GB2054479A - A surround for a rooflight of a commercial vehicle cab - Google Patents

Abstract

The surround comprises a rectangular enclosing frame (10), the two side members (12) of which accommodate downwardly and outwardly directed loudspeakers (14) and light sources (15). The surround (10) may form part of the roof-lining of the cab (1) and the forward side may adjoin a roof- mounted storage unit (4) accessible from the side adjoining the enclosing roof-light frame (10). The roof-light frame (10) may include means for accommodating a mosquito net (18) and is retractable and can be drawn across the roof-light opening (9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A surround for a roof light of a commercial vehicle The invention relates to a surround for rooflights of commercial vhicles, particularly in the driver's cab of lorries in which the enclosing frame or surround is provided as a lining of the roof section in the area bordering the rooflight opening and loudspeakers and/or light sources can be arranged in the lining of the roof section.

It one known arrangement of this type as disclosed in German Auslegeschrift 2,122,161, the driver's cab comprises a rigid ceiling lining and the edges of the ceiling lining which are associated with the rooflight opening are extended into the said opening to form an enclosing frame. Independent of this enclosing frame for the rooflight opening, the rigid ceiling lining is extended downwards towards the windscreen, thereby forming, against the roof, a hollow space which can be used as an installation and/or storage area. Radios and additional equipment, for example, can in particular be fitted in this space. As a self-contained unit, light sources can obviously also be provided in a known manner in a ceiling panelling of this type.Owing to the radio or loudspeakers being arranged in the ceiling area above the windscreen, it is virtually impossible to prevent the cab area from being substantially uniformly filled with sound. Similar consequences also apply to the lighting arrangement in the ceiling panelling as it is virtually impossible for the lights of the driver's seat and passenger seat to be screened from one another.

With a view to solving these problems it has otherwise already become known practice for the loudspeakers to be integrated, for example, in the headrests of the seats and for separate lights to be provided for the driver's seat and passenger seat in the area within the confines of the vehicle. Such solutions are not only costly, but also unsatisfactory with regard to the lighting of commercial vehicles in particular since the light source is then frequently insufficient for reading in the normal sitting position.

The object of the invention is to provide a possible arrangement for equipment of the aforementioned type, in particular for loudspeakers and light sources, which can ensure good listening and reading conditions, with substantial screening-off between the driver and passenger, and without the cost of special designs being incurred.

With a surround for a rooflight constructed in accordance with the invention, a further possible use for the frame is provided in that ancillary equipment is located in the enclosing frame. Moreover, the arrangement of the loudspeaker and/or the light source in the, in each case, upwardly and outwardly inclined side face of the enclosing frame of the surround makes it possible for the loudspeaker and the light source to be aligned with, respectively, the driver's seat and passenger seat without any additional expenditure, the frame at the same time screening light directed towards the other seat so that the risk of the driver and passenger disturbing one another is largely eliminated.It is partiularly advantageous, if suitable devices are associated with both longitudinal sides of the enclosing frame of the surround so that the driver's seat and passenger seat areas can be provided with sound or light in the same manner and fully independent of one another. If required, the necessary adjusting devices can also be provided in the enclosing frame.

However, they can also be advantageously associated separately with the driver's seat or the passenger seat so that they are suitably situated within easy reach. In this way, for example, a small television set can also be fitted particularly advantageously, for example, relative to the passenger seat and this ensures that the driver is not distracted.

When a storage compartment, mounted against the cab roof in front of and against the windscreen, is associated with the enclosing frame of the surround, it is found to be advantageous if that transverse side of the said frame which faces this storage compartment is designed so as to be shallower than in the area of the longitudinal members in order to ensure trouble-free access to the storage compartment.

In addition, a guide for a mosquito net which can be drawn over the rooflight opening, on the inside, can be drawn over the rooflight opening, on the inside, can be provided particularly advantageously in the area leading from the enclosing frame of the surround to the said rooflight opening, it being possible forthe said mosquito net, when in its inoperative position, to be at least substantially retracted into the enclosing frame so that this does not cause any obstruction. In this case the mosquito net is composed particularly advantageously of individual lattice elements which are in a stepped arrangement and are extensible in a fan-like manner, thus ensuring rapid retraction and extension.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows, in diagrammatic perspective form, a view of the roof section of a driver's cab with a roof light arranged across the centre in said roof section, a mosquito net extending, on the inside, across the rooflight opening and Figure 2 shows a view corresponding to Figure 1, with the mosquito net being shown partially open.

In the Figures, 1 designates the driver's cab which is shown overall only in diagrammatic form, the front of the cab being provided with a windscreen 2 and the cab having a side door 3. In the roof section above the windscreen 2 there is provided, on the forward side thereof, a storage compartment 4, on the underside of which are arranged sun visors 5. In its front wall 6 the storage compartment 4 is provided with access holes or pockets.

Between the storage compartment 4, which is arranged in the roof section above the windscreen 2, and the rear cab area 8, which can be delimited by a curtain 7 and in which are provided couches, in a manner not shown in the drawings, there is provided the rooflight opening 9 which is bordered on the inside by a surround having an enclosing frame 10 serving at least partially as a roof lining.

The enclosing frame 10 of the surround comprises a generally rectangular frame which is raised relative to the inside or to the inner lining 11 of the roof and thus projects into the cab interior. In this case, as can be seen from the drawing, the individual frame members have a substantially triangular crosssection.

The outline of the members of triangular crosssection of the enclosing frame 10, in this case the outline of its longitudinal sides 12, is such thatthe longitudinal outer sides which are directed away from the skylight are inclined outwards and upwards, starting from the lower limiting edge 13, directed away from the roof, of the frame member.

Thus, an outer side is consequently formed on the enclosing frame on both the driver's side and the passenger side, this outer side being inclined upwards and outwards in such a manner that the perpendicular thereto is directed approximately in the region of the head of a person sitting in the driver's seat or in the passenger seat.

In this outer side, openings are provided in accordance with the invention, in each case for receiving at least one loudspeaker 14 and/or a light source 15. In accordance with the said arrangement the driver's seat or passenger seat area is filled with sound in a controlled manner, it being possible for the sound to be largely prevented from radiating onto the seat which lies opposite in each case. The same applies in principle also to the effect of the light source, with the result that, for example, lighting in the passenger seat area can be achieved without thereby disturbing the driver.

In a similar manner to that provided in this case in association with the driver's seat and/or passenger seat, provision can also be made for lighting for the sleeping area or a loudspeaker, brought into align ment with the sleeping area or a loudspeaker, brought into alignment with the latter, in the rear transverse member 16 of the enclosing frame, which is, however, not illustrated in the drawing.

It is found advantageous if the front frame mem ber 17 adjacent to the storage compartment 4 is somewhat shallower in cross-section so that access to the storage compartment 4 or to its individual shelves is not adversely affected.

The actual roof light opening, can be shut off from the interior of the driver's cab by a mosquito net 18 which is provided so as to be extensible, in the area leading from the enclosing frame 10 to the roof light 9. In this case the mosquito net 18 consists of individual rectangular elements 19 which, when pushed together, are substantially superposed on one another and which, when the mosquito net is pulled out, adjoin one another with a slight overlap.

When drawn together, the individual elements which are superposed in a stepped arrangement are in this case, which is not shown in the drawing, preferably retracted into one of the longitudinal members of the enclosing frame, so that the size of the roof light opening is not adversely affected. As shown particularly in Figure 1,the rectangular elements are spread out in a fan-like manner when they are extended, this being done, by moving that element which is lowest when the elements are pushed together, with the aid of the manipulating strip of handle 20, in the direction of the opposite side of the roof light opening.

Claims (6)

1. A surround for a rooflight of a commercial vehicle cab, in which the surround is provided as a lining of the roof section in the region adjoining the rooflight opening and loudspeakers and/or light sources are arranged in the lining of the roof section, wherein the surround comprises an enclosing frame, having at least on one of its longitudinal sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a raised frame member projecting into the cab interior, the outside of the said frame member, directed away from the rooflight opening, being inclined obliqely outwards and upwards, from the lower limiting edge of the frame member remote from the roof, and being provided with openings for receiving the loudspeakers and/or light sources.

2. A surround according to Claim 1, wherein openings for receiving loudspeakers and/or light sources are provided in the longitudinal sides of the enclosing frame lying opposite one another.

3. A surround according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a storage compartment is provided in the region of the roof between the enclosing frame and the windscreen, and the transverse member, adja cent to the storage compartment, of the enclosing frame is shallower than the longitudinal members.

4. A surround acorrding to oneof the preceding claims, wherein a quide for a mosquito net, which ) can be drawn over the rooflight opening, on the inside of the roof, is provided in the region between the enclosing frame and rooflight opening.

5. A surround according to Claim 4, wherein the mosquito net consists of individual lattice elements 3 which are in a stepped arrangement and can be conjointly extended in a fan-like manner.

6. A surround for a rooflight on a commercial vehicle cab substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.