Vehicle roof with outer roof skin element and interior headliner

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle roof comprising a roof frame (22), an outer roof skin element, and an inner headliner (26) that forms a visible surface from a vehicle interior (14). An acoustic seal (36) completely bridges a gap between the outer roof skin element and the inner headliner (26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle roof with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a vehicle roof is known in practice and can be used particularly in passenger cars. It can be modularly designed so that it can be integrated as a unit with a vehicle body or body shell by the vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle roof comprises a roof frame, which can be considered a supporting structure, at least in the broadest sense, and an outer roof skin element, which forms at least part of the visible surface of the vehicle roof on the outside. On the inside, i.e., on the side facing the vehicle interior, the vehicle roof has a headliner that forms the visible surface from inside the vehicle. The outer roof skin element is, for example, formed by a fixed roof element that is at least partially transparent and is only partially covered by the headliner at its edges.Alternatively, the outer roof skin element is formed by a cover element of a roof opening system, which is adjustable between a closed position that closes the roof opening and an open position that at least partially releases the roof opening. In this case, the roof frame can accommodate or be part of an adjustment mechanism for the cover element. Furthermore, in known vehicle roofs, a roller blind arrangement is provided as a shading device, which is located beneath the transparent outer roof skin element. An acoustic seal can be arranged between the roller blind arrangement and the outer roof skin element, with a contact surface resting against the underside of the outer roof skin element. This seal has a positive effect on reducing noise levels in the vehicle interior and, when the shading device is in the open position, also serves as a cover for elements of the roof frame.If no shading system is used, a gap will form around the perimeter between the headliner and the outer roof panel. This gap may reveal visually unappealing areas of the vehicle roof from inside the vehicle.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of creating a vehicle roof of the type mentioned in the introduction, which is characterized by an aesthetically pleasing appearance on its side facing the vehicle interior.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by the vehicle roof with the features of claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, a vehicle roof is proposed that comprises a roof frame, an outer roof skin element, and an inner headliner, which forms a visible surface from the vehicle interior. A gap between the outer roof skin element and the inner headliner is completely bridged by an acoustic seal, preferably a one-piece seal. The acoustic seal closes the gap between the outer roof skin element and the inner headliner. The acoustic seal thus forms a visible surface that is accessible or visible from the inside of the roof or from the vehicle interior. This results in a harmonious appearance in the transition area between the inner headliner and the outer roof skin element. Due to the acoustic seal designed according to the invention, no further additional components are required for the effective concealment of the roof frame or other roof substructure elements.

[0006] The outer roof skin element of the vehicle roof according to the invention is, in particular, made of a fixed roof element that is at least partially transparent, for example, comprising a glass pane or a plastic pane, and which is rigidly or immovably arranged relative to the vehicle body. Alternatively, the outer roof skin element can also be formed by a cover element of a roof opening system, wherein the cover element is adjustable between a closed position, in which a roof opening is closed by the cover element, and an open position, in which the roof opening is at least partially released. As a transparent surface element, the cover element can comprise a glass pane or a plastic pane.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the outer roof skin element comprises a molded section, preferably circumferential, which is either foamed or injection-molded, against which the acoustic seal rests from below. The outer roof skin element can be mounted on the roof frame via this molded section, in which retaining brackets or retaining plates can be molded as inserts.

[0008] In a particular embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the acoustic seal comprises a first contact area that rests against the outer roof skin element and a second contact area that rests against the headliner. The acoustic seal is thus shaped such that two contact areas are formed, each of which rests against the respective counterpart element, i.e., the outer roof skin element or the headliner, via a contact surface. Therefore, in the vehicle roof according to the invention, the acoustic seal has a contact area that is in direct contact with the headliner, preferably with an edge surface of a fold in the headliner or of a lining material of the headliner.

[0009] In particular, both sections of the acoustic seal are integrally manufactured from the same material, for example, a foam rubber or other elastically deformable material. This means that there is no transition between different materials of the acoustic seal on the visible surface accessible from the vehicle interior. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the appearance of the vehicle roof. For example, the section of the seal that rests against the outer roof skin panel is formed from a tubular section of the acoustic seal made of foam rubber, which rests against the outer roof skin panel from below. The second section of the acoustic seal, which rests primarily on the headliner from above, can be solid and also made of the same material as the tubular section. This solid section of the acoustic seal can be considered an integral extension of the tubular section.Preferably, the second contact area is formed directly from the soft component of the acoustic seal profile, which is primarily made of foam rubber. This allows the acoustic seal to always fit seamlessly against the interior headliner and the outer roof skin element, compensating for tolerances and providing a clean, finished appearance. It is conceivable that the acoustic seal could form a positive fit against the outer roof element and / or the interior headliner.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the acoustic seal is attached to the roof frame, preferably via a sealing foot that engages with a corresponding element of the roof frame. The sealing foot, for example, has a groove into which a rib of the roof frame engages, forming the corresponding element. Alternatively, the sealing foot could form a rib that engages with a groove in the roof frame.

[0011] To prevent noise generated by moving components during vehicle operation, the contact surfaces of the acoustic seal are preferably coated with a sliding lacquer. This effectively counteracts creaking noises and similar sounds.

[0012] The vehicle roof according to the invention is preferably designed without a mechanical shading system, such as a roller blind system. This makes it possible for the acoustic seal to be formed all around and to rest against the outer roof skin element at the top and against the headliner at the bottom.

[0013] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawing, and the claims. The scope of the invention encompasses all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims, and / or the figures; that is, each feature mentioned in the description can, independently of any further features and / or specifications mentioned in the respective context, be part of the claimed subject matter.

[0014] Exemplary embodiments of a vehicle roof according to the invention are shown schematically simplified in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective top view of a motor vehicle with a vehicle roof according to the invention; Fig. 2 a section through the vehicle roof along line II-II in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a section through the vehicle roof along line III-III in Fig. 1.

[0015] The drawing shows a motor vehicle 10, designed as a passenger car, with a roof 12 spanning a vehicle interior 14. The roof 12 is equipped with a roof opening system 16, which includes a cover element 18 that is adjustable between a closed position (closing the roof opening 20) and an open position (releasing the roof opening 20). The cover element 18 is an outer roof skin element that forms a visible surface from the outside of the vehicle.

[0016] Furthermore, the vehicle roof 12 comprises a roof frame 22, which forms a guide rail 24 of an adjustment mechanism for the cover element 18 along each of the side rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The underside of the vehicle roof is equipped with a headliner 26, which forms a visible surface of the vehicle roof 12 from the vehicle interior 14. Following the roof opening 20, the headliner 26 has a circumferential fold 28, which has an upper edge surface 30 facing the cover element 18.

[0017] The cover element 18 comprises a transparent, composite disc assembly 32 and a molded section 34 that is formed or foamed onto the perimeter of the disc assembly 32 and by means of which the cover element 18 is connected to the adjustment mechanism or the roof frame 22. The molded section 34 covers the perimeter and a perimeter underside edge strip of the disc assembly 32.

[0018] To bridge a gap between the edge surface 30 of the headliner 26 and the molded section 34 of the cover element 18 in the closed position of the cover element 18, the vehicle roof 12 has a so-called acoustic seal 36, which surrounds the roof opening 20 and rests on the molded section 34 from below via a first contact area 38 and on the edge surface 30 of the headliner 26 from above via a second contact area 40. The acoustic seal 36 is attached to the roof frame 22.

[0019] The acoustic seal 36 is designed as a two-component extrusion and has a sealing base 42, which is formed from a first material component made of solid rubber or EPDM. The sealing base 42 serves to attach the acoustic seal 36 to the roof frame 22 and for this purpose has a groove 44, which in particular has an undercut and into which a correspondingly shaped rib 46 of the roof frame 22 preferably engages in a form-fitting manner. The first contact area 38 of the acoustic seal 36 is designed in the manner of a hose seal and is made of sponge rubber, which forms the second material component of the acoustic seal 36. The sponge rubber extends downwards from the hose area into a solid section, which forms the second contact area 40, so that the visible surface of the acoustic seal 36 accessible from the vehicle interior is made entirely of sponge rubber.

[0020] To prevent creaking noises and the like that could occur during relative movement between the cover element 18 and the acoustic seal 36 and / or during relative movement between the inner lining 26 and the acoustic seal 36, the contact areas 38 and 40 of the acoustic seal are coated with a sliding lacquer. In particular, the entire outer surface of the acoustic seal 36 can be coated with the sliding lacquer. Reference symbol list 10 motor vehicle 12 Vehicle roof 14 Vehicle interior 16 Roof opening system 18 lid element 20 Roof opening 22 roof frames 24 guide rail 26 Interior headliner 28 fold 30 Edge area 32 disc arrangement 34 Form section 36 Acoustic seal 38 first investment area 40 second investment area 42 Sealing foot 44 Nut 46th rib

Claims

[1] Vehicle roof, comprising a roof frame (22), a roof outer skin element and an inner headliner (26) which forms a visible surface from a vehicle interior (14), characterized by an acoustic seal (36) which completely bridges a gap between the outer roof skin element and the inner headliner (26). [2] Vehicle roof according to claim 1, characterized by that the acoustic seal (26) has a first contact area (38) which bears against the outer roof skin element and a second contact area (40) which bears against the inner headliner (26). [3] Vehicle roof according to claim 2, characterized by that the acoustic seal (36) is a two-component element and the contact areas via which the acoustic seal (36) rests on the inner headliner (26) and the outer roof skin element are formed from the same material component. [4] Vehicle roof according to claim 2 or 3, characterized bythat at least one of the contact areas (38, 40) is formed from a hose section of the acoustic seal (36). [5] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that at least one of the contact areas (38, 40) is formed from a solid section of the acoustic seal (36). [6] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the acoustic seal (36) is attached to the roof frame (22) and preferably has a sealing foot (42) which is fixed to a counter element of the roof frame (22). [7] Vehicle roof according to claim 6, characterized by that the sealing foot (42) has a groove (44) into which a rib (46) of the roof frame (22) engages, which forms the counter element. [8] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the acoustic seal (36) is provided with a lubricating varnish which interacts with the inner roof lining (26). [9] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the acoustic seal (36) rests against an edge surface (30) of a fold (28) of the inner headliner (26). [10] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the acoustic seal (36) rests against a foamed or injection-molded molded section (34) of the outer roof skin element. [11] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the acoustic seal (36) rests all around on the outer roof skin element from below and rests on the inner headliner (26) from above. [12] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the outer roof skin element comprises a pane element that is at least partially transparent. [13] Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the roof outer skin element is a fixed roof element or a cover element (18) of a roof opening system (16).

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