EP1651457A1

EP1651457A1 - Blind arrangement for the window of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1651457A1
Application number: EP04762435A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Harald Krüger; Thomas Pohl
Original assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2003-07-25
Filing date: 2004-07-14
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Also published as: DE10334695A1; WO2005012015A1; US20070113992A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a blind arrangement for the window of a motor vehicle, said arrangement comprising a blind that can be wound onto a winding element and wound off the winding element such that it extends in front of the window, two long guiding rails that are interspaced transversally in relation to the extension direction thereof and extend on both sides of the blind, and two sliders that are arranged in one of the two long guiding rails in a longitudinally displaceable manner and are used to guide the blind during the unwinding in such a way that it extends in front of the window after the unwinding. According to the invention, a lever element (33, 34) is mounted on each slider in an articulated, freely pivotable manner, said lever element also being connected to the blind (6).

Description

Roller blind arrangement for a window of a motor vehicle

description

The invention relates to a roller blind arrangement for a window of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such an arrangement comprises a roller blind that can be wound onto a winding element on the one hand and that can be unwound from the winding element on the other hand so that it extends in front of the window and covers the window opening; two longitudinal guide rails which are spaced apart from one another transversely to their direction of extension and extend on both sides of the roller blind; and two sliders, each of which is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable in each of the guide rails and by means of which the roller blind is guided along the two guide rails during unwinding, so that it extends in front of the window opening after unwinding.

Since the window openings in motor vehicles are generally not rectangular but rather approximately trapezoidal, the guide rails usually arranged on the two lateral frame parts of the window run inclined to one another. This means that when lifting and lowering (unwinding and Winding) of the roller blind the distance between the side edges of the roller blind and the guide rails of the roller blind arrangement varies.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of creating a connection of the roller blind to the slides guided in the guide rails, which is characterized by sufficient flexibility with a simple structure, so that changes occurring in the winding up and unwinding of the roller blind in the distance between the side edges of the Blinds and the associated guide rails can be compensated.

This problem is solved according to the invention by creating a roller blind arrangement with the features of claim 1.

Then a lever element is freely pivoted on each of the two sliders, which is connected at its other end to the roller blind.

The solution according to the invention is characterized in that it requires neither a positive guidance nor a separate drive for moving and guiding the lever elements. Rather, the lever elements only have to be freely pivoted on the one hand to the respective slider assigned to a guide rail and on the other hand connected to the roller blind. You do not have to be in active connection with any other modules.

Despite this simple construction, the solution according to the invention enables use with different shapes of the window frame and different lengths of the side frame parts. A flexible compensation of fluctuations in the distance between the guide rails and the respectively assigned side edge of the roller blind is ensured in each case by the free pivotability of the lever elements with respect to the sliders.

The two lever elements are each connected at their roller blind side end to one of the two lateral side edges of the roller blind which run along the guide rails in the closed state of the roller blind (for example in the region of the upper end of the roller blind), preferably in such a way that one on the roller blind Cross strut is provided which extends transversely (ie perpendicularly or at an angle slightly inclined to the vertical) to the direction of extension of the window pane, and (preferably at the upper end of the blind) from one side edge to the other side edge of the blind. The lever elements are each one of the articulated on both end faces of the cross strut, each of the two end faces of the cross strut lying on one of the two side edges of the roller blind.

The tension of the roller blind material (roller blind fabric) causes the cross strut to self-center, so that no length compensation in the direction of the winding axis (longitudinal axis of the winding element) is required.

The connection of the lever elements to the roller blind (in particular via the cross strut provided on the roller blind) must be sufficiently flexible to permit pivoting of the lever elements with respect to the slides guided in the guide rails. For this purpose, the lever elements, with their end facing away from the guide rail and assigned to the roller blind, are each articulatedly connected to the roller blind, in particular via an assembly which is arranged on the roller blind and is more dimensionally stable than the material of the roller blind, such as e.g. the cross strut described above.

For the articulated connection of the lever elements to the roller blind, for example, a hinge, in particular in the form of a swivel joint or a film hinge, elastic means, in particular in the form of a spring element, and an integrally molded elastic transition area extending from the cross strut to the lever element are suitable.

For increased flexibility, the lever element itself can also be designed to be elastic or in several parts, the individual parts of the lever element being connected to each other via a hinge (film hinge). In order to limit the pivoting movement and thus the possible angular positions of the lever elements with respect to the guide rail, mutually associated stops can be provided on the lever element on the one hand and on the roller blind on the other hand, the stop on the roller blind side being formed in particular by the assembly (for example in the form of a cross strut), via which the respective lever element is connected to the roller blind.

The lever elements are also preferably curved such that they run along a curved section of the window frame when the roller blind covering the window opening is closed, in particular both along a respective side frame part and along the upper frame part, which limits the window opening at the top. This enables the window opening (window surface) to be completely covered in the case of windows which have a top area has a curved transition from the side frame parts into the upper frame part which delimits the window opening upwards.

Depending on whether the window frame in the area of the front side frame part and in the area of the rear side frame part is identical or different, the two lever elements are designed with identical or different curvatures, the curvature in each case at the transition area between the assigned lateral frame part and the upper frame part of the window frame is adjusted. The associated side frame part is understood to mean that frame part on which the guide rail is arranged, in which the respective lever element is guided via a slider.

The winding element can be designed in a simple manner as a rotatable winding roller which is essentially elongated transversely to the direction of extension of the guide rails.

The roller blind arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for use with roller blinds which are arranged below the window opening in the wound state and are moved upwards along the guide rails when the winding element is arranged below the window opening.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a side view of a window opening defining a window frame of a motor vehicle window with a winding roller for a blind;

Figure 2a - the window of Figure 2 with a roller blind wound on the winding roll;

Figure 2b - the arrangement of Figure 2a with half-unwound, partially covering the window opening; 2c shows the arrangement from FIG. 2a with a completely unwound roller blind covering the window opening;

Figure 2d shows a cross section through a guide rail of the roller blind arrangement of ^'the figures 2a to 2c;

Figures 3a-3c a modification of the arrangement of Figures 2a to 2c with wound, partially unwound and completely unwound roller blind;

FIG. 4 shows a second modification of the arrangement from FIGS. 2a to 2c with the roller blind partially unwound;

Figure 5 shows a third modification of the arrangement of Figures 2a to 2c with a partially unwound roller blind;

FIG. 6 shows a fourth modification of the arrangement from FIGS. 2a to 2c with the roller blind partially unwound;

FIG. 7 shows a fifth modification of the arrangement from FIGS. 2a to 2c with the roller blind partially unwound.

Figure 1 shows a (one-piece or composed of several elements) or window frame 1 of a motor vehicle door in a motor vehicle, which encloses a window opening 10 with a front and a rear frame part 11, 12 and an upper and a lower frame part 13, 14.

The front and rear frame parts 11, 12 each extend slightly inclined to one another essentially along the vertical vehicle axis z (in relation to the state of the vehicle door installed in a motor vehicle) and the upper and lower frame parts 13, 14 each extend essentially along the Vehicle longitudinal axis x (direction of travel) and limit the window opening 10 up and down, while the front and rear frame parts 11, 12 limit the window opening 10 to the front and rear. In the transition region 113 from the front side frame part 11 to the upper frame part 13 and in the transition region 123 from the rear side frame part 12 to the upper frame part 13, the window frame 1 is in each case curved. On the lower frame part 14, a winding element 2 in the form of a winding roll is arranged below the window opening 10, onto which a roller blind can be wound, with which the window opening 1 can be covered. The lower frame part 14 of the window frame 1 can in particular form part of the door rail of a vehicle door.

Due to the slight inclination of the side frame parts 11, 12 relative to one another, the frame 1 and the window opening 10 are essentially trapezoidal with rounded upper transition regions 113, 123 from the side frame parts 11, 12 into the upper frame part 13.

FIG. 2a shows the window frame 1 from FIG. 1 with a roller blind 6 wound onto the winding roller 2, on the upper edge 63 of which there is a transverse strut 5 connected to the roller blind made of a flexible material (in particular a fabric), essentially transverse to the front and rear lateral Frame part 11, 12 extends along the vehicle longitudinal axis x.

The two end faces 51, 52 (front and rear end face) of the cross strut 5 each face one of the two side frame parts 11, 12 and are each assigned to a guide rail 21, 22 which extends along the front side frame part 11 or the rear side frame part 12 extends parallel, and thus somewhat inclined to the vertical vehicle axis z.

In each of the two guide rails 21, 22, a slider is arranged to be displaceable in the direction of extension of the guide rail, as can be seen by way of example from the cross section in FIG. 2D for the front guide rail 21 and the associated slider 23.

A lever element 3, 4 with a first end 31 or 41 is articulated freely pivotably on each of the two sliders, which are each arranged longitudinally displaceably in one of the two guide rails 21, 22. With the other end 32 or 42, the corresponding lever element is articulated via a film hinge F to the respective end face 51, 52 of the cross strut 5 of the roller blind 6. The two lever elements 3, 4 are thus articulated via the end faces 51, 52 of the cross strut 5 on a respective side edge 61, 62 of the roller blind 6 (cf. FIG. 2b) in the region of the upper end 63 of the roller blind 6. If the drive of the roller shutter arrangement, which is not shown in the figures and is operatively connected to the winding roller 2 in a known manner, is actuated in order to unwind the roller blind by rotating the winding roller 2, this is done via the lever elements 3, 4 with the sliders in the roller blind 6 connected to the guide rails 21, 22, as shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c.

From Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, which show the roller blind 6 in the fully open, in the partially closed and in the fully closed (completely covering the window opening 10) state, it is clear that due to the arrangement of the guide rails somewhat inclined to the vertical vehicle axis z 21, 22 the distance between the guide rails 21, 22 or the slider arranged in the respective guide rail 21, 22 and the connection point S of the respective lever element 3, 4 on the cross strut 5 of the roller blind 6 when unwinding and lifting the roller blind varies, namely decreases , This is compensated for by the fact that the lever elements 3, 4 are pivoted about their respective joints when the roller blind is lifted with respect to the respectively assigned slider and thereby change their angular position relative to the respectively assigned guide rail 21, 22, as from a comparison of FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c recognizable. This pivoting movement of the lever elements 3, 4 about their glider-side joints is possible since the lever elements 3, 4 are also articulated on the roller blind-side ends of the roller blind, more precisely on the respective end face 51, 52 of the cross member 5.

FIG. 2c finally shows that when the roller blind 6 is completely closed, the lever elements 3, 4 each rest on the transition regions 113, 123 between the front and rear side frame parts 11, 12 and the upper frame part 13 and are selected in their curvature in such a way that that the curvature of the respective lever element 3, 4 corresponds to the curvature of the associated transition region 113 or 123. Corresponding to the different curvature and length of the transition regions 113, 123, the two lever elements 3, 4 also have a different curvature and length.

As a result, the length of the guide rails 21, 22 can be limited to a minimum, since in the completely closed state of the roller blind the lever elements 3, 4 form the extension of the respective guide rail 21, 22, so to speak, and extend in the vertical direction z along the remaining remainder of the respective lateral one Extend frame part 11, 12 and merge into the area of the upper frame part 13. To raise the roller blind along the guide rails 21, 22, as explained above with reference to FIGS. 2a to 2c, ascending cables or traction means (as components of a cable system) arranged in or on the guide rails 21, 22, can be used, which are connected to the corresponding motor vehicle door arranged drive are actuated and connected to the slides 23, 24 guided in the guide rails 21, 22. A drive motor or a spring drive are suitable as drives, for example. The decisive factor is that a suitable drive is operatively connected to the sliders to enable the blind to be adjusted (raised or lowered).

FIGS. 3a to 3c show a modification of the roller blind arrangement shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c, the roller blind 6 being completely wound onto the winding roll 2 in the state shown in FIG. 3a and the roller blind in the state shown in FIG. 3b is partially unwound and partially covers the window opening 10 and in the state shown in FIG. 3c the blind is completely unwound and completely covers the window opening.

The difference between the arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 2a to 2c and the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c is that, according to FIGS. 3a to 3c, the upper frame part 13 'of the window frame 1 is inclined obliquely to the vehicle longitudinal direction x, as is that Upper edge 63 'of the roller blind 6. Accordingly, the two guide rails 21', 22 'have a different length along the vertical vehicle axis z and the two lever elements 3, 4 are adapted to this modified geometry of the upper frame part 13' and the upper edge 63 'of the Roller blinds 6 and the different length of the guide rail 21 ', 22' adapted. Thus, in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c, the difference in length and curvature of the two lever elements 3, 4 is greater than in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c. This is due to the fact that, due to the inclined course of the upper frame part 13 'of the window frame 1, the two transition regions 113, 123 between the front and rear frame parts 11, 12 and the upper frame part 13' have larger deviations in terms of curvature and length the lever elements 3, 4 are adapted to this in their geometry (contouring) and length.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show different modifications of the roller blind arrangements shown above, specifically with regard to the design of the lever elements 3, 4 and with regard to their connection to the two end faces 51, 52 of the cross strut 5 at the upper edge 63 of the roller blind 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the lever elements 3, 4 are each integrally connected to the cross strut 5, i.e. each molded integrally on this. For this purpose, at least the transition region between the respective lever element 3, 4 and the cross strut 5 must be sufficiently elastic to allow the lever elements 3, 4 to pivot about their respective glider-side (or guide rail-side) joint. For this purpose, the transition areas U can each be made correspondingly thinner than the lever elements 3, 4 and the cross strut 5 and / or (when the cross strut 5 is produced together with the lever elements 3, 4 molded thereon in a multi-component injection molding process) from a different plastic material than the lever elements 3, 4 themselves and the cross strut 5.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the one (front) lever element 3a, 3b is formed in several parts (two parts) and consists of a first lever part 3a articulated to the slider in the associated guide rail 21 and a second, via a film hinge S articulated with the associated end face 51 of the cross strut 5 connected lever part. The two lever parts 3a, 3b are in turn articulated to one another via a film hinge S. This results in increased flexibility of the front lever element 3a, 3b. Alternatively, the lever element could consist of a material with increased flexibility.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the two lever elements 3, 4 each have a stop 32a, 42a at their cross-strut-side end 32, 42, which interacts with an associated stop 51a, 52a of the respective end face 51, 52 of the cross member such that a complete folding of the lever elements 3, 4 (beyond the equilibrium angular position), in particular when the roller blind 6 is completely wound onto the winding roll 2, is prevented.

Thus, in the roller blind arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the respective lever element 3, 4 is likewise articulated freely on the respective end face 51, 52 of the cross strut 5; however, the maximum swivel angle is limited by the stops 32a, 51a and 42a, 52a assigned to each other. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, the lever elements 3, 4 are each connected in an articulated manner to the respectively assigned end face 51 or 52 of the cross strut 5 via spring-elastic elements F.

Common to all of the previously described exemplary embodiments is that the two lever elements 3, 4 are each pivotably freely pivotably connected to the slider in the respectively assigned guide rail 21, 22 and are also articulated to the roller blind 6 (via the cross strut 5) in such a way that the free pivotability the lever elements 3, 4 are not obstructed by their joints on the guide rail side and the lever elements 3, 4 can freely change their angular position with respect to the respective guide rail 21, 22 in such a way that when the roller blind 6 is raised or lowered (unwound or wound up), a variation in the Distances between the respective guide rail 11, 12 and the articulation point (end face 51, 52) on the cross strut 5 can be compensated.

In all of the exemplary embodiments, no means are provided which cause the lever elements 3, 4 to be positively guided or affect their free pivotability (apart from a limitation of the maximum pivoting angle). Rather, the respective swivel lever 3, 4 can be freely aligned in its swivel position when the blind is raised or lowered so that the respectively changing distance between the corresponding guide rail 21, 22 and the associated articulation point on the blind 6 (end faces 51, 52 of the cross strut 5 ) is being bridged.

* * * * *

Claims

Expectations

1. Roller blind arrangement for a window of a motor vehicle with

a roller blind which can be wound onto a winding element on the one hand and which can be unwound from the winding element on the other hand so that it extends in front of the window,

- Two elongated guide rails, which are spaced apart from one another transversely to their direction of extension and extend on both sides of the roller blind, and - Two sliders, which are arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable on each of the two elongated guide rails and by means of which the roller blind is guided during unwinding in such a way that it is after unwinding extends in front of the window, characterized in that a lever element (33, 34) is freely pivotably articulated on each slider, which on the other hand is connected to the roller blind (6).

I would like a brief note on how the drive of the Roilos affects the sliders in the guide rails. This should be mentioned in view of the completeness of the description in the application documents.

2. Roller blind arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that on the roller blind (6) a cross strut (5) is provided which extends transversely to the direction of extension of the guide rails (21, 22) and with which the two levers (3, 4 ) are connected, the cross strut preferably running on the upper edge (63) of the blind (6).

Roller blind arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) are articulated to the roller blind (6).

4. Roller blind arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) are connected via a hinge (S) to the roller blind (6).

Roller blind arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) are each connected to the roller blind (6) via a spring element (F).

6. Roller blind arrangement according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) are integrally connected via an elastic region (U) with the cross strut (5).

Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lever element (3, 4; 3a, 3b) is elastic or multi-part.

Roller blind arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the parts (3a, 3b) of the multi-part lever element (3a, 3b) are connected to one another via a hinge (S), in particular in the form of a film hinge.

9. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the lever elements (3, 4) on the one hand and the roller blind (6) on the other hand stops (32a, 42a; 51a, 52a) are provided in order to achieve the maximum pivoting movement of the lever elements (3, 4) limit.

10. Roller blind arrangement according to claim 2 and 9, characterized in that the roller blind-side stop (51a, 52a) is formed on the cross strut (5).

11. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) are curved.

12. Roller blind arrangement according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) are curved such that when the roller blind (6) is closed, which covers the window, along two frame parts (11, 12; 12, 13th ) of the window frame (1).

13. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever elements (3, 4) act on the roller blind (6) in the region of the upper edge (63) thereof.

14. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two lever elements (3, 4) are identical.

15. Roller blind arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the two lever elements (3, 4) are designed differently.

16. Roller blind arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the two lever elements (3, 4) have a different curvature and / or length.

17. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide rails (21, 22) are arranged on side frame parts (11, 12) of the window frame (1).

18. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding element (2) extends transversely to the direction of extension of the guide rails (21, 22).

19. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding element (2) is rotatable and that the axis of rotation preferably extends transversely to the direction of extension of the guide rails (21, 22).

20. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the winding element (2) is designed as a winding roller.

21. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller blind (6) lies in the wound state below the window opening (10) of the window.

22. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper edge (63) of the roller blind (6) is moved upward during unwinding.

23. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the window has a substantially trapezoidal window opening (10) defined by the geometry of the window frame (1).

24. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two guide rails (11, 12) extend inclined to one another.

25. Roller blind arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting movement of the lever elements (3, 4) when unwinding and winding up the roller blind (6) by free pivoting about the glider-side joint depending on the distance between the respective Guide rail (21, 22) and the associated articulation point (51, 52) on the roller blind (6) is determined. *****