Adjusting device for a roof cap of a collapsible roof

A collapsible roof for a vehicle includes a roof guide, a roof cap, a top fabric, and an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism movably couples the roof cap to the roof guide such that the roof cap with the top fabric are movable relative to the roof guide between a closed position in which the top fabric covers a roof opening and an opened position in which the top fabric exposes the roof opening. The adjusting mechanism includes front and rear control arms coupled to the roof cap. The front control arm includes a locking hook and the rear control arm includes a latching hook. The locking hook engages a front cavity of the roof guide in the closed position to fix the roof cap in place and the latching hook engages a rear cavity of the roof guide in the opened position to fix the roof cap in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2010 056 246.7, filed Dec. 24, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adjusting device for a roof cap of a collapsible roof of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A type of a collapsible roof (i.e., a folding top) for a vehicle includes a top fabric and a roof cap. The front of the top fabric is wrapped around the roof cap and fixed on the underside of the roof cap. The rear of the top fabric is mounted to the rear of the vehicle body by a tensioning stay or a corner bow. The roof (including the top fabric with the roof cap) is movable between a closed position in which the top fabric covers a roof opening of the vehicle and an opened position in which the top fabric with the roof cap are moved rearward away from the roof opening to thereby expose the roof opening.

When the roof starts to open from the closed position to the opened position, the roof cap is lifted out of its forward position such that tension of the top fabric is released. Such tension of the top fabric secures and seals the closure of the roof opening. The roof cap is lifted so that stress on the seal in the contact region of the roof cap is kept as small as possible. During the roof opening process, the roof cap remains in a position slightly above the set position and is displaced into the rear region of the roof opening by lateral guides and guiding elements. The top fabric is thereby folded over cross bows of the roof such that in the opened position the top fabric is folded and stacked over itself in the rear region of the vehicle body with the roof cap placed on the folded top fabric.

The roof is fixed with respect to the vehicle body through a securing mechanism of the roof cap when the roof is in the opened position. The securing mechanism also fixes the roof cap in its forward position when the roof is in the closed position. In order to design the motions required for these purposes, an adjusting mechanism and guide elements of the roof are equipped with positive guides inside lateral guide rails. These mechanisms can be expensive and complicated depending on the predetermined motions and pivoting actions. As such, these mechanisms can have many components including components that frequently penetrate into and are lockable with one another. Many of the components are delicately designed and can easily be damaged under high load conditions. A danger is thus present that breakdown can occur during the complicated locking and actuation processes of such components. The components often transmit relatively large forces so they are manufactured from suitable materials. Such guiding and locking components are costly to manufacture due to the delicate design, expensive materials, and complicated mechanisms.

DE 10 2009 009 349 A1 describes a collapsible roof having a roof cap and a top fabric. The roof cap and the top fabric are pushed rearward when the roof is moved from the closed position towards the opened position. The roof cap first undergoes a vertical motion during the opening process. The slider has a slotted link in which a slider of a rod element is gripped and guided. The rod element is coupled with the rod-shaped support of the roof cap such that the slider is pushed towards the rear of the vehicle during the roof opening process. The roof cap is thereby moved and lifted by the slotted link. The slider has an unlocking contour on its lower side. The contour actuates a locking mechanism as a consequence of the displacement motion (after closing the roof cap). This retracts a locking bar from a locking aperture of the guide rail. Through this unlocking procedure, the guide element (a slider) is released in its direction of horizontal displacement so that the roof cap and the top fabric can be pushed into the rear of the roof opening.

DE 10 2007 047 457 B4 describes a roof having a roof part which can be displaced and pivoted by storage equipment on a guide of the roof. The roof is moved by a drive apparatus along the guide, which engages through a control apparatus that acts on a section of the path of motion of the roof part and controls the storage equipment. The roof part is pivoted into its angle of tilt relative to the guide. The control apparatus has a stop on the guide that coordinates the pivoting movement of the storage equipment. The roof part is mounted by two control arms on a slider that can be displaced along the guide tracks of guide rails. A hook-shaped locking element is in the front region of the slider with which the roof part can be fixed when the roof is in the closed position. The drive for displacing the roof part and the top fabric mounted thereon operates through a drive cable. The drive cable can be displaced in both the forward and rearward vehicle travel directions.

EP 0 347 859 B1 describes a roof having a roof cap and a top fabric. The roof cap has fasteners on its side ends on which two control arms are pivotably attached. The control arms are mounted on a displaceable slider. A control arm has a contact pin that penetrates into a slotted link of the guide rail. The control arm is forcibly guided by the contact pin and the slotted link according to the shape and path of the slotted link. Thereby, the roof cap may be lifted and maintain this position during the roof opening process. The slider can be displaced by a cable pull in either direction of vehicle travel. The slider is mounted with suitable cutouts in a guide rail. The guide of the slider passes parallel to the guide rail for controlling the roof cap. Locking in the opened position is carried out through the tension of the cable. No provision is made for an additional locking procedure using locking elements in either of the opened or closed positions. The locking of the roof cap is achieved by the forced guiding of the slotted link.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,475 describes a roof having movable flat roof parts. The roof parts are pivotable about a transverse axis located perpendicular to the longitudinal vehicle axis such that their respective ends can be lifted. Sliders can be displaced in side rails in the longitudinal vehicle direction. The rails are connected rigidly with the vehicle body in the region of the roof opening. They are guided and held in place according to the respective sliders by guide contours through supports of the sliders connected to the roof parts. The adjusting kinematics for adjusting the sliders are thereby achieved by the shape of the rails and the sliders that slide in them.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention includes a collapsible roof (i.e., a folding top) for a vehicle in which the adjustment and locking of the roof in either the closed position or the opened position is accomplished in a cost effective manner by a simplified mechanism having a relatively small amount of components.

In carrying out at least one of the above and other objects, the present invention provides a collapsible roof for a vehicle. The roof includes a roof guide extending along a side of a roof opening, a roof cap, a top fabric attached to the roof cap, and an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism movably couples the roof cap to the roof guide such that the roof cap with the top fabric is movable relative to the roof guide between a closed position in which the top fabric covers the roof opening and an opened position in which the top fabric with the roof cap are moved rearward away from the roof opening to thereby expose the roof opening. The adjusting mechanism includes front and rear control arms pivotably coupled to the roof cap. The front control arm includes a locking hook and the rear control arm includes a latching hook. The locking hook of the front control arm engages a front cavity of the roof guide in the closed position to fix the roof cap in place and the latching hook of the rear control arm engages a rear cavity of the roof guide in the opened position to fix the roof cap in place.

Further, in carrying out at least one of the above and other objects, the present invention provides a vehicle having a collapsible roof. The roof includes a roof guide extending along a side of a roof opening of the vehicle. The roof further includes a roof cap, a top fabric attached to the roof cap, and the adjusting mechanism described above.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a collapsible roof (i.e., a folding top) for a vehicle. The roof includes a top fabric and a roof cap. The front of the top fabric is attached to the roof cap. For example, the top fabric transitions into the roof cap in the forward direction of vehicle travel. The rear of the top fabric is mounted to the vehicle body, for example, by a tensioning stay or a corner bow. The roof (including the top fabric with the roof cap) is movable between a closed position in which the top fabric covers a roof opening of the vehicle and an opened position in which the top fabric with the roof cap are moved away from the roof opening to thereby expose the roof opening.

The roof further includes a roof guide having front and rear guide rails. The roof guide is on one side of the roof opening and another similar roof guide is on the other side of the roof opening. The front guide rail extends along the roof opening. The rear guide rail extends along a C-pillar of the vehicle. The rear of the front guide rail transitions into the front of the rear guide rail.

The roof further includes an adjusting device for the roof cap. The adjusting device includes front and rear control arms, a cam slider, and a guide element. The control arms are pivotably mounted at one end to the roof cap. The slider and the guide element are positioned within the guide rails. The slider with the guide element is movable along the guide rails inside of the guide rails. The front control arm includes a slotted opening. The slider includes a cam pin. The cam pin is engaged with the slotted opening such that the slider is movably coupled by the front control arm along the guide rails. The slider moves along a guide rail as the roof cap moves when the roof moves between the closed and opened positions.

Upon the roof moving from the closed position towards the opened position, the roof cap initially experiences a vertical movement after which the roof cap can be pushed rearward along the guide rails. In the closed position, the adjusting device locks the roof cap in its lowered, forward position to the front guide rail. In particular, a locking hook of the front control arm engages a cavity of the front guide rail. In the opened position, the adjusting device locks the roof cap in its rearward position on the folded fabric top to the rear guide rail.

The control arms form a four-bar kinematic linkage configured to move the roof cap into the vertically raised position upon the roof being moved from the closed position towards the opened position. The roof cap is lifted and displaced along the guide rails by the slider. For the vertical lifting of the roof cap, the locking hook of the front control arm is withdrawn from the cavity of the front guide rail.

The roof cap is rigid. For instance, the roof cap is made of sheet-metal or plastic. The roof cap is mounted at its side ends through pivot axes that can be moved on the control arms. The top fabric is attached to the roof cap in the front region of the top fabric so that in the closed position the tension of the top fabric for sealing the roof opening is achieved through the end position of the roof cap. In the closed position, the front region of the roof cap bears upon a seal that is positioned in the roof opening. The roof cap causes a slight deformation of the seal that is generally fabricated from elastic materials to achieve a tight seal. In order to prevent damage or severe wear of the seal, it is advantageous that the roof cap is lifted at the onset of the opening process of the roof. A simple displacement of the roof cap could damage or wear the seal.

In the closed position, the roof cap is to be fixed and locked. Typical locking mechanisms for this purpose are complicated and expensive. Locking bolts or special locking mechanisms are integrated as additional mechanical and structural parts in the roof guide region. In an embodiment of the present invention, the front control arm exhibits a locking hook. In the closed position, the locking hook engages an opening of the front guide rail to thereby fix the roof cap in position. This assures that the pressure force on the seal required in the closed position is achieved and that the tension for sealing is applied to the top fabric. In addition, an unintentional opening of the roof while driving is prevented in this manner.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the roof cap is pivotably mounted in its side end regions through the two control arms. Both control arms are pivotably attached to their ends that point away from the roof cap on the guide element. The control arms and the guide element can be fabricated from metal or plastic. The guide element is contained in the roof guide and the control arms are at least partially contained in the roof guide. The rear control arm has an end that extends beyond the pivot axis of the rear control arm on the guide element. In the opened position. The end is hook shaped. In the opened position, the hooked end of the rear control arm penetrates into a cavity in the rear guide rail such that the roof cap and the folded top fabric are fixed in position. The shape of the hook and the cavity are matched to one another so that the hook moves the rear control arm relatively with respect to the front control arm when the hook penetrates into the cavity such that the roof cap is pivoted by its front edge in the direction of forward vehicle travel. The roof stored in this manner can have individual folds and/or a Z-fold. The top fabric and roof cap are collected into a compact end position by the pivoting of the roof cap.

As described, in order to fix the roof cap in the closed and opened positions, the roof cap is locked respectively by a locking hook of the front control arm to a cavity of the front guide rail and by a hooked end of the rear control arm to a cavity of the rear guide rail. The movement of the roof cap takes place through the control arms, the cam slider, and the guide element. The control arms form a 4-bar linkage. The movement of the roof is produced through a slotted link formed in the front control arm by the cam slider. The cam slider has a cam (pin) that penetrates into the slotted link of the front control arm. The cam slider is moved by a tensioning cable in either the forward or rearward direction of vehicle motion. The tensioning cable can be a Bowden cable or a threaded cable.

The entire actuating mechanism and locking mechanism of the roof thus includes four components (the front and rear control arms, the cam slider, and the guide element). These components are at least partially contained inside the guide rails of the roof guide. These components can be positioned in the region of the roof guide to some extent both end-to-end and side-by-side. As such, a compact embodiment of this locking mechanism and actuating mechanism is achieved. Through this simple design for the locking and actuating mechanism, the front and rear guide rails of the roof guide can be designed simply in their respective shape and composition. The front guide rail is oriented along the roof opening in an essentially horizontal direction. The rear guide rail has a curved shape corresponding to the C-pillar of the vehicle.

The roof guide can be provided with a seal in the contact region with the top fabric. By the design of the shape, particularly of the guide element and the cam slider, the contact regions of these components with the roof guide can be kept relatively small so that only small frictional forces are anticipated during the movement and actuation. Cross bows oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal vehicle direction can be provided along the roof. The cross bows determine the fold pattern of the top fabric in the opened position and thus the shape of the storage compartment for the top fabric. The cross bows can be mounted and guided on additional guide elements in the roof guide and the guide elements and their neighboring guide elements used for initiating a movement can come into contact when the top fabric is opened and folded.

The above features, and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the features stated above and to be explained below may be used not only in the particular stated combination, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in greater detail in the following description. Identical, similar, or functionally equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, a side view of a collapsible roof (i.e., a folding top) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in shown. The roof includes a roof guide1, a roof cap5, a top fabric4, and an adjusting mechanism6for roof cap5. The front of top fabric4is attached to roof cap5. The rear of top fabric4is mounted to the vehicle body (not shown), for example, by a tensioning stay or a corner bow. The roof (including top fabric4with roof cap5) is movable between a closed position in which top fabric4covers a roof opening of a vehicle and an opened position in which top fabric4with roof cap5are moved away from the roof opening to thereby expose the roof opening. InFIG. 1, the roof is in the closed position. In the closed position, top fabric4is stretched over the roof opening and roof cap5seals off the roof opening with its front end46such that a flush transition/path results between the roof, roof cap5, and top fabric4in the transition region.

During the opening of the roof, roof cap5is moved rearward (i.e., opposite to the direction of forward vehicle motion2) along roof guide1. Roof guide1includes a pair of guide rails7which include a front guide rail8and a rear guide rail9. Front guide rail8is oriented essentially horizontally. Front guide rail8is guided into rear guide rail9at its rear end pointing opposite to the direction of forward vehicle motion2. Rear guide rail9is an extension of front guide rail8. The free end of rear guide rail9points in the direction of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Rear guide rail9is correspondingly matched to the shape of C-pillar3of the vehicle. As a result, only the bodywork and top fabric4can be seen in the closed position.

In order to open or close the roof, adjusting mechanism6is moved by a tensioning cable (Bowden cable or threaded cable) along guide rails8,9. The roof can assume an arbitrary number of intermediate positions in addition to the closed and opened positions. Guide rails8,9are connected to the vehicle body in the opened region of the roof opening. Both the roof opening and regions of guide rails8,9can be provided for mounting gaskets. Guide rails8,9may be designed so that water penetrating into this region can be collected by a gutter and removed.

In order to open or close the roof, adjusting mechanism6is connected to roof cap5. Adjusting mechanism6is shown in an enlarged view inFIG. 2with the roof being in the closed position and roof cap5being locked in place. Roof cap5is locked in place to front guide rail8. Front edge46of roof cap5bears on a pre-tensioned sealing gasket in the region of the roof opening (not shown). Top fabric4is tightened over the roof opening in this position.

Front guide rail8, which follows the course of the roof opening, is limited by its end that is shown in the direction of vehicle travel2near front edge46of roof cap5. Front and rear guide rails8,9have profiles suitable for accommodating sliders and guide elements.

Adjusting mechanism6includes a front control arm25, a rear control arm35, a cam slider17, and a guide element42. Roof cap5is positioned or moved by control arms25,35. Control arms25,35are mounted inside roof guide1on guide element42with pivot axes31,37. Control arms25,35are pivotably connected to roof cap5with pivot axes30,41in the side end region of roof cap5.

Front control arm25is pivotably mounted with pivot axis30in the front third of roof cap5. The end of front control arm25shown opposite to the direction of vehicle travel2is pivotably connected to guide element42with pivot axis31. Front control arm25has a slotted link26lying approximately in its longitudinal dimension. Slotted link26is designed in its position and course of motion to correspond to the desired movements of roof cap5. The lower region of front control arm25includes a locking hook28. Locking hook28penetrates into a cavity29of front guide rail8when the roof is in the closed position in order to lock roof5in a lowered, forward position (shown inFIG. 2). The locking of roof5to front guide rail8, and thus the fixing of the entire roof in the closed position, is designated by27. The positioning of front control arm25in the closed position is caused by the constraint of the lower rear region of front control arm25between locking hook28and pivot axis31with lower boundary15of front guide rail8.

The opening or closing movement of adjusting mechanism6is produced by cam slider17. Cam slider17corresponds in its vertical dimension to the inner dimensions of roof guide1. Cam slider17is connected to a suitable drive unit through a tensioning cable or threaded cable (not shown). Cam slider17is designed to reduce sliding friction with a cavity21in the region of lower boundary15of front guide rail8so that only the front or rear region of cam slider17is in contact with lower boundary15of front guide rail8. On its upper boundary, cam slider17includes a cutout so that, due to cutout18, the upper edge of cam slider17is designed as a thin bridge. This results in spring19, which is in contact with upper boundary16of front guide rail8as a thin convex bridge. An underlying tension is produced by spring19between cam slider17and roof guide1so that cam slider17is permanently subjected to a uniform pressure force in roof guide1.

The rear region of cam slider17includes a cam20. Cam20is a pin or sliding element that penetrates into slotted link26of front control arm25. When cam slider17is moved in the opposite direction to vehicle travel2, front control arm25is pivoted upwardly about pivot axis31by the engagement of cam20in slotted link26so that roof cap5experiences a vertical upward rising motion as the initial motion. This motion is transmitted through roof cap5and pivot axis41on rear control arm35that then pivots vertically upward about pivot axis37.

Shown in the direction opposite to vehicle travel2, rear control arm35extends above pivot axis37. The extension is shaped as a hook36at its end. The end of hook36is shaped like contact region45. The extension of rear control arm35forms a stop between rear control arm35and upper boundary16of roof guide1. During the opening of the roof, a further upward motion of roof cap5is prevented by the contact of contact region45of hook46at lower boundary15of front guide rail8. When the roof is in the closed position, contact region45of hook36is separated from lower boundary15.

Both control arms25,35are separated from one another by pivot axes31,37that are pivotably mounted on guide element42. Analogous to cam slider17, guide element42includes a cavity38in its lower region to reduce friction with lower boundary15of front guide rail8. As such, a direct contact with front guide rail8occurs only in the front and rear end region of guide element42. Guide element42is likewise provided with a cutout39on its end shown pointing upwards arranged near its upper edge. A thin, bridge-shaped connecting element remains in the direction of upper boundary16of front guide rail8, which is designed as a spring40. As with cam slider17, spring40produces a permanent pressure force on upper boundary16of front guide rail8so that guide element42can also be held under pretension and displaced in guide rails8,9during opening or closing movement of the roof.

InFIG. 3, the roof is beginning to be moved from the closed position towards an opened position and roof cap5is lifted by adjusting mechanism6out of its lowered, forward position. Cam slider17is moved in this manner in the direction opposite to vehicle travel2with cam20being moved in the slotted link26of front control arm25approximately in the middle position of slotted link26. By this motion, front control arm25is pivoted vertically upwards and locking hook28of front control arm25is moved out of cavity29of front guide rail8. The locking of roof cap5in the closed position is thereby released so that roof cap5and top fabric4can be displaced by a further movement that acts in the direction opposite to vehicle travel2in the direction of the rear of the vehicle.

The vertical pivoting of front control arm25is transmitted through pivot axes30,41to rear control arm35. Rear control arm35is pivoted vertically upwards approximately parallel to front control arm25. The control arm that projects over pivot axis37thereby strikes in contact region45of hook36on lower boundary15of front guide rail8. This boundary prevents further movement of roof cap5in the upward direction. In addition to the vertical lifting of roof cap5in the upward direction, front edge46of roof cap5points downwardly and thus roof cap5is brought into a forwardly tilted position through the four-bar linkage of control arms25,35. Because of this slanted orientation of roof cap5, top fabric4connected to roof cap5is moved in a predetermined folded arrangement during a further movement to open the roof.

InFIG. 4, the roof is near the opened position. As such,FIG. 4illustrates adjusting mechanism6and roof cap5in the rear region of roof guide1(i.e., in the region of rear guide rail9) shortly before the roof reaches the opened position. Adjusting mechanism6moves with roof cap5from its approximately horizontal orientation into a vertical position through the course of rear guide rail9. The described dependencies and positions of the components of adjusting mechanism6remain unchanged as inFIG. 3. Hook36of rear control arm35rests in contact region45on lower boundary15of rear guide rail9. As a result, analogous toFIG. 3, the instantaneous pivotability of roof cap5is restricted. Due to this contact of hook36with lower boundary15of rear guide rail9, further pivoting is prevented, for example, when roof cap5is impacted by the dynamic wind pressure opposite the direction of travel2. However, if roof cap5is impacted by a force (dynamic wind pressure) in the direction of vehicle motion2, then hook36can be lifted out of its contact region45on lower boundary15. In order to also limit movement of roof cap5in this situation, locking hook28bears on lower boundary15of guide rails8,9in the form of a stop to thereby prevent movement of roof cap5.

InFIGS. 5 and 6, the roof is in the opened position, designated by50. When the opened position has been reached, latching hook36of the extension of rear control arm35engages in cavity51of lower boundary15of rear guide rail9. Adjusting mechanism6is latched in the opened position by this penetration of latching hook36into cavity51of rear guide rail9. Rear control arm35pivots as long as the rear region of rear control arm35with hook36is in contact with a boundary of cavity51. A further possible restriction of this motion of roof cap5is achieved by front control arm25being pivoted in a nearly orthogonal position with respect to rear guide rail9. This occurs when cam slider17is moved toward the point of contact with guide element42. Front control arm25is pivoted by cam20and its engagement in slotted link26. Additional pivoting of front control arm25or rear control arm35is no longer possible in this position since roof cap5movement is limited by the contact of cam slider17and by the contact of hook36in cavity region51of rear guide rail9. Top fabric4is already multiply folded on top of itself in this situation. For example, a Z-fold of top fabric4is achieved. Due to the lever ratio of front control arm25to rear control arm35and pivot axes31and37, roof cap5experiences a pivoting motion with front edge46of roof cap5being pivoted out of its vertical position upwardly nearly into a horizontal position as shown in the direction of vehicle travel2.

As shown inFIG. 6, cam slider17is in the contact region with respect to guide element42. Latching hook36concurrently extends through cavity51of rear guide rail9. Fixing of the roof in the opened position is assured by this latching of hook36in cavity51. Both locking hooks36and28can be secured by additional blocking mechanisms for both the opened and closed positions. Both cam slider17and guide element42can be locked by separate locking mechanisms through the side region of the front and rear guide rails8,9. In the position of roof cap5shown inFIG. 5, front control arm25nearly forms an angle of 45° with respect to rear control arm35. Its dimensions and positioning depends on the lever ratios between pivot axes30to31and41to37. It is also possible to adapt the end position of roof cap5accordingly.

Control arms25,35and cam slider17and guide element42can be fabricated from metal and plastic. A selection from plastic materials having reduced sliding friction inside roof guide1is advantageous for cam slider17and guide element42.