sunroof with stiffening whale support and vehicle equipped with a sunroof.

Abstract

A vehicle sunroof (1) comprising a fixed portion (10) defining an opening (11), a movable portion between a closed and an open position, the movable portion comprising a stiffening rib (21) extending from an edge of the movable portion, one end of the rib (21) being disposed near said edge of the movable portion, opposite the movable portion, notable in that the fixed portion (10) comprises a support tab (12) extending into the opening (11) from a fixed edge (14) of said opening (11) and comprising a bearing face facing the movable portion in the closed position, disposed such that said end of the rib (21) rests on the bearing face in this closed position. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: sunroof with stiffening whale support and vehicle equipped with the sunroof.

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle sunroof and to a vehicle equipped with such a sunroof.

[0002] It is known to install opening roofs on the roof of a vehicle, comprising a flexible movable part stiffened by stiffening ribs.

[0003] For example, document EP0491148 describes a folding sunroof for vehicles, comprising a movable part which can be connected, by means of a zipper, to a rigid roof equipped with an opening so as to close said opening. The closure is arranged on the inside of the vehicle. Stiffening ribs extend from one edge to the other of the movable part and rest on the fixed part of the sunroof, on the outer face of the fixed part oriented towards the outside of the vehicle, when the movable part closes the opening. The movable part is wider than the opening to cover the edges of said opening in the closed position and allow the ribs to rest on the fixed part, around the opening.

[0004] The disadvantage of such a solution is that the ribs rest on the outer face of the fixed part, creating an excess thickness. The opening in the rigid part is therefore necessarily smaller than the movable part, so that the movable part can cover the edges of the opening and rest the ends of the ribs on the fixed part, outside the opening. Another disadvantage is that the zipper is complex to implement because its manipulation, and in particular the movement of a cursor allowing its opening and closing, must not be blocked by the presence of the ribs

[0005] The objective of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, one of the aims of the invention is to propose an easy-to-implement sunroof, offering a large opening, while having a stiffening rib and allowing the use of a zipper-type closure.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a vehicle sunroof comprising a fixed part delimiting an opening between an interior space and an exterior space arranged on either side of the sunroof, a part movable between a closed position in which said movable part closes the opening and an open position in which said movable part leaves the opening free, the movable part comprising at least one stiffening rib arranged on the side of the movable part facing the interior space when said movable part is in the closed position and extending from an edge of the movable part, one end of the rib being arranged at proximity to said edge of the movable part, opposite the movable part, remarkable in that the fixed part comprises a support tab extending into the opening from a fixed edge of said opening, and comprises a support face facing the movable part in the closed position, arranged so that said end of the whale rests on the support face in this closed position.

[0007] The end of the whale is opposite the movable part, that is to say that it does not protrude from the movable part, so that the movable part can be positioned on the opening, closing the opening, allowing the passage of the end of the whale without being blocked against the edge of the opening.

[0008] Thus, advantageously, in the closed position, the end of the whale rests on the support tab, inside the opening, making it possible to put said whale under tension and to stiffen the movable part. This arrangement makes it possible to maintain a wide opening, the support tab extending only opposite the end of the whale.

[0009] Another advantage is that this arrangement allows a zipper to be placed between the edge of the opening and the end of the whalebone, the end of the whalebone being able to rest on the support tab inside the opening, without the need to rest on the edge of the opening, and allowing the passage of a slider fitted to the zipper.

[0010] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the support tab extends partially along the edge of the opening.

[0011] In other words, the support tab is of a width less than that of the edge of the opening along which it is located, the width being the dimension in the main direction of said edge.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, the opening comprises two opposite fixed lateral edges, on each side of the opening, connected by a front edge, and the movable part comprises two opposite movable lateral edges and a corresponding movable front edge, the whale extending from one movable lateral edge to the other of the movable part, the length of the whale being less than the distance between the two opposite movable lateral edges of the movable part and the distance between the two opposite fixed lateral edges of the movable part, each of the fixed lateral edges comprising a support tab on each of which rests respectively each of the ends of the whale.

[0013] In other words, in the closed position, a free space exists between the end of the whale and the fixed lateral edge 14. Thus advantageously, the risk of contact between the fixed lateral edge and the end of the whale is reduced, and this free space can allow the passage of a closing element from the movable part to the fixed part.

[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the sunroof comprises means zipper connecting fixed side edges and fixed front edge of the fixed part to the movable side edges and movable front edge so as to hold the movable part in the closed position.

[0015] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the zipper is arranged between the end of the whalebone and the edge of the fixed side opening when the movable part.

[0016] Thus advantageously, a slider allowing the zipper to be opened or closed can be moved without risk of it getting stuck against the whalebone.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixed part has an outer surface oriented towards the outer space and the support tab is arranged so that the support face is lower towards the inner space relative to the outer surface.

[0018] Thus advantageously, the movable part can be placed in the extension of the external surface, and the whale is positioned between the external surface and the support face.

[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, the fixed part comprises a rigid frame fixed to a roof panel, on the side of said roof panel located opposite the exterior space, the rigid frame delimiting a first opening and the roof panel comprising a second opening opposite the first opening, the opening of the sunroof being formed by said two openings.

[0020] In another embodiment of the invention, the support leg is fixed to the rigid frame, preferably made from the material of said rigid frame.

[0021] Thus advantageously, in the event of breakage of the support bracket, only the rigid frame needs to be replaced, in particular when said bracket is made in one piece with the rigid frame.

[0022] In another embodiment of the invention, the roof panel comprises a reinforcing tab projecting into the opening, opposite the support tab, bearing on the face of the support tab opposite the support face.

[0023] Thus advantageously, the reinforcing tab reinforces the support tab on the opposite side of the support face, i.e. on the side of the interior space relative to the support tab, and reduces the risks of deformation of the support tab towards the interior space under the effect of the forces directed towards the interior space and applied by the end of the whale when the mobile part is in the closed position, the whale being put under tension in this closed position of the mobile part. The maintenance of the mobile part in the closed position is more rigid.

[0024] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a sunroof as described above.

[0025] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] represents a vehicle equipped with a sunroof according to the invention.

[0027] [Fig.2] represents the fixed part of the opening roof according to an embodiment of the invention, without the movable part of the roof.

[0028] [Fig.3] shows a detailed view of zone A of [Fig.2].

[0029] [Fig.4] is a sectional view along a plane perpendicular P to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle of the roof of the vehicle of [Fig.l].

[0030] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same references correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0031] The X axis represents the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the Y axis the transverse direction and the Z axis the vertical direction. The forward, backward, up, down directions are taken in the vehicle's reference frame.

[0032] [Fig.l] illustrates a vehicle 100 comprising a sunroof 1. The sunroof 1 comprises a fixed part 10 and a movable part 20. In the illustration of [Fig.l], the movable part 20 is made of a flexible material, connected to the fixed part 10 in a non-removable manner by one of these edges, and connected to the fixed part in a removable manner by three other of these edges forming a continuous cutting line in the shape of a “U”. In [Fig.l], the base of the U is arranged in the transverse direction Y to the vehicle, on the front side of the vehicle 100, the ends of the branches of the U oriented towards the rear of the vehicle 100.

[0033] As illustrated in [Fig.2] and 4, the fixed part 10 delimits an opening 11 between an interior space and an exterior space arranged on either side of the sunroof 1. The movable part 20 has a closed position in which said movable part closes the opening 11, and an open position in which said movable part leaves the opening 11 free. That is to say that when the movable part 20 is in the open position, a passage is freed through the opening 11 between the interior space and the exterior space. For example, in the open position, the movable part 20 is rolled up on itself between the ends of the branches of the U-shaped cutout. The interior space is the space inside the vehicle 100, and the exterior space corresponds to the space outside the vehicle 100.

[0034] The movable part 20 comprises at least one stiffening rib 21 arranged on the side of the movable part 20 facing the interior space when said movable part 20 is in the closed position. The rib 21 extends from an edge of the movable part 20, and one end of the rib 21 is arranged close to said edge of the movable part 20, opposite the movable part 20. In Figures 1 and 2, the movable part 20 comprises two ribs 21 extending in the transverse direction Y of the vehicle 100, from one edge of the movable part 20 to the other, the two ribs 21 being parallel to each other.

[0035] The fixed part 10 comprises at least one support tab 12 extending into the opening 11 from a fixed edge 14 of said opening 11, and comprises a support face 13 facing the movable part 20 in the closed position, arranged so that the end 210 of the whale 21 rests on said support face 13 when the movable part 20 is in the closed position, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the fixed part 10 comprises two support tabs 12 on each of the fixed lateral edges 14 of the opening, and on which support tabs 12 the ends 210 of each of the two whales 21 rest.

[0036] As illustrated in [Fig.2] and 3, the support tabs 12 extend partially along the edges of the opening 11. That is to say that the support tabs 12 form protrusions relative to the edge of the opening 11 on which they are arranged, towards the inside of the opening 11. The width of each support tab 12 is for example chosen to be less than or equal to 3 times the width of the end 210 of the whale 21 resting on said support tab 12 when the movable part 20 is in the closed position. In Figures 2 and 3, the width corresponds to the dimension of the support leg 12 and of the end 210 of the whale 21 along the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle 100, the whales being along the transverse direction Y of the vehicle 100, and the support legs 12 project into the opening 11 along the transverse direction Y of the vehicle.The width of the bearing face 13 is greater than or equal to the width of the end 210 of the whale 21 which rests on said bearing face 13. When the movable part 20 is in the closed position, the end 210 of the whale 21 rests approximately on the middle of the bearing surface 13 according to the width of said bearing face 13. This arrangement makes it possible to ensure that the movable part 20 is held by resting the end of each whale on bearing faces 13 during the manipulation of said movable part 20 between the closed position and the open position, even with a less precise position of the whales 21 relative to the bearing supports 12. In [Fig. 2], the bearing face 13 is of a width slightly less than the width of the bearing tab 12, a rim of a few millimeters partially surrounding the bearing face 13. The width of the bearing tab 12 is for example 6 centimeters.A person skilled in the art will adapt the dimension of the support tab 12 to the width of the end of the whale 21 and the stresses undergone by said support tab 12.

[0037] In the embodiment of the figures, the opening 11 comprises two opposite fixed lateral edges 14, on each side of the opening 11, connected by a front edge 15 and a rear edge 16 opposite said front edge 15. The movable part 20 comprises two opposite movable lateral edges and a movable front edge corresponding to the fixed lateral edges 14 and to the fixed front edge 15, that is to say that the movable lateral edges and the movable front edge of the movable part 20 are opposite the fixed lateral edges 14 and the fixed front edge 15 of the fixed part 10. The whale 21 extends from a movable lateral edge to the other of the movable part 20. The length of the whale 21 is less than the distance between the two movable lateral edges, so as not to protrude from the movable part 20, and the length of the whale 21 is less than the spacing between the two fixed lateral edges 14 of the opening 11 so as to be able to pass between said fixed lateral edges 14. The support tabs 12 are arranged on each of the fixed lateral edges 14, so that each end 210 of the whale 21 rests respectively on each support tab 12, against the support face 13.

[0038] In the case where the movable part 20 is wound on itself in the open position, it is held in this open position, therefore wound, close to and parallel to the fixed rear edge 16.

[0039] As illustrated in [Fig.4], the movable lateral and movable front edges of the movable part 20 are connected to the fixed part 10 by a zipper 3, along the fixed lateral edges 14 and the fixed front edge 15, when the movable part 20 is in the closed position. This zipper 3 is for example a closure of the type known under the commercial name of “zipper” fastener. This zipper 3 makes it possible to maintain the movable part 20 in the closed position on the fixed part 10. When the movable part 20 is in the closed position, the zipper 3 is between the end 210 of the whale 21 and the edge of the fixed lateral opening 14. In other words, in the closed position of the movable part, a space is left free between the end 210 of the whale 21 and the fixed lateral edge 14 of the opening 11.This space allows the passage of a slider of the zipper 3 without risk of blocking against the whalebone 21, by placing the zipper 3 so as to pass between the end 210 of the whalebone 21 and the edge of the fixed lateral opening 14.

[0040] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fixed part 10 has an outer surface 17 oriented towards the outer space and the support tab 12 is arranged so that the support face 13 is lower towards the inner space relative to the outer surface 17. That is to say that there is a step between the outer surface 17 and the support face 13.

[0041] The fixed lateral edge 14 of the opening 11 comprises, for example, a dropped edge oriented towards the interior space, in other words downwards when placed in the frame of reference of the vehicle 100, forming a wall 18, illustrated in [Fig. 4], extending from the exterior surface 17 towards the interior space. The support tab 12 extends from the edge of this wall 18 opposite the exterior surface 17. In other words, the wall 18 forms the junction between the support tab 12 and the exterior surface 17 at the level of said support tab 12. The wall 18 extends over the entire periphery of the opening 11, and for example over a height between 1 and 5 centimeters, substantially following the vertical axis. The height of the wall 18 is chosen for example to be greater than or equal to the thickness of the whale 21 at the end 210 of said whale 21, the height and the thickness being the di measurements taken in a direction substantially parallel to the vertical axis Z when the sunroof 1 is installed on the vehicle 100.

[0042] In the embodiment of [Fig.4], the fixed part 10 comprises a rigid frame 10a fixed to a roof panel 10b. The rigid frame 10a delimits a first opening and the roof panel 10b comprises a second opening opposite the first opening. The opening 11 of the sunroof 1 is formed by the first opening and the second opening. The support tab 12 is fixed to the rigid frame 10a. It is for example made from the material of said rigid frame 10a. In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in [Fig. 4], the roof panel 10b comprises a reinforcing tab 12b projecting into the opening, opposite the support tab 12, and resting on the face of said support tab 12 opposite the support face 13. That is to say that the reinforcing tab 12b is in contact with the support tab 12 on the side of the interior space. In order to stiffen the reinforcing tab 12b, it alternatively comprises stiffening ribs.The stiffening ribs extend for example perpendicularly to the fixed lateral edge 14 of the opening 11 along which the reinforcing tab 12b is located. This reinforcing tab 12b makes it possible to recover part of the forces coming from the ribs 21 which press on the support tabs 12 when the movable part 20 is in the closed position and the zipper is closed.

[0043] In the embodiment variant of [Fig.l] and 4, the sunroof 1 comprises a flexible waterproof fabric 30, for example a woven fabric, an assembly of several flexible layers, or a flexible plastic sheet, with the “U” shaped cutout in this fabric. The branches of the U correspond to the movable lateral edges of the movable part 20 of the sunroof 1, and the base of the U connects the two branches along the movable front edge. The part of the fabric 30 arranged inside the U-shaped cutout, that is to say between the branches of the U, and called the movable fabric 32, forms the movable part 20 of the sunroof 1. The part of the fabric 30 located outside the U, called the fixed fabric 31, is fixed to the fixed part 10 of the sunroof. For example, when the sunroof 1 comprises a rigid frame 10a, the fixed canvas 31 of the canvas 30 is applied against the surface of the rigid frame 10a facing the exterior space.For example, the fixed canvas 31 is glued at least in part to the face of the rigid frame 10a facing the outer space. The “U” shaped cutout approximately follows the fixed side edges 14 and the fixed front edge 15.

[0044] When the movable part 20 is in the closed position, the movable fabric 32 closes the opening 11, and is kept closed by the zipper 3 connecting the edges of the movable fabric 32 and the fixed fabric 31 along the U-shaped cutout. In the open position of the movable part 20, the movable fabric 32 is for example rolled up on itself parallel to the base of the U of the cutout, up to the ends of the branches of the U of the cutouts opposite the base of the U, thus leaving the space between said branches free, and therefore leaving the opening 11 of the sunroof 1 free.

[0045] In order to protect the zipper 3 and the junction between the movable fabric 32 and the fixed fabric 31, a covering strip 33 is fixed to the movable fabric 32, close to these movable edges and following the cut in the fabric 30, on the face of the movable fabric 32 facing the outside space, and extends above the zipper 3, on the side of the outside space, so as to cover said zipper 3. This covering strip 33 is made of flexible material, for example made with the same material as the fabric 30, so as to be able to be deformed to access the zipper 3.

[0046] In a variant, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], the fixed fabric 31 overhangs the opening 11, for example by a few centimeters, such as between 1 or 3 centimeters, so that the cutout between the fixed fabric 31 and the movable fabric 32 is offset in the opening 11. That is to say, a connecting strip 34 of the fixed fabric 31 extends between the fixed lateral edges 14 and fixed front 15 and the cutout of the fabric 30. This connecting strip 34 makes it possible to create a flexible strip along the cutout in the fabric 30, on the side of the fixed fabric 31, in order to facilitate the handling of the zipper 3.

[0047] In a variant, the whale 21 is fixed to the movable canvas 32 by being threaded into a sheath located on the face of the movable canvas 32 oriented towards the interior space, in other words under the movable canvas 32 by placing itself in the frame of reference of the vehicle 100 comprising the opening roof 1 with the movable part 20 in the closed position.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in [Fig. 1] and 4, the roof panel 10b is partially covered by the rigid frame 10a, so that a portion of the roof panel 10b is not covered by said rigid frame 10a. The vehicle 100 thus comprises a roof 101 comprising the roof panel 10b, the frame 10a and the movable part 20 in the closed position. The frame 10a covers the roof panel 10b around the opening 11, and the roof panel 10b forms the roof 101 beyond the frame 10a, i.e. around the frame 10a.

[0049] The roof panel 10b equipped with the frame 10a is for example fixed to structural elements 102 of the vehicle 1, as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0050] In a variant, the cutout in the canvas may follow a closed perimeter, such as for example a closed rectangular shape.

Claims

Claims

1. Sunroof (1) for a vehicle (100) comprising a fixed part (10) delimiting an opening (11) between an interior space and an exterior space arranged on either side of the sunroof (1), a movable part (20) between a closed position in which said movable part (20) closes the opening (11) and an open position in which said movable part (20) leaves the opening (11) free, the movable part (20) comprising at least one stiffening rib (21) extending from an edge of the movable part (20) and arranged on the side of the movable part (20) facing the interior space when said movable part (20) is in the closed position, one end (210) of the rib (21) being arranged near said edge of the movable part (20) and opposite the movable part (20), characterized in that the fixed part (10) comprises a support tab (12) extending into the opening (11) from a fixed edge (14) of said opening (11),and comprises a bearing face (13) facing the movable part (20) in the closed position, arranged so that said end (210) of the whale (21) rests on the bearing face (13) in this closed position.,

2. Sunroof (1) according to claim 1, the support tab (12) of which extends partially along the edge of the opening (11).

3. Sunroof (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the opening (11) of which comprises two opposite fixed lateral edges (14), on each side of the opening (11), connected by a front edge (15), and the movable part (20) comprises two opposite movable lateral edges and a corresponding movable front edge, the rib (21) extending from one movable lateral edge to the other of the movable part (20), the length of the rib (21) being less than the distance between the two opposite movable lateral edges of the movable part (20) and the distance between the two opposite fixed lateral edges (14) of the fixed part (10), each of the fixed lateral edges (14) comprising a support tab (12) on each of which rests respectively each of the ends (210) of the rib (21).

4. A sunroof (1) according to claim 3, comprising a zipper means (3) connecting fixed side edges (14) and fixed front edge (15) of the fixed part (10) to the movable side edges and movable front edge of the movable part (20) in the closed position so as to maintain said movable part (20) in the closed position.

5. Sunroof (1) according to the preceding claim, the zipper (3) of which is arranged between the end (210) of the whalebone (21) and the edge of the fixed lateral opening (14) when the movable part (20) is in the closed position.

6. Opening roof (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the fixed part (10) of which comprises an outer surface (17) oriented towards the exterior space and the support tab(s) (12) are arranged so that their support face (13) is lower towards the interior space relative to the outer surface (17).

7. Sunroof (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the fixed part (10) of which comprises a rigid frame (10a) fixed to a roof panel (10b), on the side of said roof panel (10b) located opposite the exterior space, the rigid frame (10a) delimiting a first opening and the roof panel (10b) comprising a second opening opposite the first opening, the opening (11) of the sunroof (1) being formed by said first and second openings.

8. Opening roof (1) according to the preceding claim, the support tab(s) (12) of which are fixed to the rigid frame (10a), preferably made from the material of said rigid frame (10a).

9. Sunroof (1) according to the preceding claim, the roof panel (10b) of which comprises a reinforcing tab (12b) projecting into the opening (11), opposite the support tab (12), resting on the face of the support tab (12) opposite the support face (13).

10. Vehicle (100) comprising an opening roof (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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