GB2220392A

GB2220392A - An installation unit for vehicle roofs

Info

Publication number: GB2220392A
Application number: GB8914043A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Jardin
Original assignee: Webasto SE
Current assignee: Webasto SE
Priority date: 1988-06-21
Filing date: 1989-06-19
Publication date: 1990-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2009-06-19
Also published as: JPH0214921A; FR2632908B1; GB2220392B; SE8901688D0; SE8901688L; GB8914043D0; DE3820845A1; FR2632908A1; DE3820845C2

Description

r- z220392 AN INSTALLATION UNIT FOR VEHICLE ROOFS The invention relates to

installation units for vehicle roofs having a prefabricated roof lining, a reinforcing assembly serving for reinforcement of the prefabricated lining and having auxiliary components, such as handles, sun visors, lights and the like.

In a known installatio n unit of this type (EP 0 203 484 A2) a rigid prefabricated roof lining is provided, to which the auxiliary components, such as handles and lights, are directly fastened. The reinforcing assembly serving to effect further reinforcement of the rigid prefabricated lining comprises a transverse strut which engages under the front edge of the rigid prefabricated lining and is securely connected thereto, for example is glued and/or screwed thereto; it also comprises two rigid longitudinal struts whch exiend, laterally spaced, in the longitudinal direction of the prefabricated lining, which are mounted on the upper side of the prefabricated lining and together with the latter form ventilation ducts. Before the transverse strut is secured to the prefabricated lining, further auxiliary components, such as visors and a rear view mirror, are attached to the transverse strut. In this case the rigid prefabricated lining, the transverse strut and the two longitudinal struts are respectively plastics mouldings. The known installation unit can be fully assembled and pre-tested outside the assembly line of the factory producing the mctor vehicle. Moreover, it enables handling to take place without difficulty during installation in the vehicle body, optionally performed with the assistance of robots. However, in view of its necessarily large dimensions and high degree of rigidity required to support auxiliary components, such as handles, the rigid prefabricated roof lining of the known installation unit constitutes a relatively 1 expensive component which contributes substantially to the overall costs of the installation unit.

The present invention provides an installation uni for a vehicle roof which unit comprises a reinforcing frame and a prefabricated lining in the form of a onepiece component not resistant to bending attached to and supported on the reinforcing frame, wherein the reinforcing frame has fastening points to which are fastened at least temporarily one or more auxiliary components.

In an installation unit according to the invention, the prefabricated lining itself neither needs to carry auxiliary components, such as handles, nor does it have to join together individual parts of the reinforcing assembly. On the contrary, the reinforcing profile- frame constitutes a self-supporting component which, for its part, provides support for the prefabricated lining during handling before and while fitting the installation unit into the vehicle body and which serves for the at least temporary location and securing of the auxiliary components relative to the prefabricated lining. Because the prefabricated lining has no supporting function with respect to the auxiliary components, it is thus Possible for the prefabricated lining to be produced as a particularly inexpensive component which is not resistent to bending. A prefabricated lining of this type, which is not resistant'to bending, may consist in particular of soft resilient plastics and/or textile material in the form of sheets, laminates and the like. A layer of thermoplastic foamed material coated with a film or with fabric at least on its underside is especially suitable.

The reinforcing profile frame may take the form of a reinforcing part, which extends in U-shaped fashion near to the front end and to both sides of the prefabricated lining, or of a closed frame. The 1 is fastening points for the auxiliary components can at least partly be formed directly on the reinforcing profile frame or at least partly as support parts secured to the reinforcing profile frame.

In the case of an installation unit having a panel guided movably relative to the frame, e.g. in the forn of a sliding roof, tilting roof, sliding and tilting roof or the like, in a further development of the invention the frame associated with the panel, namely the sliding roof frame, tilting roof frame or the liker can simultaneously constitute the reinforcing profile frame bearing the fastening points for the auxiliary components. Therefore, no additional reinforcing profile frame has to be provided in that case.

Exemplified embodiments of the invention are illustrated in more detail below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of an installation unit; Figure 2 shows an installation unit according to Figure 1 in the assembled condition; Figure 3 shows a section along the line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a view in perspective of part of a reinforcing profile frame with fastening points for auxiliary components, in accordance with a modified embodiment; Figure 5 shows on an enlarged scale a section through part of the reinforcing profile frame and the prefabricated roof lining attached thereto, and Figures 6 and 7 show views in perspective of modified embodiments of the installation unit.

Figure I illustrates schematically a frame 10 of a sliding and tilting roof, whose panel is indicated at 11. The operating components connecting the panel 11 to the frame 10 have been omittd for greater clarity. For 1 example, their construction may be like that known from DE 3532104 Al. The frame 10 serves at the same time as a reinforcing profile frame for a prefabricated roof lining 12 which is not resistant to bending and which is attached to the frame in any way desired, e.g. is glued thereto. The prefabricated lining 12 has an opening 13 which, in the assembled state, is aligned with an opening 14 in the frame 10. Arms 16 extend forwards on either side from a front transverse strut 15 of the frame 10. The arms 16 serve for the at least temporary location and securing of swivel mountings 17 which are articulatedly connected to visors 18. Here fastening members 19, e.g. screws, clips or the like, engage through mutually aligned holes 20, 21 and 22 provided respectively in the swivel mounting 17, the prefabricated lining 12 and the arms 16. A forwardly projecting support plate 23 is formed integrally with the frame 10 in the central region of the front transverse strut 15. Swivel mountings 24 for the visors 18 are attached to the support plate 23 by means of fastening members 25 which pass through holes 26, 27 and 28 provided respectively in the swivel mountings 24, the prefabricated lining 12 and the support plate 23. In a corresponding man ner (not shown in detail) a rear view mirror 29 and an interior light are fastened to the support plate 23, said interior light being secured thereto by means of fastening members, one of which is shown at 30. The interior light 31 protrudes with its housing through an opening 32 in the prefabricated lining 12.

Projections 35 for the at least temporary location and securing of grab handles 36 are formed on both longitudinal struts 33 and 34 of the frame 10 which preferably comprises a plastics moulding. Fastening members 37 are used to secure the grab handles 36 to the projections 35 and they engage in holes 38, 39 and 40 provided respectively in the handles 36, the prefabricated lining 12 and the projection 35.

Of course, different or additional auxiliary components can be correspondingly secured at appropriate fastening points of the frame 10, for example overhea brackets for a clock, spotlight, control means for the sliding roof or the like, ventilation elements etc.

The resultant installation unit can be pre-tested (e.g. EP 0 203 484 A2) and then, optionally with the assistance of a robot, fitted and secured to the vehicle body on the assembly line at the factory producing the vehicle. As shown in Figure 3 for securing the handles 36, in this case it is possible for the fastening members to engage in corresponding sockets in the vehicle body. According to the illustration of Figure 3, the fastening members 37 are in the form of screws.

During the fitting of the installation unit these screws are screwed into corresponding screw holes 41 in a vehicle beam 42, e.g. by automatic screwing machines.

In the case of light auxiliary components which are also not exposed to any relatively substantial external forces, for example the interior light 31, the fastening to the frame 10 can be satisfactory.

Whereas in the embodiment according to Figure 1 the fastening points for the auxiliary comp;6nents are formed on the frame as arms 16, support plate 23 and projections 35r Figure 4 shows a modified embodiment in which the fastening points for the auxiliary components comprise separazely produced support parts in the form of arms 161, a support plate 231 and projections 351 which are secured to the frame 10', e.gi are screwed, rivetted, welded or bonded thereto.

According to Figure 5, the prefabricated lining 12 preferably consists of a thermoplastic foam layer 43 which on its underside is coated with a film 44 or with fabric. A prefabricated lining 12 of this type which is 1 1 not resistant to bending is not only substantially less expensive than a rigid prefabricated lining but, compared thereto, also offers a substantial weight saving.

The mechanism (not shown) for joining together the frame 10 or 10' and the panel 11 can be so designed that the panel 11 can be pushed back above or below the fixed vehicle roof. However, the frame 10 or 10' may readily be the frame of a tilting roof, a roof with more than one panel or a composite roof.

The modified installation unit shown in Figure 6 is intended for a motor vehicle with a continuous fixed roof surface, i.e. without a movable panel. Here a reinforcing profile frame 110, which is U-shaped when viewed from above, extends along the front end and both sides of a prefabricated roof lining 112 which is f continuous, i.e. without an opening 13, and which is not resistant to bending. Fastening points 46 in the form o screw holes, clip sockets or the like, are provided directly on the frame 110 and correspond in operation to the holes 22, 28 and 40 of the previously described embodiment.

The further modified embodiment according to Figure 7 differs from that according to Figure 6 merely in that the reinforcing profile frame is not U-shaped but is formed as a closed frame 210 which extends around the prefabricated lining 112 which is not resistent to beinding.

The reinforcing profile frame 110 or 210 provides the installation unit with -sufficient rigidity to enable it to be handled without difficulty when it is being fitted into the vehicle body. In this case too, by means of the reinforcing profile frame the-auxiliary components are located and secured at least temporarily relative to the prefabricated roof lining, until the final fastening to the body itself is carried out via 1 the fastening members 19, 25, 30 and 37. The prefabricated lining is reinforced by the reinforcing profile frame in particular to such an extent that it does not buckle under the weight of the auxiliary 05 components.

The embodiments described by way of example above involve lower overall costs than units having a rigid roof lining but retain the advantages of such units.

Claims

1. An installation unit for a vehicle roof which unit comprises a reinforcing frame and a prefabricated lining in the form of a one-piece component not resistant to bending attached to and supported on the reinforcing frame, wherein the reinforcing frame has fastening points to which are fastened at least temporarily one or more auxiliary components.

2. An installation unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame extends in U-shaped fashion near to the front end and to both sides of the prefabricated lining.

3. An installation unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is a closed frame.

4. An installation unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening points for the said one or more auxiliary components are at least partly formed directly on the reinforcing frame.

5. An installation unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fas-tening points for the said one or more auxiliary components are at least partly located on support parts secured to the reinforcing frame.

6. An installation unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which has a panel supported on and guided movably relative to said reinforcing frame.

7. An installation unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the prefabricated lining consists of a thermoplastic foam layer which at least onits underside is coated with a film or with fabric.

8. An installation unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, 4, 5 or 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

9. An opening motor vehicle roof assembly including an installation unit as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A motor vehicle incorporating an installation unit as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9.

11. An installation unit for a vehicle roof having a prefabricated roof lining, a reinforcing assembly serving for reinforcement of the prefabricated lining and having auxiliary components, such as handles, sun visors, lights and the likef characterised in that a reinforcing profile frame is provided as the reinforcing assembly, the prefabricated lining being in the form of a one-piece component not resistant to bending, and the reinforcing profile frame connected to the prefabricated lining has fastening points which co-operate with the auxiliary components and by way of which the auxiliary components are located and secured at least temporarily relative to the prefabricated roof lining.

Publiabod 1989 at The Patent Mee, State House, 86M1 High Holborn. London WCIR 4TP. Purther copies maybe obtained trom. The Patent OfMft. Balm Branch, St. ILLry Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5'3RD. Printed by Multiplax techniques Itd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1/87