Wind deflector bars with extension arms

Abstract

Vehicle roof (2) with a wind deflector device (6), wherein the wind deflector device (6) has a wind deflector bar (7) which has a central bar profile (8) and lateral extension arms (9), wherein the lateral extension arms (9) are arranged to support the central bar profile (8) on the vehicle roof (2) via the lateral extension arms (9), wherein each extension arm (9) is connected to the bar profile (8) by means of a respective connecting part (12) and the bar profile (8) has a connecting part receptacle (13) on each of its two lateral edge sections (14) into which the respective connecting part (12) is inserted, characterized in that each connecting part (12) is fixed in the connecting part receptacle (13) by means of a plastic foam (15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wind deflector device for a vehicle roof with a wind deflector bar, which has a central bar profile and lateral extension arms by means of which it is mounted on the vehicle roof, wherein each extension arm is connected to the bar profile by means of a connecting part and the bar profile has a connecting part receptacle on each of its two lateral edge sections, into which the connecting part is inserted.

[0002] A wind deflector device of this type is known from WO 2021 / 078854 A1. A wind deflector bracket has lateral extension arms that are attached to the central bracket profile of the wind deflector bracket by means of connecting parts. These connecting parts are inserted into the bracket profile, which is formed as a hollow profile, and axially secured by a locking mechanism. An anti-rotation device comprises a groove in the connecting part into which a web of the bracket profile engages. However, such locking connection points can only withstand low loads and frequently become loose during continuous operation, thus limiting their usability. Furthermore, achieving a completely play-free connection point is difficult due to unavoidable tolerances.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of creating a wind deflector device as mentioned above, which is improved with regard to the attachment of the connecting parts to the bracket profile.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention in the aforementioned wind deflector device by fixing the respective connecting part in the connecting part receptacle by means of a plastic foam.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] Such a fixing or fastening of the connecting part in the connecting part receptacle according to the invention, using a plastic foam, e.g., polyurethane foam, offers the advantage of a permanent fastening of the connecting part and thus of the extension arm to the bracket profile. Higher forces can be transmitted at the connection points between the connecting part and the connecting part receptacle of the bracket profile, thereby extending the application range of the wind deflector device to vehicles with higher driving speeds. Tolerances have only a minor influence on the assembly and fastening of the connecting part in the connecting part receptacle.

[0007] Preferably, the stirrup profile is formed as a hollow profile, at least in the area where the connecting part is received. The connecting part is received and fixed within the tubular, and preferably cylindrical, hollow profile. The stirrup profile or the hollow profile is preferably an aluminum tube, but can also be made of other materials. Alternatively, the stirrup profile can be formed as an open profile or a solid profile in the area where it receives the connecting part, and the connecting part can grip this stirrup profile from the outside and be fixed to an external connecting part receptacle.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting part has at least one fastening area, and the plastic foam fills this fastening area and adheres firmly to an inner surface of the connecting part receptacle or hollow profile associated with the fastening area. The connecting part can have a larger fastening area that is filled with the plastic foam used for fastening, or the connecting part can have several smaller fastening areas that may be interconnected or separate, and through which the plastic foam secures the connecting part.

[0009] Preferably, the fastening area includes at least one recess formed in the connecting part, which opens towards the inside of the bracket profile. Such a recess or indentation is part of a cavity in or on the connecting part, which is filled with the plastic foam. This gives the connecting part a structured shape that promotes a positive-locking connection.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, an insertion access for the foam material of the plastic foam into the fastening area of ​​the connecting part has at least one opening in the hollow profile associated with the fastening area. Alternatively, or additionally, the insertion access can have a channel formed in the connecting part with a channel opening located outside a section of the connecting part received in the connecting part receptacle. Using such a channel eliminates the need for a filling opening in the bracket profile.

[0011] It is advantageous to have at least one vent opening in the bracket profile in the area of ​​the connecting part receptacle. This allows for faster filling of the foam material and filling of the fastening area with the foam material.

[0012] Preferably, the stirrup profile or the hollow profile is cylindrical and has a flattened or planar surface on its circumference. The connecting element is formed with at least one corresponding support surface. This design ensures unambiguous positioning of the connecting element on the stirrup profile in the circumferential direction and prevents it from rotating.

[0013] If, as is expedient, the connecting part has a stop for longitudinal positioning in the connecting part receptacle that rests against an open end of the stirrup profile, the axial position adjustment during assembly is simplified.

[0014] A preferred embodiment provides that the connecting part has sealing ribs which bear against the inside of the stirrup profile or hollow profile and seal the area of ​​the plastic foaming or the fastening area of ​​the connecting part against the escape of foam material. The sealing ribs are advantageously designed as centering wedges that guide the connecting part when it is inserted into the tubular base profile and, in its fully inserted position, seal against leakage into the adjacent sections of the stirrup profile. The sealing ribs are dimensioned such that, when inserted into the connecting part receptacle, they deform like sacrificial components or ribs and adapt to the inner cross-section of the stirrup profile in the connecting part receptacle.

[0015] Preferably, the connecting part comprises a base region and a head region. The base region and the head region are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part, with the head region being located at the free front end of the connecting part. The base region and the head region define the fastening area on both sides in the axial direction. The contact surfaces and the support ribs are arranged on the base region and on the head region.

[0016] Advantageously, the connecting part includes at least one screw-in area into which a fixing element or screw, which engages through an opening in the stirrup profile or the hollow profile, is inserted or screwed in. This allows the strength of the connection to be increased easily, especially under continuous operation.

[0017] The connecting part is preferably part of the extension arm, but can also be a separate part connected to the extension arm, e.g. by a plug connection, adhesive bond, or the like. The connecting part is expediently manufactured as an injection-molded part from a plastic such as PP-LGF50.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments of a wind deflector bar according to the invention and the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 in an isometric view a wind deflector bracket of a wind deflector device; Fig. 2 in an isometric view a lateral extension arm of the wind deflector bracket with a connecting part for attaching the extension arm to a central bracket profile of the wind deflector bracket; Fig. 3 in an isometric view the side extension arm showing a plastic foam on the connecting part; Fig. 4 in an isometric view, an underside of a lateral connection area of ​​the wind deflector bracket; Fig. 5 in a longitudinal section view along line A - A in Fig. 4 the connection area with the foamed-in connecting part of the extension arm; Fig. 6 in a cross-sectional view according to line B - B in Fig. 4 the connection area with the foamed-in connecting part of the extension arm; Fig. 7 in a cross-sectional view along line C - C in Fig. 5 the connection area with the foamed-in connection part of the extension arm; Fig. 8 in a longitudinal section view according to Fig. 4 the connection area with a further embodiment of the foamed-in connection part; Fig. 9 in a longitudinal section view according to Fig. 4 the connection area with a further embodiment of the foamed-in connection part; and Fig. Figure 10 shows an isometric view of an opening vehicle roof of a passenger car with a sunroof cover shifted to the rear in the open position and with a wind deflector device extended.

[0019] A vehicle 1 such as a car (see Fig. 10) comprises a vehicle roof 2 with a roof opening 3 and a cover 4, e.g., of a sunroof, sliding / tilting roof, or externally guided sunroof, which is adjustable in a known manner between a closed position closing the roof opening 3 and an open position releasing the roof opening 3, as well as in intermediate positions. A wind deflector device 6 associated with a front edge 5 of the roof opening 3 (in Fig. (10 shown as an example) includes a wind deflector bar 7 with a central bar profile 8 and lateral extension arms 9. The extension arms 9 are pivotably mounted at their rear ends on a roof frame 10 which laterally limits the roof opening 3 about a fixed or movable transverse pivot axis 11.

[0020] Each extension arm 9 has a connecting part 12 at its front end associated with the bracket profile 8, which is received on a connecting part receptacle 13 in a lateral edge section 14 of the bracket profile 8 and is attached to it by means of a plastic foam 15 (see Fig. 3 (without illustration of the bracket profile 8) is preferably fixed in polyurethane foam. The connecting part 12 is formed, for example, as part of the extension arm 9 at a curved corner region 16 of the extension arm 9. The connecting part receptacle 13 is located on the lateral edge section 14 of the bracket profile 8 in a connection area of ​​the bracket profile 8 with the extension arm 9. The bracket profile 8 is formed as a cylindrical hollow profile, for example, from an aluminum tube, and has a flattened section 17 of the tube wall, at least in the area of ​​the connecting part receptacle 13. The flattened section 17 is formed on the underside of the bracket profile 8 in its installed position.

[0021] The connecting part 12 (see Fig. 5) The open end 18 of the stirrup profile 8 is inserted into the connecting part receptacle 13 and rests against the end of the stirrup profile 8 with a stop 19 formed by a collar at the transition from the connecting part 12 to the extension arm 9. The contact with the collar or stop 19 defines the axial position of the connecting part 12 in the connecting part receptacle 13.

[0022] The connecting element 12 has an elongated body with a base region 20 and a head region 21. The base region 20 is located adjacent to the collar 19. The head region 21 is located at a distance from the base region 20 at the front free end of the connecting element 12. The connecting element 12 has a circular cylindrical cross-section at both the base region 20 and the head region 21, with a flat support surface 22 on its outer surface 23. The connecting element 12 is inserted into the connecting element receptacle 13 such that the support surfaces 22 of the base region 20 and the head region 21 bear against the flattened area 17 of the stirrup profile 8. This places the connecting element 12 in a defined circumferential position within the connecting element receptacle 13.

[0023] The diameter of the circular cylindrical cross-section of the base region 20 as well as of the head region 21 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the stirrup profile 8 (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 7), so that an annular gap 24 extends over the area of ​​the cylindrical lateral surface 23.

[0024] The base area 20 and the head area 21 each contain a sealing rib 25 and 26, which extend from the two edges 27 and 28 (see Fig. 7) the support surface 22 extends ring-shaped over the outer surface 23 and forms a radial seal of the gap 24. Each sealing rib 25, 26 has a wedge-shaped cross-section and a radial projection such that the sealing ribs 25, 26 act as centering wedges, guiding the connecting part 12 when inserted into the tubular base profile 8 and, in its fully inserted position, sealing tightly against the flattened area 17 via the support surfaces 22. The sealing ribs 25, 26 deform in the manner of sacrificial components or ribs and adapt to the inner cross-section of the stirrup profile 8 in the connecting part receptacle 13.

[0025] The connecting part 12 includes a fastening area 29, which is essentially located between the base area 20 and the head area 21 and is sealed axially on both sides by the support surfaces 22 abutting the flattened section 17 and the sealing ribs 25, 26. The base profile 8 has at least one opening 30 for the injection of the foaming material of the plastic foam 15. The opening 30 is formed on the underside of the base profile 8 in the area of ​​the connecting part receptacle 13 in the flattened section 17 of the tube wall of the base profile 8 and in relation to the fastening area 29. This allows foaming material supplied or injected via the opening 30 to expand in the fastening area 29.Optionally, at least one vent opening 31 can be formed, preferably on the underside of the base profile 8 in the area of ​​the connecting part receptacle 13 in the flattening 17 of the pipe wall of the base profile 8 and in association with the fastening area 29.

[0026] The fastening area 29 has several recesses or depressions 32 that form spaces or chambers of a cavity 33 for the injected and expanded foam material. The cured foam material of the plastic foam 15 is, on the one hand, mechanically anchored in this structure of the connecting part 12 in addition to surface adhesion, and on the other hand, is foamed and fixed to the inside 34 of the hollow profile belonging to the fastening area 29 at the connecting part receptacle 13.

[0027] Furthermore, at least one additional sealing rib 35 can be provided in the fastening area 29 ( Fig. 5), which largely or completely divides one of the recesses or depressions 32 into two chambers 36 and 37. The injected foaming material cannot then spread directly, but must flow around the sealing rib 35. This results in a slowing of the foaming material's spread, thus promoting complete filling of the mounting area 29 and the cavity 33.

[0028] During a Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the insertion access for the foam material includes a channel 38 formed in the connecting part 12, with a channel opening 39 located outside a section of the connecting part 12 that is received in the connecting part receptacle 13. The channel opening 39 is located, for example, axially behind the stop 19 and at a distance from the open end 18 of the bracket profile 8, and thus next to the underside of the bracket profile 8. The channel 38 leads into the fastening area 29 and into the cavity 33. A vent opening 31 is provided. Such a channel 38 with a channel opening 39 can be provided as an alternative to, or in addition to, the opening 30 of the first embodiment.

[0029] Furthermore, the connecting part 12 optionally includes a screw-in area 40 into which a screw 41, engaging through an opening 42 in the bracket profile 8, is screwed. This additional fixing of the connecting part 12 in the connecting part receptacle 13 can be used if the wind deflector device 6 is designed for higher driving speeds, at which greater forces may occur on the wind deflector bracket 7. The screw-in area 40 preferably includes a cylindrical projection 43 in the head region 21 of the connecting part 12 in a transverse orientation to the longitudinal axis of the connecting part 12.

[0030] At the in Fig. In the modified embodiment shown in Figure 9, the connecting part 12 includes such a screw-in area 40 in its head area 21 and another preferably similar screw-in area 40 in its base area 20.

[0031] The connecting part 12 can be formed in one piece with the extension arm 9, e.g. as an injection-molded part made of a plastic such as PP-LGF50. Alternatively, the connecting part 12 can also be a separate part or corner piece that is attached to the extension arm 9. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle 2 Vehicle roof 3 Roof opening 4 lids 5 Front edge 6 Wind deflector device 7 wind deflector bars 8 Iron profile 9 extension arm 10 roof frames 11 Transverse pivot axis 12 Connecting part 13 Connecting part intake 14 Marginal section 15 Plastic foam 16 Corner area 17 Flattening 18 End 19 attacks 20 Basic area 21 Head area 22 Support surface 23 Surface area 24 columns 25 sealing ribs 26 sealing ribs 27 Rand 28 rand 29 Mounting area 30 Opening 31 Vent opening 32 In-depth study 33 Cavity 34 Inside 35 sealing rib 36th Chamber 37th Chamber 38-channel 39 Canal opening 40 screw-in area 41 screw 42 Opening 43 Shaping

Claims

[1] Vehicle roof (2) with a wind deflector device (6), wherein the wind deflector device (6) has a wind deflector bar (7) which has a central bar profile (8) and lateral extension arms (9), wherein the lateral extension arms (9) are arranged to support the central bar profile (8) on the vehicle roof (2) via the lateral extension arms (9), wherein each extension arm (9) is connected to the bar profile (8) by means of a respective connecting part (12) and the bar profile (8) has a connecting part receptacle (13) on each of its two lateral edge sections (14) into which the respective connecting part (12) is inserted, characterized by , that each connecting part (12) is fixed in the connecting part receptacle (13) by means of a plastic foam (15). [2] Vehicle roof (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the stirrup profile (8) is formed as a hollow profile at least in the area of ​​the connecting part receptacle (13). [3] Vehicle roof (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the connecting part (12) has at least one fastening area (29), that the plastic foam (15) fills the fastening area (29) and adheres firmly to an inside (34) of the connecting part receptacle (13) or the hollow profile belonging to the fastening area (29) for fixing the connecting part (12). [4] Vehicle roof (2) according to claim 3, characterized by that the fastening area (29) has at least one recess (32) formed in the connecting part (12) which is open towards the inside of the stirrup profile (8). [5] Vehicle roof (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that an insertion access for the foaming material of the plastic foam (15) into the fastening area (29) of the connecting part (12) - has at least one opening (30) in the hollow profile associated with the fastening area (29). and / or - has a channel (38) formed in the connecting part (12) with a channel opening (39) which is arranged outside a section of the connecting part (12) received in the connecting part receptacle (13). [6] Vehicle roof (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that at least one vent opening (31) is arranged in the stirrup profile (8) in the area of ​​the connecting part receptacle (13). [7] Vehicle roof (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the stirrup profile (8) or the hollow profile is a cylindrical profile with a flattening (17) and that the connecting part (12) is formed with at least one corresponding support surface (22). [8] Vehicle roof (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the connecting part (12) has a stop (19) for longitudinal positioning in the connecting part receptacle (13) which rests against an open end (18) of the stirrup profile (8). [9] Vehicle roof (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the connecting part (12) has sealing ribs (25, 26) which lie against the inside (34) of the hollow profile and seal the fastening area (29) of the connecting part (12) against the escape of foam material. [10] Vehicle roof (2) according to claims 7 and 9, characterized by , that the connecting part (12) has a base area (20) and a head area (21) which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part (12) and which define the fastening area (29) on both sides and on which the at least one support surface (22) and the support ribs (25, 26) are arranged. [11] Vehicle roof (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by, that the connecting part (12) has at least one screw-in area (40) in which a fixing part or screw (41), which engages through an opening (42) in the stirrup profile (8) or the hollow profile, is inserted or screwed in. [12] Vehicle roof (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by , that the connecting part (12) is part of the extension arm (9).

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