Abstract:
A device used to facilitate the insertion of objects under a folded roof in the boot of a motor vehicle. The roof includes a rear element which is equipped with a finger bar that is designed to slide along a rail comprising a storage section, which is intended to guide the roof between a deployed position and a folded, stored position, and a raised section, which is intended to guide said roof between a folded, stored position and a folded, raised position. The device comprises a raising member which moves the above-mentioned finger along the length of the raised section. Moreover, a locking member is mounted to the raising member between an unlocked position and a locked position in which it blocks the auxiliary roof element in relation to the rear element when the roof is moved toward the folded, raised position thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to French patent application No. 02/09217 filed on or about Jul. 19, 2002. A related application was also filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty on or about Jun. 26, 2003, as PCT/FR03/01981. The PCT application claims priority to the French patent application. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a device used to facilitate the insertion of objects under a roof which is folded in the boot of a motor vehicle. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   We know of a device adapted to facilitate the inserting of objects under a folded roof in the rear boot of a motor vehicle, according to which type the roof is movable between a deployed position in which it covers the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a folded, stored position in which the roof is stored and retracted into the boot, and comprises a rear roof element and at least one additional roof element which is located in front of the rear roof element when the roof is in the deployed position, and above the rear roof element when the roof is in the folded position, the rear roof element comprising a finger bar used to slide along a guiding rail which is fixed to the body of the vehicle and which comprises a storage section used to guide the roof between its deployed position and a folded, stored position, and a raising section extending along the storage section and used to guide the folded roof between its folded, stored position and a folded, raised position in which the folded roof at least partially projects out of the boot, the hood of the boot being in the open position, the device comprising a raising device mounted in a movable manner between a low position and a high position, and used to guide the finger bar along the raising section. 
   Such a device, disclosed in the French application registered under the number 02 02 484, allows access to the rear boot zone located under the folded roof. Indeed, this zone that can hold suitcases is difficult to access, the rear edge of the rear roof element when folded into the boot being too close to the rear edge of the opening of the boot. The device allows to raise the entire folded roof and thus create greater access to this zone. Of course, the raising of the folded roof can only take place when the rear boot hood is open. 
   Such a device has a great inconvenience of leaving the additional roof elements with a certain amount of leeway in relation to the rear roof element, the means allowing to articulate roof elements between themselves does not provide sufficient rigidity to the folded roof, which could engender, during the raising of the folded roof, an off-setting of the additional roof elements and putting them off centre. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The purpose of the invention is to resolve the aforementioned problem by providing a device that avoids any risk of off-setting the additional roof elements (and therefore off-centring) when the folded roof is raised. 
   According to the invention, a securing means is fitted to the raising device in a movable manner between an open position and a closed position in which the securing means is used to support each additional roof element and to immobilise each additional roof element in relation to the rear roof element, when the roof is guided between its folded, stored position and its folded, raised position. 
   Such an invention allows to render the rear boot zone located under the folded roof accessible without the additional roof elements being off-set and put off-centre when the folded roof is raised. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description. 
     In relation to the non-restrictive drawings given by way of example: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic cross section according to the longitudinal direction of a vehicle representing a collapsible roof in a deployed position; 
       FIG. 2  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 1 , the roof being in the process of storing into the rear boot; 
       FIG. 3  is a blown-up view similar to those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the roof being in a folded, stored position in the rear boot, the raising device not showing; 
       FIG. 4  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 3 , representing the guiding rail and the raising device according to the invention, the roof elements not showing; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross section following the straight line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top, cross section view of the means for controlling in the normal position following the straight line V-V in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 6 , the means for controlling being in a locking position; 
       FIG. 8  is a similar view to those of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the roof elements and the raising device being represented, the roof being in the folded, stored position and the securing means being in the open position; 
       FIG. 9  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 8 , the roof being in the folded, stored position and the securing means being in the closed position; 
       FIG. 10  is a similar view to those of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the roof being in the folded, raised position and the securing means being in the closed position; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross section following the straight line XI-XI in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross section similar to that of  FIG. 8  of a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross section similar to those of  FIGS. 8 and 12  of a third embodiment, the roof being in the transmission position; 
       FIG. 14  is a similar view to those of  FIGS. 8 ,  12  and  13  of the third embodiment, the roof being in the folded, stored position; 
       FIG. 15  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 9  of the third embodiment; 
       FIG. 16  is a cross section view following the straight line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 3 , demonstrating a disengaging gear mechanism; 
       FIG. 18  is a cross section following the straight line XVIII-XVIII in  FIG. 17  of the gear mechanism in the engaged position; and 
       FIG. 19  is a similar view to that of  FIG. 18 , the gear mechanism being in the disengaged position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 to 3  demonstrate a collapsible roof  1  of a vehicle moving from its deployed position covering the passenger compartment of the vehicle to its folded, stored position in which it is stored into the rear boot  2  of the vehicle. 
   The roof  1  comprises a rear roof element  3 , a central roof element  4  and a front roof element  5 . 
   When the roof is in the deployed position, the front roof element  5  is in front of the central roof element  4  which itself is in front of the rear roof element  3 . When the roof  1  is in the folded, stored position, the front roof element  5  is above the central roof element  4  which itself is above the rear roof element  3 , the three roof elements  3 ,  4  and  5  thus being in a substantially horizontal position. 
   The folding (and unfolding) of the roof  1  is controlled by a deployment arm  6  and is guided by a guiding rail  7 . 
   The deployment arm  6  comprises a first end through which it is swivel mounted around an axis of rotation  8  with the body  9  of the vehicle, and a second end through which it is swivel mounted around a hinge line  10  with the rear roof element  3 . 
   The rear roof element  3  comprises a finger bar  11  slide mounted along the guiding rail  7  which is integral to the body  9  and which comprises a storage section  12  used to guide the roof  1  between its deployed position and its folded, stored position in which the roof  1  is retracted into the boot  2 . 
   The storage section  12  and the deployment arm  6  allow to guide the rear roof element  3  directly between its deployed position and its folded, stored position. 
   Furthermore, the central roof element  4  is connected to the rear roof element  3  via rear link arms  13  which are actuated by first means for activating. Likewise, the front roof element  5  is connected to the central roof element  4  via front link arms  14  which are actuated by second means for activating. The first means for activating and the second means for activating operate under the control of the deployment arm  6 . 
   The layout of the rear link arms  13  and the front link arms  14  and the means for activating actuating them, allows the central roof element  4  and the front roof element  5  to move from their deployed position to their folded, stored position in which the roof  1  is retracted into the boot  2 . 
   Thus, the deployment arm allows to, directly or indirectly, guide the entire roof  1  between its deployed position and its folded, stored position. 
     FIG. 1  represents the roof  1  in the deployed position, the finger bar  11  being located on the upper front end of the storage section  12 . 
     FIG. 2  represents the roof  1  between its deployed position and its folded, stored position, the hood  15  of the rear boot  2  being in its open position from front to rear in order to allow the roof  1  to be inserted into the boot  2 . 
     FIG. 3  represents the roof  1  in its folded, stored position in the boot  2 , the hood  15  being in its closed position and the finger bar  11  being located on the lower rear end of the storage section  12 . 
     FIG. 4  represents a device used to facilitate the inserting of objects under the roof  1  in the folded, stored position in the boot  2 . 
   The device comprises a raising device  16  which is fitted in a moveable manner between a low position and a high position and which is used to guide the roof  1  between its folded, stored position and its folded, raised position in which the roof  1  partially projects out of the boot  2 , the hood  15  thus being in the open position. The raising device  16  is in the low position when the roof  1  is in its folded, stored position and in the high position when the roof  1  is in its folded, raised position. 
   In order to guide the roof  1  between its folded, stored position and its folded, raised position, the guiding rail  7  comprises a raising section  17 . This raising section  17  prolongs the storage section  12  and comprises a lower front end  18  which is the lower rear end of the storage section  12  and an upper rear end. The raising device  16  is used to guide the finger bar  11  along the raising section  17 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the raising device  16  is a raising arm  16  which comprises a first end through which it is swivel mounted, around a swivel axis  19  transversal to the vehicle, to the body  9 . 
   The raising arm  16  comprises a support element  20  which is located, when the raising arm  16  is in the low position, at a right angle to the lower front end  18  of the raising section  17 . This support element  20  thus allows to support and guide the finger bar  11  along the raising section  17 . 
   A jack  21  fitted in a movable manner on one hand to the body  9 , and on the other hand to the raising arm  16 , allows the raising arm  16  to move from its low position to its high position, and allows the folded roof  1  which lies on the raising arm  16  by means of the finger bar  11  supported by the support element  20 , to move from its folded, stored position to its folded, raised position. 
   Due to the circular movement of the rear roof element  3 , the raising section  17  is an arc whose centre is the hinge line  10 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the radial end of the raising arm  17  is guided by a groove  22  integral to the body  9  so as to prevent the radial end of the raising arm from deviating from the direction of the swivel axis  19 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , and according to the invention, a securing means  23  is fitted onto the raising device  16  in a movable manner between an open position and a closed position. 
   In the closed position, the securing means  23  is used to support the central roof element  4  and the front roof element  5  and immobilise them in relation to the rear roof element  3 , when the folded roof  1  is guided between its folded, stored position and its folded raised position. 
   The securing means  23  is located to the rear and right next to the central roof element  4  and the front roof element  5  when the roof  1  is in the folded position. More precisely, the securing means  23  is fitted in a movable manner in rotation around an axis of rotation  24  which is transversal to the vehicle and which is located on the raising arm  16 , close to the radial end of the raising arm  16  guided by the groove  22 . 
   The securing means  23  comprises, on its front face  25  (that being on its face which faces the rear ends of the central roof element  4  and of the front roof element  5 ), two recesses  26  and  27 . The recess  26  is used to receive, in the closed position, a stub  28  which is integral to the front roof element  5 , and the recess  27  is used to receive, in the closed position, a stub  29  which is integral to the central roof element  4 . 
   Means for controlling  30  are used to bring the securing means  23  into contact and to guide it between its open position and its closed position. In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 11 , these means for controlling  30  are used to guide the securing means  23  from its open position to its closed position, means for returning  31  constantly bearing on the securing means  23  in the direction of its open position. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the means for returning  31  comprise a spring  31  of which a first end is fixed to the securing means  23  and of which the second end is fixed to the raising device  16 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the means for controlling  30  are placed on the rear roof element  3 . 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the means for controlling  30  comprise a push button  32 . This push button  32  is mounted so as to be movable in a straight line with a guide  33  which is integral to the rear roof element  3 . The push button  32  is movable between a normal position (see  FIG. 6 ) and a stop position (see  FIG. 7 ) in which the securing means  23  is in the closed position. 
   Whilst moving, from its normal position to its stop position, the push button  32  moves from a contact position at which point it comes into contact with a contact surface  34  located on the front face  25  of the securing means  23 . The axis of rotation  24  being located between the contact surface  34  and the recesses  26  and  27 , when the push button  32  continues its movement, from its contact position to its stop position, it guides the securing means  23  in rotation around the axis of rotation  24  until it is in the closed position in which the stubs  28  and  29  are inserted into the recesses  26  and  27 . 
   In order to actuate the displacement of the push button  32  in the guide  33 , a nut  35 , integral to the push button  32 , is used to co-operate with a threaded end  36  of an arm  37  fitted in rotation in relation to the rear roof element  3 . The end of the arm  37  opposite the threaded end  36  is integral to a motor  38  fixed to the rear roof element  3 , which allows to guide the push button  32  in a straight line according to the direction of the arm  37 . 
     FIGS. 8 to 10  illustrate the operating of the device used to facilitate the inserting of objects under the roof  1  folded in the boot  2  following the opening command of the hood  15  from the rear to the front. 
   In  FIG. 8 , the roof  1  is in its folded, stored position, the finger bar  11  is in the lower front end  18  of the raising section  17  of the guiding rail  7 , the raising arm  16  is in its low position, the securing means  23  is in its open position under the effect of the return spring  31 , and the push button  32  is in its normal position. 
   As soon as the roof is in its folded, stored position, the motor  38  is actuated and guides in rotation the arm  37 . The rotating of the threaded end  36  of the arm  37  drives the nut  35  and the push button  32  in a straight line, their rotation being hindered by the guide  33 . Thus, the push button  32  moves from its normal position to its contact position, and from its contact position, it engenders through its displacement towards its stop position, the rotation of the securing means  23  around the axis of rotation  24 , from its open position to its closed position in which the recesses  26  and  27  retain the stubs  28  and  29 . 
     FIG. 9  illustrates this step in which the roof  1  is in its folded, stored position, the finger bar  11  is in the lower front end  18  of the raising section  17  of the guiding rail  7 , the raising arm  16  is in its low position, and the securing means  23  is in its closed position under the effect of the push button  32  which is in its stop position. 
   Thus, the central roof element  4  and the front roof element  5  become fixed as soon as they are stored in the rear boot  2 , which avoids any off-setting of the additional roof elements  4  and  5  and the putting of them off-centre following a brutal movement of the vehicle (for example passing over a speed control bump or mounting a kerb). 
   Following the actuating of the command for opening the hood  15  from the rear towards the front, and in order to render the rear boot zone  2  located under the folded roof  1  accessible, the jack  21  is actuated, which guides the rotation of the raising arm  16  around the swivel axis  19  from its low position to its high position. The finger bar  11 , supported by the support element  20 , slides along the raising section  17 . Thus, the roof  1  moves from its folded, stored position to its folded, raised position  1 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
     FIG. 11  demonstrates the finger bar  11  of the rear roof element  3  inserted in the lower front end  18  of the raising section  17  and supported by the support element  20  of the raising arm  16 . 
     FIGS. 12 to 16  illustrate two specific embodiments: the device comprises, for each additional roof element  4  and  5 , a bearing surface  44  and  43  which is used to support the corresponding additional roof element  4  and  5  when the securing means  23  is in the open position and the roof  1  is in the folded, stored position. 
     FIG. 12  illustrates the first specific embodiment: the securing means  23  is used to support the central roof element  4  and the rear roof element  5  as much when it is in the closed position as in the open position. 
   Each recess  26  and  27  of the securing means  23  is delimited by a lower side wall  39  and  40  and an upper side wall  41  and  42  between which the corresponding stubs  28  and  29  are inserted when the securing means  23  is in the closed position. 
   According to this embodiment, for each recess  26  and  27 , the lower side wall  39  and  40  projects forward past the corresponding upper side wall  41  and  42  so as to create the corresponding bearing surface  43  and  44 : each bearing surface  43  and  44  is used to receive, when the securing means  23  is in the open position and the roof  1  is in the folded, stored position, the stub  28  and  29  which is used to be inserted into the corresponding recess  26  and  27  when the securing means  23  is in the closed position. 
   Of course, the central roof element  4  and the front roof element  5  are laid out so that, when the roof  1  is close to its folded, stored position, the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  is located further forward than the stub  28  of the front roof element  5 . In this way, the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  which is located under the stub  28  of the front roof element  5 , does not push against the bearing surface  43  used to receive the stub  28  of the front roof element  5  during the folding of the roof  1 . 
   In order to restrict, to the greatest extent, the displacement of the central and front roof elements  4  and  5  in relation to the rear roof element  3  when the securing means  23  moves from its open position to its closed position, the bearing surfaces  43  and  44  are preferably in the shape of an arc whose centre is the axis of rotation  24 . 
     FIGS. 13 to 16  illustrate the second specific embodiment: all the bearing surfaces  43  and  44  are located on a support element  45 . 
   The support element  45  is fitted to the raising device  16  in a movable manner between an admission position (see  FIG. 13 ) and a reception position (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ) in which each bearing surface  44  and  43  is used to support the corresponding additional roof element  4  and  5  when the roof  1  is in the folded, stored position. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 13 to 16 , the support element  45  is, in relation to the raising device  16 , fitted in a movable manner in rotation around an axis of inclination  46  which is transversal to the vehicle and which is located in retreat of the additional roof elements  4  and  5  when the roof  1  is in the folded position. 
   The support element  45  comprises a lower leg  47  and an upper leg  48  fixed to each other, each being used to respectively create the bearing surface  44  of the central roof element  4  and that  43  of the front roof element  5 , when the support element  45  is in the reception position. 
   Means for activating  49  are used to bring into contact the support element  45  and to guide it from its admission position to its reception position. In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 15  these means for activating  49  are used to guide the support element  45  from its admission position towards its reception position, means for returning  50  constantly bearing on the support element  45  in the direction of its admission position. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 15 , the means for returning  50  comprise a spring  50  of which a first end is fixed to the support element  45  and of which the second end is fixed to the raising device  16 . 
   In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 15 , the means for activating  49  are constituted of the stub  29  of the central roof element  4 . 
   When the roof  1  is guided from its deployed position to its folded, stored position, it passes through a transmission position adjacent to its folded, stored position and in which the stub  29  comes into contact with the lower leg  47  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
   When the roof  1  is between its deployed position and its transmission position, the support element  45  is in the admission position under the effect of the spring  50 . 
   From this transmission position, the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  guides the support element  45  until its reaches its reception position in which the roof  1  is in its folded, stored position. 
   When the roof  1  is in the folded, stored position, the securing means  23  is in the closed position and the support element  45  is in the reception position, each stub  28  and  29  is inserted into a cavity  51  and  52 . 
   Each cavity  51  and  52  is created by the corresponding bearing surface  43  and  44  of the support element  45  and the corresponding recess  26  and  27  of the securing means  23 . 
   Of course, the central roof element  4 , the front roof element  5  and the support element  45  are laid out so that, when the roof  1  is close to its transmission position, the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  does not come into contact with the upper leg  48 . 
   In this example, the support element  45  is in the admission position, the upper leg  48  is the leg furthest away from the roof  1 : it is principally oriented upwards and slightly forwards and is located in retreat of the lower leg  47  which is oriented upwards and forwards. Thus the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  only comes into contact with the lower leg  47 . 
   This embodiment is particularly beneficial when the central roof element  4  and the front roof element  5  are laid out so that, when the roof  1  is close to is transmission position, the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  is located further back than the stub  28  of the front roof element  5 . Whereas, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the stub  29  of the central roof element  4  pushes against the bearing surface  43  used to receive the stub  28  of the front roof element  5 , according to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 16 , the upper leg  48  (creating the bearing surface  43  used to receive the stub  28  of the front roof element  5 ) is in a position out of the reach of any of the roof  1  elements (the upper leg  48  is located alongside the securing means  23  when it is in the open position). 
   In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 17 to 19 , the first means for activating is a gearing mechanism  53  connecting the rear link arms  13  to the deployment arm  6  so as to control the movement of the central roof element  4  with the swivelling of the rear roof element  3  in relation to the deployment arm  6  when the roof  1  is guided by the deployment arm  6  between its deployed position and its folded, stored position. 
   More precisely, the gearing mechanism  53  comprises an upstream sprocket  54  which is fixed to the end of the deployment arm  6  and which is rotary mounted to the rear roof element  3  around a hinge line  10 , a downstream sprocket  55  which is fixed to the end of a rear link arm  13  adjacent to the rear roof element  3  and which is rotary mounted to the rear roof element  3  around an axis of transmission  56 , and a central sprocket  57  which is rotary mounted to the rear roof element  3  and which is driven by the upstream sprocket  54  and the downstream sprocket  55 . 
   Thus, when the roof  1  is guided between its deployed position and its folded, stored position, the deployment arm  6  swivels in relation to the rear roof element  3 , and consequently, the upstream sprocket  54  drives, by means of the central sprocket  57 , the downstream sprocket  55  in rotation around the axis of transmission  56  and the central roof element  4  in relation to the rear roof element  3 . 
   So as to avoid displacing the central roof element  4  (and the front roof element  5 ), when the roof  1  moves from its folded, stored position to its folded, raised position caused by the rotating of the rear roof element  3  around the hinge line  10 , a disengaging mechanism  58  is used to disengage the deployment arm  6  from the gearing mechanism  53 : the end of the deployment arm  6  adjacent to the hinge line  10  comprises an orifice  59  and the upstream sprocket  54  comprises a complementary orifice  60  which is located at a right angle to the orifice  59  of the deployment arm  6  when the roof  1  is in the folded, stored position. 
   A retaining pin  61  is fitted in a movable manner into the orifice  59  and the complementary orifice  60  between an engaged position and a disengaged position. 
   In the engaged position, the retaining pin  61  penetrates into the orifice  59  and the complementary orifice  60  so as to secure the upstream sprocket  54  to the deployment arm  6 , in the disengaged position, the retaining pin  61  is not in the complementary orifice  60 . The retaining pin  61  is in the engaged position when the roof  1  is guided between its folded, stored position and its deployed position, and it is in its disengaged position when the roof  1  is guided between its folded, stored position and its folded, raised position. The retaining pin  61  is fitted in a straight line perpendicular to the vehicle, and it is driven by a motor  62 . 
   When the deployment arm  6  and the upstream sprocket  54  are not secured together, the roof  1  can move from its folded, stored position to its folded, raised position, without any mechanical stresses in the gearing mechanism  53 . 
   Furthermore, when the deployment arm  6  is no longer secured to the upstream sprocket  54 , the deployment arm  6  is only attached to the axis of rotation  8 . Moreover, it is advantageous to have a second disengaging mechanism used to secure the deployment arm  6  to the body  9  at its end adjacent to the hinge line  10  when it is not secured to the upstream sprocket  54 . 
   Furthermore, so as to avoid creating stress during the displacement of the roof  1  between its folded, stored position and its folded, raised position, the hinge line  10  and the swivel axis  19  are coaxial (when the roof is in its folded position). 
   Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment described in detail in relation to  FIGS. 1 to 11 . 
   For example, the securing means  23  could be of a different structure, which also goes for the means for controlling  30  and the means for returning  31 . 
   Likewise, it is possible to have a device in which the hinge line  10  and the swivel axis are not coaxial. In this regard, to avoid any mechanical stress, the recesses used to secure the stubs should be properly shaped so as to provide the additional roof elements  4  and  5  some freedom of movement in relation to the securing means  23 . 
   It is also possible that the first means for activating are independent from the deployment arm  6 , that being mechanically independent: in this regard, the first means for activating could be a motor. Of course, mechanically speaking, the means for activating mean the displacing of the central roof element  4  in relation to the rear roof element  3  dependent on the displacing of the rear roof element  3 .