BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the mounting of a sunroof decoration cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the coupling of a front portion of a sunroof cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a coupling of a rear portion of a sunroof cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the bottom illustrating the mounted state of the sunroof decoration cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V as shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 5, a guide rail frame 10 is provided on a vehicle body 90. The guide rail frame 10 is provided with a guide rail 12. The guide rail 12 is provided with an operational mechanism 20. The operational mechanism 20 operates along the guide rail 12 to open and close a sunroof window unit 70. The sunroof glass window unit 70 includes: a sunroof glass 72 for blocking direct sunlight; a sunroof glass bracket 76 that is connected to the operational mechanism 20 to support the sunroof glass 72; and a sunroof glass support panel 74 that is coupled to a sunroof glass bracket 76 which supports the sunroof glass 72. The sunroof glass window unit 70 is opened and closed by the operational mechanism 20.
The operational mechanism 20 is provided with a front assembly portion 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). A drip rail 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is coupled to the guide rail frame 10. When the sunroof is opened, the drip rail 30 is also opened. The drip rail prevents water from flowing into the interior of the vehicle. The drip rail 30 is provided with a rear assembly portion 32 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).
The sunroof decoration cover 40 covers the operational mechanism 20. A lower portion 46 of the sunroof decoration cover 40 is coupled to and supported by a cover guide 50 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
Hereinafter, the coupling of the front assembly portion with a front assembly unit will be described.
Referring to FIG. 2, the sunroof decoration cover guide 50 is provided with a front assembly unit 52 that is coupled to the front assembly portion 22. The front assembly portion 22 is provided with a slot 24 in which the front assembly unit 52 is coupled. A hook portion 54 is formed on an end of the front assembly unit 52 to prevent the front assembly unit 52 from being separated from the front assembly portion 22. A reinforcing portion 56 is formed on the side surface of the front assembly unit 52 to prevent the front assembly unit 52 from being broken.
The following will describe a coupling of the rear assembly portion to a rear assembly unit.
Referring to FIG. 3, the sunroof decoration cover guide 50 is provided with a rear assembly unit 58 coupled to the rear assembly portion 32. The rear assembly portion is provided with a slot 34 in which the rear assembly unit 58 is coupled. A hook portion 60 is formed on an extreme end of the assembly unit 58 to prevent the rear assembly unit 58 from being separated from the rear assembly portion 32. A first reinforcing portion 62 is formed on a side surface of the rear assembly unit 58 to be perpendicular to the rear assembly unit 58. There is also a second reinforcing portion 64 which is formed on the side surface of the rear assembly unit 58 to be perpendicular to the rear assembly unit 58. Since the upward/downward movement of the rear assembly unit 58 is greater than that of the front assembly unit 52, it is preferable that it have two reinforcing portions, i.e., the first reinforcing portion 62 perpendicular to the rear assembly unit 58 and the second reinforcing portion 64 perpendicular to the rear assembly unit 58 and the first reinforcing portion 62.
The following will describe an installed state of the sunroof decoration cover 40.
As shown in FIG. 4, the sunroof decoration cover 40 fully encloses the operational mechanism 20.
Referring to FIG. 5, the sunroof decoration cover 40 includes a plurality of plates 44 that are connected with each other such that they can be folded and unfolded as the sunroof glass window unit 70 opens and closes. As the sunroof glass window unit 70 opens or closes, the sunroof decoration cover 40 opens and closes together with the sunroof glass window unit 70 so that the operational mechanism 20 will always be covered by the sunroof decoration cover 40.
The following will describe an assembling process of the sunroof decoration cover 40.
As shown in FIG. 3, the rear assembly unit 58 is coupled to the rear assembling portion 32 while moving in the direction of the arrow.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the front assembly unit 52 is coupled to the front assembling portion 22 while moving in the direction of the arrow.
Here, the slot 34 of the rear assembly portion 32 is longer than the slot 24 of the front assembly portion 22 in order to prevent the rear assembly unit 58 from being separated from the rear assembly portion 32 after the front assembly unit 52 is coupled to the front assembly portion 22. The drawings show a case where the slot 34 of the rear assembly portion 32 is longer than the slot 24 of the front assembly portion 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. In another embodiment, the slot 24 may be longer than the slot 34.
The following will describe an assembling process of an upper assembly unit.
As shown in FIG. 5, the sunroof glass window unit 70 includes: the sunroof glass 72 which blocks direct sunlight; the sunroof glass bracket 76 that is connected to the operational mechanism 20 to support the sunroof glass 72; and the sunroof glass support panel 74 that is coupled to the sunroof glass bracket 76 to support the sunroof glass 72. The sunroof glass window unit 70 is opened and closed by the operational mechanism 20.
The sunroof decoration cover 40 is provided at the upper portion 42 by an upper assembly unit 48. The upper assembly unit 48 is coupled to the sunroof glass support panel 74. The upper assembly unit 48 is formed as a clip so that it can be easily mounted and dismounted.
As described above, when the slot 34 is longer than the slot 24, the sunroof decoration cover 40 is assembled according to the following process. First, the rear assembly unit 58 is coupled to the rear assembly portion 32 and then the front assembly unit 52 is coupled to the front assembly portion 22. Lastly, the upper assembly unit 48 is coupled.
When the slot 34 is shorter than the slot 24, the sunroof decoration cover 40 is assembled according to the following process. The front assembly unit 52 is first coupled to the front assembling portion 22 and then the rear assembly unit 58 is coupled to the rear assembly portion 32. Lastly, the upper assembly unit 48 is coupled.
The disassembling process of the sunroof decoration cover 40 is performed in the opposite order.
That is, when the slot 34 is longer than the slot 24, the upper assembly unit 48 is first disassembled and then the front assembly unit 52 is disassembled. Lastly, the rear assembly unit 58 is disassembled. When the slot 34 is shorter than the slot 24, the upper assembly unit 48 is first disassembled and then the rear assembly unit 58 is disassembled. Lastly, the front assembly unit 52 is disassembled.
Since the sunroof decoration cover assembly is simple in structure it can be easily assembled and disassembled. The sunroof decoration cover can be manufactured as an independent member thereby reducing the maintenance costs. Furthermore, this sunroof decoration cover assembly fully encloses the operational mechanism. Therefore, the decoration effect is enhanced by the sunroof decoration cover and thus the marketability of a vehicle with a sunroof is greatly improved.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080036247
