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
  • B60J7/06—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with non-rigid element or elements
  • B60J7/061—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of sliding type, e.g. comprising guide shoes with non-rigid element or elements sliding and folding

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a flexible roof for a motor vehicle, intended to be mounted in an opening of the roof of the vehicle.
• the invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such a flexible roof.
• the known soft roofs comprise a flexible fabric-based structure and are movable between a position in which the fabric is stretched to close the opening of the roof and a position in which the fabric is folded at the rear of the opening to clear it.
• FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 respectively show a view of perspective of this flexible roof, a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible roof mounted on the roof of the vehicle in the closed position and a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible roof in the open position.
• FIG. 1 shows that the flexible roof comprises a fabric 1 (shown transparent) fixed between a front cross member 2 and a rear cross member 3.
• the whales 4 are connected to an elastic tensioner 5 which is fixed on the two longitudinal edges of the fabric 1.
• Two levers 6 pivotally mounted on two joints 7 fixed (see Figure 2) on the roof of the vehicle and can tilt forward allow to stretch the fabric 1 in the closed position.
• FIG. 1 designates two bolts that make it possible to lock the flexible roof in the closed position shown in FIG. 2.
• FIG. 2 also shows that in the closed position, the front cross member 2 of the fabric 1 bears on a seal 10.
• the flexible roof shown in Figures 1 to 3 has the following disadvantages.
• the fabric 1 folds in a random manner.
• Opening the roof at high speed may cause destruction of the roof structure.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art described above.
• a flexible roof for a motor vehicle intended to be mounted in an opening of the roof of the vehicle, the flexible roof comprising a fabric and being movable between a position in which the fabric is stretched to close. the opening and a position in which the fabric is folded to reveal the opening, characterized in that it comprises at least a first and a second lever articulated to one another and extending under the fabric, the first of these two levers having a front end to which is fixed the front edge of the fabric, these two levers being movable between a first position in which these levers are located in the extension of one another and tend the fabric and a second position in which these two levers are folded against each other, the fabric being relaxed and folded around these two levers.
• the flexible roof according to the invention comprises a slideway for guiding the displacement of said first lever between said first and second positions.
• said first lever comprises an arm whose end is engaged in said slide to be able to slide therein between said first and second positions.
• the rear end of the second lever is articulated along an axis, parallel to the axis of the joint between the two levers and perpendicular to the slide.
• the axis of the articulation of the rear end of the second lever is located near the rear end of the slide.
• the flexible roof comprises a latch operable manually on the inner face of the roof, to maintain the roof in the first position.
• said latch is a pivoting lever along an axis parallel to the slide having a gripping end and an end that can hook to a portion of the slide.
• each of said first levers and said slide are arranged along each of the two longitudinal sides of the roof.
• each of said first levers has on its front end a projecting portion covered by the front edge of the fabric which is intended to bear on a seal, when said levers are in the first position.
• each of said second levers comprises on its front end a projecting portion on which the fabric rests and which is remote from the axis of the articulation between the first and the second levers, this axis being worn. by arms connected to these levers forming a recess with said projecting portion of the second lever.
• the first and second levers are inclined towards the rear of the roof and the second lever is supported by pinching the fabric on a fixed stop bearing the hinge axis of the rear end of the second the sink.
• the invention also relates to a motor vehicle whose flag is equipped with a flexible roof according to the invention.
• the roof of the vehicle may be equipped with two flexible roofs according to the invention, for example extending one behind the other to cover or clear almost the entire surface of the roof.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the fabric-based structure of the flexible roof according to the invention
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the system of articulated levers and slides of the flexible roof according to the invention
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the fabric-based structure of the flexible roof according to the invention
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the system of articulated levers and slides of the flexible roof according to the invention
• FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the roof of a motor vehicle on which is mounted a flexible roof according to the invention, in the closed position
• Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the beginning of the opening phase of the flexible roof
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figures 6 and 7, showing the phase of partial opening of the flexible roof
• - Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, showing the flexible roof, fully open position
• Figure 10 is a partial sectional view, in a plane perpendicular to Figure 6 showing a latch to keep the soft roof in the closed position.
• FIG. 4 represents the structure of the fabric 1 of the flexible roof according to the invention.
• the mechanism represented in FIG. 5 makes it possible to move the fabric 1 between a position in which the fabric 1 is stretched (see FIG. 6) to close the opening 8 of the roof and a position (see FIG. 9) in which the fabric 1 is folded at the rear of the opening 8 to clear this opening.
• the flexible roof comprises on each side a first and a second lever 12, 13 articulated to each other along an axis 14 and extending under the fabric 1.
• the first 12 of these two levers supports a front cross member 2 having a front end 12a to which is fixed the front edge 1a of the fabric 1.
• levers 12, 13 are movable between a first position (see Figure 6) in which these two levers 12, 13 are located in the extension of one another and tend the fabric 1 and a second position (see Figure 9 ) in which these two levers 12, 13 are folded against each other at the rear of the opening 8, the fabric 1 being relaxed and folded around these two levers 12, 13.
• the flexible roof according to the invention also comprises on each side of the opening 8 a slide 15 for guiding the displacement of the first lever 12 between the first and second positions above.
• the two slides 15 are fixed for example screwed on each side of the opening 8 in the longitudinal direction of the flag.
• Figure 6 shows that the first lever 12 comprises an arm 16 which extends under the front cross member 2 whose end 16a is engaged in the slide 15 to slide in between the first and second positions described above.
• the rear end 13a of the second lever 13 is articulated along an axis 17, parallel to the axis 14 of the articulation between the two levers 12, 13 and perpendicular to the slide 15.
• This end 13a has a hook 13c , who catches the whale 4 middle ( Figure 4) to stretch the back of the canvas, forward.
• the second lever 13 also has a hook 13b in the front area, which catches the front whale ( Figure 4) and tends the canvas down.
• FIGS 7 and 10 show that the flexible roof according to the invention comprises a latch 18 which can be manually operated on the inner face of the roof, to maintain the roof in the first position, that is to say closed.
• This latch 18 is a lever pivoting along an axis 19 parallel to the slide
• a lock 18 as described above is located on each of the longitudinal sides of the flexible roof according to the invention.
• FIGs 6 to 9 show on the other hand that each of the two first levers 12 supports a front cross member 2 provided with a projecting portion 12a, covered by the front edge 1a of the fabric 1 which is intended to bear on a joint 20, when the two levers 12 are in the first position, that is to say closed, as shown in Figure 6.
• the seal 20 is fixed on a rabbet of the front cross member 21 of the roof.
• the arm 16 of the first lever 12 is offset forwards, so that the front cross member 2 raises in a substantially vertical direction relative to the seal 20. Without this offset, the maneuver would come to bed the joint 20 , and would cause premature wear, accompanied by a loss of tightness.
• each of the second levers 13 has on its front end a projecting portion 13b on which the fabric 1 rests and which is spaced from the axis 14 of the articulation between the first and second levers 12, 13.
• This axis 14 is carried by bent arms 22, 23 connected to these levers 12, 13 forming a recess 24 with the projecting portion 13b of the second lever 13.
• the fabric 1 is supported substantially continuously by the upper surface of the levers 12, 13.
• the latch 18 is placed at the rear of the first lever 12, so that the arm 16 offers a powerful lever arm, which makes it possible to crush the seal 20 in the front part, with a reduction of the force to the lock 18 significant which makes the maneuver easy.
• the latch 18 is located vertically to the shoulders of the driver, which makes the effort bearable.
• FIG. 9 shows that in the second position, that is to say closed, the first and second levers 12, 13 are inclined toward the rear of the roof and the second lever 13 is supported by pinching the fabric 1 on a stop fixed 25 carried on a crosspiece 3 carrying the axis 17 of articulation of the rear end 13a of the second lever 13.
• the fabric 1 extends beyond the rear end 13a of the second lever 13 above a cross 26 of the flag.
• This crosspiece 26 supports on each side a seal 27 on which the fabric 1 is supported.
• the seal 20 sealing between the front of the flexible roof and the front cross member 21 of the roof is part of a seal which surrounds the entire periphery of the roof. the opening 8, including the longitudinal edges of this opening, as shown in FIG.
• the fabric 1 is retained by the transverse elements 28 and 29 which are respectively locked by the rear hook 13c of the lever 13 and the recess 24 between the levers 12 and 13.
• the levers 12 and 13 are locked in the closed position by the two latches 18 engaged with the slides 15.
• front edge 1a of the fabric 1 is located substantially in the extension of the upper surface of the front cross member 21 of the roof.
• the fabric 1 is not likely to vibrate when driving the vehicle.
• the fabric 1 which follows the pivoting of the levers 12 and 13 folds around them and is pinched against the stop 25, as shown in FIG. 9. If the opening of the flexible roof is made during the driving of the vehicle, the roof flexible is not likely to be destroyed, because in the partial opening position shown in Figure 8, the flexible roof has relatively little aerodynamic grip relative to the air flow. To close the flexible roof, the reverse maneuver is performed, that is to say by pulling it forward.
• the latches 18 preferably comprise a spring which urges them towards the locked position.
• a second flexible roof identical to that described above can be mounted behind it, which allows the occupants of the vehicle to open almost the entire pavilion surface.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=41213199

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2009
  • 2009-03-17 FR FR0951697A patent/FR2943281B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-02-25 EP EP10709908A patent/EP2408633A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-02-25 CN CN201080012515.3A patent/CN102356006B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-02-25 WO PCT/FR2010/050324 patent/WO2010106262A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-02-25 BR BRPI1004338A patent/BRPI1004338A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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