Window assembly for vehicles

Abstract

A window assembly (1) for installation in the roof (100) of a vehicle comprising a frame (2), and a screen pivotably hinged to the frame (2), wherein the window assembly (1) comprises an opening mechanism including an operating member for a user to operate the screen, wherein operating the screen includes opening and closing the screen and locking and unlocking the screen, and a driving element (4) coupled to the operating member, wherein the driving element (4) is in the form of a longitudinally extending flex shaft (30) which is disposed inside the frame (2) and reciprocally movable along a path extending around at least one of the corners of the frame (2) and within a range of movement between a locked position and an open position, and wherein the operating member comprises a drive wheel (31) for applying the operating force to the flex shaft (30) and either an electric motor or a crank for operating the drive wheel (31).

Description

[0001] WINDOW ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES

[0002] The present invention relates to a window assembly for installation in the roof of a vehicle, in particular, a recreational vehicle like a mobile home.

[0003] Various types of rooftop windows for mobile homes are known in the art. Basically, such window assemblies include transparent glass or plastic dome at the outside which is fixed at one edge to a frame and can be folded open to the above. The windows are operated, which means opened or closed, from inside the vehicle and therefore require certain opening mechanisms which are reachable by the user. Moreover, such rooftop windows can be locked from the inside so that the windows can't be opened from the outside by, for example, the airstream while driving or unauthorized people. In addition, window assemblies for mobile homes are equipped with various accessories like shadings or fly screens for keeping out insects from the interior of the mobile home.

[0004] Hence, in the conceptual work of creating window assemblies for recreational vehicles, it is always challenging to include all the required functional components while keeping the dimension in the height direction on a low level at the same time, predominantly for reducing the air resistance during the ride. Further, is also challenging to install the various accessories in a way that they do not interfere with each other during operation. For example, window assemblies are known which have fly screen at the innermost side applied to the window frame. In such a construction, however, when the window is opened and closed by hand, the fly screen has 2B removed before the window can be operated, which is disadvantages as insects can enter the mobile home in this period of time.

[0005] The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide for an improved window assembly for roofs of recreational vehicles having a compact construction and which is easy and intuitively to operate.

[0006] The solution provided by the present invention for the above object is a window assembly for installation in the roof of a vehicle comprising a frame having a plurality of edges and corners, thereby defining a plane, and a screen being hinged to the frame with an edge of the screen so as to be pivotally openable in an upward direction. The window assembly comprises an opening mechanism including an operating member for a user to operate the screen, wherein operating the screen includes opening and closing the screen and locking and unlocking the screen when the screen is closed, and a driving element coupled to the operating member, the driving element being configured to receive an operating force applied by the operating member for operating the screen. The driving element is in the form of a longitudinally extending flex shaft which is disposed inside the frame and reciprocally movable along a path extending around at least one of the corners of the frame and within a range of movement between a locked position and an open position of the flex shaft. By moving the flex shaft in one direction starting from the locked position via an intermediate unlocked position to the open position of the flex shaft, the initially closed and locked screen is subsequently unlocked and opened, and, by moving the flex shaft in the reverse direction starting from the open position via the unlocked position to the locked position of the flex shaft, the initially open screen is subsequently closed and locked. The operating member comprises a drive wheel for applying the operating force to the flex shaft and either an electric motor or a crank for operating the drive wheel.

[0007] In the constructional design of the operating mechanism of the present invention, a compact design of the window assembly can be achieved. In particular, the flex shaft works as a driving member for the operating mechanism. That is, at a point of the flex shaft, preferably in the vicinity of a leading end of the flex shaft, the operating force is transmitted to further components of the operating mechanism and this point of the flex shaft moves during operation exclusively along the straight path which is preferably oriented horizontally within an edge of the frame. By this restricted range of movement, the compact overall technical design of the window assembly can be achieved.

[0008] Flex shafts are generally known in the art. Applications for using flex shafts include the transmission of rotational movements around corners. However, also pushing and pulling forces can be transmitted via the flex shaft. Preferably, the flex shaft is bendable with respect to the course of the path, and the flex shaft is stiff in the longitudinal extension, so that pushing and pulling forces as the operating forces can be transmitted via the flex shaft, wherein the flex shaft comprises helical grooves on its outer surface along its longitudinal extension and the drive wheel is formed as a gear wheel which engages correspondingly in the helical grooves. Thereby, the flex shaft can be securely controlled.

[0009] More preferably, the flex shaft is composed of a wound metal wire. This results in a stable constitution of the flex shaft.

[0010] Even further preferably, the flex shaft is guided at least in part within a rigid tube which is fixed with respect to the frame and which defines at least part of the path along which the flex shaft is movable. This ensures that the flexible shaft does not buckle during operation and, in particular, that the pushing forces are transmitted reliably.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operating member comprises the crank for operating the drive wheel, wherein the crank is disposed at the frame and is operable by the user from the inside of the vehicle, in a mounted state of the window assembly. That is, the crank is operated continuously in one direction for operating, for example, the closed and locked screen to be subsequently unlocked and finally opened or, the other way around, operating the open window to be subsequently closed and locked. This provides for smooth and intuitive operation of the window assembly. More preferably, the crank comprises a crank shaft operatively connected to the drive wheel, a crank arm connected to the crank shaft and a handle portion attached to the crank arm. Thereby, the crank is preferably mounted in the frame such that the crank is retractable into the frame and extendable out of the frame, respectively, in the direction of the crank shaft, so the crank can be stowed away when not needed.

[0012] Still further preferably, the crank arm comprises a first segment and a second segment pivotally connected to the first segment, so that the second segment is foldable towards the first segment, thereby establishing a folded state of the crank. This makes the crank small when it is to be stowed. On the other hand, when it is used, the longer crank arm length allows greater torque to be generated.

[0013] As such, it is preferable that the crank is retractable into the frame in the folded state, thereby making the crank less eye-catching.

[0014] It is also preferable that the second segment of the crank arm includes a surface that corresponds to a surface contour of the frame at an area where the crank is disposed, so that, in the retracted state, the crank is flush with the surface of the frame. This provides for a smooth appearance of the window assembly from inside the vehicle, when the crank is retracted into the frame.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening mechanism comprises two of the flex shafts, which extend from two opposite edges of the frame, each around the corresponding corner of the frame to one common edge of the frame at which the operating member is disposed, so that both flex shafts are commonly driven by the drive wheel. This provides for a balanced construction in terms of forces, which promotes the longevity of the entire construction.

[0016] Preferably, in an area of the operating member, the flex shafts are oriented parallel to each other and the drive wheel is interposed between the flex shafts, such that, when the drive wheel is operated, the flex shafts are driven in opposite directions. As a result, the leading ends of the flex shafts move simultaneously in the same direction.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for each flex shaft comprised by the opening mechanism, the opening mechanism further includes a closure element fixedly coupled to a leading end of the respective flex shaft, a screen lock and a stay, wherein the closure element is configured to transmit the operating force for locking the screen in the closed state to the corresponding screen lock, and to transmit the operating force for opening and closing the screen to the corresponding stay. As a result, the closure element which receives the operating force by the flex shaft moves only back-and-forth along a straight path, which is arranged preferably horizontally inside one edge of the frame. This particularly enables the compacts structural design of the window assembly.

[0018] The present invention will now be illustrated by embodiments with reference to the appended drawings, in which

[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the window assembly,

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the window assembly,

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the window is open,

[0022] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of an embodiment,

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment,

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a detail of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment,

[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a detail of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment,

[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates a detail of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 9 shows functional components of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment,

[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a functional component of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment

[0029] FIG. 11 is another perspective view of a functional component of the opening mechanism according to an embodiment

[0030] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view through the frame of the window assembly according to an embodiment,

[0031] FIG. 13 is a perspective view on an embodiment of the window assembly from inside the vehicle,

[0032] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view along the frame of the window assembly according an embodiment, FIG. 15 is another cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14,

[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view on another embodiment of the window assembly from inside the vehicle,

[0034] FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 16,

[0035] FIG. 18 illustrates an actuation of the embodiment of FIG.16,

[0036] FIG. 19 illustrates a further actuation of the embodiment of FIG.16,

[0037] FIG. 20 illustrates a further actuation of the embodiment of FIG.16,

[0038] FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 16,

[0039] FIG. 22 shows perspective views on a detail of an embodiment,

[0040] FIG. 23 shows an exploded view on a detail of an embodiment, and

[0041] FIG. 24 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment.

[0042] In FIGS. 1 and 2, different embodiments of the window assembly 1 are shown as a side view and in a state in which the window assembly 1 is mounted to the roof 100 of a vehicle. The openable screen 3 of the window is located outside the vehicle while the interior lining 2A of the window frame 2 is visible from the interior of the vehicle. The screen 3 is predominantly shaped flatly and bent obliquely downwards to the roof 100 at the edges. The screen 3 is generally transparent and is usually made of a synthetic material or glass generally known in the art. Between the screen 3 and the roof 100, a gap is present which provides for ventilation and air exchange between the outside and inside of the vehicle. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the window assembly 1 includes an adapter frame 20 for the rooftop at one side of which the spoiler 21 is formed. The spoiler 21 is shaped like a raised barrier all the way along the respective edge of the adapter frame 20 and provides for improved aerodynamics in order to lower the noise level generated by the airstream during driving. As can be seen from the illustrated side view, the outer contour of the spoiler 21 is continuous with the surface of the screen 3 at the respective edge.

[0043] Any indications herein with respect to a direction or an orientation in space like, for example, "up", "above", "down", "below" or the like, unless specifically indicated otherwise, are to be understood with respect to the window assembly being mounted into the roof of a vehicle. Different advantageous aspects of the window assembly according to the present invention are described in the following. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the various aspects, unless being in the specific mutual interaction, can be combined arbitrarily with each other as desired.

[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the window assembly 1 which is as well mounted to the roof 100 of a vehicle and in which the window is open. In the open state, the frame 2 of the window assembly 1 is visible, which is completely covered by the screen 3 when the window is closed. The screen 3 is hinged at one side to the frame 2 and is additionally supported by the two stays 7 by means of which the screen 3 is opened and closed. At the inside of the screen 3 (the side facing downwards when the screen is closed), an additional inner screen 22 is present which is supported by a circumferential edge profile 23 fixedly coupled to the screen 2. The edge profile 23 includes an edge which, in the closed state of the window, is facing downwards and fits with a corresponding inferential groove at the frame 2 in which a gasket 24 is accommodated. Thereby, the downward facing edge contacts the gasket 24 when the windows closed and seals the window assembly. According to an embodiment, however, the gasket 24 also can be removed in order to provide for forced ventilation when the window is closed. This is explained in further detail with respect to FIG. 15 below.

[0045] The stays 7 are connected with one side to the inner screen 22 via respective brackets, and are coupled with the other side with the frame 2. Furthermore, pins 3A are provided to the screen 3 which are located as well inside the circumferential edge profile 23 and mounted to the inner screen 22. Each pin 3A can engage with the respective screen lock 6 which is coupled to the frame 2. With respect to the gasket groove of the frame 2, stays 7 and screen locks 6 are arranged closer to the window opening defined by the frame.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the window assembly 1 , in which the flyscreen 18 is provided. For reasons of visibility, the basic mesh structure of the flyscreen 18 is not shown. The flyscreen 18 is enforced by a flyscreen frame that has further enforcement structures as can be identified in FIG. 4. The flyscreen 18 is placed onto the innermost upper edge of the frame 2 inside the window opening. Thereby, the flyscreen 18 is right underneath the screen 3 and does, therefore, not interfere with the operation of the window assembly 1 from inside the vehicle according to the embodiments described further below.

[0047] Next, the opening mechanism according to an embodiment of the window assembly 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 showing several relevant states of the window assembly 1 . FIG. 5 shows the state where the window or screen 3 is closed and locked, FIG. 6 illustrates the closed and unlocked position, and FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show a partially open and the completely open position. The closure element 5 is disposed inside an edge of the frame 2 along which it can slide back-and-forth, thereby actuating the screen 3 and locking / unlocking the screen 3. The stay 7 is basically formed of an elongated stay body 7A with first and second end portions 7B and 7C. With the first end portion 7B, the stay 7 is pivotally coupled to the screen 3 via the first joint P1 . With the second end portion 7C, the stay 7 is hingedly coupled to the closure element 5 by means of corresponding structural elements applied to the respective components. In particular, at the second end portion 7C of the stay 7, the axis shaft 7D is provided which is engaged with and rotates about the first axis A1 within the axis shaft accommodation 5A of the closure element 5, when the screen is opened or closed. The opening operation is illustrated subsequently by FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

[0048] The spring 8 is arranged between the stay 7 and the screen 3, and applies a spring force which counteracts the weight force of the screen 3. The screen 8 is suspended between the first suspension point 8A at the screen 3 or, respectively, a bracket mounted to the screen 3 or the additional inner screen 22, and the second suspension point 8B. Thereby, it is important that a connection line between the first and second suspension points 8A and 8B are always located below the first joint P1 , regardless of the position of the screen 3. Thereby, in each position of the screen, the spring force acts on the screen 3 in the opening direction. Moreover, the spring 8 and the suspension points 8A and 8B are configured and selected such that the screen 3 is ideally in equilibrium, regardless of the position of the screen 3, so that the screen 3 will not fall down to the closed position, in case the closure element 5 could slide freely and without resistance along the straight path between the open position and the closed position of the closure element 5. As can be gathered from FIGS. 6-8, the spring 8 retracts itself the more the screen 3 is opened and, thus, the spring 8 force decreases as the screen is opened and increases as the screen 3 is closed.

[0049] The axis shaft accommodation 5A has an annular rim which encloses the axis shaft 7D of the stay 7. In the shown embodiment, the axis shaft accommodation 5A is a circumferential through hole through a wall part of the closure element 5 into which the axis shaft 7D is hinged. Additionally, however, the annular rim is open at one side from which the first guiding portion 5B extends away. Further, the axis shaft 7D, in a cross-sectional view thereof, is cut flat at two opposite sides. Accordingly, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the screen 3 is closed, the stay 7 is oriented with respect to the closure element 5 such that the axis shaft 7D can pass through the open side of the annular rim, due to the lower diameter of the axis shaft 7D between its cut flat sides.

[0050] Now, when the closure member 5 moves or is pushed from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the direction of the screen lock 6, the axis shaft 7D moves within the first guiding portion 5B. In this operation, the closure element 5 actuates the screen lock 6 or, more precisely, pushes away the lower part of the screen lock 6 causing the screen lock 6 to pivot about the second joint P2. The result of this operation is shown in FIG. 5.

[0051] The screen lock 6 which is best shown in FIG. 9 is designed as a hook which is pivotally suspended at the second joint P2 basically at the center of the hook body 6A. The lower part of the hook body 6A works as a lever which is actuated, i.e. pushed or pulled back-and-forth, by the closure element 5. At the upper part of the hook body 6A, first prong 6C and second prong 6D and the gap formed in between together form the receiving portion 6B of the screen lock 6 for receiving the pin 3A mounted to the screen 3 or, respectively, the additional inner screen 22. In particular, the second prong 6D is longer than the first prong 6C and thereby, when the window is getting closed, the pin 3A comes into a halt right at the opening of the gap between first and second prongs 6C and 6D. Now, in this closed but still unlocked state of the window, when the hook is pushed at the lower part of the hook body 6A by the closure member 5, the screen lock 6 is caused to rotate about the second joint P2 and thereby the pin 3A enters the gap between the first and second prongs 6C and 6D. As a result, the hook is in the engaged position, meaning that the hook is engaged with the pin 3A, thereby locking the screen 3.

[0052] The unlocking procedure works exactly the other way round. That is, when the closure element 5 is moved from the locked position, the lower part of the screen lock 6 is pulled alongside causing the hook to rotate from the engaged position to the released position. When the hook is released from the closure element 5 and is not actuated by the closure element 5, the hook is biased by the biasing member 9 so as to be kept in the released position, ready for receiving the pin 3A. The terms released position and engaged position with respect to the hook (the screen lock 6) refer to its relation to the pin 3A. Accordingly, in the engaged position, the screen 3 is held closed by the pin 3A being engaged in the receiving portion 6B of the screen lock 6.

[0053] FIG. 10 shows details of the closure element 5 in a perspective view, including a part of the stay 7. In particular, the second guiding portion 5C can be seen, which is disposed at an inner wall part of the closure element 5 where the stay 7 is accommodated. The closure element 5 is in an open position so that the structure of the second guiding portion 5C is visible and not hidden by the stay 7. The second guiding portion 5C has a curved section 5C2 which is oriented predominantly upwards where the curved section 5C2 has an open end. The stay 7, on the other hand, is provided with the guiding pin 7E. The guiding pin 7E enters the curved section 5C2 of the second guiding portion 5C when the screen 3 is closed and the stay 7 pivots downward accordingly. Once the guiding pin 7E abuts at the lower end of the curved section 5C2, the screen 3 is closed and the closure element 5 is in the closed but still unlocked position. Now, when the above described locking operation is carried out and the closure element 5 is moved from the unlocked position (FIG. 6) to the locked position (FIG. 5), the guiding pin 7E proceeds within the second guiding portion 5C along the straight section 5C1 . Once the guiding pin 7E abuts the dead end of the straight section 5C1 of the second guiding portion 5C, the closure element 5 is in the locked position in the screen 3 is thus locked.

[0054] FIG. 11 shows the same details of FIG. 10 but from another perspective. Here, the guiding pin 7E is at the entrance of the curved section 5C2 of the second guiding portion 5C. When the window is closed starting from the state shown in figure 11 , the mutual cooperation between the various components of the operating mechanism is apparent. As mentioned above, when the lower part, that is, the second end portion 7C of the stay 7 pivots downwards and accommodates inside the closure element 5, the axis shaft 7D rotates so that the cut flat sides of the axis shaft 7D are aligned with the first guiding portion 5B of the axis shaft accommodation 5A. Simultaneously, the guiding pin 7E proceeds downwards along the straight section 5C1 of the second guiding portion 5C.

[0055] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view through the frame 2 and across the path of the closure element 5. In this regard, the channel within the respective edge of the frame 2 in which the closure element 5 slides back and forth during opening and closing or locking / unlocking the screen 3 is visible. Said channel encloses the closure element 5 and a slit is provided at the top of the channel for the stay 7 to pass through. Next to the channel for the closure element 5, the guiding channel 16 is arranged which has a perforated plate 17 at its ground. The guiding channel 16 will be explained in the following in more detail with respect to a specific embodiment. From the inside of the vehicle, the shading 19 is operable, which is mounted to and guided by the interior lining 2A of the frame 2.

[0056] In FIGS. 13 to 15 and embodiment concerning the opening mechanism is illustrated, in which the screen 3 is operated by the bar 10 (operating member). The bar 10 is beneath the screen 3 and has an elongated straight form. The bar 10 extends between two opposite sides of the frame 2 and has a grip portion in the middle. At each of the ends of the bar 10, the bar 10 is connected to a sled 11 functioning as the driving element 4 of the opening mechanism. From inside the vehicle, the sleds 11 are not visible and the bar 10 is connected to the sleds 11 through respective slits provided at an inner and vertical wall part of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 13. In the operation of the window assembly 1 , that is, when the screen 3 is opened, closed or locked / unlocked, the bar 10 is pushed laterally, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the bar 10 along a horizontal travel plane. In analogy to the movement of the closure element 5 described above with respect to FIGS. 5 to 8, also the bar 10 is moved starting, for example, from the locked position, continuously in one direction via the unlocked position to the open position, in which the screen 3 is open. In this operation, also the sleds 11 and the closure elements 5 move simultaneously with the bar 10. The sled 11 includes the securing member 12 and the sliding shoe 14. During operation, the sled 11 moves inside and along the guiding channel 16 over the perforated plate 17 already mentioned above. The position of the bar 10 can be fixed almost continuously all the way along the guiding channel 16 by means of the teeth 13 being engageable with the perforation of the perforated plate 17. In order to achieve this, the securing member 12 has the form of a rocker and is accommodated within the sliding shoe 14. At one side of the securing member 12, the teeth 13 are provided which can move up and down with the securing member 12 rocking back and forth within the sliding shoe 14. The rocking movement of the securing member 12 is controlled as well by the bar 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the axis of the bar 10 is laterally offset the rocker axis A2 of the securing member 12. Thus, the securing member 12 is caused to rock about the rocker axis A2 by vertically moving the bar 10 up and down. In particular, depending on the amount of the lateral offset the bar 10 has from the rocker axis A2, only a very small vertical movement of the bar 10 is necessary to engage or release the teeth 13 from the perforated plate 17 and, thus, fixing and releasing the position of the bar 10 with respect to its horizontal movement in the operation of the screen 3.

[0057] The two rocking positions of the securing member 12 are illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. In FIG. 15, the bar 10 has been pushed downwards which has caused the thus securing member 12 to rock to the right. Thus, the teeth 13 which are arranged at the underside of the left part of the securing member 12 are retracted from the perforated plate 17 to the above. Consequently, in the position shown in FIG. 14, the bar 10 is movable for operating the screen 3. The sliding shoe 14 has the holes 15 for the teeth 13 to pass through and to engage with the perforated plate 17. Now, when the bar 10 is pushed upwards, the securing member 12 rocks about the rocker axis A2 to the left causing the teeth 13 to proceed downwards through the holes 15 and to engage with the perforation of the perforated plate 17. The result of this operation is illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0058] In FIG. 15, another advantageous aspect is illustrated, which is however not specifically linked to the fact that the operating member is the bar 10. Namely, as already mentioned above with respect to FIG. 3, the circumferential edge profile 23 has an edge that seals the window by engaging with the gaskets 24. However, gaskets 24 can be removed by the user, if desired, and thereby, forced ventilation is provided. That is, without gaskets 24, ambient air from the outside can pass through between the screen 3 and the roof 100 of the vehicle, and between the respective edge of the circumferential edge profile 23 and the groove in which otherwise the gasket 24 is disposed. From there on, the air can freely pass to the inside of the vehicle. Forced ventilation is an important concept for mobile homes in which, for example, meal is prepared by gas cookers, or in situations when a number of people stays long time in the mobile home due to rainy weather or the like.

[0059] As an alternative for driving the closure element 5 via the sled 11 by operating the bar 10, another embodiment concerning the operation of window assembly 1 can is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 which have been discussed already in connection with the principal opening mechanism of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the driving element 4 which drives closure element 5 is the flex shaft 30. Flex shafts are known in the art and are generally stiff and rigid in the longitudinal direction, but flexible in the lateral directions. Thereby, the flex shaft 30 can transmit pushing and pulling forces also along a curved path from a corresponding operating member. The flex shaft 30 is arranged within the frame 2 and is guided within the rigid tube 32 to the closure element 5 with which the flex shaft 30 is fixedly coupled. Accordingly, the movement of the closure element 5 for operating the screen 3 is caused by the force transmitted by the flex shaft 30. The operating force, in turn, make origin from different sources. According to the present embodiment, however, the operating force is applied by the crank 33 illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 21 and transmitted via the drive wheel 31 to the flex shaft 30. FIG. 16 provides a total view on the window assembly according to the embodiment with the crank 33 disposed at an area of the interior lining 2A of the frame 2. The crank 33 is retractable into the frame and extendable out of the frame, respectively. FIGS. 17 to 20 illustrate the corresponding procedure. In FIG. 17, the crank 33 is retracted entirely below the surface of the interior lining 2A. Extending and retracting the crank 33 works with a push-push mechanism. The location of the crank 33 in this embodiment is indicated by the word "push". Once pushed, the crank 33 extends downwards as shown in FIG. 18. Then, the crank arm 33A of the crank 33 can be unfolded as it is illustrated in FIG. 19. As a result, the crank arm 33A is composed of a first segment 33A1 and a second segment 33A2. The second segment 33A2 includes a surface which, in the retracted position of the crank 33 is flush with the surface of the interior lining 2A of the frame 2. Once the crank 33 is unfolded, the crank 33 can be operated by the handle portion 33C and, thereby, the manual force is transmitted via the crankshaft 33B to the drive wheel 31 shown in FIG. 21 .

[0060] The drive wheel 31 finally drives the flex shaft 30. For this purpose, the drive wheel 31 fits with the outer contour of the flex shaft 30 which is in the form of helical grooves along the extension of the flex shaft 30. Accordingly, the drive wheel is formed as a gear wheel engaging into the helical grooves of the flex shaft 30. Two of the flex shafts 30 are provided in parallel and one above the other and the drive wheel 31 is interposed between the flex shafts 30. Upon operation of the drive wheel 31 , the flex shafts 30 are caused to proceed in opposite directions, which results in moving the corresponding closure elements 5 to which the flex shafts 30 are connected in the same direction, i.e. either in the direction towards the open position of the closure element 5 or in the direction towards the locked position of the closure element 5.

[0061] FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate a detail with respect to the embodiment in which the bar 10 is the operating member of the window assembly 1 . In these figures, only the components including the bar 10, the closure member and the sled 11 , which consists of the securing member 12 (including the teeth 13) and the sliding shoe 14 are shown, while the other components are blanked out. In particular, the closure member and the securing member can mutually engage with each other by the tongue and groove latch L which keeps the rocking position of the securing member 12 in the position in which the teeth13 engage with the perforated plate 17. In the upper part of FIG. 22, teeth 13 are disengaged from the perforation and, in this position, also the tongue and groove latch L is disengaged. Once the bar 10 is operated to fix the position of the screen 3 at a desired opening angle, which is illustrated in the lower part of FIG. 22, the tongue and the groove of the tongue and groove latch L engage with each other. For a better visualization of this aspect, FIG. 23 shows two different perspectives of exploded views, when the tongue and groove latch L is engaged. The tongue snaps into the groove in the engaged position in order to provide for a certain force resistance, once the bar10 is intended to be operated again. By means of FIG. 24, another advantageous aspect with respect to the embodiment in which the bar 10 is the operating member of the window assembly 1 can be identified. FIG. 24 shows a cross- sectional view similar to that of FIG. 12, but here, the cross-section goes right through the bar 10, the sliding member 12 and the closure element 5, all of which are mechanically coupled with each other. This mechanical coupling, in particular, is an indirect connection of the bar 10 to the mechanism via a lateral labyrinth. The lateral labyrinth is composed of the various wall parts of the frame 2 shown in the cross-section of FIG. 24. In particular, the vertical wall parts of the frame, which define the window opening, do not only serve to hide the internal mechanics of the frame 2. In addition, the upper vertical wall part 34 closes at the top with an edge 35, which is perfectly suitable for mounting the flyscreen 18 on it. As such, the flyscreen 18 can rest on the frame 2 and does not interfere with the operation of the bar 10. Further, the labyrinth is designed such that mosquitoes cannot slip through and thereby circumvent the flyscreen 18.

[0062] REFERENCE SIGNS Window assembly 00 Roof Frame A Interior lining Screen A Pin Driving element Closure element A Axis shaft accommodation B First guiding portion C Second guiding portion C1 Straight section C2 Curved section Screen lock A Hook body B Receiving portion C First prong D Second prong Stay A Stay body B First end portion C Second end portion D Axis shaft E Guiding pin Spring member A First suspension point 8B

[0063] Second suspension point Biasing member 0 Bar 1 Sled 2 Securing member 3 Tooth 4 Sliding shoe 5 Hole 6 Guiding channel 7 Perforated plate 8 Flyscreen 19 Shading

[0064] 20 Adapter frame

[0065] 21 Spoiler

[0066] 22 Inner screen

[0067] 23 Edge profile

[0068] 24 Gasket

[0069] 30 Flex shaft

[0070] 31 Drive wheel

[0071] 32 Rigid tube

[0072] 33 Crank

[0073] 33A Crank arm

[0074] 33A1 First segment

[0075] 33A2 Second segment

[0076] 33B Crank shaft

[0077] 33C Handle portion

[0078] 34 Upper vertical wall part

[0079] 35 Edge

[0080] A1 First axis (defined by the first and second structural elements

[0081] A2 Rocker axis

[0082] L Tongue and groove latch

[0083] P1 First joint (screen / stay)

[0084] P2 Second joint (screen lock / frame)

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A window assembly (1) for installation in the roof (100) of a vehicle comprising a frame (2) having a plurality of edges and corners, thereby defining a plane, and a screen being hinged to the frame (2) with an edge of the screen so as to be pivotally openable in an upward direction, wherein the window assembly (1) comprises an opening mechanism including an operating member for a user to operate the screen, wherein operating the screen includes opening and closing the screen and locking and unlocking the screen when the screen is closed, and a driving element (4) coupled to the operating member, the driving element (4) being configured to receive an operating force applied by the operating member for operating the screen, wherein the driving element (4) is in the form of a longitudinally extending flex shaft (30) which is disposed inside the frame (2) and reciprocally movable along a path extending around at least one of the corners of the frame (2) and within a range of movement between a locked position and an open position of the flex shaft (30), wherein, by moving the flex shaft (30) in one direction starting from the locked position via an intermediate unlocked position to the open position of the flex shaft (30), the initially closed and locked screen is subsequently unlocked and opened, and, by moving the flex shaft (30) in the reverse direction starting from the open position via the unlocked position to the locked position of the flex shaft (30), the initially open screen is subsequently closed and locked, and wherein the operating member comprises a drive wheel (31) for applying the operating force to the flex shaft (30) and either an electric motor or a crank for operating the drive wheel (31).

2. The window assembly (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the flex shaft (30) is bendable with respect to the course of the path, and the flex shaft (30) is stiff in the longitudinal extension, so that pushing and pulling forces as the operating forces can be transmitted via the flex shaft (30), wherein the flex shaft (30) comprises helical grooves on its outer surface along its longitudinal extension and the drive wheel (31) is formed as a gear wheel which engages correspondingly in the helical grooves.

3. The window assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flex shaft (30) is composed of a wound metal wire.

4. The window assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flex shaft (30) is guided at least in part within a rigid tube (32) which is fixed with respect to the frame (2) and which defines at least part of the path along which the flex shaft (30) is movable.

5. The window assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operating member comprises the crank (33) for operating the drive wheel (31), wherein the crank (33) is disposed at the frame (2) and is operable by the user from the inside of the vehicle, in a mounted state of the window assembly (1).

6. The window assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the crank (33) comprises a crank shaft (33B) operatively connected to the drive wheel (31), a crank arm (33A) connected to the crank shaft (33B) and a handle portion (33C) attached to the crank arm (33A).

7. The window assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the crank (33) is mounted in the frame (2) such that the crank (33) is retractable into the frame (2) and extendable out of the frame (2), respectively, in the direction of the crank shaft (33B).

8. The window assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the crank arm (33A) comprises a first segment (33A1) and a second segment (33A2) pivotally connected to the first segment (33A1), so that the second segment (33A2) is foldable towards the first segment (33A1), thereby establishing a folded state of the crank (33).

9. The window assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the crank (33) is retractable into the frame (2) in the folded state.

10. The window assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second segment (33A2) of the crank arm (33A) includes a surface that corresponds to a surface contour of the frame (2) at an area where the crank (33) is disposed, so that, in the retracted state, the crank (33) is flush with the surface of the frame (2).

11. The window assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding, wherein the opening mechanism comprises two of the flex shafts (30), which extend from two opposite edges of the frame (2), each around the corresponding corner of the frame (2) to one common edge of the frame (2) at which the operating member is disposed, so that both flex shafts (30) are commonly driven by the drive wheel (31).

12. The window assembly (1) according to claim 11 , wherein, in an area of the operating member, the flex shafts (30) are oriented parallel to each other and the drive wheel (31) is interposed between the flex shafts (30), such that, when the drive wheel (31) is operated, the flex shafts (30) are driven in opposite directions.

13. The window assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding, wherein, for each flex shaft (30) comprised by the opening mechanism, the opening mechanism further includes a closureelement (5) fixedly coupled to a leading end of the respective flex shaft (30), a screen lock (6) and a stay (7), wherein the closure element (5) is configured to transmit the operating force for locking the screen in the closed state to the corresponding screen lock (6), and to transmit the operating force for opening and closing the screen to the corresponding stay (7).

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