Abstract:
A sliding roof sunshade assembly for a vehicle has a sunshade element which can be moved in opening direction and a closing direction. The sunshade element has a bow at a free front end. At least one force-transmitting drive element is connected to the bow and to a drive in order to move the sunshade element into a closed setting, with the front end of the sunshade element assuming a predetermined closed position in the closed setting. At least one elastic intermediate element is arranged in a force flow between the drive and the front end of the sunshade element. Once the front end of the sunshade element has reached the closed position, the drive moves the drive element onward into a predetermined end setting in which the intermediate element is elastically deformed. The predetermined end setting corresponds to a position in which the elastic intermediate element is compressed by an amount within a predetermined tolerance path.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to European Application No. 09014901, which was filed Dec. 1, 2009. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a sliding roof sunshade assembly for a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    An opening which can be opened up by a sliding roof, or possibly also an opening which is closed off by a glass roof, in a vehicle roof is usually provided with a sunshade element which, in order to provide protection from solar radiation, can be moved by the vehicle occupants such that it fully or partially covers the opening or the glass roof on the inside. Such protection from the sun is also important because incident solar radiation can blind the driver. Here, even a small gap between a front end of the sunshade element and the edge of the roof opening, through which blinding solar radiation can still pass, can prove to be disturbing. It is therefore desirable for the front end of the sunshade element, in its closed position, to completely cover the front part of the roof opening to the interior space. 
         [0004]    In recent years, use has increasingly been made of sunshade assemblies in which the sunshade element is moved by a motor as opposed to being moved manually. Here, tolerances which add up in the assembly can lead to an end setting of the front end of the sunshade element varying within a tolerance path. Such tolerances arise for example from the movement of the force-transmitting drive element which moves the sunshade element, and which is generally a cable guided to be resistant to tension and rigid in compression. Further tolerances arise, when using a roller blind as a sunshade element, during the winding and unwinding of the roller blind, or else from structural tolerances. 
         [0005]    To compensate for these tolerances, a trim panel has hitherto been attached to the front end of the roof opening. This trim panel covers the front end of the sunshade element in its closed position in order to ensure that there is not an exposed gap. The disadvantage of this solution is that the clear width of the roof opening is reduced, which gives the vehicle occupants the impression that the roof opening is smaller. 
         [0006]    Such a known solution is shown in  FIG. 1 , in which a front end of a sunshade element  1 , in its closed position, moves beyond an upper end of a roof lining  2 , and a gap formed between the roof lining  2  and a roof frame  3  is covered by a trim panel  4 . 
         [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide a sliding roof sunshade assembly for a vehicle, in which substantially the entire clear width of the roof opening is opened up in the open state of the sunshade element. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A sliding roof sunshade assembly for a vehicle has a sunshade element which can be moved in an opening direction and a closing direction. In a region of a free front end, the sunshade element has a bow. At least one force-transmitting drive element is provided which is connected to the bow and to a drive in order to move the sunshade element into a closed setting. The front end of the sunshade element assumes a predetermined closed position in the closed setting. At least one elastic intermediate element is provided which is arranged in a force flow between the drive and the front end of the sunshade element. Here, the drive is designed such that, once the front end of the sunshade element has reached the closed position, the drive moves the drive element onward into a predetermined end setting in which the intermediate element is elastically deformed. 
         [0009]    In one example, an elastic coupling is provided between the front end of the sunshade element and the drive element. The elastic coupling makes it possible for the tolerances in the movement path of the sunshade element to be compensated by virtue of the drive element, after an end setting is reached, being moved onward into a position in which it is ensured, taking into consideration all the tolerances, that the sunshade element has reached its closed position. The end setting of the drive element is the position in which, without inaccuracies in the system, the sunshade element has exactly reached the closed position. The sunshade element pauses in its closed position when the sunshade element has reached the latter. The further movement of the drive element is absorbed exclusively by the elastic intermediate element. In this way, it is possible for a tolerance path in the region of approximately 10 mm to be compensated without problems. 
         [0010]    Since it is ensured that the front end of the sunshade element ends exactly in the closed position during every closing process of the latter, the clear width of the roof opening need not artificially be reduced in size by a lining in order to eliminate the possibility of a gap remaining between the front end of the sunshade element and the edge of the roof opening. 
         [0011]    It is preferable for the intermediate element to be tensioned to a lesser extent when the sunshade element is in an open setting than in the closed position, such that the entire compression path of the intermediate element, which self-evidently preferably corresponds to the maximum required tolerance path, can be utilized to compensate tolerances in the drive path. 
         [0012]    The intermediate element is preferably designed as a compression spring, though may also be realized in the form of a tension spring. 
         [0013]    The closed position may advantageously coincide with a position in which the front end of the sunshade element bears against a section of a roof lining of the vehicle. In this way, the roof opening is closed off in any case by the sunshade element and the roof lining. The roof lining may form a stop for the front end of the sunshade element. 
         [0014]    Here, a force exerted by the drive on the drive element is preferably greater than the spring force of the intermediate element. If the front end of the sunshade element is restrained by a stop, for example as a result of the contact against a section of the roof lining, a further forward movement of the drive element can be converted into a compression of the intermediate element, without a further movement of the front end of the sunshade element taking place. 
         [0015]    In one example, the drive element is a cable which is guided to be resistant to tension and rigid in compression. The drive element could self-evidently also be designed in some other form, for example integrated into a roller blind (for example a self-coiling spring steel strip at the edge of the roller blind). 
         [0016]    As a sunshade element, use is made, for example, of a flexible roller blind or else a rigid sun panel. The principle of the invention can be implemented equally effectively in both cases. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the bow is arranged to be movable relative to the drive element. If the sunshade element is situated in its closed setting and its front end is in the closed position, then a further movement of the drive element by the drive is converted only into a movement of the drive element, while the bow pauses in its position. In this case, the bow may be fixedly connected to the sunshade element. 
         [0018]    The intermediate element may, for example, be arranged between a stop, which is fixed to the drive element, and the bow, wherein at a maximum, a movement by the defined magnitude of the tolerance path is permitted between drive element and bow. The stop is formed, for example, on a free end of the drive element. The relative movement is absorbed by compression of the intermediate element. 
         [0019]    If the sunshade element is moved from its closed setting back into an open setting, the intermediate element is relaxed again and restores the bow for example automatically into its initial position. 
         [0020]    The intermediate element may for example be a spiral spring which engages around the drive element. 
         [0021]    Here, the bow is preferably fixedly fastened to the intermediate element such that the drive element can move relative to the bow counter to the resistance of the intermediate element. It is advantageous for only a linear movement in the movement direction but no movement perpendicular to said direction to be possible between the bow and the drive element, in order that exact positioning of the drive element, of the bow and of the front end of the sunshade element is possible. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the at least one elastic intermediate element is arranged between the front end of the sunshade element and the bow. In this case, the front end of the sunshade element thus moves relative to the bow during a compression of the intermediate element. In this exemplary embodiment, the bow may be fixedly connected to the drive element, while the front end of the sunshade element should be arranged to be movable relative to the bow and relative to the body of the sunshade element by the magnitude of the tolerance path. 
         [0023]    Here, for precise positioning, it is advantageous for the front end of the sunshade element, the intermediate element, and the bow to be arranged substantially linearly one behind the other. In this way, a force transmitted via the drive element can be introduced into the intermediate element without force components perpendicular to the movement direction. 
         [0024]    Here, the sunshade element may have a substantially rigid closure element at the front end, which closure element extends preferably over the entire width of the sunshade element. The one or more elastic intermediate elements are advantageously arranged such that the closure element is acted on with force uniformly over the width. Here, it is possible for a plurality of spiral springs to be arranged adjacent to one another as intermediate elements. 
         [0025]    It is preferable for at least one first guide part to be formed in the closure element and for at least one second guide part, which interacts with the first guide part, to be formed in the bow, with the guide parts being movable relative to one another. For example, recesses such as slots or bores may be provided in the bow, and webs may be provided in the closure element (or vice versa). Here, it is advantageous for the intermediate elements in the form of spiral springs to be held on a section of the webs, because in this way, the intermediate elements are equally fixedly held and are arranged so as to be deformable only in the linear direction. 
         [0026]    The invention also relates to a method for moving a sunshade element of a sliding roof sunshade assembly for a vehicle, with the method being suitable in particular for one of the sliding roof sunshade assemblies described above. 
         [0027]    Here, a free front end of the sunshade element bears, in a closed position, against a stop, and a drive element is moved by a drive into a predetermined end setting in order to move the sunshade element into the closed setting. The predetermined end setting corresponds to a position in which an elastic intermediate element, which is arranged in the force flow between the front end of the sunshade element and the drive element, is compressed by an amount within a predetermined tolerance path. 
         [0028]    The drive element is accordingly moved further than would actually be required for reaching the closed position of the free front end of the sunshade element. The additional movement path is however converted not into a movement of the front end of the sunshade element, but rather into a compression of the elastic intermediate element. 
         [0029]    Here, the predetermined end setting of the drive element may advantageously be predefined by the drive. The end setting may for example correspond to a previously defined number of revolutions of an electric motor. Here, the predetermined end setting should be selected such that, in any case, a compression of the intermediate element occurs. 
         [0030]    If the sunshade element is moved back into its open setting again, the intermediate element is relaxed and the bow or the closure element of the sunshade element are moved back into their initial setting again preferably on account of the restoring force provided by the intermediate element. 
         [0031]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of two exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic sectional view of a sliding roof sunshade assembly according to the prior art; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic sectional view of a sliding roof sunshade assembly according to the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a detail of a sliding roof sunshade assembly according to the invention according to a first embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of a sliding roof sunshade assembly according to the invention according to a second embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  shows the assembly from  FIG. 4  in a plan view; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a variant of the assembly shown in  FIG. 4 , in a schematic sectional view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]      FIG. 2  illustrates a sliding roof sunshade assembly  10  installed in a vehicle roof  12  (not illustrated in any more detail). Formed in the vehicle roof  12  is a roof opening  14  which can be opened up or closed off by a sliding roof (not shown). Arranged below the roof opening  14  is a sunshade element  16  (indicated in  FIG. 3 ) which can cover the roof opening  14 . In the region of its front free end  18 , the sunshade element  16  has a bow  20  which extends perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis and along the entire sunshade element  16  and which is connected to a drive element  22  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 ) which transmits the force of a drive  24 , for example in the form of an electric motor, to the sunshade element  16 . As a result of the movement of the drive  24 , the sunshade element  16  can be moved from an open setting, in which the roof opening  14  is opened up, into a closed setting, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0040]    In the closed setting shown in  FIG. 2 , the front end  18  of the sunshade element  16  bears, in its closed position, against a stop  26 , which in this case is formed by a section of the upper end of a roof lining  28 . 
         [0041]    Compared with the prior art which is shown in  FIG. 1 , it can be seen here that the roof lining  28  can be arranged significantly closer to the front end of the roof opening  14  (to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). As a result, by means of the invention, the clear width of the roof opening  14  is increased in relation to the assembly known from the prior art. 
         [0042]    As it moves into the closed setting, the sunshade element  16  approaches the roof lining  28  until, in the closed position, the front end  18  of the sunshade element  16  is in direct contact with a section of the roof lining  28 . It would self-evidently also be possible at this juncture for a different stop to be provided on some component, which is fixed with respect to the vehicle, other than the roof lining  28 . 
         [0043]    The sunshade element  16  may be a roller blind which is held at its other end (not shown) in a folded or wound manner, though said sunshade element  16  may also be a rigid component which is displaced under the roof skin. 
         [0044]    In the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the bow  20  is connected, in the region of the front end  18  of the sunshade element  16  (which is merely indicated here), to the drive element  22  in such a way as to be mounted linearly movably with respect thereto. In this case, the drive element  22  is a cable which is guided to be resistant to tension and rigid in compression. 
         [0045]    The bow  20  has a fastening section  30  which engages around the drive element  22  and which is fastened to an elastic intermediate element  32 , which is designed as a spiral spring. The elastic intermediate element  32  in turn extends between the fastening section  30  on the bow  20  and a stop  34  which is fixed to the drive element, to which stop  34  said elastic intermediate element  32  is likewise fastened. The bow  20  can be moved along the drive element  22  counter to the spring force of the elastic intermediate element  32 , in particular in the direction of the stop  34 , that is to say to the right in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0046]    Here, the bow  20  and the sunshade element  16  are rigidly connected to one another. 
         [0047]    The drive element  22  preferably runs in a guide rail (not shown). Normally, in each case one drive element  22  is provided in a guide rail at each side of the sunshade element  16 . This design may also be used here. 
         [0048]    During a movement of the sunshade element  16  in the closing direction toward the closed setting (to the left in  FIG. 3 ), the drive  24  exerts tension on the drive element  22  and, via the latter, on the bow  20  and the sunshade element  16 . 
         [0049]    The spring force of the elastic intermediate element  32  is selected to be greater than the force required for moving the sunshade element  16  out of its open setting into the closed setting. During said movement, the sunshade element  16  is thus moved as if the bow  20  were rigidly connected to the drive element  22 . 
         [0050]    During the course of the closing movement, the front end  18  of the sunshade element  16  comes into contact with the stop  26 , which is formed here by a section of the roof lining  28 . The front end  18  has thereby reached its closed position, and the drive element  22  has reached its ideal end setting E i . However, the drive  24  is set up such that the movement of the drive element  22  in the closing direction is continued beyond said ideal end setting E i . The drive moves the drive element  22  onward in the closing direction until it has reached a predetermined end setting E v . 
         [0051]    The two end settings E i , E v  are schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3  at the rear free end of the drive element  22 . 
         [0052]    The presetting of the predetermined end setting E v  is carried out, for example, by predefining the number of revolutions of an electric motor which forms the drive  24 . Depending on the tolerances of the positions of the sunshade element  16  and of the drive element  22  or else on the accuracy of the winding of the wound-up part of a roller blind, the predefined end setting E v  varies within a tolerance range T, which amounts to approximately 10 mm. 
         [0053]    The intermediate element  32  is designed such that, as a result of its compression, it can fully compensate this tolerance range T. In physical terms, it is self-evidently always only the present difference D between the preset end setting E v  and the ideal end setting E i  that is compensated. 
         [0054]    The compression of the elastic intermediate element  32  takes place by virtue of the sunshade element  16  being restrained, at its front end  18 , on the stop  26 , as a result of which the bow  20  is also fixedly held in said position. Since the bow  20  is movable relative to the drive element  22 , the drive element  22  moves relative to the bow  20  to the left (in  FIG. 3 ). Here, the elastic intermediate element  32  is compressed. Said movement takes place until the drive element  22  has assumed the predetermined end setting E v . 
         [0055]    Since the ideal end setting E i  is always overshot, it is always ensured that the front end  18  of the sunshade element  16  actually comes into contact with the stop  26  and the roof opening  14  is thereby closed off without any gaps. 
         [0056]    If the sunshade element  16  is moved into its open setting again in order to open up the roof opening  14 , the drive  24  moves the drive element  22  in the opposite direction (to the right in  FIG. 3 ). The elastic intermediate element  32  firstly relaxes such that the bow  20  is restored into its initial position, and the entire group composed of drive element  22 , intermediate element  32 , bow  20  and sunshade element  16  is subsequently moved onward together, without relative movement, in the opening direction. 
         [0057]    Optionally, a second elastic intermediate element  35  may be provided which is arranged between the bow  20  and a front stop which is fastened to the drive element  22 . In the example illustrated, the intermediate element  35  (likewise a spiral spring here) is compressed at the end of the opening movement when the bow  20  has abutted against a stop. Tolerance compensation is thus obtained during the opening movement, too, by means of a further movement of the drive element  22 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 4 to 7  show a second embodiment in which an elastic intermediate element  132  is arranged between the front end  18  of the sunshade element  16  and a bow  120 . 
         [0059]    The sunshade element  16  has, at its front end  18 , a closure element  140  which is designed as a rigid component which extends over the entire width of the sunshade element  16 . The closure element  140  and the bow  120  are designed so as to be movable relative to one another. In this case, the drive element  22  is fixedly connected to the bow  120 , such that the latter is movable neither relative to the body of the sunshade element  16  nor relative to the drive element  22 . 
         [0060]    A plurality of elastic intermediate elements  132  are provided, in this case five, which are arranged adjacent to one another so as to be distributed uniformly over the width of the sunshade element  16 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The intermediate elements  132  are all arranged between the closure element  140  and the bow  120 . 
         [0061]    The closure element  140  and the bow  120  are connected to one another by first and second guide parts  142 ,  144  in such a way as to be linearly movable relative to one another in a guided fashion. Here, the first guide parts  142  are formed by webs, one for each elastic intermediate element  132 , which webs are formed in one piece with the closure element  140  and project from the latter in the movement direction. Arranged around each of the webs is one of the intermediate elements  132 , which in this case are designed as spiral springs. 
         [0062]    In each case corresponding recesses are formed, as second guide parts  144 , in the bow  120 , into which recesses the webs project. In this way, the bow  120  and the closure element  140  are movable relative to one another, but are connected to one another so as to be guided in terms of their movement. 
         [0063]    Formed at the front end of each of the recesses in the bow  120  is a stop  146  against which an end of the elastic intermediate element  132  bears. 
         [0064]    During a relative movement of the closure element  140  and bow  120  toward one another, the elastic intermediate element  132  is compressed. When the exerted force is decreased, the intermediate element  132  relaxes and pushes the bow  120  and closure element  140  apart again until they reach the original initial position in which the intermediate element  132  is relaxed. 
         [0065]    It would self-evidently also be possible to provide more or fewer elastic intermediate elements  132  or for the webs and recesses to be formed in a reversed arrangement. 
         [0066]    For closing, the sunshade element  16  is moved to the left in  FIGS. 4 and 6  by the drive  24  (not shown here) until the front end  18  comes into contact with the stop  26 . The sunshade element  16  has thereby reached its closed position. However, the drive  24  moves the drive element  22  onward in the closing direction. In this way, the bow  120  which is fixedly connected to the drive element  22  is also moved further to the left in the closing direction. The force exerted by the drive  24  is now absorbed by the intermediate elements  132 , which are compressed such that a relative movement between the bow  120  and closure element  140  takes place, with the closure element  140  not being moved. The movement ends when the drive element  22  has reached its predetermined end setting E v  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0067]    During the movement in the opposite direction for opening the sunshade element  16 , the drive  24  moves the drive element  22  in the opposite direction, to the right in  FIGS. 4 to 6 . Here, firstly the elastic intermediate elements  132  are relaxed, such that the bow  120  and closure element  140  assume their initial position relative to one another again, and the sunshade element  16  is subsequently moved into its open setting. 
         [0068]    Here,  FIG. 4  shows the invention for a rigid sunshade element  16 , for example in the form of a sunroof, while  FIG. 6  shows the implementation for a flexible roller blind, which at its second end is arranged in a roller blind winding. 
         [0069]    Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.