Sliding roof

Details Sliding roof Sliding roof

1998-12-17

2001-05-01

Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Tops

Roof structure

C296S216080, C296S182100, C296S223000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224147

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a sliding roof with at least one slidable and optionally also raisable rigid cover element for selectively closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening of a motor vehicle in which the cover element is guided along at least one roof-mounted guide for a sliding motion between an open position and a closed position.
2. Description of Related Art
Sliding roofs are in extensive use in current motor vehicles in a host of configurations, for example, in the form of sliding roofs, sliding and lifting roofs, louvered roofs, etc. In the case of these types of roofs, the roof-mounted guide allows motion of mechanical parts of the movable cover(s) in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle (x-direction), however, it limits movements of these mechanical parts in the directions transversely to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle (y-direction) and perpendicularly to the roof surface (z-direction). In the event of an accident in which generally the motor vehicle is strongly and suddenly braked in the x-direction, the movable roof parts, i.e., the mechanisms and attached parts, such as louvers or covers, accelerate forward in the x-direction.
In the roofs known from the prior art, mechanical parts and adjacent frame parts can be destroyed as a result of the high deceleration values which occur during an accident, and louvers as well as mechanical and frame parts can detach from the vehicle, and thus, represent a potential danger to motor vehicle occupants and other drivers and pedestrians (see, for example, published German patent applications DE-AS 23 09 320 and DE 31 51 778 A1, as well as German patent DE 32 23 300 C2).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a primary object of this invention is to devise a sliding roof of the initially mentioned type in which provisions are made for increased safety in the case of an accident.
In a sliding roof with at least one slidable and optionally also raisable rigid cover element for selectively closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening of a motor vehicle, in which the cover element is guided along at least one roof-mounted guide for a sliding motion between an open position and a closed position, in accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a brake mechanism being provided which takes effect only in case of a crash, which remains inactive during normal movements of the cover element between the open and closed positions, and which brakes the cover element over a path which is dependent on the acceleration forces which occur during a crash.
The high acceleration forces which occur during a crash can thus be diverted into the brake mechanism or absorbed thereby, so that the stress acting on the connection sites between the fixed roof surface and the movable roof elements is greatly reduced compared to roof systems in which the roof mechanism suddenly strikes a fixed stop. The path over which braking of the movable roof elements takes place thus depends on the impact momentum of the motor vehicle against a barrier, and thus, on the acceleration forces which occur during the crash. Depending on the strength of the impact, therefore, damage to the roof mechanism can be reduced if not completely prevented, and detachment of parts of the movable roof mechanism or the roof-mounted guide components can be effectively precluded overall.
In particular, the brake mechanism can have a roof-mounted stop and an abutment which keeps up with sliding motions of the cover element, which engages only in case of a crash, and which is connected to the cover element via a mounting. In this case, the stop and/or abutment and/or mounting can be designed and located such that, in the event of a crash, provisions are made for deformation of these components as the cover element brakes and/or that a braking force which increases depending on the path is exerted on the cover element.
In another embodiment of the invention, the brake mechanism can be designed such that, in the event of a crash, in addition to a braking force, also a force component pointed towards the interior of the motor vehicle is exerted on the cover element and/or its mounting. This measure directs the acceleration forces which occur during a crash and which act on the cover element towards the motor vehicle in order to further counteract tearing of the cover element off of its roof mounting.
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, a single embodiment in accordance with the present invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2266870 (1941-12-01), Kraeft
patent: 2843444 (1958-07-01), Nelson
patent: 3876263 (1975-04-01), Oleksiak
patent: 4473253 (1984-09-01), Lutz et al.
patent: 4626027 (1986-12-01), Farmont
patent: 4883313 (1989-11-01), Bradley
patent: 4923245 (1990-05-01), Kuwabara
patent: 4968088 (1990-11-01), Schurmann
patent: 4995665 (1991-02-01), Ichinose et al.
patent: 5167296 (1992-12-01), Schreier et al.
patent: 5486031 (1996-01-01), Ronchetti et al.
patent: 5944371 (1999-08-01), Steiner et al.
patent: 23 09 320 (1973-10-01), None
patent: 3223300 (1983-12-01), None
patent: 32 23 300 (1983-12-01), None
patent: 4305508 (1994-08-01), None

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