Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-02
2001-04-10
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C074S089170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213544
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof, which open roof construction comprises closing means for selectively closing or at least partially opening said roof opening, a driving element for said closing means, which comprises an outgoing driving wheel, at least one pull-push cable for providing connection between said driving element and said closing means, which cable is guided in a cable guide over the circumference of said driving wheel for adjustment of the cable by means of said driving element.
2. Description of the Related Art
An open roof construction of this kind is known in the art. For example, (see DE 1206740) a casted front beam of a frame of an open roof construction is provided with fixed cable guides, which define the position of the cable along the circumference of the driving wheel. It discloses a part which fits around the cable at the position of the driving wheel. This part is used for preventing wear of the front beam material and for preventing radial movement of the cable.
If it is desired to use a different version of an open roof construction, it then may be desired to obtain a different driving characteristic, for example a slower drive of the closing means with a higher torque. This only can be obtained by using a different driving wheel if the same motor is used. In that case, it is also necessary to exchange the front beam in its entirety for a front beam comprising a different course for the cable, so as to fit the different driving wheel. The exchange of a complete frame part increases the costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an electric open roof construction, wherein the above problem is eliminated in a simple manner.
In order to accomplish that objective, the open roof construction according to the invention is characterized in that said cable guide is provided with adaptation means for adapting the course of the cable guide to the diameter of the driving wheel.
Said adaptation means ensure that the frame portion in question can be maintained when a different driving wheel is used, whereby the adaptation means provide the required adaptation. Said adaptation means may consist of adaptable elements in the cable guide, and it is also possible to use insert pieces for adapting the course of the cable guide.
It is preferred to use an embodiment wherein the adaptation means are provided with an exchangeable adaptation element to be placed adjacent to the driving wheel on the one hand and contiguously to the stationary cable guide on the other hand.
In this manner, a part of the cable guide adjacent to the driving wheel can be exchanged, as it were, and only this part needs to be replaced when a different driving wheel is to be used. The adaptation element may be made of a plastic or of a metal, and it can be placed into a standard cavity in the frame portion in question, whereby the external dimensions of the various adaptation elements are identical, whereas the internal dimensions are different.
The invention also relates to a method for adapting the driving characteristic of a driving element for movable closing means of an open roof construction for a vehicle, which driving element is fitted with an outgoing driving wheel, where a pull-push cable provides the connection between the driving wheel and the closing means, which cable is guided over the circumference of the driving wheel for adjustment of the cable by means of the driving wheel.
According to the invention, said method is characterized in that the adjustment is carried out by selecting a driving wheel having a desired diameter from a set of several driving wheels having varying diameters, and using adaptation means for locally adapting the course of the cable to the diameter of the driving wheel.
It is possible to use in the method of the invention adaptation means which consist of adaptable elements, and it is also possible to use insert pieces for adapting the course of the cable guide. In the method of the invention it is preferred to use adaptation means which are exchangeable adaptation elements comprising varying shapes of the respective guide walls facing the driving wheel.
The invention further relates to a set of driving wheels having varying diameters and the associated adaptation means intended for use in a method for adapting the driving characteristic of a driving element for closing means of an open roof construction for a vehicle, which adaptation means are exchangeable adaptation elements, which are intended for being placed along the circumference of the driving wheel for guiding pull-push cables into engagement with said driving wheel, wherein said adaptation elements each comprise at least one guide wall facing said driving wheel, whose shape is adapted to conform with the diameter of the associated driving wheel.
Finally, the invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle as mentioned above, wherein said driving wheel is selected from a set of several driving wheels having varying diameters, and adaptation means are provided for locally adapting the course of the cable guide to the diameter of the selected driving wheel.
The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawings, which show an embodiment of the electric open roof construction according to the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4919005 (1990-04-01), Schleicher
patent: 5746090 (1998-05-01), Boss et al.
patent: 5749621 (1998-05-01), Smith
patent: 1134564 (1962-08-01), None
patent: 2135803 (1977-08-01), None
Inalfa Industries B.V.
Pedder Dennis H.
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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