Vehicle roof module with window element

Abstract

A vehicle roof module is proposed, comprising a one-piece support frame (22) which has two longitudinal frame legs (23) and a front and a rear frame transverse leg (24, 25), which connect the two longitudinal frame legs (23) to one another and, together with the longitudinal frame legs (23), delimit a frame window (26), and a pane element (34) which is provided with an injection-molded or foamed molded section (36) around its edges and is connected to the rear frame transverse leg (25) of the support frame (22) via the molded section (36) without overlapping the frame window (26), wherein the two longitudinal frame legs (23) and the front frame transverse leg (24) together with the molded section (36) form a fixing surface (38) via which the vehicle roof module can be fixed to a roof substructure.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle roof module comprising a support frame which comprises two longitudinal frame legs and two transverse frame legs and delimits a frame window, as well as a pane element which is connected to the support frame.

[0002] Such a vehicle roof module is known from the document DE 10 2021 111 972 A1 and comprises a support frame that is designed to be circumferential and is provided with a rear-side fixed glass element or pane element and a front-side cover element that can be adjusted by means of appropriate adjustment kinematics between a closed position closing a roof opening and a release position at least partially uncovering the roof opening. During assembly, this vehicle roof module is connected to a vehicle body shell from below, i.e., using a so-called bottom-load process. The support frame comprises two longitudinal frame legs, which are connected to one another via a front frame transverse leg and a rear frame transverse leg, and encloses the fixed glass element at its longitudinal edges and at its rear edge facing away from the cover element.The cover element is part of a roof opening system and is designed as an externally running sliding roof. When the cover element is open, its adjustment kinematics can be moved along guide rails arranged laterally next to the fixed glass element in the transverse direction of the roof and formed on the support frame. A channel is thus formed between the fixed glass element and the areas of the vehicle body adjacent to the vehicle roof module. This channel must be covered by cover elements, which can be formed by seals.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of creating a vehicle roof which is designed as a so-called top-load roof and can therefore be mounted from above on a vehicle body shell and whose window element can be adapted to the existing requirements with regard to its dimensions, independently of the support frame.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the vehicle roof having the features of patent claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, a vehicle roof module is therefore proposed which comprises a one-piece support frame which comprises two longitudinal frame legs and a front and a rear frame transverse leg, which connect the two longitudinal frame legs to one another and, together with the longitudinal frame legs, delimit a frame window, as well as a pane element which is provided with an injection-molded or foamed molded section all around its edges and is connected to the rear frame transverse leg of the support frame via the molded section without overlapping the frame window, wherein the longitudinal frame legs and the front frame transverse leg, together with the molded section, form a fixing surface via which the vehicle roof module can be fixed to a roof substructure.

[0006] In the vehicle roof module according to the invention, the interface via which it can be connected to a roof substructure or a vehicle bodyshell is formed partly by the support frame and partly by the molded section. The fixing surface which the molded section and the support frame together form is in particular a continuous surface which is formed completely circumferentially on the vehicle roof module. With regard to the support frame, the edge of the window element or of the molded section enclosing the window element which is facing away from the support frame is freely suspended, i.e. no support element which would be an integral part of the vehicle roof module is provided in this area. If the support frame is made of metal, the fixing surface is formed on the one hand by a metallic material and on the other hand by a plastic material from which the molded section is made.The molded section and the pane element can be extended far outward in both the transverse and longitudinal direction of the roof, so that when the vehicle roof module is installed, no gap is formed between the molded section and the adjacent shell or body sections that would need to be closed by an additional panel. The dimensions of the pane element are independent of the dimensions of the supporting frame. Thus, the vehicle roof equipped with the vehicle roof module according to the invention can meet high aesthetic standards.

[0007] It is understood that, when the vehicle roof module is installed, the longitudinal frame legs of the support frame each extend in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The vehicle's longitudinal direction coincides with the roof's longitudinal direction. The transverse frame legs of the support frame extend in the vehicle's transverse direction or roof's transverse direction, i.e., at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal frame legs. The front transverse frame leg is positioned at the front, or toward the front of the vehicle, relative to the vehicle's alignment, whereas the rear transverse frame leg of the support frame is positioned at the rear of the front transverse frame leg, i.e., offset from the front transverse frame leg toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0008] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, the support frame is a one-piece support frame. The one-piece support frame can be a component manufactured from a single piece, comprising the two longitudinal frame legs and the two transverse frame legs, and can be a stamped and bent part made of a suitable metallic material. It is also conceivable for the support frame to be a fiber-reinforced plastic part, in particular.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, the one-piece support frame is composed of several leg elements which are rigidly connected to one another, for example welded to one another, and thus form the one-piece support frame.

[0010] The shaped section of the vehicle roof module according to the invention is arranged circumferentially on the edges of the pane element, which, at least in the broadest sense, preferably has a rectangular base area. The shaped section thus runs along the two edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the roof and along a front or bow-side edge extending in the transverse direction of the roof, and along a rear or rear edge of the pane element extending in the transverse direction of the roof. The region of the shaped section running along the bow-side edge of the pane element establishes the connection to the rear transverse frame leg of the support frame. The support frame itself is thus essentially only arranged on the bow side of the pane element. Because the shaped section forms the interface with the roof substructure in the region of the pane element, there is no need for the support frame to extend to the rear edge of the pane element.

[0011] The molded section of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, which is injection-molded or foamed, is formed in a preferred embodiment from a polyurethane material which is molded in a corresponding mold into which the support frame and the window element are inserted.

[0012] The fixing surface of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, via which it can be connected to a vehicle body shell or the roof substructure, preferably using a top-loading process, i.e., from above, forms, in particular, an adhesive surface that is frame-like and circumferentially formed on the underside of the support frame and the underside of the molded section. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle roof module according to the invention can also be connected to the roof substructure via a screw connection and / or a rivet connection.

[0013] The frame window, which is delimited by the support frame, is preferably closable by means of an adjustable cover element of a roof opening system. The roof opening system is designed, in particular, in the manner of a spoiler roof, so that the cover element, to expose the frame window that delimits a roof opening, can be displaced over the window element rigidly connected to the support frame. The roof opening system of a spoiler roof has an adjustment kinematics whose guide rails are arranged only in the region of the support frame. Thus, viewed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the guide rails end in front of the window element, which is arranged to the rear of the frame window of the support frame.

[0014] To ensure high rigidity of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment the molded section accommodates at least one, in particular profile-like, insert as a reinforcing element. It is also conceivable for the molded section to accommodate a plurality of reinforcing elements arranged in sections of the molded section that extend in the roof longitudinal direction and / or roof transverse direction. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the inserts to overlap at least partially in the vehicle longitudinal direction and / or vehicle transverse direction. Furthermore, it is also conceivable for the at least one insert to overlap with a section of the support frame to which the molded section adjoins.

[0015] To further increase the rigidity of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, it is advantageous if the longitudinal frame legs of the support frame each have a rear extension that projects beyond the rear transverse frame leg and is preferably accommodated by the molded section. The support frame then forms a so-called A-frame, with the rear longitudinal frame leg forming the transverse leg of the A-shape.

[0016] In order to reduce any water ingress into the vehicle body in the installed position of the vehicle roof module and in particular to be able to implement water management, the shaped section in a special embodiment of the vehicle roof module according to the invention is provided with a sealing device in the area of the longitudinal edges and in the area of the rear transverse edge of the window element, which in the installed position rests against a sealing surface of the roof substructure or the vehicle body shell or a vehicle paneling assigned to the vehicle body shell and covers a channel between the shaped section and the roof substructure or the vehicle body shell.

[0017] The sealing device can, in particular, be designed in the manner of a sealing lip and be an integral part of the mold section. In this case, the sealing device is an integrated component of the mold section and is manufactured during the molding process.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment of the vehicle roof module according to the invention, the sealing device comprises a sealing profile, which is preferably fastened via a sealing foot in a sealing groove of the molded section or can also be glued to the molded section.

[0019] In a further specific embodiment of the vehicle roof according to the invention, the shaped section is provided with a cover seal in a region extending in the transverse direction of the roof and adjacent to the rear transverse frame leg of the support frame. The cover seal, which extends in the transverse direction of the roof, interacts with the adjustable cover element and, in the closed position of the cover element, can close a rear-side edge gap between the cover element and the shaped section.

[0020] The vehicle roof module according to the invention represents, in particular, a structural unit that can be mounted as a whole on a roof substructure or a vehicle body shell. The motor vehicle can be a passenger car or a commercial vehicle.

[0021] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a roof substructure, which is preferably a component of a vehicle body shell, and a vehicle roof module of the type described above, which is placed on the roof substructure from above.

[0022] The fixing surface of the vehicle roof module is preferably a circumferential adhesive surface, with the vehicle roof module being fixed to the roof substructure via a circumferential adhesive bead that rests against the fixing surface. Alternatively or additionally, a screw connection and / or a rivet connection can also be provided for fixing.

[0023] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawings, and the patent claims. The scope of the invention includes all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims, and / or the figures; that is, each feature can be part of the claimed subject matter independently of the further features and / or specifications mentioned in the respective context.

[0024] Embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are shown schematically in simplified form in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective top view of a roof area of a motor vehicle, comprising a vehicle roof module according to the invention without showing an adjustable cover element; Fig. 2 the vehicle roof module in a unique position; Fig. 3 a bottom view of the vehicle roof module; Fig. 4 a section through the vehicle roof module along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2, but showing the adjustable lid element; Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of a vehicle roof module according to the invention; Fig. 6 a third embodiment of a vehicle roof module; Fig. 7 a fourth embodiment of a vehicle roof module; and Fig. 8 a fifth embodiment of a vehicle roof module.

[0025] In Fig. 1 shows a roof area of a motor vehicle 10, which is designed as a passenger car and is provided with a vehicle roof module 12, which is mounted as a structural unit on a vehicle body shell 14 from above. The module comprises longitudinal roof members 16, which extend in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and laterally delimit the vehicle roof 12, and a front roof cross member 18 and a rear roof cross member 20, which each extend in the roof transverse direction and delimit the vehicle roof 12 at the front and rear. The longitudinal roof members 16 and the roof cross members 18 and 20 are part of a roof substructure assigned to a vehicle body shell.

[0026] The vehicle roof module 12, which is based on the Fig. 2 to 5, comprises a support frame 22, which forms an interface between the vehicle roof module 12 and the vehicle body shell 14 or the roof substructure. The support frame 22 is a seamless stamped and bent part made from a single metal sheet, i.e., formed in one piece. Relative to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, the support frame 22 comprises a longitudinal frame leg 23 on each side. The two longitudinal frame legs 23 are connected to one another via a front, bow-side frame transverse leg 24 and a rear, rear-side frame transverse leg 25. The two longitudinal frame legs 23 and the two frame transverse legs 24 and 25 delimit a frame window 26, which forms a roof opening of the vehicle roof module 12 and can be closed by means of an adjustable cover element 30, which is part of a roof opening system designed as a spoiler roof.The cover element 30 is adjustable between a closed position that closes the frame window 26 and an open position that at least partially exposes the frame window 26. For this purpose, the roof opening system comprises an adjustment kinematics not shown in detail here.

[0027] The support frame 22 further comprises, on both sides, projections 32 projecting in the rear direction of the vehicle, i.e. in the direction of the rear roof cross member 20, which projections represent extensions of the frame longitudinal legs 23, which project in the rear direction beyond the rear boundary line of the rear frame cross leg 25.

[0028] The vehicle roof module 12 also includes a rear-side pane element 34, which in this case is made of laminated glass and represents a fixed glass element. It is, of course, also conceivable for the pane element 34 to be a fixed element made of a transparent plastic pane. The pane element 34 forms a roof viewing area above a rear seat, which is formed in an interior of the motor vehicle 10.

[0029] The pane element 34 is provided at its edges with a molded section 36, which is a circumferential frame-like edge foam made of a polyurethane material and thus extends along the edges extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and along the edges of the pane element 34 extending in the vehicle's transverse direction. The pane element 34 is connected via the molded section 36 to the rear frame transverse leg 25 of the support frame 22 and to the two extensions 32 of the support frame 22, wherein the extensions 32 are essentially completely enclosed by the polyurethane material of the molded section 36.

[0030] As in particular Fig. 3, the vehicle roof module 12 has on its underside a fixing surface 38 designed as an adhesive surface, which is designed to run all the way around in a frame-like manner and is formed on the one hand on the two longitudinal frame legs 23 and the front transverse frame leg 24 of the support frame 22 and on the other hand on the underside of the regions of the shaped section 36 that extend along the edges extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and along the rear edge of the window element 34 extending in the vehicle's transverse direction. The fixing surface 38 is therefore formed partly by the support frame 22 and partly by the shaped section 36. The vehicle roof module 12 is fastened all the way around the fixing surface 38 to the longitudinal roof members 16 and the transverse roof members 18 and 20 of the roof substructure by means of a corresponding adhesive bead.

[0031] Like the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the shaped section 36 completely engages under the underside of the rear frame cross leg 25 of the support frame 22, so that the shaped section 36, viewed from the interior of the motor vehicle 10, forms the visible surface of the vehicle roof module 12 in the region of the rear frame cross leg 25.

[0032] How Fig. As can also be seen from Figure 4, the molded section 36 has, in the region formed on the upper side of the rear frame transverse leg 25, a step with a stepped surface 40, on which a sealing groove 42 is formed, extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. A cover seal 44 is fastened in the sealing groove 42, which cooperates with the rear edge of the cover element 30 in its closed position.

[0033] Furthermore, the mold section 36, as shown in Fig. 2, in the area of the lateral edges and in the area of the rear edge of the window element 34, each has an integrally formed sealing lip 46, which rests against the respective longitudinal roof member 16 or the rear roof cross member 20 extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The window element 34 with its shaped section 36 thus extends as far as the body-fixed longitudinal roof members 16 and the body-fixed rear roof cross member 20, so that in the area of the window element 34 at the longitudinal edges and at the rear transverse edge, no gap is formed that would have to be closed by means of a separate cover element.

[0034] A further cover seal is arranged on the upper side of the support frame 22, which surrounds the frame window 26 and interacts with the underside of the cover element 30 in the closed position. Thus, the rear frame cross leg 25 of the support frame 22 also serves as a support section for the cover seal 48.

[0035] Based on the Fig. 5 to 8 show further embodiments of a vehicle roof module according to the invention. These embodiments essentially correspond to those according to the Fig. 1 to 4, which is why reference is made to the relevant above description to avoid repetition, but additionally each comprise a reinforcing structure which is formed by inserts of the circumferential mold section 36, with regard to the shape of which reference is also made to the description of the embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 4 are referred to.

[0036] Thus, the embodiment according to Fig. 5 In addition to the support frame 22 formed from a metal sheet, to which the shaped section 36 is formed in the region of the rear frame transverse leg 25 and in the region of the extensions 32, an insert 50 formed from a tubular profile, which extends in the vehicle transverse direction and is received by the shaped section 36 in the region of the rear edge of the window element 34. The rear edge of the window element 34 or the vehicle roof module is thus reinforced.

[0037] In the embodiment according to Fig. 6, the molded section 36 comprises, in the region of the rear edge of the pane element 34, an insert 52, which is a U-shaped stamped and bent part and is completely enclosed by the molded section 36. The insert 5 extends in the transverse direction of the roof and, with its free legs, merges into the regions of the molded section 36 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the roof.

[0038] In the embodiment according to Fig. 7, inserts 50 and 54 are provided as reinforcing elements, each formed as a tubular profile and completely received by the molded section 36. The insert 50 extends along the rear edge of the pane element 34 in the transverse direction of the roof. The inserts 54 are each embedded along a lateral edge of the pane element 34 in the corresponding area of the molded section 36.

[0039] The embodiment according to Fig. 8 corresponds essentially to that according to Fig. 7, but differs from this in that in the area of the molded section 36 that extends along the rear edge of the disc element 34, no insert or reinforcing element is accommodated by the molded section 36. Rather, inserts 54 are formed only along the longitudinal legs of the frame-like molded section 36. List of reference symbols 10 motor vehicle 12 vehicle roof module 14 Vehicle body shell 16 Longitudinal roof beam 18 Roof cross member 20 roof cross member 22 support frames 23 frame longitudinal legs 24 frame cross members 25 frame cross members 26 frame windows 30 cover element 32 extension 34 Disc element 36 mold section 38 Fixing surface 40 step area 42 Sealing groove 44 Cover seal 46 Sealing lip 48 Cover seal 50 inserts 52 inserts 54 inserts QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2021 111 972 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Vehicle roof module, comprising a one-piece support frame (22) which comprises two longitudinal frame legs (23) and a front and a rear frame transverse leg (24, 25), which connect the two longitudinal frame legs (23) to one another and, together with the longitudinal frame legs (23), delimit a frame window (26), and a pane element (34) which is provided at its edges all the way around with an injection-molded or foamed molded section (36) and is connected to the rear frame transverse leg (25) of the support frame (22) via the molded section (36) without overlapping the frame window (26), wherein the two longitudinal frame legs (23) and the front frame transverse leg (24) together with the molded section (36) form a fixing surface (38) by means of which the vehicle roof module can be fixed to a roof substructure. [2] Vehicle roof module according to claim 1, characterized bythat the support frame (22) is a one-piece component which comprises the two longitudinal frame legs (23) and the two transverse frame legs (24, 25). [3] Vehicle roof module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the mold section (36) accommodates at least one insert (50) as a reinforcing element. [4] Vehicle roof module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the longitudinal frame legs (23) of the support frame (22) each have a rear extension (32) which projects beyond the rear transverse frame leg (25) and is preferably received by the mold section (36). [5] Vehicle roof module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by in that it comprises a roof opening system with an adjustable cover element (30) and the adjustable cover element (30) is a component of a roof opening system which is designed in the manner of a spoiler roof and by means of which the frame window (26) can be closed. [6] Vehicle roof module according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the shaped section (36) is provided with a sealing device which rests against a sealing surface of the roof substructure and covers a channel between the shaped section (36) and the roof substructure. [7] Vehicle roof module according to claim 6, characterized by that the sealing device is designed in the manner of a sealing lip (46) and is formed integrally on the molded section (36). [8] Vehicle roof module according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by that the sealing device comprises a sealing profile which is preferably fastened in a sealing groove of the molded section (36). [9] Vehicle roof module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the mold section (36) is provided with a cover seal (44) in a region bordering the rear frame transverse leg (25) of the support frame (22). [10] Vehicle roof module according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that it can be placed as a structural unit on the roof substructure via the fixing surface (38). [11] Motor vehicle, comprising a roof substructure, which is preferably a component of a vehicle body shell (14), and a vehicle roof module (12) according to one of claims 1 to 10, which is placed from above onto the roof substructure. [12] Motor vehicle according to claim 11, characterized by that the vehicle roof module (12) is fixed to the roof substructure via a circumferential adhesive bead and / or a screw connection and / or a rivet connection.

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