can pass along the moving part while requiring a less sharp curvature. Therefore, the guide assembly according to the invention is suitable for combination with a front or rear driver without functional adaptation.

[0012] The intermediate track element is preferably a single component, such as an extruded track. The intermediate track element can then be easily modified in length and curvature to fit a specific vehicle type. No specific additional or new manufacturing steps are required to adapt the guide assembly to a specific vehicle type; when applying the same manufacturing steps, it may only be necessary to modify some dimensions of the intermediate track element, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the basic design features are maintained, thus reducing additional design costs.

[0013] Note that the first and second wall members need not be flat, plate-like elements. For example, to provide at least one guide channel, one or more recesses and / or one or more protrusions may be provided. Thus, a second wall member arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member will be interpreted as having substantially the same distance between the first and second wall members along the lengths of the first and second wall members, for example, so that a movable part can be guided through the guide channel in the first wall member and the guide channel in the second wall member.

[0014] In this embodiment, the intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end and extending in the longitudinal direction, and the guide assembly also includes a front mechanism and a front track element. The front track element is disposed at the front end of the intermediate track element, wherein the front track element is configured to support the movement of the front mechanism. The functional design of one or more guide channels guiding the front mechanism is arranged in a separate front track element. Therefore, complex manufacturing of the intermediate track element is prevented. For each type of vehicle, the front track element can be the same, thus preventing customization for a specific vehicle type from requiring adaptation of the functional design of either the front track element or the intermediate track element.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, the front track element includes a front guide channel, which is aligned with a guide channel in one of the first wall member and the second wall member to form a continuous guide channel. The guide channel in the first wall member may be a first guide channel located next to the cable channel, or it may be another guide channel.

[0016] In another specific embodiment, a transverse wall is arranged in a transverse plane and provides a drive cable. The drive cable extends from a cable channel at a front end along a cable track, wherein at least a first portion of the cable track is arranged in the transverse plane. The front mechanism is then configured to move along a front mechanism track, wherein the front mechanism track crosses the transverse plane without intersecting the cable track.

[0017] In embodiments of the guide assembly, the intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end and extending in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the guide assembly includes a rear mechanism and a rear track element. The rear track element is disposed at the rear end of the intermediate track element and configured to support movement of the rear mechanism.

[0018] In a particular embodiment of the guide assembly, at the rear end, the second wall member extends longitudinally beyond the first wall member, and the rear track element includes a rear wall member having a rear wall surface. In this particular embodiment, the rear wall member is arranged substantially parallel to the second wall member, and the rear wall surface faces a third surface of the second wall member. In other words, the rear wall member is arranged parallel to and opposite the third surface where the first wall member is omitted. A transverse wall with a cable channel may also be provided to allow the drive cable to pass along the rear mechanism.

[0019] In another specific embodiment of the guiding assembly, a transverse wall is arranged in a transverse plane and provides a drive cable. The drive cable extends from a cable channel at its rear end along a cable track, wherein at least a portion of the cable track is arranged in the transverse plane. Furthermore, a rear mechanism is configured to move along a rear mechanism track, wherein the rear mechanism track does not intersect with the cable track, to allow the drive cable to pass along the rear mechanism without obstruction from the rear mechanism.

[0020] In an embodiment of the guide assembly, the intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end and extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the guide assembly further includes a front mechanism and a rear mechanism. The front mechanism includes a slidable front rod extending longitudinally between a first rod end and a second rod end, the second rod end being guided through a guide channel disposed in a second wall member. The rear mechanism includes a rear rod slidably supported in a guide channel in a first wall member. The front and rear rods are constructed and arranged such that the second rod end of the front rod can slide along the rear rod.

[0021] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a guide assembly for an open-top vehicle assembly. The method includes the step of forming an intermediate track element. The intermediate track element includes: a first wall member including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a second wall member including a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, the second wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member, and the third surface opposite to the second surface of the first wall member; a transverse wall member extending between the second surface and the third surface; a first guide channel disposed in the second surface; and a second guide channel disposed in the third surface; and a cable channel disposed on the transverse wall, the cable channel being disposed between the first guide channel and the second guide channel. The step of forming the intermediate track element includes selecting the length and curvature of the intermediate track element.

[0022] In an embodiment of the method, the intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end, and the method further includes the steps of: providing a front mechanism in the intermediate track element; and providing a front track element at the front end of the intermediate track element, wherein the front track element is configured to support movement of the front mechanism. Thus, the front mechanism is introduced into the intermediate track element, wherein, for example, a slide of the front mechanism is introduced into a guide channel in a first or second wall member. After the front mechanism is introduced into the intermediate track element, the front track element is positioned at the front end of the intermediate track element, thereby at least preventing the front mechanism from sliding out of the intermediate track element. Preferably, the front track element provides a guide channel as an extension of the guide channel in the intermediate track element to appropriately control the sliding movement of the front mechanism at the front end of the guide assembly. For example, the front mechanism may preferably slide downwards to position a closing member, such as a glass panel. The intermediate track element provides sliding movement only in its elongated length direction, which, when installed in a vehicle, corresponds to substantially horizontal movement. Therefore, the front track element may be configured to provide downward / upward movement, i.e., movement into or out of the plane of the vehicle's roof.

[0023] In embodiments of the method, the intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end, and the method further includes: removing a portion of the first wall member at the rear end of the intermediate track element; and providing a rear wall member having a rear wall surface at the rear end of the intermediate track element, the rear wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the second wall member, and the rear wall surface opposing the third surface of the second wall member. The rear mechanism may require a specific track portion for controlling movement of the rear mechanism, while the intermediate track element may be partially required for controlling movement of the front mechanism. Replacing a portion of the intermediate track element, such as a portion of the first wall member, can provide the desired configuration. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Further applications of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. However, it should be understood that while the detailed description and specific examples indicate embodiments of the invention, they are given by way of illustration only, as various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams, wherein:

[0025] Figure 1A It is a perspective view of the roof with an open roof assembly;

[0026] Figure 1B It shows Figure 1A Exploded view of the open roof assembly;

[0027] Figure 2A A side view of a detailed embodiment of the guide assembly of the open roof assembly according to the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 2B It shows Figure 2A Top view of an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 3A shows the closed position. Figure 2A-2B Detailed embodiments;

[0030] Figure 3B shows the tilted position. Figure 2A-2B Detailed embodiments;

[0031] Figure 3C shows the open position. Figure 2A-2B Detailed embodiments;

[0032] Figure 4A It shows Figure 2A-2B A cross-sectional side view of the track element in an embodiment;

[0033] Figure 4B It shows Figure 2A-2B Exploded perspective view of the track element in an embodiment;

[0034] Figure 4C It shows Figure 2A-2B A perspective view of a portion of the front mechanism in an embodiment;

[0035] Figure 5A A first cross-sectional view of the intermediate track element according to the present invention is shown;

[0036] Figure 5B A second cross-sectional view of the intermediate track element according to the present invention is shown;

[0037] Figure 5C A third cross-sectional view of the intermediate track element according to the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 6A shows a side view of an embodiment of the track element according to the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6B shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the track element of Figure 6A; and

[0040] Figure 6C shows a top view of an embodiment of the track element of Figure 6A. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar elements throughout all the views. Furthermore, a coordinate system may be indicated throughout all the drawings and views. The coordinate system is the same throughout the views and refers to, as shown in the drawings... Figure 1A The coordinate system shown and described therein.

[0042] Figure 1A The diagram shows a vehicle roof 1 in which an open roof assembly is arranged. The open roof assembly includes a movable panel 2a and a fixed panel 2b. The movable panel 2a is also referred to as a closing member because it is movable above a first roof opening 3a, allowing the first roof opening 3a to be opened and closed. A wind deflector 4 is arranged at the front of the first roof opening 3a.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the movable panel 2a can be in a closed position, where it is positioned above and closed over the first roof opening 3a, and thus typically positioned within the plane of the roof 1. Furthermore, the movable panel 2a can be in an inclined position, where its rear end RE is raised (in the substantially vertical direction V) compared to the closed position, while its front end FE remains closed. Additionally, the movable panel 2a can be in an open position, where it slides open (in the longitudinal direction L) and the first roof opening 3a is partially or completely exposed.

[0044] Note that the roof 1 shown corresponds to a passenger vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to passenger vehicles. Any other type of vehicle that can be equipped with movable panels can also be considered.

[0045] Figure 1B It shows the relationship with Figure 1A The roof shown is identical, featuring panels 2a and 2b. Specifically, although... Figure 1A The open roof assembly in the open position is shown, but Figure 1B This is an exploded view of the open roof assembly in the closed position. Furthermore, in Figure 1B The exploded view shows the presence of a second roof opening 3b. The first roof opening 3a and the second roof opening 3b are disposed within the frame 5 of the open roof assembly. The edge 5a of the frame 5 defines the first roof opening 3a.

[0046] The second roof opening 3b is arranged below the fixed panel 2b, allowing light to enter the vehicle interior space through the fixed panel 2b, which is assumed to be a glass panel or a similar transparent panel, for example, made of plastic or any other suitable material. The second roof opening 3b with a transparent or translucent fixed panel 2b is optional and may be omitted in another embodiment of the open roof assembly.

[0047] The air guide plate 4 is typically made of a flexible material, such as a woven or nonwoven fabric with through-holes arranged therein, or a mesh or net. The flexible material is supported by a support structure 4a, such as a rod-like or tubular structure, which is directly or indirectly hinged to the frame 5 at a hinge joint 4b.

[0048] The air deflector 4 is positioned in front of the first roof opening 3a and adapts to airflow when the movable panel 2a is in the open position. In its raised position, the air deflector 4 reduces inconvenient noise caused by airflow during driving. When the movable panel 2a is in the closed or tilted position, the air deflector 4 is pressed down below the front end FE of the movable panel 2a.

[0049] Normally, when the movable panel 2a slides to the open position, the air guide plate 4 is lifted by spring force, and when the movable panel 2a slides back to its closed position, the air guide plate 4 is pushed downward by the movable panel 2a. Figure 1A In the diagram, the movable panel 2a is shown in the open position, and the air guide plate 4 is shown in the raised position. Figure 1B In the diagram, the movable panel 2a is shown in the closed position, and the air guide plate 4 is correspondingly shown in the pressed-down position.

[0050] Figure 1B A drive assembly having a first guide assembly 6a, a second guide assembly 6b, a first drive cable 7, and a second drive cable 8 is also shown. The first guide assembly 6a and the second guide assembly 6b extend in the longitudinal direction L and are arranged on corresponding side ends SE of the movable panel 2a, and each guide assembly may include a guide and a mechanism. The guide is coupled to the frame 5, while the mechanism includes a movable part and is slidably movable within the guide. The first drive cable 7 and the second drive cable 8 are disposed between the mechanism of the respective guide assemblies 6a, 6b and the drive motor 9.

[0051] Drive cables 7 and 8 connect drive motor 9 to the mechanisms of the corresponding guide components 6a and 6b, such that the mechanisms begin to move when drive motor 9 is operated. Specifically, the cores of drive cables 7 and 8 move via drive motor 9 to push or pull the mechanisms of the corresponding guides 6a and 6b. Such drive components are well known in the art and will not be described further here. Moreover, any other suitable drive components may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the drive motor may be operably arranged between the corresponding guide and the corresponding mechanism of guide components 6a and 6b, and in such embodiments, the drive component may be completely omitted.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, guide components 6a, 6b can begin to move by lifting the rear end RE of the movable panel 2a, thereby placing the movable panel 2a in an inclined position. Then, guide components 6a, 6b can slide from the inclined position to place the movable panel 2a in an open position. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example, in another embodiment, the movable panel 2a can be moved to the inclined position by lifting the rear end RE, and reach the open position by first lowering the rear end RE and then sliding the movable panel 2a under the fixed panel 2b or under any other structure or element disposed behind the rear end RE of the movable panel 2a. In another exemplary embodiment, the movable panel 2a may be movable only between a closed position and an inclined position, or only between a closed position and an open position.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive motor 9 is mounted at the recess 10 near or below the front end FE of the movable panel 2a. In another embodiment, the drive motor 9 can be positioned at any other suitable location. For example, the drive motor 9 can be arranged near or below the rear end RE of the movable panel 2a, or below the fixed panel 2b.

[0054] Control unit 11 is schematically shown and operatively coupled to drive motor 9. Control unit 11 can be any type of processing unit, either a software-controlled processing unit or a dedicated processing unit, such as an ASIC, as is known to those skilled in the art. Control unit 11 can be a standalone control unit, or it can be operatively connected to another control unit, such as a multi-purpose vehicle control unit. In another embodiment, control unit 11 can be embedded in or part of such a vehicle control unit. In essence, control unit 11 can be embodied by any control unit adapted, capable of, and configured to perform operation of drive motor 9 and thus operation of the movable roof assembly.

[0055] Figure 2A and 2B A detailed embodiment of an open roof assembly with a guide assembly according to the present invention is shown. Specifically, the guide assembly includes an intermediate track element 611, a front track element 612, and a rear track element 613. The front track element 612 is arranged at the front end FE of the open roof assembly, and the rear track element 613 is arranged at the rear end RE. The closure member 2 is coupled to a support element 62. The support element 62 is coupled to a front mechanism 63 and is slidably supported by a rear mechanism 64. Essentially, the rear mechanism 64 is substantially fixed relative to the vehicle's body frame BF; the rear mechanism 64 is primarily configured to lift the rear end RE beyond the vehicle's roof plane. Then, after lifting the rear end RE, the closure member 2 can be slid rearward by lifting the front end FE using the front mechanism 63 and sliding the front mechanism 63 rearward through the front track element 612 and the intermediate track element 611.

[0056] Reference Figure 2A-2B And 3A-3C, now described Figure 2A-2B The operation of the guide component. Note that, corresponding to the position shown in Figure 3B, in Figure 2A In the positions shown, the rear mechanism 64 is in the raised position, and the front mechanism 63 is in the raised position. In Figures 3A-3C, the front track element 612, the middle track element 611, and the rear track element 613 are shown in solid lines, while the mechanism elements of, for example, the front mechanism 63 and the rear mechanism 64 are drawn in dashed lines.

[0057] Figure 3A shows the open roof assembly in the closed position, with a driven sliding element 67 arranged at the front end FE of the guide assembly. During the opening operation, a drive cable pulls or pushes the driven sliding element 67 backward. In this opening operation, before the front end FE is raised, the driven sliding element 67 engages with a locking lever 65 operably coupled to the rear mechanism 64 via an elongated drive element 66. The rear mechanism 64 engages with two sliding curves in the rear track element 613, thereby primarily raising the rear mechanism 64 but also moving it slightly backward. When the rear mechanism 64 is fully raised to its raised position, the locking lever 65 locks its position relative to the intermediate track element 611, thus fixing the position of the rear mechanism 64. The driven sliding element 67 is then released from the locking lever 65 to allow the driven sliding element 67 to slide further backward for further pulling the front mechanism 63 backward, as described in more detail below.

[0058] The driven sliding element 67 engages with the curve in the front rod 632. The front rod 632 is provided with a first slide shoe 631 of the front mechanism 63. Due to the cooperation of the driven sliding element 67 and the front rod 632, the first slide shoe 631 is pulled through the front guide channel 6121 in the front track element 612. The front guide channel 6121 guides the first slide shoe 631 upward and backward, thereby raising the front end FE of the closing member 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3B.

[0059] The lever 632 is also provided with a second slide 633, which is guided through a guide channel in the intermediate track element 611. Due to the engagement between the driven sliding element 67 and the lever 632, the lever 632 is thus pulled backward along the guide channel in the intermediate track element 611, ultimately moving the closure member 2 to the rear mechanism 64, where the open roof assembly is in its open position, as shown in FIG3C. In this position, a portion of the front lever 632 has already moved along the rear mechanism 64 and the rear track element 613.

[0060] Figure 4A and 4B Embodiments of the front track element 612, the middle track element 611, and the rear track element 613 are shown in more detail. Furthermore, Figure 4C An embodiment of a portion of the front lever 632 is shown. Specifically, the front track element 612 includes a first front guide channel 612a, a locking lever guide channel 612b, and a second front guide channel 612c. The second front guide channel 612c is opposite to the first front guide channel 612a. (See reference...) Figure 4CThe front rod 632 may be provided with a first slide 631 and another slide 631a opposite to the first slide, so that the two opposing slides 631 and 631a can slide through the opposing first front guide channel 612a and second front guide channel 612c.

[0061] The locking lever guide channel 612b slides into the guide channel of the intermediate track element 611 to provide a suitable guide channel and, for example, a locking surface and possible other functions for the locking lever 65, which needs to slide first and then lock into place, as described above.

[0062] At the rear end 611-RE of the intermediate track element 611, a portion of the first wall member 71 is omitted, while the second wall member 72 extends further rearward. The rear track element 613 is configured to be arranged opposite to the extension of the second wall member 72 at the rear end 611-RE, such that the rear mechanism 64 is configured to operate at the rear end 611-RE, while the extension of the second wall member 72 allows the second slide 633 of the front rod 632 to slide along the rear mechanism 64 through a corresponding guide channel in the second wall member 72 to provide a large opening in the open roof assembly.

[0063] Figure 5A , 5B 5C and 5C are respectively along Figure 4A The V shown A -V A Line, V B -V B Line and V C -V C A sectional view of the lines. Figure 5A An intermediate track element 611 is shown, comprising a first wall member 71 and a second wall member 72. A transverse wall 73 is arranged between the first wall member 71 and the second wall member 72. The first wall member 71 has a first surface 71A and a second surface 71B. The second wall member 72 has a third surface 72A and a fourth surface 72B. Figure 5AAs can be clearly seen, these surfaces are not required to be flat or straight, but can be provided with recesses or protrusions, for example, to form guide channels. In this embodiment, the first surface is flat, while the second surface 71B and the third surface 72A include protrusions and recesses forming a first guide channel 711, a third guide channel 712, a second guide channel 721, a fourth guide channel 722, and a fifth guide channel 723. The first guide channel 711 has a first guide channel lower surface 711A extending toward the third surface 72A away from the second surface 71B, and the second guide channel 721 has a second guide channel lower surface 721A extending toward the second surface 71B away from the third surface 72A. Between the first guide channel 711 disposed on the second surface 71B and the second guide channel disposed on the third surface 72A, a cable channel 731 with a cavity 731A is provided for retaining and guiding the drive cable and a portion 67A of the driven sliding element 67. The cable channel 731 is located between the first guide channel 711 and the second guide channel 721. Another channel 732 is provided adjacent to the cable channel 731.

[0064] Boundary box 74 represents the functional encapsulation space, in which all moving mechanism components are arranged. Cable channel 731 is arranged within the boundary box to reduce the space required for the guiding assembly while maintaining the height H of the guiding assembly. GA The minimum value is defined by the mechanism, and the width W of the guide component is maintained. GA The minimum value is determined by the mechanism, resulting in a compact guide component.

[0065] Figure 5B An intermediate track element 611 near the front end is shown, wherein a locking lever guide channel 612B of the front track element 612 is arranged in a first guide channel 711. A locking lever 65 is shown arranged to be operatively coupled to the front track element 612. A portion of the locking lever 65 is arranged in another channel 732 without contacting the transverse wall 73, allowing the locking lever 65 to slide through the intermediate track element 711 without obstruction from dust, dirt, and other particles that may fall into the other channel 732 of the intermediate track element 611.

[0066] A driven sliding element 67 is arranged in a cable channel 731 and is attached in the cable channel 731 to a drive cable that also extends through the cable channel 731. Furthermore, the driven sliding element 67 is guided through a second guide channel 721 and is arranged to be spaced apart from the transverse wall 73, similar to how the locking lever 65 is spaced apart from the transverse wall 73.

[0067] Furthermore, the front strut 63 and support element 62 are shown. The position of support element 62 clearly shows that its cross-section corresponds to the open roof assembly in the position where the front end FE is raised. When in the closed position, both support element 62 and front strut 63 are arranged within the boundary frame 74.

[0068] Figure 5C The rear end 611-RE of the intermediate track element 611 and the rear track element 613 are shown. Therefore, the first wall member 71 is omitted, and the rear track element 613 is arranged opposite the third surface 72A. The rear mechanism 64 and the support element 62 are shown in the closed position within the boundary frame 74.

[0069] The third guide channel 712 and the fifth guide channel 723 are configured and aligned with the front guide channels 612a and 612c at the front end of the intermediate track element 611. As described above, the first slide 631 and the other slide are arranged to slide through the third guide channel 712 and the fifth guide channel 723 for sliding the closing member 2 to the open position.

[0070] The fourth guide channel 722 is arranged and configured to support and guide the second slide 633. (As from...) Figure 5C As is evident, the rear mechanism 64 and the rear track element 613 are designed, arranged, and constructed to allow the second slide 633 to slide along the rear mechanism 64 to provide the large opening as described above.

[0071] Figures 6A-6C illustrate a front track element 612, an intermediate track element 611, and a rear track element 613 in conjunction with a front drive cable tube 733 and a rear drive cable tube 734. In practical embodiments, typically only one of the front drive cable tube 733 and the rear drive cable tube 734 is present. The drive cable tube provides a channel through which the drive cable typically passes between the motor driver and the guide assembly; in this embodiment, the drive cable is attached to a driven sliding element 67 (see, for example, [reference needed]). Figure 5B For reliable and smooth operation, the drive cable can be bent only to a certain extent. Therefore, the drive cable tube can only have a limited curvature.

[0072] As can be clearly seen from Figures 6A-6C, the curvature of the front drive cable tube 733 is smooth, while the curvature of the rear drive cable tube 734 is sharper. Furthermore, when the cable channel 731 according to the invention is arranged in the intermediate track element 611, the drive cable can be directly fed into the cable channel 731 without altering the rear end 611-RE of the intermediate track element 611. In addition, the rear mechanism 64 and the corresponding rear track element 613 are designed and arranged such that they do not obstruct the trajectory of the drive cable and the rear drive cable tube 734, which is at least partially arranged in the transverse plane in which the cable channel 731 is arranged, i.e., in the virtual plane in which the transverse wall 73 is arranged. Specifically, at least a first portion of the rear drive cable tube 734 is arranged in the transverse plane, wherein the first portion is the part of the rear drive cable tube 734 that connects to the cable channel 731, thereby preventing sharp bending in the height direction H.

[0073] At the front track element 612, the front drive cable tube 733 is similarly arranged at least partially in the transverse plane. Again, referring to Figures 3A and 3B, the front mechanism 63 can be configured to slide downwards through the transverse plane. To prevent collision between the front mechanism 63 and the front drive cable tube 733, slides 631 and 631a (on the front rod 632) are provided. Figure 4C The slides 631 and 631a can be arranged at intervals with gaps between them, such that in the closed position, the front drive cable tube 733 can be arranged in the gap between the slides 631 and 631a, while allowing the slides 631 and 631a to slide downward through the transverse plane without interfering with or obstructing the drive cable trajectory.

[0074] Therefore, it is evident that the present invention provides a fully modular guide assembly for open-roof vehicle components. Both the front track element 612 and the rear track element 613 can be used for each type of vehicle without further modification or adaptation. Furthermore, the intermediate track element 611 can have a predetermined standard cross-section and can therefore be manufactured using standard processes, such as by aluminum extrusion. The length and curvature of the intermediate track element 611 can be applied, wherein the length and curvature can be appropriately selected for each type of vehicle. However, the basic manufacturing process remains the same for each type of vehicle. Therefore, design and manufacturing costs are reduced.

[0075] Detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but merely as the basis of the claims and as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to employ the invention differently with any suitable detailed structure contemplated. In particular, features presented and described in the individual dependent claims may be applied in combination, and any advantageous combinations of these claims are disclosed herein.

[0076] Furthermore, it is anticipated that structural elements can be generated by applying three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. Therefore, any reference to structural elements is intended to cover any computer-executable instructions that instruct a computer to generate such a structural element using 3D printing technology or similar computer-controlled manufacturing techniques. Additionally, any such reference to structural elements is also intended to cover computer-readable media carrying such computer-executable instructions.

[0077] Furthermore, the terminology and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. As used herein, the term "a" or "an" is defined as one or more. As used herein, the term "multiple" is defined as two or more. As used herein, the term "another" is defined as at least a second or more. As used herein, the terms "comprising" and / or "having" are defined as including (i.e., open-ended language). As used herein, the term "link" is defined as a connection, although not necessarily a direct connection.

[0078] The invention described herein can obviously be modified in many ways. These changes should not be considered as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A guide assembly for an open-top vehicle assembly, comprising an intermediate track element, the intermediate track element comprising: A first wall member, the first wall member including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, at least one guide channel being arranged in the second surface; A second wall member, the second wall member including a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, the second wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member, and the third surface being opposite to the second surface of the first wall member, at least one guide channel being arranged in the third surface; The guide channels in the first wall component and the guide channels in the second wall component together define a functional encapsulation space, in which all moving mechanism components are arranged. The guide channels in the first wall member and the guide channels in the second wall member include at least: A first guide channel is disposed in the second surface; A second guide channel is disposed within the third surface; The intermediate track element also includes: A transverse wall member extending between the second and third surfaces, wherein a cable channel is disposed on the transverse wall member, the cable channel being arranged between the first and second guide channels and within the boundary frame of the functional encapsulation space to reduce the space required for the guide assembly.

2. The boot component according to claim 1, wherein, The intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end and extending in the longitudinal direction. The guide assembly also includes a front mechanism and a front track element, the front track element being disposed at the front end of the intermediate track element, wherein the front track element is configured to support the movement of the front mechanism.

3. The boot component according to claim 2, wherein, The front track element includes a front guide channel, and the front guide channel is aligned with a guide channel in one of the first wall member and the second wall member to form a continuous guide channel.

4. The boot component according to claim 2, wherein • The transverse wall components are arranged in a transverse plane; • The drive cable extends from the cable channel at the front end along the cable track, at least a portion of the cable track being arranged in the transverse plane; and • The front mechanism is configured to move along a front mechanism trajectory that passes through the transverse plane without intersecting the cable trajectory.

5. The boot component according to claim 1, wherein, The intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end and extending in the longitudinal direction. The guide assembly also includes a rear mechanism and a rear track element, the rear track element being disposed at the rear end of the intermediate track element, wherein the rear track element is configured to support the movement of the rear mechanism.

6. The boot component according to claim 5, wherein, At the rear end, the second wall member extends beyond the first wall member in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the rear track element includes a rear wall member having a rear wall surface arranged substantially parallel to the second wall member, and the rear wall surface is opposite to the third surface of the second wall member.

7. The boot component according to claim 5, wherein • The transverse wall components are arranged in a transverse plane; • The drive cable extends from the cable channel at the rear end along the cable track, at least a portion of the cable track being arranged in the transverse plane; and • The rear mechanism is configured to move along a rear mechanism trajectory that does not intersect with the cable trajectory.

8. The boot component according to claim 1, wherein, The intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end and extending in the longitudinal direction. The guiding component further includes a front mechanism and a rear mechanism, wherein The front mechanism includes a slidable front rod extending longitudinally between a first rod end and a second rod end, the second rod end being guided through a guide channel arranged in the second wall member. The rear mechanism includes a rear rod that is slidably supported in a guide channel within the first wall member. The front rod and the rear rod are constructed and arranged such that the front rod can slide along the rear rod.

9. A method of manufacturing a guide assembly for an open-top vehicle assembly, the method comprising the steps of: Forming an intermediate track element, wherein the intermediate track element comprises: A first wall member, the first wall member including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, at least one guide channel being arranged in the second surface; A second wall member, the second wall member including a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, the second wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the first wall member, and the third surface being opposite to the second surface of the first wall member, at least one guide channel being arranged in the third surface; A transverse wall member extending between the second surface and the third surface; The guide channels in the first wall component and the guide channels in the second wall component together define a functional encapsulation space, in which all moving mechanism components are arranged. The guide channels in the first wall member and the guide channels in the second wall member include at least: A first guide channel, the first guide channel being disposed in the second surface; and A second guide channel is disposed in the third surface; and A cable channel is disposed on the transverse wall member, the cable channel being arranged between the first guide channel and the second guide channel and located within the boundary frame of the functional encapsulation space to reduce the space required for the guide assembly; The step of forming the intermediate track element includes selecting the length and curvature of the intermediate track element.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end, and the method further includes: A front mechanism is provided in the intermediate track element; and A front track element is provided at the front end of the intermediate track element. The front track element is configured to support the movement of the front mechanism.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein, The intermediate track element is an elongated element having a front end and a rear end, and the method further includes: Remove a portion of the first wall member at the rear end of the intermediate track element; A rear wall member is provided, the rear wall member having a rear wall surface at the rear end of the intermediate track element, the rear wall member being arranged substantially parallel to the second wall member, and the rear wall surface being opposite to the third surface of the second wall member.

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