EP1996420A2 - Sunroof system for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Sunroof system for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number
EP1996420A2
EP1996420A2 EP07713162A EP07713162A EP1996420A2 EP 1996420 A2 EP1996420 A2 EP 1996420A2 EP 07713162 A EP07713162 A EP 07713162A EP 07713162 A EP07713162 A EP 07713162A EP 1996420 A2 EP1996420 A2 EP 1996420A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
uprights
motor vehicle
window
sunroof system
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07713162A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Leonardo Fioravanti
Matteo Fioravanti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fioravanti SRL
Original Assignee
Fioravanti SRL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fioravanti SRL filed Critical Fioravanti SRL
Publication of EP1996420A2 publication Critical patent/EP1996420A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
    • B60J7/02—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes
    • B60J7/026—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. for convertible vehicles
    • B60J7/028—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. for convertible vehicles the sliding movement being combined with a pivoting movement

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a sunroof system of the retractable type, for motor vehicles.
  • the invention relates to a sunroof system
  • a sunroof system comprising a cover or roof element which swivels near its trailing end about a horizontal axis between two facing uprights projecting upwards above the body line of the bodywork, in the rear part of the passenger compartment, and a stowage compartment open at the top made in the motor vehicle, between and beneath the said uprights; the cover or roof element swivelling about the said axis between a closed position in which it extends at least approximately horizontally and an open intermediate position in which it extends basically vertically; the cover or roof element then being movable downwards, from the open intermediate position towards a final hidden position in which it extends substantially vertically into the stowage compartment; a rear window being fitted between the uprights.
  • a sunroof system of this type is described, for example, in International patent application PCT/EP2005/056000 in the name of the same Applicant.
  • the two above mentioned parallel uprights are fixed in relation to the bodywork of the vehicle and therefore protrude permanently upwards above the body line, even when the roof is hidden in the stowage compartment. These uprights being visible when the roof is stored away is not always aesthetically pleasing.
  • One of the aims of the present invention is to create sunroof system that overcomes this drawback.
  • This and other aims will be achieved according to the invention with a sunroof system of the type specified above, characterised in that the rear window is integral with the uprights and with them forms an assembly that swivels about a horizontal transverse axis which extends close to the motor vehicle's body line, between an extracted or raised position in which the rear window can connect with the roof in the closed position, and a retracted or lowered position in which the uprights extend at least partly below the said body line and the window lies at least approximately horizontally.
  • the uprights and the window as a whole form an assembly which is basically in the shape of an upside-down U, the window being connected preferably to the rear sides of the uprights.
  • the cover or sunroof element is advantageously mounted translating between the above-mentioned intermediate position and the final hidden position, along guiding means which extend partly inside the uprights and partly inside the stowage compartment.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a motor vehicle provided with a sunroof system according to the present invention, shown in the closed configuration;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Figure 1 and shows the cover or roof element in various positions during its movement of passing fr om the closed condition to the stowed condition;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to the previous ones, and shows the cover or roof element in the stowed condition, and the assembly made up of the uprights and rear window in the retracted or lowered condition.
  • FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle as a whole.
  • the motor vehicle 1 has a passenger compartment 2 with only two places, namely one for the driver and one for a passenger.
  • the motor vehicle 1 has a sunroof system of a retractable type, shown as a whole by R.
  • This sunroof system comprises a cover or roof element 3, with one front side 3a and one rear side 3b.
  • the cover or roof element 3 is shown swivelling about a substantially horizontal axis 4 ( Figure 2), between two parallel side uprights 5, near the rear part of the compartment 2.
  • the window 6 is in particular connected to the rear sides of the uprights 5.
  • a stowage compartment 7 open at the top.
  • This compartment is shaped for example in the way shown in the international patent application referred to above .
  • each guide 8 shows two approximately vertical guides, parallel to each other, which extend partly along the facing inner faces of the uprights 5, and partly into the stowage compartment 7.
  • each guide 8 comprises in particular a top portion 8a connected to an associated upright 5, and a bottom portion 8b, which extends into the stowage compartment 7.
  • portions 8a and 8b of the guides 8 are aligned and contiguous with each other.
  • the cover or roof element 3 swivels about the axis 4 ( Figure 2) between a closed position ( Figure 1) in which it extends at least approximately horizontally, and an intermediate open position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, in which it extends substantially vertically.
  • the said cover or roof element 3 can then be moved downwards, from the open intermediate position defined above, to a final hidden position, illustrated in Figure 3, in which it extends substantially vertically inside the stowage compartment 7.
  • This assembly is moreover swivelling about a horizontal transverse axis, shown by B-B in Figure 3, near the body line BL of the motor vehicle.
  • the assembly formed by the uprights 5 and the rear window 6 is capable of being made to pass from the extracted or raised position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the retracted or lowered position in Figure 3, due to the effect of a rotation about the axis B-B.
  • the uprights 5 In the retracted or lowered condition, the uprights 5 extend at least partly below the body line BL of the motor vehicle, disappearing into special seats in the bodywork or into the above-mentioned stowage compartment, and the rear window 6 lies at least approximately horizontally.
  • the rear window 6 may be level with the motor vehicle's body line, or may be higher or lower than this line.
  • the assembly made up the uprights 5 and the rear window 6 swivels about an axis B-B which is near to the trailing end of the uprights 5.
  • this assembly may be arranged swivelling about a horizontal axis near the leading end of the uprights.
  • the solution according to the invention enables the side uprights 5 to be made to disappear, at least partly, when the roof 3 is open and hidden, and the assembly made up of the rear window 6 and the uprights is in the retracted or lowered condition .
  • the retractable sunroof system limits the reduction of available space in any rear luggage compartment of the motor vehicle to a minimum.
  • the movement of the cover or roof element 3 and the assembly made up of the uprights 5 and the window 6 may be controlled manually or, preferably, by special actuators of a known type.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Window Of Vehicle (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

The sunroof system (R) comprises a cover or roof element (3) which swivels about a horizontal axis (4-4) between two facing uprights (5) projecting upwards above the body line (BL) of the bodywork of the motor vehicle (1), and a stowage compartment (7) open at the top, made in the motor vehicle (1) between and beneath the said uprights (5) . The cover or roof element (3) swivelling between a closed position in which it extends at least approximately horizontally and an open intermediate position in which it extends basically vertically, and then being movable downwards, from the open intermediate position towards a final hidden position in which it extends substantially vertically into the stowage compartment (7) . Between the uprights (5) a rear window (6) is fixed and with them forms an assembly that swivels about a horizontal transverse axis (B-B) near the body line (BL) of the motor vehicle (1), between an extracted or raised position in which the rear window (6) can connect with the roof (3) in the closed position, and a retracted or lowered position in which the uprights (5) extend partly below the said body line (BL) and the window (6) lies at least approximately horizontally.

Description

Sunroof system for a motor vehicle
The present invention concerns a sunroof system of the retractable type, for motor vehicles.
More specifically, the invention relates to a sunroof system comprising a cover or roof element which swivels near its trailing end about a horizontal axis between two facing uprights projecting upwards above the body line of the bodywork, in the rear part of the passenger compartment, and a stowage compartment open at the top made in the motor vehicle, between and beneath the said uprights; the cover or roof element swivelling about the said axis between a closed position in which it extends at least approximately horizontally and an open intermediate position in which it extends basically vertically; the cover or roof element then being movable downwards, from the open intermediate position towards a final hidden position in which it extends substantially vertically into the stowage compartment; a rear window being fitted between the uprights.
A sunroof system of this type is described, for example, in International patent application PCT/EP2005/056000 in the name of the same Applicant. In the sunroof system described in that document, the two above mentioned parallel uprights are fixed in relation to the bodywork of the vehicle and therefore protrude permanently upwards above the body line, even when the roof is hidden in the stowage compartment. These uprights being visible when the roof is stored away is not always aesthetically pleasing.
One of the aims of the present invention is to create sunroof system that overcomes this drawback. This and other aims will be achieved according to the invention with a sunroof system of the type specified above, characterised in that the rear window is integral with the uprights and with them forms an assembly that swivels about a horizontal transverse axis which extends close to the motor vehicle's body line, between an extracted or raised position in which the rear window can connect with the roof in the closed position, and a retracted or lowered position in which the uprights extend at least partly below the said body line and the window lies at least approximately horizontally.
In one embodiment, the assembly formed by the uprights and the rear window swivels about a horizontal axis near the trailing end of the said uprights.
Advantageously, the uprights and the window as a whole form an assembly which is basically in the shape of an upside-down U, the window being connected preferably to the rear sides of the uprights.
The cover or sunroof element is advantageously mounted translating between the above-mentioned intermediate position and the final hidden position, along guiding means which extend partly inside the uprights and partly inside the stowage compartment.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description, given purely by way of a non-limiting example, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a motor vehicle provided with a sunroof system according to the present invention, shown in the closed configuration;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Figure 1 and shows the cover or roof element in various positions during its movement of passing fr om the closed condition to the stowed condition; and
- Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to the previous ones, and shows the cover or roof element in the stowed condition, and the assembly made up of the uprights and rear window in the retracted or lowered condition.
In Figure 1, 1 shows a motor vehicle as a whole. In the non- limiting embodiment shown, the motor vehicle 1 has a passenger compartment 2 with only two places, namely one for the driver and one for a passenger.
The motor vehicle 1 has a sunroof system of a retractable type, shown as a whole by R. This sunroof system comprises a cover or roof element 3, with one front side 3a and one rear side 3b.
Near its trailing end 3b, the cover or roof element 3 is shown swivelling about a substantially horizontal axis 4 (Figure 2), between two parallel side uprights 5, near the rear part of the compartment 2.
In the configurations shown in Figures 1 and 2, the uprights
5 project upwards, above the body line BL of the motor vehicle 1.
Between the uprights 5 a rear window 6 is fitted. This window
6 is connected, or fixed to, the uprights 5 and with them forms an assembly which is basically in the form of an upside-down U.
In the non-limiting embodiment shown in the drawings, the window 6 is in particular connected to the rear sides of the uprights 5.
Between and beneath the uprights 5, behind the compartment 2 of the motor vehicle 1 is a stowage compartment 7, open at the top. This compartment is shaped for example in the way shown in the international patent application referred to above .
In the drawings, 8 shows two approximately vertical guides, parallel to each other, which extend partly along the facing inner faces of the uprights 5, and partly into the stowage compartment 7. In the embodiment illustrated, each guide 8 comprises in particular a top portion 8a connected to an associated upright 5, and a bottom portion 8b, which extends into the stowage compartment 7.
In the closed condition of the sunroof system, shown in Figure 1, portions 8a and 8b of the guides 8 are aligned and contiguous with each other.
The cover or roof element 3 swivels about the axis 4 (Figure 2) between a closed position (Figure 1) in which it extends at least approximately horizontally, and an intermediate open position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, in which it extends substantially vertically. The said cover or roof element 3 can then be moved downwards, from the open intermediate position defined above, to a final hidden position, illustrated in Figure 3, in which it extends substantially vertically inside the stowage compartment 7.
During the movement whereby the cover or roof element 3 passes from the closed position (Figure 1) to the final hidden position (Figure 3) , the assembly made up of the uprights 5 and the rear window 6 remains in the extracted or raised position shown in Figures 1 and 2.
This assembly is moreover swivelling about a horizontal transverse axis, shown by B-B in Figure 3, near the body line BL of the motor vehicle.
After the cover or roof element 3 has reached the final hidden position inside the stowage area 7, the assembly formed by the uprights 5 and the rear window 6 is capable of being made to pass from the extracted or raised position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the retracted or lowered position in Figure 3, due to the effect of a rotation about the axis B-B. In the retracted or lowered condition, the uprights 5 extend at least partly below the body line BL of the motor vehicle, disappearing into special seats in the bodywork or into the above-mentioned stowage compartment, and the rear window 6 lies at least approximately horizontally. Depending on the preferences of the designer, in this condition the rear window 6 may be level with the motor vehicle's body line, or may be higher or lower than this line.
In the embodiment shown, the assembly made up the uprights 5 and the rear window 6 swivels about an axis B-B which is near to the trailing end of the uprights 5. In alternative embodiments, not shown, this assembly may be arranged swivelling about a horizontal axis near the leading end of the uprights.
The solution according to the invention enables the side uprights 5 to be made to disappear, at least partly, when the roof 3 is open and hidden, and the assembly made up of the rear window 6 and the uprights is in the retracted or lowered condition .
The retractable sunroof system according to the invention limits the reduction of available space in any rear luggage compartment of the motor vehicle to a minimum.
The movement of the cover or roof element 3 and the assembly made up of the uprights 5 and the window 6 may be controlled manually or, preferably, by special actuators of a known type.
Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the details of their realisation may be widely varied compared to that described and illustrated purely by way of a non-limiting example, without for this reason departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Sunroof system (R) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising a cover or roof element (3) which near its trailing end (3b) swivels about a horizontal axis (4-4) between two facing uprights (5) projecting upwards above the body line (BL) of the bodywork of the motor vehicle (1), in the rear part of the passenger compartment (2), and a stowage compartment (7) open at the top, made in the motor vehicle (1) between and beneath the said uprights (5) ; the cover or roof element (3) swivelling about the said axis (4-4) between a closed position in which it extends at least approximately horizontally and an open intermediate position in which it extends basically vertically; the said cover or roof element (3) then being movable downwards, from the open intermediate position towards a final hidden position in which it extends substantially vertically into the stowage compartment (7); between the said uprights (5) a rear window (6) being fixed; the sunroof system being characterised in that the rear window (6) is connected to the uprights (5), and with them forms an assembly that swivels about a horizontal transverse axis (B-B) near the body line (BL) of the motor vehicle (1), between an extracted or raised position in which the rear window (6) can connect with the roof (3) in the closed position, and a retracted or lowered position in which the uprights (5) extend partly below the said body line (BL) and the window (6) lies at least approximately horizontally.
2. Sunroof system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly formed by the uprights (5) and the rear window (6) swivels about a horizontal axis (B-B) near the trailing end of the said uprights (5) .
3. Sunroof system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the uprights (5) and the window (6) as a whole form an assembly which is basically in the shape of an upside-down U, the window (6) being connected to the rear sides of the uprights (5) .
4. Sunroof system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover or roof element (3) mounted translating between the said intermediate position and the final hidden position, along guiding means (8) which extend partly inside the uprights (5) and partly inside the stowage compartment (7) .
5. Sunroof system for a motor vehicle, substantially according to that described and illustrated, and for the aims specified.
EP07713162A 2006-02-27 2007-02-22 Sunroof system for a motor vehicle Withdrawn EP1996420A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20060141 ITTO20060141A1 (en) 2006-02-27 2006-02-27 OPENABLE ROOF SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
PCT/IB2007/050570 WO2007096829A2 (en) 2006-02-27 2007-02-22 Sunroof system for a motor vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1996420A2 true EP1996420A2 (en) 2008-12-03

Family

ID=38358043

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07713162A Withdrawn EP1996420A2 (en) 2006-02-27 2007-02-22 Sunroof system for a motor vehicle

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1996420A2 (en)
IT (1) ITTO20060141A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007096829A2 (en)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2015036C1 (en) * 1991-12-12 1994-06-30 Дмитрий Александрович Шевцов Convertible body of a car
DE29620468U1 (en) * 1996-11-23 1998-04-02 Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, 49084 Osnabrück Cabriolet vehicle
FR2856346B1 (en) * 2003-06-17 2005-08-26 France Design VEHICLE WITH OPENING ROOF AND ADVANCED ENGINE AT THE REAR
DE10331625B3 (en) * 2003-07-12 2005-01-05 Wilhelm Karmann Gmbh Targa-top roof system for automobile has 2 longitudinally spaced guide elements on either side of roof element cooperating with guide rails for initial pivot movement of roof element and lowering into stowed position
EP1711359B1 (en) * 2004-02-02 2012-02-29 Société Européenne de Brevets Automobiles Vehicle provided with a vertically retractable open roof

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2007096829A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007096829A2 (en) 2007-08-30
WO2007096829A3 (en) 2007-11-15
ITTO20060141A1 (en) 2007-08-28

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