The present invention relates to a wind deflector in the motor vehicle sector.
Although usable in any desired regions of a motor vehicle, the present invention and the problem on which it is based are explained in more detail with respect to a sliding roof of a motor vehicle. The present inventive concept can also be used, for example, on put-up roofs or sun roofs of a vehicle.
A problem which is generally known in the case of a motor vehicle sliding roof is that, when the cover is open, periodic pressure fluctuations may occur in the interior of the vehicle when the vehicle is moving at low to medium speeds. Said periodic pressure fluctuations are primarily noticeable acoustically in the form of “booming”. To avoid said pressure fluctuations, use is generally made of wind deflectors.
A wind deflector generally has the function of improving the flow conditions of the motor vehicle when, for example, the cover of a sliding roof is in an open position. The wind deflector is usually arranged at the front end, as seen in the direction of travel, of the roof opening opened up by the cover, and is transferred from a retracted position, in which it is located below the outer surface of the vehicle roof, into a deployed position when the cover is opened.
The publication DE 102 10 142 A1 discloses a wind deflector for a vehicle roof, the wind deflector having a base element which is provided for attachment to the vehicle roof. Furthermore, the wind deflector comprises a deployment element which is connected pivotably to the base element. Also provided are an air-permeable deflector element on the base element and on the deployment element, and at least one deployment spring which presses the deployment element into a deployed position in which the deflector element is tensioned between the base element and the deployment element. In this case, the deflector element is fixedly injected into the base element and into the deployment element.
However, a disadvantage of this approach according to the prior art is that the wind deflector is designed as a single-part structural element and this is disadvantageous in terms of installation because of the limited installation space. Furthermore, an injection of the deflector element into the base element and into the deployment element is extremely complicated, since the molds required for this purpose have to be designed with very great precision. In the case of a change to the construction of the wind deflector, a very complicated rearrangement of the mold is disadvantageously necessary.
Furthermore, in the event of the deflector element being damaged or having to be replaced for another reason, the entire deflector element has to be removed and a new deflector element fitted. This is associated with a high outlay on maintenance and high maintenance costs.
The present invention is based on the object of eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages and, in particular, of providing a wind deflector which can be attached to the base element and/or to the deployment element in a simpler and more advantageous manner.
This object is achieved according to the invention by the wind deflector with the features of patent claim 1.
The idea on which the present invention is based consists in that the wind deflector has a base element which can be attached to a motor vehicle part; a deployment element which is coupled pivotably to the base element; an adjusting device for pivoting the deployment element between a storage position and a deployed position; and a deflector element which can be attached to the base element and to the deployment element in order to tension the deflector element between the same in the deployed position of the deployment element; wherein the deflector element can be attached to the base element and/or to the deployment element by means of a releasable connection.
The present invention therefore has the advantage over the known approaches according to the prior art that the deflector element can be attached to the base element and/or to the deployment element without a disadvantageous injection process. The deflector element can be connected to the base element and/or to the deployment element in a simple manner in terms of installation and, in the event of possible damage to the deflector element, can be replaced in a simple and cost-effective manner.
Advantageous refinements and improvements of the wind deflector indicated in patent claim 1 are found in the sub-claims.
According to a preferred development, the deflector element can be releasably attached directly to the base element and/or to the deployment element by means of a clamping device.
For example, the clamping device is designed as a plastic part with a film hinge injection-molded onto it in order to form a clamping strip. As a result, the deflector element can be clamped in the clamping device in a simple manner without complicated injection-molding processes being necessary.
As an alternative, the clamping device can be designed as a two-part clamping part for clamping the deflector element between the two individual parts. The two individual parts can preferably be joined together, for example by means of plugging together, clamping or the like, in order to clamp the deflector element between the two individual parts. It is advantageous for the one individual part of the clamping device to have receiving holes and for the other individual part of the clamping device to have plug-in pins, it being possible for the plug-in pins to be plugged into associated receiving holes in order to clamp the deflector element between the same.
The clamping device can also be designed, for example, as a clamping strip which can be plugged on and/or can be pushed in, for clamping the deflector element between the clamping strip and the structural element or the deployment element.
According to a further preferred development, the deflector element can be releasably fastened to the base element and/or to the deployment element indirectly via a connecting element. In this case, the deflector element can be fixedly sewn, adhesively bonded, welded, injection-molded or the like to the connecting element. As an alternative, however, the deflector element can also be releasably fastened to the connecting element, for example by means of clamping or the like.
According to a further preferred exemplary embodiment, the connecting element in turn can be releasably attached to the base element and/or to the deployment element by means of a plug-in connection, clamping connection, wedge action connection, expanding connection, retaining connection, latching connection or the like.
The deflector element can therefore be attached to the respective connecting element in a simple and cost-effective manner before the wind deflector is installed, with it also being possible for the connecting element to be releasably connected to the base element and to the deployment element in the installation state thereof.
The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the attached figures of the drawing.
Of the figures:
a shows a cross-sectional view of a connecting device according to a first preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an open position;
b shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting device from
a shows a cross-sectional view of a connecting device according to a second preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the non-locked state;
b shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting device from
a shows a front view of a component of a connecting device according to a third preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
b shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting device according to the third preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
a shows a cross-sectional view of a component of a connecting device according to a twentieth preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an open position;
b shows a cross-sectional view of the connecting device from
In the figures of the drawing, the same reference numbers refer to identical or functionally identical components unless stated to the contrary.
The wind deflector 1 furthermore has a likewise U-shaped deployment element 3 which is provided in a manner such that it can pivot relative to the base element 2 between a storage position and a deployed position via a pivoting device 4. For example, the deployment element 3 is coupled pivotably to the base element 2.
In addition, a deflector element 5 is provided between the base element 2 and the deployment element 3, said deflector element being composed, for example, of a flexible and air-permeable material, for example of a fabric or an air-permeable plastic sheet or the like. The deflector element 5 is coupled to the base element 2 and the deployment element 3 in such a manner that, when the deployment element 3 is deployed, the deflector element 5 is tensioned between the base element 2 and the deployment element 3, as illustrated in
Various preferred exemplary embodiments for different connections of the deflector element 5 to the base element 2 and/or to the deployment element 3 are explained in more detail below with reference to
Although the exemplary embodiments below describe a connection of the deflector element 5 to the deployment element 3, the connection variants indicated can also be transferred in an analogous manner to a connection of the deflector element 5 to the base element 2.
a and 2b illustrate a connecting device 6 for a fastening of the deflector element 5 to the base element 2 and/or to the deployment element 3 according to a first preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with
The deployment element 3 is preferably produced as a plastic strip by means of an injection-molding process, the deployment element 3 according to the present example having a fixed base region 7 and a pivoting region 9 which is integrally formed pivotably on the base region 7 via, for example, a film hinge 8 which is injection-molded thereon at the same time. The base region 7 advantageously has a plurality of plug-in openings 10 which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and into which complementarily associated plug-in pins 11 of the pivoting region 9 can be fixedly plugged in during a movement of the pivoting region 9 in the direction of the arrow illustrated in
As is apparent in
The plug-in pins 11 explained above can also be designed, for example, in the form of a plug-in strip running continuously in the longitudinal direction. The deflector element 5 can thereby be releasably fastened to the deployment element 3, which is advantageous in the event of maintenance. A disadvantageous injection-molding process can advantageously be dispensed with.
a and 3b illustrate a connecting device 6 according to a second preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According thereto, the connecting device 6 is formed with a two-part base region, comprising the individual parts 14 and 15, with the individual part 14 having a plurality of plug-in pins 11 and the individual part 15 having plug-in openings 10 formed in a complementary manner with respect thereto. The two individual parts 14, 15 are preferably composed of plastic.
Analogously to the previous first exemplary embodiment, the deflector element 5 is clamped between the two individual parts 14 and 15, with the plug-in pins 11 ensuring the corresponding clamping action.
Analogously to the previous exemplary embodiment, the plug-in pins 11 in turn can be designed as a plug-in strip running continuously in the longitudinal direction.
For the two individual parts 14 and 15 to be held together, the latter, as illustrated in
The deflector element 5 can therefore be directly clamped between the two individual parts 14 and 15, with the two individual parts 14 and 15 being held together by the U-shaped profile 16 in order to bring about the desired clamping force.
According to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operative connection between the two individual parts 14 and 15 can also be ensured in that the plug-in pins 11 have barbs 17 in such a manner that the individual parts 14 and 15 are connected to each other by latching of the plug-in pins 11 into the associated plug-in openings 10. In such a case, the U-shaped profile 16 may be omitted under some circumstances, as illustrated in
The clamping strip 19 is produced, for example, as a flexible extrusion part and is preferably designed as a continuous strip.
In the abovementioned exemplary embodiments, the deflector element 5 is accordingly releasably clamped directly to the deployment element 3 and to the base element 2 by means, for example, of clamping, latching pins, latching strips, wedging elements, clamping elements or the like. This advantageously makes a disadvantageous injecting of the deflector element 5 into the deployment element 3 and the base element 2 unnecessary.
Instead of a direct connection, the deflector element 5 can also be connected indirectly via a connecting element 20 to the deployment element 3 and the base element 2, this being evaluated in more detail below with explanation of a plurality of exemplary embodiments.
The connecting element 20 here is designed, for example, as a profile which extends in the longitudinal direction and has a connecting section 21 and a head section 21a. For example, the connecting element 20 is designed as a cable, wire or elastic round profile which can be plugged, pushed, clipped or the like into a complementary receiving section 22 of the deployment element 3. The receiving section 22 preferably has a receiving section 22 which is complementary to the cross-sectional profile of the head section 21a of the connecting element 20 so as to stably receive the same, as is apparent in
However, any other desired configurations of the head section 21a of the connecting element 20 are also conceivable, such as, for example, a mushroom-shaped configuration according to
In the preceding exemplary embodiments according to
In this case, the deployment element 3 preferably has an approximately U-shaped cross-sectional profile made of steel, aluminum or the like. The deployment element 3 is preferably designed as a spring-elastic clip connection with one or more latching lugs 27 which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and, in the clipped-in state, engage in a latching manner behind an associated latching section 28 of the injection-molded surround 26, as illustrated in
The deployment element 3 is designed, for example, as a plastic profile with an integrally formed, spring-elastic tongue 31 which defines a receiving section 30. The strip 29 can be clipped or plugged into the receiving section 30 and is locked in place by means of the spring-elastic tongue 31. In this case, the spring-elastic tongue 31 can be designed as a tongue running continuously in the longitudinal direction, or a plurality of tongues can be provided in a manner spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the deployment element 3. The tongue or tongues 31 has/each have a latching lug 27 which engages in said manner behind the strip 27 in order to lock the same in place.
According to the exemplary embodiment according to
The plastic strip 29 may be attached to the deployment element 3 by means of a clamping connection, a wedge action connection, an adhesive bonding connection, a plug-in connection or the like instead of by means of a latching connection. According to
The deployment element 3 has, for example in its base region, a stiffening element 32 which is preferably designed as a U-shaped metal profile. The rest of the deployment element 3 is preferably formed from plastic or the like analogously to the preceding exemplary embodiments.
According to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the injection-molded surround 26 is coupled to the deployment element 3 in the region of the stiffening element 32. According to
According to
The retaining device 33 advantageously has two retaining clips 34 which, for connection of the injection-molded surround 26, latch into associated latching notches 35 in the periphery of the injection-molded surround 26, as illustrated in
It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that use can be made of any other retaining arrangements which ensure a releasable connection of the injection-molded surround 26 to the deployment element 3.
Instead of a fixed connection of the deflector element 5 to the connecting element 20, as is the case in the preceding exemplary embodiments, the deflector element 5 can also be releasably fastened to the connecting element 20. For example, the connection section 21 of the connecting element 20 has two clamping arms 36 which can be pivoted in the direction of the arrows illustrated in
As illustrated in
With regard to the further properties of the connecting element 20 and of the receiving section 22 of the deployment element 3, reference is made to the details above in order to avoid repetitions.
The deflector element according to the present invention can therefore be attached both to the base element and to the deployment element in each case by means of a retaining device, latching elements, if appropriate with notches or latching receptacles provided therein, clamping elements or wedging elements, clamping of the deflector element in conjunction with pins or wedges provided, or by fixed connection by means of welding, adhesive bonding, sewing or the like.
Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto but rather can be modified in diverse ways.
For example, the deployment element or the base element can be designed as U-shaped clip with a hard component or component reinforced by means of a metal insert, and with a soft component integrally formed thereon, with the deflector element preferably being fastened to the soft component by means of sewing, adhesive bonding, welding, injecting or the like.
It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that, although the present exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the deployment element, the present inventive concept can be applied analogously to a connection of the deflector element to the base element. Furthermore, the abovementioned embodiments can be combined with one another as desired, i.e. one or more of the abovementioned variants can be used for connecting of the deflector element to the deployment element and one or more of the above variants can likewise be used for connecting the deflector element to the base element, which variants may differ from one another.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2005 054 186.0 | Nov 2005 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/DE2006/001976 | 11/13/2006 | WO | 00 | 6/20/2008 |