GB2136047A

GB2136047A - Hinge assembly for vehicle sun roof

Info

Publication number: GB2136047A
Application number: GB08305468A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Brian Lievesley
Original assignee: Autoroofs Ltd
Current assignee: Autoroofs Ltd
Priority date: 1983-02-28
Filing date: 1983-02-28
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB2136047B; GB8305468D0

Abstract

A vehicle sun roof comprises a frame (2) adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle, a roof panel (1) and a pair of hinge assemblies for hingedly mounting the panel on the frame. The frame (2) consists of two sections (3, 4) adapted to grip a vehicle roof around the edges of an aperture formed therein, the upper section (3) having an arcuate surface (18) on its lower face and a beading (11) of resilient material applied to its upper face. Each hinge assembly is secured to the panel (1) by a fixing cap (9) and comprises an arcuate leaf member (25) which is detachably engageable with the arcuate surface (18). The leaf members (25) of the hinge assemblies are so disposed in relation to the panel (1) that, when they are engaged with the arcuate surface (18), the adjacent edge (10) of the panel (1) is urged against the resilient beading (11) whereby the resilience of said beading (11) is effective to urge the arcuate leaf members (25) against the arcuate surface (18) and the axis of pivoting of the panel (1) occurs below the upper face of the panel (1) near to its point of contact with the beading (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hinge assembly for vehicle sun roof This invention relates to improvements in vehicle sun roofs and is particularly concerned with hinge assemblies for such sun roofs.

According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle sun roof comprising a frame adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle, a roof panel, and at ieast one hinge assembly for hingedly mounting the panel on the frame, wherein the frame consists of two sections adapted to grip a vehicle roof around the edges of an aperture formed therein, the upper of said sections having an arcuate surface on its lower face and a beading of resilient material applied to its upper face, and wherein the or each hinge assembly is provided with an arcuate leaf member which is detachably engageable with said arcuate surface, the leaf member being so disposed in relation to the panel that, when it is engaged with the arcuate surface, the adjacent edge of the panel is urged against the resilient beading whereby the resilience of said beading is effective to urge the arcuate leaf member against the said arcuate surface and the axis of pivoting of the panel occurs below the upper face of the panel near to its point of contact with the beading.

The lower section of the frame preferably has a portion spaced from the arcuate surface of said upper section to define a channel, a guide member for the or each hinge leaf member being mounted in said channel, said guide member(s) having an arcuate surface which is arranged to face the arcuate surface on the upper section and is complementary thereto.

Preferably, end guide members are provided for guiding the or each leaf member into the channel, said end guide members being engageable with the side edges of the leaf member(s).

The panel is desirably detachably secured to the frame, at its side remote from the hinge assemblies, by a latch mechanism which comprises a handle pivotally connected at one end, either directly or indirectly, to the roof panel, a link member pivotally connected at-one end to the other end of the handle and a latch bracket pivotally connected to the other end of the link member and secured to the frame.

The latch bracket may be provided with an arcuate blade, corresponding in shape to the arcuate leaf member of the or each hinge assembly, said arcuate blade being held in engagement with the arcuate surface on the upper section of the frame. The arcuate blade is preferably removably held in the frame whereby it can be withdrawn from said frame to permit the panel to be removed from the vehicle roof. Such a latch bracket is described and illustrated in our copending Patent Application No. to which reference should be made for further details.

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 with part of the panel cutaway to show the frame construction; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line Il-Il in Fig.

1 in the direction of the arrows showing the roof panel in the open position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a hinge leaf member forming part of the hinge assembly shown in Fig.

2: Fig. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of a guide member forming part of the hinge assembly shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section of the guide member taken on the line V-V in Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the guide member shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the vehicle sun roof according to the invention comprises a panel 1 which is hingedly mounted on a frame 2. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the frame consists of an upper section 3 which is adapted to fit into and to overlap the edges of an aperture formed in a vehicle roof (not shown) and a lower section 4 adapted to engage with the upper section 3 and the underside of the vehicle roof.

The upper section is provided with a shallow channel to receive a seal 5 of resilient material and the vehicle roof is pressed against the seal 5 by an arm 6 of the lower section 4 of the frame. The lower section 4 is secured to the upper section 3 by a series of clamp screws the head 7 of one of which is shown in Fig. 2. The two frame sections pivot against one another, under the action of the clamp screws, to create a positive clamping action on the vehicle roof. After the frame 2 has been fitted to the vehicle roof, the roof headlining (not shown) is drawn over the lower section 4 and is fixed thereto by wrapping the edge of the headlining around the inner edge of the section 4 and by pressing a trim strip (not shown) of resilient material between the upper section 3 and the lower section 4 to hold the headlining in position.

This is entirely conventional and will be clear to those skilled in the art. The underside of the fitted frame is completely hidden from view and the only visible parts are the hinge assemblies and latch mechanism.

Any suitable latch mechanism may be used but it is preferred to use the latch mechanism which forms the subject of British Patent Application No.

or, alternatively, the latch mechanism which forms the subject of British Patent Application No.

A single latch mechanism (not shown) is fitted to the roof panel 1 by a fixing cap 8 and a pair of hinge assemblies are secured to the roof panel 1 by respective fixing caps 9 (only one cap 9 shown in the drawings).

A beading 11 of resilient material which serves as a seal for the panel 1 when said panel is in its closed position is fitted to the upper frame section 3. For this purpose, the upper frame section 3 is provided on its upper surface with a pair of channels 12 and 1 3 disposed respectively in faces 14 and 1 5 of the section which extend at right angles to one another. The beading has a pair of ribs 16 and 1 7 which are receivable, respectively, in the channels 12 and 1 3 whereby the beading is securely held in the upper frame section.

The lower surface of the frame section 3 is provided with an arcuate portion 18 which serves as a guide surface for an arcuate leaf member 25 of a hinge assembly. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, a guide member 21 having an arcuate surface 22 which faces the arcuate surface 18 to form therewith an arcuate channel is positioned between the upper frame section 3 and the lower frame section 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the guide member 21 is provided on its lower surface with a groove 23 for engagement with a rib 20 on the lower frame section 4 and with a recess 24 one face of which is adapted to engage a ribbed edge 19 of the lower frame section 4 whereby the guide member 21 is securely held in place against the lower frame section 4 as shown in Fig. 2. The rib 20 on the lower frame section 4 is partly machined away to allow free passage of the leaf member 25 in the arcuate channel.Integral bosses 37 are provided on either side of the arcuate surface 22 of the guide member 21 which bosses locate against the upper frame 3. This location is performed in three separate ways: the shape of the upper surface of the bosses is complementary to the arcuate portion 1 8 of the frame section 3 such that ribs 34 on the guide member engage in a groove 36 provided in said arcuate portion 18 of the frame section 3; holes 35 in the guide member 21 are aligned with corresponding holes in the frame section 3 and rivets (not shown) are used to press the locating shapes against one another is well as to provide location for the guide member; and the partcircular bosses 37 locate the guide member 21 in complementary cut-out portions in the edge of the frame section 3.

As a result of this arrangement, the guide member 21 is located lengthwise and crosswise on the upper frame section 3 and is securely fastened to it while the lower frame section 4 is also located lengthwise and crosswise to the guide member 21. This results in a rigid and accurate assembly.

A guide member is provided for each of the hinge assemblies so that, in the case of the embodiment shown in the drawings, two guide members are provided although only one is shown.

The trimming of the roof headlining is completed in the area of the hinge guides by tucking it into the small gap between the ribbed edge 19 of the lower frame member 4 and the recess 24 in the guide member 21 where it is retained by a length of resilient material 39 pressed in after the headlining which is not shown.

Said length of material is initiaily round in crosssection and the gap is narrower at its entry than inside so that it acts as a claw to complete the retention.

Each hinge assembly consists of an arcuate leaf member 25 which is secured to the roof panel 1 by means of a respective fixing cap 9. In each case, the fixing cap 9 is passed with clearance through a bore 27 in the roof panel 1 and enters a bore 26 in the leaf member 25. The shank of the fixing cap 9 is provided with a screw-threaded bore which is engaged by a screw 28. Sealing washers 29 are provided on the fixing caps 9 and seat against the upper surface of the panel 1.

To avoid direct contact between the leaf member 25 and the panel 1, a strip 31 of resilient material is provided between these components, said strip being formed with a channel so that it can be fitted over the end of the leaf member 25 in order that the strip can be held in position. The shank of the fixing cap 9 passes through a bore in the strip 31. A metal washer 33 is provided on the screw 28 to increase the effective head diameter of the screw and adequately exceed the size of the hole 26 in the leaf member 25. A plug 32 is fitted over the head of the screw to give a neat appearance.

As shown in Fig. 2, when the panel is fitted in the frame its forward edge 10 will bear against the resilient beading 11 and depress the same. The resilience of this beading will cause the upper surface of the leaf member 25 to bear against the arcuate surface 1 8 and pivoting will take place about an axis at the centre of curvature of this arcuate surface. Said centre of curvature is below the upperface of the panel 1.

The panel 1 can be secured in the closed position shown in Fig. 1 or retained in the open position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a single latch mechanism located adjacent to the rear edge of the panel and secured thereto by the fixing cap 8.

In order to remove the roof panel 1 from the frame 2, the latch mechanism must first be disconnected from the frame in a manner which does not form part of the present invention and the panel must then be moved to a position beyond the normally fully open position shown in Fig. 2 after which the panel can be removed from the frame simply by withdrawing the arcuate leaf members 25 from the front side of the frame.

Refitting of the roof panel 1 in the frame is the reverse process of that described above. The panel 1 is first placed in a substantially vertical attitude on top of the resilient beading 11 with the arcuate leaf members 25 aimed at the openings of the arcuate channels formed between the guide members 21 and the upper frame section 3.

Because of the cut-out portions in the edge of the upper frame section 3 and the groove 36, the arcuate channel effectively tapers but without compromising either vertical or horizontal location of the arcuate leaf members 25 when in their fully engaged position. Hence, the panel position will be controlled by the assembly and critical prepositioning is not necessary. It merely requires the panel to be positioned about its leading or front edge and then pushing the arcuate leaf members 25 into the arcuate channel until engagement is sufficient to be self-sustaining.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bore 26 in each hinge leaf member 25 is desirably provided with a series of serrations and the shank of each fixing cap 9 is provided with a similar series of serrations which are engageable with the serrations of the bore 26 to prevent relative rotation between the fixing cap and the associated hinge leaf member.

The resilient beading 11 may, if desired, be provided on its upper surface with one or more ribs 38 to provide an effective seal for the panel 1 when said panel is in its closed position.

The panel 1 is preferably made of transparent or translucent material but this is not essential and the panel may, if desired, be made of opaque material.

Claims

1. A vehicle sun roof comprising a frame adapted to be fitted in the roof of a vehicle, a roof panel, and at least one hinge assembly for hingedly mounting the panel on the frame, the or each hinge assembly being mounted on the panel adjacent to an edge thereof, wherein the frame consists of two sections adapted to grip a vehicle roof around the edges of an aperture formed therein, the upper of said sections having an arcuate surface on its lower face and a beading of resilient material applied to its upper face, and wherein the or each hinge assembly is provided with an arcuate leaf member which is detachably engageable with said arcuate surface, the leaf member being so disposed in relation to the panel that, when it is engaged with the arcuate surface, the adjacent edge of the panel is urged against the beading of resilient material whereby the resilience of said beading is effective to urge the arcuate leaf member against the said arcuate surface and the axis of pivoting of the panel is located below the upper surface of the panel adjacent to its point of contact with the beading.

2. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 1, wherein the lower section of the frame has a portion spaced from the arcuate surface of the upper section to define a channel, a guide member for the or a respective arcuate leaf member of the or each hinge assembly being mounted in said channel, said guide member(s) having an arcuate surface which is arranged to face the arcuate surface on the upper section of the frame and which is complementary thereto.

3. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 2, wherein the or each guide member is provided on its face remote from said arcuate surface with a groove and a recess, said groove being adapted to receive and engage with a rib formed on the lower section of the frame and said recess being adapted to receive and engage with a ribbed edge of the lower section of the frame whereby the guide member is securely held in place against the said lower section of the frame.

4. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein end guide members are provided for guiding the or each arcuate leaf member into the channel, said end guide members being engageable with the side edges of the leaf member(s).

5. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 4, wherein the end guide members are formed integrally with the or the respective guide member.

6. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein each end guide member is provided with a boss which is complementary to the arcuate surface on the upper section of the frame and which has a rib which is engageable in a groove provided in said upper section of the frame.

7. A vehicle sun roof according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the or each guide member is secured to the upper section of the frame by means of rivets or like fastening means passing through aligned holes in the guide member(s) and the said upper section of the frame.

8. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each arcuate leaf member is secured to the panel by a or a respective fixing cap which passes through a or a respective bore in the panel and an aligned bore in the or the respective leaf member, a strip of resilient material being provided between the panel and the or each leaf member and means being provided for securing the or each leaf member to the or the respective fixing cap, relative rotation between the leaf member(s) and the fixing cap(s) being prevented.

9. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper section of the frame is provided on its upper surface with a pair of channels disposed in faces of the frame section which extend at right angles to one another and wherein the beading of resilient material has a pair of ribs which are receivable in the channels whereby the beading is securely held in the said upper section of the frame.

10. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the beading of resilient material is provided on its upper surface with one or more ribs adapted to engage with the panel.

11. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper section of the frame is provided on its lower face with a channel adapted to receive a seal of resilient material which is arranged to seat on a vehicle roof when the frame is fitted in an aperture formed therein.

12. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 11, wherein the lower section of the frame is provided with an arm adapted to engage the underneath surface of a vehicle roof in the region which is engaged on its upper surface by the said seal of resilient material.

13. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 12, wherein the lower section of the frame is secured to the upper section of said frame by a series of clamp screws to cause the two frame sections to pivot against one another and to clamp the vehicle roof between said arm and said resilient seal.

1 4. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel is detachably secured to the frame, at the side remote from the hinge mounting(s), by a latch mechanism which comprises a handle pivotally connected at one end, either directly or indirectly, to the roof panel, a link member pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the handle and a latch bracket pivotally connected to the other end of the link member and secured to the frame.

15. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 14, wherein the latch bracket is provided with an arcuate blade, corresponding in shape to the arcuate leaf member of the or each hinge assembly, said arcuate blade being held in engagement with the arcuate surface of the upper section of the frame and being removable therefrom.

16. A vehicle sun roof according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the handle and latch bracket are provided with internngaging surfaces adapted to hold the panel in its closed position and being releasable on pivoting action of the handle to allow the panel to be moved to an open position.

17. A vehicle sun roof according to any preceding claim, wherein the panel is made of transparent or translucent material.

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