Shading device for the interior of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A shading device (1) for the interior of a motor vehicle, comprising a support frame on which a roller tube (5) is rotatably mounted, on which a roller blind track (3) is held for winding and unwinding, and which is provided on opposite longitudinal sides with a guide profile arrangement for the lateral guidance of the roller blind track (3), and with a drive system arranged on the support frame, which has two drive transmission lines (7) extending into the guide profile arrangements for moving the roller blind track (3) between a wound-up rest position and an unwound shading position, and which are driven by a drive unit, characterized in that a one-piece multifunctional module (8a, 8b) is assigned to each side of the roller tube (5), which includes a bearing section (21a, 21b) for end-face mounting of the roller tube (5), a guide section (22a,22b) for a drive transmission train (7) and a parking section (18a, 18b) for a drive unit of the roller shutter track (3) that can be moved in the guide profile arrangement, as well as an adapter section (19a, 19b) for an aligned plug connection of the multifunction module (8a, 8b) with an end face of the guide profile arrangement.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a shading device for the interior of a motor vehicle, comprising a support frame on which a roller shutter shaft is rotatably mounted, on which a roller shutter track is held in a manner capable of being wound up and unwound, and which is provided on opposite longitudinal sides with a guide profile arrangement for the lateral guidance of the roller shutter track, as well as a drive system arranged on the support frame, which has two drive transmission lines that extend into the guide profile arrangements for the purpose of moving the roller shutter track between a wound-up rest position and an unwound shading position and are driven by a drive unit.

[0002] Such a shading device for a glass roof area of ​​a passenger car is known from DE 10 2017 217 429 A1. The known shading device has a support frame that is mounted from below to sections of the roof body of the passenger car. A roller blind is movable within the support frame between a shading position that shades the glass roof area and a rest position that releases the glass roof area. The roller blind is held on a roller tube that can be wound and unwound, and which is rotatably mounted in the support frame. The roller blind has a dimensionally stable extension profile at its leading end (in the direction of extension), which is slidably guided in lateral guide rails of the support frame. A drive system with an electric drive motor is also arranged on the support frame.The electric drive motor powers two drive transmission lines, which are guided in the side guide rails and each move one side edge of the extension profile. The drive system thus serves to move the extension profile along the opposite side guide rails, inevitably resulting in the blind being wound or unwound. The blind is equipped with side guide strips along its opposite longitudinal edges, which are also guided in the respective side guide rails. This ensures that, in the shading position, the side longitudinal edges of the blind and the side guide rails of the support frame overlap relative to each other, so that no gap remains between the blind and the side guide rails.Secondly, the side guide tapes maintain a transverse tension in the roller blind, thus preventing the roller blind from sagging in the shading position.

[0003] DE 10 2016 125 284 A1 discloses a shading device for a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle. A flexible shading structure can be moved along guide rails by means of an extendable profile. The guide rails are permanently mounted in the roof area of ​​the vehicle. A drive system for moving the extendable profile is equipped with drive cables. The drive cables are guided in channels of guide rail profiles, which are positioned at a distance above bearing elements.

[0004] From DE 10 2017 103 175 A1, a further shading device for the roof of a motor vehicle is known, in which a roller blind shaft is held by a retaining assembly. A bearing element is part of this retaining assembly. The bearing element is provided with a connection area to which a guide element can be attached. The bearing element is manufactured in a first tool from a first plastic. The guide element is manufactured in a second tool from a second plastic. In operation of the shading device, the guide element serves to insert a flexible shading roller blind into a vehicle-mounted guide rail as soon as the shading roller blind is unwound from the roller blind shaft. The guide element has a projection that forms a groove with a base of the guide element, which serves as a guide area for a guide strip of the roller blind.

[0005] The object of the invention is to create a shading device of the type mentioned above which enables simplified assembly.

[0006] This problem is solved by assigning a one-piece multifunctional module to each end of the roller tube. This module comprises a bearing section for end-face support of the roller tube, a guide section for a drive transmission, a parking section for a roller track carrier that can be moved within the guide profile assembly, and an adapter section for a flush plug connection between the multifunctional module and an end face of the guide profile assembly. The multifunctional module on each side of the roller tube enables quick assembly of the roller tube and roller track unit. Preferably, the respective roller track carrier is formed by a lateral guide element of an extension profile of the roller track, thus simplifying the arrangement and alignment of the extension profile by the two multifunctional modules.The multifunctional modules enable the pre-assembly of a roller blind unit consisting of a roller tube, roller blind fabric, and extension profile. After appropriate pre-assembly, this roller blind unit can be easily mounted to the support frame using the multifunctional modules, which ensure a proper connection to the surrounding functional components of the shading device. The solution according to the invention is particularly advantageous for use in the roof area of ​​a motor vehicle to shade a section of the glass roof. However, the shading device according to the invention can also be used for other transparent panes in the interior of a motor vehicle. The single-piece design of the multifunctional module reduces the number of components of the shading device and thus also the assembly time.The term "one-piece" refers both to the assembly of several functional parts into a single component that can be handled as a single functional body, and to a component that forms the functional body and is manufactured in one piece from a plastic or light metal material.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the multifunctional module features an insertion aid for a side edge of the roller blind, by means of which the side edge can be transferred into the guide profile arrangement when the roller blind is pulled off the winding shaft. This embodiment is advantageous if the roller blind has side edges stiffened with side guide strips. The side guide strips are firmly attached to the respective side edge of the roller blind and are wound onto and unwound from the roller blind shaft together with the roller blind. The corresponding side guide strips have a greater stiffness than the roller blind itself. The side guide strips are guided in the lateral guide profile arrangements of the support frame in such a way that the roller blind remains taut transversely to the extension direction during a winding or unwinding process. This reliably prevents the roller blind from sagging in the shading position.The insertion aid of the respective multi-function module ensures that a corresponding side guide tape, wound onto the roller tube together with the roller blind fabric, reliably enters the corresponding guide profile section of the lateral guide profile arrangement of the support frame as soon as the roller blind fabric is pulled from its rest position in the direction of the shading position off the roller tube.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the multifunctional module is manufactured in one piece from plastic. Manufacturing the multifunctional module in one piece from plastic in a single operation using a 3D printer or a plastic injection molding process enables, firstly, a robust and durable module. Secondly, it allows for cost-effective production of the multifunctional module, making its use in high-volume production economically advantageous.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the support frame has a receiving area on which the multifunctional module can be attached. This predefines the position of the respective multifunctional module on the support frame, thus simplifying assembly.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the multifunctional module comprises at least one mechanical profiling section for pre-positioning on the support frame and at least one mounting boss to which a mechanical fastening element can be firmly connected. The profiling section can be a snap-fit ​​or plug-in profile. This profile has sufficient play to allow alignment and adjustment of the multifunctional module after pre-positioning. Subsequently, the at least one mechanical fastening element, in particular a screw connection, is used to fix the adjusted multifunctional module to the support frame.Advantageously, the at least one mounting boss is arranged on the multifunction module such that the multifunction module can be fixed from an opposite side of the support frame, preferably from an underside of the support frame. This allows the multifunction module to be fixed from inside the vehicle, i.e., from below, using a suitable mechanical fastener, even if the support frame is already mounted in the roof area of ​​a motor vehicle.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, two multifunctional modules are provided for mounting the roller tube, positioned on opposite end faces of the roller tube and featuring different bearing sections. This design allows for adjustment and tolerance compensation during the installation of the roller tube relative to the support frame and relative to the lateral guide profile arrangements.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, one bearing section is designed as a pivot bearing journal and the opposite bearing section as a compensating journal. The compensating journal is preferably a ball journal, which ensures that the roller shutter shaft is supported even if there is an axial misalignment between the opposite bearing sections of the two multifunctional modules.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the roller shutter track's drive mechanism is designed as an end-face termination element of a dimensionally stable extension profile, which is attached to a front end-face region of the roller shutter track in the unwinding direction. The parking section of the multifunctional module is adapted to the outer contour of the end-face termination element of the extension profile in such a way that this termination element is held in the parking section with virtually no play when the roller shutter track is in its rest position.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, each drive transmission train is designed as a flexible, tension- and compression-resistant threaded cable, which is routed in the area of ​​the support frame and in the area of ​​the guide profile arrangements. A separate threaded cable is provided for each of the two guide profile arrangements, which are advantageously driven by a common electric drive motor and a suitable gearbox.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, each side edge of the roller blind is provided with a side guide strip, which is guided in the area of ​​the insertion aids of the multifunction modules and in the area of ​​the guide profile arrangements such that tension is applied to the roller blind transversely to the extension direction of the roller blind. The side guide strips are firmly connected to the side edges of the roller blind and are wound onto the roller tube together with it. Preferably, the respective side guide strip is folded into the corresponding side edge of the roller blind and fixed in the side edge.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the support frame is designed for an arrangement on a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle, and the roller blind is designed to shade the transparent roof area. The transparent roof area of ​​the vehicle interior is either rigidly connected to the vehicle body or provided with at least one opening roof panel. The transparent roof area therefore includes both fixed roof sections and sliding and lifting roof systems.

[0017] The invention also relates to a multifunctional module for the shading device as described above, with the characterizing features of claims 1, 2 and / or 5.

[0018] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims. A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below and illustrated with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows in perspective an embodiment of a shading device according to the invention, Fig. 2 in enlarged exploded view a section of the shading device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 in enlarged exploded view another part of the shading device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4. An enlarged view shows a section of the perspective view of the shading device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 the representation according Fig. 4, however omitting a roller tube and a roller track, Fig. Figure 6 shows an enlarged section of the shading device. Fig. 1, Fig. Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of a first multifunctional module of the shading device according to the Fig. 1 to 6 and Fig. 8 an opposing multifunctional module of the shading device according to the Fig. 1 to 6.

[0019] A shading device 1 according to the Fig. Items 1 to 8 are intended for shading a glass roof area of ​​a passenger car. The shading device 1 is mounted inside the vehicle, below the glass roof area, when installed on the vehicle side. The shading device 1 has a support frame that carries the functional parts of the shading device 1 described below and which, when installed on the vehicle side, is rigidly connected to roof body structural components of the passenger car's roof area. The support frame has a front section 2a, two side sections 2b, and a rear section 2c, wherein, when installed on the vehicle side, the front section 2a and the rear section 2c extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and the opposing side sections 2b extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.The two side parts 2b each have an unspecified guide profile arrangement, wherein the opposing guide profile arrangements extend parallel to each other.

[0020] The front section 2a carries a roller tube 5 extending transversely to the vehicle. This roller tube is rotatably mounted in a trough-like recess in the front section 2a by means of two multifunctional modules 8a and 8b, which are described in more detail below. A roller blind panel 3, designed as a textile sheet, is held on the roller tube 5 and can be wound up and unwound. The roller blind panel 3 is rigidly connected at its leading end (in the unwinding direction) to a dimensionally stable extension profile 4, which extends across the entire width of the roller blind panel 3 in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The extension profile 4 is provided at each of its opposite ends with an end element 10. This end element is inserted into the hollow extension profile 4 on the respective end face and is rigidly connected to the extension profile 4.Each end element 10 is slidably mounted in a corresponding guide channel of the lateral guide profile arrangement of the respective side part 2b of the support frame along the guide channel and thus along the guide profile arrangement. A drive system is provided for moving the end elements 10, which serve as drivers for the extension profile 4 and the roller track 3. This drive system comprises an electric drive motor 6 and two drive transmission lines 7 designed as threaded cables. The drive motor 6 is positioned on the front part 2a of the support frame and coupled to a gearbox (not specified in detail) that synchronously drives the two drive transmission lines 7.The threaded cables serving as drive transmission lines 7 are routed from the central drive motor 6 to the opposite side sections within the support frame and extend through the guide profile arrangement in the respective side section 2b. Receipt channels, not further specified, are provided in the front section 2a for guiding the threaded cables 7. Corresponding guide grooves in the guide profile arrangements for guiding the threaded cables are formed parallel to the guide channels for the end elements 10 of the extension profile 4. Each of the two threaded cables is positively coupled to the respective end element 10 by means of a coupling element 14. Each threaded cable 7 has approximately twice the length of the respective lateral guide profile arrangement for guiding the respective end element 10.To enable linear guidance of these long thread pitch cables, the receiving channels in the front part 2a extend to the opposite side as well. The design of the receiving channels and the routing of the thread pitch cables are known from the prior art.

[0021] In the extended shading position of the roller blind, the extension profile 4 moves rearward along the lateral guide profiles of the side panels 2b to the rear panel 2c of the support frame. This inevitably unwinds the roller blind 3 from the roller tube 5, extending over the entire length and width of the opening enclosed by the support frame. The length and width of this opening correspond, at least largely, to the area of ​​the glass roof to be shaded. The roller blind 3 is provided with a side guide strip 9 on each of its opposite edges. Each guide strip extends over the entire length of the roller blind 3 on each side and is firmly attached to the side edge of the roller blind 3.The side guide strip 9 has a higher stiffness than the roller blind track 3 and serves to maintain transverse tension in the vehicle's transverse direction over the entire length of the unwound portion of the roller blind track 3 when it is unwound from its wound rest position, thus preventing sagging of the roller blind track 3 in its unwound shading position. The two guide profile arrangements of the opposing side sections 2b have guide grooves complementary to the side guide strips 9, which guide the side guide strips in a form-fitting manner in the vehicle's transverse direction.

[0022] The two previously mentioned multifunctional modules 8a, 8b serve, firstly, to rotatably support the roller tube 5 in the trough-like receiving area of ​​the front part 2a, secondly, to align and center the threaded pitch cables serving as drive transmission lines 7 from the respective receiving channel of the front part 2a into the respective guide profile arrangement of the respective side part 2b, and thirdly, to secure the end elements 10 in a park position of the extension profile 4, in which the roller blind track 3 is in its wound-up rest position, and finally, to thread and center the side guide tapes 9 when the extension profile 4 is moved from the rest position towards the shading position into the corresponding guide grooves of the guide profile arrangements of the side parts 2b.

[0023] The two opposing multifunction modules 8a and 8b are essentially identical in design and mirror-symmetrical to each other. Only the corresponding bearing sections 21a and 21b for supporting the roller tube 5 differ in design. The other functional sections of the opposing multifunction modules 8a and 8b, described in more detail below, are identical to each other in their mirror-image configuration with respect to a vertical longitudinal plane of the vehicle – when the shading device 1 is mounted on the vehicle.

[0024] Both multifunction modules 8a, 8b have a guide section 22a, 22b extending longitudinally in the vehicle direction, which, when the respective multifunction module 8a, 8b is mounted, aligns with a receiving channel of the respective drive transmission train 7 of the front part 2a and transitions alignably into a complementary channel section of the guide profile arrangement of the side part 2b. Both multifunction modules 8a, 8b are provided with an adapter section 19a, which is oriented towards the respective guide profile arrangement of the respective side part 2b and serves to establish a plug connection with a corresponding adjacent end face of the respective guide profile arrangement of the respective side part 2b.Both multifunctional modules 8a, 8b have a parking section 18a, 18b that is aligned with the outer contour of the respective end element 10 to enable virtually play-free insertion of the end element 10 into the respective multifunctional module 8a, 8b when the roller shutter track 3 is in its rest position. Both multifunctional modules 8a, 8b also have an insertion aid 20a, 20b for the respective side guide strip 9 of the roller shutter track 3. The insertion aid 20a, 20b is complemented by a guide component 15, which has a guide groove for guiding the side guide strip 9. The guide component 15 is firmly connected to the insertion aid 20a, 20b by either pushing it on or snapping it into place.The guide component 15 of the insertion aid 20a, 20b is aligned with the respective guide groove in the respective guide profile arrangement of the two side parts 2b, so that the respective side guide strip 9 is automatically threaded into the respective guide groove of the lateral guide profile arrangements via the guide groove of the guide component 15 when the extension profile 4 is extended from the parked position. The guide groove of the guide component 15 of the insertion aid 20a, 20b and the guide groove of the guide profile arrangement of the respective side part 2b are aligned with each other in the assembled operating state.

[0025] The bearing sections 21a and 21b of the two opposing multifunction modules 8a and 8b are designed differently to allow for tolerance compensation due to a certain axial misalignment during the mounting of the multifunction modules 8a and 8b on the front part 2a. Bearing section 21b is designed according to... Fig. 3 and Fig. 7 designed as a pivot bearing journal, whereas the bearing section 21a according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 8 is designed as a tolerance compensation pin in the shape of a spherical pin, i.e., as a ball pin. The pivot bearing pin 21b forms an essentially cylindrical plug pin, which is inserted into a cylindrical recess on the end face of the roller tube 5. The spherical section of the ball pin is also inserted into a corresponding hollow cylindrical recess on the end face of the roller tube 5 on the opposite side.

[0026] The two multifunctional modules 8a and 8b are assembled together with the roller tube 5, the roller track 3, and the extension profile 4, including its end elements 10, as a pre-assembled unit. The extension profile is secured between the opposing multifunctional modules 8a and 8b by means of the end elements 10 located in the parking sections 18a and 18b in the same way as the roller tube 5. For mounting the multifunctional modules 8a and 8b, the front part 2a has a receiving area 11a and 11b on each of the opposite side areas, which is provided with locking profiles 12 on the underside. The respective multifunctional module 8a and 8b has complementary locking profiles 16b projecting towards a bottom surface, the locking profiles on multifunctional module 8a being not visible in the drawings.By means of these complementary locking profiles, which serve as profiling sections according to the invention, the multifunctional modules 8a and 8b can be pre-positioned in the receiving areas 11a, 11b. At the same time, however, a certain amount of play is still ensured for both multifunctional modules 8a, 8b to allow for adjustment and adaptation to the respective adjacent functional parts of the shading device 1. After the functional adjustment, connection, and adaptation to the respective adjacent functional parts, the multifunctional modules 8a, 8b are fixed in place by means of screw connections 13, which can be screwed into mounting bosses 17a, 17b of the multifunctional modules 8a, 8b from the underside of the support frame. This design is advantageous because fixing can thus be carried out from the vehicle interior, i.e., from below, even when the support frame is mounted in the roof area of ​​the passenger car.

[0027] Both multifunctional modules 8a and 8b are designed as one-piece plastic components, with all previously described functional sections of the respective multifunctional module 8a, 8b being molded in a single-stage manufacturing process. This also applies to the snap-fit ​​profiles 16b and the mounting bosses 17a and 17b.

Claims

[1] Shading device (1) for the interior of a motor vehicle comprising a support frame on which a roller tube (5) is rotatably mounted, on which a roller blind track (3) is held in a manner that allows it to be wound up and unwound, and which is provided on opposite longitudinal sides with a guide profile arrangement for the lateral guidance of the roller blind track (3), and with a drive system arranged on the support frame, which has two drive transmission lines (7) extending into the guide profile arrangements for the purpose of moving the roller blind track (3) between a wound-up rest position and an unwound shading position and which are driven by a drive unit, characterized by, that the roller tube (5) is assigned on both sides a one-piece multifunction module (8a, 8b) which has a bearing section (21a, 21b) for end-face support of the roller tube (5), a guide section (22a, 22b) for a drive transmission train (7) and a parking section (18a, 18b) for a driver of the roller track (3) that can be moved in the guide profile arrangement as well as an adapter section (19a, 19b) for an aligned plug connection of the multifunction module (8a, 8b) with an end face of the guide profile arrangement. [2] Shading device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the multifunction module (8a, 8b) has an insertion aid (20a, 20b) for a side edge of the roller blind (3) by means of which the side edge can be transferred into the guide profile arrangement when the roller blind (3) is pulled off the roller blind shaft (5). [3] Shading device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the multifunction module (8a, 8b) is made of plastic in one piece. [4] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the support frame has a receiving area (11a, 11b) on which the multifunction module (8a, 8b) can be attached. [5] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the multifunctional module (8a, 8b) has at least one mechanical profiling section (16b) for pre-positioning on the support frame and at least one mounting boss (17a, 17b) to which a mechanical fastening means can be firmly connected. [6] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that one bearing section (21b) is designed as a pivot bearing journal and the opposite bearing section (21a) as a compensating journal. [7] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the driver of the roller blind (3) is designed as an end-face termination element (10) of a dimensionally stable extension profile (4) which is attached to a front end-face area of ​​the roller blind (3) in the direction of unwinding. [8] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that each drive transmission train (7) is designed as a flexible, tension- and compression-resistant threaded pitch cable, which is laid in the area of ​​the support frame as well as in the area of ​​the guide profile arrangements. [9] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that each side edge of the roller blind (3) is provided with a side guide strip (9) which is guided in the area of ​​the insertion aids (20a, 20b) of the multifunction modules (8a, 8b) and in the area of ​​the guide profile arrangements in such a way that a tension is applied to the roller blind (3) perpendicular to the extension direction of the roller blind (3). [10] Shading device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the support frame is designed for an arrangement on a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle, and that the roller blind track (3) is designed to shade the transparent roof area. [11] Multifunctional module for a shading device according to one of the preceding claims having the characterizing features of claims 1, 2 and / or 5.

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