Vehicle roof cover having an electric device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover (3) of a vehicle roof (1), having: a frame element (10) which is attached to the cover underside (13) by means of a cover foamed portion (11) and extends along a cover edge (14); an electric device (28); and a connection cable which is arranged to run along the frame element (10) and contacts the electric device (28) at two terminals (27) spaced apart from one another. According to the invention, the connection cable is a ribbon cable (21) which rests flat against the cover underside (13) directly or by means of an intermediate layer (23) and is foamed in so as to be covered by the cover foamed portion (11).

Description

[0001] Vehicle roof cover with an electrical device

[0002] The invention relates to a cover of a vehicle roof with a frame element which is attached to the underside of the cover by means of a foamed cover and extends along a cover edge, with an electrical device and with a connecting cable which is arranged running along the frame element and contacts the electrical device at two spaced-apart connections.

[0003] In such a cover with a multi-core round cable as the connecting cable, a groove is formed next to the frame element in the cover foam, opening towards the underside of the cover, into which the round cable is inserted. A cover covers the round cable. However, for its fixation in the cover foam, the cover requires its own groove next to the groove for the round cable, for example, which requires additional installation space, necessitating a wider cover foam. Furthermore, the cover negatively impacts the appearance of the underside of the cover facing the vehicle interior.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating a cover mentioned above that is improved with regard to the connecting cable and its installation on the underside of the cover. This object is achieved according to the invention in the cover mentioned above in that the connecting cable is a ribbon cable that lies flat against the underside of the cover, either directly or via an intermediate layer, and is foamed over by the cover foam.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The ribbon cable foamed into the lid foam replaces a round cable, for which a groove or channel would otherwise have to be formed in the lid foam to accommodate the round cable. The use of the foamed ribbon cable also eliminates the need for a separate cover or panel, which would require a fastening device. Furthermore, an assembly step is saved. The ribbon cable can be arranged next to the frame element or at least partially beneath the frame element. This reduces the installation space required for the ribbon cable transversely to the frame element and in particular between the frame element and the associated lid edge, e.g. the rear lid edge. The foamed ribbon cable improves the visual appearance due to the even surface of the lid foam now that there is no panel.The ribbon cable forms, in particular, a synchronization cable that connects electronic components of an electrical device arranged on the two opposite side regions of the cover. The ribbon cable thus extends essentially over the entire length of the frame element at one edge of the cover or over at least a partial length of the frame element. The intermediate layer can serve, for example, to fix the ribbon cable to the cover before and during foaming of the cover foam in a foaming tool.

[0007] The lid is formed, in particular, by a pane, glass pane, or laminated glass pane. The lid underside is therefore essentially the pane underside, to which the lid foam and the frame element are foamed. The frame element is expediently a part of a lid frame, which is formed, in particular, continuously on the lid underside.

[0008] The frame element preferably has a closed cross-section. The frame element is, for example, tubular with a rectangular cross-section. The frame element is, in particular, an elongated component and can also contain transition parts at both ends to adjoining frame components of the cover frame. The frame element is preferably a reinforcing element for the pane or the cover and can also be provided for coupling or attaching additional cover components or bearing components of the cover. In principle, the frame element with the ribbon cable can be provided on each of the side edges of the cover.

[0009] The ribbon cable has several electrically conductive wires, conductors or tracks that are essentially arranged next to each other in one plane and are embedded, for example, in a plastic material such as PVC.

[0010] The cover is expediently a movable roof element of a vehicle roof. The cover is, in particular, part of an openable roof system, such as a spoiler roof or a sliding roof, and, in its closed position, is arranged in a roof opening of the vehicle roof. The cover is movably mounted on the vehicle roof by means of a bearing device and can be displaced in a longitudinal opening movement over an adjacent roof surface section or under such a roof surface section. The cover can also be a fixed, non-openable roof element, e.g., an FTM or Fixed Type Module.

[0011] Preferably, the ribbon cable comprises two contact ends in the region of its two opposite ends, which are arranged outside the foamed cover and contact the two terminals. The contact ends, which are uncovered and exposed after the foamed cover has been applied, are thus available for contact via the terminals of the electrical device, which is preferably attached to the cover or the underside of the pane after the foamed cover has been applied.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the ribbon cable is arranged entirely or partially between the frame element and the underside of the cover. According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the ribbon cable is arranged laterally next to the frame element. The ribbon cable is arranged on one of the two long sides of the frame element, i.e., on the outer side of the frame element facing the edge of the cover, or on the opposite inner side of the frame element facing inward toward the cover.

[0013] The ribbon cable expediently includes a cable end section that protrudes toward the cover and contains the contact end. The cable end section extends, for example, at an approximately right angle from the longitudinally extending ribbon cable toward the cover. This cable end section, which deviates from the longitudinal direction of the ribbon cable, is expediently arranged by bending or folding it in the desired direction.

[0014] If the ribbon cable is arranged between the frame element and the lid edge, it is expediently provided that the respective cable end section runs under the frame element, towards the lid. The cable end section thus passes under the frame element. The contact end is located towards the lid, away from the foamed-in frame element. In an alternative design, the respective cable end section is placed over the frame element on the side of the frame element facing away from the pane and is covered by the lid foam. In this embodiment, too, the contact end is located towards the lid, away from the foamed-in frame element.

[0015] The ribbon cable is expediently secured to the underside of the cover by means of an intermediate layer formed by an adhesive or adhesive tape. Such a fixation can also be provided for the cable end section placed over the frame element, as well as for the cable end section arranged on the underside of the cover. Alternatively or additionally, a mechanical, in particular force-fitting and / or positive fastening and / or fixation can also be provided.

[0016] A preferred embodiment provides that the ribbon cable and the area of ​​the lid underside covered by the lid foam are covered by an adhesion promoter layer that supports the adhesion of the lid foam. This at least reduces any reduction in the adhesive force of the lid foam, particularly in the area of ​​the ribbon cable, to the lid or disc underside.

[0017] A cover attached to the lid or the underside of the lid conveniently covers the contact end protruding from the lid's foam. This ensures both protection and a visually appealing appearance. The cover can also serve as a cover for the electrical device.

[0018] The electrical device expediently contains at least one light coupling unit on each of the two side areas of the cover for coupling light into the pane. The light coupling unit is connected to the corresponding contact end via the respective connection.

[0019] One embodiment provides that the electrical device has at least one functional film, such as an electrical film or a luminous film, which is arranged, for example, on the pane or between the pane and a second pane of a laminated glass pane of the cover formed by both panes, and can be contacted via the connections. The pane or laminated glass pane therefore has, for example, an inner pane and an outer pane, between which the functional film is laminated using laminate layers. The functional film or electrical film is, for example, a switchable PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) film or an LC film, via which the passage of light through the pane can be controlled. The electrical device can also contain solar cells.

[0020] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment of a cover according to the invention with reference to the drawing. It shows:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle roof with an adjustable cover arranged in a roof opening in the closed position;

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a rear edge region of the lid with a frame element and a ribbon cable which are foamed into a lid foam;

[0023] Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the underside of the cover with the ribbon cable arranged thereon before the cover foam is attached;

[0024] Fig. 4 in a view according to Fig. 3 the underside of the cover with the frame element arranged next to the ribbon cable before the cover foam is attached;

[0025] Fig. 5 in an isometric view the underside of the lid with the foamed lid foam;

[0026] Fig. 6 is an isometric view, enlarged compared to Fig. 5, of a rear corner area of ​​the cover with a free contact end of the ribbon cable;

[0027] Fig. 7 shows a bottom view of a lateral edge region of the cover with light coupling elements of an electrical device arranged in a longitudinal row on its underside; Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along the section plane AA in Fig. 7 of the lateral edge region of the cover; and

[0028] Fig. 9 in a cross-sectional view according to Fig. 2 the rear edge region of the cover with an alternative arrangement of the cable end section of the ribbon cable covering the frame element.

[0029] A vehicle roof 1 of a vehicle, such as a passenger car, has a roof opening 2 and a cover 3 closing the roof opening 2. The cover 3 is movably mounted on the vehicle roof 1 so that the roof opening 2 can be optionally closed or at least partially exposed. The cover 3 is movably mounted on the vehicle roof 1, e.g. on a roof frame of the vehicle roof 1, in such a way that it can be moved from its closed position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the rear over a rear roof surface 4 or under the rear roof surface 4. The cover 3 can therefore be part of an openable roof system, such as a sliding roof, an externally guided roof, or a spoiler roof. The rear roof surface 4 can also be formed by or have a second cover 5 which adjoins the front cover 3 at the rear. In an alternative design, the cover 3 can be permanently attached to the vehicle roof 1 to close the roof opening 2.

[0030] The cover 3 has a pane 6 (Fig. 2), which preferably comprises an inner pane 7, an outer pane 8, and an intermediate layer 9. Such a pane 6 represents a laminated glass pane. The intermediate layer 9 contains at least one adhesive or laminate layer and can also comprise an electrical film such as a PDLC film (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) or the like, which is laminated in, for example, using two adhesive or laminate layers. The inner pane 7 and the outer pane 8 of the pane 6 are preferably transparent panes or glass panes. The cover 3 has at least one frame element 10, which is attached by means of a foamed cover 11 to a cover underside 13 formed by a pane underside 12. The frame element 10 extends, for example, along a rear cover edge 14 of the cover 3 almost across the width of the cover 3. The frame element 10 is preferably part of a circumferential cover frame 15 (Fig.4), which is arranged on the underside 12 of the pane inwards from the two longitudinal side edges 16 of the pane 6 or the cover 3 and is surrounded by the cover foam 11.

[0031] The frame element 10 is preferably formed from a tube with a closed cross-section and in particular with an approximately rectangular cross-section. The frame element 10 is preferably attached to the underside 12 of the pane in such a way that a base wall 17 of the frame element 10 facing the underside 12 of the pane is slightly spaced from the underside 12 of the pane, and a gap 18 between the base wall 17 and the underside 12 of the pane is filled with the foam material, e.g., a PU foam. The frame element 10 is preferably completely foamed into the lid foam 11. The frame element 10 is spaced from the rear lid edge 14 at such a distance that an edge strip 19 remains on the lid underside 13 between the frame element 10 and the rear lid edge 14, which edge strip is covered by a thin layer 20 of the lid foam 11. In the area of ​​this edge strip 19, a ribbon cable 21 is located on the underside of the cover 13 or.the underside 12 of the pane. The ribbon cable 21 runs along the frame element 10 (Fig. 4) and thus adjacent to that side or outer side 22 of the frame element 10 which faces the rear cover edge 14.

[0032] The ribbon cable 21 lies flat against the lid underside 13 in the region of the edge strip 19, either directly or via an intermediate layer 23, and is covered by the lid foam 11. Such an intermediate layer 23 is, for example, a fixing layer, e.g., an adhesive layer or an adhesive tape, which fixes the ribbon cable 21 to the lid underside 13 before and during the foaming of the lid foam 11 in a foaming tool on the lid underside 13.

[0033] The ribbon cable 21 extends toward the two longitudinal side edges 16 of the cover 3 and contains two opposing cable end sections 24 (Fig. 3), each having a contact end 25. Each cable end section 24 is oriented inward toward the cover, for example, by an approximately right-angled fold, and extends beneath the frame element 10 and beyond an inner side 26 of the frame element 10 into an area outside the cover foam 11. The contact end 25 is thus exposed and can be connected and contacted with a terminal 27 of an electrical device 28 (Fig. 7). The electrical device 28 comprises, for example, in association with each of the two longitudinal side edges 16 of the cover 3, a light coupling unit 29 which has a plurality of light coupling elements 30 which are arranged on the underside 12 of the pane in a longitudinal row inward of a lateral foam section 31 of the foamed cover 11.The light coupling elements 30 are attached to the pane underside 12, e.g., by means of a transparent adhesive layer 32 (Fig. 8), and couple light into the inner pane 7, which is radiated into the light coupling elements 30 by a lighting device 33. The lighting device 33 contains, e.g., an LED for each light coupling element 30. The lighting device 33 is arranged on a carrier board 36 that extends along the light coupling elements 30. The carrier board 36 is positioned on the light coupling elements 30 such that the light from the LEDs of the lighting device 33 is radiated into the light coupling elements 30. The LEDs of the lighting device 30 are supplied with power via the carrier board 36, which has the terminal 27 for connecting to the contact end 25 of the ribbon cable 21.

[0034] A cover 34 (see Fig. 8, not shown in Fig. 7) covers the electrical device 28 or the light coupling unit 29 and the carrier board 36 on the underside. During production of the cover 3, the ribbon cable 21 is expediently first applied to the underside 12 or 13 of the pane or cover and fixed thereto (Fig. 3). Subsequently, the frame element 10 with the cover frame 15 is positioned on the underside 12 or 13 of the pane or cover (Fig. 4), in particular in a foaming tool. The foamed cover 3 (Figs. 5 and 6) contains the two free contact ends 25. Subsequently, the electrical device 28 is attached to the underside 12 or 13 of the pane or cover (Figs. 7 and 8), and the terminals 27 are connected to the contact ends 25.

[0035] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment in which the cable end section 24 does not extend through the gap 18 between the frame element 10 and the pane 6, but is placed over the frame element 10 on the side or underside 35 of the frame element 10 facing away from the pane 6 and is covered by the foamed cover 11. The contact end 25 is located inward of the foamed frame element 10 and outside the foamed cover 11.

[0036] List of reference symbols

[0037] Vehicle roof 20 layer

[0038] Roof opening 21 ribbon cable

[0039] Cover 22 outside

[0040] Roof surface 23 Intermediate layer second cover 24 Cable end section

[0041] Disc 25 Contact end

[0042] Inner pane 26 inside

[0043] Outer pane 27 connection

[0044] Intermediate shift 28 facility

[0045] Frame element 29 Light coupling unit

[0046] Cover foam 30 light coupling element

[0047] Disc underside 31 foaming section

[0048] Lid underside 32 adhesive layer

[0049] Lid edge 33 lighting device

[0050] Cover frame 34 panel

[0051] Long side margin 35 bottom

[0052] Base wall 36 carrier board

[0053] gap

[0054] verge strip

Claims

Patent claims 1. Cover (3) of a vehicle roof (1) with a frame element (10) which is attached to the cover underside (13) by means of a cover foam (11) and extends along a cover edge (14), with an electrical device (28) and with a connecting cable which is arranged running along the frame element (10) and contacts the electrical device (28) at two spaced-apart connections (27), characterized in that the connecting cable is a ribbon cable (21) which lies flat against the cover underside (13) directly or by means of an intermediate layer (23) and is foamed in and covered by the cover foam (11).

2. Cover (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribbon cable (21) has two contact ends (25) which are arranged outside the cover foam (11) and contact the two terminals (27).

3. Cover (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ribbon cable (21) is arranged - between the frame element (10) and the underside of the cover (13) or - laterally next to the frame element (10) on its outer side (22) or inner side (26).

4. Cover (3) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the ribbon cable (21) has a cable end section (24) which projects inwards towards the cover, in particular by means of a fold, and which contains the contact end (25).

5. Cover (3) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the ribbon cable (21) is arranged between the frame element (10) and the cover edge (14), the respective cable end section (24) runs inwards into the cover either under the frame element (10) or is laid over the frame element (10) and is covered by the cover foam (11) and has a contact end (25) protruding from the cover foam (11).

6. Lid (3) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a cover attached to the lid (3) covers the contact end (25) protruding from the lid foam (11).

7. Cover (3) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the ribbon cable (21) and the area of the cover underside (13) covered by the cover foam (11) is covered by an adhesion promoter layer which supports the adhesion of the cover foam (11).

8. Cover (3) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the ribbon cable (21) is fixed to the underside of the cover (13) by means of the intermediate layer (23) formed by an adhesive bond or an adhesive tape.

9. Cover (3) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electrical device (28) has at least one light coupling unit (29) for coupling light into the pane (6) on each of the two side regions of the cover (3).

10. Cover (3) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the frame element (10) has a closed cross-section.

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