Joints and connections – Articulated members – Pivoted
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-13
2001-07-17
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Pivoted
C403S146000, C016S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261024
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a rocker device for an openable motor vehicle roof, with a support element, a rocker element and a spring, the rocker element being connected to pivot about an axis, with the support element and the spring being located between the rocker element and support element such that it applies a pre-stressing force to the rocker element with respect to the direction of the pivoting motion. The invention is also directed to a process for mounting such a device.
2. Description of Related Art
A device of the type to which the present invention is directed is known from German Patent DE 196 08 916 C1 which corresponds to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/812,663, filed May 7, 1997. This known rocker device forms one part of the attachment elements which can be pivoted outward for a louvered roof. On an adjustment element of the attachment element which forms the support element of the rocker device, the adjustment elements are guided in the lengthwise direction of the roof, the rocker element, made as a lock rocker, is attached to the adjustment element to pivot by means of an axle made as a pivot bearing. The pivot bearing consists of a riveted eye. A spring made as a helical spring is attached to the pivot bearing in order to apply a pivot prestress to the lock rocker with respect to the adjustment element. When the louver system is opened/closed, the attachment elements are automatically coupled, depending on their swivel position, with their adjacent attachment element via swivel motion of the corresponding lock rocker or decoupled therefrom.
It is a disadvantage, here, that it is relatively complex to axially secure the rocker element by means of a riveted eye, and the riveted eye makes dismounting difficult, and furthermore, allows axial play between the rocker element and the support element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of this invention is to prevent the above indicated disadvantages of the prior art device in as simple and economical manner as possible.
This object is achieved by providing a rocker device of the initially mentioned type with a spring arranged and formed such that it provides for a pre-stressing force in an axial direction between the rocker element and the support element, and that furthermore, providing an axis for the rocker that is stationary with respect to one element and is guided in the other element through a corresponding axial opening.
This approach according to the invention is advantageous in that the rocker device can be built very easily with a minimum number of parts and can be easily and quickly mounted. Additionally, simple dismounting is possible, and the spring allows axial tolerance compensation. Furthermore, there is zero axial backlash, which ensures the absence of rattling in operation.
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the spring is made as a helical spring which is arranged concentrically to the axis, the one spring end being stationary with respect to the axis and the other spring end being stationary with respect to the other element. This represents one especially simple embodiment.
In another preferred embodiment the spring is located on the free end of the axle and runs around the axle, the inner spring end being inserted into a receiving opening in the axle and the outer spring end being made as a leg which is bent outwardly in a U-shape relative to the spring plane and which surrounds a projection on the corresponding element.
Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the axle is provided on its free end with a mounting groove which is formed axially in the peripheral surface and which is beveled relative to the free end of the axle towards the axle center, on its other end the receiving opening is made as a radially running cylindrical opening, and that the inner end of the spring end is made essentially as a straight piece which runs radially in the spring plane.
This arrangement allows especially simple mounting by the axle being inserted through the opening, the spring being attached to the free end of the axle such that the inner end of the spring fits into the mounting groove, the spring is pushed in the axial direction onto the axle until the inner spring end fits into the receiving opening, and finally the outer end of the spring is moved against the tangential spring force above the projection so that the leg fits around the projection.
In addition, preferably the axle is made integral with the rocker element. This represents an especially simple structure.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which, for purposes of illustration only, show a single embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
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Browne Lynne H.
Hingham John R. C.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Safran David S.
Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
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