GB1568290A - Vehicle bodies - Google Patents

Vehicle bodies Download PDF

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Publication number
GB1568290A
GB1568290A GB5304577A GB5304577A GB1568290A GB 1568290 A GB1568290 A GB 1568290A GB 5304577 A GB5304577 A GB 5304577A GB 5304577 A GB5304577 A GB 5304577A GB 1568290 A GB1568290 A GB 1568290A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
limb
panel
socket
aperture
roof
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.)
Expired
Application number
GB5304577A
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.)
Peugeot Motor Co PLC
Original Assignee
Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd
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 Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd filed Critical Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd
Priority to GB5304577A priority Critical patent/GB1568290A/en
Publication of GB1568290A publication Critical patent/GB1568290A/en
Expired 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
    • B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
    • B60J7/16—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel
    • B60J7/1628—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel for covering the passenger compartment
    • B60J7/1635—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position non-foldable and rigid, e.g. a one-piece hard-top or a single rigid roof panel for covering the passenger compartment of non-convertible vehicles
    • B60J7/1642—Roof panels, e.g. sunroofs or hatches, movable relative to the main roof structure, e.g. by lifting or pivoting

Landscapes

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

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VEHICLE BODIES (71) We, CHRYSLER UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED, a British Company, of Bowater House, 68 Knightsbridge, London, SWiX 7LH, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to vehicle bodies.
The invention provides a vehicle body having a roof formed with an aperture and a separate roof panel for location in the aperture, the front end of the panel having two or more resilient strip elements secured to the underside of the panel at spaced locations along said end of the panel and projecting forwardly of the end of the panel, the underside of the roof having a corresponding number of sockets spaced apart along the forward end of the aperture to receive the strip elements, and releasable detents being provided for holding the strip elements in the sockets, the resilient strip elements permitting the roof panel to be tilted upwardly from the rear, or by release of the elements, to be removed from the aperture and means being provided to hold rear rear end of the panel in the aperture.
Preferably each strip element has an intermediate resilient S-shaped part and two limbs extending from the ends of the Sshaped part, one limb being engageable in the socket and the other limb being attached to the roof panel.
The releasable detents may comprise a flange on the free end of said one limb extending transversely to the limb and a shoulder on its respective socket with which the flange is engageable.
More specifically the lower side of each socket may have a slot extending into the socket from the forward end thereof and terminating in a closed end which provides the aforesaid shoulder over which the flange of the limb in the socket engages to hold the limb in the socket.
The flange may be formed with a forwardly extending tongue lying generally transverse to the flange in the slot, depress sion of the tongue into the socket releasing the flange from the shoulder of the socket to permit the limb to be withdrawn from the socket.
It is preferred that the free end of said one limb is formed with two spaced slots extending into the limb, the flange being formed on the central web of the limb between the slots.
It is further preferred that the tongue has a "dovetail" shaped profile.
According to a further feature of the invention, a plastics trim cover extends over the end of the tongue.
The following is a description of two specific embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a part of a vehicle roof and hinged roof panel; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one metal strip mounting element of the roof panel shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detailed view of one end of the mounting element shown in Figure 2 incorporating a modification; Figure 5 is a blank of the hinge element shown in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a view of part of the underside of the vehicle roof at the front end of the aperture showing a socket to receive a mounting element; Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 showing the mounting element in place in the socket; Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a mounting element showing a limb of the element in three different positions: and Figures 9 to 12 show a further embodiment.
Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown part of a roof 10 of a vehicle body having a rectangular aperture 11 in which a pivoting and removable glass roof panel 12 is mounted.
The roof panel 10 has a downturned flange defining a peripheral wall around the aperture and a drain channel 14 encircles the aperture at the lower end of the wall with a seal 15 engageable with the underside of the glass panel 12 mounted at the free end of the channel.
At the forward end of the glass panel 12 theer are two spaced metal strip hinge elements 16 secured to the underside of the panel at locations spaced along the forward end of the panel. Each strip comprises an intermediate resilient S-shaped portion 17, the upper curve 17a of which is resilient to permit it to flex. The ends of the S are extended to form limbs 18, 19. Each limb 18 engages the underside of the glass panel 12 and has swaged edges 20 as shown in Figure 3. The limb is secured by epoxy adhesive to the underside of the glass and by a flat headed bolt 21 extending through the glass to receive an "acorn" nut 22.
The other limb 19 of the mounting strip can best be seen in Figure 2 from which it will be seen that the forward end of the limb is formed with two spaced slots 23 extendin into the limb to define between them a resilient web 24. The web 24 terminates in a downturned flange 25, itself termini ating in a forwardly extending "dovetail" shaped tongue 26. Figure 4 shows a variant of the arrangement in Figure 2 in which the end of the tongue 26 is covered by a plastics protector 27 to prevent damage to the vehicle by engagement with the sharp edges of the limb and tongue.
Each limb 19 is engageable in a respective socket 28 secured to the underside of the vehicle roof as best seen in Figure 6. Each socket 28 has inwardly facing channels 29 on either side thereof in which the edge por tions of the limb 19 engage and has a slot 30 extending into the socket from the forward end thereof. The bottom of the slot 30 provides a shoulder 31 over which the flange 25 of the limb 19 snaps when the limb 19 is inserted in the socket to hold the limb in the socket 28. The flange can be released from the shoulder by depressing the tongue 26 inwardly into the socket. To assist the insertion of the tongue 26 and flange into the socket, the rear end of the socket 28 is formed with a groove 32 along the bottom wall of the socket The resilient curves 17a of the S-shaped strips 17 provide a forward hinge for the glass panel 12. To cater for the camber of the vehicle roof across the roof, the curves 17a are tapered as indicated at 33.
The edges of the lower curve of the Sshaped portion and limb 19 are turned over as indicated at 34 to stiffen the strip and to minimise the risk of injury by contact with the exposed edges.
As indicated above, the elements 16 provide a forward hinge for glass panel 12 which permits the panel to be lifted upwardly at the rear thereof and a suitable toggle action mechanism (not shown) is provided for holding the rear end of the panel in the closed position or in a fixed open position. The hinge elements 16 are so formed that there is a spring bias acting to urge the glass panel open and Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates the position of the limb 18 when the hinge elements are in the free, un-stressed state; the position of the limb when the glass panel is in its fixed open position; and the position of the limb when the glass panel is - in its closed position.
When it is required to remove the glass panel from the aperture, the tongues 26 are simply released from the shoulders of the sockets and the limbs 19 can then be withdrawn allowing the whole panel to be removed from the aperture after disconnecting the toggle action mechanism.
The glass panel 12 has a conventional peripheral seal 35 engageable with the peripheral wall 13 of the aperture when the glass is in the closed position to prevent ingress of moisture.
The roof panel need not be of glass but may be formed in metal, plastics or any other suitable material.
In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, the socket is defined by the underside of the roof aperture gutter and a recess in a plastics support element 28 secured to the gutter. In side elevation, the recess tapers towards the rear (or closed end) of the support element and a short upstanding peg 28a is formed in the base of the recess near the open end thereof. The tapered socket thus permits entry of the forward limb 19 of the hinge element over the peg 28a to allow a hole 19a in the forward limb to engage over the peg. The weight of the sun roof panel on the hinge element keeps the limb pressed against the base of the recess so that the limb is retained in engagement over the peg.
The forward limb 19 has a rounded end as shown and the edges of the limb are upturned as far as the middle of the S-portion 17, the upper curve 17a of the S-portion providing the resilient hinge as in the first embodiment. When removing the panel, the weight of the front of the panel is supported manually, thus tilting the forward limbs of the hinge elements to disengage the aperture from the pegs so that the limbs can be withdrawn from the sockets.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle body having a roof formed with an aperture and a separate roof panel for location in the aperture, the front end of the panel having two or more resilient strip elements secured to the underside of the panel at spaced locations along said end of the panel and projecting forwardly of the end of the panel, the underside of the roof having a corresponding number of -sockets
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. with a seal 15 engageable with the underside of the glass panel 12 mounted at the free end of the channel. At the forward end of the glass panel 12 theer are two spaced metal strip hinge elements 16 secured to the underside of the panel at locations spaced along the forward end of the panel. Each strip comprises an intermediate resilient S-shaped portion 17, the upper curve 17a of which is resilient to permit it to flex. The ends of the S are extended to form limbs 18, 19. Each limb 18 engages the underside of the glass panel 12 and has swaged edges 20 as shown in Figure 3. The limb is secured by epoxy adhesive to the underside of the glass and by a flat headed bolt 21 extending through the glass to receive an "acorn" nut 22. The other limb 19 of the mounting strip can best be seen in Figure 2 from which it will be seen that the forward end of the limb is formed with two spaced slots 23 extendin into the limb to define between them a resilient web 24. The web 24 terminates in a downturned flange 25, itself termini ating in a forwardly extending "dovetail" shaped tongue 26. Figure 4 shows a variant of the arrangement in Figure 2 in which the end of the tongue 26 is covered by a plastics protector 27 to prevent damage to the vehicle by engagement with the sharp edges of the limb and tongue. Each limb 19 is engageable in a respective socket 28 secured to the underside of the vehicle roof as best seen in Figure 6. Each socket 28 has inwardly facing channels 29 on either side thereof in which the edge por tions of the limb 19 engage and has a slot 30 extending into the socket from the forward end thereof. The bottom of the slot 30 provides a shoulder 31 over which the flange 25 of the limb 19 snaps when the limb 19 is inserted in the socket to hold the limb in the socket 28. The flange can be released from the shoulder by depressing the tongue 26 inwardly into the socket. To assist the insertion of the tongue 26 and flange into the socket, the rear end of the socket 28 is formed with a groove 32 along the bottom wall of the socket The resilient curves 17a of the S-shaped strips 17 provide a forward hinge for the glass panel 12. To cater for the camber of the vehicle roof across the roof, the curves 17a are tapered as indicated at 33. The edges of the lower curve of the Sshaped portion and limb 19 are turned over as indicated at 34 to stiffen the strip and to minimise the risk of injury by contact with the exposed edges. As indicated above, the elements 16 provide a forward hinge for glass panel 12 which permits the panel to be lifted upwardly at the rear thereof and a suitable toggle action mechanism (not shown) is provided for holding the rear end of the panel in the closed position or in a fixed open position. The hinge elements 16 are so formed that there is a spring bias acting to urge the glass panel open and Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates the position of the limb 18 when the hinge elements are in the free, un-stressed state; the position of the limb when the glass panel is in its fixed open position; and the position of the limb when the glass panel is - in its closed position. When it is required to remove the glass panel from the aperture, the tongues 26 are simply released from the shoulders of the sockets and the limbs 19 can then be withdrawn allowing the whole panel to be removed from the aperture after disconnecting the toggle action mechanism. The glass panel 12 has a conventional peripheral seal 35 engageable with the peripheral wall 13 of the aperture when the glass is in the closed position to prevent ingress of moisture. The roof panel need not be of glass but may be formed in metal, plastics or any other suitable material. In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, the socket is defined by the underside of the roof aperture gutter and a recess in a plastics support element 28 secured to the gutter. In side elevation, the recess tapers towards the rear (or closed end) of the support element and a short upstanding peg 28a is formed in the base of the recess near the open end thereof. The tapered socket thus permits entry of the forward limb 19 of the hinge element over the peg 28a to allow a hole 19a in the forward limb to engage over the peg. The weight of the sun roof panel on the hinge element keeps the limb pressed against the base of the recess so that the limb is retained in engagement over the peg. The forward limb 19 has a rounded end as shown and the edges of the limb are upturned as far as the middle of the S-portion 17, the upper curve 17a of the S-portion providing the resilient hinge as in the first embodiment. When removing the panel, the weight of the front of the panel is supported manually, thus tilting the forward limbs of the hinge elements to disengage the aperture from the pegs so that the limbs can be withdrawn from the sockets. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:
1. A vehicle body having a roof formed with an aperture and a separate roof panel for location in the aperture, the front end of the panel having two or more resilient strip elements secured to the underside of the panel at spaced locations along said end of the panel and projecting forwardly of the end of the panel, the underside of the roof having a corresponding number of -sockets
spaced apart along the forward end of the aperture to receive the strip elements, and releasable detents being provided for holding the strip elements in the sockets, the resilient strip elements permitting the roof panel to be tilted upwardly from the rear, or by release of the elements, to be removed from the aperture and means being provided to hold the rear end of the panel m the aperture.
2. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 1 wherein each strip element has an intermediate resilient S-shaped part, one limb being engageable in the socket and the other limb being attached to the roof panel.
3. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 wherein the releasable detents comprise a flange on the free end of said one limb extending transversely to the limb and a shoulder on its respective socket with which the flange is engageable.
4. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lower side of each socket has a slot extending into the socket from the forward end thereof and terminating in a closed end which provides the aforesaid shoulder over which the flange of the limb in the socket engages to hold the limb in the socket.
5. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flange is formed with a forwardly extending tongue lying generally transverse to the flange in the slot, depres sion of the tongue into the socket releasing the flange from the shoulder of the socket to permit the limb to be withdrawn from the socket.
6. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 3 to 5 wherein the free end of said one limb is formed with two spaced slots extending into said one limb, the flange being formed on the central web on said one limb between the slots.
7. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 6 when dependent on claim 5 further comprising a plastic trim cover extending over the end of the tongue.
8. A vehicle body as dependent on claim 5, claim 7 or claim 6 when dependent on claim 5 wherein the tongue has a "dovetail" shaped profile.
9. A vehicle body as claimed in claim 2 wherein each socket has a recess for receiving a respective one limb, the recess tapering from an open backward end of the socket to a closed end wherein the releasable detents comprise an upstanding peg in each recess and a co-operating aperture in its respective one limb.
10. A vehicle body having a roof formed with an aperture and a separate roof panel for location in the aperture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings or Figures 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 as modified by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A vehicle body having a roof formed with an aperture and a separate roof panel for location in the aperture substantially as hereinbefore described with refer ence to Figures 9 9 to
12.
GB5304577A 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Vehicle bodies Expired GB1568290A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB5304577A GB1568290A (en) 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Vehicle bodies

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB5304577A GB1568290A (en) 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Vehicle bodies

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB1568290A true GB1568290A (en) 1980-05-29

Family

ID=10466418

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB5304577A Expired GB1568290A (en) 1978-05-09 1978-05-09 Vehicle bodies

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB1568290A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2122955A (en) * 1982-06-25 1984-01-25 Ford Motor Co Push-out/sliding roof for motor cars
DE4411386C1 (en) * 1994-03-31 1995-04-27 Webasto Karosseriesysteme Wind deflector for vehicle roofs with a displaceable panel

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2122955A (en) * 1982-06-25 1984-01-25 Ford Motor Co Push-out/sliding roof for motor cars
DE4411386C1 (en) * 1994-03-31 1995-04-27 Webasto Karosseriesysteme Wind deflector for vehicle roofs with a displaceable panel

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PS Patent sealed
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee