Sunroof

Abstract

A sunroof, comprising an adjustable roof member (2) and a mounting frame (3), containing said roof member (2), and a handlebar assembly (4). The roof member (2) is pivotally connected to said mounting frame (3) at a first side of said mounting frame (3). Said handlebar assembly (4) comprises at least one support arm (5) and a handlebar (6) connected to said support arm (5) for operating said roof member (2). The mounting frame (3) comprises at least one guide (7) slidably receiving an extremity (62) of said handlebar assembly (4). At least one support arm (5) is pivotally connected between said roof member (2) and said guide (7) for supporting said roof member (2) in at least one open position. The handlebar assembly (4) comprises locking means (8) for securing said roof member (2) in a closed position. The support arms (5) comprise a projection (50) that is caught by a support formation (9) of the mounting frame in said closed position.

Description

[0001] Sunroof

[0002] The present invention relates to a sunroof, comprising an adjustable roof member, a mounting frame and a handlebar assembly, wherein said roof member is pivotally connected to said mounting frame at a first side of said mounting frame, wherein said handlebar assembly comprises at least one support arm for supporting said roof member in at least one open position, wherein said handlebar assembly comprises a handlebar connected to said at least one support arm for operating said roof member, wherein said mounting frame comprises at least one guide slidably receiving an extremity of said handlebar assembly, and wherein said handlebar assembly comprises locking means for locking said roof member in a closed position. In this respect, the invention particularly relates to a sunroof to be mounted or mounted in a vehicle, particularly a mobile living quarters, like a mobile home, caravan or camper.

[0003] A sunroof of the type as described in the opening paragraph is known from European patent application 4.056.395. The known sunroof comprises a mounting frame and a top cover pivotally connected to one side of the mounting frame. The cover is supported by a pair of support arms at opposite sides of it. In order to be able to operate the cover, a handlebar is provided that is slidably received at opposite ends in guides that are formed in retaining walls in front of each side wall of the mounting frame. The guides comprise chutes that are formed in said retaining walls and that comprise slots for each one of a number of selectable positions of the cover.

[0004] In the closed position the top cover may be locked to protect the accommodation against unwanted entry. To that end, the known sunroof comprises locking means, comprising a clamping hook connected to the mounting frame that is received by a locking latch of the top cover. The clamping hook cooperates with the handlebar to engage the locking latch once the cover is in its fully closed position.

[0005] A sunroof of the above kind is often applied as a top cover in a mobile living quarters, like a caravan, mobile home or a camper. In order to avoid moist like rain and snow from entering an interior of the living quarters, notably when travelling, a resilient rubber profile is usually provided between the top cover and a ridge of the mounting frame to provide a watertight seal. The top cover is pressed firmly into this seal when the sunroof is locked to secure a watertight closure. This means, however, that tension of said seal needs to be overcome when locking the cover. This imposes an additional stress on the locking means, which in practice may lead to fracture of one or more parts.

[0006] The present invention has inter alia for its object to provide a sunroof having locking means in which said stress is at least substantially alleviated.

[0007] In order to achieve said object, a sunroof of the type as described in the opening paragraph, according to the invention, is characterized in that said support arm comprises a projection extending from said support arm, and in that said mounting frame comprises a support formation that hingedbly receives said projection of said support arm at a side across from said roof member in said closed position of said roof member.

[0008] Said support formation hingedly supports said support arm at said projection across from the roof member to provide a centre of rotation and a corresponding force moment (torque) with respect to the handle bar. The support arm pivots around said support formation to move in opposite directions at the handle bar end and the roof member end respectively. As a result the roof member will be forced downwards and pressed towards the mounting frame when the handlebar is moved upwards to allow the locking means to engage in the closed position of the roof member. In practice, this means that the support formation absorbs a considerable part of the load exerted upon the handle bar while locking the roof panel. As a result, the locking means are no longer exposed to an inadvertent stress that could otherwise cause fracture of one or more components.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment the roof member is suspended on both sides. To that end, a preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said mounting frame comprises a first guide and a second guide at opposite sides of said roof member, and in that said at least one support arm comprises a first support arm and a second support arm between said roof member and said first and second guide respectively, each comprising a projection being hingedbly received across from said roof member in said closed position of said roof member by respective support formations extending from said mounting frame.

[0010] The locking means may be configured in various ways. In a specific embodiment, however, the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that that said locking means comprise at least one latch member that is rotatably mounted to said handlebar to be captured by a corresponding catch that is provided by said roof member in said closed position. More particularly, the catch may be formed as an integral portion of said roof member and the latch may be spring loaded to snap into the catch once in line therewith.

[0011] The sunroof generally allows for operation of the roof member between a closed position and one or more open positions. To that end, a preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said at least one guide comprises a linear track guiding said handlebar assembly from said closed position to an extreme open position of said roof member, and in that said guide has a branch for each of a number of defined positions of said roof member that receive said extremity of said handlebar assembly in a selected position of said number of defined positions of said roof member. One or more of the branches may define intermediate position in which the roof member may be selected by sliding the handle bar with its extremities in such branch to suit a desired amount of ventilation.

[0012] A further specific embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of said branches is directed upwards, towards said roof member. In a second specific embodiment the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of said branches is directed downwards, away from said roof member. A preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said branches extend substantially transverse to said support arm in each of said number of defined positions of said roof member. As the support arm extends substantially perpendicular with respect to the branch in which the handle bar is received, said handlebar will exert primarily a pressure on a side of said branch. This angle of the positioning branches, being substantially perpendicular to the handlebar arm position, significantly reduces the impact of wind and gravity on the roof member when opened. As a result the handlebar will less easily be forced out of its position along said branch.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment the guide and guide branches do not require additional components of the sunroof. To that end, a further preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said guide comprises an elongated channel defined at a respective side wall of the mounting frame, wherein said branches comprise bays as angled extensions from said channel. Particularly the guide may be formed integrally with the respective side wall of the mounting frame or may be provided by a separate guide member connected to that side wall.

[0014] Still a further preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said bays comprise slots that secure said extremity of the handlebar assembly in said bay, and more particularly in that said slots are defined by a local restriction of a width of said bay. These slots capture the respective extremities of the handlebar assembly in its selected position which may be felt by the user, for instance, once the extremity of the handlebar assembly is pushed through such restriction and a sliding resistance, imposed by said restriction, is experienced temporarily.

[0015] Although the projection may be formed in anyway to the support arm, a particular embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said projection comprises a cam portion, notch, stud or other protrusion, extending from said support arm. Such a cam, notch, stud or otherwise a protrusion may be formed integrally with the support arm or may be provided as a separate sturdy member that is firmly connected to said support arm.

[0016] In order to allow the at least one support arm to conveniently engage the support formation once it abuts the support formation, a further preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said support formation comprises a cavity, and in that said projection is received inside said cavity of said support formation in said closed position of said roof member. The cavity offered by said support formation catches the projection of the respective support arm in the closed position of the window. This will provide additional stability while locking the locking means. The cavity may conveniently be formed as an integral portion of the support formation.

[0017] Particularly, a further embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is characterized in that said guide is provided by a guide member, comprising a planar base portion that is connected to said side wall of said mounting frame. Said guide member may be formed as a separate part of the sunroof assembly, for instance in a single piece by injection moulding of a suitable plastic, to be connected later to the side wall of the mounting frame, for instance by means of a suitable snap connection, welding or gluing between the planar portion and a corresponding planar portion of the side wall.

[0018] The guide may comprises a chute that is defined between ribs that extend towards said handle bar assembly. Said support formation may comprises a projection, particularly a stud, that extends towards the associated support arm. Particularly, said support formation may be formed integrally with said guide. A further embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention is, hence, characterized in that said guide and said support formation are formed integrally with a guide member to be connected to a side wall of the mounting frame. In principle, the support formation may be positioned anywhere and anyhow along a length of the support arm. In a preferred embodiment of the sunroof according to the invention, however, the support formation is positioned such that a length of the support arm between the support formation and the handle bar exceeds a length of the support arm between the support formation and the roof member to provide additional momentum by the handle bar during locking the roof member.

[0019] The sunroof according to the invention may especially be used to allow daylight in the interior of a mobile accommodation. To that end, a particular embodiment according to the invention is characterized in that said roof member comprises a transparent or translucent window panel, preferably a double walled window panel.

[0020] Hereinafter, the invention will be described in further detail with reference to a specific embodiment and an accompanying drawing. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sunroof according to the invention with a roof member thereof in an open position;

[0022] Figure 2A shows a sectional side view of the sunroof of figure 1 with the roof member in an extreme open position;

[0023] Figure 2B shows a sectional side view of the sunroof of figures 1 with the roof member in an intermediate position;

[0024] Figure 2C shows a sectional side view of the sunroof of figure 1 with the roof member in a closed position;

[0025] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the sunroof of figure 1;

[0026] Figure 4A-4B show a front view and perspective partial view, respectively, of a guide member as applied in the sunroof of figures 1 to 3; and

[0027] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the guide member of figure 4A and 4B in cooperation with a support arm of the sunroof of figure 1 in a closed position.

[0028] It is noted that the figures are drawn purely schematically and not necessarily to a same scale. In particular, certain dimensions may have been exaggerated to a more or lesser extent to aid the clarity of any features. Similar parts are generally indicated by a same reference numeral throughout the figures.

[0029] With reference to the drawings, a sunroof is generally indicated with reference numeral

[0030] I. The sunroof 1 has a mounting frame 3 containing an adjustable roof member 2 and a handlebar assembly 4. The roof member 2 and mounting frame 3 are correspondingly substantially rectangularly shaped. An outer edge portion of the mounting frame 3 corresponds with an outer edge portion of the roof member 2. An operatively rear end of the roof member 2 is hinged connected to the frame member 3 by means of a hinge

[0031] II. A seal 13, in particular a resilient rubber profile, is secured to an upper surface of the mounting frame 3 to provide for a seal effect between the roof member 2 and mounting frame 3 when the roof member 2 is in a closed position. The roof member 2 comprises a translucent or transparent window panel 21. In this embodiment the window panel 21 is, in particular, a double walled window panel. The roof member 2 may, in particular, be manufactured from polymethyl methacrylate ("PMMA").

[0032] The mounting frame 3 comprises an upper part 31 and a lower part 32. The upper part 31 and lower part 32 may be moulded, in particular injection moulded, from one or more suitable thermoplastics, like polystyrene and / or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ("ABS"). The upper part 31 and lower part 32 are selectively securable to one another, with a gap defined between said upper part 31 and lower part 32. In particular, the upper part 31 and lower part 32 are securable to a roof opening extending through a vehicle roof with the upper part 31 at an outside of the roof and the inner part 32 on an interior side. The mounting frame 3 surrounds the roof opening in the vehicle roof.

[0033] A first and second guide 7 extend respectively from respective guide members 70 that are mounted on opposing inner side walls 12 of the mounting frame 3. Such guide member 70 is shown in greater detail in figures 4A and 4B as a separate piece. The guide members 70 have a planar base portion and snap connectors 79 extending from said base portion at a back side, remote from said guide 7, to connect to matching snap holes 39 formed in respective side walls 12, 13 of the mounting frame 3, see particularly figures 3 and 4.

[0034] The guides 7 each comprises a linear track 71 with a number of bays 72 branching from the track 71. In this embodiment three brays 72 extend in a substantially upwards direction from the linear track 71 and one bay 72 extend in a substantially downwards direction from the linear track 71. Each bay 72 terminates in a slot 74 defined by a local restriction 75 of a width of the bay 72. The local restriction consists in this embodiment of two opposing notches 75 extending inside said bay 72. Each guide 7 comprises a chute 76 which is defined between ribs 77 which extend from a planar wall portion of the side walls 12.

[0035] The handlebar assembly 4 has two opposing support arms 5 with a handlebar 6 extending between the support arms 5. Opposing extremities of the handlebar assembly 4 are slidably received in the tracks 71 of each of the guides 7. In this embodiment the extremities are opposing extremities 62 of the handlebar 6. However, in alternative embodiments the extremities may be extremities of the support arms 5. The extremities 62 are slidable along the track 71 and are receivable in corresponding opposing braches 72, and subsequent slots 74.

[0036] The mounting frame 3 comprises a first and a second support formation 9 that are each provided on said guide members 70 on the opposite side walls 12 of the mounting frame 3. Each support formation 9 projects from the respective guide member 70 in the direction of the support arm 5. In particular, the projection is a stud 9 projecting from a planar portion of the guide member 70 which defines a nook 90 between said stud 9 and an outside wall of the guide 7.

[0037] Each of the support arms 5 are pivotally connected between a wall of the roof member 2 and a corresponding one of the opposing extremities 62 of the handlebar 6. Each support arm 5 has a cam portion 50 which co-operates with a corresponding support formation 9, in particular, a corresponding nook 90 provide by said support formation. In this embodiment the cam portions 50 is each a pin projecting from an operatively outer surface of each of the support arms 5 in a direction towards the associated support formation 9.

[0038] The handlebar 6 is rotatably connected to the support arms 5. The handlebar 6 has locking means 8 at opposing ends thereof. The locking means 8 each has a latch member 81 which each corresponds with a catch 82 integrally formed on an inner surface of the roof member 2. Rotation of the handlebar 6 provides for rotation of the latch member 81 to be caught by the corresponding catch 82 in the roof member.

[0039] In use, the roof member 2 is pivotally adjustable relative to the mounting frame 3 between a closed position and various open positions, as shown in figures 2A to 2C. In a closed position the roof member 2 fits on top of the frame member 3, covering the roof opening of the vehicle roof. In this position, the cam portions 50 of the support arms 5 pivotally locate in each of the nooks 90 of the support formations 9.

[0040] The roof member 2 can be secured in a closed and locked position by pushing the handlebar 6 upwards towards the catches 82 of the roof member 2. When doing so, the support formations 9 hingedly support the support arms 5 at their side opposite the roof member 2 as shown in figure 5 in greater detail. This allows that the support arms 5 each move in opposite directions respectively at a proximal end and at a distal end. This provides for the roof member 2 to be pulled downwards and be pressed onto the mounting frame 3 and into the rubber sealing 13 when the handlebar 6 is moved upwards to allow the latches 81 to engage in the closed position with the catches 82.

[0041] This pulling force is magnified due to the added momentum exerted this way by the handle bar 6 with respect to the centre of rotation that is provided by the support formation 9 being located closer to the proximal end of the support arms 5 than to their distal end next to the handle bar 6. By rotating the handlebar 6 each latch member 81 engage the corresponding catch 82 on the roof member 2, locking the roof member 2. In the closed position, the roof member 2 is firmly pressed onto the seal 13 to define a watertight closure.

[0042] To unlock the roof member 2, resilience of the seal 13 needs to be overcome in order to allow the latch members 81 to disengage the catch 82. To do so, the handlebar 6 is slightly pushed upwards and rotated anticlockwise, allowing the latch members 82 to be released from the catches 82, again assisted by the additional momentum exerted around the support formation 9. Once unlocked, the extremities 62 of the handlebar 6 can be slid along the guide tracks 71 to open the roof member 2 at various open positions. At a desired open position, each of the extremities 62 can be pushed into a branch 72. By pushing the extremities 62 past the slots 75 and into the bays 72, the extremities 62 are temporarily secured in position. This provides for the roof member 2 to be temporarily secured in such open position. To adjust the opening of the roof member 2, the extremities 62 are pushed out of the bays 72 and into the tracks 71, along which it can again be slid until the roof member 2 is open at a desired open position, in which position it can again be secured.

[0043] It is envisaged that the invention is desirable to use since the invention reduces a likelihood of damage caused to the roof member or other parts of the sunroof as a result of unlocking the roof member. Furthermore, the support formation and cam protrusion does not involve complicated parts.

[0044] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, although the support formation and guide may conveniently be formed as part(s) of a separate guide member one or both may also be formed directly and / or integrally on the side wall of the mounting frame.

Claims

Claims:

1. Sunroof, comprising an adjustable roof member (2), a mounting frame (3) and a handlebar assembly (4) , wherein said roof member (2) is pivotally connected to said mounting frame (3) at a first side of said mounting frame (3), wherein said handlebar assembly (4) comprises at least one support arm (5) for supporting said roof member (2) in at least one open position, wherein said handlebar assembly (4) comprises a handlebar (6) connected to said at least one support arm (5) for operating said roof member (2), wherein said mounting frame (3) comprises at least one guide (7) slidably receiving an extremity (62) of said handlebar assembly (4), and wherein said handlebar assembly (4) comprises locking means (8) for locking said roof member (2) in a closed position, characterized in that said support arm comprises a projection (50) extending from said support arm, and in that said mounting frame (3) comprises a support formation (9) that hingedbly receives said projection (50) of said support arm (5) at a side across from said roof member (2) in said closed position of said roof member (2).

2. Sunroof according to claim 1, characterized in that said mounting frame (3) comprises a first guide (7) and a second guide (7) at opposite sides of said roof member (2), and in that said at least one support arm comprises a first support arm (5) and a second support arm (5) between said roof member (2) and said first and second guide (7) respectively, each comprising a projection (50) being hingedbly received across from said roof member (2) in said closed position of said roof member (2) by respective support formations (9) extending from said mounting frame (3).

3. Sunroof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said locking means (8) comprising at least one latch member (81) that is rotatably mounted to said handlebar(6) to be captured by a corresponding catch that is provided by said roof member (2) in said closed position.

4. Sunroof according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said at least one guide(7) comprises a linear track (71) guiding said handlebar assembly (4) from said closedposition to an extreme open position of said roof member (2), and in that said guide (7) has a branch (72) for each of a number of defined positions of said roof member (2) that receives said extremity (62) of said handlebar assembly (4) in a selected position of said number of defined positions of said roof member (2).

5. Sunroof according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one of said branches (72) is directed upwards, towards said roof member (2).

6. Sunroof according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that at least one of said branches (72) is directed downwards, away from said roof member (2).

7. Sunroof according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that said branches (72) extend substantially traverse to said support arm (5) in said number of defined positions of said roof member (2).

8. Sunroof according to anyone of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said guide (7) comprises an elongated channel (78) defined by a respective side wall of the mounting frame (3), wherein said branches (72) comprise bays (72) as angled extensions from said channel (78).

9. Sunroof according to claim 8, characterized in that said bays (72) comprises slots (74) that secure said extremity (62) of the handlebar assembly (4) in said bay (72).

10. Sunroof according to claim 9, characterized in that said slots (74) are defined by a local restriction (75) of a width of said bay (72).

11. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said projection comprises a cam portion, notch or stud, extending from said support arm.

12. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support formation (9) comprises a cavity (90), and in that said projection (50) isreceived by said cavity of said support formation (9) in said closed position of said roof member (2).

13. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claims , characterized in that said guide comprises a chute (76) that is defined between ribs (77) that extend towards said handle bar assembly (4).

14. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claims , characterized in that said support formation (9) comprises a projection, particularly a stud, that extends towards said support arm (5).

15. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support formation (9) is formed integrally with said guide (7).

16. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guide (7) is provided by a guide member (70), comprising a planar base portion that is connected to said side wall of said mounting frame (3).

17. Sunroof according to anyone of the preceding claim, characterized in that said roof member (2) comprises a transparent or translucent window panel, preferably a double walled window panel (21).

Images