Roof system for a vehicle and vehicle provided with said roof system

Abstract

A roof system for a vehicle having a roof opening in a fixed roof of the vehicle is provided, the roof system comprising at least: a panel movable relative to the fixed roof between a closed position, a tilted position in which a rear end of the panel is lifted, and a fully open position; and a rear rod for lifting the rear end of the panel, wherein the panel is provided at its rear end with a bracket comprising a guide bend, the rear rod being movably engaged in the guide bend such that the rear rod is movable between a position engaging a first guide bend section in which the panel assumes a first tilted position in which the rear end of the panel is lifted to a first height, and a position engaging a second guide bend section in which the panel assumes a second tilted position in which the rear end of the panel is lifted to an increased second height.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates in a first aspect to a roof system for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. Background Technology

[0002] In this type of known roof system, the roof panel can be positioned at a specific angle. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved roof system.

[0004] Therefore, according to the present invention, the roof panel is characterized in that the panel is provided with a bracket including a guide curve at its rear end, the rear bar being movably engaged in the guide curve such that the rear bar can move between a position engaged in a first guide curve segment and a position engaged in a second guide curve segment, wherein in the position engaged in the first guide curve segment, the panel is in a first tilted position, in which the rear end of the panel is raised to a first height, and in the position engaged in the second guide curve segment, the panel is in a second tilted position, in which the rear end of the panel is raised to an increased second height.

[0005] As a result, the panel can be positioned at two different tilt locations.

[0006] Specifically, the roof system may include:

[0007] (a) Two guide rails, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at opposite lateral sides of the roof opening;

[0008] (b) A panel that is movable relative to the fixed roof between a closed position, a tilted position and a fully open position, wherein in the closed position the roof opening is closed, in the tilted position the rear end of the panel is raised, and in the fully open position the front end of the panel is also raised and the panel is rearwardly positioned above the fixed roof.

[0009] (c1) A front mechanism cooperating with the guide rail, the front mechanism including a front rod pivotally engaging the forward portion of the panel via a front pivot having a fixed position relative to the panel, and the front mechanism being configured to lift the forward portion of the panel and displace the panel in a rearward longitudinal direction.

[0010] (c2) A front locking mechanism that cooperates with the guide rail and the front rod and is configured to prevent movement of the front rod and the panel in the rearward longitudinal direction in a locked position and to allow movement of the front rod and the panel in the rearward longitudinal direction in a released position;

[0011] (d1) A rear mechanism cooperating with the guide rail, the rear mechanism including a rear rod pivotally engaging a rearward portion of the panel via a rear pivot, and the rear mechanism being configured to move the panel to the tilted position;

[0012] (d2) A rear locking mechanism that cooperates with the guide rail and the rear rod, the rear locking mechanism being configured to prevent movement of the rear rod in the rearward longitudinal direction in a locked position and to allow movement of the rear rod in the rearward longitudinal direction in a released position;

[0013] (e) At least one operating part, which is movable in one of the guide rails and is responsible for actuating the front lever, the front locking mechanism, the rear lever and the rear locking mechanism in a specific timing manner, so that the panel moves from its closed position to the tilted position, then to a position in which it is also lifted forward, and finally to its fully open position.

[0014] The panel has a support including a guide curve at its rear end, and the rear pivot is movable relative to the panel in the guide curve. The guide curve includes a forward guide curve section at a first distance from the panel and a rearward guide curve section at a larger second distance from the panel. The operating part moves the panel sequentially to its tilted position by moving in the longitudinal direction as follows:

[0015] - In the closed position of the panel, the rear pivot is located in the forward guide curve section;

[0016] -Starting from the closed position, the rear lever remains locked to prevent longitudinal movement and is lifted while the rear pivot is held in the forward guide curve section, while the panel remains locked to prevent longitudinal movement, such that the panel is in a first tilt position, in which the rear end of the panel is lifted to a first height;

[0017] - Starting from the first tilt position, the rear locking mechanism unlocks the rear lever, and the rear lever moves longitudinally so that the rear pivot moves toward the rearward guide curve section, while the panel remains locked to prevent longitudinal movement, so that the panel presents a second tilt position in which the rear end of the panel is raised to an increased second height.

[0018] Therefore, due to the cooperation between the rear pivot of the rear bar and the guide curve of the bracket, the roof system according to this embodiment of the invention very effectively allows the panel to be positioned in the two different tilt positions before moving to the fully open position.

[0019] In one embodiment, the guide bends in the bracket extend substantially linearly and obliquely from the forward guide bend section toward the rearward guide bend section. Therefore, in such an embodiment, as the rear pivot moves from the forward guide bend section toward the second guide bend section, the first oblique position of the panel gradually merges into the second oblique position.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, both the forward guide curve segment and the rearward guide curve segment extend linearly for a distance and are connected by an intermediate guide curve segment that extends at an angle. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous for defining (and maintaining) the first and second tilt positions of the panel in an optimized manner.

[0021] In one embodiment of the roof system, the rear locking mechanism includes a locking pin attached to the rear bar and a fixed rear locking bend cooperating therewith. It is conceivable that such a locking mechanism would be part of the rear mechanism.

[0022] In one specific embodiment, the guide curve in the bracket is implemented such that, when the front locking mechanism has unlocked the panel, the rear locking mechanism has unlocked the rear lever, and the operating part has moved the front lever, panel, and rear lever longitudinally, the rear pivot is away from the rearward boundary of the rearward guide curve segment.

[0023] By keeping the rear pivot away from such a rearward boundary, it is possible to prevent the rear pivot from engaging such a rearward boundary before the panel begins to move rearward, thereby avoiding harmful stress and deformation in the roof system that could negatively impact its operation.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the roof system, the operating components may be provided with at least one guide channel, wherein the front and rear rods are provided with guide pins that mate with the at least one guide channel, and / or the operating components may include a front operating component mates with the front rod and a rear operating component mates with the rear rod, wherein the front and rear operating components are coupled to synchronize their longitudinal movement. In the latter case, the connection between the front and rear operating components may include a mechanical connection between them.

[0025] In one embodiment, the front locking mechanism includes a locking pin attached to the front lever and a fixed front locking bend cooperating therewith. It is conceivable that such a locking mechanism would be part of the front mechanism.

[0026] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a roof system according to the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1-8 A side elevation view of an embodiment of the roof system according to the invention is schematically shown, wherein the roof system is shown in successive positions as it moves from a closed position toward a fully open position;

[0029] Figure 9 To illustrate schematically at a larger scale, based on Figure 1-8 The guide bend used in the embodiments, and

[0030] Figure 10 An alternative embodiment of the guiding curve is shown in a similar manner. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Reference from Figure 1-8 Several figures are selected to illustrate the overall layout of the roof system according to the invention. In these figures, the rearward longitudinal direction extends from left to right (therefore, the longitudinal direction is either from left to right or from right to left).

[0032] Figure 1 A portion of the vehicle is shown, particularly its fixed roof, specifically the front portion 1 and the rear portion 2. A roof opening 3 is defined between the front and rear portions. Figure 8 (The middle part is the clearest view). The roof system further includes a panel 4, which will be discussed in more detail below, said panel 4 being in a closed position relative to the fixed roof (parts 1 and 2). Figure 1 ), tilt position ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 ) and fully open position ( Figure 8The panel 4 moves between the closed position and the tilted position. In the tilted position, the rear end of the panel 4 is lifted. In the fully open position, the front end of the panel 4 is also lifted and the panel moves backward over the rear part 2 of the fixed roof 1 (of course, the reverse movement returns to the initial fully closed position).

[0033] To achieve this movement of panel 4, the roof system includes at least the components discussed below. Note that the roof system will typically include two similar (but mirror-shaped) components positioned on opposite lateral sides of the roof opening, each equipped with the aforementioned components.

[0034] The guide rail 5 extends longitudinally in the vehicle at the lateral side of the roof opening 3 (and at the level below the level of the roof opening 3). A front mechanism 6 is provided to mate with the guide rail 5, and the front mechanism 6 includes a front rod 7 (see, for example, [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 7 The front rod 7 is pivotally engaged with the forward portion of the panel 4 via a front pivot 8 (directly or indirectly via a bracket attached to the panel), the front pivot 8 having a fixed position relative to the panel 4.

[0035] As described below, the front mechanism 6, which has a front lever 7, is configured to lift the forward portion of the panel 4 and to move the panel in a rearward longitudinal direction.

[0036] The front locking mechanism 9 is also part of the front mechanism 6. The front locking mechanism 9 cooperates with the guide rail 5 and the front lever 7 and is used to prevent or allow the front lever 7 and the panel 4 to move in the rearward longitudinal direction, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0037] In addition, a rear mechanism 10 is provided to cooperate with the guide rail 5, and the rear mechanism includes a rear lever 11 (see, for example, [reference needed]). Figure 2 The rear rod 11 is pivotally engaged with the rear portion of the panel 4 via the rear pivot 12.

[0038] The panel 4 has a support 13 at its rear end (the support may be the same as or different from the support to which the front pivot 8 can be connected), the support 13 including a guide bend in which the rear pivot 12 can move relative to the panel 4. The guide bend includes a forward guide bend section 14 at a first distance from the panel 4 and a rearward guide bend section 15 at a second greater distance from the panel 4.

[0039] As another component, the rear mechanism 10 includes a rear locking mechanism 16 (see, for example, see...). Figure 4The rear locking mechanism 16 cooperates with the guide rail 5 and the rear rod 11 to prevent movement of the rear rod in the rearward longitudinal direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear locking mechanism 16 includes a locking pin 17 attached to the rear rod 11 and a fixed rear locking bend 18 cooperating therewith. Similarly, the front locking mechanism 9 includes a locking pin 19 attached to the front rod 7 and a fixed front locking bend 20 cooperating therewith (in... Figure 6 (It is most clearly visible in the middle).

[0040] The roof system is further provided with operating parts that can move in the guide rail 5 and are responsible for actuating the front lever 7, the front locking mechanism 9, the rear lever 11 and the rear locking mechanism 16 in a specific timing manner, so that the panel 4 moves from its closed position to the tilted position, then to the position where it is also lifted forward, and finally to its fully open position.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the operating components include a front operating component 21 configured to cooperate with the front lever 7 and the front locking mechanism 9, and a rear operating component 22 configured to cooperate with the rear lever 11 and the rear locking mechanism 16. The front operating component 21 and the rear operating component 22 are coupled (e.g., mechanically coupled as shown) to synchronize their longitudinal movement.

[0042] The front and rear operating parts 21 and 22 are each provided with at least one corresponding guide channel 23 and 24, while the front lever 7 and the rear lever 11 are provided with corresponding guide pins 25 and 26, which cooperate with the at least one guide channel in a manner well known in the art to limit the movement of the lever.

[0043] Note that, according to Figure 1-8 In the side elevation view of this embodiment, the locking pin 17 of the rear rod 11 and the guide pin 26 of the rear rod coincide in position.

[0044] The illustrated embodiment of the roof system operates in the following manner.

[0045] exist Figure 1 In the middle, panel 4 is in its fully closed position. The locking pin 19 of the front lever 7 is positioned in the substantially vertically extending portion of the fixed front locking bend 20 (therefore the front locking mechanism 9 is in its locked position to prevent longitudinal movement of the front lever and panel until...). Figure 5 The position of the rear lever 11 (as will be discussed below) is such that the locking pin 17 of the rear lever 11 is positioned in a similar manner in the substantially vertically extending portion of the fixed rear locking bend 18 (therefore the rear locking mechanism 16 is also in its locked position, preventing longitudinal movement of the rear lever).

[0046] exist Figure 2In the middle, the operating parts (more precisely, the front operating part and the rear operating part) 21, 22 begin to move rearward (to the right) so that the engagement between the guide channel 24 of the rear operating part 22 and the corresponding guide pin 26 of the rear lever 11 causes the rear lever 11 to pivot upward through its end (rear pivot 12) of the engaging panel 4. The front portion of the rear lever with the locking pin 17 remains positioned in the fixed rear locking bend 18, thereby preventing the rear lever 11 from moving backward. As a result, the rear end of the panel 4 is raised to a first height.

[0047] This movement continues until panel 4 reaches a first tilted position with a first height, such as Figure 3 As shown. The roof system from... Figure 1 The position in the middle transition to Figure 3 During the process of positioning, the rear pivot 12 of the rear rod 11 remains in the forward-guided curve section 14.

[0048] By moving the operating parts 21 and 22 further rearward, the engagement between the guide channel 24 and the guide pin 26 of the rear lever 11 causes the rear lever to move, so that the locking pin 17 disengages from the fixed rear locking bend 18 (and the rear locking mechanism 16 reaches the release position), and the rear lever also moves rearward, so that its rear pivot 12 moves from the forward guide bend section 14 to the rear guide bend section 15 (while the panel 4 remains locked by the front locking mechanism and cannot move longitudinally), thereby raising the rear end of the panel 4 to a second higher tilt position with an increased second height, such as Figure 4 As shown in the figure.

[0049] Figure 5 This position is shown where, due to further movement of the operating parts 21, 22 (and the engagement between their guide channels 23 and the guide pin 25 of the front lever 7), the front locking mechanism 9 has reached the position where the locking pin 19 of the front lever 7 is about to leave the fixed front locking bend 20. Also in this position, the front edge of the panel 4 has begun to be lifted.

[0050] Further moving the operating parts 21 and 22 backward will form Figure 6 In the position where the locking pin 19 has disengaged from the front locking bend 20, and the entire assembly of the front lever 7, rear lever 11, and panel 4 begins to move rearward ( Figure 7 ), until it reaches the fully open position ( Figure 8 In the fully open position, most of the panel 4 is positioned above the rear portion 2 of the fixed roof.

[0051] Figure 9 To illustrate schematically at a larger scale, based on Figure 1-8In one embodiment, the guide curves used have forward (or first) and backward (or second) guide curve segments 14, 15 extending linearly for a distance and connected by an intermediate guide curve segment 27 extending at an angle. In an alternative embodiment ( Figure 10 The guide bend in the bracket 13 extends substantially linearly and at an angle from the forward guide bend section 14 toward the rearward guide bend section 15.

[0052] refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10 It is conceivable that the guide curve in the bracket 13 is implemented such that when the front locking mechanism 9 has unlocked the front rod 7 and panel 4, the rear locking mechanism 16 has unlocked the rear rod 11, and the operating parts 21 and 22 have moved the front rod, panel and rear rod longitudinally, the rear pivot 12 moves away from the rearward boundary 28 of the rearward guide curve section 15.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments, which may vary widely within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A roof system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a roof opening in a fixed roof, the roof system comprising at least: A panel movable relative to a fixed roof between a closed position, a tilted position, and a fully open position, wherein in the tilted position, the rear end of the panel is raised; and a rear bar for raising the rear end of the panel, characterized in that the panel is provided with a bracket including a guide curve at its rear end, the rear bar being movably engaged in the guide curve such that the rear bar is movable between a position engaging a first guide curve segment and a position engaging a second guide curve segment, wherein in the position engaging the first guide curve segment, the panel is in a first tilted position, in which the rear end of the panel is raised to a first height, and in the position engaging the second guide curve segment, the panel is in a second tilted position, in which the rear end of the panel is raised to an increased second height.

2. The roof system according to claim 1, comprising: (a) Two guide rails, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at opposite lateral sides of the roof opening; (b) The panel, which is movable relative to the fixed roof between a closed position, a tilted position and a fully open position, wherein in the closed position the roof opening is closed, in the tilted position the rear end of the panel is raised, and in the fully open position the front end of the panel is also raised and the panel is rearwardly positioned above the fixed roof. (c1) A front mechanism cooperating with the guide rail, the front mechanism including a front rod pivotally engaging the forward portion of the panel via a front pivot having a fixed position relative to the panel, and the front mechanism being configured to lift the forward portion of the panel and displace the panel in a rearward longitudinal direction. (c2) A front locking mechanism that cooperates with the guide rail and the front rod and is configured to prevent movement of the front rod and the panel in the rearward longitudinal direction in a locked position and to allow movement of the front rod and the panel in the rearward longitudinal direction in a released position; (d1) A rear mechanism cooperating with the guide rail, the rear mechanism including the rear rod pivotally engaging a rearward portion of the panel via a rear pivot, and the rear mechanism being configured to move the panel to the tilted position; (d2) A rear locking mechanism that cooperates with the guide rail and the rear rod, the rear locking mechanism being configured to prevent movement of the rear rod in the rearward longitudinal direction in a locked position and to allow movement of the rear rod in the rearward longitudinal direction in a released position; (e) At least one operating part, the at least one operating part being movable in one of the guide rails and responsible for actuating the front lever, the front locking mechanism, the rear lever and the rear locking mechanism in a specific timing manner, such that the panel, starting from its closed position, first moves to the tilted position, then moves to a position where it is also lifted forward, and finally moves to its fully open position. The panel has a support including a guide curve at its rear end, and the rear pivot is movable relative to the panel within the guide curve. The guide curve includes a forward guide curve section at a first distance from the panel and a rearward guide curve section at a greater second distance from the panel. The operating component moves the panel sequentially to its tilted position in the following manner by moving in the longitudinal direction: - In the closed position of the panel, the rear pivot is located in the forward guide curve section; -Starting from the closed position, the rear lever remains locked to prevent longitudinal movement and is lifted while the rear pivot is held in the forward guide curve section, while the panel remains locked to prevent longitudinal movement, such that the panel is in a first tilt position, in which the rear end of the panel is lifted to a first height; - Starting from the first tilt position, the rear locking mechanism unlocks the rear lever, and the rear lever moves longitudinally so that the rear pivot moves toward the rearward guide curve section, while the panel remains locked to prevent longitudinal movement, so that the panel presents a second tilt position in which the rear end of the panel is raised to an increased second height.

3. The roof system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The guide bend in the bracket extends substantially linearly and obliquely from the forward guide bend section toward the rearward guide bend section.

4. The roof system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Both the forward and backward guide curve sections extend linearly for a distance and are connected by an intermediate guide curve section that extends at an angle.

5. The roof system according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein, The rear locking mechanism includes a locking pin attached to the rear rod and a fixed rear locking bend that engages with the locking pin.

6. The roof system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide curve in the bracket is configured such that, when the front locking mechanism has unlocked the front rod and panel, the rear locking mechanism has unlocked the rear rod, and the operating part has moved the front rod, panel, and rear rod longitudinally, the rear pivot moves away from the rearward boundary of the rearward guide curve section.

7. The roof system according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein, The operating parts are provided with at least one guide channel, and the front rod and the rear rod are provided with guide pins that cooperate with the at least one guide channel.

8. The roof system according to claim 7, wherein, The operating components include a front operating component that engages with the front lever and a rear operating component that engages with the rear lever, wherein the front operating component and the rear operating component are connected to synchronize their longitudinal movement.

9. The roof system according to claim 8, wherein, The connection between the front operating part and the rear operating part includes the mechanical connection between them.

10. The roof system according to any one of claims 2-9, wherein, The front locking mechanism includes a locking pin attached to the front lever and a fixed front locking bend that engages with the locking pin.

11. A vehicle provided with a roof system according to any one of the preceding claims.

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