Patent Application
20080074895
This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2006 044 911.8, filed Sep. 22, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to convertible vehicle roofs having lamps.
2. Background Art
Vehicle lamps function as reading lights, interior lights, ambient lights, etc. Such lamps are installed in various locations such as on roof consoles, rearview mirrors, and vehicle interior parts.
DE 103 45 003 A1 describes a lamp located between the roof lining and the roof of a vehicle for providing interior light. A reflector reflects light from the lamp to a lens which emits the light through a transparent material into the passenger compartment to illuminate the vehicle interior. An additional lamp located behind the roof lining and having focused light emissions functions as a reading light. Both lamps switch on at the same time.
DE 103 20 614 A1 describes a cover for closing an opening in a vehicle roof. The cover has a panel and a lamp for lighting the vehicle interior. The panel includes a transparent plate having recesses into which light can project. Use of the transparent plate allows requirements to be met as a result of the continuity of the spherical surface. By use of the transparent plate and a transparent panel, outside light may pass through the cover into the passenger compartment.
DE 101 01 450 A1 describes a vehicle interior lighting system having a lamp. The lamp is located in a cavity in the edge region of a vehicle roof with respect to a body element between the roof outer skin and the inner material covering. The lamp radiates light through grid-like openings in the covering into the passenger compartment.
An object of the present invention includes a convertible vehicle roof having a lamp for illuminating the vehicle passenger compartment in which the lamp is configured for mounting on the movable roof parts and has a small installation height. A further aim is to achieve functionally reliable operation of the lamp with defined positioning and illumination of the lamp as a result of the roof being moved between closed and opened positions.
In carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides a vehicle roof having a convertible folding top and a lamp. The folding top has roof segments and a C-pillar. The roof segments have an inner roof lining which adjoins the C-pillar. The folding top is movable between a closed position in which the roof segments, the C-pillar, and the inner roof lining are extended and an opened position in which the roof segments, the C-pillar, and the inner roof lining are folded. The lamp has a light within a spacing between a lamp housing and a lamp cover. The lamp is situated in an opening of one of the inner roof lining and the C-pillar.
Further, in carrying out the above object and other objects, the present invention provides a vehicle having a roof and a lamp. The roof has a convertible folding top and a C-pillar. The folding top has movable roof segments and the C-pillar has movable frame sections. The folding top and the C-pillar are movable together between a closed position of the roof in which the roof segments extend over and cover the vehicle interior with the C-pillar frame sections adjoining a respective one of the roof segments and an opened position of the roof in which the roof segments and the C-pillar frame sections are folded in a compact position and stored in a trunk. The lamp has a light within a spacing between a lamp housing and a lamp cover. The lamp is situated in an opening of one of a roof part and a C-pillar frame section to face and illuminate the passenger compartment in the closed position of the roof and to face and illuminate the trunk in the opened position of the roof.
In different embodiments, the lamp is attached to the C-pillar or is in a component covering the C-pillar; the lamp is situated in the inner roof lining and is connected to the C-pillar by a retaining element; and the light cover is flush with the opening.
In an embodiment, the lamp is situated in an opening of the inner roof lining with the light cover connected as one piece to the inner roof lining. In an embodiment, the lamp is situated in an opening of the C-pillar with the light cover connected as one piece to the C-pillar.
The light of the lamp may include an LED, lighting bulbs, an electro-luminescent film, and the like. The lamp assumes the function of a trunk light when the folding top is in the opened position. The lamp may be at least one of an ambient light, a reading light, and an interior light.
The lamp has a very flat design for any given shape as the available space in the inner roof lining or a longitudinal frame section of the C-pillar for installing the lamp is extremely limited. The longitudinal frame sections are profiled elements generally provided with materials or very thin-walled cover parts. The available installation space in the region of the inner roof lining is also limited, since clamping elements and/or elements of a roof kinematic system for moving the folding top are situated behind the inner roof lining.
High safety requirements are imposed on the operational reliability of a lamp in a movable part such as a movable roof part. Movable parts such as control rods, tension brackets, or articulated joints limit the safe guiding of electrical lamp cables. There is a risk of buckling or disconnection of the cables. In addition, the cables and the lamp may be damaged when the roof is collapsed in the opened position. In this case the lamp must be kept in a safe position, in which mobility may be provided during folding of the inner roof lining, or in the collapsed state by multiple roof segments being superposed. These requirements may be met by installing the lamp on a longitudinal frame section such as the C-pillar, for example, or by installing the lamp mounting in the inner roof lining via a retaining element attached to the C-pillar. One or more lamps may be installed at any given location of the inner roof lining and/or a longitudinal frame section of the C-pillar.
When passengers exit or enter the vehicle, the lamp operates as a bright interior or ambient light. During operation of the vehicle the lamp may function as dim ambient lighting to illuminate the dark rear corner regions of the vehicle roof.
A lamp design having a film lighting element is suited for installation of the lamp in a longitudinal frame section of the C-pillar. The longitudinal frame sections of the C-pillar may include a closed profile in which corresponding lamp attachments may be provided during manufacture. The use of lamps having a flat design allows regions, which heretofore did not permit lighting due to the limited installation space, to be used for lighting devices.
A lamp mounted in such a manner may assume other lighting functions such as a reading light. In the opened roof position, the folding top is folded and stored in the rear region of the vehicle such as in the trunk. In this position of the folding top, the lamp may be used as a trunk light or at least for additional illumination of certain regions of the trunk.
The positioning of the lamp in the region of a longitudinal frame section of a C-pillar and/or in the inner roof lining has no interfering effects on the folded-up and stored position of the vehicle roof, thereby reliably preventing rattling noises.
The above features, and other features and advantages of the present invention as readily apparent from the following detailed descriptions thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to
Lamp 5 is mounted on C-pillar 2 and faces the passenger compartment of the vehicle interior. Lamp 5 is situated on the roof side facing the passenger compartment in a lower region 4 of C-pillar 2 near vehicle body. Lamp is situated into a recess in C-pillar 2. The recess corresponds to the lamp geometry. Lamp 5 is fastened to C-pillar via fasteners such as screws or clips. C-pillar 2 may be manufactured as a cast part having a profile such as a U-profile open on one side.
When lamp 5 is installed on C-pillar 2, a light cover 19 of lamp 5 is adapted to the profile of C-pillar 2. Light cover 19 in its edge region makes flush contact with C-pillar 2. Light cover 19 may be made of a transparent plastic having a diffuse surface coating. Instead of the surface coating, light cover 19 may be equipped on at least one side with a lens such as a Fresnel lens. By use of such a lens the light emitted from a light source 21 of lamp 5 may be emitted in predetermined directions in a focused or divergent manner.
Lamp 5 may also be a component of a covering for C-pillar 2. Light cover 19 may be designed as one piece with the covering.
In this embodiment, C-pillar 2 is a segment of a lateral longitudinal frame 6 having frame sections 3, 7, 8, 9. Longitudinal frame 6 forms the transition region between folding top 12 and the side windows of the vehicle. Lamp 5 may also be inserted in any other longitudinal frame section 7, 8, 9 other than frame section 3. This embodiment shows folding top 12 in which C-pillar 2 forms rear longitudinal frame section 7.
When the folding top 12 is folded into its opened position, individual longitudinal frame sections 3, 7, 8, 9 are correspondingly collapsed into a compactly folded package corresponding to the specified motion sequences. This package is stored in the rear region or trunk of the vehicle during the opening motion sequences.
Rear roof segment 15 includes a rear window 11. Rear window 11 and roof segments 13, 14, 15 may come to rest on top of one another in such a way that C-pillar 2 may remain uncovered in the region of lamp 5. This is important when lamp 5 projects into the trunk of the vehicle in the opened position of folding top 12 and at the same time is intended to serve as a trunk light.
Lamp 5 may be controlled by limit switches for folding top 12 or by sensors associated with a roof kinematic system 10. Roof kinematic system 10 is operable for moving roof 1 between the closed and opened positions. Electrical connecting cables 23 for lamp 5 may be guided at the interior of folding top 12 in suitable mountings along roof kinematic system 10.
Lamp 5 is advantageously positioned in C-pillar 2 close to folding top 12 as the region between rear window 11 and C-pillar 2 is the rear corner region of roof 1 in which little light from the outside can penetrate. This region is particularly dark and an aim, among others, is to illuminate this region by use of lamp 5 situated in the vicinity. In addition, depending on the positioning of lamp 5 in C-pillar 2, when used as a reading light, lamp 5 is situated close to the passengers resulting in good task-oriented lighting.
When lamp 5 is used in another longitudinal frame section, electrical connecting cables 23 are guided at the inner side of folding top 12 or along roof kinematic system 10.
Referring now to
This design has the advantage that lamp 5 remains in the same position with respect to C-pillar 2 when folding top 12 moves, thus preventing damage as the result of possible bends or kinks in inner roof lining 18. The guiding and fastening of the cables is simplified, thus ensuring reliable functioning of lamp 5. Furthermore, it is easier and more economical to support lamp 5 by a retaining element connected to C-pillar 2, compared to positioning lamp 5 on the material of inner roof lining 18 by use of complicated auxiliary means and fastenings. The latter described attachment has the additional disadvantage that a defined lamp position, and thus a fixed predetermined direction of light radiation 24, is not ensured by the flexible positioning in inner roof lining 18. Such a positioning in inner roof lining 18 of a vehicle does not allow vibration-free mounting of lamps 5. Therefore, as previously described the connection to C-pillar 2 or to a rigid, non-vibrating component via suitable mountings is advantageous.
Lamp 5 may have a design such as the designs shown in
Lamp 5 as shown in
While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2006 044 911.8 | Sep 2006 | DE | national |
