EP3906179A2

EP3906179A2 - Roof moulding with aconnection structure

Info

Publication number: EP3906179A2
Application number: EP19907597.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hasan Cihad BAYRAM
Original assignee: Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi AS
Current assignee: Tofas Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi AS
Priority date: 2018-12-31
Filing date: 2019-12-25
Publication date: 2021-11-10
Also published as: EP3906179A4; WO2020142040A2; WO2020142040A3; TR201821233A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roof moulding (100) wherein a connection structure is used which enables joints of sheets in the vehicle roof to be closed visually and aesthetically and provides an aesthetically smooth appearance in the assembly of the roof moulding body (21) mounted in the channel between the vehicle roof sheet and the vehicle side sheet assembly. The objective of the present invention is to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the roof moulding body (21) and to provide convenience in installation, and to ensure less non-conformity due to the vehicle body to be reflected on the surface of the roof moulding body (21) by means of the flexible tabs provided on the connection member.

Description

ROOF MOULDING WITH ACONNECTION STRUCTURE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a roof moulding wherein a connection structure is used which enables joints of sheets in the vehicle roof to be closed visually and aesthetically and provides an aesthetically smooth appearance in the assembly of the roof moulding body mounted in the channel between the vehicle roof sheet and the vehicle side sheet assembly.

Background of the Invention

Roof mouldings are parts that are generally made of plastic material which visually and aesthetically covers the joints of the sheets in the vehicle roof area. Since the roof mouldings are located in the areas of the vehicles that are considered aesthetically, they must have low surface tolerances after installation. Corrugations and defects on the part can easily be perceived, especially in passenger cars. Therefore, the method of mounting the part to the vehicle must be designed very well. The structure to be used for installation should be affected as little as possible from the non-conformities caused by sheet joining method, sealing pastes, welding joint points coming from the vehicle joint typology and tolerances of these factors. Furthermore, since the structures to be designed for mounting on the inner surface of the part will cause plastic sink marks on the aesthetic surfaces, the connection members that are added later in the part should be used.

The roof moulding is attached to the roof of the vehicle by means of interconnection structures. Specifically in roof mouldings where several types of connection solutions are used in combination, the surfaces near the connection may react differently. The attachment method with band performed on the channel of the roof follows the surface on the roof; whereas connection members used with a different intermediate member reflect the production tolerances of the said intermediate member on the roof moulding.

In patent applications nos. CN104071087A, JP2002301993A, JPH10194055A, KR20150048343 A, US7004535B1, US7029060B1, US2009031539A1, it is seen that several applications known in the state of the art are disclosed.

Summary of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the roof moulding and to provide convenience in installation.

Another objective of the present invention is to ensure less non-conformities due to the vehicle body to be reflected on the surface of the part by means of the flexible tabs provided on the connection member.

Detailed Description of the Invention

“A roof moulding with a connection structure” developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is the view of the body of a roof moulding with a connection structure of the present invention separately from the vehicle roof before mounting.

Figure 2 is the separate view of the roof moulding connection before mounting on the roof moulding body.

Figure 3 is the separate view of the roof moulding connection before mounting on the roof connection member.

Figure 4 is the view of A-A cross section in Figure 3 after the roof moulding connection is mounted on the connection member.

The components given in the figures are assigned reference numbers as follows:

100. Roof moulding with a connection structure

10. Roof moulding connection 11. Roof connection member

12. Middle tab

13. Lower tab

14. Auxiliary tab

15. Central tab

16. Flexible tab

21. Roof moulding body

22. Tab slot

24. Support point

25. Inter-connection slot

H. Vehicle roof

A roof moulding with connecting structure (100) of the present invention, which enables joints of sheets in the vehicle roof (H) to be closed visually and aesthetically and provides an aesthetically smooth appearance during mounting in the channel between the vehicle roof sheet and the vehicle side sheet joint, comprises

- at least one roof moulding body (21) which has a cross section in form of an inverse U, the extensions of which extending downward from a ridge part correspond to edges of opening in form of a channel in joint part of the roof sheet and side sheet in vehicle roof (H), flat ridge part of which between the said extension covers the said channel opening and which enables the extensions to form a flat appearance on the vehicle roof (H),

- a roof moulding connection (10) which has a cross section in form of an inverse U similar to the roof moulding body (21), the ridge part of which will approach the ridge part of the roof moulding body (21) from inside by entering completely into the U-section roof moulding body (21), and which has at least one middle tab (12) which extends on the surfaces of the extension extending downwards of the inverse U- section facing the extensions extending downwards of the inverse U- section of the roof moulding body (21), and therefore which enables gripping to the roof moulding body (21) by means of entering into at least one tab slot (21) provided on the said extension of the roof moulding body (21) and grabbing from the edges of the tab slot (22), at least one auxiliary tab (14) which is in form of a sheet plate extending in an inclined way towards the ridge part of the inverse U-section of the roof moulding body (21) over the ridge surface of the inverse U-section by means of holding on one edge of the said surface and has a flexibility due to this inclined structure, and which reinforces the gripping with the tabs (12) by means of flexing and holding onto the support points (24) in form of a protrusion provided on the ridge part of the inverse U-section of the roof moulding body (21),

at least one roof connection member (11) which extend in the same direction with the extensions extending downwards from the ridge surface of the inverse U-section, between them and parallel to them; and which has at least one inter-connection slot (25) on a different surface extending in form of a protrusion from the surface fixed on the vehicle roof (H) to the roof moulding body (21), at least one central tab (15) which enables holding onto the roof connection member (11) by interlocking with the edges of the inter-connection slot (25) by passing through the said inter connection slot (25),

at least one flexible tab (16) which is in form of a sheet plate extending in an inclined way towards the surface of the roof connection member (11) extending in form of a protrusion and having the inter-connection member (25) thereon from the ridge surface of the inverse U-section by holding from its one edge, which has a flexibility due to the said inclined structure and therefore which enables to achieve a smooth appearance by absorbing non-conformities occurring from the height differences by means of applying pressure like a spring on the protrusion shaped surface by means of the said flexibility.

In an embodiment of the present invention, during the middle tab (12) entering into the tab slot (22) and being attached to the edge of the tab slot (22), there is at least one lower tab (13) compressing the extension between the middle tab (12) and itself by applying pressure on the edge of the extension extending downwards from the inverse U- section of the roof moulding body (21) and accommodating the tab slot (22) thereon far away from the ridge part of the roof moulding body (21).

In one embodiment of the present invention, there are at least two central tabs (15) extending parallel to each other and having attachment surfaces at their ends that are extending in opposite direction to each other, thereby engaging two opposing sides of the inter-connection slot and providing a sound attachment by passing through the inter-connection slot (25).

In one embodiment of the present invention, by means of designing the roof moulding body (21) such that it will be at different heights on at least one the extensions extending downwards from the inverse U-section, there is more than one tab slot (22) which enables the roof moulding connection (10) to be used as a single type of material applicable to applications in different measurements due to the use of roof connection member (11) in different dimension, and therefore which provides a technical variation before the embodiments known in the technique as well as providing an important advantage. A roof moulding with connecting structure (100) of the present invention enables joints of sheets in the vehicle roof (H) to be closed visually and aesthetically and present an aesthetically proper appearance during mounting pf the roof moulding body (21) mounted in the channel between the vehicle roof sheet and the vehicle side sheet joint. The roof moulding body (21) is generally produced from a plastic material. The roof moulding body (21) must be mounted on the vehicle roof (H) with as low tolerances as possible since it has aesthetic function.

Within the scope of the invention, the plastic roof moulding connection (10) is fixed to the roof moulding body (21) by means of the middle tab (12) and lower tab (13) provide thereon and comes to the production line together with the roof moulding body (21). The central tab (12) enters and engages into the tab slots (22) located on the roof moulding body (21). The said tab slots (22) are manufactured together with the roof moulding body (21) in plastic injection molding. The tab slots (22) located correspondingly on the downwardly extending extension of the inverse U- section of the roof moulding body (21) are functionally equivalent, but- preferably- they are in a dent form on the side that does not remain in the aesthetic part of the vehicle, and in form of an embossing on the other part. The plastic roof moulding connection (10) exiting from the production line as attached to the roof moulding body (21) by engaging to it, the presence of roof moulding connection (10)-since they come to the mounting line together-during the assembly of the roof moulding body (21) to the vehicle roof (H) being realized, and therefore easy installation for the operator are achieved. Therefore, the aesthetic appearance of the roof moulding body (21) is also maintained.

Due to the difference in the roof geometry that may occur depending on different types of vehicles, in order to prevent the problem of the roof moulding connection (10) rotating inside the roof moulding body (21), there are auxiliary tabs (14) provided on the roof moulding connection (10), and the risk of occurrence of the said problem is minimized by means of the said tabs (14) engaging onto the support points (24) provided on the roof moulding body (21). The support points (24) are designed at different heights depending on the shape of the roof moulding body (21), allowing the use of a uniform roof moulding connection (10) for all vehicle types.

Within the scope of the invention, the plastic roof moulding body (21) is fixed to a roof connection member (11) which is provided on the vehicle roof (H) and which is fixed to the vehicle roof (H) and functions as an intermediate member in attachment to the vehicle roof (H) by means of the roof moulding connection (10). For this purpose, the tabs (15) provided on the roof moulding connection (10) are passed through an inter-connection slot (25) located on the roof connection member (11) positioned on the vehicle roof (H) and then fixed by holding onto the edges of the inter-connection slot (25) from the opposite side. After the tabs (15) are passed through the inter-connection slot (25) and secured, the dimensional incompatibilities which can occur in z axis (Figure 4) that can make the accurate positioning of the roof moulding connection (10) difficult are absorbed by means of applying pressure on the edges of the inter-connection slot (25) via the flexible tabs (16) located on the roof moulding connection (10), and thus it is ensured that the roof moulding connection is in an aesthetically desired level. Therefore, even if the roof connection member (11) is high, it is ensured that the assembled roof moulding connection (10) provides a smooth appearance.

Thanks to the flexible tabs (16) of the roof moulding connection (10), the plastic roof moulding body (21) to which the roof moulding connection (10) is fastened during positioning and the roof connection member (11) are adapted to the structural changes specific to different types of vehicles, and the incompatibilities due to the said changes are tolerated. In this respect, the present invention exhibit significant difference against the embodiments in the prior art. Furthermore, by means of designing tab slots (22) located on the roof moulding body (21) at different heights, it provides an important advantage that the roof moulding connection (10) can be used as a single type of material which can be adapted to applications in different measurements such as use of roof connection member (11) in different dimension, as well as it contributes to being different from the applications in the prior art. Within the scope of the invention, the aesthetic quality of the roof moulding body (21) is improved by damping the fluctuations due to the roof connection member (11) on the roof moulding body (21) by eliminating the size differences resulting from the different types of roof connection member (11). The aesthetic differences of the vehicle roofs (H) may lead to the need for different connection member in the roof moulding body (21) to be mounted on the vehicle in conventional applications, while the roof moulding connection (10) within the scope of the invention allows the use of a uniform connection in the whole vehicle by means of its specific design.

Claims

1. A roof moulding with connecting structure (100), which enables joints of sheets in the vehicle roof (H) to be closed visually and aesthetically and provides an aesthetically smooth appearance during mounting in the channel between the vehicle roof sheet and the vehicle side sheet joint, comprising

- at least one roof moulding body (21) which has a cross section in form of an inverse U, the extensions of which extending downward from a ridge part correspond to edges of opening in form of a channel in joint part of the roof sheet and side sheet in vehicle roof (H), flat ridge part of which between the said extension covers the said channel opening and which enables the extensions to form a flat appearance on the vehicle roof (H), and characterized by

- a roof moulding connection (10) which has a cross section in form of an inverse U similar to the roof moulding body (21), the ridge part of which will approach the ridge part of the roof moulding body (21) from inside by entering completely into the U-section roof moulding body (21), and which has

o at least one middle tab (12) which extends on the surfaces of the extension extending downwards of the inverse U-section facing the extensions extending downwards of the inverse U-section of the roof moulding body (21), and therefore which enables gripping to the roof moulding body (21) by means of entering into at least one tab slot (21) provided on the said extension of the roof moulding body (21) and grabbing from the edges of the tab slot (22),

o at least one auxiliary tab (14) which is in form of a sheet plate extending in an inclined way towards the ridge part of the inverse U- section of the roof moulding body (21) over the ridge surface of the inverse U-section by means of holding on one edge of the said surface and has a flexibility due to this inclined structure, and which reinforces the gripping with the tabs (12) by means of flexing and holding onto the support points (24) in form of a protrusion provided on the ridge part of the inverse U- section of the roof moulding body (21),

o at least one roof connection member (11) which extend in the same direction with the extensions extending downwards from the ridge surface of the inverse U-section, between them and parallel to them; and which has at least one inter-connection slot (25) on a different surface extending in form of a protrusion from the surface fixed on the vehicle roof (H) to the roof moulding body (21), at least one central tab (15) which enables holding onto the roof connection member (11) by interlocking with the edges of the inter-connection slot (25) by passing through the said inter-connection slot (25),

o at least one flexible tab (16) which is in form of a sheet plate extending in an inclined way towards the surface of the roof connection member (11) extending in form of a protrusion and having the inter-connection member (25) thereon from the ridge surface of the inverse U-section by holding from its one edge, which has a flexibility due to the said inclined structure and therefore which enables to achieve a smooth appearance by absorbing non- conformities occurring from the height differences by means of applying pressure like a spring on the protrusion shaped surface by means of the said flexibility.

2. A roof moulding with a connection structure (100) according to claim 1, characterized by at least one lower tab (13) compressing the extension between the middle tab (12) and itself by applying pressure on the edge of the extension extending downwards from the inverse U cross section of the roof moulding body (21) and accommodating the tab slot (22) thereon far away from the ridge part of the roof moulding body (21) during the middle tab (12) entering into the tab slot (22) and being attached to the edge of the tab slot (22)

3. A roof moulding with a connection structure (100) according to claim 1, characterized by at least two central tabs (15) extending parallel to each other and having attachment surfaces at their ends that are extending in opposite direction to each other, thereby engaging two opposing sides of the inter-connection slot and providing a sound attachment by passing through the inter-connection slot (25).

4. A roof moulding with a connection structure (100) according to claim 1, characterized by more than one tab slots (22) enabling the roof moulding connection (10) to be used as a single type of material applicable to applications in different measurements due to the use of roof connection member (11) in different dimension by means of the roof moulding body

(21) being located at different heights on at least one of the extensions extending downwards from the inverse U-section.