DE102021114031A1 - Fixed roof element for a vehicle roof, comprising an element of a shading system and method for producing a fixed roof element - Google Patents

Abstract

A fixed roof element for a vehicle roof is proposed, comprising a flat panel to the underside of which at least one element of a shading system (20) is connected via a plastic molded section (38). The element of the shading system (20) is an insert part of the plastic molded section (38).

Description

The invention relates to a fixed roof element for a vehicle roof with the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a fixed roof element is known from practice and represents a roof element which is part of a so-called panorama roof and is mounted rigidly or immovably with respect to a vehicle body. This fixed roof element comprises a flat panel which is formed from a sheet of glass and represents an outer roof skin element. Shaped sections are formed on the underside of the glass sheet, which are manufactured by a foaming process or by an injection molding process and which accommodate the screw bosses on which guide rails of a shading system are attached, which serve to guide the lateral edges of a roller blind of the shading system. The guide rails are made of extruded aluminum profiles. The construction with the screw bosses and the guide rails is characterized by a large overall height, which in turn reduces the headroom of the vehicle occupants.

The object of the invention is to create a fixed roof element of the type mentioned in the introduction, the shading system of which is arranged as close as possible to a flat panel forming the outer skin of the roof element in order to keep the headroom of the vehicle occupants as large as possible.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fixed roof element having the features of patent claim 1 .

According to the invention, a fixed roof element for a vehicle roof is therefore proposed, comprising a flat panel to the underside of which at least one element of a shading system is connected via a plastic molded section, the element of the shading system being an insert part of the plastic molded section.

In the case of the fixed roof element according to the invention, the element of the shading system is therefore attached directly to the underside of the flat panel via the plastic molded section. The plastic molded section forms the holding means. This makes it possible to arrange the element of the shading system directly or also very close to the flat panel, so that it protrudes as little as possible downwards into the vehicle interior when the fixed roof element is mounted. Due to the fact that the element of the shading system can be connected to the panel during the molding of the plastic molded section in a foaming tool or an injection molding tool, subsequent steps for assembling the element of the shading system are also eliminated.

Basically, the term "plastic molded section" is to be understood in its broadest sense, so that in addition to the actual molded sections that are manufactured using a foaming process or injection molding process, it also includes adhesive layers that are formed between the element of the shading system and the flat panel and the element on hold the flat panel. The element of the shading system is then to be regarded as an insert part of the adhesive layer.

The flat panel of the fixed roof element according to the invention can in particular be a glass panel made of toughened safety glass or laminated safety glass. Alternatively, the flat panel can also be made from a plastic material, such as a polycarbonate material.

In order to fix the element of the shading system to the flat panel as securely as possible, it preferably has lateral flanks in a preferred embodiment, each of which is overlapped by the plastic molded section. In order to ensure good demouldability and to enable good sealing in the tool for producing the plastic molded section, it is advantageous if the lateral flanks of the element of the shading system, starting from the top of the element, i.e. starting from the side facing the panel, on top of each other run up The flanks then form an undercut for the plastic molded section.

The connection of the element of the shading system to the plastic molded section is improved in a further advantageous embodiment of the fixed roof element according to the invention in that the element has anchoring devices which are encompassed by the plastic molded section and/or in which the plastic molded section engages. The anchor devices are formed, for example, by ribs, pins, grooves or the like.

In a special embodiment of the fixed roof element according to the invention, the plastic molded section is made of a polyurethane foam material. However, other suitable plastic materials are also conceivable.

The element of the shading system, which is connected to the flat panel via the shaped section, is in a special embodiment of the fixed roof element according to the invention a guide rail formed, which is used to guide a roller blind or a sliding headliner of the shading system.

The guide rail, which forms the insert of the plastic molded section, can have a low overall height, so that forces introduced by the roller blind or by a pull bow of the roller blind can be dissipated into the flat panel without great leverage. An undesired curvature or deformation of the flat panel due to these forces can thus be prevented.

In a preferred embodiment of the fixed roof element according to the invention, the guide rail is a plastic extrusion and in particular a two-component plastic extrusion. Due to the deformability of the plastic material or its flexibility, the course and the orientation of the plastic rail with respect to the flat panel can be specified by the molding tool, in which the guide rail is positioned by a corresponding holding device and connected to the flat panel via the plastic molded section. In particular, the course and the orientation of the plastic rail can follow an optionally two-dimensional curvature of the flat panel. The position of the guide rail in the plastic molded section is thus specified by the molding tool for forming the plastic molded section.

Before connecting to the flat panel, the unbent piece goods that are present after the extrusion process only have to be cut to length and, if necessary, deburred to form the guide rail, which means that only minor preparation steps are required. The guide rail is only bent in the desired manner when it is placed in the mold and/or by the grippers of the mold forming the holding device. The course of the guide rail is fixed after the molding process by the molding section and can also correspond to a parallel alignment with respect to the flat panel. This enables a space-optimized package of the guide rail compared to the flat panel. In particular, the guide rail can be curved in two directions, which would not be possible with extruded aluminum profiles.

Due to the planar connection of the guide rail to the plastic molded section, loads that occur are largely dissipated directly into the molded section, so that the guide rail is only slightly deformed even under high loads. This in turn means that the guide rail can be light, flat and/or made from an inexpensive material.

As already mentioned above, the guide rail can be a two-component plastic extrusion. The two components can be combined according to a co-extrusion process, with a component selected in an optimized manner with regard to the sliding properties with respect to the friction partner guided in the guide channels forming the surfaces of guide channels of the guide rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide rail is designed in such a way that it has guide channels which are open at the bottom, with the plastic molded section enclosing it over its entire surface. A slider of a pull bow and/or an edge of a roller blind of a roof roller blind thus engages in the guide rail or its guide channels from below. The top of the guide rail may be a transversely and longitudinally extending surface, optionally interrupted by anchoring means such as longitudinally extending anchoring ribs.

In an alternative embodiment of the fixed roof element according to the invention, the element of the shading system, which is an insert part of the plastic molded section, is a bearing device for supporting a winding shaft, an element for centering the material, or an electronic component for controlling a drive of the shading system.

In particular, the fixed roof element can also be designed in such a way that both the guide rails of the shading system and at least one other element of the shading system are accommodated as inserts in the one-piece or multi-piece plastic molded section that is molded onto the flat panel.

The subject matter of the invention is also a fixed roof element for a motor vehicle, comprising a flat panel to the underside of which at least one element of a shading system is connected via a plastic molded section. The element of the shading system is a bearing device for mounting a winding shaft, an element for centering the fabric or an electronic component for controlling a drive of the shading system. A latching geometry is formed on the plastic molded section, into which a latching counter-geometry of the bearing device for mounting the winding shaft, the element for centering the material or the electronic component for controlling the drive of the shading system engages. At the plastic mold section are so arranged in a one-piece manner means that allow a simple subsequent assembly of the flat panel with the relevant element of the shading system.

The latching geometry preferably has undercuts that correspond to the mating latching geometry of the relevant element of the shading system. For example, the locking geometry includes locking grooves, locking ribs and/or locking pins.

• - Bereitstellen eines flächigen Paneels und Einlegen des flächigen Paneels in ein Formwerkzeug, das eine Kavität zur Ausbildung eines Kunststoffformabschnitts an dem flächigen Paneel aufweist;
• - Bereitstellen eines Elements eines Beschattungssystems und Einlegen des Elements des Beschattungssystems in das Formwerkzeug; und
• - Schließen des Formwerkzeugs und Einbringen eines Kunststoffwerkstoffs in die Kavität zur Ausbildung des Kunststoffformabschnitts, wobei das Element des Beschattungssystems ein Einlegeteil des Kunststoffformabschnitts bildet und so über den Kunststoffformabschnitt an das flächige Paneel angebunden wird.

The subject of the invention is also a method for producing a fixed roof element for a vehicle roof, comprising the following steps:

• - Providing a flat panel and inserting the flat panel into a mold having a cavity for forming a plastic mold section on the flat panel;
• - Providing an element of a shading system and inserting the element of the shading system into the mold; and
• - Closing the mold and introducing a plastic material into the cavity to form the plastic molded section, the element of the shading system forming an insert part of the plastic molded section and is thus connected to the flat panel via the plastic molded section.

The element of the shading system is preferably a plastic guide rail, with the plastic guide rail being produced using an extrusion process.

In the method according to the invention, the plastic guide rail is preferably bent in the tool, in particular by a corresponding device of the molding tool, so that it has the desired course and the desired orientation in relation to the flat panel.

In addition, in the method according to the invention, the end faces of the plastic guide rail are preferably sealed by means of the tool, so that no plastic material can flow into the guide channels of the plastic guide rail.

• - Bereitstellen eines flächigen Paneels;
• - Bereitstellen einer Kunststoffführungsschiene, die nach einem Extrusionsverfahren hergestellt sein kann;
• - direktes Ankleben der Kunststoffführungsschiene an eine Unterseite des flächigen Paneels.

The subject of the invention is also a method for producing a fixed roof element for a vehicle roof, comprising the following steps.

• - Providing a flat panel;
• - Providing a plastic guide rail, which can be produced by an extrusion process;
• - direct adhesion of the plastic guide rail to an underside of the flat panel.

The plastic guide rail, which runs preferably parallel to the surface of the flat panel, has a flat upper side as the adhesive surface.

Further advantages and advantageous configurations of the subject matter of the invention can be found in the description, the drawing and the patent claims.

• 1 eine perspektivische Draufsicht auf ein Fahrzeugdach mit einem Festdachelement;
• 2 eine hälftige Unteransicht des Festdachelements mit einer Führungsschiene und einem Lagerelement eines Beschattungssystems;
• 3 einen Schnitt durch das Festdachelement und die Führungsschiene entlang der Linie III-III in 2;
• 4 die Anordnung einer Führungsschiene gegenüber einem Glaselement in einer waagerechten Anordnung (a) und in einer glasparallelen Anordnung (b);
• 5 einen stark schematisierten Schnitt durch das Festdachelement und das Lagerelement entlang der Linie V-V in 2; und
• 6 einen 5 entsprechenden Schnitt durch eine alternative Ausführungsform eines Festdachelements mit angebundenem Lagerelement eines Beschattungssystems.

Embodiments of fixed roof elements according to the invention are shown schematically simplified in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

• 1 a perspective plan view of a vehicle roof with a fixed roof element;
• 2 a half bottom view of the fixed roof element with a guide rail and a bearing element of a shading system;
• 3 a section through the fixed roof element and the guide rail along the line III-III in 2 ;
• 4 the arrangement of a guide rail opposite a glass element in a horizontal arrangement (a) and in a glass-parallel arrangement (b);
• 5 a highly schematic section through the fixed roof element and the bearing element along the line VV in 2 ; and
• 6 a 5 corresponding section through an alternative embodiment of a fixed roof element with attached bearing element of a shading system.

In the drawing, a vehicle roof 10 is shown, which is designed as a fixed roof that is provided with a roof cutout 12 in which a fixed roof element 14 is arranged. The fixed roof element 14 is fixed immovably in the roof cutout 12 relative to a vehicle body and includes an outer skin element 16 which is made of laminated safety glass and forms an outer visible surface of the vehicle roof 10 .

The fixed roof element 14 is at least largely mirror-symmetrical in relation to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof. The description of the fixed roof element 14 follows in part only with reference to the forward areas arranged on the left in the direction of travel of the vehicle in question, 2 are shown. The areas arranged to the right of the vertical longitudinal center plane in relation to the forward direction of travel result in an analogous manner.

The fixed roof element 14 has an essentially rectangular viewing area 18 which can be shaded by means of a shading system 20 which comprises a roller blind 22 as a shading element. The roller blind 22 is guided on both sides in a guide rail 24 in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the roof, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the roof. On its edge arranged at the front in the pull-out direction, the roller blind 22 is provided with a pull bow 26 which is guided with its ends via a slider in the guide rails 24 . The roller blind 22 is fastened to a winding shaft 28 on its edge facing away from the pull bow 26 . By actuating a drive arrangement 29, which comprises drive cables 30A and 30B, which are driven by a common drive motor 32 and are each connected to one of the sliders of the pull bow 26, the roller blind 22 can be moved between a release position in which the viewing area 18 is completely released, and a shading position, in which the see-through area 18 is at least partially covered by the roller blind 22. The drive motor 32 is connected to a control device 34 which is attached to the underside of the skin element 16 .

The winding shaft 28, onto which the roller blind 22 is wound when the viewing area 18 is released and from which the roller blind 22 is unwound when the viewing area 18 is shaded, is provided with a winding spring acting in the winding direction. At each of its two ends, the winding shaft 28 is mounted on a bearing device 36 which is attached to the rear of the relevant guide rail 24 on the underside of the outer skin element 16 . The bearing devices 36 are used on the one hand to support the winding shaft 28 and on the other hand to center the fabric of the roller blind 22 so that it runs cleanly into the relevant guide rail 24 .

On the underside of the skin member 16, a plastic molded portion 38 is formed, which is made of a polyurethane foam material. The plastic molding section 38 is molded onto the outer skin element 16 in a foaming tool after a foaming process or a RIM (Reaction Injection Molding) process.

Like the one in particular 3 and 4 As can be seen, the plastic molded section 38, which is integrally formed in one piece or in multiple pieces on the underside of the outer skin element 16, accommodates the guide rails 24 as an insert, in such a way that the upper side of the guide rails 24 is embedded in the plastic molded section 38 . The guide rails 24 have lateral flanks 40 which are overlapped by the plastic molded section 38 in some areas. The flanks 40 of the guide rail 24 are designed to be inclined relative to the main plane of the guide rail 24 and, starting from the plastic molded section 38 , run towards one another.

On their upper side, the guide rails 24 each have anchoring ribs 42 which extend in the longitudinal direction and are designed with undercuts into which the plastic molded section 38 engages.

The guide rails 24 are each designed as a plastic extruded part, the course and orientation of which in relation to the outer skin element 16 is predetermined by the plastic molded section 38 . To guide the roller blind 22 and the respective slider of the pull bow 26, the guide rails 24 each have guide channels 44, which are open at the bottom, so that the relevant slider of the pull bow 26 and the relevant edge of the roller blind 22 engage in the respective guide rail 24 from below. The guide rails 24 are closed at the top and are completely embedded in the plastic section 38 .

At the in the 3 and 4a embodiment shown, the guide rails 24 each have an approximately horizontal arrangement, so that they are inclined relative to the curved outer skin element 16 . However, it is also possible to fix the guide rails 24 via the plastic molded section 38 in such a way that their main plane has an orientation that is parallel to the glass in the broadest sense. This is based on 4b shown. An attachment of the guide rails 24 in any other angular position relative to the outer skin element 16 is also conceivable.

As 5 can be seen, the bearing devices 36 for the winding shaft 28 of the shading system 20 are also each designed as an insert part of the plastic molded section 38 . The bearing devices 36 also each have anchoring elements 46 in the form of anchoring ribs or anchoring pins, which are designed with undercuts, on their upper side, which is encompassed by the plastic molded section 38 .

The control device 34 for the drive motor 32 is also shown in FIG 5 illustrated manner connected via the plastic molded portion 38 to the outer skin member 16. So she asks represents another insert part of the plastic molded section 38.

In 6 an alternative embodiment representing a fixed roof element 14 'is shown, which is essentially that according to the 1 until 5 corresponds, but differs from this in that the control device 34 and the bearing device 36 for the winding shaft 28, which each represent an element of the shading system 20, are connected to the outer skin element 16 in such a way that a plastic molded section 38', which is formed from a polyurethane foam material and is formed on the underside of the outer skin element 16, has a latching geometry 48 which is provided with undercuts and into which a latching counter-geometry 50 of the control device 34 or the bearing device 36 engages. The locking geometries 48 are formed directly during the molding of the plastic molded section 38' in a foaming tool through a correspondingly designed cavity for the plastic molded section 38'. The control device 34 and the bearing device 36 are then assembled outside of the mold by simply locking the respective counter-locking geometry 50 into the relevant locking geometry 48 of the plastic molded section 38'.

The manufacture of the 1 until 5 Fixed roof element 14 shown takes place in the manner described below.

First, the guide rails 24 are produced as unbent goods by the meter using an extrusion tool. For example, a polyamide material is used as the material for the guide rails 24 . The piece goods are then cut to length and deburred, so that the guide rails 24 are provided with the desired length as elements of the shading system 20 .

Furthermore, the outer skin element 16 is provided as a flat panel and placed in a mold that has a corresponding cavity for forming the plastic mold section 38 . The guide rails 24 are placed in the mold and are bent and held there by grippers or the like in accordance with the curvature of the outer skin element 16 . In addition, the bearing devices 36 and the control device 34 are placed in the mold.

After closing the mold, polyurethane material is introduced into the cavity of the mold, where it reacts and forms the plastic mold section. The guide rails 24, the control device 34 and the bearing device 36 are thus fixed to the outer skin element 16 in the form of insert parts of the plastic section 38.

Reference List

10

vehicle roof

12

roof cut-out

14

fixed roof element

16

skin element

18

see-through area

20

shading system

22

roller blind

24

guide rail

26

drawbar

28

winding shaft

29

drive assembly

30A, B

drive cable

32

drive motor

34

control device

36

storage facility

38, 38'

plastic mold section

40

flank

42

anchor rib

44

guide channel

46

anchor element

48

locking geometry

50

detent counter geometry

Claims (18)

Fixed roof element for a vehicle roof, comprising a flat panel, on the underside of which at least one element of a shading system (20) is connected via a plastic molded section (38), characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) is an insert part of the plastic molded section (38). fixed roof element claim 1 , characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) has lateral flanks (40), each of which is overlapped by the plastic molded section (38). fixed roof element claim 2 , characterized in that the lateral flanks (40) of the element of the shading system (20) run towards one another, starting from the upper side of the element. Fixed roof element according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) has anchoring devices which are encompassed by the plastic molded section (38) and/or in which the plastic molded section (38) engages. Fixed roof element according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the plastic molded section (38) is made of a polyurethane foam material. Fixed roof element according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) is a guide rail (24). fixed roof element claim 6 , characterized in that the guide rail (24) is a plastic extrusion and in particular a two-component plastic extrusion. fixed roof element claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the guide rail (24) has guide channels (44), each of which is open at the bottom and/or the plastic molded section (38) overlaps the full surface of its upper side. Fixed roof element according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) is a bearing device (36) for mounting a winding shaft (28), an element for fabric centering or an electronic component for controlling a drive of the shading system (20). Fixed roof element for a motor vehicle, comprising a flat panel, on the underside of which at least one element of a shading system (20) is connected via a plastic molded section (38'), characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) has a storage device (36) for storing a winding shaft (28), an element for centering the material or an electronic component for controlling a drive of the shading system (20) and that a locking geometry (48) is formed on the plastic molded section (38'), into which a locking counter-geometry (50) of the bearing device (36 ) for mounting the winding shaft (28), the element for centering the fabric or the electronic component for controlling the drive of the shading system (20). fixed roof element claim 10 , characterized in that the locking geometry (48) has undercuts. fixed roof element claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the locking geometry (48) comprises locking grooves, locking ribs and/or locking pins. Method for producing a fixed roof element for a vehicle roof, comprising the following steps: - Providing a flat panel and inserting the flat panel into a molding tool which has a cavity for forming a plastic mold section (38) on the flat panel; - Providing an element of a shading system (20) and inserting the element of the shading system (20) into the mold; - Closing the mold and introducing a plastic material into the cavity to form the plastic molded section (38), the element of the shading system (20) forming an insert part of the plastic molded section (38) and thus being connected to the flat panel via the plastic molded section (38). procedure after Claim 13 , characterized in that the element of the shading system (20) is a guide rail (24) made of plastic and the guide rail (24) is produced by an extrusion process. procedure after Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that the guide rail (24) is bent when placed in the mold. Method for producing a fixed roof element for a vehicle roof, comprising the following steps: - Providing a flat panel; - Providing a plastic guide rail; - Gluing the plastic guide rail to an underside of the flat panel using an adhesive layer. procedure after Claim 16 , characterized in that the plastic guide rail is produced by an extrusion process. procedure after Claim 16 or 17 , characterized in that the guide rail (24) is bent when it is glued to the flat panel.

Images