Fastening of inner roof covering of motor vehicles

A fastening arrangement of the inner roof covering of motor vehicles in which the edge area of the roof covering is constructed either U-shaped or L-shaped and is fixed by suspension at a mounting bar secured at the inner roof edge area of the vehicle; the mounting bar is provided with angularly bent flanges for receiving an elastic seal that serves simultaneously as positional retention means of the suspended area of the roof covering.

The present invention relates to a fastening of the inner roof covering of 
motor vehicles. 
The present invention is concerned with the task to provide a fastening of 
the roof ceiling of motor vehicles which is constructed in a simple 
manner, enables a rapid assembly and in case of repair also disassembly of 
the roof ceiling, and which does not appear otically in a disturbing 
manner in the interior space of the vehicle. 
The underlying problems are solved according to the present invention in 
that the edge area of the roof covering is constructed U-shaped or 
L-shaped and is fixed by suspension at a mounting bar preferably 
consisting of synthetic plastic material and secured at the inner roof 
edge area of the vehicle, and in that the mounting bar includes angularly 
bent flanges for receiving an elastic seal which simultaneously serves as 
positional retention means of the suspended area of the roof covering. 
Preferably, the U-shaped or L-shaped edge area is thereby formed by a 
retaining rail consisting of synthetic resinous material and connected 
with the roof covering, for example, by welding or gluing. 
A particularly simple fastening of a roof covering with a U-shaped edge 
area, which also serves the inner safety of the vehicle, is achieved if 
the edge area embraces or extends about an outwardly pointing flange of 
the mounting bar. 
A rapid assembly and secure fastening of a roof covering with an L-shaped 
edge area is achieved in that the free leg of the L-shaped mounting rail 
terminates in a thickened portion, for example, arrowhead-shaped and after 
the assembly is held under stress between two projecting legs of the 
mounting bar. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
fastening of the inner roof covering of motor vehicles which avoids by 
simple means the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in 
the prior art. 
Another object of the present invention resides in a fastening arrangement 
for the inner roof covering of motor vehicles which is simple in 
construction and enables a rapid installation and disassembly in case of 
repair of the roof covering. 
A further object of the present invention resides in a fastening 
arrangement of the inner roof covering of motor vehicles which does not 
appear optically disturbingly in the interior space of the vehicle. 
Still a further object of the present invention resides in a fastening 
arrangement of the inner roof covering of motor vehicles which is not only 
particularly simple but also serves to improve the inner safety of the 
passengers.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used 
throughout the two views to designate like parts, and more particularly to 
FIG. 1, a roof frame generally designated by reference numeral 2 is 
provided in this figure below a roof outer cover panel 1; the roof frame 2 
is formed by a roof frame inner sheet metal member 3 and by a closure 
sheet metal member 4. A mounting and retaining bar 5 preferably consisting 
of synthetic resinous material is threadably connected with the sheet 
metal members 3 and 4 which serves for the accommodation and mounting of 
an elastic seal 7 required, for example, for sealing frameless door 
windows 6. For purposes of fastening the roof covering 8 which within its 
edge area is connected, for example, by welding with the U-shaped mounting 
rail 9 consisting of synthetic resinous material, the mounting bar 5 
includes an outwardly pointing flange 10 which is surrounded by the 
U-shaped mounting rail 9 after the assembly of the roof covering 8. The 
elastic seal 7 thereby serves simultaneously for securing the position of 
the U-shaped retaining or mounting rail 9. 
In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2 of the 
drawing, the construction of the roof frame corresponds exactly to that of 
FIG. 1. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are used for 
corresponding parts. However, the fastening of the roof covering 8 is 
solved in a different manner from that in the embodiment illustrated in 
FIG. 1. More particularly, the roof covering 8 of FIG. 2 is welded 
together in its edge area with an L-shaped mounting rail 11 which 
terminates at its free leg in a thickened portion, for example, in the 
shape of an arrowhead. This free leg is slid during the assembly between 
the two legs 13 and 14 projecting from the mounting bar 12 and is retained 
thereat under stress. Also in this embodiment of the present invention, 
the elastic seal 7 serves for the additional positional retention of the 
roof covering 8. 
While I have shown and described only two embodiments in accordance with 
the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited 
thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known 
to those skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to 
the details shownand described herein but intend to cover all such changes 
and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.