Assembly consisting of a roof rail on the roof of a motor vehicle
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure DE2026100065_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] 25-0126 PIF
[0002] 1
[0003] Arrangement of a roof rail on the roof of a motor vehicle
[0004] The invention relates to the arrangement of a roof rail on the roof of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0005] In the area of each roof trench extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the transition of the vehicle roof to the corresponding roof frame on either side, there is usually either a roof trim strip that runs approximately flush with the vehicle roof or a roof rail that protrudes upwards in the direction of the vehicle roof.
[0006] One of the roof trim strips described above is shown in Fig. 1 in two sectional views along a section plane extending in the transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle, respectively. In these sectional views, a roof element 1, for example in the form of a sheet metal component, is shown, which is connected in the area of a roof channel 2 to a roof frame element 3, a side wall 4, and a side wall panel 5. Within the roof channel 2, as shown in the upper view of Fig. 1, a retaining bolt 6 with a head 7 and a shaft 8 is arranged, which is made of a weldable metal material and joined to the roof element 1 by welding. A base element 9 made of plastic is attached to the retaining bolt 6, to which a recessed or approximately flush-mounted roof trim strip 10 is fixed via clip connections.Along the length of the roof channel 2, several such holding devices, each consisting of a holding bolt 6 and a base element 9 attached to it, are arranged, onto which the roof trim strip 10 can be clipped.
[0007] In order to also be able to support a roof rack, for example for a roof box, on the two side roof trim strips 10, two fastening devices are provided on each side of the vehicle, one of which is visible in the lower part of Fig. 1. Each fastening device has a nut 11 which is inserted from below into an opening 13 in the vehicle roof. This nut is, for example, a rivet nut, press-fit nut or weld-in nut. 25-0126 PIF
[0008] 2
[0009] The roof rack is designed as follows: A fastening bolt (not shown) of the fastening device can be screwed into the screw opening of this nut 11 from the top of the vehicle roof 1 by first opening a flap 12 in the roof trim strip so that the screw opening of the nut 11 is accessible from above. By screwing the fastening bolt into the nut 11, the roof rack is thus fixed to the vehicle roof 1.
[0010] The fastening devices for the roof rack are arranged in a front and middle length section of a roof channel 2 on the respective roof trim strip 10.
[0011] A roof rail 14, used as an alternative to the respective roof trim strip, which is shown in a sectional view in Fig. 2 along a section plane extending transversely and vertically to the vehicle, is currently attached in a front, a middle, and a rear longitudinal section of the roof channel 2 by means of a threaded bolt 15, each of which passes through an opening 16 in the vehicle roof 1. A threaded nut 17 is screwed onto this threaded bolt 15, which protrudes through the vehicle roof 1, from below. The nut is supported on the underside of the vehicle roof 1 by the roof channel 2. To be able to screw the threaded nut 17 onto the threaded bolt 15 inserted into the opening 16 from below, a relatively large clearance for a screwing tool must be provided on the underside of the vehicle roof 1 in this area, which is a disadvantage.
[0012] The object of the invention is to create an arrangement of a roof rail of the type mentioned above, which can be easily retrofitted or provided as an alternative, or which requires less installation space in the interior of the motor vehicle.
[0013] This problem is solved according to the invention by an arrangement having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the description.
[0014] An arrangement of a roof rail according to the invention on the roof of a motor vehicle comprises a front fastening device by means of which the roof rail is fixed in a front longitudinal region of a roof channel, a middle fastening device by means of which the roof rail is fixed in a middle longitudinal region of the roof channel, and a rear fastening device by means of which the roof rail is fixed in a rear longitudinal region of the roof channel. 25-0126 PIF
[0015] 3
[0016] The front and middle mounting devices each have a mounting bolt, which is secured by means of a fastening element supported underneath and by the vehicle roof.
[0017] In order to enable the arrangement of a roof rail on the vehicle roof, which can be easily retrofitted or provided as an alternative to a roof trim strip, or which does not require any installation space in the interior of the vehicle, the rear fastening device according to the invention has at least one retaining bolt arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof, to which a rear retaining device arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof in the roof channel is fixed, to which the roof rail is fixed by means of at least one rear fastening bolt.
[0018] According to the invention, therefore, in the area of the rear mounting device, only at least one retaining bolt is arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof, for example, attached by joining or welding. A rear mounting device is arranged on this rear mounting device in the roof channel on the upper side of the vehicle roof, and the roof rail is attached to this rear mounting bolt, in particular by means of screws. Thus, on the one hand, a pre-installed mounting point on the vehicle roof with retaining bolts, for example, for a roof trim strip, can also be used for a roof rail. On the other hand, with the roof rail according to the invention, it is not necessary to provide a mounting space below the vehicle roof into which a mounting device penetrating the vehicle roof would protrude.Rather, this rear mounting device is located on the upper side of the vehicle roof in the roof channel, so that the aforementioned installation space does not need to be provided.
[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the front and middle fastening devices have a front and middle fastening bolt, respectively, which can be screwed into a respective fastening element from the top of the vehicle roof. Screwing in from above has the advantage that no clearance is required on the underside of the vehicle roof for assembly tools. Instead, only the respective fastening element needs to be connected to the vehicle roof. 25-0126 PIF
[0020] 4
[0021] The fastening element can be, for example, a nut, which is inserted into an opening in the vehicle roof from the underside as a weld-in nut, press-fit nut, or rivet nut. In this context, nuts used for attaching a roof rack to a vehicle with a roof trim strip, as described in the lower illustration of Fig. 1, can also be used. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to use the existing nuts for attaching the roof rails if they are to be installed as an alternative to or subsequently installed instead of a roof trim strip.
[0022] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the rear mounting bolt is designed as a screw bolt, which interacts with a screw element of the rear mounting device. This allows for a particularly simple yet secure fixing of the roof rail in the rear longitudinal section of the roof channel.
[0023] In this context, it has proven further advantageous if the rear retaining device comprises a base element attached to the retaining bolt, to which the screw element is held. The base element can, for example, be positively locked and clamped to the retaining bolt or to the side of the vehicle roof in the area of the roof channel. The screw element can then be easily fixed to the base element thus secured.
[0024] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the screw element is movably mounted on the base element both transversely and longitudinally to the vehicle roof. This allows the screw element to be displaced relative to the base element in both the transverse and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, in order to compensate for tolerances.
[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the roof rail is connected to the base element of the mounting device by means of a clip connection. Here, the clip connection also serves as a pre-fixation of the roof rail, which is thereby held movably relative to the vehicle roof in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on the base element until the retaining bolt is firmly screwed to the screw element.
[0026] In a further embodiment of the invention, the roof rail is designed in multiple parts, comprising a main part in which the front and middle mounting devices are arranged. The main part is preferably made of a metal material in a simple manner to withstand a correspondingly high roof load.
[0027] 5
[0028] to be able to absorb it. Furthermore, the user intuitively perceives that the roof load, especially in the form of a roof rack, is to be increased in the area of the main part.
[0029] Preferably, the multi-part roof rail also has a rear section in which the rear mounting device is located. In other words, the rear section of the roof rail forms its rear mounting point. This rear section is preferably made of plastic, so that the user intuitively understands that no roof load, particularly in the form of a roof rack, should be applied in the area of the rear section.
[0030] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the multi-part roof rail has a front section which is attached to at least one mounting bolt located on the upper side of the vehicle roof. This front section is preferably also made of plastic, so that the user intuitively perceives that no roof load, in particular in the form of a roof rack, should be added in the area of the front section.
[0031] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown in the figures alone, are not only usable in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own.
[0032] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and the drawings. The drawings show:
[0033] Fig. 1 shows two sectional views along a respective cutting plane extending in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction of the vehicle through a roof trim strip according to the prior art.
[0034] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view along a cutting plane extending in the transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle through a roof rail according to the prior art, 25-0126 PIF
[0035] 6
[0036] Fig. 3 shows a partial perspective top view of a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle with a roof rail according to the invention.
[0037] Fig. 4 shows a partial perspective top view of a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle with the roof rails omitted, in which a roof channel is visible in which the respective fastening devices for holding the roof rails are arranged.
[0038] Fig. 5 shows a sectional view along a cutting plane extending in the transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle through one of the two front mounting devices of the roof rail,
[0039] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view along a cutting plane extending in the transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle through the rear mounting device of the roof rail,
[0040] Fig. 7 shows a partial perspective top view of the rear mounting device of the roof rail,
[0041] Fig. 8 shows a partial sectional view along a cutting plane extending in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the vehicle through the rear mounting device and the roof rail attached to it.
[0042] Fig. 9 shows a partial sectional view along a section plane running in the longitudinal and vertical direction of the vehicle through the roof rail in the area of the front or middle mounting device, as well as
[0043] Fig. 10 shows a partial sectional view along a cutting plane running in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction of the vehicle through the fastening of the front part of the roof rail.
[0044] While Figures 1 and 2 show a roof trim strip and a roof rail according to the prior art, the invention will be explained further with reference to Figures 3 to 10. 25-0126 PIF
[0045] 7
[0046] Figures 3 and 4 show a partial perspective top view of the roof 20 of a motor vehicle. A flat roof element 21 is particularly visible, which transitions at the sides of the vehicle into a corresponding roof frame section 22 of a laterally corresponding side wall 23. According to the invention, a roof rail 24, visible in Figure 3, is arranged on each side of the vehicle. In this case, the roof rail 24 projects upwards from the roof element 21 but rests against it. This means that there is no gap between the roof rail 24 and the roof element 21. However, a configuration in which the roof rail 24 has, for example, a front, a middle, and a rear support would also be conceivable.
[0047] The roof rail 24 runs essentially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, overlapping a roof trench or channel 25 shown in Fig. 4, which separates the roof element 21 from the roof frame part 22 of the side wall 23. The roof rail 24 itself is designed in multiple parts, comprising a main part 26, which transitions at a front edge KV into a front part 27 and at a rear edge KH into a rear part 28. The main part 26 is made of a load-bearing metal material, such as aluminum or steel. The front part 27 and the rear part 28 are made of plastic. This is primarily due to the fact that the main part 26 of the multi-part roof rail 24 is designed to support a roof load, such as a roof rack, whereas the front part 27 and the rear part 28 are non-load-bearing.
[0048] In Fig. 3, three circles indicate that the roof rail assembly is attached to the vehicle roof 20 by means of three fastening devices 29, 30, 31. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the front and middle fastening devices 29, 30 are located in the area of the main part 26 of the roof rail 24 and are shown in more detail in the sectional views in Figs. 5 and 9, which will be explained in more detail below. The rear, third fastening device 31 is located in the area of the rear part 28 and is shown in more detail in the views in Figs. 5 and 9, which will be explained in more detail below.
[0049] 6 to 8 are shown in more detail.
[0050] In conjunction with Fig. 4, it also becomes clear, with the roof rail 24 omitted, that the roof rail 24 is fixed in a front longitudinal region of the roof channel 25 by means of the front mounting device 29 and in a middle longitudinal region of the roof channel 25 by means of the middle mounting device 30. By means of the rear 25-0126 PIF
[0051] 8
[0052] The roof rail 24 is fixed in a rear longitudinal area of the roof channel 25 by the fastening device 31.
[0053] A comparison of Figures 4, 5, and 9 clearly shows how the front and middle fastening devices 29, 30 are designed. Figure 5 shows a sectional view along a plane extending transversely and vertically through one of the two front fastening devices 29, 30 of the roof rail 24. As can be seen in Figure 4, a fastening element 33 of the front and middle fastening devices 29, 30 passes through an opening 32 in the vehicle roof 20 in the area of the roof channel 25. In this area, an joining flange is provided between the roof element and the roof frame part 22 of the side wall 23. More precisely, each fastening element 33, in the form of a weld nut, a rivet nut, a press-fit nut, or the like, passes through the corresponding opening in the vehicle roof 20, which in this case has a screw-in opening.The fastening element, or nut 33, has a head 34 which is supported on the underside, i.e., from the vehicle interior, against the vehicle roof 20. Furthermore, the nut 33 is sealed against the vehicle roof 20, so that no water can enter the vehicle interior through the opening 32.
[0054] As can be seen in Fig. 9, which shows a partial sectional view along a section plane extending longitudinally and vertically through the roof rail 24 in the area of the front or middle mounting device 29, 30, a mounting bolt 53 is screwed into the screw opening of the respective mounting element 33 from the top of the vehicle roof 20. This has the advantage that no clearance for assembly tools is required on the underside of the vehicle roof. Rather, only the respective mounting element 33 needs to be connected to the vehicle roof 20. In this case, the mounting bolt 53 is inserted through an opening 54 in an upper wall 55 of the roof rail 24, and the lower wall 58 of the roof rail is secured with the mounting bolt 53.A bracket 56 is arranged between the nut or fastening element 33 and the wall 55 of the roof rail 24, by means of which the roof rail 24 is supported on the roof groove 25 of the vehicle roof 20. The opening 54 in the upper wall 55 of the roof rail 24 is closed by a cap 57.
[0055] It is to be considered as included within the scope of the invention that the fastening element 33, for example in the form of the nut, is also located on the upper side of the 25-0126 PIF.
[0056] 9
[0057] The roof duct 25 of the vehicle roof 20 can be attached, for example by joining such as welding, so that the fastening element 33 does not necessarily have to pass through an opening 32 in the vehicle roof 20 or that, if necessary, no opening 32 needs to be provided in the vehicle roof 20.
[0058] Figures 6 to 8 show the rear mounting device 31 in various views. Figure 6 shows a sectional view along a section plane extending transversely and vertically through the rear mounting device 31 of the roof rail 24. Figure 7 shows a partial perspective top view of the rear mounting device 31 with the roof rail 24 only indicated, and Figure 8 shows the rear mounting device 31 in a partial sectional view along a section plane extending longitudinally and vertically through the rear mounting device 31 with the roof rail 24 attached to it.
[0059] In particular, it can be seen from Fig. 7 that for the rear attachment of the roof rail 24, the rear fastening device 31 essentially has two retaining bolts 35 spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof 20 in the roof channel 25. In principle, it would also be conceivable to use a different number of retaining bolts 35, in particular only one retaining bolt 35. In this case, the retaining bolts 35 are welded to the upper side of the roof element 21 and each has a head 36 to which a retaining device 37 is fixed on the upper side of the vehicle roof 20 and within the roof channel 25, to which the roof rail 24 is fixed by means of at least one rear fastening bolt 38. The retaining device 37 comprises a base element 39 attached to at least one, but in this case to the two retaining bolts 35, to which a [missing information] shown in Fig.8 recognizable screw element 40 is held, into which the fastening bolt 38 can be screwed.
[0060] The base element 39 has – as can be seen particularly in Fig. 7 – a longitudinally oriented elongated hole 41 for each retaining bolt 35, which has respective supports 42 at its edges on which the respective head 36 of the associated retaining bolt 35 rests on its underside. Thus, the base element 39 can be placed onto the two retaining bolts 35 by means of respective enlargements in the elongated holes 41 and then slid onto them longitudinally in the vehicle direction, whereby the 25-0126 PIF
[0061] 10
[0062] The base element 39 is clamped between the upper side of the roof channel 25, between the vehicle roof 20, and the underside of the heads 36 of the retaining bolts 35. The longitudinal orientation of the elongated holes 41 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction also allows for desired positioning of the base element 39 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.
[0063] As can be seen in the longitudinal section view according to Fig. 8, the screw element 40 for receiving the screwed-in fastening bolt 38 is held on the base element 39. The base element 39 has an opening collar 43, which is dimensioned larger in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the vehicle than a collar part 44 of the screw element 40 that extends into it. In other words, a gap s for tolerance compensation is provided between the collar part 44 of the screw element 40 and the opening collar 43 of the base element 39 with respect to the transverse and longitudinal directions of the vehicle. This allows the screw element 40, which is supported by a base collar 45 on the opening collar 43 of the base element 39, to be moved transversely to the vehicle roof 20 or aligned in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the vehicle before the fastening bolt 38 is tightened – and thus the roof rail 24 in the area of the rear fastening device 31.
[0064] Furthermore, as can be seen in Fig. 8, a pre-fixing element 46 is arranged on the roof rail 24, which is movably held relative to the vehicle roof 20 on the base element 39. The pre-fixing element 46 has elastic support arms 47 which spring back when the pre-fixing element 46 is inserted into an opening 48 of the base element 39 and then support themselves with their free ends on the underside of a collar 49 of the opening 48. Thus, before the fastening bolt 38 is tightened, the roof rail 24 can be attached to the base element 39, whereby the tolerance compensation of the roof rail 24 and the screw element 40 relative to the base element 39 described above is possible.
[0065] A comparison of Figures 7 and 8 also clearly shows how the roof rail 24 slopes towards the rear. A similar design for the roof rail 24 is conceivable at the front end.
[0066] Fig. 10 shows a partial sectional view along a cutting plane extending in the transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle through the fastening of the 25-0126 PIF.
[0067] 11
[0068] Front part 27 of the roof rail 20, the rear part 28 can be attached in the same way.
[0069] Fig. 10 shows that the approximately U-shaped front part 27 of the roof rail 24 is attached via a support 49, which in turn is attached to a base element 59 by means of a clip connection 46. The base element 59 can, in principle, be designed like the base element 9, as described in connection with the state of the art according to the illustration above in Fig. 1. The position of the base element 59 is indicated schematically in Fig. 4.
[0070] This basic element 59 is, for example, also placed and slid onto at least one of the retaining bolts 35 by means of an elongated hole oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the elongated hole also has, for example, respective supports at its edges on which the respective head of the associated retaining bolt rests on its underside. Thus, the basic element 59 can also be clamped, for example, between the upper side of the roof channel 25 between the vehicle roof 20 and the underside of the heads 36 of the retaining bolts 35.
[0071] To realize the clip connection 46, the carrier 49 of the front part 27 of the roof rail 24 has respective edges 47 which engage corresponding locking elements 48 arranged on the side of the base element 59. In the attached state, the front part 27 or the roof rail 24 can thus be pre-fixed to the vehicle roof 20 and is still held on the base element 59 in a way that allows it to slide in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle until it is secured with the fastening bolts 38 and 53.
[0072] Furthermore, a seal 50 with sealing lips 51, 52 can also be seen in Fig. 10, with which the front part 27 of the roof rail 24 is sealed against the side flanks of the roof channel 25, so that no water can penetrate into the roof channel 25 via this.
[0073] At both the front and rear ends of the roof rail 24, one or more retaining bolts 35 can be arranged, which serve to hold a respective base element 59 with which the front part 27 or rear part 28 is fixed. Additional base elements 59 can also be arranged between, in front of, and behind the fastening devices 29, 30, 31 described above.
[0074] 12
[0075] The respective retaining bolts 35 of the vehicle roof 20 must be attached, to which the roof rail 24 can be clipped or similarly attached.-0126 PIF
[0076] 13
[0077] Reference symbol list
[0078] Roof element, roof duct, roof frame element, side wall, side wall cladding, retaining bolts
[0079] Head
[0080] shaft
[0081] Basic element roof trim strip weld-in nut flap
[0082] opening
[0083] Roof rail threaded bolt opening threaded nut
[0084] Vehicle roof, roof element, roof frame part, side wall
[0085] roof rails
[0086] Roof drain
[0087] Main part
[0088] Front part
[0089] Rear section Mounting device Mounting device Mounting device Opening
[0090] Fastening element-0126 PIF
[0091] 14
[0092] Head retaining bolt, head holding device, fastening bolt, base element, screw element, elongated hole, supports, opening collar, collar part, base collar, clip connection, edges, locking elements
[0093] T-beam
[0094] Seal, sealing lips, sealing lips, mounting bolt, opening, wall, console
[0095] Cap wall
[0096] basic element
Claims
25-0126 PIF 15 Patent claims 1. Arrangement of a roof rail (24) on a vehicle roof (20) of a motor vehicle, comprising a front fastening device (29) by means of which the roof rail (24) is fixed in a front longitudinal region of a roof channel (25), and a middle fastening device (30) by means of which the roof rail (24) is fixed in a middle longitudinal region of the roof channel (25), and a rear fastening device (31) by means of which the roof rail (24) is fixed in a rear longitudinal region of the roof channel (25), wherein the front and middle fastening devices (29, 30) each have a respective fastening bolt (53) which is fixed by means of a fastening element (33) held on the vehicle roof (20), characterized by the fact that the rear fastening device (31) has at least one retaining bolt (35) arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof (20), to which a rear fastening device (37) arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof (20) in the roof channel (25) is fixed, to which the roof rail (24) is fixed by means of at least one rear fastening bolt (38).
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that The front and middle fastening device (30) have a front and middle fastening bolt (53) respectively, which can be screwed into a respective fastening element (33) from a top of the vehicle roof (20).
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the rear fastening bolt (38) is designed as a screw bolt which interacts with a screw element (40) of the rear retaining device (37).
4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that 25-0126 PIF 16 the rear retaining device (37) comprises a base element (39) attached to at least one retaining bolt (35), on which the screw element (40) is held.
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that The screw element (40) is held movably on the base element (39) transversely and longitudinally to the vehicle roof (20).
6. Arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the fact that A pre-fixing element (46) is arranged on the roof rail (24), which is movably held on the base element (39) relative to the vehicle roof (20).
7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the roof rail (24) is designed in multiple parts with a main part (26) in the area of which the front fastening device (29) and the middle fastening device (30) are arranged.
8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the multi-part roof rail (24) has a rear section (28) in the area of which the rear fastening device (31) is arranged.
9. Arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by the fact that the multi-part roof rail (24) has a front part (27) which is attached to at least one retaining bolt (35) arranged on the upper side of the vehicle roof (20).
10. Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by the fact that-0126 PIF 17 the main part (26) of the multi-part roof railing (24) is designed to support a roof load and the advantage part and the rear part (28) of the multi-part roof railing (24) are designed to be non-load-bearing.