Shading device for a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle and method for manufacturing the shading device

Abstract

Shading device (1) for a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle, comprising a circumferential, at least largely rectangular tension frame (3) with two opposing longitudinal sides (3a) and two opposing short sides (3b), and comprising a flexible, planar shading structure (2) which is stretched over a contour of the tension frame (3) by means of the tension frame (3), wherein the tension frame (3) is made of a spring-elastic frame profile having a rotationally asymmetric cross-section, characterized in that the spring-elastic frame profile of the tension frame (3) is permanently twisted about a longitudinal axis of the spring-elastic frame profile by plastic deformation in the area of ​​the longitudinal sides (3a) at a transition area to the short sides (3b).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a shading device for a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle, comprising a circumferential, at least largely rectangular, tension frame with two opposing longitudinal sides and two opposing short sides, and a flexible, planar shading structure stretched over a contour of the tension frame by means of the tension frame, wherein the tension frame is made of a spring-elastic frame profile, in particular a spring steel profile, which has a rotationally asymmetrical cross-section. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a shading device, wherein a spring-elastic frame profile is formed into a circumferential, at least largely rectangular, closed frame.

[0002] Such shading devices are commonly used for shading transparent roof areas of passenger cars. This type of shading device offers a cost-effective alternative to permanently installed roof-mounted shading systems. A suitable tension frame with the flexible shading material stretched across it can be easily inserted by an operator from inside the vehicle between sections of the roof lining that laterally define the transparent roof area on the interior side, and removed again as needed.

[0003] From DE 20 2004 001 125 U1 a shading device for a transparent roof area of ​​a passenger car is known, which has a rectangular tension frame that stretches a planar shading structure.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a shading device of the type mentioned above that can be installed in a vehicle interior particularly easily and efficiently. The object of the invention is also to provide a method of the type mentioned above that enables the particularly simple manufacture of such a shading device.

[0005] For the shading device, the problem underlying the invention is solved by permanently twisting the spring-elastic frame profile of the tensioning frame around a longitudinal axis of the spring steel profile by plastic deformation at a transition area to the short sides in the area of ​​the longitudinal sides. The solution according to the invention enables, firstly, a particularly good and secure clamping of the shading structure onto the tensioning frame. Secondly, the twisting ensures a defined orientation of the longitudinal sides of the tensioning frame, making it easy for an operator to see in which orientation the tensioning frame must be mounted in the roof area of ​​the vehicle interior.

[0006] In this embodiment of the invention, the twisting is mirror-symmetrical to a vertical central plane of the clamping frame. The vertical central plane is referenced to a horizontally oriented base surface of the clamping frame.

[0007] In a further embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal sides are curved in an arc. This ensures an adaptation to a corresponding curvature of the transparent roof area, so that vehicle occupants have good headroom in the vehicle interior even when a shading device is installed.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the twisting of the spring-elastic frame profile along its longitudinal axis is achieved within a rotation angle of 60° to 90° relative to an untwisted initial position. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the longitudinal sides have an arcuate curvature. If, in an initial state before twisting, the longitudinal sides are each curved in opposite directions in the plane of the base of the tension frame, a subsequent twisting through a rotation angle of less than 90° results in a curvature of both longitudinal sides that is mirror-symmetrical to the vertical central plane, directed outwards. The flexible shading structure, preferably a knitted textile, is thereby subjected to sufficient tension across the entire base of the tension frame, thus preventing sagging in the central areas. This enhances the perceived quality of the shading device.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cross-sectional width of the spring-elastic frame profile is shorter in a base plane of the tensioning frame, and the cross-sectional height of the spring-elastic frame profile is oriented orthogonally to the base plane of the tensioning frame. This ensures that the rotationally asymmetric cross-section of the spring steel profile is oriented vertically when the tensioning frame is completed. Instead of a rectangular shape, the rotationally asymmetric cross-section of the spring-elastic frame profile can also have another rotationally asymmetric polygonal shape, an oval shape, or a similar shape.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the twisting of the longitudinal sides relative to a base shape is designed within a rotation angle range of more than 60° and less than 90°. This embodiment has the previously described advantage that a particularly uniform tension of the shading structure on the tensioning frame can be achieved across the entire surface of the tensioning frame.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the spring-elastic frame profile is formed in one piece with the rectangular tension frame, and opposing profile end faces of the spring-elastic frame profile are joined together at a joint by a material bond. The material bond is understood to mean gluing, welding, soldering, or similar processes.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the spring-elastic frame profile has a cross-sectional height of 4 mm to 6 mm and a cross-sectional width of 1 mm to 2 mm. Preferably, the frame profile has a cross-sectional height of 4.5 mm and a cross-sectional width of 1.5 mm. Preferably, this dimensioning is combined with a base area of ​​the tension frame that has longitudinal sides approximately 1000 mm long and short sides approximately 500 mm long.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the flexible, flat shading structure is provided with a circumferential hem at its edges, which encloses the spring-elastic frame profile of the tensioning frame. The shading structure is therefore stretched all the way around the tensioning frame.

[0014] For the method of the type mentioned above, the problem underlying the invention is solved by permanently twisting opposite longitudinal sides of the frame through plastic forming. Advantageously, the twisting is carried out within a rotation angle range of 60° to 90°, and particularly advantageously within a rotation angle range of less than 90°. This embodiment is preferably combined with a process step in which the longitudinal sides are curved into an arc shape in the plane of the frame before the twisting process during the forming of the frame. Advantageously, the twisting is carried out such that the curved longitudinal sides project outwards from the plane of the frame in the same direction. The longitudinal sides need not be parallel to each other, but can be curved outwards and upwards in a mirror-symmetrical manner relative to a vertical central plane.This results in a three-dimensionally curved shading element, created by the corresponding tension frame with the stretched, flexible shading structure. When the shading device is mounted inside the vehicle beneath a transparent roof section, this curvature conforms particularly well to the roof's contours, which are also curved. Despite the presence of the shading device, this design ensures ample headroom for vehicle occupants.

[0015] Once the tension frame is complete, the flexible shading structure is stretched onto the frame. For this purpose, the shading structure, preferably a knitted textile fabric, can have a surrounding hem into which the tension frame is inserted.

[0016] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows in perspective an embodiment of a shading device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a top view of the shading device according to Fig. 1 in reduced size, Fig. 3. An enlarged view shows a cross-section through the shading device. Fig. 2 along the section line III-III in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 in perspective view a substantially rectangular tension frame of the shading device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 in enlarged view a section V of the tension frame according to Fig. 4, Fig. 6 in perspective view an intermediate state of the tension frame and Fig. 7 in enlarged view a section VII of the intermediate state of the tensioning frame according to Fig. 6.

[0017] A shading device 1 according to the Fig. The shading device 1 is designed for shading a transparent roof area of ​​a passenger car. The shading device 1 is manually inserted into the interior of the passenger car by an operator and clamped at the edge between roof panel sections and the underside of the transparent roof area. The shading device 1 has a substantially rectangular tension frame 3 onto which a flexible shading structure 2 is stretched, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a knitted textile fabric. The knitted textile fabric 2 has a substantially rectangular surface area and is provided at its circumferential edge with a circumferential hem 4 that encloses the tension frame 3. Fig. 3) The shading device 1 thus formed has a longitudinal extent and a transverse extent, wherein, in the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal extent is twice as large as the transverse extent of the shading device 1. The shading device 1 is clamped under the transparent roof area such that the longitudinal extent extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle and the transverse extent is aligned in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal extent is approximately 1000 mm and the transverse extent is approximately 500 mm.

[0018] The tension frame 3 is made from a spring-elastic frame profile in the form of a spring steel profile, wherein the spring-elastic frame profile is formed in one piece into a substantially rectangular and completely closed frame according to Fig. 6 is bent. Subsequently, opposite end faces of the spring-elastic frame profile are joined together at their joint by a material bond, preferably by welding. This results in two parallel short sides 3b and two long sides 3a for the tension frame 3, which are each curved in an arc shape over the entire length of the respective long side 3a in the plane of the frame curved by the spring-elastic frame profile, symmetrically to a vertical central high plane running along the longitudinal extent. Based on the Fig. Figure 7 shows that the resilient frame profile, which in this case is a spring steel profile, has a rectangular cross-section, with the height of the profile cross-section being three times greater than its width in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the resilient frame profile has a cross-sectional profile of 4.5 mm height and 1.5 mm width.

[0019] After manufacturing, the spring-elastic frame profile is formed into a closed, essentially rectangular frame located in a common plane around the respective longitudinal axis of the respective longitudinal side 3a at a transition area immediately adjacent to the respective short side 3b in the direction of the arrow according to Fig. 7 twisted by more than 60° but less than 90°, the twisting representing a permanent plastic deformation. After the twisting, the frame therefore has a shape according to Fig. 5, wherein the frame is twisted at a total of four points, namely immediately following each corner of the rectangular frame, which leads to the respective short side 3b.

[0020] The twisting of the two longitudinal sides 3a of the frame results in the finished tension frame 3, which is curved upwards and slightly outwards in the area of ​​its longitudinal sides 3a, also mirror-symmetrical to the vertical central axis of the base of the frame according to the initial position. Fig. 6. After the flexible shading structure 2 is stretched using the circumferential hem 4, which encloses the tensioning frame 3, the resulting shading device 1 is a slightly convex, three-dimensional shading element. An operator can recognize from this approximately convex curvature of the shading device 1 that the shading device is to be clamped below the transparent roof area in the shape and orientation in which it is already pre-curved. The tension of the shading structure 2 pulls the longitudinal sides 3a towards the center, so that after the shading structure is stretched, the curved longitudinal sides 3a are aligned inwards under elastic pre-tension, parallel to each other.The slightly outwardly curved shape of the longitudinal sides is thus compensated for by a corresponding tension force of the shading structure 2 in the stretched state, so that the shading device 1 in a top view according to . Fig. 2 has an almost rectangular outer contour.

Claims

[1] Shading device (1) for a transparent roof area of ​​a motor vehicle, with a circumferential, at least largely rectangular tensioning frame (3) with two opposite long sides (3a) and two opposite short sides (3b), and with a flexible, flat shading structure (2) which is stretched by means of the tensioning frame (3) over a contour of the tensioning frame (3), wherein the tensioning frame (3) is made of a spring-elastic frame profile which has a rotationally asymmetrical cross-section, characterized by that the spring-elastic frame profile of the clamping frame (3) is permanently twisted around a longitudinal axis of the spring-elastic frame profile by plastic deformation in the region of the long sides (3a) at a transition region to the short sides (3b). [2] Shading device (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the twisting is mirror-symmetrical to a vertical central plane of the clamping frame (3). [3] Shading device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the longitudinal sides (3a) are curved in an arc shape. [4] Shading device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the twisting to the longitudinal axis of the spring-elastic frame profile is designed in a rotation angle range between 60° and 90° compared to an untwisted initial shape. [5] Shading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a shorter cross-sectional width of the spring-elastic frame profile is aligned in a base plane of the clamping frame (3) and a larger cross-sectional height of the spring-elastic frame profile is aligned orthogonally to the base plane of the clamping frame (3). [6] Shading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the twisting of the longitudinal sides (3a) relative to the initial shape is designed in a rotation angle range of more than 60° and less than 90°. [7] Shading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the spring-elastic frame profile is formed in one piece to form the rectangular clamping frame (3) and opposite profile ends of the spring-elastic frame profile are materially connected to one another at a joint. [8] Shading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the spring-elastic frame profile in cross-section has a height extension in a range of 4 mm to 6 mm and a width extension in a range of 1 mm to 2 mm. [9] Shading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the flexible, flat shading structure (2) is provided on the edge with a circumferential seam (4) which encloses the spring-elastic frame profile of the tensioning frame (3). [10] Method for producing a shading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a spring-elastic frame profile is formed into a circumferential, closed and at least largely rectangular frame, characterized by that opposite longitudinal sides (3a) of the frame are permanently twisted by plastic deformation. [11] Method according to claim 10, characterized by that the twisting occurs in a rotation angle range between 60° and 90° relative to an initial position. [12] Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that the longitudinal sides (3a) are permanently deformed in an arcuate manner in the plane of the frame before twisting during the formation of the frame. [13] Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized bythat the twisting is carried out in such a way that the curved longitudinal sides (3a) protrude in the same direction from the plane of the frame. [14] Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized by that the flexible shading structure (2) is finally stretched onto the finished tensioning frame (3).

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