GB2128565A - Attachment of motor-vehicle internal cladding - Google Patents

Abstract

In an arrangement for tolerance- compensating attachment of a shape- stiff internal cladding of a motor- vehicle roof in the region of a lateral roof frame or the like a stiff side- cladding part, on aside wall, roof frame or the like, has in its upper marginal region a channel 5, open towards the interior of the vehicle, for receiving the margin of the roof internal cladding, this marginal region of the side cladding being at a distance 7 from the side wall, roof frame or the like before installation of the roof internal cladding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Attachment of motor-vehicle internal cladding The invention relates to an arrangement for securing a stiff internal cladding part of a vehicle roof in the region of a lateral roof frame or the like in such a manner as to allow for or compensate for variations of tolerances encountered.

In known arrangement for securing a rigid roof top disclosed in German Specification No. O.S.

1,555,222, rigid roof cladding is entered by its margin into a channel formed by two roof-frame panels, the place of attachment being covered and secured by an additional profiled member. No reference is made to the provision of side cladding covering the roof frame. The known arrangement as a whole is comparatively expensive, as it requires provision of the channel formed by the panel parts as well as an additional profiled cover member.

According to the present invention, in an arrangement for securing a stiff internal cladding part of a vehicle roof in the region of a supporting part such as a lateral roof-frame part, the said cladding part is a lateral cladding part secured directly to a side-wall panel part, roof-frame part or the like which has in its upper marginal region a channel or groove, open towards the vehicle interior, which receives the edge of internal roof cladding, the said marginal region being located at a distance from the said wall frame or like part when said roof cladding is not yet mounted.

One manner of carrying out the invention will now be more fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which represents a crosssection through the left-hand side of one side of a motor car roof structure, the right hand-side being a mirror image of the left.

In the drawing, one side of the interior space 4 of the car is bounded by a sheet-material panel 1 to which is secured an internal cladding part 3 which is stiff in shape or rigid. The part 3 is secured by screw or rivet means 2 of which one, for instance a self-tapping screw or split rivet engaged in the panel 1, penetrating a hole in the part 3 and bearing by its head on the inside of the latter, is shown. The part 3 is held against the panel 1 at a crest around a cavity in the said part.

At its lower edge, the cladding part 3 is embraced by a profiled window-glazing bar 8 which also receives the lower margin of the panel 1. An attractive appearance is thus obtained. As required, the bar 8 may also accommodate a sealing, guiding or other strip.

The cladding part 3 is shaped to form a groove 5, open towards the car interior 4, in its upper marginal region. The groove 5, which extends substantially longitudinally of the car, serves to receive the edge of a shape-stiff roof-top internal cladding part 6.

The drawing shows the cladding part 3, at an incomplete stage of installation or assembly, still at a small distance 7 from the inside surface of the panel 1, substantially in the longitudinal direction of the car and open towards the interior 4 thereof. The chanel 5, which has an upstanding flange 5a above it and a rounded ledge Sb below it, serves to receive the lateral edge 6a of a shapestiff piece of internal roof cladding 6.

To enable inevitable dimensional differences resulting from the effect of tolerance differences permitted in the unfinished bodywork structure, it is provided that, at least when the roof cladding 6 is not assembled in position, the lateral edge 6a is at a distance 7 from the panel 1. The distance 7 is determined having regard to the maximum and minimum possible dimensions of the partially assembled body work. In any event, it must be ensured that effective clamping of the roof cladding 6 can be obtained in conditions of both maximum and minimum dimensions of the partially assembled work.

The lower edge of the side cladding 3 is received in a slot in the glazing bar of a side window, whereby a neat attractive appearance can be ensured.

Claims

1. An arrangement, with provision for compensation for tolerance, for securing a stiff internal-cladding part of a vehicle roof in the region of a supporting part such as a lateral roofframe part, wherein the said cladding part is a lateral cladding part, secured directly to a sidewall panel part, roof-frame part or the like which has in its upper marginal region a channel or groove, open towards the vehicle interior, which receives the edge of internal roof cladding, the said marginal region being located at a distance from the said wall, a frame or like part when said roof cladding is not yet mounted.

2. A cladding-securing arrangement for a motor-car roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

3. A method of assembling a cladding arrangement of a vehicle roof as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the side edges of the internal roof cladding are sprung into channels in the side internal cladding parts associated with side supporting parts.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Attachment of motor-vehicle internal cladding The invention relates to an arrangement for securing a stiff internal cladding part of a vehicle roof in the region of a lateral roof frame or the like in such a manner as to allow for or compensate for variations of tolerances encountered. In known arrangement for securing a rigid roof top disclosed in German Specification No. O.S. 1,555,222, rigid roof cladding is entered by its margin into a channel formed by two roof-frame panels, the place of attachment being covered and secured by an additional profiled member. No reference is made to the provision of side cladding covering the roof frame. The known arrangement as a whole is comparatively expensive, as it requires provision of the channel formed by the panel parts as well as an additional profiled cover member. According to the present invention, in an arrangement for securing a stiff internal cladding part of a vehicle roof in the region of a supporting part such as a lateral roof-frame part, the said cladding part is a lateral cladding part secured directly to a side-wall panel part, roof-frame part or the like which has in its upper marginal region a channel or groove, open towards the vehicle interior, which receives the edge of internal roof cladding, the said marginal region being located at a distance from the said wall frame or like part when said roof cladding is not yet mounted. One manner of carrying out the invention will now be more fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which represents a crosssection through the left-hand side of one side of a motor car roof structure, the right hand-side being a mirror image of the left. In the drawing, one side of the interior space 4 of the car is bounded by a sheet-material panel 1 to which is secured an internal cladding part 3 which is stiff in shape or rigid. The part 3 is secured by screw or rivet means 2 of which one, for instance a self-tapping screw or split rivet engaged in the panel 1, penetrating a hole in the part 3 and bearing by its head on the inside of the latter, is shown. The part 3 is held against the panel 1 at a crest around a cavity in the said part. At its lower edge, the cladding part 3 is embraced by a profiled window-glazing bar 8 which also receives the lower margin of the panel 1. An attractive appearance is thus obtained. As required, the bar 8 may also accommodate a sealing, guiding or other strip. The cladding part 3 is shaped to form a groove 5, open towards the car interior 4, in its upper marginal region. The groove 5, which extends substantially longitudinally of the car, serves to receive the edge of a shape-stiff roof-top internal cladding part 6. The drawing shows the cladding part 3, at an incomplete stage of installation or assembly, still at a small distance 7 from the inside surface of the panel 1, substantially in the longitudinal direction of the car and open towards the interior 4 thereof. The chanel 5, which has an upstanding flange 5a above it and a rounded ledge Sb below it, serves to receive the lateral edge 6a of a shapestiff piece of internal roof cladding 6. To enable inevitable dimensional differences resulting from the effect of tolerance differences permitted in the unfinished bodywork structure, it is provided that, at least when the roof cladding 6 is not assembled in position, the lateral edge 6a is at a distance 7 from the panel 1. The distance 7 is determined having regard to the maximum and minimum possible dimensions of the partially assembled body work. In any event, it must be ensured that effective clamping of the roof cladding 6 can be obtained in conditions of both maximum and minimum dimensions of the partially assembled work. The lower edge of the side cladding 3 is received in a slot in the glazing bar of a side window, whereby a neat attractive appearance can be ensured. Claims

1. An arrangement, with provision for compensation for tolerance, for securing a stiff internal-cladding part of a vehicle roof in the region of a supporting part such as a lateral roofframe part, wherein the said cladding part is a lateral cladding part, secured directly to a sidewall panel part, roof-frame part or the like which has in its upper marginal region a channel or groove, open towards the vehicle interior, which receives the edge of internal roof cladding, the said marginal region being located at a distance from the said wall, a frame or like part when said roof cladding is not yet mounted.

2. A cladding-securing arrangement for a motor-car roof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

3. A method of assembling a cladding arrangement of a vehicle roof as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the side edges of the internal roof cladding are sprung into channels in the side internal cladding parts associated with side supporting parts.