roof frame

Abstract

Roof frame (1) of a motor vehicle, with a roof frame element (3) which has at least a first frame element (5) and a second frame element (7), characterized in that the roof frame element (3) has at least one connecting element (9) which is arranged on the first frame element (5) by means of a hinge and is designed at one of its free ends for detachable connection to the second frame element (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a roof frame with a roof frame element according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] In the context of the invention, the term "roof frame" refers to all frame structures that surround a roof section of a motor vehicle in a fixed vehicle roof and are attached to it from below. This includes, in particular, single-piece frames, but also frames composed of several parts, and also frames in which the frame parts are combined with a roof structure of the vehicle roof to form a single frame.

[0003] Numerous roof frames are already known from the prior art. DE 195 42 542 A1, DE 3835018 A1, and DE 10 2012 017 927 A1, for example, show corresponding roof frames. These have the task of guiding a movable sheet metal, plastic, or glass element, which is enabled by its structure on the roof frame to perform a translational and / or lifting movement. Furthermore, a roller blind element is often arranged on a frame element of the roof frame. This roller blind element can be moved from a non-use position, in which the roller blind element is mounted wound between a first frame element and a second frame element, to a use position, in which the roller blind element is moved partly rotationally and partly translationally via guide rails, shading the roof opening of the vehicle roof.

[0004] It is necessary to stiffen the frame element in which the roller blind element is mounted using suitable measures, since even small tolerances, which can occur due to shifting movements on the frame element, can no longer properly transfer the roller blind element from the non-use position to the use position, as this can lead to tilting or jamming. Therefore, various stiffening measures are known from the prior art. A trough-like stiffener is common, which connects various frame elements of the roof frame element to one another and limits the roof frame element at the bottom. In such an arrangement, the roller blind element is also guided in this trough-like element.However, a disadvantage of the prior art is that if the roller blind element is damaged, it cannot be replaced without removing the entire roof frame. As already described, the trough-like element limits the roof frame element at the bottom and thus prevents access to the roller blind element. This is where the invention comes in.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of creating a roof frame which allows simplified access to components within the roof frame while maintaining rigidity requirements.

[0006] This object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1. Accordingly, a roof frame is provided with a roof frame element which has at least a first frame element and a second frame element. The roof frame element has at least one connecting element which is arranged on the first frame element by means of a hinge and is designed for detachable connection to the second frame element. This arrangement ensures simplified access to components located within the roof frame, for example a roller blind element. Because the at least one connecting element is arranged in a hinge-like manner on one frame part and detachably on another frame part, the necessary rigidity of the roof frame is ensured in the position of use of the connecting element in which it is connected to both frame parts.In the non-use position, in which the connecting element is only held on the first frame element by a hinge and releases the connection to the second frame element, simplified access to components located in the roof frame is ensured. In the non-use position of the connecting element, the rigidity requirements of the roof frame are negligible, since such rigidity requirements are only required for the movement of a roller blind element from a non-use position to a use position. In the non-use position of the connecting element, a fitter is able to work on or replace components located in the roof frame element, such as a roller blind element.

[0007] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting element is arranged on the first frame element or the second frame element by means of a film hinge. The use of a film hinge enables a particularly cost-effective manufacturing method in which the roof frame part, which is usually made of plastic, can be manufactured in a single tool with the connecting device.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting element has a clip, and the first frame element or the second frame element has a clip receptacle. These measures provide a particularly simple type of connection between the connecting element and the first frame element or the second frame element, which is also easy to remove, thus reducing the time required by a technician to process or replace components of the roof frame element.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first frame element or the second frame element has a clip, and the connecting element has a clip receptacle. This measure also enables a particularly simple connection of the connecting element to one of the frame elements, which is also easy to remove.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, both the first frame element and the second frame element and the connecting element are made of the same material. This measure makes it possible to use a simple manufacturing process for producing the roof frame element. Because both the first frame element and the second frame element and the connecting element are made of the same material, the entire roof frame element can be manufactured, for example, by injection molding, in a single step.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, this material is glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene. Glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene is a material that meets all the requirements of a roof frame element and is suitable for forming film hinges, thus enabling simple production of the roof frame element.

[0012] The invention will be explained in detail below using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Fig. 1 a section of a plan view of a roof frame according to the invention and Fig. 2 a sectional view of a roof frame according to the invention with a connecting element in the position of use in a schematic view and Fig. 3 a sectional view of a roof element according to the invention with the connecting element in the non-use position in a schematic view.

[0013] Fig. 1 shows a section of a roof frame (1) according to the invention. The roof frame (1) has a roof frame element (3), which essentially consists of a first frame element (5) and a second frame element (7). Connecting elements (9) are arranged between the first frame element (5) and the second frame element (7). These connecting elements (9) stiffen the roof frame element in such a way that the first frame element (5) cannot shift relative to the second frame element (7), so that a component arranged between the first frame element (5) and the second frame element (7) cannot become jammed. This component is usually a roller blind element (not shown here), which is delimited downwards by the connecting element (9), i.e., when the roof frame (1) is installed, on a motor vehicle roof (not shown here) pointing towards the passenger compartment.

[0014] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the Fig. 1, in a schematic representation. The first frame element (5) is shown, which is connected to the second frame element (7) by the connecting element (9). This view shows the position of use of the connecting element (9), in which the connecting element (9) is connected to both the first frame element (5) and the second frame element (7). The connecting element (9) is arranged on the first frame element (5) by means of a hinge (11) and is fastened by means of a clip (13) via a clip receptacle (15) which is arranged on the second frame element (7).

[0015] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the roof frame (1) according to the invention from Fig.1 in a schematic representation. The roof frame (1) is shown with the first frame element (5) and the second frame element (7). The connecting element (9) is arranged on the first frame element (5) by means of the hinge (11). The connecting element (9) has a clip (13) at one of its free ends, which is suitable for being transferred into a clip receptacle (15) arranged on the second frame element (7) in order to releasably fasten the connecting element (9) to the second frame element (7). The non-use position of the connecting element (9) is shown, in which the connecting element (9) allows access to the interior of the roof frame element (3) and does not contribute to the rigidity of the roof frame element (3). In this non-use position of the connecting element (9), a fitter can replace a component located inside the roof frame (1). List of reference symbols 1 roof frame 3 roof frame element 5 first frame element 7 second frame element 9 Connecting element 11 Hinge 13 clips 15 Clip recording

Claims

[1] Roof frame (1) of a motor vehicle, with a roof frame element (3) which has at least a first frame element (5) and a second frame element (7), characterized by that the roof frame element (3) has at least one connecting element (9) which is arranged on the first frame element (5) by means of a hinge and is designed at one of its free ends for detachable connection to the second frame element (7). [2] Roof frame (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the connecting element (9) is arranged on the first frame element (5) or on the second frame element (7) by means of a film hinge (11). [3] Roof frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the connecting element (9) has a clip (13) and the first frame element (5) or the second frame element (7) has a clip receptacle (15). [4] Roof frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the connecting element (9) has a clip receptacle (15) and the first frame element (5) or the second frame element (7) has a clip (13). [5] Roof frame (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first frame element (5), the second frame element (7) and the intermediate element are made of the same material. [6] Roof frame (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the material is glass fiber reinforced polypropylene.

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