Roof rail

Abstract

This roof rail is attached to a groove provided in a roof of a vehicle, and comprises: a first wall that is formed at a front end portion of the roof rail and that extends vertically toward the bottom surface of the groove; and a second wall that is disposed behind and separated from the first wall with a gap therebetween, and that extends vertically toward the bottom surface. The first wall has a first opening penetrating the first wall in the front-back direction along the bottom surface. The second wall has a second opening penetrating the second wall in the front-back direction along the bottom surface. The first and second openings are arranged in a manner that is offset from each other in the width direction of the vehicle.

Description

roof rails

[0001] The present disclosure relates to roof rails.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, roof rails that are attached to the roof of a vehicle are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The roof rail of Patent Document 1 is fixed to a groove provided in the roof.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-6399

[0004] In roof structures with grooves, water seeps into the grooves. Conventional roof rails like this have drainage holes to allow water to drain toward the front of the vehicle. However, because the drainage holes are open toward the front of the vehicle, wind from the vehicle's movement can enter through the drainage holes. When wind from the vehicle enters through the drainage holes, it generates wind noise, which becomes noise.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a roof rail that can drain water from grooves while suppressing wind noise.

[0006] The roof rail of the present disclosure is a roof rail that is attached to a groove provided in the roof of a vehicle, and comprises: a first wall formed at the front end of the roof rail and extending in an up-down direction toward the bottom surface of the groove; and a second wall that is positioned rearward of the first wall with a gap therebetween and extends in an up-down direction toward the bottom surface, wherein the first wall has a first opening that penetrates the first wall in the fore-and-aft direction along the bottom surface, and the second wall has a second opening that penetrates the second wall in the fore-and-aft direction along the bottom surface, and the first opening and the second opening are positioned offset in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0007] With this roof rail, water that has entered the groove can be drained through the second opening and then the first opening. Meanwhile, wind entering from the front of the vehicle first passes through the first opening and hits the second wall. This prevents wind from directly entering the second opening. As a result, this roof rail can drain water from the groove while suppressing wind noise.

[0008] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the front end of a roof rail according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part A of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the front end of a roof rail according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 6 is a schematic plan cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the front end of a roof rail according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is designated F, the rear side B, the right side R, the left side L, the upper side U, and the lower side D. In the following description, the left-right direction will be referred to as the vehicle width direction.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the roof rail 1 is attached to a groove C2 extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the roof C1 of a vehicle C. In this embodiment, the groove C2 is provided with a joint between a side panel and the roof panel of the vehicle C. The groove C2 allows the roof rail to be attached while hiding this joint.

[0011] 2 and 3, the roof rail 1 includes a main body 2, a mounting portion 4, and a cover member 6. In this embodiment, a pair of roof rails 1 are arranged on the left and right sides with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, the structure of the left roof rail 1 will be described. The structure of the right roof rail 1 is symmetrical to that of the left roof rail 1, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0012] The main body 2 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle C and is a main part of the roof rail 1. In this embodiment, the main body 2 is made of resin.

[0013] The mounting portion 4 is a plate-shaped member made of resin or metal for mounting the main body portion 2 to the groove C2. The mounting portion 4 is disposed in a front portion of the main body portion 2. As shown in FIG. 4 , the mounting portion 4 is fixed to the groove C2 by being engaged with a hook C6 protruding from the groove C2. In this embodiment, the groove C2 in the front portion of the vehicle C is inclined downward as it moves forward.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, the cover member 6 covers the upper part of the mounting portion 4. In this embodiment, the cover member 6 is formed from the same resin as the main body portion. In this embodiment, the cover member 6 is provided separately from the mounting portion 4 and is engaged with the mounting portion 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the cover member 6 has a front end surface 6a formed at the front end portion of the cover member 6 and extending in the front-to-rear direction.

[0015] 3 and 4 , the roof rail 1 includes a first wall 8, a second wall 10, and a third wall 12. The first wall 8, the second wall 10, and the third wall 12 are formed on the mounting portion 4.

[0016] As shown in Figure 4, the first wall 8 is formed at the front end of the roof rail 1 and extends vertically toward the bottom surface C2a of the groove C2. A lower end 8c of the first wall 8 is bent forward to fit along the windshield groove C4 to which the windshield C3 of the vehicle C is adhered. A seal rubber C5 extending from the windshield C3 tightly contacts the first wall 8.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3, the first wall 8 has a shape in which a lower end portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is cut out. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the first wall 8 has a first opening 8a that penetrates the first wall 8 in the front-rear direction along the bottom surface C2a. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, there is a space in the vehicle width direction between the side wall C2b of the groove C2 (the right side wall in this embodiment) and the end 8b of the cutout portion of the first wall 8. This space is the first opening 8a.

[0018] 3 and 5, the upper portion 8d of the notch portion of the first wall 8 covers the front surface C1a of the roof C1 from the front side. This makes it difficult for the wind to enter the groove C2. Furthermore, this shape of the first wall 8 makes it easy for the seal rubber C5 (see FIG. 4) to adhere to the first wall 8.

[0019] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second wall 10 is disposed rearward of the first wall 8 with a gap therebetween. The second wall 10 extends in the vertical direction toward the bottom surface C2a. The length of the second wall 10 in the vehicle width direction is formed so as to be equal to or less than the minimum value of variation in the width of the groove C2. As shown in Figure 4, the second wall 10 is disposed in close contact with the bottom surface C2a. Furthermore, the second wall 10 is disposed at a position overlapping the front end surface 6a in the vertical direction.

[0020] 5, the second wall 10 has a second opening 10a penetrating in the front-rear direction along the bottom surface C2a. The first opening 8a and the second opening 10a are disposed offset in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the second opening 10a is disposed offset to the left of the first opening 8a.

[0021] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the third wall 12 is disposed rearward of the second wall 10. The third wall 12 extends vertically toward the bottom surface C2a. The length of the third wall 12 in the vehicle width direction is formed to be equal to or less than the minimum value of variation in the width of the groove C2. As shown in Figure 4, the third wall 12 is disposed in close contact with the bottom surface C2a.

[0022] 5, the third wall 12 has a third opening 12a penetrating the third wall 12 in the front-rear direction along the bottom surface C2a. The third opening 12a and the second opening 10a are disposed to be offset in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the third opening 12a is disposed to be offset to the left with respect to the second opening 10a.

[0023] The second wall 10 and the third wall 12 are formed to follow the shape of the groove C2 and are positioned so that their ends abut against both the left and right side walls C2b of the groove C2, thereby preventing running wind from entering the groove C2.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the roof rail 1 has a first connection surface 14 and a second connection surface 16. The first connection surface 14 connects the upper end of the first wall 8 to the upper end of the second wall 10 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The second connection surface 16 connects the second wall 10 to the third wall 12. The second connection surface 16 is located above the lower ends of the second wall 10 and the third wall 12. Furthermore, the front end surface 6a of the cover member 6 and the first connection surface 14 are arranged in close contact with each other. This makes it possible to suppress rattling of the cover member 6 and to prevent traveling wind from entering the groove C2.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 5 , the roof rail 1 includes a first rib 18 and a second rib 20. The first rib 18 is disposed on the opposite side of the second opening 10a from the third opening 12a (on the right side in this embodiment). The first rib 18 extends in the front-rear direction to connect the second wall 10 and the third wall 12. The second rib 20 is disposed on the opposite side of the third opening 12a from the second opening 10a (on the left side in this embodiment). The second rib 20 extends in the front-rear direction to connect the second wall 10 and the third wall 12. By disposing the first rib 18 and the second rib 20 in this manner, a passage is formed that is surrounded by the first rib 18, the second rib 20, the second connecting surface 16, and the bottom surface C2a.

[0026] The roof rail 1 configured in this manner allows water that has entered the groove C2 to be discharged in the order of the third opening 12a, the second opening 10a, and the first opening 8a. The roof rail 1 has a passage surrounded by the first rib 18, the second rib 20, the second connecting surface 16, and the bottom surface C2a, so water can easily pass through the passage and be discharged.

[0027] Meanwhile, the first opening 8a, the second opening 10a, and the third opening 12a are offset from one another in the vehicle width direction. That is, a labyrinth structure extends from the first opening 8a to the third opening 12a. This allows the traveling wind entering from the front of the vehicle to first pass through the first opening 8a and strike the second wall 10. This prevents the traveling wind from directly entering the second opening 10a. As a result, wind noise is reduced. Furthermore, even if the traveling wind passes through the first opening 8a and enters the second opening 10a, it strikes the third wall 12. This prevents the traveling wind from directly entering the third opening 12a. As a result, wind noise is further reduced.

[0028] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a roof rail 1 that can drain water from grooves while suppressing wind noise.

[0029] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, the multiple modifications described in this specification can be combined as needed.

[0030] (a) In the above embodiment, the roof rail 1 is fixed by engaging the mounting portion 4 with the hook C6, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The roof rail 1 may be fixed by, for example, a stud bolt protruding from the roof.

[0031] (b) In the above embodiment, an example in which the attachment portion 4 and the cover member 6 are provided separately has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The attachment portion 4 and the cover member 6 may be formed as a single unit.

[0032] 1: roof rail, 2: main body, 4: mounting portion, 6: cover member, 6a: front end surface, 8: first wall, 8a: first opening, 8b: end portion, 8d: upper portion, 10: second wall, 10a: second opening, 12: third wall, 12a: third opening, 14: first connecting surface, 16: second connecting surface, 18: first rib, 20: second rib, C: vehicle, C1: roof, C1a: front portion, C2: groove, C2a: bottom surface

Claims

1. A roof rail attached to a groove provided in the roof of a vehicle, comprising: a first wall formed at the front end of the roof rail and extending in a vertical direction toward the bottom surface of the groove; and a second wall arranged rearward of the first wall with a gap therebetween and extending in a vertical direction toward the bottom surface, wherein the first wall has a first opening penetrating the first wall in the front-to-rear direction along the bottom surface, and the second wall has a second opening penetrating the second wall in the front-to-rear direction along the bottom surface, and the first opening and the second opening are arranged offset in the width direction of the vehicle.

2. The roof rail according to claim 1, wherein the roof rail is composed of a main body, an attachment portion disposed in front of the main body for attaching the main body to the groove, and a cover member covering an upper portion of the attachment portion, the first wall and the second wall being formed on the attachment portion, the cover member being formed on a front end portion of the cover member and having a front end surface extending in the fore-and-aft direction, and the second wall being positioned so as to overlap the front end surface in the up-down direction.

3. The roof rail according to claim 2, further comprising a first connection surface that connects the upper end of the first wall and the upper end of the second wall and extends in the fore-and-aft direction, the front end surface and the first connection surface being disposed in close contact with each other.

4. A roof rail as described in claim 1, further comprising a third wall arranged rearward of the second wall, the third wall being arranged at the lower end of the third wall and having a third opening penetrating the third wall in the fore-and-aft direction, the third opening and the second opening being arranged offset in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle.

5. The roof rail according to claim 4, further comprising: a first rib arranged on the opposite side of the second opening to the third opening in the vehicle width direction, extending in the front-to-rear direction to connect the second wall and the third wall; a second rib arranged on the opposite side of the third opening to the second opening in the vehicle width direction, extending in the front-to-rear direction to connect the second wall and the third wall; and a second connecting surface located above the lower ends of the second wall and the third wall, connecting the second wall and the third wall, wherein a passage is formed surrounded by the first rib, the second rib, the second connecting surface, and the bottom surface.

6. A roof rail according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first wall has a portion that covers the front portion of the roof.

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