OPEN ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

An open roof construction for a vehicle having at least one opening in the fixed roof, includes a stationary part for attachment to the roof. It carries at least two guide rails alongside the roof opening. At least one closure having a front and a rear side is supported by an operating mechanism guided on the guide rails. The closure is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position in which it is at least partly moved out of the roof opening. The operating mechanism includes at least one first support member adjustably supporting the closure near its front side, and at least adjustable second support members adjustably supporting the closure a distance behind the front side. Each support member includes two separate drive sources to be able to adjust each support member independently in horizontal and vertical direction.

Description

BACKGROUND

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle having at least one opening in a fixed roof. The open roof construction includes a stationary part for attachment to the fixed roof, carrying at least two guide rails alongside the roof opening. At least one closure having a front and a rear side and being supported by an operating mechanism is guided by the guide rails. The closure is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position in which it is at least partly moved out of the roof opening. The operating mechanism includes on each guide rail at least one adjustable first support member adjustably supporting the closure near its front side, and at least one adjustable second support member adjustably supporting the closure a distance behind the front side.

Such an open roof construction is described for example in EP 2 554 415 A1. In such open roof construction, the operating mechanism must be designed specifically for every type of vehicle.

SUMMARY

In the afore-mentioned open roof construction at least one of the first and second support members includes two separate drive sources to be able to adjust the at least one of the first and second support members independently in horizontal and vertical direction. By providing at least one of the first and second support members with a separate drive source for the horizontal and vertical movements, it is possible to use the same operating mechanism for different types of vehicles or different types of roofs. Only a controller for the drive sources should be different or only the software of the controller should be changed to allow the support members to make the required horizontal and vertical movements for a particular type of vehicle or specific type of open roof construction. This means that mechanical parts of the operating mechanism could be the same in different types of roofs which makes design and manufacture less complicated.

Although the first support member(s) could be just a pivot, it is preferred to provide the first support member with at least a drive source for its adjustment in horizontal direction, but most preferable also with a drive source for adjustment in vertical direction, so that all kind of movements of the front side of the closure are possible.

If a support member is adjustable in vertical direction, it will always have its own drive source for the vertical adjustment. The vertical adjustment of the second support member is preferably completely independent of the vertical position of the first support member. However, two or more support members may have a common drive source for the horizontal adjustment so that they make the same horizontal movement. However, it is also possible to include a coupling between a support member and the drive source for the horizontal adjustment, allowing one support member to move horizontally with respect to the other. The first and/or second support members in the two guide rails may be coupled to a common drive source through one or two connecting elements.

The vertical adjustment of the support members may be accomplished by relatively simple mechanical mechanism, such as a lever mechanism, a screw jack, and/or a pin-slot mechanism. The connecting element for horizontal adjustment includes one of a belt, push-pull cable, rack and pinion and the like.

The drive source for the horizontal adjustment of a respective support member may be mounted stationary and be connected to the support member by said connecting element(s), or may move along with it and be engaged with the stationary part to drive the support member. The drive source may for example carry a pinion engaging a stationary rack.

An aspect of the invention also includes an operating mechanism for use in the open roof construction as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention will be elucidated hereafter with reference to the drawings showing embodiments of the open roof construction.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a first embodiment of the open roof construction in very schematic plan view and in two different positions.

FIG. 1c is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 1a, but showing the drive source and connecting element in more detail.

FIGS. 2a-2c, 3a-3c and 4a-4c are views corresponding to that of FIGS. 1a-1c, but showing a second, third and fourth embodiment of the open roof construction.

FIG. 5a, 5b are very schematic plan views of a top slider roof according to a fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 6a-6c and 7a-7c are very schematic side views of a sixth and the second embodiment of the open roof construction in three different positions.

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9a, 9b are enlarged side views of two embodiments of a support member in two different positions.

FIGS. 10a, 10b, 11 are enlarged details Xa, Xb, and XI in FIGS. 7a, 7b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The drawing, and in first instance FIG. 1a-1c show an open roof construction for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle such as a passenger car. As is shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle is provided with an opening 1 in its fixed roof 2, whereby it is noted that said fixed roof 2 may either form part of the vehicle or of the open roof construction itself, which in that case makes up the entire roof of the vehicle. The fixed roof 2 may consist of an integral part of the vehicle or of one or more (metal or transparent) panels, which may be fixed, removable or form a separate adjustable roof element.

The open roof construction includes a stationary part, such as a frame 3, and a closure element, in this case in the form of a rigid and preferably transparent panel 4, for example made of glass or of plastic material, which is movably supported by frame 3. In this embodiment, panel 4 is movable between a closed position, in which roof opening 1 is closed and panel 4 is at least substantially coplanar with fixed roof 2, and an open position, in which panel 4 occupies a rearward position, at least partially above the fixed roof 2 (or a second rigid panel, not shown), in which at least a part of opening 1 is cleared. In the embodiment shown, panel 4 is first tilted from the closed position (FIGS. 1a and 6a) to a venting position in which the rear edge of panel 4 is moved upwardly (FIG. 6b), and then moved rearwardly to positions above the fixed roof 2 (FIGS. 1b and 6c).

An operating mechanism is provided on each longitudinal side of panel 4 for effecting the movements of panel 4. In this case, the operating mechanism is supported by guide rails 5 extending substantially parallel in longitudinal direction of the vehicle and mounted alongside the roof opening 1. The operating mechanism includes on each guide rail 5 a first or front support member 6 supporting panel 4 near its front side and a second or rear support member 7 supporting panel 4 a distance behind front support member 6. Other concepts are conceivable as well, for example one including a single or double central guide rail (splitting the opening 2 in two half openings) carrying one or two front support members 6, and two lateral guide rails carrying the two rear support members 7. Still other variations are possible.

As mentioned, panel 4 is supported by four support members 6, 7, each supporting panel 4 in a corner thereof when panel 4 is in its closed position. In this spoiler-type of roof, rear support members 7 are fixed in horizontal direction, and are adjustable in vertical direction only. The front support members 6 are adjustable in horizontal and vertical direction. For vertical adjustment of front and rear support members 6, 7 they each comprise their own vertical drive source 8 indicated by V in the drawing. Front support members 6 are adjustable in horizontal direction by means of a common horizontal drive source 9, in the embodiment of FIG. 1c in the form of an electric motor controlled by a central controller and connected to both front support members 6 through connecting elements 10, here elongated flexible connecting members, such as push-and-pull cables engaged with an output gear of the electric motor. As is shown, the parts of the front support members 6 that cause the vertical adjustment of panel 4 are at least partly moving with panel 4 when it is driven by horizontal drive source. The support member 6, 7 includes the parts between panel 4 and guide rail 5 or stationary part 3.

The rear support members 7 are connected to panel 4 through a rail (not shown) such that, when front support members 6 move horizontally after rear support members 7 have lifted the rear side of panel 4 upwardly (FIG. 6b), panel 4 slides along rear support members 7 to a position in which a substantial part of roof opening 1 is opened (FIG. 6c). For making these movements, the front and rear support members 6, 7 are adjusted in vertical direction independently from each other and independently from the horizontal adjustment, so that panel 4 can be allowed to make all the movements that are desirable. For example, it is easy to adjust rear support members 7 in vertical direction when panel 4 is moved backwardly, so that panel 4 is positioned as close as possible to fixed roof 2 in rear positions.

When the open roof construction is mounted in another vehicle having a different roof shape, the vertical movement can be changed to adapt the open roof construction to the vehicle type without it being necessary to change the mechanical parts of the open roof construction. Only the software in the controller for the horizontal and vertical drive sources 8, 9 should be changed.

A second embodiment of the open roof construction, in particular of the operating mechanism thereof is shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. Again the same type of roof is shown. The main difference is that there are now two horizontal drive sources 9, one for each guide rail 5, and in particular one for each front support 6. Each stationary electric motor of horizontal drive source 9 is connected to the respective front support member 6 through a connecting element 10 in the form of a closed loop cable running around an electric motor wheel 11 and a return wheel 12, and one loop part being fixed to the front support 6.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the electric motor of each horizontal drive source 9 is now moving along with respective front support member 6. For this purpose, each electric motor is provided with a pinion 13 engaged with a stationary toothed rack 14 fixed to respective guide rail 5.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is comparable to that of FIG. 3, but now rear support member 7 is also movable in horizontal direction, independently of the movements of front support member 6. For this purpose, each support member 6, 7 has its own horizontal and vertical drive source (so 8 in total), in which each horizontal drive source moves along with respective support member 6, 7.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the open roof construction in the form of a top slider in which a second panel 4a (mostly fixed) is mounted behind panel 4 when in closed position. Guide rails 5 are extended backwardly so that they also extend at the sides of rear panel 4a and at least the rear support members 7 may move rearwardly alongside rear panel 4a. In this embodiment, the first and second support members 6, 7 on each guide rail 5 have a common horizontal drive source 9 and thus slide together as a unit. The front and rear support members 6, 7 each have their own vertical drive source, so the vertical adjustment of the front and rear side of panel 4 is independent of the horizontal displacement, and in this case also independent of each other so that the vertical position of the panel 4 can be perfectly adjusted to the horizontal position of panel 4.

FIG. 6 shows in a side view a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, the front and rear support members 6, 7 have a common horizontal drive source 9, but this is coupled and uncoupled from the respective front and rear support member 6, 7 in order to drive it only when it is needed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show two types of vertically adjustable support members 6, 7. The front and rear support members 6, 7 could be the same within one roof, but could also be made differently depending on the required vertical adjustment and the vertical space available for the support members 6, 7. The support member 6, 7 of FIG. 8 includes a set of levers 15, 16 connected at one end to each other through a pivot 17 and pivotally connected at their other end to a spindle bushing 18 engaged on a spindle shaft 19 rotatably driven by an electric motor of vertical drive source 8. A vertical support 20 is fixed to pivot 17. The spindle shaft 19 has opposite screw threads in order to horizontally move both bushings 18 in opposite directions when it rotates. Levers 15, 16 are then spread (FIG. 8b) or folded (FIG. 8a), thereby moving pivot 17 and vertical support 20 in vertical direction only. If a horizontal displacement of support 20 is required or desired, this can be accomplished by adapting the screw thread of spindle shaft 19 and bushings 18.

FIGS. 10a, 10 show a rear support member 7 comprising such vertical adjustment of FIG. 8. It is shown there that vertical support 20 is fixed to panel 4 so that it does not keep its vertical orientation, but is tilted with the tilting movement of panel 4. FIG. 11 shows support member 6 with such vertical adjustment.

FIG. 9 shows a different type of vertically adjustable support member 6, 7. Vertical support 20 is now pivotally connected to a free end of a single lever 21 which is pivoted by means of a pin-slot arrangement, comprising a longitudinal slot 22 (in this case straight, but could also be curved) in lever 21 and a pin 23 on a slide 24 which is in engagement with screw-threaded spindle shaft 19. Due to the orientation of slot 22, the pivotability of lever 21 and displacement of pin 23 with respect to the pivot point of lever 21, the latter will be tilted if pin 23 moves through slot 22. The free end of lever 21 will then move vertical support 20 up and down. All kinds of other arrangements for vertically (and horizontally) moving support members 6, 7 are conceivable of course.

From the foregoing it is clear that aspects of the invention provide an open roof construction for a vehicle and an operating mechanism for use therein which make it possible to optimize movements of the closure and to use the same operating mechanism for different types of roofs, by just reprogramming the software of the controller. With the independent horizontal and vertical movements, it is possible to enable the closure to make movements that are not conceivable otherwise.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawing and described above which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, it is possible to use the same front and rear support members for a so-called inslider type roof, in which the closure panel can be moved downwardly from its closed position in order to be moved rearwardly below the fixed roof. Other roof types and other closure elements, such as slats or multi panels are conceivable as well. The terms vertical and horizontal as used herein should be considered in a broad sense. It will depend on the orientation of guide rails 5 how the movement of the support members will be. Vertical means substantially perpendicular to the local orientation of the guide rail and horizontal means substantially parallel to the guide rail. The guide rails can be slightly curved so that the orientation of the support members will vary if they move along their guide rail.

Claims

1. An open roof construction for a vehicle having at least one opening in a fixed roof, comprising a stationary part for attachment to the roof, carrying at least two guide rails alongside the roof opening, at least one closure having a front and a rear side and being supported by an operating mechanism guided by the guide rails, the closure being adjustable between a closed position, in which the closure closes the roof opening, and an open position in which the closure is at least partly moved out of the roof opening, wherein the operating mechanism comprises on each guide rail at least one adjustable first support member adjustably supporting the closure near a front side thereof, and at least one adjustable second support member adjustably supporting the closure a distance behind the front side, and wherein the first support members and/or the second support members comprises two separate drive sources configured to adjust the first support members and/or the second support members independently with respect to horizontal and vertical directions.

2. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein each support member comprises its own two drive sources to adjust the support member independently with respect to horizontal and vertical directions.

3. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein two support members comprise a common drive source configured to adjust the two support members in a horizontal direction.

4. The open roof construction according to claim 3, wherein all first and second support members comprise one common drive source configured to adjust the first and second support members in the horizontal direction.

5. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second support members includes a lever mechanism, a screw jack and/or a pin-slot mechanism.

6. The open roof construction according to claim 2, wherein the drive source for horizontal movement of each of the first and second support members moves along with each of the first and second support members.

7. The open roof construction according to claim 2, wherein the drive source for horizontal movement of each of the first and second support members is mounted to the stationary part and is connected to the respective support member(s) through one or more connecting elements.

8. The open roof construction according to claim 7, wherein the connecting elements include a belt, a push-pull cable, and/or a rack and pinion.

9. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein all first and second support members comprise one common drive source configured to adjust the first and second support members in a horizontal direction and wherein one or more connecting elements connect the drive source to all first and second support members to adjust the first and second support members in the horizontal direction.

10. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein the drive sources are controlled by a programmable controller.

11. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein each of the second support members include a drive source for adjusting vertical adjustment of the associated second support member independent of a vertical position of either of the first support members.

12. The open roof construction according to claim 1, wherein the drive sources for vertical adjustment of the first support members and/or the second support members are movable in a horizontal direction.

13. The open roof construction according to claim 1, and wherein each support member comprises two separate drive sources connected to the respective support member and configured to adjust each support member independently with respect to horizontal and vertical directions.

14. An apparatus for use in an open roof construction for a vehicle having at least one opening in a fixed roof, comprising a stationary part for attachment to the roof, carrying at least two guide rails alongside the roof opening, at least one closure having a front and a rear side and being supported by an operating mechanism guided on the guide rails, the closure being adjustable between a closed position, in which the closure closes the roof opening, and an open position in which the closure is at least partly moved out of the roof opening, wherein the operating mechanism comprises at least one adjustable first support member adjustably supporting the closure near a front side thereof, and at least adjustable second support members adjustably supporting the closure a distance behind the front side, and wherein the first support members and/or the second support members comprises two separate drive sources configured to adjust the first support members and/or the second support members independently with respect to horizontal and vertical directions.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least two support members from the first support members and/or the second support members have a common drive source for horizontal adjustment.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the drive sources for vertical adjustment of the first support members and/or the second support members are movable in a horizontal direction.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the drive sources for vertical adjustment of the first support members and/or the second support members are movable in a horizontal direction.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein two support members comprise a common drive source configured to adjust the two support members in a horizontal direction.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the common drive source is coupled to the first support members.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the common drive source is stationary relative to horizontal movement of the first support members.