Roof extension system for a motor vehicle with a sunroof

Abstract

A roof extension system for a motor vehicle having a roof (3) comprising a sunroof section (30) and equipped with longitudinal roof bars (2, 2'), said system comprising a box (10) which is installed on the roof, near the sunroof section, said box comprising - a bottom wall (102) and an upper cover (101) articulated to said bottom wall by means of a transverse hinge, said cover opening and closing on the bottom wall and being capable of opening vertically to form a wall of the roof extension, - a canvas (11) attached inside the cover and to at least two hoops (12, 13) movable in reversible rotation from the front to the rear of the roof, the canvas being dimensioned to be deployed by pulling it manually, in particular when the sunroof section is open, from the vertically open cover and covering at least one length of the roof including the sunroof section.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Roof extension system for a motor vehicle comprising a sunroof

[0001] The invention relates to a roof extension system for a motor vehicle comprising an opening roof portion.

[0002] Various roof extension systems are already known to create living space when the vehicle is parked.

[0003] It is known to install roof tents directly on the roof rack of a vehicle. For example, the tent device is in the form of a box comprising a floor which is fixed to the roof bars. The tent canvas is commonly deployed by rotation or elevation. One disadvantage of these roof boxes is that there is no access between the tent and the vehicle. In addition, these roof boxes are bulky and heavy (approximately 70 kg).

[0004] Also known are extendable roofs called "pop-up" which are integrated into a vehicle, frequently camper vans, to increase the volume of the passenger compartment. The roof is cut around its perimeter to make it mobile, it can be lifted from its front edge for example from the inside, by a person in the vehicle, and thanks to a system of folding side rods for example, the opening of the roof causes the deployment substantially vertically, of a canvas secured between the circumference of the roof and the mobile roof part. These systems are particularly suitable for fairly large vehicles.

[0005] The invention aims to propose an alternative roof extension system for a motor vehicle, easy to install and use, and allowing communication with the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0006] To this end, the invention provides a roof extension system for a motor vehicle having a roof comprising an opening roof portion and provided with longitudinal roof bars secured laterally to said roof by fixing parts which comprise said roof bars, said system comprising a box. Said box is installed, secured to the roof and close to the opening roof portion, either in a housing integrated into the roof, or by removable attachment to said longitudinal roof bars. Said box comprises a bottom wall and an upper cover articulated to said bottom wall by a transverse hinge, said cover opening and closing on the bottom wall and being able to open vertically to constitute a wall of the roof extension. The box contains a canvas secured inside the cover and to at least two arches movable in reversible rotation from the front towards the rear of the roof, the canvas being sized to be deployed by pulling it manually, in particular when the opening roof part is open, from the cover opened vertically and covering at least one length of the roof including the opening roof part.

[0007] The roof extension can be deployed when a person in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, from the opening sunroof portion, pulls on the canvas in the open trunk to deploy said canvas.

[0008] The roof extension system allows easy communication with the vehicle's passenger compartment, through the opening part of the roof, when the vehicle is parked. Its deployment is easily carried out manually, without assembly of separate parts, nor electrical assistance.

[0009] Preferably, said longitudinal roof bars are secured to the roof in a non-removable manner, and said box is secured to the roof by removable attachment to said roof bars. Preferably, the box is secured to the longitudinal bars, which comprise said longitudinal roof bars, located between the respective attachment parts.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, said box is secured to the roof by removable attachment to said longitudinal roof bars by attachment means comprising at least one transverse attachment bar which is attached perpendicularly to said longitudinal roof bars, the box being attached to said at least one transverse attachment bar. More preferably, said at least one transverse attachment bar comprises at its ends two attachment lugs respectively to said longitudinal roof bars, and a U-shaped bar connecting said attachment lugs to each other and the transverse part of which between the branches of the U is lower than the attachment lugs. Preferably, the trunk is fixed to said at least one transverse fixing bar, the bottom wall (external face) of the trunk resting on the transverse part of the U-shaped bar and being fixed there.

[0011] Advantageously, said U-shaped bar, in particular the transverse part of the U-shaped bar, is of small thickness. The lower external face of the box can thus rest on the transverse part of the U-shaped bar so that the box is inserted between the roof bars and close to the (external) surface of the roof. The closed box thus occupies a low position on the roof, between the longitudinal roof bars, which limits the surface exposed to the air during driving. Preferably, the lower external face of the box comprises a hollow part resting on the transverse part of the U-bar so that the box is inserted between the longitudinal roof bars and as close as possible to the surface of the roof, which further limits the wind / air resistance of the box during driving.

[0012] Preferably, said means for attaching the trunk to the longitudinal roof bars comprise two transverse attachment bars. These two bars are attached spaced apart to the longitudinal roof bars (outside the opening roof part).

[0013] Advantageously, the trunk has a low maximum height when closed, preferably between 50 and 100 millimeters, and in particular between 50 and 80 millimeters, which also limits air intake during driving.

[0014] Preferably the trunk has a parallelepiped shape, in particular like a suitcase.

[0015] The bottom wall and the cover preferably each have a shell shape.

[0016] Preferably, the cover has a rectangular shape and the canvas is fixed, reversibly, inside the cover along its lateral sides and the proximal transverse side of the hinge.

[0017] Preferably, said canvas comprises on its free periphery, at least a plurality of fixing magnets, in order to fix this free periphery of the canvas to the roof when the canvas is deployed. Additional fixings on the free side of the canvas, side opposite the trunk lid, for fixing to the longitudinal roof bars, in particular to the fixing parts of said longitudinal roof bars, can be added to guarantee good wind resistance.

[0018] Advantageously according to the invention, said longitudinal roof bars being secured to the roof in a non-removable manner and the trunk being fixed by removable fixing to said longitudinal roof bars, said system comprises internal anti-theft means being secured to the roof from the inside of the trunk and inaccessible from the outside when the trunk is closed or when the trunk is open and the canvas deployed. In particular, said anti-theft means are screws inside the trunk, screwing transversely into a dedicated thread arranged or added on the inside face that each longitudinal roof bar comprises, in particular on the inside face of the longitudinal bars respectively to each longitudinal roof bar. The screws are thus inaccessible from the outside. The term "inside face" means the face of the roof bar facing the trunk.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, said roof extension system further comprises a waterproof protective canvas, capable of externally covering the trunk, with the lid open, and the canvas deployed.

[0020] In particular and preferably, said protective canvas comprises fixing elements, which are reversibly fixed to the longitudinal roof bars. In particular, said fixing elements of the protective canvas are fixed at least to the fixing parts of the roof bars. In addition, they can, if necessary, be fixed to the longitudinal bars of the longitudinal roof bars.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a roof comprising an opening roof portion and provided with longitudinal roof bars, secured laterally to said roof by fixing parts which comprise said roof bars, and comprising a roof extension system, as described previously, secured to the roof and close to the opening roof portion.

[0022] Preferably the longitudinal roof bars are secured in a non-removable manner to the roof.

[0023] Preferably, the trunk of said system is located between the longitudinal roof bars.

[0024] The system may further comprise a seal on the outside of the bottom of the box, at least under the side of the box comprising the hinge, in order to ensure sealing in the possible space between said box and the surface of the roof.

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, given for informational purposes but not as a limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] is a perspective view from above the roof, of an extension system roof according to one embodiment of the invention, installed in the folded position on the roof of a motor vehicle with an opening roof.

[0027] [Fig.2] is a perspective view from above the roof, of the roof extension system of [Fig.l], in the unfolded position on the roof of the vehicle.

[0028] [Fig.3] is a side view of a detail of the roof extension system according to Figures 1 to 2.

[0029] [Fig.4] is a perspective view from above the roof, of the roof extension system according to figures 1 to 3, in the unfolded position, comprising a protective element.

[0030] The orientations expressed in the description of the figures are given with reference to a conventional orthonormal reference frame XYZ of a motor vehicle in which X represents the front-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, Y the transverse direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the right, and Z the vertical direction oriented towards the top of the vehicle in the usual position.

[0031] Unless otherwise specified, in the present description, the terms front, rear, upper, lower, thus refer to the directions of the vehicle, when the roof extension system according to the invention is installed on the roof of the vehicle.

[0032] Identical references may be used from one figure to another to designate identical or similar elements. The scale between the figures is not always respected for the clarity of the figures.

[0033] Figures 1 to 4 are commented on together.

[0034] [Fig.l] illustrates the top of the roof of a motor vehicle with an opening roof, a roof extension system 1 according to one embodiment of the invention being installed in the folded and closed position at the rear of the opening roof portion.

[0035] The roof 3 conventionally comprises two roof stretchers (lateral), left and right 32, each consisting of a side member which extends along the length of the roof, in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle. It further comprises two longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', lateral, a left bar 20' and a right bar 20, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The longitudinal roof bars (2, 2') each comprise two fixing pieces 21, 22, 21', 22' and a longitudinal bar 20, 20' which extends between these two fixing pieces. Said roof bars 2, 2' are secured to the roof by said fixing pieces in a non-removable manner, on the roof structure, respectively near a stretcher. The longitudinal roof bars cannot therefore be removed.

[0036] The opening portion of the roof extends approximately over the front half of the roof. It comprises a movable flap 30. According to the example, this flap 30 is a flexible multi-layer fabric, which can be folded to open the roof.

[0037] The roof extension system comprises a box 10 which comprises a lower shell forming the bottom wall 102 and an upper shell forming the cover 101 which opens and closes on the bottom wall 102, relative to a rear transverse hinge. The box is parallelepipedal, its cover is rectangular and comprises two lateral sides 1011, 1012, and a transverse side 1010 proximal to the hinge, as well as a transverse side opposite the latter side carrying a locking / unlocking means with the bottom wall.

[0038] The box 10 is arranged at the rear of the opening roof part, between the two roof stretchers, and more particularly between the two longitudinal roof bars 2, 2'. This box is fixed reversibly, that is to say removably, by fixing means, to said longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', and more precisely to the longitudinal bars 20, 20'.

[0039] These fixing means comprise two transverse fixing bars 14 which are each installed perpendicular to the two longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', and spaced apart from each other, between the rear of the roof and the rear of the opening roof part. Each transverse fixing bar 14 is placed at its respective ends on the longitudinal bars 20, 20', then is fixed by a vertical screw connection at each of its ends to said longitudinal bars 20, 20'. With reference to [Fig. 3], this transverse fixing bar 14 thus comprises two ends forming fixing lugs 141, 142, and connected to each other by a U-shaped bar 140 so that the transverse part 1400 between the branches of the U is lower than the ends. According to the example, each fixing lug of a bar has a threaded fixing hole 1410, 1420, which receives a vertical screw (not shown in [Fig.3]) in order to fix this transverse fixing bar to the longitudinal bars 20, 20'. The U-shaped bar 140, in particular the transverse part 1400 of the U-shaped bar, is of small thickness. The lower external face of the trunk comprises a hollow part resting on the part. transverse 1400 of the U-bar so that the box is inserted between the longitudinal roof bars and close to the roof surface, which limits the wind / air catch when driving, of the box. The box is further attached to the fixing transverse bars 14.

[0040] The closed trunk 10 has a low height “h”, of approximately 70 millimeters. The closed trunk is very compact in height, which allows the vehicle to access road areas with low height. In addition, the integration between the longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', leading to a low position of the trunk, limits the surface exposed to the air during driving.

[0041] In the trunk 10, there is a folded canvas 11, mounted on a set of hoops 12, 13. Said canvas 11 is fixed internally to the trunk, to the lid 101 of the trunk, by a removable closure of the zipper type following the U-shaped circumference (1011, 1010, 1012) of the lid, that is to say the circumference except following the front side of the lid which carries the closure of the trunk. In addition, the free perimeter of the canvas, that is to say outside the part fixed inside the box, has magnets. The set of hoops comprises two hoops of adjustable length 12, 13 each comprising a transverse upright 123, 133 and two lateral uprights 121, 122, 131, 132 formed by two parts fitted into one another in a sliding fit. These two uprights are connected to each other by the transverse upright 123, 133 so that the hoop, substantially in the shape of an inverted U, extends from one side of the trunk to the other. The hoops 12, 13 are capable of pivoting back and forth, relative to the same set of lateral pivot axes 120, 130, the ends of the respective lateral uprights of said hoops being mounted on a common lateral pivot axis 120, 130 respectively on an inner side of the trunk. Said canvas is fixed to each of the hoops, at least along the respective transverse upright 123, 133 of each hoop.

[0042] With reference to [Fig. 2], to use the system, the trunk 10 must be opened by placing its cover 101 vertically, said cover serving as a rear wall for the roof extension. Two crutches, for example lateral pantographs known per se, not shown in the figures, make it possible to keep the cover open vertically.

[0043] From inside the vehicle, a person P can unfold the canvas 11 contained in the trunk towards the front of the roof, by pulling it with the hoops 12, 13 which are deployed to the desired height thanks to their height-adjustable lateral uprights. The perimeter of the canvas is fixed by magnetization, by applying the magnets which are distributed around its perimeter, on the perimeter of the roof which is metallic. This fixing of the deployed canvas is completed by additional fixing of its two front corners by two strap / lace type fixings on the two fixing holes 220 and 220' made in the parts of front attachments 22, 22' respectively of the longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', to ensure wind resistance. In the deployed position, the lid 101 of the trunk vertically has a height "h" of 780 mm. The width "1" of the trunk lid is 1080 mm. The extension with the canvas in the fully deployed position has a total length "L" of 1940 mm.

[0044] The roof extension system allows easy communication with the passenger compartment of the vehicle, through the opening part of the roof, and its deployment is easily carried out manually, without assembly of separate parts, nor electrical assistance. The deployment of the roof extension system can therefore be carried out from inside the vehicle while remaining in the passenger compartment, through the roof opening.

[0045] Interior anti-theft means are added in the form of several interior screws to the trunk, screwing transversely into a respective thread (not visible in the figures) dedicated and arranged in each longitudinal roof bar 2, 2', at the rear and at the front, and on the interior side, of said longitudinal roof bars, and more precisely on the interior side of the longitudinal bars 20, 20' of the roof bars. Alternatively, according to a variant not illustrated, the screws can be screwed, from the inside, into a threaded receiver of the screw attached to each longitudinal roof bar. The longitudinal roof bars 2, 2' being fixed in a non-removable manner, the trunk 10 can only be removed with its transverse fixing bars 14, by disarming these anti-theft means from the inside.

[0046] Furthermore, the solid roof portion at the rear of the roof opening, in particular that receiving the bottom wall 102 of the trunk, can then be used as a storage area to give more space to the main part of the vehicle when parked. The trunk mounting crossbars 14 also make it possible to support the weight of the items placed in this storage area.

[0047] [Fig.4] illustrates a particular method for making the unfolded canvas waterproof, in particular waterproof against rain and wind.

[0048] According to this example, a waterproof protective canvas 5 is attached to the entire deployed roof extension, i.e. the protective canvas externally covers the trunk, with the lid open, and the deployed canvas. The protective canvas 5 is fixed laterally to the fixing pieces 21, 22, 21', 22' of the longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', in other words to the connecting pieces between the longitudinal bars 20, 20' and the roof surface. Through and lateral fixing holes 210, 220, 220' (the fourth fixing hole in the piece 21' is not visible in the figures) made respectively in these fixing pieces 21, 22, 21', 22' of the roof bars 2, 2' are used to retain the protective canvas. Laces sewn to the protective canvas are passed through and attached in said fixing holes, one lace per fixing hole. The side fasteners of the protective canvas are symbolized by the points referenced 51 and 53 carried on the bottom of one of the sides of the protective canvas, right side visible in [Fig.4], the left side of the protective canvas being linked symmetrically. In addition, central openings 200, 200' (see [Fig.l]) which are included in series in the longitudinal bars 20, 20' of said longitudinal roof bars 2, 2' can be used for a central lateral attachment 50 of the protective canvas, for each side of the protective canvas.

[0049] Alternatively, instead of laces, a strap with a hook-and-loop closure can be used, which attaches to said fixing holes, one strap per fixing hole.

[0050] The protective canvas 5 is a separate canvas which, when folded, is stored in the trunk 10.

[0051] When you no longer wish to use this removable extension system, you undo the fixings of the transverse fixing bars 14 to detach them from the longitudinal roof bars 2, 2', and the trunk 10 still fixed to said transverse fixing bars 14 can be removed. The vehicle thus easily becomes a standard private vehicle again, unlike integrated extension systems of the "pop-up" type.

[0052] The invention is however not limited to this embodiment. The number of hoops can be other than two. The box may be fixed to the longitudinal roof bars by other removable fixing methods than that described above, for example using a system of slides adapted to the roof bars inside which the box, equipped with laterally projecting elements coming into the slides, can be guided in translation and held on the roof, and retained by stops at the ends of the bars. These stops are, for example, constituted by the fixings of the longitudinal roof bars. Furthermore, although not preferred because it is not removable, the box may be an integral part of the roof. In the latter case, a recessed housing, sized to receive the box, is provided in the roof section located at the rear of the opening roof section, and the box is permanently fixed, for example by gluing, in this housing.

[0053] The invention can be applied to a motor vehicle with an opening roof comprising a flexible folding flap or a rigid sliding flap.

Claims

Claims

1. Roof extension system (1) for a motor vehicle having a roof (3) comprising an opening portion (30) and provided with longitudinal roof bars (2, 2'), secured laterally to said roof by fixing parts (21, 22, 21', 22') which comprise said roof bars, said system comprising a box (10) which is installed, secured to the roof and close to the opening roof portion, either in a housing integrated into the roof, or by removable attachment to said longitudinal roof bars (2, 2'), and said box (10) comprising - a bottom wall (102) and an upper cover (101) articulated to said bottom wall by a transverse hinge, said cover opening and closing on the bottom wall (102) and being able to open vertically to constitute a wall of the roof extension, - a canvas (11) secured to the inside of the cover and at least two hoops (12,13) reversibly movable in rotation from the front to the rear of the roof, the canvas being sized to be deployed by pulling it manually, in particular when the opening roof part (30) is open, from the cover (101) open vertically and covering at least one length of the roof including the opening roof part.,

2. Roof extension system according to claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal roof bars (2, 2') are secured to the roof in a non-removable manner, and in that said box is secured to the roof by removable attachment to said roof bars (2, 2'), preferably to the longitudinal bars (20, 20'), which comprise said longitudinal roof bars (2, 2'), located between the respective fixing parts (21, 22, 21', 22').

3. Roof extension system according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the box is secured to the roof by removable attachment to the longitudinal roof bars (2, 2') by attachment means comprising at least one transverse attachment bar (14) which is attached perpendicularly to said longitudinal roof bars, the box being attached to said at least one transverse attachment bar, and said at least one transverse attachment bar (14) comprising at its ends two attachment lugs (141, 142) respectively to said longitudinal roof bars, and a U-shaped bar (140) connecting said attachment lugs to each other and the transverse part (1400) of which between the branches of the U is lower than said fixing lugs (141, 142).

4. Roof extension system according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom wall (102) of the box rests on the transverse part (1400) of said U-shaped bar and is fixed to said at least one transverse fixing bar (14).

5. Roof extension system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the box has a maximum height, when closed, of between 50 and 100 millimeters, and in particular of between 50 and 80 millimeters.

6. Roof extension system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cover has a rectangular shape, and in that the canvas is fixed, reversibly, inside the cover along its lateral sides (1011, 1012) and the transverse side (1010) proximal to the hinge.

7. Roof extension system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said canvas (11) comprises on its free periphery, at least a plurality of fixing magnets, making it possible to fix this free periphery of the canvas to the roof when the canvas is deployed.

8. Roof extension system according to claim 2 or according to claim 2 and one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it comprises internal anti-theft means which are screws internal to the trunk, screwing transversely into a dedicated thread arranged or added on the internal face which comprises each longitudinal roof bar (2, 2'), in particular on the internal face of the longitudinal bars (20, 20') respectively to each longitudinal roof bar (2, 2').

9. Roof extension system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a waterproof protective canvas (5), capable of externally covering the trunk, lid (101) open, and the canvas (11) deployed, said protective canvas comprising fixing elements (50, 51, 53), fixing, reversibly, to said longitudinal roof bars (2, 2').

10. Motor vehicle having a roof (3) comprising an opening part (30) and provided with longitudinal roof bars (2, 2'), secured laterally to said roof by fixing parts (21, 22, 21', 22') which said roof bars comprise, characterized in that it comprises a roof extension system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, secured to the roof and close to the roof part opening (30).