Sunroof device

Abstract

Sunroof device (11) with: a movable panel (12) configured to open and close an opening (10a) formed in a roof (10) of a vehicle; a guide rail (13) provided at each of edge portions of the opening located on both sides in a vehicle width direction; a cable (17) having a drive-side engagement portion (18b) and driven to move along the guide rail (13) in a forward and backward direction of the vehicle; a slider (21, 41) having a driven-side engagement portion (23e) engaged with the drive-side engagement portion (18b), and connected to each of the edge portions of the movable panel (12) located on both sides in the vehicle width direction, and provided to be movable along the guide rail (13) in the forward and backward directions, so that moving the slider (21, 41) in the forward and backward directions of the vehicle opens and closes the movable panel (12); and a holding portion (25, 43) which protrudes from the slider (21, 41) in the vehicle width direction and is positioned rearward of the cable (17) in the vehicle to abut against or close to the cable (17), characterized in that the sunroof device also has: a support piece (31) which supports each edge portion of the movable panel (12) in the vehicle width direction, wherein the slider (21, 41) is connected to each edge portion of the movable panel (12) via the support piece (31) in the vehicle width direction and includes a vertical wall (22b) standing upright in the vehicle width direction adjacent to the support piece (31), connected to the holding portion (25, 43), and capable of abutting against the support piece (31) in a deformation direction of the holding portion (25, 43) according to pressing a distal end of the cable (17).

Description

Technical FieldThis disclosure relates to a sunroof device.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDE 10 2006 051 488 A1 discloses a sliding roof device with a panel for closing an opening in a vehicle roof. The sunroof device further includes a guide rail, a cable, a slider, and a holding piece. The holding piece protrudes from the slider in the vehicle width direction and is positioned rearward of the cable in the vehicle to abut against or close to the cable.JP 2010-132 158 A discloses a momentum regulating device for a sunroof including a connecting means that is disposed between a lug and a slider and separates the two by the inertial force acting on a slide plate upon an impact of a vehicle, and a wedge engagement means that is provided between the lug and the slider and regulates the forward movement of the slider by separating the slider from the lug upon a collision of the vehicle.EP 2 853 424 A1 discloses a sunroof device comprising: a drive cable having drive teeth that move in the vehicle front-rear direction along a guide rail; and a slide member that controls the position of a function bracket together with a movable plate in association with the movement in the vehicle front-rear direction. The drive cable and the sliding member are attached to a mounted portion formed on a guide rail of the sunroof device, and the mounted portion holds the drive cable and the sliding member in the vehicle lateral and vertical direction.In the related art, a sunroof device is also disclosed in, for example, JP 2002-52933A (Reference 1). The sunroof device includes a movable panel (sliding panel) provided at an opening (opening portion) formed in a roof of a vehicle and guide rails provided at both-side edge portions of the opening in a vehicle width direction, respectively. In addition, the sunroof device includes a cable (cable piece) driven to move along the guide rails in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle, and a slider connected to the both-side edge portions of the movable panel in the vehicle width direction, respectively, and provided to be movable along the guide rails in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle. A fastener is attached to an end of the cable and a pocket is formed in the slider to receive the fastener. Thus, when the cable moves in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle, the slider engaged with the attachment part in the pocket integrally moves in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle. When the slider moves in the front and rear direction of the vehicle, the movable panel opens and closes.However, in Reference 1, for example, when the movable panel is forcibly moved out forward of the vehicle in an open state due to a large amount of energy input with respect to the vehicle such as an inertial force at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the fastening part or the pocket may be plastically deformed and the fastening part may be separated from the pocket. In this case, the cable and the slider move relative to each other and the movable panel closes in the open state. Accordingly, it is necessary to stop the relative movement between the cable and the slider immediately.Therefore, there is a need for a sunroof device that can quickly stop relative movement between a cable and a slider when there is a large amount of power input to a vehicle.SummaryA sunroof device according to an aspect of this disclosure includes: a movable panel configured to open and close an opening formed in a roof of a vehicle; a guide rail provided at each of edge portions of the opening located on both sides in a vehicle width direction; a cable having a driving-side engagement portion and driven to move along the guide rail in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle; a slider having a driven side engaging portion engaged with the driving side engaging portion and connected to each of the vehicle width direction both side edge portions of the movable panel and provided to be movable along the guide rail in the front and rear direction so that moving the slider in the front and rear direction of the vehicle opens and closes the movable panel; and a holding portion protruding from the slider in the vehicle width direction and positioned rearward of the cable in the vehicle to abut against or close to the cable.In this configuration, when the movable panel is forcibly moved forward of the vehicle in an open state due to a large amount of power input with respect to the vehicle, the engagement between the driving-side engaging portion and the driven-side engaging portion is released, and the cable and the slider move relative to each other in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle. In this case, the holding portion positioned rearward of the cable in the vehicle presses a distal end of the cable, so that the cable buckle and deform while buffering an impact force. Thus, the relative movement between the cable and the slider can be stopped quickly.It is further provided according to the invention that the sunroof device according to the aspect of this disclosure further includes a support piece that supports each edge portion of the movable panel in the vehicle width direction, wherein preferably the slider is connected to each edge portion of the movable panel via the support piece in the vehicle width direction, and includes a vertical wall that stands upright adjacent to the support piece in the vehicle width direction, is connected to the support portion, and is capable of abutting against the support piece in a deformation direction of the support portion according to pressing of a distal end of the cable.In this configuration, when the holding portion is deformed together with the vertical wall, when the holding portion presses the distal end of the cable due to the relative movement between the cable and the slider, the vertical wall abuts against the support piece. Thus, the deformation of the holding portion can be suppressed.In the sunroof device according to the aspect of this disclosure, it is preferable that a root point of deformation of the holding portion according to pressing the distal end of the cable is positioned at the rear of the vehicle from a holding point at which the distal end of the cable is held by the holding portion.In this configuration, when the holding portion presses the distal end of the cable in accordance with the relative movement between the cable and the slider, the holding portion is deformed so that the holding portion is slid rearward with the base point of the deformation as a reference on the vehicle, that is, a distal end surface (distal end surface facing the distal end of the cable) of the holding portion on which the holding point is disposed protrudes further in the vehicle width direction. Thus, even when the cable is slid in the vehicle width direction when the holding portion presses the distal end of the cable, a holding state of the distal end of the cable can be reliably maintained.In the sunroof device according to the aspect of this disclosure, it is preferable that the cable is a tape in which a core material extending in its extending direction is embedded, and the holding portion is larger than the core material in one dimension in a vehicle height direction and is positioned to include the core material in a range in the vehicle height direction.In this configuration, the holding portion includes the core material in the range in the vehicle height direction so that the entire distal end of the core material is pressed when the distal end of the band is pressed in accordance with the relative movement between the cable and the slider. Thus, it is possible to suppress tearing of the band pressed by the holding portion in the vehicle height direction, so that the buckling deformation of the band can be further stabilized.This disclosure has an advantage that the relative movement between the cable and the slider is stopped quickly when there is a large amount of power input to the vehicle.Brief Description of the DrawingsThe foregoing and additional features and characteristics of this disclosure will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a sunroof device of a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the sunroof device of the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the sunroof device of the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the structure of the sunroof device of the embodiment; FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views taken along lines 5A- 5A and 5B- 5B, respectively, and FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of FIG. 5B ; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of the sunroof device of the embodiment (part(a)) and a structure thereof in which a molded portion of a slide member is omitted (part(b)); FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 6 ; FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan views showing an operation of the sunroof device of the embodiment; FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8A ; FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views showing structures of a sunroof device of a second embodiment and the first embodiment; FIGS. 11A and 11B are plan views showing the operation of the sunroof apparatus of the second and first embodiments; and FIGS. 12A and 12B are sectional views showing the operation of the sunroof device of the second embodiment.Detailed DescriptionFirst EmbodimentA first embodiment of a sunroof device will be described below. In the following description, a forward and rearward direction of a vehicle is referred to as a "forward and rearward direction". In addition, an inner side of the vehicle in a width direction toward a passenger compartment is referred to as a "vehicle inner side", and an outer side of the vehicle in the width direction away from the passenger compartment is referred to as a "vehicle outer side".As shown in FIG. 1, a substantially rectangular opening 10a is formed in a roof 10 of the vehicle such as an automobile, and a sunroof device 11 is fixed. The sunroof device 11 includes a substantially rectangular movable panel 12 that moves in the front and rear direction to open and close the opening 10 a, and is made of, for example, a glass plate.The movable panel 12 is fixed so as to be capable of performing a tilting operation in which a rear portion moves downward by rotation about a front portion thereof in an upward direction, a tilting operation in which the rear portion moves downward by rotation about the front portion in the opposite direction, and a sliding operation in the front-and-rear direction. In the opening and closing operation of the movable panel 12, a so-called inner slide type in which the slide operation is performed in a tilting state is employed.As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of guide rails 13 are disposed at both sides, in a vehicle width direction, edge portions of the opening 10 a. Each guide rail 13 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy extruded material, has a constant cross section in a longitudinal direction, and extends in the front and rear directions. A slider 21 is guided and supported on each guide rail 13 to be movable along it in the forward and rearward directions. Each of the both-side vehicle width direction edge portions of the movable panel 12 is connected and supported on the respective slider 21. The slider 21 makes the movable panel 12 perform the tilting operation, the tilting operation, or the sliding operation according to the movement in the front and rear direction.In addition, an electric motor 16, for example with an output gear, is arranged on a front side of the two guide rails 13 of the vehicle. The electric motor 16 is connected to each slider 21 via each belt 17 like a pair of substantially belt-shaped cables, and simultaneously moves both sliders 21 along the guide rails 13 in the forward and rearward direction.Next, a structure of the sunroof device 11 will be described with respect to the opening and closing operation of the movable panel 12 or the like. Moreover, the sunroof device 11 basically has the same structure on both sides of the opening 10 ain the vehicle width direction with respect to the opening and closing operation of the movable panel 12, and only the structure on one side in the vehicle width direction will be described below.As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, each guide rail 13 is formed of an upwardly open guide groove 14 having a substantially C-shaped cross section and a belt guide groove 15 on the vehicle outer side adjacent to the guide groove 14. In addition, the webbing guide groove 15 has an inner wall surface 15 athat bends toward the vehicle outer side at a center portion in a vehicle height direction. The tape guide groove 15 has a substantially T-shaped cross section in cooperation with a side wall of the guide groove 14 and communicates with the guide groove 14 at a communication passage 14a formed on the side wall.The belt 17 has a dimension slightly smaller in the vehicle height direction than a width of the opening of the belt guide groove 15 and is fixed on the belt guide groove 15 to be movably guided along the guide rail 13 in the front and rear direction. The band 17 has a band main body 18 made of, for example, a resin material and a core material 19 embedded so as to extend at a center portion of the band in the vehicle height direction in an extending direction thereof. The core material 19 is made of, for example, a metal wire material.As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the belt main body 18 has a rack shape in which teeth are engraved on the vehicle exterior side, and a substantially rectangular cutout 18 ais formed at a lower portion of a rear end portion. Moreover, the teeth of the belt main body 18 form a driving-side engaging portion 18 bin a range of the cutout 18 ain the forward and rearward direction.On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B, the slider 21 has a main body portion 22 made of, for example, a metal plate and a molded portion 23 made of, for example, a resin material. The main body portion 22 includes a first vertical wall 22 aand a second vertical wall 22 bas vertical walls that are disposed side by side in the vehicle width direction upward from the guide groove 14, a bottom wall 22 cthat connects the lower ends of the first and second vertical walls 22 aand 22 bin the vehicle width direction at an intermediate portion in the front and rear direction, and a substantially rectangular support plate 22 dprotruding from a lower end of a rear end portion of the second vertical wall 22 bon the vehicle outer side. The support plate 22d penetrates from the communication passage 14a into the tape guide groove 15. In addition, the main body portion 22 has a pair of guide flanges 22 eprotruding from upper ends of the first and second vertical walls 22 aand 22 bin the front-and-rear direction into the intermediate portion of the first and second vertical walls 22 aand 22 bto oppose each other in the vehicle width direction. Moreover, a substantially columnar guide pin 24 whose center line extends below the two guide flanges 22 ein the vehicle width direction is interposed between the first and second vertical walls 22 aand 22 b.The molding portion 23 includes a first shoe 23 awhich is connected to the lower end portion of the first vertical wall 22 aand extends in the front-and-rear direction, a second shoe 23 bwhich is connected to the lower end portion of the second vertical wall 22 band extends in the front-and-rear direction, and a connecting wall 23 cthat connects the first and second shoes 23 aand 23 bin the vehicle width direction. The first shoe 23 aand the second shoe 23 bare respectively fixed to the vehicle inner side portion and the vehicle outer side portion of the guide groove 14 in a pressed state, so that the molding portion 23 (slide 21) is guided to be movable in the front-and-rear direction along the guide rail 13.In addition, the molding portion 23 has a connecting portion 23 dwhich adjoins the second shoe 23 bon the vehicle outer side and is connected to the second shoe 23 b. The connecting portion 23 dextends in the front and rear direction in a region of the cutout 18 aof the tape main body 18. the connecting portion 23 dhas a U-shaped cross section that penetrates from the connecting portion 14 ainto the tape guide groove 15 and extends to a vicinity of the inner wall surface 15 awhile passing under the cutout 18 a. The connecting portion 23 dis fixed on the tape guide groove 15 in a state of being fitted into the cutout 18 ato be movably guided in the front and rear direction along the guide rail 13.The vehicle outer side portion of the connecting portion 23 dpositioned in the belt guide groove 15 has a rack shape, and on the vehicle inner side, teeth are engraved to face the driving side engaging portion 18 b. The teeth of the connecting portion 23 dform a driven-side engaging portion 23 ethat engages with the driving-side engaging portion 18 b. The driven-side engaging portion 23e is engaged with the drive-side engaging portion 18b so that the slider 21 moves integrally with the belt 17 in the forward and rearward direction.Moreover, the molding portion 23 has a holding molding portion 23 fwhich adjoins the second shoe 23 bon the vehicle outer side of the belt 17 in the rearward direction of the vehicle and is connected to the second shoe 23 b. The holding shape portion 23 fis also connected to a rear end of the connection portion 23 d. The holding shape portion 23 fengages from the communication passage 14 ainto the webbing guide groove 17, extends to the vicinity of the inner wall surface 15 a, and embeds the holding plate 22 din a state where the holding plate 22 dis inserted in the vehicle height direction. The holding shape portion 23 fform a holding portion 25 in conjunction with the holding plate 22 d. The holding portion 25 abuts against or closes a rear end 17 aof the webbing 17 in the rearward direction of the vehicle and is fixed on the webbing guide groove 15 to be movably guided along the guide rail 13 in the forward and rearward direction.In addition, the holding portion 25 is set larger than the core material 19 in a dimension in the vehicle height direction, and is positioned to include the core material 19 in a range in the vehicle height direction. More specifically, the support plate 22 dis set larger than the core material 19 in a dimension in the vehicle height direction, and is positioned to include the core material 19 in a range in the vehicle height direction.As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the edge portions of the movable panel 12 located on both sides in the vehicle width direction (direction orthogonal to a paper surface in FIG. 3 ) is supported by a support piece 31 extending in the front-and-rear direction. The support piece 31 is supported by the guide rail 13 to freely rotate in a direction in which a rear end portion rises and falls into a front support portion 32 provided at a front end portion, and to freely move in the front-and-rear direction. In addition, in the support piece 31, a pair of substantially strip-shaped guide protrusion portions 33 protrude from the front support portion 32 opposite to each other in the vehicle width direction from a lower end rearward of the vehicle. The support piece 31 is supported by the slider 21 in a state where each guide protrusion portion 33 is interposed between each guide flange 22 eof the slider 21 (main body portion 22) and the guide pin 24 in the vehicle height direction. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a distal end of the guide protrusion portion 33 on the vehicle outer side abuts or closes the second vertical wall 22 bof the main body portion 22.In a fully closed state of the movable panel 12, the guide protrusion portion 33 inclines basically in the rearward direction of the vehicle, and the slider 21 (guide flange 22 eand guide pin 24) is disposed at an intermediate portion of the guide protrusion portion 33 in the longitudinal direction. Thus, in the fully closed state of the movable panel 12, when the slider moves forward along the guide rail 13 on the vehicle, the support piece 31 is pushed up by the guide pin 24 at the guide protrusion portion 33 to rotate in a direction in which the rear end portion rises up around the front support portion 32, and the movable panel 12 tilts up. Conversely, in the fully closed state of the movable panel 12, when the slider 21 moves rearward along the guide rail 13 on the vehicle, the support piece is pressed downward by the guide flange 22 eon the guide protrusion portion 33 to rotate in a direction in which the rear end portion is lowered around the front support portion 32, and the movable panel 12 tilts.When the guide flange 22e and the guide pin 24 reach a stop end (rear end) of the guide protrusion portion 33 in accordance with the rearward movement of the slider 21 along the guide rail 13 on the vehicle, the tilting operation of the movable panel 12 is ended. In this case, the guide flange 22e and the guide pin 24 are engaged with the guide projection portion 33, so that the movement of the slider 21 with respect to the support piece 31 is restricted. Thus, as the slider 21 moves further rearward of the vehicle along the guide rail 13, the support piece 31 integrally moves rearward of the vehicle, and the movable panel 12 is opened in the tilted state. The movable panel is thus fully opened and the opening 10a is opened.Next, an operation of the embodiment will be described.As illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8A, and 8B, the slider 21 that engages with the driving-side engaging portion 18 bwith the driven-side engaging portion 23 eis provided so that the holding plate 22 d(the holding portion 25) abuts or connects to the vehicle rearward-direction distal end (rear end 17 a) of the belt 17. Thus, for example, when the movable panel 12 which is forcibly moved forward on the vehicle in the opened state due to a large power supply with respect to the vehicle such as an impact force (inertial force) at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, the engagement between the driving-side engaging portion 18 band the driven-side engaging portion 18 ais released, and thereby the belt 17 and the slider 21 move relative to each other in the forward and rearward directions. In this case, the support plate 22 d(support portion 25) positioned rearward of the vehicle of the webbing 17 presses the rear end 17 aof the webbing 17 so that the webbing 17 buckles and deforms during the buffer of the impact force. Thus, the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 21 is quickly stopped.Specifically, the support plate 22 dincludes the core material 19 in a region in the vehicle height direction so as to press the entire distal end (rear end) of the core material 19. Thus, even if the tension concentrates on the center portion of the band 17 in the vehicle height direction pressed against the support plate 22 d(support portion 25), tearing of the band 17 in the vehicle height direction is suppressed.In addition, when the holding plate 22 d(holding portion 25) presses (plastically deforms) the rear end 17 aof the belt 17 in accordance with the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 21, as illustrated by a broken line in part (b) of FIG. 7, the holding plate 22 ddeforms (plastically deforms) in a rotational direction in which the holding plate 22 dis displaced around a root point B of the deformation extending in the vehicle height direction along the second vertical wall 22 bat the position of the front end thereof, that is, in a rotational direction in which the rear end portion of the second vertical wall 22 bis displaced toward the vehicle inner side to abut on the guide protrusion portion 33 of the slider 31. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the second vertical wall 22 bmay abut against the guide protrusion portion 33 on the vehicle outer side in the deformation direction of the support plate 22 d. As described above, when the holding plate 22 ddeforms together with the second vertical wall 22 b, the second vertical wall 22 bengages with the guide protrusion portion 33 to suppress the deformation of the holding plate 22 d.Next, effects of the embodiment will be described. (1) In the embodiment, when the movable panel 12 which is forcibly moved forward on the vehicle in the opened state due to a large power input with respect to the vehicle, the engagement between the driving-side engaging portion 18 band the driven-side engaging portion 18 ais released, and thereby the belt 17 and the slider 21 move relative to each other in the front and rear direction. In this case, the holding portion 25 disposed rearward of the band 17 in the vehicle rearward direction presses the distal end (rear end 17 a) of the band 17 so that the band 17 buckles and deforms during the buffer of the impact force. Thus, the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 21 can be stopped quickly. A closing operation of the movable panel 12 in the opened state can be quickly stopped. (2) In the embodiment, the slider 21 has the second vertical wall 22 bwhich can abut against the support piece 31 (guide protrusion portion 33) in the deformation direction of the holding portion 25 according to pressing of the distal end (rear end 17 a) of the band 17. Thus, when the holding portion 25 presses the distal end (the rear end 17 a) of the band 17 by the relative movement between the band 17 and the slider 21 so that the holding portion 25 deforms with the second vertical wall 22 b, the second vertical wall 22 bsbuts against the support piece 31. In addition, therefore, the buckling deformation of the band 17 pressed by the holding portion 25 and the buffering of the impact force by the band 17 can be further stabilized. (3) In the embodiment, the holding portion 25 (holding plate 22 d) is set larger than the core material 19 in a dimension in the vehicle height direction and positioned to include the core material 19 in a range in the vehicle height direction. Thus, when the distal end (rear end 17 a) of the band 17 is pressed according to the relative movement between the band 17 and the slider 21, the entire distal end (rear end) of the core material 19 is pressed. Thus, it is possible to suppress tearing of the band 17 pressed by the holding portion 25 in the vehicle height direction, so that the buckling deformation of the band 17 can be further stabilized. The buffering of the impact force by the band 17 can be further stabilized. (4) In the embodiment, when, for example, the belt 17 and the slider 21 move relative to each other in the front and rear direction due to a small force such as hooking of the movable panel 12 during the opening and closing operation, the holding portion 25 disposed rearward of the vehicle of the belt 17 abuts against the distal end (rear end 17 a) of the belt 17. thus, the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 21 can be suppressed quickly, and an engagement state of the driving-side engagement portion 18 band the driven-side engagement portion 23 ecan be maintained more stably. (5) In the embodiment, the number of components and the cost can be reduced because the holding portion 25 has a very simple structure protruding from the slider 21 to the vehicle exterior side. (6) In order to improve the strength of the holding portion, only enlargement of the holding portion is necessary, but the moldability is deteriorated or the cost is increased accordingly. In the embodiment, the holding portion 25 has the holding plate ( 22 d) made of metal (at least a part thereof is made of metal), so that further reduction in size is possible while securing strength.Second EmbodimentNext, a second embodiment of a sunroof device will be described. Moreover, since the second embodiment has a configuration in which the slider of the first embodiment is changed, a detailed description of the same portion will be omitted.As illustrated in FIG. 10A, a main body portion 42 of a slider 41 of the embodiment is made of, for example, a metal plate, and has a first vertical wall 42 aand a second vertical wall 42 bdisposed side by side in the vehicle width direction and coinciding with the first vertical wall 22 aand the second vertical wall 22 b, and a bottom wall 42 cconnecting the lower ends of the first and second vertical walls 42 aand 42 bin the vehicle width direction. The second vertical wall 42 bis divided in front and rear by a slit 42 dto form a front vertical wall 42 eand a rear vertical wall 42 fas vertical walls. In addition, the main body portion 42 has a holding plate 42 gthat coincides with the holding plate 22 d, and protrudes from a lower end of a front end of the rear vertical wall 42 ftoward the vehicle exterior side. The main body portion 42 further has guide flanges 42 hthat are consistent with the pair of guide flanges 22 eand protrude from an upper end in an intermediate portion of the first vertical wall 42 aand the front vertical wall 42 ein the front-and-rear direction opposite to each other in the vehicle width direction.Moreover, the slider 41 has a molding portion (not shown) that corresponds to the molding portion 23. Thus, similar to the first embodiment, the slider 41 is guided to be movable along the guide rail 13 in the forward and rearward direction, and is engaged with the driving-side engaging portion 18 bto move integrally with the belt 17 in the forward and rearward direction. Specifically, the molding portion has a holding molding portion which forms, in cooperation with the holding plate 42 g, a holding portion 43 corresponding to the holding portion 25.Next, an operation of the embodiment will be described.For example, when the movable panel 12 which is forcibly moved forward on the vehicle in the opened state due to a large power supply with respect to the vehicle such as an impact force (inertial force) at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, the engagement between the driving-side engaging portion 18 band the movable panel 12 is released, and thereby the belt 17 and the slider 41 move relative to each other in the forward and rearward direction. In this case, the support plate 42 g(the support portion 43) disposed rearward of the band 17 in the rearward direction of the vehicle presses the rear end 17 aof the band 17 so that the band 17 buckle and deforms during the buffering of the impact force. Thus, the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 41 is quickly stopped.In addition, when the support plate 42 g(support portion 43) presses (plastically deforms) the rear end 17 aof the belt 17 in accordance with the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 41 as illustrated by a broken line in part (b) of FIG. 10A, the support plate 42 gdeforms (plastically deforms) in a rotational direction in which the support plate 42 gis displaced about a root B 1 of the deformation extending in the vehicle height direction along the rear vertical wall 42 fat the rear end position thereof. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the vehicle deformation base point B 1 is located rearward (rearward in a load application direction) from a support point H 1 at which the support plate 42 gsupports the rear end 17 aof the band 17. Thus, a distal end surface (front end surface opposite to the rear end 17 aof the band 17) 43 aof the holding portion 43 on which the holding point H 1 is disposed protrudes further toward the vehicle exterior side. In this case, even when the holding portion 43 deforms, an amount (overlapping margin) overlapping with the band 17 in the vehicle width direction does not decrease. Thus, even when the holding portion 43 presses the rear end 17 aof the band 17 so that the band 17 is displaced in the vehicle width direction, the holding state of the rear end 17 aof the band 17 is more reliably maintained.Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10B and 11B, the position of the deformation base point B coincides with a support point H at which the support plate 22 dsupports the rear end 17 aof the band 17 in the front and rear direction. Thus, when the support plate 22 d(support portion 25) presses the rear end 17 aof the band 17 according to the relative movement between the band 17 and the slider 21, a distal end surface (front end surface opposite to the rear end 17 aof the band 17) 25 aof the support portion 25 on which the support point H is located is deformed to be further pulled toward the vehicle inner side. In this case, the amount (overlapping margin) overlapping with the band 17 in the vehicle width direction decreases according to the deformation of the holding portion 25, and a forward movement of the slider 21 on the vehicle while scraping the band 17 without compressing the band 17 is possible.As shown by a change between FIGS. 12A and 12B, when the holding plate 42 g(holding portion 43) presses the rear end 17 aof the tape 17 according to the relative movement between the tape 17 and the slider 21, the holding portion 43 is deformed so that the distal end surface 43 a, on which the holding point H 1 is located, adjoins the inner wall surface 15 aof the tape guide groove 15. Thus, at the time of deformation of the holding portion 43, the distal end surface 43 abuts against the inner wall surface 15 aof the tape guide groove 15, so that deformation is suppressed.As described above, according to the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.(1) In the embodiment, when the support plate 42 g(support portion 43) presses the rear end 17 aof the belt 17 according to the relative movement between the belt 17 and the slider 41, the support portion 43 deforms to move toward the deformation base point B 1 in the rearward direction of the vehicle, that is, the distal end surface 43 aof the support portion 43 at which the support point H 1 is located protrudes further in the vehicle width direction. Thus, even when the holding portion 43 presses the rear end 17 aof the band 17 so as to displace the band 17 in the vehicle width direction, the holding state of the rear end 17 aof the band 17 can be further reliably maintained. The holding state by the protrusion of the distal end surface 43 aof the holding portion 43 is maintained more effectively as the deformation of the holding portion 43 proceeds.In this case, the holding portion 43 is also deformed so that the distal end surface 43 aon which the holding point H 1 is located closes to the inner wall surface 15 aof the tape guide groove 15. Thus, at the time of deformation of the holding portion 43, the distal end surface 43 abuts against the inner wall surface 15 aof the tape guide groove 15 and engages with the inner wall surface 15 aof the tape guide groove 15, so that the deformation can be further suppressed. Alternatively, at the time of deformation of the holding portion 43, it is possible to suppress forward movement of the slider 41 on the vehicle due to a frictional force generated between the holding portion 43 and the inner wall surface 15 aof the tape guide groove 15 against which the distal end surface 43 abuts. Deceleration of the slider 41 due to the frictional force becomes more effective as the deformation of the holding portion 43 progresses.Moreover, the embodiment may be modified as follows.In the first embodiment, the second vertical wall ( 22 b) cannot abut against the support piece 31 in the deformation direction of the holding portion 25 according to pressing of the distal end (rear end 17 a) of the band 17.In the first embodiment, the support plate 22 dis connected to the lower end of the second vertical wall 22 b, but the support plate 22 dmay be connected to, for example, the rear end portion of the lower wall 22 cextending rearward from the second vertical wall 22 con the vehicle.In the second embodiment, the rear vertical wall ( 42 f) in the deformation direction of the holding portion 43 may abut against the support piece 31 according to pressing of the distal end (rear end 17 a) of the band 17.In each embodiment, the entirety of the holding portions ( 25 and 43) may be made of metal or resin.In each embodiment, the holding portions ( 25 and 43) may not be arranged to include the core material 19 in the range in the vehicle height direction.In each embodiment, the core material 19 may not be embedded in the tape (17).In each embodiment, the engagement structure for integrally moving the belt 17 and the sliders 21 and 41 may be, for example, a fitting hole as the driving-side engagement portion formed in the belt 17 and a fitting protrusion portion as the driven-side engagement portion which protrudes from the sliders 21 and 41 and is inserted into the fitting hole.In each embodiment, a push-pull cable or a transmission cable may be used instead of the cable 17.In each embodiment, a so-called outer slide type in which a slide operation in a tilted-up state is performed in the opening and closing operation of the opening 10 aby the movable panel 12 may be employed.Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiments and other examples will be additionally described below.(A) In the sunroof device, a sunroof device is provided in which at least a part of the holding portion is made of metal.According to the configuration, at least a part of the holding portion is made of metal, so that downsizing thereof is possible while securing required strength.The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention for which protection is intended is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed. Furthermore, the embodiments described herein are considered to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others and equivalents utilized without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims be embraced therein.

Claims

A sunroof device (11) comprising: a movable panel (12) configured to open and close an opening (10a) formed in a roof (10) of a vehicle; a guide rail (13) provided at each of edge portions of the opening located on both sides in a vehicle width direction; a cable (17) having a driving-side engagement portion (18b) and driven to move along the guide rail (13) in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle; a slider (21, 41) which has a driven-side engaging portion (23e) engaged with the driving-side engaging portion (18b), and which is connected to each of the vehicle width direction both-side edge portions of the movable panel (12), and which is provided to be movable along the guide rail (13) in the front-and-rear direction so that moving the slider (21, 41) in the front-and-rear direction of the vehicle opens and closes the movable panel (12); and a holding portion (25, 43) which protrudes from the slider (21, 41) in the vehicle width direction and is positioned rearward in the vehicle from the cable (17) to abut against or close to the cable (17), characterized in that the sunroof device further comprises: a support piece (31), which supports each edge portion of the movable panel (12) in the vehicle width direction, wherein the slider (21, 41) is connected to each edge portion of the movable panel (12) via the support piece (31) in the vehicle width direction, and includes a vertical wall (22b) which stands upright in the vehicle width direction adjacent to the support piece (31), is connected to the holding portion (25, 43), and is capable of abutting against the support piece (31) in a deformation direction of the holding portion (25, 43) according to pressing of a distal end of the cable (17).The sunroof apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a base point of deformation of the holding portion (25, 43) according to the pushing of the distal end of the cable (17) with respect to the front and rear direction of the vehicle is positioned behind a holding point at which the distal end of the cable (17) is held by the holding portion (25, 43).The sunroof device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cable (17) is a tape in which a core material extending in its extending direction is embedded, and wherein the holding portion (25, 43) is larger than the core material in a dimension in a vehicle height direction and is disposed to include the core material in a range in the vehicle height direction.

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