GB2129477A

GB2129477A - Frame for vehicle sun roof

Info

Publication number: GB2129477A
Application number: GB08229929A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive William Garrard; Anthony Charles Lammond Wass
Original assignee: PANARAMA SUNROOFS Ltd
Current assignee: PANARAMA SUNROOFS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-10-20
Filing date: 1982-10-20
Publication date: 1984-05-16

Abstract

A vehicle sun roof has an upper outer frame (2) and a lower clamp frame (11) which fit in an aperture and clamp the roof (3) between them. The lower frame (11) is provided with an upstanding ridge and the outer frame (2) with a groove (8) so that interengagement serves to locate the frames (2), (11) correctly so that they can then be secured together e.g. by screws (14). A closure panel (1) is pivotally mounted on the outer frame (2) by means of hinges (19) located in a channel (6) and a resilient sealing gasket (16) is located in a second channel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in vehicle sun roofs This invention relates to vehicle sun roofs and is particularly concerned with the mounting of frames for such roofs in the roofs of vehicles.

In order to mount a sun roof in a vehicle, it is necessary to cut an opening in the roof of a vehicle and then to fit the frame of the sun roof in the roof opening. The frame usually consists of an upper outer frame and a lower inner or clamp frame which serves to damp the outer frame to the vehicle roof. A closure panel is usually hingedly connected to the outer frame.

The lower clamp frame is usually secured to the outer frame by a series of screws with the vehicle roof clamped between the two frames adjacent the edges of said opening in the vehicle roof. In order to fit the sun roof to a vehicle, the outer frame is usually positioned on the vehicle roof so that a portion of the frame projects through the roof opening into the interior of the vehicle. It is then necessary to offer up the lower clamp frame to the underside of the vehicle roof and to secure it to the outer frame.

Problems are encountered in attempting to register the lower clamp frame with the outer frame and the present invention aims to facilitate the engagement of the lower clamp frame with the outer frame.

According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle sun roof having an upper outer frame and a lower clamp frame wherein the clamp frame is provided with an upstanding ridge or bead and the outer frame is provided with a slot or groove adapted to receive said ridge or bead on the clamp frame, the arrangement being such that interengagement of the ridge or bead in the slot or groove serves to locate the clamp frame correctly with respect to the outer frame whereby the two frames can then be secured together in a desired positional relationship by suitable fastening means.

Preferably, the groove or slot in the outer frame is provided in its side walls with a series of grooves or serrations with which the threads of screws are engageable and the fastening means comprise a series of such screws, the ridge or bead being interrupted at predetermined intervals and bores being provided in the clamp frame at said intervals to permit the clamp frame to be fastened to the outer frame by passing screws through the bores in the clamp frame and engaging the threads of said screws; with the grooves or serrations in the side walls of the slot or groove in the outer frame.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a vehicle sun roof according to the invention: Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line Il-I I in Fig.

1 in the direction of the arrows and showing the sun roof fitted in the roof of a vehicle with the closure panel in the open position; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows but again showing the sun roof fitted in the roof of a vehicle with the closure panel in the open position; Fig. 4 is an underneath view of part of the roof shown in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is a section through the outer frame of the sun roof to an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a section through the clamp frame of the sun roof to an enlarged scale.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle sun roof according to the invention comprises a closure panel 1 which is hingedly mounted on an outer frame 2. The closure panel 1 is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material such as glass or a synthetic piastics material, e.g. a polycarbonate or polyacrylate, although the panel may, if desired, be made of an opaque material.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outer frame 2 is adapted to be fitted into an opening cut into a vehicle roof 3 and is provided with an upper flange 4 which overlaps the edges of the roof opening.

The outer frame is further provided, in its upper region, with a channel 5 and, in its lower region which is designed to be located in the vehicle interior when the frame is positioned in the vehicle roof opening, with a channel 6 having an upstanding lip 7 at its lower edge and with a groove or slot 8. The side walls of the groove or slot 8 are provided with a series of grooves or serrations 9 as shown in Fig. 5.

The outer frame 2 is secured in place in the vehicle roof opening by means of a lower clamp frame 11 which is provided with an upstanding ridge or bead 12 which is arranged to engage in the groove or slot 8 in the outer frame 2 in order to locate the two frames 2 and 11 in a predetermined desired positional relationship.The clamp frame 11 is also provided with a limb 1 3 which is designed to abut against the underneath surfaces of the vehicle roof 3 and the clamp frame 11 is secured to the outer frame 2 by a series of screws 1 4 whereby the roof 3, at the edges of the opening, is clamped between the two frames 2 and 1 The ridge or bead 12 is interrupted at predetermined intervals and the clamp frame 11 is provided with bores at these interruptions through which the screws 14 may be passed to engage with the grooves or serrations 9 in the side walls of the groove or slot 8 in the outer frame 2.

After the frames 2 and 11 have been fitted to the roof 3, the roof head-lining (not shown) is drawn over the lower frame 11 and the lower part of the frame 2 and is secured over the lip 7 in the channel 6 by a trim strip 1 5 of resilient material which fits over the said lip 7. A sealing ring or gasket 1 6 of resilient material such as rubber or polyurethane is secured in the channel 5 of the outer frame 2 to provide a seal and support for the panel 1 when the panel is in the closed position.

The panel 1 is provided, adjacent one edge, with a pair of bores 1 7 for the reception of respective bosses 1 8 on a pair of hinge blocks 1 9 (only one shown in the drawings). The hinge blocks 1 9 are secured to the panel 1 by means of roof fixing mountings provided with heads 21 and shanks 22, the shanks being receivable in the bores 17. The hinge blocks 1 9 are secured to the fixing mounts by means of screws 23 whereby the panel 1 is held between the heads 21 of the fixing mounts and the hinge blocks 1 9.

Each hinge block 19 is provided with at least one tongue 24 which is receivable in the channel 6 in the outer frame 2 and which is normally retained in said channel by the lip 7. The hinge blocks are located by respective hinge locating blocks 25 which are also receivable in the channel 6. The construction, fitting and operation of the hinge blocks and hinge locating blocks are described in detail in British Patent Application No. 8229927 (Publication No. ) to which reference should be made for further details of these components.

The panel 1 is further provided, adjacent the edge opposite to the edge at which the bores 11 are provided, with a further pair of bores for the reception of further fixing mounts 31 by means of which a mounting block 32 may be secured to the panel 1. A further mounting block 33 is secured to the frame 2 and the two mounting blocks 32 and 33 are interconnected by a pivoting handle/latch operating mechanism indicated generally by the arrow 34. This mechanism forms the subject of British Patent Application No.

82 (Publication No. ) to which reference should be made for a detailed description of its construction and manner of operation.

It will be seen that, by means of the invention, a sun roof may be quickly and accurately fitted into an opening cut in a vehicle roof without the need of additional equipment to ensure that the inner and outer frames are correctly aligned.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the clamp frame 11 may be provided with a V sectioned groove in its face opposite to the ridge or bead 12 which serves as a countersink for the heads of the screws 14. The frame 11 is preferably extruded and, in this case, the V sectioned groove is desirably formed during the extrusion of the frame section.

Claims

1. A vehicle sun roof having an upper outer frame and a lower clamp frame wherein the clamp frame is provided with an upstanding ridge or bead and the outer frame is provided with a slot or groove adapted to receive said ridge or bead on the clamp frame, the arrangement being such that interengagement of the ridge or bead in the slot or groove serves to locate the clamp frame correctly with respect to the outer frame whereby the two frames can then be secured together in a desired positional relationship by suitable fastening means.

2. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 1, wherein the groove or slot in the outer frame is provided in its side walls with a series of grooves or serrations with which the threads of screws are engageable and the fastening means comprise a plurality of such screws, the ridge or bead being interrupted at predetermined intervals and bores being provided in the clamp frame at said intervals to permit the clamp frame to be fastened to the outer frame by passing screws through the bores in the clamp frame and engaging the threads of said screws with the grooves or serrations in the side walls of the slot or groove in the outer frame.

3. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 2, wherein the clamp frame is provided with a Vsectioned groove in its face opposite said ridge or bead, said groove serving as a countersink for the heads of said screws.

4. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamp frame is further provided with an upstanding rib or limb which is adapted to abut against the underneath surface of a vehicle roof when said frame is fitted to a vehicle.

5. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer frame is provided with a channel adapted to receive one or more hinges of a closure panel adapted to fit on said outer frame and wherein the channel terminates at an outer edge in a lip arranged to retain the hinges in the channel during normal operation of the closure panel.

6. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 5, wherein, when the frame is fitted to a vehicle, the vehicle roof head lining is drawn over the clamp frame and the lower part of the outer frame and is secured over said lip by a trim strip which fits over said lip.

7. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 6, wherein the trim strip is made of resilient material.

8. A vehicle sun roof according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the outer frame is provided with a further channel adapted to receive a gasket of resilient material which provides a seal for the closure panel in the closed position thereof.

9. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer frame and the clamp frame are formed by an extrusion process.

10. A vehicle sun roof substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.