Shade guide module and sunroof device

Abstract

To provide a shade guide module which enables reduction of the size and is easy and convenient to attachment and detachment, and to provide a sunroof device.SOLUTION: A shade guide module guides a shade so that the shade moves in an opening and closing direction, and includes: a support fixed to the shade; and a slider fitted and connected to the support. A positioning opening is provided at the support. A protrusion is provided at a position of the slider corresponding to the positioning opening, and the protrusion is formed into a shape corresponding to the positioning opening. The protrusion is embedded into the positioning opening, so that the support is fitted and connected to the slider, and the protrusion and the positioning opening are configured such that, in a state in which the protrusion is embedded into the positioning opening, relative movement of the support relative to the slider in the opening and closing direction is restricted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shade guide module and a sunroof device including the shade guide module. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional sunroof device for a vehicle is provided with a pair of left and right shade guide modules that guide the opening and closing operation of the shade. The shade guide module includes a support fixed to the shade and a slider snap-connected to the support. A portion of each slider of the pair of left and right shade guide modules slides into a pair of left and right guide rails of the sunroof device, and the other portion is connected to a side pipe fixed to an end of the shade on the closing direction side. The pair of shade guide modules slide along the guide rails to guide the side pipe and the shade to move in the opening and closing directions.

[0003] However, in the above-mentioned shade guide module, the support and the slider are fixed by a snap connection, which makes attachment and detachment of the two complicated and increases the size of the device. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a shade guide module that is compact and can be easily and conveniently attached and detached, and a sunroof device equipped with this shade guide module. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A shade guide module according to one embodiment of the present invention is a shade guide module that guides a shade to move in an opening and closing direction, and includes a support fixed to the shade and a slider matingly connected to the support, wherein the support has a positioning opening, and a protrusion formed in a shape corresponding to the positioning opening is provided on the slider at a position corresponding to the positioning opening, and the support is matingly connected to the slider when the protrusion fits into the positioning opening, and the protrusion and the positioning opening are configured such that when the protrusion is fitted into the positioning opening, the relative movement of the support with respect to the slider in the opening and closing direction is restricted.

[0006] According to the above structure, the support and the slider are connected by fitting the protrusions on the slider into the positioning openings on the support. Therefore, compared to a snap connection using a positioning snap, the structure of the support and the slider can be simplified, the entire shade guide module can be made smaller, and the slider can be easily attached and detached from the support.

[0007] In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the protrusion and the positioning opening are configured such that, when the protrusion is fitted into the positioning opening, the relative movement of the support relative to the slider in the vehicle width direction is restricted, but the relative movement of the support relative to the slider in the up-down direction is not restricted.

[0008] According to the above structure, when the protrusion is fitted into the positioning opening, the support is restricted from moving relative to the slider in the vehicle width direction, but is not restricted from moving relative to the slider in the up-down direction. This makes it easy to attach and detach the slider to and from the support by hand, etc., making attachment and detachment more convenient.

[0009] In the present invention, the support is preferably formed in a sheet shape. According to the above structure, the support can be easily manufactured, the vertical height can be reduced, and the device can be made more compact.

[0010] In the present invention, it is preferable that, in a state in which the projection is fitted into the positioning opening from one side of the support, the projection protrudes from the positioning opening to the other side of the support.

[0011] According to the above structure, the support can be prevented from falling off the slider, compared to a structure in which the protrusion does not protrude. In the present invention, preferably, the positioning opening is rectangular, the protrusion is a long plate shape corresponding to the rectangular shape, and the longitudinal direction of the positioning opening and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion coincide with the opening / closing direction.

[0012] According to the above structure, the longitudinal direction of the rectangular positioning opening and the longitudinal direction of the long plate-shaped protrusion coincide with the opening and closing direction of the shade, so that when the slider moves the support and slides, the direction in which the slider and the support receive force from each other is the longitudinal direction, thereby increasing the strength of the force reception.

[0013] In the present invention, preferably, the positioning opening and the protrusion are provided one by one. According to the above structure, the slider can be attached to and detached from the support more easily.

[0014] A sunroof device according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of the above-mentioned shade guide modules, a shade having both sides of one end in the opening and closing direction fixed to each of the supports of the pair of shade guide modules, a side pipe fixed to the one end of the shade and to which each of the sliders of the pair of shade guide modules is fixedly connected, and a pair of guide rails into which each of the sliders of the pair of shade guide modules is slidably fitted.

[0015] According to the above structure, the sunroof device has the above shade guide module, and therefore can obtain the functions and effects achieved by the shade guide module. In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the slider has a side pipe connection portion fixedly connected to the side pipe and a rail fitting portion fitted into the guide rail, and the protrusion is located on the opening direction side of the side pipe connection portion in the opening and closing direction of the shade, and is located inward of the rail fitting portion in the vehicle width direction.

[0016] According to the above structure, when the shade guide module is attached to the sunroof device, interference between the protrusion and the side pipe or the guide rail can be prevented. Also, in the present invention, it is preferable that an opening is provided in the side pipe facing the opening direction, and the side pipe connection portion of the slider enters the side pipe through the opening and is fixedly connected to the side pipe.

[0017] According to the above structure, the side pipe connecting portion of the slider enters into the side pipe through the opening of the side pipe, which reduces the overall height of the shade guide module and the side pipe, thereby making it possible to reduce the overall size of the shade guide module.

[0018] In the present invention, it is preferable that the side pipe connecting portion is fixedly connected to the side pipe by a screw. According to the above structure, the connection strength between the side pipe and the slider is ensured and the connection can be easily detached. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a shade guide module is assembled to a sunroof device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shade guide module as viewed from below in FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the support and slider of the shade guide module in an assembled state and in an exploded state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the local structure of a sunroof device of a vehicle at different angles. FIG. 2 is a perspective view observed from below in FIG. 1. The direction indicated by X is the vehicle front-rear direction, which is also the opening and closing direction of the shade, the direction indicated by Y is the vehicle left-right direction, i.e., the vehicle width direction, and the direction indicated by Z is the vehicle up-down direction. The sunroof device includes a pair of shade guide modules 3, a shade 1, a side pipe 2, and a pair of guide rails 4. For convenience, only the structure on one side in the vehicle width direction Y is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., only one shade guide module of the pair of shade guide modules 3 and one guide rail of the pair of guide rails 4 are shown. The structure on the other side in the vehicle width direction Y is similar to this.

[0021] The shade guide module 3 guides the shade 1 to move in the opening / closing direction X. The shade guide module 3 includes a support 31 and a slider 32. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the support and slider of the shade guide module in an assembled state and in a disassembled state. As shown in Fig. 3, the support 31 is formed in a sheet shape. The sheet shape does not strictly mean a flat plate shape, but may be a thin plate shape having a certain degree of arc or a curved portion. The support 31 is made of an elastic material such as resin.

[0022] One positioning opening 31a is provided in the support 31, and the positioning opening 31a has a rectangular shape. The support 31 is fixed to the shade 1 by sewing, bonding with an adhesive, welding, or the like.

[0023] The slider 32 is connected by fitting to the support 31. The slider 32 has one protrusion 32a, a side pipe connection portion 32b fixedly connected to the side pipe 2, and a rail fitting portion 32c fitted into the guide rail 4.

[0024] The protrusion 32a is disposed at a position corresponding to the positioning opening 31a of the support 31 of the slider 32, and the protrusion 32a is formed in a long plate shape corresponding to the rectangular shape of the positioning opening 31a of the support 31. The protrusion 32a is located on the opening direction side of the side pipe connecting portion 32b in the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1, and is located on the inner side of the rail fitting portion 32c in the vehicle width direction Y.

[0025] The side pipe connecting portion 32b is provided with a screw hole 321 into which a screw 5, which will be described later, is screwed. The fitting connection between the support 31 and the slider 32 of the shade guide module 3 will now be described.

[0026] The protrusion 32a of the slider 32 fits into the positioning opening 31a of the support 31 from one side of the support 31 (the upper side in the vertical direction Z in this embodiment), so that the support 31 is fitted and connected to the slider 32. In this fitted state, the protrusion 32a protrudes from the positioning opening 31a to the other side of the support 31 (the lower side in the vertical direction Z in this embodiment) (see FIG. 2). The dimensions of the protrusion 32a are designed so that the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the opening / closing direction X and the vehicle width direction Y is restricted in a state in which the protrusion 32a fits into the positioning opening 31a. Moreover, preferably, the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the vertical direction Z is not restricted. With this configuration, the support 31 and the slider 32 can be easily separated with a tool, by hand, or the like.

[0027] The connection between the shade guide module 3, the side pipe 2 and the guide rail 4 will be described below. A side pipe 2 is fixed to one end of the shade 1 in the opening / closing direction X. Both sides of one end of the shade 1 in the opening / closing direction X are fixed to respective supports 31 of a pair of shade guide modules 3. The longitudinal direction of a positioning opening 31a of the support 31 coincides with the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1. Moreover, the longitudinal direction of a protrusion 32a of the slider 32 also coincides with the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1 accordingly.

[0028] Each slider 32 of the pair of shade guide modules 3 is fixedly connected to the side pipe 2. Specifically, an opening 2a is formed in the side pipe 2 facing the opening direction in the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1, and the side pipe connection part 32b of the slider 32 enters the side pipe 2 from the opening 2a, and the screw 5 is inserted from a hole in the side pipe 2 and screwed into a screw hole 321 provided in the side pipe connection part 32b, thereby fixing the side pipe connection part 32b to the side pipe 2.

[0029] Each slider 32 of the pair of shade guide modules 3 is fitted into the slider rail 4a of the pair of guide rails 4 so as to be slidable along the guide rails 4. When each slider 32 of the pair of shade guide modules 3 slides along the pair of guide rails 4, the slider 32 moves the side pipe 2 to move together therewith, thereby opening and closing the shade 1.

[0030] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. A positioning opening 31a is provided in the support 31, and a protrusion 32a is provided in the slider 32, and the protrusion 32a fits into the positioning opening 31a to fit and connect the support 31 to the slider 32. Therefore, compared to a case where a snap connection is made using a positioning snap, the structure of the support 31 and the slider 32 can be simplified, the entire shade guide module 3 can be made smaller, and the slider 32 can be easily attached and detached to the support 31.

[0031] The protrusion 32a and the positioning opening 31a are configured such that, when the protrusion 32a is fitted into the positioning opening 31a, the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the vehicle width direction Y is restricted, but the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the up-down direction Z is not restricted. This allows the slider 32 to be easily attached to and detached from the support 31 by hand or the like, making attachment and detachment more convenient.

[0032] The support 31 is formed in a sheet shape, and therefore can be easily manufactured from a sheet material or the like, and the height in the vertical direction can be reduced, allowing the device to be made compact.

[0033] The protrusion 32a fits into the positioning opening 31a from one side of the support 31 and protrudes to the other side of the support 31. Therefore, compared to a structure in which the protrusion does not protrude, it is possible to prevent the support 31 from falling off the slider 32.

[0034] In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the rectangular positioning opening 31a and the longitudinal direction of the long plate-shaped protrusion 32a coincide with the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1. Therefore, in the process of moving the support 31 and sliding along the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1, the direction in which the slider 32 and the support 31 receive force from each other becomes the longitudinal direction, thereby increasing the strength of the force reception.

[0035] Since the support 31 is provided with one positioning opening 31a, the slider 32 can be attached to and detached from the support 31 more easily. In the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1, the protrusion 32a is located on the opening direction side of a side pipe connection part 32b fixedly connected to the side pipe 2, and in the vehicle width direction Y, is located inside a rail fitting part 32c fitted into the guide rail 4. Therefore, when the shade guide module 3 is attached to the sunroof device, interference between the protrusion 32a and the side pipe 2 or the guide rail 4 can be prevented.

[0036] The side pipe connecting portion 32b of the slider 32 enters the side pipe 2 through the opening 2a of the side pipe 2. Therefore, the overall height of the shade guide module 3 and the side pipe 2 can be reduced, and the entire shade guide module 3 can be made smaller.

[0037] The slider 32 is fixedly connected to the side pipe 2 via the screw 5. This ensures a strong connection between the side pipe 2 and the slider 32, and allows for easy attachment and detachment. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Various modifications may be made as follows.

[0038] In the above preferred embodiment, the protrusion 32a and the positioning opening 31a are configured such that, when the protrusion 32a is fitted into the positioning opening 31a, the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the opening / closing direction X and the vehicle width direction Y is restricted, but the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the up-down direction Z is not restricted, but this is not limiting. It is sufficient that the slider 32 can move in the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1 by smoothly moving the support 31. In other words, it is sufficient that the relative movement of the support 31 with respect to the slider 32 in the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1 is restricted.

[0039] In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the support 31 is formed in a sheet shape, but is not limited to this. For example, the support 31 may be in the shape of a block having a certain thickness.

[0040] In addition, as long as the slider 32 can move smoothly in the opening and closing direction of the shade 1 by moving the support 31 smoothly, the protrusion 32a of the slider 32 does not need to protrude from the positioning opening 31a of the support 31 to the other side of the support 31.

[0041] In the above preferred embodiment, the positioning opening 31a is rectangular, but the shape of the positioning opening 31a is not limited thereto. For example, the positioning opening 31a may be a polygonal shape such as a circle, a triangle, a trapezoid, etc. Correspondingly, the protrusion 32a of the slider 32 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the positioning opening 31a.

[0042] In the above-described preferred embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the rectangular positioning opening 31a and the longitudinal direction of the long plate-shaped protrusion 32a coincide with the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1, but is not limited thereto. As long as the strength of the protrusion 32a and the support 31 in the direction in which they receive force can be ensured, the longitudinal directions of the protrusion 32a and the positioning opening 31a are not particularly limited.

[0043] In addition, in the above preferred embodiment, one positioning opening 31a is provided, but multiple positioning openings may be provided as necessary. Correspondingly, multiple protrusions 32a on the slider 32 may also be provided.

[0044] In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the protrusion 32a is located closer to the opening direction than the side pipe connecting portion 32b in the opening / closing direction X of the shade 1, and is located more inward than the rail fitting portion 32c in the vehicle width direction Y, but is not limited thereto. As long as it does not affect normal operation of the shade guide module 3, the positional relationship between the protrusion of the slider 32, the side pipe connecting portion, and the rail fitting portion is not particularly limited.

[0045] In the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the side pipe connecting portion 32b of the slider 32 enters the side pipe 2 from the opening 2a and is fixedly connected to the side pipe 2, but is not limited thereto. For example, the side pipe connecting portion 32b of the slider 32 may have a structure in which it encases the side pipe 2. In this case, the slider 32 and the side pipe 2 may be fixedly connected by providing a snap on the side pipe connecting portion 32b of the slider 32, providing a protrusion at a corresponding position on the outer surface of the side pipe 2, and snap-joining the snap and the protrusion.

[0046] In addition, when the side pipe connection portion 32b of the slider 32 enters the side pipe 2 from the opening 2a and is fixedly connected to the side pipe 2, the slider 32 and the side pipe 2 may be fixedly connected by a method such as crimping with a pin, and the fixed connection is not limited to being made via a screw.

[0047] Furthermore, the shade guide module of the present invention is not limited to being applied to a sunroof device of a vehicle, but may also be applied to a sunroof of a house or the like. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. As long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated from, embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art through appropriate modification, combination, deletion, etc. of the above components are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Shade 2 Side Pipe 2a aperture 3 Shade Guide Module 4 Guide rail 4a Slider rail 5 Screws 31 Support 31a Positioning opening 32 Slider 32a protrusion 32b Side pipe connection 32c Rail fitting part

Claims

1. A sunroof device including a shade guide module that guides a shade to move in an opening / closing direction, The shade guide module includes: A support fixed to the shade; a slider matingly connected to the support; The support is provided with a positioning opening; a protrusion formed in a shape corresponding to the positioning opening is provided on the slider at a position corresponding to the positioning opening, the support is fitted and connected to the slider by fitting the protrusion into the positioning opening, and the protrusion and the positioning opening are configured such that, with the protrusion fitted into the positioning opening, a relative movement of the support with respect to the slider in the opening / closing direction is restricted, The sunroof device includes: the shade guide module; A shade, both ends of which in an opening / closing direction are fixed to the supports of the pair of shade guide modules, respectively; a side pipe fixed to the one end of the shade and to which each of the sliders of the pair of shade guide modules is fixedly connected; A pair of guide rails to which the sliders of the pair of shade guide modules are slidably fitted, A sunroof device comprising:

2. The slider has a side pipe connection portion fixedly connected to the side pipe and a rail fitting portion fitted into the guide rail, and the protrusion is located on the opening direction side of the side pipe connection portion in the opening and closing direction of the shade and is located on the inner side of the rail fitting portion in the vehicle width direction.

2. The sunroof device according to claim 1.

3. The side pipe has an opening facing the opening direction, and the side pipe connection portion of the slider enters the side pipe from the opening and is fixedly connected to the side pipe.

3. The sunroof device according to claim 2.

4. The side pipe connection portion is fixedly connected to the side pipe by a screw.

4. The sunroof device according to claim 3.

5. In the shade guide module, the protrusion and the positioning opening are configured such that, when the protrusion is fitted into the positioning opening, the relative movement of the support with respect to the slider in the vehicle width direction is restricted, but the relative movement of the support with respect to the slider in the up-down direction is not restricted.

5. The sunroof device according to claim 1, wherein the sunroof is disposed on the vehicle body.

6. In the shade guide module, the support is formed in a sheet shape.

5. The sunroof device according to claim 1, wherein the sunroof is disposed on the vehicle body.

7. In the shade guide module, when the protrusion is fitted into the positioning opening from one side of the support, the protrusion protrudes from the positioning opening to the other side of the support.

7. The sunroof device according to claim 6.

8. In the shade guide module, the positioning opening is rectangular, the protrusion is a long plate shape corresponding to the rectangular shape, and the longitudinal direction of the positioning opening and the longitudinal direction of the protrusion are aligned with the opening / closing direction.

7. The sunroof device according to claim 6.

9. In the shade guide module, the positioning opening and the protrusion are installed one by one.

5. The sunroof device according to claim 1, wherein the sunroof is disposed on the vehicle body.

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