Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-05
2002-09-03
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S216030, C296S220010, C296S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06443520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the priority of German patent document 199 41 984.1, filed Sep. 3, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
This present invention concerns a multipart sun roof for a motor vehicle comprising a first roof section which can be moved at an angle, second and third movable roof sections that can be longitudinally displaced in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle for positioned closing and releasing of a roof opening, and a permanently mounted fourth roof section adjacent to these movable roof sections, with displacement of the longitudinally displaceable roof sections being controllable by control, displacement, and operating elements.
German Patent Document DE 42 27 400 C2 describes a sun roof for vehicles with at least two roof sections that are displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and which can alternatively be used for closing or at least partially releasing a continuous roof opening in a fixed roof panel. In their closed position, the two roof sections are arranged successively and at least approximately flush with the contour of the fixed roof panel. One of the two roof sections is guided in a displaceable manner along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in a guide system disposed on the inside of the roof. The other roof section is guided in a displaceable manner along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in a guide system disposed on the outside of the roof in such a manner that it can be moved from the closed position, wherein it is approximately flush with the contour of the fixed roof panel, into an opening position wherein it comes to rest entirely above the roof panel.
Furthermore, a glass roof is known from European Patent Document EP 0 648 629 B1 which is disposed between lateral roof frames and which comprises a longitudinally displaceable roof section and a further roof section which forms an extension of the first roof section. Between the roof frames, a first angular movable roof section is located adjacent to the first windscreen frame, which is followed by a second roof section which forms the longitudinally movable roof section and in whose extension a third permanently mounted roof section is provided which forms the further roof section.
Furthermore, WO 96/01192 describes a sun roof with two front roof sections that are approximately equally long and longitudinally displaceable—with respect to the driving direction—and a rear fixed roof section. The first front roof section can be displaced at an angle and moved into an angular position above the rear permanently mounted roof section. The second front roof section is displaceable in a position below the permanently mounted rear roof section.
The second front roof section is displaceable in a position above the permanently mounted rear fixed roof section.
An object of this present invention is to create a multipart sun roof for a motor vehicle, in particular for an off-road vehicle, which provides a plurality of opening and closing options and wherein both a small opening of the roof in different roof sections as well as a relative large opening of the roof can be achieved. In addition, the individual roof sections shall be supported and guided in roof rails in a stable manner. Furthermore, the exterior roof contours, in case the roof is closed, should be provided as a continuous even surface, and any guide systems projecting beyond the roof contours are to be avoided.
According to this present invention, this object is met by providing a multipart sun roof for a motor vehicle comprising a first roof section which can be moved at an angle and at least a second and a third roof section that can be longitudinally displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for positioned closing and releasing of a roof opening as well as a permanently mounted fourth roof section adjacent to these movable roof sections, with displacement of the longitudinally displaceable roof sections being controllable by means of control, displacement, and operating elements, characterized in that the first roof section can be displaced at an angle with respect to a positioned movable second or third roof section and the two following roof sections can be displaced both individually and independently from each other as well as successively into a release and closing position by means of links that are displaceable in guide rails as well as control elements in such a way that the second and the third roof section each are arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the guide rails to form their respective roof openings and, as a result thereof, both roof sections together release the entire roof opening, and at least one movable roof section or both roof sections can be displaced at an angle in the closing position.
Further advantageous features of preferred embodiments are described below and in the claims.
Principal advantages achieved by this present invention are that the guide rails that are connected with the lateral roof side rails and covered for the longitudinally displaceable roof sections, in case the roof is closed, provide a flush outside surface without any projecting guide system. For that purpose, between the lateral rails of the vehicle roof of the body structure, guide rails are provided which comprise one or several receiving chambers for displacement and control and/or operating elements of the three front roof sections—with respect to the driving direction of the vehicle—and which are provided so that they are covered under an outside roof contour. Each of these guide rails is connected with the lateral rails of the body structure in such a manner that the receiving chambers are arranged in the guide rails to laterally position the roof sections in a permanently mounted manner, e.g. next to each other in a horizontal plane.
The entire roof module, essentially comprising the roof sections with guide rails as well as the displacement and control and/or operating elements and further elements and/or devices belonging to the operational roof element, such as e-motors and the like, is mounted in a prepared roof opening of the body structure of the vehicle and secured on the same, e.g. by means of fastening screws or bolting or by using another connecting procedure.
The guide rails are preferably such that on the outside profile of the guide rail, a bridge extending approximately horizontally and projecting towards the outside of the vehicle is provided which can be connected with at least one lateral rail of the vehicle body structure by means of screws. Replacing the entire roof module for repairs or in the case of damage is also possible in a simple manner.
To provide a plurality of roof opening options, the movable roof sections can be displaced and tilted in such a way that at least the first roof section can be displaced at an angle once a movable second or third roof section is displaced. Both roof sections can be displaced both individually and independently from each other as well as successively by means of links and control elements that are displaceable within the guide rails into an opening and a closing position. Both the second and the third roof sections can be arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the guide rails so as to release its respective roof opening, and both roof sections, can also be arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the guide rails so as to together release the entire roof opening. At least one movable roof section or also both roof sections can be positioned at an angle in their closing position.
To make the individual roof sections longitudinally displaceable between the lateral roof rails, the guide rail is characterized by two profiles whose cross sections are approximately U-shaped, wherein the outside profile has a first chamber to receive the guide and control and/or operating elements for the first and the second roof section as well as to support the fourth roof section via holding and fastening means.
The i
Roth Jan
Schmaelzle Manfred
Thomas Peter
Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
Pedder Dennis H.
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