Open roof construction for a vehicle

Abstract

An open roof construction for a vehicle (1) is provided comprising at least a movable bar (6) to which a runner (9) is connected by a pin-like member (8), the runner cooperating with a guide (10) and moving longitudinally along the guide in order to define the movement of the movable bar. The pin-like member is connected at a first end to the bar and at a second end to the runner, and the guide and the runner are provided with at least one pair (12, 14; 13, 15) of cooperating guide parts (12, 13) and runner parts (14, 15). The pin-like member is provided at its second end with an enlarged head (11) for engaging the runner (9) at a side of the runner facing away from the bar (6). The size of the enlarged head is such that, when seen in a direction from the enlarged head towards the bar, at least a part of the enlarged head overlaps at least one guide part.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle, comprising a panel and a moving mechanism for moving the panel between different positions, wherein the moving mechanism comprises at least a movable bar to which a shoe is connected via a pin-like member, the movable bar cooperating with a guide and moving longitudinally along the guide to define the movement of the movable bar, wherein the pin-like member is connected at a first end to said bar and at a second end to said shoe, and wherein the guide and the shoe are provided with at least one pair of cooperating guide and shoe parts. BACKGROUND

[0002] In such open roof constructions, the shoe contributes to define the movement of the bar, and thus of the panel (e.g. between its closed and open positions). To ensure a safe operation of the generally open roof construction, and in particular to ensure a reliable positioning of the panel in its different positions, it should be ensured at any moment that the proper cooperation between the shoe and the guide is ensured. In particular, it should be avoided that forces resulting in a crash situation (e.g. with the panel in its open position) cause the shoe to disengage (partly or completely) from the guide, even at low speeds. SUMMARY

[0003] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an open roof construction in which the proper cooperation between the shoe and the guide is maintained in a very large range of operating circumstances.

[0004] According to the invention, the open roof construction is characterized in that the pin-like member is provided at its second end (at which it is connected to the shoe) with an enlarged head for engaging the shoe on the side of the shoe facing away from the bar, wherein the enlarged head is dimensioned such that, when viewed in the direction from the enlarged head towards the bar, at least a portion of said enlarged head overlaps at least one guide part.

[0005] Obviously, due to said overlap between the enlarged head and the at least one guide part, the proper cooperation between the shoe and the guide (as occurs at the interface between the cooperating guide and shoe parts) can be ensured even in adverse conditions such as a crash situation (e.g. with the panel in its open position). The enlarged head can limit or prevent deformation of the shoe.

[0006] In one embodiment of the open roof construction, the guide is provided with two guide parts at opposite sides of the pin-like member (typically above and below the pin-like member when the shoe is moved in a generally horizontal direction, as is the case in most open roof constructions of the type to which the invention relates), while the shoe (again) is provided with two shoe parts at opposite sides of the pin-like member to define two opposite pairs of cooperating guide and shoe parts.

[0007] In such embodiments, the enlarged head of the pin-like member can overlap only one guide member part, but the advantageous effects obtained can be maximized when the enlarged head has such a design that it overlaps both of the opposite guide member parts.

[0008] In one embodiment, the enlarged head has an asymmetric design. This can result in different amounts of overlap with respect to different guide member parts, or this can result from the particular design of the sliding tile (e.g. when the pin-like member does not have a central position in the sliding tile).

[0009] In one embodiment comprising two of said pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts, both of the opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts are located between the enlarged head and the rod. In such embodiments, the enlarged head will cooperate in an overlapping manner with both guide member parts.

[0010] In another embodiment comprising two of said pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts, only a first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts is located between the enlarged head and the rod at a side of the enlarged head facing the rod, while a second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts is located at a side of the enlarged head facing away from the rod. In such embodiments, the enlarged head will cooperate in an overlapping manner only with the guide member part of the first pair.

[0011] In yet another embodiment of an open roof construction also comprising two of said pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts, again, only a first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts is located between the enlarged head and the rod at a side of the enlarged head facing the rod, while a second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts is now located at a side of the rod facing away from the enlarged head.

[0012] In one embodiment, the sliding tile is provided with a reinforcing member extending at least partially between the enlarged head and a pair of cooperating guide member and sliding tile parts. Such a reinforcing member at least partially, preferably entirely, embedded in the sliding tile increases the resistance of the sliding tile against disengagement from the guide by increasing the stiffness of the sliding tile. The reinforcing member can reduce the deformation of the sliding tile and can also improve the transmission of forces between the enlarged head and the guide member parts. Such a reinforcing member can comprise a plate or disc made of a rigid material, e.g. plastic or metal, and can have a wide range of shapes and dimensions, depending on the characteristics of the sliding tile.

[0013] In embodiments of the open roof construction comprising two said pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts, the reinforcing member can extend between the enlarged head and the two opposite pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts, also when only one pair is located between the enlarged head and the lever. This does however not exclude the possibility that the reinforcing member extends in another way.

[0014] For example, it is possible that the reinforcing member first extends between the enlarged head and a first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts, and secondly at the side of a second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts which faces away from the lever.

[0015] The respective cooperating guide member parts and slider parts can comprise a longitudinally extending guide wall and a longitudinally extending slider groove, respectively.

[0016] When said open roof construction comprises two said pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts, it is most common that a first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts is located above said pin-like member, and that a second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member parts and slider parts is located below said pin-like member, especially when said slider performs a horizontal movement along said guide member.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lever is U-shaped in the area where the pin-like member is attached thereto. This can provide structural and / or functional advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] In the following, the application will be elucidated by means of the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 A general view of a vehicle provided with an open roof construction comprising a panel shown in an open position is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A part of a moving mechanism for the panel is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 An exploded view of said part of the moving mechanism is shown;

[0022] Figure 4 The lever, the slider and the pin-like member are shown in an exploded state, and

[0023] Figures 5-11 Cross-sectional views showing different embodiments of the open roof construction according to the application are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In Figure 1In the middle, a part of a vehicle 1 is shown, which is provided with an open roof construction 3 in a fixed roof 2. Part of the open roof construction is a panel 4, which can be moved between different positions, such as a closed position and an open position as shown, by means of a moving mechanism 5 (see Figure 2 ). Figure 1

[0025] The precise structure and operation of the moving mechanism 5 is not relevant to the present invention. It is only important that it comprises at least a movable rod 6 ( Figures 3-11 ) to start with. The movable rod 6 can be a front rod attached to a support 7 for the panel 4, but it is noted that the present invention is not limited to this particular type of rod.

[0026] A pin-like member 8, such as a pin or a bolt, is connected at a first end to the rod 6 (e.g. inserted into a hole 6' of the rod) and at a second end to a shoe 9 (e.g. partially housed in a recess 9' of the shoe), thereby connecting the shoe 9 to the rod 6 (while generally allowing the shoe to rotate relative to the rod). The shoe 9 for defining the movement of the movable rod 6 cooperates with and moves longitudinally along a guide 10. To this end, the guide 10 and the shoe 9 are provided with at least one pair of cooperating guide and shoe parts, which will be explained in detail below Figures 5-11 .

[0027] As shown below, the pin-like member 8 is provided at its second end with an enlarged head 11 for engaging the shoe 9 at a side of the shoe facing away from the rod 6. The enlarged head 11 is dimensioned such that, when seen in a direction from the enlarged head 11 towards the rod 6, at least a part of said enlarged head overlaps at least one guide part.

[0028] With reference to Figure 5 , an embodiment is shown in cross-section, wherein the guide 10 is provided at opposite (here upper and lower) sides of the pin-like member 8 with two guide parts 12, 13 (e.g. wall parts) and said two guide parts 12, 13 are positioned between the enlarged head 11 and the rod 6. The shoe 9 is provided at opposite sides of the pin-like member with two corresponding shoe parts 14, 15 (e.g. recesses), which cooperate with the guide parts 12, 13 to define two opposite pairs 12, 14 and 13, 15, each pair comprising a guide part 12, 13 and a shoe part 14, 15 cooperating with each other.

[0029] In Figure 5 , it can be seen that, as seen in the direction of observation according to arrow V, the enlarged head 11 of the pin-like member 8 overlaps both guide parts 12 and 13 (in this embodiment, it can also be said that the width of the gap defined between the opposite guide parts 12 and 13 is smaller than the diameter or width of the enlarged head 11). ​

[0030] According to Figure 6 embodiments similar to the embodiments according to Figure 5 but in which the enlarged head 11 has an asymmetric design.

[0031] In Figure 7 again an embodiment is shown which is similar to the embodiments according to Figure 5 However, now the shingle 9 is additionally provided with a reinforcement member 16 which extends (at least partially) between the enlarged head 11 and both pairs of cooperating guide member and shingle member 12, 14 and 13, 15. In the shown embodiment, the reinforcement member 16 is at least partially, preferably completely, embedded in the shingle 9.

[0032] In Figure 8 the shown embodiment, only the first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and shingle member 12, 14 is located between the enlarged head 11 and the movable bar 6 (or, in other words, on the side of the enlarged head 11 facing the movable bar 6, in this figure on the left side of the enlarged head 11), while the second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and shingle member 13, 15 is located on the side of the enlarged head 11 facing away from the bar 6 (in this figure on the right side of the enlarged head 11).

[0033] Reference is now made to Figure 9 which shows an embodiment very similar to the previously described embodiments, but now additionally provided with a reinforcement member. As shown, a first part 16' of the reinforcement member extends between the enlarged head 11 and the first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and shingle member 12, 14, while a second part 16" of the reinforcement member extends on the side of the second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and shingle member 13, 15 facing away from the bar 6 (in this figure on the right side of said pair 13, 15).

[0034] It should be noted that the reinforcement member can also comprise only the first part 16' or only the second part 16".

[0035] Figure 10 The shown embodiment is very similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 but in which the bar 6 is U-shaped in the area where the pin-like member 8 is attached thereto.

[0036] Finally, Figure 11An embodiment is shown in which, again, only the first of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and shoe member 12, 14 is located between the enlarged head 11 and the stem 6 (on the side of the enlarged head 11 facing the stem 6), while the second of said opposite pairs of cooperating guide member and shoe member 13, 15 is located on the side of the stem 6 facing away from the enlarged head 11 (thus, on the left side of the stem 6 in this figure).

[0037] Of course, the positions of the first pair 12, 14 and the second pair 13, 15 can be interchanged (e.g., in an embodiment in which the first pair 12, 14 is located on the right side of the stem 6, the second pair 13, 15 would be located between the stem 6 and the enlarged head 11). Figure 11 In an embodiment, (the upper) first pair 12, 14 can be located on the left side of the stem 6, while (the lower) second pair 13, 15 would be located between the stem 6 and the enlarged head 11.

[0038] The application is not limited to the embodiments described above, which can vary widely within the scope of the application as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. An open roof construction for a vehicle (1), comprising a panel (4) and a moving mechanism (5) for moving the panel between different positions, wherein The moving mechanism comprises at least a movable bar (6), a shoe (9) being connected to the movable bar by a pin-like member (8), the shoe cooperating with a guide (10) and moving longitudinally along the guide (10) for defining the movement of the movable bar, wherein the pin-like member (8) is connected at a first end to the bar (6) and at a second end to the shoe (9), and wherein the guide (10) is provided with two guide parts (12, 13) at opposite sides of the pin-like member (8), while the shoe (9) is provided with two shoe parts (14, 15) at opposite sides of the pin-like member, so as to define two opposite pairs of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts (12, 14; 13, 15), and wherein the pin-like member (8) is provided at its second end with an enlarged head (11) for engaging the shoe (9) at a side of the shoe facing away from the bar (6), wherein the enlarged head is dimensioned such that, when viewed in a direction from the enlarged head towards the bar, at least a part of the enlarged head overlaps at least one guide part (12, 13), characterized in that at least one pair (12, 14; 13, 15) of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts is located between the enlarged head (11) and the bar (6).

2. The open roof construction of claim 1, wherein The enlarged head (11) has a design that overlaps both of the opposite guide parts (12, 13).

3. The open roof construction of claim 2, wherein The enlarged head (11) has an asymmetric design.

4. The open roof construction according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein Both of the opposite pairs of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts (12, 14; 13, 15) are located between the enlarged head (11) and the bar (6).

5. The open roof construction according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein Only a first pair (12, 14) of the opposite pairs of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts (12, 14; 13, 15) is located between the enlarged head (11) and the bar (6) at a side of the enlarged head facing the bar, while a second pair (13, 15) of the opposite pairs of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts is located at a side of the enlarged head facing away from the bar.

6. The open roof construction according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein Only a first pair (12, 14) of the opposite pairs of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts (12, 14; 13, 15) is located between the enlarged head (11) and the bar (6) at a side of the enlarged head facing the bar, while a second pair (13, 15) of the opposite pairs of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts is located at a side of the bar facing away from the enlarged head.

7. The open roof construction of claim 1, wherein The shoe (9) is provided with a reinforcing member (16; 16', 16") extending at least partly between the enlarged head (11) and a pair of cooperating guide parts and shoe parts.

8. The open roof construction of claim 7, wherein The reinforcing member (16; 16', 16") is at least partly embedded in the shoe (9).

9. The open roof construction of claim 7, wherein The reinforcing member (16; 16', 16") is completely embedded in the shoe (9).

10. The open roof construction according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein The reinforcing member extends between the enlarged head and two opposing pairs of cooperating guide member and shoe member.

11. The open roof construction according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein The reinforcing member (16', 16") extends firstly between the enlarged head (11) and a first of the opposing pairs (12, 14) of cooperating guide member and shoe member and secondly at a side of a second of the opposing pairs (13, 15) of cooperating guide member and shoe member facing away from the stem (6).

12. The open roof construction of claim 1, wherein The respective cooperating guide member (12, 13) and shoe member (14, 15) comprise a longitudinally extending guide wall and a longitudinally extending shoe recess, respectively.

13. The open roof construction of claim 5, wherein A first of the opposing pairs (12, 14) of cooperating guide member and shoe member is positioned above the pin-like member (8) while a second of the opposing pairs (13, 15) of cooperating guide member and shoe member is positioned below the pin-like member.

14. The open roof construction of claim 1, wherein The stem (6) is U-shaped in a region where the pin-like member (8) is attached thereto.

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