Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-10-09
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
C296S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299245
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a wind deflector and sunshade stopping system for a sliding roof panel in a vehicle, wherein the wind deflector is movable between an operative position projecting through an opening in the vehicle roof when the sliding panel is open, and a storage position below the opening when the sliding panel is closed. More particularly, the present invention relates to such wind deflector and sunshade stopping system which is reduced in size, has improved aerodynamics and vibration characteristics, and has a simpler structure than conventional wind deflector apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
In the automotive industry, there are many known wind deflector devices associated with sliding roof panels, which move between operative and storage positions as the sliding roof panels are moved between open and closed positions thereof.
Some examples of known wind deflector devices having the conventional limitations and disadvantages associated therewith are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,364 (Bienert et al.), 4,971,387 (Böhm), and 4,986,598 (Yamaguchi et al.).
All of such known wind deflector devices function appropriately, but have limitations and disadvantages associated therewith in terms of height requirements, vibrations and rattles, complexity, etc.
Conventionally, it is known that wind deflector devices should project to at least a certain degree above the fixed roof (when the sliding roof panel is in an open position thereof) so as to achieve desired aerodynamic effects. There is, however, the competing criteria that the overall roof panel devices should not have too great a vertical dimension (especially in the closed position thereof) because this reduces head room in the passenger compartment, so that it is not desirable to simply increase the vertical dimension of the wind deflector for achieving a sufficiently large projection of the wind deflector in the open position of the sliding roof panel.
Also, conventional wind deflectors have a tendency to vibrate and rattle when they contact the vehicle roof, the support frame for the sliding roof panel, etc. during vehicle travel, especially in the closed position of the sliding roof panel. To avoid this, vibration damping members have been provided on portions of the wind deflector, the vehicle roof, and other portions of the sliding roof panel devices, and clearance gaps are provided between portions of the wind deflector and other components which they might contact. The provision of vibration damping members increases the cost and complexity of the sliding roof panel devices, while the provision of clearance gaps, again, undesirably increases the vertical dimension of the devices.
For example, with reference to
FIGS. 5A
,
5
B, there are shown side sectional views of a known arm member
100
extending from a wind deflector for controlling the projecting height of the deflector in the open position of the sliding roof panel. In
FIG. 5A
the deflector is in the open position thereof, and a rubber stopper
101
on the end of arm
100
engages a lower surface of a fixed roof
102
that surrounds an opening for the sliding roof panel, thereby controlling the projecting height of the deflector, and also stabilizing the deflector, damping vibrations and preventing damaging contact between the arm
100
and the roof
102
. In
FIG. 5B
the deflector is in the closed position thereof, and a clearance gap “g” is provided between a lowermost, intermediate portion of the arm
100
and a frame
103
for the sliding roof device to prevent contact and vibrations therebetween.
Further, with reference to
FIG. 6
there is shown a side sectional view of a prior wind deflector
104
formed from stamped sheet metal, and co-owned by the assignee of the present application. With reference to
FIG. 7
, there is shown a side perspective view of one side of the prior wind deflector of
FIG. 6
, with a dual pivot connection between one side of the wind deflector
104
and a frame
105
for a sliding roof panel (not shown). The connection includes a first, longer pivot arm
106
and a second, shorter pivot arm
107
connected between the frame and an end piece of the deflector
104
. Another pivot connection (not shown) is provided with another end piece on the opposite side of the deflector, and together the two dual pivot connections control movements of the deflector between open and closed positions thereof Although the prior dual pivot connection functions appropriately, it is relatively complex and expensive.
As will be understood there remains a significant need in the art for a simple, low-cost, compact and aerodynamic wind deflector for use with sliding roof panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a wind deflector and sunshade stopping system for use with a vehicle having a sliding roof panel and a sliding sunshade disposed below the sliding roof panel A stopping system according to the present invention includes a wind deflector in combination with a sunshade stopper. The wind deflector portion of the system, when installed on a vehicle, is movable between an operative position projecting above a sliding roof opening defined in a fixed roof of the vehicle, and a closed position disposed below the opening. The sunshade stopper portion of the system is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body. One portion of the sunshade stopper contacts the wind deflector in the closed position thereof to inhibit movement of the deflector, and another portion of the sunshade stopper contacts the sliding sunshade in a closed position thereof to inhibit movement of the sunshade.
The sunshade stopper may include an elastomeric cover disposed over a rigid base. The wind deflector may be formed of extruded metal and includes an upper portion with a projecting rear surface that contacts the stopper at a transversely central section of the deflector, and a lower portion spaced from a bottom surface of the roof frame by a gap of 2.5-6 mm in the closed position of the deflector.
The system may further comprise: a pair of support arms at opposite sides of the wind deflector, respectively, for exclusively connecting the deflector to the roof frame for pivoting movement between the operative and closed positions thereof; and a height control arm provided on the wind deflector and projecting therefrom, the height control arm having a stopper which contacts the fixed roof of the vehicle in the operative position of the wind deflector for limiting a height to which the deflector projects above the sliding roof opening, and the arm stopper also protecting the height control arm from contacting the roof fine when the wind deflector is in the closed position thereof.
Such wind deflector and sunshade stopping system according to the first aspect of the invention has advantages over conventional structures. For example, because the deflector is positively inhibited from movement by its contact with the sunshade stopper in the closed position of the deflector, the deflector can be disposed with small clearance relative to the roof frame, the sliding roof panel, etc., without causing undesirable contact between the deflector and the other components during vehicle travel. This permits the overall sliding roof apparatus to have a tight, compact arrangement, while still permitting the deflector to have a relatively large vertical dimension when deployed, so that it projects sufficiently above the roof opening to achieve good aerodynamic characteristics in the operative position thereof. This is similarly true of the height control arms with the arm stoppers because the arms permit the deflector to project a controlled, optimum amount through the roof opening, while these stoppers, again, permit the arms to be disposed with close tolerance to the roof frame, etc. in the closed position of the deflector for a tight, compact arrangement.
Further, the wind deflector and sunshade stopping system as defined has a desirably simple, a
Kuribayashi Akihiko
Thiele Steven R.
Blackman William D.
Carrier Joseph P.
Carrier Blackman & Associates
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Pedder Dennis H.
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