Roof opening construction for a vehicle

Abstract

A roof opening construction for a vehicle comprises a roof opening and a panel for opening and closing the roof opening. At least one movement and guide assembly is provided for determining the movement of the panel between its closed position and its open position, the at least one movement and guide assembly comprising at least a panel tilt bracket having a guide member cooperating with a fixed guide channel, the fixed guide channel having a tilted guide channel section of a front portion, the tilted guide channel section extending upwardly in a rearward direction and merging into a substantially horizontal guide channel section of a rear portion terminating at an exit end. The substantially horizontal guide channel section is provided with a central section at a lower height than two opposite adjacent sections between the location where it merges with the tilted guide channel section and its exit end.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof opening arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a roof opening in a fixed roof surrounded by a seal, and a panel movable substantially longitudinally between a closed position in which the panel engages the seal and closes the roof opening, and an open position in which the panel is at least partially positioned over a portion of the fixed roof behind the roof opening, the roof opening arrangement further comprising at least one movement and guide assembly for determining the movement of the panel between its closed and open positions, wherein the movement and guide assembly comprises:

[0002] - a generally longitudinally extending panel drive bracket secured to the panel;

[0003] - a panel tilt bracket supported and guided by the panel drive bracket for limited longitudinal movement relative to the panel drive bracket and provided with a guide member in a rear portion;

[0004] - a fixed rear retainer with a guide channel for cooperating with a guide member of the panel tilt bracket, wherein the guide channel comprises a front inclined guide channel section extending upwardly in a rearward direction and merging into a rear generally horizontal guide channel section terminating at the outlet end;

[0005] and a plurality of rearward moving members, each of which is adapted to move the panel forwardly and backwardly relative to the panel drive bracket and the panel tilt bracket, wherein the plurality of rearward moving members are adapted to move the panel forwardly and backwardly relative to the panel drive bracket and the panel tilt bracket, respectively.

[0006] - a fixed rail extending longitudinally above the fixed roof, with a majority of the fixed rail extending longitudinally behind the roof opening and having a front entry end;

[0007] - a rod rotatably connected to the panel and having a front guide shoe and a rear guide shoe for cooperating with the fixed guide rail, wherein the rear guide shoe cooperates with the fixed guide rail in all positions of the panel and the front guide shoe is disengaged from the fixed guide rail in at least all positions of the panel between and including the closed position and the tilted position, and wherein during movement of the panel from the tilted position to the open position, the front guide shoe enters the fixed guide rail at the entry end before the guide member of the panel tilt bracket moves away from the exit end of the horizontal guide channel section;

[0008] And wherein, when viewed in a top plan view, the panel drive bracket, the panel tilt bracket, the fixed front and rear positioners and the driven slide are all located inside the seal, while the fixed guide rail and the rod are located outside the seal. Background Art

[0009] Such a roof opening construction defines a so-called dry area inside the seal (when viewed in a top plan view), in which most of the components of the roof opening construction are located and are therefore protected from external influences (such as rain). However, in order for the panel to be able to move to the fully open position in a stable manner, fixed guide rails and rods are required, which must be located outside the seal (in the so-called wet area). In such a design, during the first phase of the movement of the panel from the closed position to the open position, the panel is guided at its rear end due to the cooperation between the guide member of the panel tilt bracket and the guide groove, while during the second (final) phase of the movement of the panel, the panel is guided at its rear end due to the cooperation between the guide shoe of the rod and the fixed guide rail. The continuity of these two phases (during which the guide member leaves the guide groove and the front guide shoe enters the fixed guide rail) allows effective guidance of the panel to be maintained while passing through the seal.

[0010] In such a roof opening configuration, the panel, when moving from its closed position towards the open position, first assumes an inclined position (in which the rear end of the panel is raised), and then moves from this inclined position into the open position. Basically, the movement from the inclined position to the open position comprises, in addition to raising the front end of the panel, a substantially horizontal rearward movement of the panel, during which, as a result, the guide member leaves the guide groove and the front guide shoe enters the fixed guide rail.

[0011] However, such horizontal rearward movement of the panel may lead to problems in achieving such a result. Such problems may be caused by constructional, dimensional and functional requirements (for example, it is desirable to achieve a certain minimum lifting height of the panel while minimizing the size of the components of the roof opening structure (such as the rod), but further, the design must allow for effective drainage of water, particularly from the wet area where the rod and fixing rail are located). Summary of the Invention

[0012] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved roof opening structure.

[0013] According to the invention, the substantially horizontal guide channel section is provided with a central section between the location where it merges with the inclined guide channel section and its outlet end, at a lower height than the two opposing adjacent sections.

[0014] As a result, when the guide member of the panel tilt bracket moves out of (the exit end of) the guide channel, movement of the front guide shoe of the rod into the guide rail occurs in an efficient and smooth manner.

[0015] Preferably, a central section of the horizontal guide channel sections is positioned in the longitudinal direction such that when the guide member of the panel tilt bracket is located at the central section, the front guide shoe is still separated from the fixed rail.

[0016] More preferably, the adjacent guide channel sections extend slightly obliquely upwards in a rearward direction at the outlet end.

[0017] To improve the design even further, the guide channel may be flared at the outlet end.

[0018] It is also possible that the fixed guide rail extends at least partially upwardly inclined from its inlet end. In such an embodiment, and when the guide channel sections extend slightly upwardly inclined in the rearward direction at the outlet end, it is preferred that the inclinations of the adjacent guide channel sections at their outlet ends and the inclination of the guide rail at its inlet end are at least approximately the same, and preferably the same.

[0019] Preferably, the roof opening configuration according to the invention will comprise two movement and guide assemblies symmetrically positioned at opposite lateral sides of the roof opening.

[0020] The panel may comprise, at least for a substantial part thereof, a glass panel, for example fitted in or to (eg on top of) a metal frame.

[0021] In order to improve the accuracy of the panel movement, the guide groove and the fixed guide rail may define corresponding guide channels, wherein the guide member of the panel tilt bracket is a guide shoe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an upper portion of a vehicle provided with a roof-opening configuration;

[0024] Figure 2 An exploded view showing the roof opening configuration according to the present invention, and

[0025] Figures 3 to 7 show side schematic views of the roof opening structure in successive positions during movement from the closed position to the open position, wherein the figures with the suffix a show the entire roof opening structure, the figures with the suffix b show the front part of the roof opening structure on a larger scale and the figures with the suffix c show the rear part of the roof opening structure on a larger scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figure 1 The upper part of a vehicle 1 with a roof opening 2 is schematically shown in a fixed roof 3. A panel 4 is provided which can be moved between a closed position and an open position (e.g. Figure 1 2 ). The panel 4 is configured to move longitudinally (according to M) between the fixed roof 3 and the roof opening 2, in the closed position in which the panel completely covers (closes) the roof opening, and in the open position in which the panel (at least partially) clears the roof opening and is at least partially (and in most cases, for the majority of the panel) located above a portion of the fixed roof behind the roof opening. The panel 4, at least for the majority of the panel, may comprise a glass panel, such as a sheet of glass fitted into or to (e.g., on top of) a metal frame. The fixed roof 3, and in particular the portion thereof behind the roof opening 2, may also comprise a glass panel.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown in , the roof opening 2 is surrounded by a seal 5 so that a so-called wet area is defined outside the seal and a so-called dry area is defined inside the seal. The panel 4 engages the seal 5 in its closed position.

[0028] Figure 2 Further shown are the components of the movement and guide assembly for determining the movement of the panel 4 between its closed position and its open position (and vice versa). Figure 2Only one such assembly is shown in FIG, but it should be noted that the roof opening configuration will typically comprise two such movement and guide assemblies symmetrically positioned at opposite lateral sides of the roof opening 2.

[0029] Each motion and guidance component includes:

[0030] a generally longitudinally extending panel drive bracket 6 , secured to the panel 4 and provided with a guide member 7 (and a guide pin 26 to be discussed later) near the front end;

[0031] a panel tilt bracket 8 supported and guided by the panel drive bracket 6 for limited longitudinal movement relative thereto and provided with a guide member 9 in a rear portion;

[0032] - a fixed rear retainer 10 provided with a guide slot 11 for cooperating with the guide member 9 of the panel tilt bracket 8 (e.g. Figure 3c ), wherein the guide channel 11 comprises a front inclined guide channel section 11 ′ which extends upwardly in a rearward direction and merges into a rear generally horizontal guide channel section 11 ″ which terminates at the outlet end 14 (as will be presented below, the generally horizontal guide channel section 11 ″ will not extend completely horizontally);

[0033] a driven slide 15 (e.g. driven by a push / pull cable 16 ) for driving the movement of the panel drive bracket 6 and the panel tilt bracket 8 , said driven slide 15 moving along a front guide 17 which also serves to guide a part of the movement of the guide member 7 of the panel drive bracket 6 ;

[0034] a fixed front positioner 18 intended to cooperate with the guide member 7 for guiding a part of the movement of said guide member;

[0035] - a fixed rail 19 which extends longitudinally above the fixed roof 3 and which for the most part extends longitudinally behind the roof opening 2 and has a front entry end 20 (see for example Figure 3c );

[0036] - a rod 21 rotatably connected via a pivot 22 (see e.g. Figure 3c) to the panel 4 and having a front guide shoe 23 and a rear guide shoe 24 for cooperating with the fixed guide rail 19, wherein the rear guide shoe 24 will cooperate with the fixed guide rail 19 (or be positioned in the fixed guide rail) in all positions of the panel 4, while the front guide shoe 23 (as will be presented below) is disengaged from the fixed guide rail 19 (or, in other words, has not yet entered the fixed guide rail) at least in all positions of the panel between and including the closed position and the so-called tilted position, and during movement of the panel from the tilted position, the front guide shoe will enter the fixed guide rail at the entrance end 20 before the guide member 9 of the panel tilt bracket 8 moves away from the exit end 14 of the substantially horizontal guide channel section 11".

[0037] When viewed in a top plan view, the panel drive bracket 6, panel tilt bracket 8, fixed front and rear positioners 18 and 10, driven slide 15 and front guide 17 are all located in a dry area inside the seal 5, while the fixed guide rail 19 and rod 21 are located in a wet area outside the seal 5.

[0038] As in Figure 7c As best shown in the drawing, a substantially horizontal guide channel section 11″ of the guide channel 11 (which in this embodiment defines a guide channel) is provided with a central section 12 between the point where it merges with the inclined guide channel section 11′ and its outlet end 14, at a lower height than the two opposite adjacent guide channel sections 13a, 13b. The central section 12 of the horizontal guide channel section 11″ is positioned in the longitudinal direction so that when the guide member 9 (e.g., guide shoe) of the panel tilt bracket 8 is located at the central section, the front guide shoe 23 of the rod 21 remains disengaged from (located outside / in front of) the fixed guide rail 19 (see the position shown in FIG5 ).

[0039] As in Figure 7c As best seen in FIG, the adjacent guide channel section 13b extends slightly upwardly in a rearward direction at the outlet end 14 and flares at the outlet end 14. Similarly, the fixed guide rail 19 (which also defines the guide channel in this embodiment) extends at least partially upwardly in a flared manner from its inlet end 20 (and may have a flared inlet end 20). The inclination of the guide channel section 13b and the inclination of the guide rail 19 at its inlet end 20 may be at least approximately the same, and preferably are the same.

[0040] The following is a description of the movement of the roof opening configuration and the operation of the guide assembly. During this operation, the driven slide 15 is responsible not only for lifting the rear end of the panel to the tilted position and then sliding the panel 4 backward to the open position over the fixed roof 3, but also for lifting the front end of the panel at the appropriate time (for example to allow subsequent rearward movement). To achieve this, the driven slide is provided with a guide bend 25 that cooperates with a guide pin 26 that is part of the panel drive bracket 6 (see for example Figure 4b The manner in which this guide bend 25 cooperates with the guide pin 26, and furthermore the manner in which the guide member 7 cooperates with the front retainer 18 and the front guide 17 for timing and defining the movement of the front end of the panel 4, is known per se and will be discussed briefly hereinafter only insofar as is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

[0041] Figure 3 shows the closed position of the panel 4. The guide member 9 of the panel tilt bracket 8 is positioned in the lowermost part of the guide channel 11 (specifically, in the lowermost part of the inclined guide channel section 11' or even in the short horizontal front section 11"' in front of the inclined guide channel section). The driven slide 15 is in the frontmost position. The front guide shoe 23 of the rod 21 is disengaged from the fixed guide rail 19 (so that the front guide shoe will not hinder the pivoting movement of the rod 21 during the lifting of the rear end of the panel 4). The guide member 7 of the panel drive bracket 6 is positioned in the substantially vertical part of the front guide 17 so as to initially prevent longitudinal movement of the panel drive bracket 6 and the panel 4.

[0042] When the driven slide 15 moves rearward (rightward in the drawing), it carries the panel tilt bracket 8 with it, so that the guide member 9 of the panel tilt bracket moves upward along the inclined guide channel section 11 'to the uppermost position shown in Figure 4. This results in a raised position (tilted position) of the panel 4 at its rear end. During this lifting movement, the rod 21 pivots about its pivot 22 and the rear guide shoe 24.

[0043] The panel drive bracket 6 is still unable to slide backwards (the guide member 7 is still in the vertical portion of the front guide 17). Therefore, the driven slider 15 (and therefore the panel tilt bracket 8) slides relative to the panel drive bracket 6. This also causes the guide pin 26 to slide in the guide bend 25, which can already cause a slight lifting of the front edge of the panel if necessary.

[0044] Continued rearward movement of the driven slide 15 results in the position shown in FIG. 5 , in which the guide member 9 has reached the central lower section 12 of the guide groove section 11 ″. This causes a slight counterclockwise rotation of the rod 21 so that the front guide shoe 23 of the rod is now in a position suitable for fully entering the fixed guide rail 19.

[0045] At the front of the panel 4, the guide bend 25 of the driven slide 15 has already lifted the guide pin 26 of the panel drive bracket 6 to a position where it enters the vertical section 25' of the guide bend. Therefore, when the driven slide 15 continues its movement, the panel drive bracket 6 (together with the panel 4) will be carried longitudinally with the driven slide while the guide member 7 slides along the front guide 17.

[0046] As a result, the panel 4 moves rearwards, so that the guide member 9 moves along the adjacent guide channel section 13b towards the outlet end 14, while the front guide shoe 23 simultaneously enters the fixed guide rail 19. During this movement, there will be a situation (as shown in FIG6 ) in which the guide member 9 is still in the guide channel section 13b and the front guide shoe 23 has entered the guide rail, thereby ensuring that the panel always remains correctly supported.

[0047] Because both the front and rear guide shoes 23 and 24 are now engaged with the guide rails 19, the shape of the guide rails 19 completely determines the rotational position of the rod 21 and, therefore, also the height of the rear end of the panel 4 when the guide member 9 finally moves away from the exit end of the guide slot 11 (see FIG7 ). Now, during further rearward movement of the panel 4, the position of the panel 4 is completely determined at its rear end by the cooperation between the rod 21 and the fixed guide rails 19, and at its front end by the cooperation between the guide member 7 and the front guide 17.

[0048] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which may be varied widely within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A roof opening arrangement for a vehicle (1), comprising a panel (4) and a roof opening (2) in a fixed roof (3) surrounded by a seal (5), the panel (4) being movable substantially longitudinally between a closed position in which the panel engages the seal and closes the roof opening, and an open position in which the panel is at least partially above a portion of the fixed roof behind the roof opening, the roof opening arrangement further comprising at least one movement and guide assembly for determining movement of the panel between its closed and open positions, wherein the movement and guide assembly comprises: - a substantially longitudinally extending panel drive bracket (6) fixed to said panel (4); - a panel tilting bracket (8) supported and guided by the panel drive bracket (6) for limited longitudinal movement relative to the panel drive bracket, and the panel tilting bracket is provided with a guide member (9) in a rear portion; - a fixed rear retainer (10) provided with a guide channel (11) for cooperating with a guide member (9) of the panel tilt bracket (8), wherein the guide channel comprises a front inclined guide channel section (11') extending upwardly in a rearward direction and merging into a rear substantially horizontal guide channel section (11") terminating at an outlet end (14); - a driven slide (15) for driving the movement of the panel driving bracket (6) and the panel tilting bracket (8), so that during the rearward movement of the driven slide, starting from the closed position of the panel, the panel tilting bracket first moves rearward relative to the panel driving bracket, and the guide member (9) of the panel tilting bracket moves along the inclined guide groove section (11') for lifting the rear end of the panel (4) to the inclined position, and secondly the continued rearward movement of the driven slide (15) Movement causes the front end of the panel to be lifted by means of a fixed front locator (18) cooperating with a dedicated guide member (7) of the panel drive bracket (6) and causes the panel drive bracket to move rearwardly with the panel and the panel tilt bracket, wherein the guide member (9) of the panel tilt bracket (8) moves into, along and out of the substantially horizontal guide channel section (11") at the exit end (14); - a fixed rail (19) extending longitudinally above the fixed roof (3), with a majority of the fixed rail extending longitudinally behind the roof opening (2) and having a front entry end (20); - a rod (21) rotatably connected to the panel (4) and having a front guide shoe (23) and a rear guide shoe (24) for cooperating with the fixed guide rail (19), wherein the rear guide shoe (24) cooperates with the fixed guide rail in all positions of the panel and the front guide shoe (23) disengages from the fixed guide rail in at least all positions of the panel between and including the closed position and the tilted position, and wherein during movement of the panel from the tilted position to the open position, the front guide shoe (23) enters the fixed guide rail (19) at the entry end (20) before the guide member (9) of the panel tilt bracket (8) moves out of the exit end (14) of the substantially horizontal guide channel section (11"); Furthermore, when viewed in a top plan view, the panel drive bracket (6), the panel tilt bracket (8), the fixed front retainer (18), the fixed rear retainer (10) and the driven slide (15) are located inside the seal (5), while the fixed guide rail (19) and the rod (21) are located outside the seal (5), It is characterized by: Between the location where the substantially horizontal guide channel section (11") merges with the inclined guide channel section (11') and the outlet end (14) of the substantially horizontal guide channel section, the substantially horizontal guide channel section is provided with a central section (12) which is located at a lower height than two opposing adjacent guide channel sections (13a, 13b).

2. The roof opening structure according to claim 1, wherein: The central section (12) of the substantially horizontal guide channel section (11") is positioned in the longitudinal direction so that when the guide member (9) of the panel tilt bracket (8) is located at the central section, the front guide shoe (23) remains disengaged from the fixed guide rail (19).

3. The roof opening structure according to claim 1, wherein: The adjacent guide channel section (13b) extends at the outlet end (14) in a rearward direction at a slight upward inclination.

4. The roof opening structure according to claim 1, wherein: The guide groove (11) opens at the outlet end (14).

5. The roof opening structure according to claim 1, wherein: The fixed guide rail (19) extends at least partially upwardly obliquely from the inlet end (20).

6. The roof opening structure according to claim 5, wherein: The adjacent guide channel section (13b) extends slightly upwardly inclined in the rearward direction at the outlet end (14), and the inclination of the adjacent guide channel section (13b) at the outlet end (14) and the inclination of the guide rail (19) at the inlet end (20) are at least approximately the same.

7. The roof opening configuration according to claim 1, comprising two movement and guide assemblies symmetrically positioned at opposite lateral sides of the roof opening (2).

8. The roof opening structure according to claim 1, wherein: The majority of the panel (4) comprises a glass panel.

9. The roof opening structure according to claim 1, wherein: The guide groove (11) and the fixed guide rail (19) define corresponding guide channels, and wherein the guide member (9) of the panel tilt bracket (8) is a guide shoe.

10. The roof opening structure according to claim 6, wherein: The inclination of the adjacent guide channel section (13b) at the outlet end (14) and the inclination of the guide rail (19) at the inlet end (20) are the same.

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