Roof hatch ventilation device

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle hatches. In particular, the present invention relates to a (vehicle) roof hatch ventilation device.

[0002] Roof hatches are traditionally used in vehicle construction to create (re-)closable access to the vehicle interior, usually in the roof. These hatches are often fitted with a transparent panel, such as plastic or glass, to allow light into the interior, for example, in camper vans. Forced ventilation is often desirable, and roof hatches are sometimes equipped with permanently installed fans, as is the case in bathrooms. However, these fans cannot be removed if needed. Forced ventilation can also be beneficial for roof hatches in other areas, such as when there is little wind outside the vehicle and therefore little natural air circulation inside. However, many roof hatches are difficult to equip with fans, and even then, the effect is often unsatisfactory.Prior art devices are disclosed in documents US2016 / 047387A1, AU2021107013A4, DE202011051110U1 and DE8532307U1.

[0003] The present application therefore aims to provide a roof hatch ventilation device that enables efficient ventilation by means of a fan, while simultaneously not obstructing the incidence of light and maintaining the operability of the roof hatch. This is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

[0004] According to the invention, a roof hatch vent device comprises a fan, a control unit, and a bulkhead. The at least one fan and the control unit are arranged on the bulkhead. This can have the advantage of resulting in a compact device that is easy to operate.

[0005] According to the invention, the fan is pivotably connected to the roof hatch vent. This offers the advantage of ensuring optimal fan operation at all times. Even if commercially available fans can operate in both directions (drawing and blowing), their performance is usually significantly lower in one direction than the other. Therefore, a pivotable fan allows the fan to be mechanically swiveled to ensure optimal operation at all times, and / or allows for the use of a less expensive, single-direction fan. For example, if air is to be drawn from outside into the vehicle interior through the roof hatch where the vent is located, the fan can be swiveled to achieve the optimal direction of rotation, ensuring optimal airflow into the vehicle interior.If air is to be extracted from the vehicle interior to the outside, the fan can be swivelled so that the optimal direction of rotation ensures that air is optimally extracted from the vehicle interior.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present application, the bulkhead of the roof hatch vent device includes an operating flap arranged within the bulkhead. This can have the advantage that, for example, a roof hatch handle can be operated.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present application, the fan of the roof hatch ventilation device is located in the operating flap. This can have the advantage that the operating flap can be designed to be as large as possible without having to accept restrictions, for example, in the arrangement or positioning of the fan. The fan can also be located directly in the bulkhead.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present application, the fan is pivotable with respect to its corners. This can, in particular, include a pivot between two diagonally opposite corners. The pivotability with respect to the corners can have the advantage of allowing for optimal cable routing for the fan's power supply. If a round fan is used, the pivot axis preferably runs near a power cable of the fan. Generally, it is advantageous to choose the pivot axis so that it runs near a power cable of the fan.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present application, the bulkhead of a roof hatch vent device also includes an operating opening. This can have the advantage that, for example, a gas spring connected to a roof hatch can be operated.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present application, a roof hatch vent device includes a power supply unit located at the bulkhead. This power supply unit can be a rechargeable power supply such as a power bank. This can have the advantage that no complex power supply unit needs to be provided by the vehicle.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present application, the roof hatch vent device includes a vent locking device. The vent locking device prevents the vent from accidentally swiveling, for example, when the vehicle in which the roof hatch vent device is installed travels over uneven terrain or is subjected to shocks from waves.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present application, the fan locking device is multi-part and at least one part of the fan locking device is arranged on the fan. This can have the advantage that the fan locking device is easier to operate.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present application, the bulkhead of a roof hatch vent device is designed and suitable for installation in a roof hatch and for at least partially sealing off its opening. This can have the advantage that the vent can operate more efficiently, as the bulkhead prevents the vent from circulating air. In other words, the bulkhead prevents the vent from drawing in air that has already been circulated.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present application, the transparency of the bulkhead of a roof hatch vent device is controllable. This transparency control can involve switching between transparent and opaque. Furthermore, it can also include a darkening function. This offers the advantage that the transparency of the bulkhead, and thus ultimately of the roof hatch, can be easily adjusted to suit the situation.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present application, a roof hatch vent device also includes lighting. The lighting can be combined with the vent. This can have the advantage that even in darkness outside a vehicle, the position of the vehicle hatch can be used with the roof hatch vent device as a light source.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present application, the roof vent device further comprises at least one locking mechanism arranged on the operating flap. This can have the advantage of preventing the operating flap from opening unintentionally.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present application, a roof hatch vent assembly comprises a roof hatch vent device, a roof hatch, and a roller shutter device. The roof hatch vent device is held to the roof hatch by the roller shutter device. Alternatively or additionally, the roof hatch vent device is arranged between the roller shutter device and the roof hatch. This can have the advantage that the roof hatch vent device can be installed easily and user-friendly without the need for fixings to the roller shutter device or the roof hatch.

[0018] For a better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. Each figure shows a highly simplified, schematic view of a roof hatch vent device and a roof hatch vent assembly.

[0019] It should be noted at the outset that the positional information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the figure directly described and depicted, and that this positional information must be transferred analogously to the new position in the event of a change in position. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a roof vent ventilation device in top view. Figure 2 shows schematic sectional views of roof vent arrangements.

[0020] Initially referring to Fig. 1A roof vent ventilator device 10 is shown, comprising a fan 11 with a control 12, a bulkhead 13, an operating flap 14, an operating opening 17 and a power supply 16.

[0021] The fan 11 has an integrated control unit 12, which can also be separate from the fan. The bulkhead 13 is transparent but can be covered with, for example, a film and / or made of a material that darkens and / or becomes opaque when an electrical voltage is applied or removed. The operating flap 14 allows operation of a roof hatch (not shown) to which the roof hatch vent 10 is mounted, for example, operating levers to open the roof hatch. The optional operating opening 15 can allow operation of, for example, a stay that holds the roof hatch in a desired position (both not shown). The operating opening 15 can also be fitted with a flap if its opening becomes too large and thereby negatively affects the airflow or the bulkhead effect of the bulkhead 13. This is also the reason for the operating flap 14, as it allows operation of a roof hatch while simultaneously ensuring optimal airflow.This ensures optimal bulkhead effect. The fan can be located in the operating hatch 14 or directly in the bulkhead 13.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the roof hatch vent 10 includes a power supply 16, which is arranged on the bulkhead 13. This can be, for example, a power bank. Alternatively, the power supply 16 can also be replaced by an external power supply (not shown), such as a power cable connected to the fan 11 or the control unit 12, which can be plugged into, for example, a permanently installed socket in the area of ​​the roof hatch (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the fan 11 includes the lighting 19. The lighting 19 is optional and can be arranged separately from the fan 11.

[0023] The fan 11 can be swivelled around its corners 15. Here, the swivel axis runs through the two in Fig. 1The diagonally opposite corners are marked with reference numeral 15. Furthermore, fan locking devices 18 are arranged at each of the corners 15 to prevent unintentional swiveling of the fan 11. There may also be only one fan locking device 18, which is not necessarily located at one of the corners. If a round fan 11 is installed, the swivel axis preferably runs near a power cable of the fan 11.

[0024] In Fig. 2 Two variants A and B of a roof hatch ventilator arrangement 100 are shown in lateral sectional views. In this case, the section runs through a vehicle roof (not shown) in which a roof hatch 50 is installed. In both variants, a roof hatch ventilator device 10, in particular with the bulkhead 13, is positioned between a roller shutter device 60 and the roof hatch 50 with a roof hatch opening 20. Fig. 2Only sections of a peripheral area are shown. Furthermore, for clarity, the components are shown with distances; these are optional. The roller blind device 60 is a well-known principle in this field; it usually comprises a blackout mechanism and a mosquito net. Typically, the roof hatch 50 extends around a roof hatch opening 20, so that a typical cut edge through a roof panel (not shown), into which the roof hatch 50 is conventionally installed, is not visible.

[0025] In variant A, the bulkhead 13 is held against the roof hatch 50 and, in particular, the roof hatch opening 20, by means of the roller blind device 60. Advantageously, this type of arrangement does not require any separate fastening structures, especially in the roof hatch 50, which, when the roof hatch vent device 10 is removed, could potentially impair the visual appearance and also be disadvantageous in handling.

[0026] In variant B (right in the Fig. 2 The bulkhead 13, and thus the roof hatch vent 10, is also held in place by a roller shutter 60. However, in this case, the bulkhead 13 must be held in the roof hatch opening 20 by additional structures (e.g., a step / stop) and / or geometric constraints (e.g., a wedge shape). For this purpose, the bulkhead 13, in conjunction with the roof hatch 50, can be designed so that it can be removed from the assembly of the roof hatch 50 and the roller shutter 60 without, for example, having to dismantle the roller shutter 60.

[0027] It should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiment, but that variations are possible which fall within the scope of protection of the claims.

[0028] The scope of protection is defined by the claims. However, the description and drawings must be consulted to interpret the claims. The problem underlying the independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

[0029] Finally, for the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, for a better understanding of the structure, some elements have been shown not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. The figures are therefore schematic, and unless explicitly stated otherwise, no size references can be derived from them. Reference symbol list

[0030] 10 Roof hatch vent device 11 Fan 12 Control 13 Bulkhead 14 Operating flap 15 (Fan) Corners 16 Power supply 17 Operating opening 18 Fan locking device 19 Lighting 20 Roof hatch opening 21 Lock 50 Roof hatch 60 Roller blind device 100 Roof hatch vent assembly

Claims

1. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) comprising a fan (11), a control (12) and a bulkhead (13), wherein the at least one fan and the control are arranged on the bulkhead, characterized in that the fan is pivotably connected to the roof hatch ventilation device.

2. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising an operating hatch (14) arranged in the bulkhead (13).

3. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the fan (11) is arranged in the operating hatch (14).

4. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (11) is pivotable with respect to its corners (15).

5. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a power supply (16) for the fan (11) is arranged on the bulkhead (13).

6. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an operating opening (17) arranged in the bulkhead (13).

7. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fan locking device (18).

8. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the fan locking device (18) is multi-part and at least one part of the fan locking device is arranged on the fan (11).

9. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bulkhead (13) is controllable in its transparency.

10. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising lighting (19).

11. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to claim 10, wherein the lighting (19) is integrated into the ventilator (11).

12. Roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 11, further comprising at least one lock (21) arranged on the operating hatch (14).

13. Roof hatch assembly (100) comprising a roof hatch (50) and a roof hatch ventilation device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

14. Roof hatch assembly (100) according to claim 13, further comprising a roller blind device (60).

15. Roof hatch assembly (100) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the roof hatch ventilation device (10) is either held on the roof hatch (50) by the roller blind device (60), or the roof hatch ventilation device is mounted on the roof hatch by the roller blind device.