Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-02-13
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S216070, C296S223000, C049S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186586
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to motor vehicle roofs with a roof opening and a movable cover which covers the roof opening, the cover being selectively movable to at least partially clear the roof opening. More particularly, the present invention relates to such motor vehicle roofs which include a sealing element with an integrated sensor for sensing an object being pinched between the roof opening and the cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of a motor vehicle roof of the type to which this invention is directed is illustrated in the German Patent DE 37 06 450 C2, which shows a sliding roof without a movable headliner. The sealing element which is mounted on a stationary roof part which projects into the roof opening, is made in two parts, the sensor being made as an air-filled tube with pressure which is sensed. The tube is pushed via a corresponding recess which runs in the transverse direction into the sealing element which has an additional air tube for sealing purposes. Yet another additional seal, which also has an air tube which runs in the transverse direction, is attached on the edge of the roof opening which frontally adjoins the front edge of the cover when the roof is closed position thereby sealing the motor vehicle roof. The limitation of this openable motor vehicle roof is that it is not possible to selectively change the light incidence with the cover closed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,060 discloses a motor vehicle roof including a cover which can be moved in order to at least partially clear an opening in the solid roof panel and which can also be swivelled out into a ventilation position with the rear edge of the cover protruding upward. This reference also discloses a sealing element which is attached to the front edge of the cover which adjoins the opening edge when the cover is closed in order to seal the motor vehicle interior. A sensor with two opposite electrodes is integrated into the sealing element and when a force exceeding the threshold value acts upon the sensor, the electrodes come into contact with one another due to the resulting deformation, thereby indicating the pinching of an article between the front edge of the cover and the opening edge. Furthermore, this reference discloses a movable headliner which is located underneath the roof opening movable to cover the roof opening or at least to partially clear it. The limitation of this openable motor vehicle roof is that by attaching the sealing element to the cover, the moving mass of the cover is increased and the thickness of the front edge of the cover is also increased. In addition, another limitation is that there is no protection against pinching with respect to the movable headliner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle roof which in the closed state, allows selectively variable light incidence.
A second object of the present invention is to provide such a motor vehicle roof which provides superior sealing of the motor vehicle interior.
A third object of the present invention is to provide such a motor vehicle with provisions to protect against pinching.
These and other objects are achieved by providing a motor vehicle roof in accordance with the present invention including a roof panel with a roof opening, at least partially transparent cover which covers the roof opening and being selectively movable to at least partially clear the roof opening, a headliner positioned underneath the roof opening and being selectively movable to at least partially clear the roof opening, a sealing element mounted to the roof panel in a manner that the sealing element adjoins the cover from underneath the cover to seal the motor vehicle roof when the cover is in a closed position, and a sensor provided in the sealing element for sensing application of force in excess of a threshold value which is indicative of an object being pinched between a front edge of the roof opening and at least one of the cover and/or the headliner. This embodiment has the advantage in that by moving the movable headliner, the light incidence can be changed even with the cover closed. In addition, protection against pinching by the movable headliner is also ensured without use of additional components.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover is adapted to be swivelled outwardly in a ventilation position where a rear edge of the cover protrudes up and out of the plane of the roof panel. In addition, the sealing element is mounted on the roof part in a manner that the sealing element adjoins the cover in the ventilation position as well as in the closed position. This has the advantage in that the wind noise in the motor vehicle interior is reduced even in the ventilation position.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a wind deflector is provided positioned proximate to the front edge of the roof opening, the wind deflector being adapted to automatically swivel outwardly when the cover is at least partially opened. In this embodiment, the sealing element engages the wind deflector when the cover is in the closed position as well as when the cover is in the ventilation position thereby preventing rattling of the wind deflector. This embodiment reduces any adverse effect on the motor vehicle passengers when driving with the wind deflector not raised without requiring additional components.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element includes a sealing lip positioned toward the front of the sealing element. The sealing lip projects upwardly and adjoins the wind deflector from underneath when the cover is in the closed position. This represents an especially simple implementation to accomplish the sealing function of the sealing element.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing element includes a bead area at a rear area of the sealing element. The bead area includes a cavity for receiving a sensor which extends in a transverse direction of the roof panel. This embodiment represents a simple configuration of the present invention with good operating reliability.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5592060 (1997-01-01), Racine et al.
patent: 3248413 (1983-07-01), None
patent: 3527405 (1987-02-01), None
patent: 37 06 450 (1987-09-01), None
patent: 195 13 971 (1995-10-01), None
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Pedder Dennis H.
Safran David S.
Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
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