Roof with cover and electrical contact means

Abstract

The invention relates to a roof having a cover (4) which is movably supported on a guide rail (5) on the roof side and is adjustable along the guide rail (5) between a closed position in a roof opening (3) and at least one open position, and having a contact device (6) with at least one cover-side contact (8) and at least one vehicle-side contact (7), which establish an electrical connection with an electrical component of the cover (4) at least in the closed position of the cover (4), characterized in that a contact carrier (9) for the arrangement of the at least one vehicle-side contact (7) is arranged adjustably in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail (5) and in the height direction on the guide rail (5) and is fixedly positioned in the transverse direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a roof having a cover which is movably supported on a guide rail on the roof side and is adjustable along the guide rail between a closed position in a roof opening and at least one open position, and a contact device having at least one cover-side contact and at least one vehicle-side contact, which establish an electrical connection to an electrical component of the cover at least in the closed position of the cover. BACKGROUND

[0002] Such a roof with a movably supported cover is known from document DE 198 13 324 Al. The two vehicle-side contacts of the contact device are fixedly mounted on a frame element on the front roof side next to one another in the transverse direction by means of an insertion body. The associated cover-side contacts are elongate contact strips which extend in the sliding direction of the cover. SUMMARY

[0003] The task on which the invention is based is to realize the roof mentioned at the outset which is improved in terms of the contact device.

[0004] This task is solved in the roof mentioned at the outset according to the invention by the contact carrier on which the at least one vehicle-side contact is arranged being adjustably arranged on the guide rail in its longitudinal direction and in the height direction, while being fixedly positioned in the transverse direction.

[0005] Advantageous configurations of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0006] By the adjustably arranged contact carrier on the guide rail in its longitudinal direction and in the height direction, individual adjustments and calibrations can be made, which ensure reliable contact. The fixed positioning of the contact carrier in the transverse direction simplifies the correct adjustment of the contact carrier in the height or z direction and in the longitudinal or x direction of an x-y-z vehicle coordinate system and prevents incorrect adjustment in the transverse or y direction.

[0007] Preferably, the contact carrier rests on a particularly vertical tab of the guide rail. Here, the tab is received in a preferably downwardly open slot of the contact carrier. However, the contact carrier can also be arranged on another component of the guide rail which extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail for the purpose.

[0008] According to one preferred embodiment provision, the contact carrier is fastened on the guide rail or on the tab by means of a clamping fixation. The clamping can be carried out directly on the contact carrier or by means of at least one additional clamping element or also by means of a deformable component of the contact carrier.

[0009] The contact carrier is fastened to the rail or the web with a fastening limb which is secured for clamping fastening. The fastening limb can be designed so that it bridges the rail or the web and is pressed against in the clamping engagement.

[0010] Preferably, the clamping fastening can be achieved by means of a screw. The screw extends through an opening which is formed in the rail or the web. The cross section of the opening is designed so large that the screw is first received in the opening with a radial clearance and can assume the desired setting position before the clamping is achieved. In this way, the contact carrier can also be brought into the setting position provided on the rail or on the web using the screw.

[0011] The opening can be formed circularly, elongatedly or with another cross-sectional shape. The opening can also be a slot which is, for example, formed downward from the upper edge of the web.

[0012] One preferred embodiment provides that the contact carrier on the vehicle side has at least two and in particular three contacts which are arranged in an arrangement extending along the rail at a distance from one another. The contacts are thus arranged in an arrangement parallel to the rail or in the direction of the adjustment movement of the cover. More than three contacts can also be provided if desired, for example four or five contacts.

[0013] It is particularly preferred that the contacts are arranged on the upper side of the contact carrier in such a contact assembly that the configuration of the upper side with the contact assembly counteracts the water accumulation of water reaching the contact carrier. In order to achieve this, the contact carrier or the upper side of the support or the bearing area of the contact carrier carrying the contacts has a water run-off shaped and in particular inclined surface.

[0014] Preferably, the contacts on the vehicle side are spring-loaded contact pins or elastically deformable contact springs. In this way, a reliable contact between the contacts on the vehicle side and the contacts on the cover side is ensured. Preferably, the elastically deformable contact springs are designed as bow springs.

[0015] Preferably, a contact carrier on the cover side is provided which carries the contacts on the cover side. The number of contacts on the cover side corresponds to the number of contacts on the vehicle side. The contact carrier on the cover side is preferably secured to the underside of the cover by means of a cover foam. The cover foam can also secure the cover frame to the cover or only serve to secure the contact carrier on the cover side.

[0016] In order to achieve this, the contact carrier on the cover side is secured on the cover in such a position that the contacts on the cover side are arranged in association with the spring-loaded contacts on the vehicle side in the closed state of the cover. If the cover is swung into the ventilation position, this arrangement also enables the mutual contact.

[0017] The destination-compliant cover-side contacts are contacts or contact pads, in particular composed of metal or another electrically conductive material, which are fastened to the contact carrier. Alternatively, spring-elastic contacts can also be provided on the cover.

[0018] Preferably, the at least one contact device supplies the lighting device arranged on the cover with electrical power in the closed state of the cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The application is further explained below with reference to an embodiment of a roof according to the application, with reference to the drawings. The drawings show:

[0020] Figure 1 Top view of a cover in a roof opening of an openable roof with two contact devices according to the application;

[0021] Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of a cover with one of the contact devices according to the application;

[0022] Figure 3 Isometric view of a vehicle-side contact carrier fastened to a guide rail;

[0023] Figure 4 Isometric view of a cover-side contact carrier arranged on a cover; and

[0024] Figure 5 Isometric view of a further embodiment of a vehicle-side contact carrier. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] An openable roof 1 (see Figure 1 ) of a passenger car has a fixed roof surface 2 comprising a roof opening 3, in which a cover 4 is arranged in a closed position, the cover 4 being, for example, a cover of a sunroof, a power lift roof, a spoiler roof or an externally guided power roof. The cover 4 is movably supported in the roof longitudinal direction on guide rails 5 (shown schematically in each case by a dashed line in Figure 1 ) on both sides, which are arranged or formed, for example, on a frame of a sunroof unit mounted on the roof 1. The support mechanism can be configured depending on the roof type such that the cover 4 can also perform an extension movement (Ausstellbewegung) in addition to a movement.

[0026] The cover 4 has at least one electrical component (not shown), for example, an electrical current consumer, such as a lighting device comprising a light-emitting film mounted on the underside of the cover or the like and / or an electrical generator, such as, for example, a solar cell device with a plurality of solar cells arranged on the cover 4.

[0027] Electrical contact device 6 forms a conductive connection between the electrical components on the vehicle side and the electrical components on the cover side. The electrical components on the vehicle side are, for example, the vehicle battery. Figure 1 The cover 4 shown preferably has two contact devices 6, which are arranged in the two front corner regions of the cover 4 and on the corresponding guide rails 5.

[0028] The electrical contact device 6 has multiple, for example, three vehicle-side contacts 7 and correspondingly three cover-side contacts 8 (see...). Figures 2 to 4 The vehicle-side contacts 7 are arranged in rows and spaced apart from each other on the contact carrier 9. The contact carrier 9 (which is, for example, manufactured as an elongated plastic injection molded part) has a groove 10 that opens downward and is configured to receive a portion of the guide rail 5, such as a tab 11, which is formed or arranged in a vertical position on the guide rail 5 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 5. Each contact 7 has a contact sleeve 12 and a contact pin 13, which is movably supported along the axial direction of the contact sleeve 12 and spring-loaded within the contact sleeve 12. The contacts 7 protrude from the upper side 14 of the support region 15 of the contact carrier 9, wherein each contact pin 13 is arranged at the same height. The upper side 14 of the support region 15 is preferably a surface 16 that is obliquely cut or inclined, especially in the transverse direction.

[0029] The contact carrier 9 has a fastening support edge 17, which rests against the inner side of the contact piece 11 when the contact carrier 9 is placed on the contact piece 11. The fastening support edge 17 includes a hole 18, which is aligned with an opening 19 in the contact piece 11. For clamping and securing the contact carrier 9, a screw 20 is provided on the contact piece 11, which extends through the hole 18 in the fastening support edge 17 and the opening 19 in the contact piece 11 and screws into the support area 15 of the contact carrier 9. The screw 20 clamps the fastening support edge 17 against the inner side of the contact piece 11 by means of its screw head 21 and clamps the support area 15 against the outer side of the contact piece 11.

[0030] The opening 19 of the contact piece 11 is preferably a circular hole with a diameter larger than that of the screw 20. Therefore, the screw 20 is received in the opening 19 with a radial clearance. This radial clearance allows the contact carrier 9 to be adjustablely positioned on the contact piece 11 along the longitudinal or x-direction of the guide rail 5 and along the height or z-direction, within the range of the clearance. In contrast, the contact carrier 9 is fixed or clamped to the contact piece 11 in an unchangeable position along the lateral or y-direction.

[0031] The clamping and fixing of the contact carrier 9 on the tab 11 can also be achieved by using two screws 20, which are spaced apart from each other and pass through the holes 18 in the fastening support 17 and the corresponding openings 19 in the tab 11.

[0032] The contacts 7 of the contact carrier 9 are connected to electrical components on the vehicle side by electrical lines (not shown), which are, for example, part of the vehicle electrical system.

[0033] The contacts 8 on the cover side are arranged on a cover-side contact carrier 22, which is preferably a plastic injection-molded part. The elongate contact carrier 22 has a base plate 23 and is thus foam-molded in the longitudinal direction in a cover foam 24 on the underside 25 of the cover, so that the base plate 23 is completely surrounded by the foam as an anchor and the contact carrier 22 protrudes downward from the cover foam 24, so that the underside 26 of the cover-side contact carrier is exposed outside the cover foam 24. The contacts 8 on the cover side are inserted or embedded in the contact carrier 22 in such a way that the contact faces 27 of the contacts are arranged substantially flush with the planar underside 26. The contacts 8 on the cover side are arranged in a row with the contacts 7 on the vehicle side and at the same spacing from one another on the contact carrier 22 and are positioned on the cover 4 by means of the contact carrier 22 in such a position that the contacts 8 on the cover side are contacted by the contacts 7 on the vehicle side in the closed state of the cover 4. Here, the contacts 7 on the vehicle side are held spring- elastically preloaded in contact on the contacts 8 on the cover side by the correspondingly positioned contact carrier 9 on the vehicle side.

[0034] The contacts 8 on the cover side, together with their contact faces 27, are composed of electrically conductive material, such as metal or the like, and have a terminal 28 on the inside for a current or signal line, which is guided to the contact carrier 22 with a cable 29.

[0035] In Figure 1 the cover-side contact carrier 22 of the right contact device 6 is shown only schematically in the right front corner region of the cover 4, while the vehicle-side contact carrier 9 of the left contact device 6 is shown only schematically in the left front corner region of the cover 4, which is mounted on the rail 5. Such a contact device 6 can also be arranged on the cover 4 in the region of one of the two rails 5.

[0036] At least one such contact device 6 can additionally or alternatively be provided at another position of the cover 4, such as in the rear region of the cover 4. Here, the vehicle-side contact carrier 9 of each contact device 6 is arranged on the rail 5, while the associated cover-side contact carrier 22 is arranged, for example, in the rear corner region of the cover 4.

[0037] The contact carrier 9 of each contact device 6 is arranged in a wet area on the rail 5. Water can reach the rail 5, for example, via a seal on the periphery of the cover and also the face 16 on the upper side 14 of the support area 15 of the contact carrier 9, in the case where the cover 4 projects into the ventilation position. The water occurring is immediately conducted away from the region of the contacts 7 by the contacts 7 being arranged at a sufficient distance from one another and, in particular, by the preferably outwardly downwardly inclined face 16 of the upper side 14 of the support area 15. Accumulation of water, which could otherwise lead to an electrical short circuit between the contacts 7, is thereby avoided.

[0038] It is expedient for the purpose that the face 16 on the upper side 14 of the support area 15 of the contact carrier 9 is hydrophobic. To this end, the support area 15 can be composed of a hydrophobic material or have a hydrophobic coating on its upper side 14. This thereby assists in conducting away water occurring.

[0039] Figure 5 One embodiment of a vehicle-side contact carrier 9 with modified contacts 7 is shown. Each contact 7 has a contact leg 30 anchored in the support area 15 and an arcuate spring contact 31 which can be spring- elastically deformed into contact with the contact face 27 of the roof-side contact 8.

[0040] The individual features of the application disclosed in the description and according to the embodiments and in the drawings can be combined with the application content in its general form in any technically expedient arrangement and configuration.

[0041] List of reference signs

[0042] 1 roof

[0043] 2 roof face

[0044] 3 roof opening

[0045] 4 cover

[0046] 5 rail

[0047] 6 contact device

[0048] 7 contact

[0049] 8 contact

[0050] 9 contact carrier

[0051] 10 slot

[0052] 11 tab

[0053] 12 contact sleeve

[0054] 13 contact pin

[0055] 14 upper side

[0056] 15 support region

[0057] 16 face

[0058] 17 fastening flange

[0059] 18 hole

[0060] 19 opening

[0061] 20 screw

[0062] 21 screw head

[0063] 22 contact carrier

[0064] 23 substrate

[0065] 24 cover foam

[0066] 25 cover underside

[0067] 26 underside

[0068] 27 contact surface

[0069] 28 joint

[0070] 29 cable

[0071] 30 contact leg

[0072] 31 spring contact

Claims

1. A roof having: a cover (4) which is movably supported on a roof-side rail (5) and is adjustable along the rail (5) between a closed position in a roof opening (3) and at least one open position; and a contact device (6) having at least one cover-side contact (8) and at least one vehicle-side contact (7), which establish an electrical connection to an electrical component of the cover (4) at least in the closed position of the cover (4), characterized in that a contact carrier (9) in which the at least one vehicle-side contact (7) is arranged is arranged adjustably on the rail (5) in its longitudinal direction and in the height direction and is fixedly positioned in the transverse direction.

2. The roof according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact carrier (9) rests on a tab (11) of the rail (5), which is received in a slot (10) of the contact carrier (9).

3. The roof according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact carrier (9) is fastened on the rail (5) or on the tab (11) by means of a clamping fastening.

4. The roof according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact carrier (9) has a fastening limb (17) which is fastened on the rail (5) or on the tab (11) for the clamping fastening.

5. The roof according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the clamping fastening is realized by means of a screw (20) which extends through an opening (19) in the rail (5) or in the tab (11), and the cross section of the opening (19) allows different positioning of the screw (20) relative to the rail (5) or the tab (11).

6. The roof according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the contact carrier (9) has at least two contacts which are arranged in an arrangement extending along the rail (5) at a distance from one another.

7. The roof according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the vehicle-side contacts (7) are arranged on an upper side (14) of the contact carrier (9) in such a contact assembly that the configuration of the upper side (14) with the contact assembly resists water accumulation of water reaching the contact carrier (9).

8. The roof according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper side (14) of the contact carrier (9) has a face (16) which is shaped for water run-off.

9. The roof according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 8, characterized in that the vehicle-side contacts (7) are spring-loaded contact pins (13) or elastically deformable contact springs (31).

10. The roof according to claim 9, characterized in that the elastically deformable contact springs (31) are configured as arcuate springs.

11. The roof according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 8 and 10, characterized in that The cover-side contact carrier (22) carrying the cover-side contacts (8) is fixed to the cover underside (25) by means of a cover foam (24).

12. Roof according to claim 11, characterized in that The cover-side contacts (8) are arranged in association with the spring-loaded vehicle-side contacts (7) in the closed state of the cover (4).

13. Roof according to claim 11, characterized in that The cover-side contacts (8) are contacts or contact tabs fixed to the cover-side contact carrier (22).

14. Roof according to any of claims 1 to 4, 8, 10, 12 and 13, characterized in that At least one contact device (6) supplies the lighting device arranged on the cover (4) with electrical power in the closed state of the cover (4).

15. Roof according to claim 8, characterized in that The upper side (14) of the contact carrier (9) has a water-outflow-shaped and inclined face (16).

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