Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-16
2003-03-18
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100030, C296S100060, C296S216010, C296S216020, C296S216040, C296S216060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06533343
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to a subassembly element as an intermediate product for a cover element for motor vehicles which contains at least two subassembly parts. The invention also pertains to a cover element for motor vehicles which is manufactured with the intermediate product, as well as a method for manufacturing the subassembly parts of a cover element.
Multipart cover elements for motor vehicles of this type are, among other things, used as sunroofs, e.g., multi-spoiler sliding roofs, or as cover elements for other openings of the motor vehicle, e.g., for covering the cargo space of a so-called pickup truck.
The two or more subassembly parts of a multi-spoiler sliding roof that are designed in the form of cover parts are arranged in the roof opening of the motor vehicle to be covered, in the closed position of the sliding roof, in such a way that the surfaces of the cover parts essentially lie flush with the surface of the motor vehicle roof, the outer roof skin. This is done for aerodynamic and aesthetic purposes. Consequently, the cover parts need to be adapted to the shape of the outer roof surface such that the outer roof surface contains no steps in the closed position of the multi-spoiler sliding roof. This is why the cover parts of a multi-spoiler sliding roof have a surface that is slightly arched or curved. Consequently, it is necessary to adapt the surface contour of the individual cover parts to one another during their manufacture. Due to the different shapes of the cover parts of a multi-spoiler sliding roof that is divided two or more times, it is impossible to use identical cover parts. Under certain circumstances, these requirements also apply to covers for other openings of the motor vehicle, e.g., cargo space openings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, the invention is based on the technical objectives of disclosing a subassembly element for a cover element for motor vehicles that can be rationally manufactured, and a method for manufacturing said cover element, in which the shape of the surface of the individual cover parts is adapted to one another; and of developing a multipart cover element for motor vehicles that can be manufactured with said subassembly element in a particularly simple fashion. These objectives are attained with a one-part subassembly element according to the characteristics of claim
1
, the manufacturing method according to the characteristics of claim
19
, as well as the cover element according to the characteristics of claim
14
.
According to the invention, it was determined that it is advantageous to initially manufacture the at least two subassembly parts of the subassembly element in the form of a coherent component that represents an intermediate product. Due to the one-piece design of the subassembly element, a mutual adaptation of the different surface shapes of the different subassembly parts can be easily and reliably realized. Once the different subassembly parts are separated from one another after the previously described subassembly element is manufactured, it is possible to assemble a cover element in which the individual subassembly parts are adapted to one another with respect to their surface shape and/or the shape of their adjoining edges. Among other things, this makes it possible to realize a uniform curvature of the entire cover element such that, for example, the aerodynamics of the motor vehicle become, if at all, only insignificantly inferior in comparison to a motor vehicle with a one-part cover element.
The subassembly element that serves as an intermediate product contains a first channel-shaped depression in the transition regions between the subassembly parts to be subsequently formed thereof, and consequently in the edge region of the adjacent subassembly parts to be subsequently separated. This first channel-shaped depression is preferably followed directly by a second channel-shaped depression situated on the opposite side. However, both depressions are arranged in opposite sides of the subassembly element. If observed in a side view, a progression similar to a rectangular channel consequently results in the connecting region between the individual subassembly parts. The first depression is situated on the inner side of the subassembly element, with the second depression being correspondingly situated on the outer side of the adjacent subassembly element. Because the first recess and the second recess are situated very close to one another in the connecting region of the subassembly parts, only a web of the subassembly element remains between the depressions. This web forms a suitable location for subsequently separating the subassembly parts that are still connected to one another. This is the reason why the web is preferably realized with a reduced thickness in comparison to the thickness of the subassembly element.
It is also preferred that the depressions be essentially realized in the shape of a channel with lateral surfaces and a bottom surface, with the lateral surfaces of both depressions that are situated adjacent to one another being partially formed by the web. The lateral surfaces are, in particular, aligned essentially parallel to one another, wherein the lateral surfaces may also extend at a predetermined angle referred to a line that extends perpendicular to the outer side of the subassembly element in such a way that the rear edge of the outer side of the subassembly element viewed in the driving direction forms an angle of less than 90°. This design is, for example, advantageous in instances in which the cover parts are respectively shifted toward the rear and the front, as well as toward the top and the bottom, at the beginning of the opening process and at the end of the closing process of a multi-spoiler sliding roof. In this case, the previously described flanks on the edges of the subassembly parts which deviate from 90° prevent the subassembly parts that, for example, are provided as cover parts from contacting one another when opening or closing the cover elements.
The material of the previously described subassembly element may be arbitrarily chosen from conventional materials. Consequently, it is possible to manufacture the subassembly element uniformly from metal, plastic or glass. However, the subassembly element is preferably realized in a multilayer fashion. In this case, a foil-like outer layer and/or inner layer which form the outer and/or inner side of the subassembly element, as well as a core that supports the outer and/or inner layer, are provided. This means that the subassembly element may, among other things, also be realized in accordance with the known sandwich structure. The outer layer may, in particular, consist of metal, plastic or glass, with the outer layer containing, in particular, a coating, e.g., in the form of a layer of enamel. The core is preferably manufactured from a foamed material, a corrugated foil, a honeycomb-shaped material or another lightweight material that, in particular, has a high strength. In addition, the inner side of the subassembly element, in particular, the core, may also be coated, e.g., for realizing the inside roof lining of the motor vehicle interior.
In the previously described multilayer design, the outer layer is correspondingly shaped such that it forms the depression provided on the outer side of the subassembly element. The depression on the inner side of the subassembly element may be arranged in the material of the core. Due to this measure, the outer layer extends along the entire surface of the subassembly element with the same thickness. In this case, the core may have different thicknesses in order to form the previously described structure of the depressions.
In the previously described multilayer design, the web that respectively connects two subassembly parts may essentially consist of the material of the outer layer and/or the inner layer such that the web may have a reduced thickness in comparison to the remaining thickness of the subassembly element. Consequently, th
Bohm Horst
Grimm Rainer
Arvin Meritor GmbH
Blankenship Greg
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Pedder Dennis H.
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