GB2276590A

GB2276590A - Folding vehicle roof with locks on lateral rails

Info

Publication number: GB2276590A
Application number: GB9306744A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Juergen Dufft
Original assignee: Tudor Webasto Ltd
Current assignee: Tudor Webasto Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-31
Filing date: 1993-03-31
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-31
Also published as: DE4411387C2; DE4411387A1; JPH071970A; GB2276590B; GB9306744D0

Description

FOLDING VEHICLE ROOF 2276590 The present invention relates to openable

vehicle roof s. The vehicles in question may have a fixed roof surface with an aperture therein, the openable roof serving to open and close the aperture. The vehicle may have no f ixed roof structure in which case the openable roof f orms substantially all of the roof of the vehicle when in a closed position. In particular, the invention relates to folding roofs for vehicles either being flexible covers for folding back to reveal an aperture in a fixed roof surface or flexible covers which form the roof in the closed position and which can be f olded back to provide an open top vehicle, i.e. a convertible vehicle.

Folding f abric roof s f or motor vehicles have been in existence since motor vehicles were f irst produced. Early types of folding roof involved mounting a canvas material to support members which extended from one side of the vehicle to the other. The support members were hinged or pivoted to close up together. Generally these structures were cumbersome and resulted in limp f olds of roof material being formed when the roof was opened up.

GB431285 concerns an openable roof for motor vehicles in which a flexible roof material is carried by a number of hoopsticks. There are guide rails on each side of the vehicle, and each hoopstick is mounted to slide members which run in the guide rails. On each side, each hoopstick is mounted to a pair of slide members which slide in their respective guide rails, one slide member to the front of the hoopstick and one to the rear. Each slide member provides a mounting f or a hoopstick to f ront and rear so that all the hoopsticks are entrained with one another via slide members. On opening the roof, all the hoopsticks move rearwardly with one another until the rearmost slide member reaches the end of the guide track. At this point the next adjacent slide member in the foremost direction continues to travel rearwardly until it meets the rearmost slide member. In performing this movement the hoopstick mounted between these two slide members is pivoted upwards. The same movements occur in turn with each of the slide members and hoopsticks.

The upward movement of the hoopsticks is prevented from taking place before a predetermined position is reached in relation to the guide track because of a slide pin on the hoopsticks. The slide pins run in the guide rails and the guide rails have openings in predetermined positions to allow the slide pins of the hoopsticks to escape from them. There are also cams to urge the hoopsticks upwards at the points where the slide pins can pass through their respective openings in the guide rails. The purpose of this invention is to raise the folded roof material above the heads of the occupants of the vehicle.

The existing folding fabric roofs have a number of disadvantages. They are generally untidy in their appearance when in a partly opened position. Also, the cover material has a tendency to flap when exposed to wind. When the roof is supposed to be closed, there is sometimes a poor locking of the cover in the closed position. This tends to result in the roof material lifting when the vehicle is travelling at speed. There is also the problem of security. When a roof cover is not properly closed it is fairly easy for someone to break into the vehicle.

EP-Al-0494356 concerns a folding roof for an aperture in a vehicle fixed roof surface. A flexible cover is provided which is pulled across the aperture to close it and then folded back into a series of f olds in order to open the aperture. The folding starts at the rear portion of the cover and the successive folds are formed as the cover is slid rearwards until the f inal fold takes place in the front portion of the cover. The support mechanism used to achieve this comprises guide rails on either side of the roof aperture and a series of support members linked by slide members which run in respective guide rails. Each support member is linked to front and rear by a slide member. Alternate slide members are slidably fixed to the guide rails whereas the remaining slide members slide in the guide rails but can escape f rom them at predetermined positions. When the slide members escape from the guide rails they permit the support members on either side to lift up at the point where they are linked to their respective escaping slide member. The alternate slide members which remain slidably fixed to the guide rail, are then closed up together causing the support members to fold resulting in the folding of the associated cover material. Only the rearmost slide member in the opening direction need be driven in order to achieve the opening and closing movements.

The present invention seeks to overcome the aforementioned problems inherent in existing folding fabric roofs.

According to the present invention there is provided an openable vehicle roof comprising a cover for closing the roof and support means associated with the cover to move it between a roof closed position and a roof fully open position in which at least a portion of the cover is folded, and a pair of longitudinally running laterally spaced guide rails, the support means comprising slide members mounted to move along said guide rails and support members mounted to respective said slide members so that on moving from a roof closed position to a roof fully open position, the support members move in relation to their respective slide members and cause the associated portions of the cover to fold, wherein on at least one side of the roof at least one slide member is provided with locking means acting between the slide member and its respective support member which in the roof closed position locks the support member against said movement in relation to the respective slide member, unlocking means being provided which co-operates with the or each said locking means during opening movement thereby allowing the support member to move in relation to the respective slide member and cause the associated portion of the cover to fold.

The openable vehicle roof may close an aperture in the fixed roof surface of a vehicle or it may provide the soft top of a convertible vehicle.

The unlocking of the or each said locked support member may take place at a predetermined respective position along the guide rail.

Preferably the unlocking of the or each said locked support member takes place by the engagement of the respective locking means with an adjacent slide member or in the case of the locking means furthest from the front of the roof optionally with a f ixed abutment acting as said unlocking means. Alternatively the unlocking of each said locked support member may take place by the engagement of the respective locking means with respective fixed abutments on the guide rail.

The use of locking means to prevent the roof cover folding until a predetermined position is reached in relation to the guide rails and/or the other slide members means that only a minimum area of the cover is caused to be folded in any given opening position. This gives the roof a tidy appearance and helps eliminate fluttering of the cover when the vehicle is travelling at speed. The locking means acting between the support members and their respective slide members can be arranged so that the folding of the cover starts in one portion of the roof cover and then extends to other portions as more of the cover needs to be folded away on opening up the roof.

Respective locking means may be provided acting between all of the support members and their respective slide members.

This means that the cover is locked against opening and folding when in the roof closed position.

Preferably, slide members other than the foremost slide member in the direction of opening have a said locking means so that on opening up the roof, the first fold in the cover take place in a region distant from the exposed aperture in the roof. In order to achieve this the foremost slide member in the direction of opening may be prevented f rom rearward movement beyond a certain point by a stop member on the guide rail. Alternatively the foremost slide member in the direction of opening may be f ixed to the guide rail. The rearward movement of the cover and support means causes the support member of the foremost slide member to pivot about its mounting point with the slide member thereby causing the cover material to fold. Further folds then take place adjacent to the first fold as successive support members are unlocked for movement in relation to their respective slide members.

After the first fold is formed in the cover the second foremost slide member in the opening direction moves along its guide rail until it contacts the foremost slide member in the opening direction. At this point, the locking means provided on the second foremost slide member may be disengaged from its associated support member, thereby allowing the support member to move in relation to its respective slide member. Continued movement of the unfolded portion of the cover and its associated support means that a second fold may be formed in the cover. The aforementioned movements may be repeated with the remaining support means following in the opening direction until substantially all of the cover is in a folded configuration.

Successive folds in the cover may be overlain at least in part on existing folds.

The movement of the cover and the support means in a roof closing direction results in a reversal of the sequence of movements performed in the opening direction.

Slide members other than the rearmost slide member in the opening direction may have a said locking means so that on opening the roof the first fold in the cover takes place adjacent to the exposed aperture in the roof. The next fold occurs adjacent to the first fold and then further folds are caused in turn. The final fold may take place in the region of the cover distant from the aperture.

Preferably, a first portion of said locking means seats against a first portion of the associated support member when in a locking position and slides against a second portion of its associated support member when in an unlocked position.

Preferably, said locking.means is pivotally mounted to its respective slide member, the locking means being pivoted from a locking position to an unlocking position by engagement with said adjacent slide member or in the case of the locking means furthest from the front of the roof optionally with a fixed abutment.

Preferably, the first portion of the locking means lies on one side of the pivot mounting and the second portion of the locking means lies on the other side of the pivot mounting.

Preferably, the first portion of the support member is a step in the second portion.

Preferably, the locking means is moved into an unlocking position by the pushing of the second portion of the locking means against a seat portion of said adjacent slide member or in the case of the locking means furthest from the front of the roof optionally against a fixed abutment.

At least one of the support members may comprise two portions articulated together, the first portion being articulated to the slide member as aforesaid and the second portion being articulated to an adjacent slide member. The advantage of having the guide members articulated together and having locking means provided between the guide members and their respective slide members is that a controlled sequential folding movement of the cover can be provided. In this way the cover is not subjected to undesirable tensile stresses when moving from an open position towards to the fully closed position. The entrainment of the slide members by the guide members which support the cover makes the structure generally stable and less likely to be prone to flapping or fluttering in strong winds or when the vehicle is travelling at speed. Furthermore, the folding of the cover material is reliably -7 controlled at all times during the opening and closing of the roof. Any number of roof open positions can be selected all of which retain the aforesaid advantages.

Preferably the first portion is articulated to the slide member as aforesaid and the second portion is articulated to the next adjacent slide member in the closing direction.

The locking of the support members against movement in relation to their slide members has the advantage that when the roof is fully closed it is not possible for the cover to be lifted up at the point where the cover closes up against the front of the body of the vehicle or the foremost portion of the aperture in the vehicle roof. This makes the vehicle more secure against opportunist thieves and no additional locking is required for the cover when in the roof closed position.

Preferably, the said first and second portions are pivoted together for movement in relation to one another, the closing together of the first and second portions causing the associated cover to adopt a folded configuration.

Preferably, all the slide members are linked together by support members.

The length of the f irst and second portions of the support member when closed together may be such that successive folds in the cover can be overlain at least in part on existing folds.

Preferably, the roof further comprises driving means coupled to at least one of said slide members to move it along its respective guide rail so as to effect the opening and closing of the roof.

Preferably, just the rearmost slide member in the direction of opening is coupled to the driving means.

Preferably, the cover is made of a flexible material.

The invention also includes a kit of parts for providing a vehicle roof as herein defined.

The vehicle roof of the present invention is not restricted in its application and may be applied to all kinds of vehicles whether these be motorised land vehicles; caravans or trailers. The folding roof of the invention may also be 5 used in relation to water craft such as pleasure cruisers.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 in which:- Figure 1 is a plan view of an openable vehicle roof installed in an aperture of a vehicle fixed roof surface; and Figure 2 is a side plan view of some of the components from one side of the roof shown in Figure 1.

In a preferred embodiment there is provided an aperture 2 in a f ixed roof 4 of vehicle 6. A f lexible cover 8 is provided which is mounted on supporting means guided in a pair of longitudinally disposed guide rails 10, 12 which run substantially parallel to one another on either side of the aperture 2. The cover 8 can be moved between a position in which it fully closes the aperture 2 to a position where the aperture 2 is substantially fully open. In the fully open position the cover is folded a number of times. The roof shown in Figure 1 is partially open and there are two folds in the cover. A total of four folds will exist in the fully open position. However, in other embodiments the roof may be provided with as many folds as are desired.

A preferred mounting and operating mechanism of the roof will now be described with reference to Figure 2. The skilled worker will appreciate that in a roof of this kind the two sides will be substantially the same, though not always. The roof described has a symmetry about its longitudinal axis and so only one side of the roof structure will be described from hereon. The cover 8 is mounted to a series of scissor arms made up of short arms 14a - 14d and long arms 16a - 16d. Short arms 14a 14d and long arms 16a - 16d are pivoted together 35 by respective pivot pins 18a - 18d. The short arms 14a - 14d are mounted to the forward ends of their slide blocks 20a - 20d by respective pivot pins 22a - 22d. The pivoted ends of the short arms 14a -14d have a large diameter surface 24a 24d running for 1800 about the pivoting axis of the short arms 14a - 14d with their respective slide blocks 20a - 20d. The remaining 1800 portion is a small diameter surface 26a - 26d. Steps are formed at the junctions between the large diameter surface 24a - 24d and the small diameter surface 26a - 26d. The large diameter surface faces in the closing direction when the cover is in a flat and unfolded condition.

The long arms 16a - 16d are mounted by pivot pins 28 - 28c to respective slide blocks 20 - 20c. The slide blocks 20 - 20d are therefore entrained together via short arms 14a - 14d and long arms 16a - 16d. The sliding blocks 20 - 20d run in guide rail 10. Slide block 20 is fixed to guide rail 10 and does not move.

Locking elbows 32a - 32c are provided on respective slide blocks 20a, 20c. The rearmost slide block in the opening direction 20d does not have a locking elbow. Locking elbows 32a - 32c are mounted to their respective sliding blocks 20a - 20c by pivot pins. Each locking elbow 32a - 32c has a leg 34a - 34c pointing generally in the direction of closing of the roof and a generally downward pointing leg 36a - 36c. When the leg 34a - 34c of the locking elbow 32a - 32c rests against the upper of the two steps between the large diameter surface 34a - 34c and the small diameter surf ace 24a - 24c of a respective short arm 14a - 14c, then the short arm 14a - 14c is prevented from pivoting in relation to its respective sliding block 20a - 20c.

The sliding blocks 20b - 20d each have a formation 38b - 38d which is adapted to engage the generally downward pointing leg 36a - 36c of respective locking elbows 32a - 32c on the next adjacent sliding block in the closing direction. When a downward leg 36a - 36c engages with its respective formation 38b - 38d then the locking elbow 32a - 32c is pivoted so that the leg 34a 34c is lifted away from the smaller diameter surface 26a 26c so that it can run against the larger diameter surf ace 24a - 24c. In an unlocked condition, the short arm 14a - 14c and its associated long arm 16a - 16c are f ree to pivot relative to their respective sliding blocks 20 20c.

There are transverse rods (not shown) which extend between and are connected to respective pairs of scissor arms. The cover is fixed to these rods by f laps of material stitched around the rods and to the cover. Sides of the cover are folded over adjacent scissor arms and stitched in place.

An electric motor 40 is provided (Figure 1) and there are driving means (not shown) to drive the guide member 20 either forwardly or rearwardly along the guide rail 10.

In use, starting from a closed position, the operation of the roof is as follows. The electric motor 40 is actuated which moves the sliding block 20 via the driving means in a rearward direction along guide rail 10. The whole assembly is entrained and moved rearwards, causing short arm 14d to pivot about its pivot mounting 22d to sliding block 20d. When the arm 14d pivots, the long arm 16d is caused first of all to be raised upwards and then lowered. The short arm 14d and long arm 16d fold together about pivot 18d, causing the cover 8 in this region to adopt a folded configuration. During the folding together of short arm 14d and long arm 16d, the next adjacent slide block 20c approaches the now stationary slide block 20d. When the two slide blocks 20c and 20d meet, downward leg 36c of locking elbow 32c seats in formation 38d of slide block 20d. The locking elbow is then pivoted so that the forward leg 34c is lifted off the small diameter surface 26c so that it can move against the large diameter surface 24c. Short arm 14c is now unlocked and can pivot about pivot pin 22c in relation to sliding block 20c. Continued rearward movement of the entrained assembly causes short arm 14c and long arm 16c to fold together, creating a local folding of the cover 8. The opening movement is continued until all the sliding blocks 20 - 20d are slid up against one another.

The closing movement involves a reverse sequence of movements and this is generated by the driving of the sliding block 20 forwards in a closing direction.

The present invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiment described above but includes many modifications and variations within the scope of the invention as herein defined.

j

Claims

1. An openable vehicle roof comprising a cover for closing the roof, support means associated with the cover to move it between a roof closed position and a roof fully open position in which at least a portion of the cover is folded, and a pair of longitudinally running laterally spaced guide rails, the support means comprising slide members mounted to move along said guide rails and support members mounted to respective said slide members so that on moving from a roof closed position to a roof fully open position, the support members move in relation to their respective slide members and cause the associated portions of the cover to fold, wherein on at least one - side of the roof at least one slide member is provided with locking means acting between the slide member and its respective support member which in the roof closed position locks the support member against said movement in relation to the respective slide member, unlocking means being provided which co-operate with the or each said locking means during opening movement thereby allowing the support member to move in relation to the respective slide member and cause the associated portion of the cover to fold.

2. A roof as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said unlocking of the or each said locked support member takes place at a predetermined respective position along the guide rail.

3. A roof as claimed In Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the unlocking of the or each said locked support member takes place by engagement of the respective locking means with an adjacent slide member or in the case of the locking means furthest from the front of the roof optionally with a fixed abutment acting as said unlocking means.

4. A roof as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein respective locking means are provided acting between all of the support members and their respective slide members.

5. A roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein slide members other than the foremost slide member in the 1 opening direction have a said locking means and on opening the roof, the first fold in the cover takes place in a region distant from the exposed aperture in the roof.

6. A roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein 5 a first portion of said locking means seats against a first portion of its associated support member when in a locking position and slides against a second portion of its associated support member when in an unlockgd position.

7. A roof as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said locking means 10 is pivotally mounted to its respective slide member, the locking means being pivoted from a locking position to an unlocking position by engagement with said adjacent slide member or in the case of the locking means furthest from the front of the roof optionally with a fixed abutment.

8. A roof as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the first portion of the locking means lies on one side of the pivot mounting and the second portion of the locking means lies on the other side of the pivot mounting.

g. A roof as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first portion 20 of the support member is a step in the second portion.

10. A roof as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein to move the locking means into an unlocking position, the second portion of the locking means is pushed against a seat portion of said adjacent slide member or in the case of the locking means furthest from the front of the roof optionally against a fixed abutment.

11. A roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein at least one support member comprises two portions articulated together, the first portion being articulated to the slide member and the second portion being articulated to an adjacent slide member.

12. A roof as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the second portion is articulated to the next adjacent slide member in the closing direction.

13. A roof as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the said first and second portions are pivoted together for movement in relation to one another the closing together of the first and second portions causing the associated cover to adopt a folded configuration.

14. A roof as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein all the slide members are linked together by support members.

15. A roof as claimed in any one of Claim 11 to 14, wherein the length of the closed together first and second portions of the support members is such that successive folds in the cover can be overlain at least in part on existing folds.

16. A roof as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising driving means coupled to at least one of said slide members to move it along its respective guide rail so as to effect the opening and closing of the roof.

17. A roof as claimed in Claim 16, wherein just the rearmost 15 slide member in the direction of opening is coupled to the driving means.

18. A roof as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said cover is made of a flexible material.

19. A roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 18 substan tially as hereinbefore described or as shown in the drawings.

20. A kit of parts for providing a vehicle roof in accordance with a vehicle roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 19.

21. A vehicle comprising a roof as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 19.

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