OPEN ROOF CONSTRUCTION FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract: The invention relates to an open roof construction for a vehicle with a roof opening (1), comprising a panel (3), which closes the roof opening (1) in its closed position and which is movable from this closed position to an opened position, and back, while for displacing the panel (3) a push-pull means (4) on at least one side engages a slidable element (6), which is guided in a substantially horizontal rail (7) of a stationary guide (8), the panel (3) engaging a support means (13) near its front side, which support means (13) adjusts the height of the front side of the panel (3) when the panel (3) is moved from its closed position. Ac­ cording to the invention the support means (13) is in engagement with the slidable element (6) as well as with the stationary guide (8) in such manner that, when the slidable element (6) is dis­ placed in the foremost position of the panel (3) the support means (13) moves with respect to the slidable element (6) as well as with respect to the stationary guide (8).

Description: The invention relates to an open roof construction with a roof opening, comprising a panel which closes the roof opening in its closed position and which is movable from this closed position to an opened position, and back, while for displacing the panel a push-pull means on at least one side engages a slidable element, which is guided in a substantial­ ly horizontal rail of a stationary guide, the panel engaging a support means near its front side, which support means ad­ justs the height of the front side of the panel when the panel is moved from its closed position. In a known embodiment of such an open roof construc­ tion the panel is supported at its front side by the slidable element which extends far forwardly. However, this known open roof construction has the disadvantage that the slidable element occupies a lot of space at the front side of the open roof construction if the slidable element produces a great forward displacement. It is an object of the present invention to provide an open roof construction, in which the above mentioned dis­ advantage is removed in an efficient way. For this purpose the open roof construction accord­ ing to the invention is characterized in that the support means is in engagement with the slidable element as well as with the stationary guide in such manner that when the slid­ able element is being displaced in the foremost position of the panel the support means moves with respect to the slid­ able element as well as with respect to the stationary guide. In this way the slidable element adjusts the support means, wherein a displacement of the slidable element results in a smaller displacement of the support means, so that it requires less space at the front said of the open roof con­ struction. The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to the drawings, which show an embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention by way of example. Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a por­ tion of an embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention, wherein several parts are shown separately from each other. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the portion of the open roof construction of Fig. 1 in the downwardly moved position of the panel. Fig. 3 is a schematic side view corresponding with Fig. 2, wherein, however, the panel is shown in its closed position. Fig. 4 is a schematic side view corresponding with Fig. 2 and 3, and shows the panel in its ventilation position. The drawings show by way of example an embodiment of an open roof construction for a vehicle, which is provided with an opening 1 in the fixed roof 2. This open roof construction comprises a panel 3, which can be moved from its closed position in the roof ope­ ning 1 (Fig. 3) into a downwardly moved position (Fig. 2), in which the panel can be slid backwardly under the fixed roof 2 to a wholly or partly open position and can be moved forward­ ly again to the closed position. The panel 3 can further be moved from its closed position to a backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilation position (Fig 4) and from this position may be moved back again to the closed position. For displacing the panel 3 a cable-like push-pull means 4 has been provided at least at one side but in general at either side of the open roof construction, which push-pull means 4 can be displaced by an actuating member (not illu­ strated) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and engages a bracket 5 on a slide plate 6 that is guided in a substantially horizontal rail 7 which forms a part of a stationary guide 8. In general at either side of the vehicle such sta­ tionary guide 8 has been arranged, each guide guiding a slide plate 6 disposed at the respective side of the vehicle, while each slide plate can be moved by its own cable-like push-pull means 4 in its stationary guide 8 and both push-pull means can be commonly displaced. In the embodiment represented in the drawings al­ ways only one slide plate 6 and the stationary guide 8 dis­ posed at one side of the vehicle as well as the elements co­ operating therewith the hereinafter further described have been shown it being understood that in general at the other side of the vehicle similar elements have been used which constitute the mirror image of the elements represented in the drawings. At a distance behind the front side of the panel 3 the panel 3 and the slide plate 6 are connected with each other by means of a connection means known per se, for in­ stance from the European patent application No. ......., which therefore is not shown and will not be elucidated. At the lower side of the panel 3 a section 9 is mounted which is provided with a bracket 10 near the front side of the panel 3. The lower free end of this bracket 10 carries a transverse pivot pin 11, which pivotably and slid­ ably engages a guide slot 12 of a support means 13. The guide slot 12 has a stepped configuration and includes a backwardly and upwardly inclined front portion 12', a substantially horizontal part 12'' joining the front side thereof, and a backwardly and upwardly inclined rear portion 12''' joining the rear side of the horizontal part. In the position of the panel 3 between the closed position and the ventilation position the bracket 10 is guided near its lower side in a groove 22 in the support means 13, whereby in these positions the pivot pin 11 on the bracket 10 is additionally locked in the transverse direction. A guide section 14 formed on the support means 13 is guided in the horizontal rail 7 of the stationary guide 8 just like the slide plate 6. The support means 13 has a flexible arm 15 extend­ ing in the backward direction, the flexible arm 15 carrying near its rear side two substantially horizontal transverse pins 16, 17 respectively, which are aligned with each other but extend in opposite directions. The transverse pin 16 slidably and pivotably en­ gages a backwardly and upwardly inclined slot 18, which is formed in the front portion of the slide plate 6. The opposite transverse pin 17 co-operates with a slot 19 in a guide block 20 fixed to the stationary guide 8. The slot 19 includes a forwardly and upwardly inclined front portion 19' and a substantially horizontal portion 19'' joining the rear side thereof, the rear end of the horizontal portion 19'' being open. The guide block 20 is provided with a passage 21 for passing the cable-like push-pull means 4 therethrough. Fig. 2 illustrates the downwardly moved position of the panel 3, in which position a panel 3 can be slid back­ wardly under the fixed roof 2 to a wholly or partly opened position and may be moved back again to the closed position. When the panel is moved with the panel 3 near its foremost position the transverse pin 17 passes through the substantially horizontal portion 19'' of the slot 19 in the guide block 20 of the stationary guide 8. The transverse pin 17 can enter or leave the slot 19 through the open rear end of the slot portion 19'. In the foremost position of the panel 3 according to Fig. 2 the transverse pin 17 is at the transition of the substantially horizontal slot portion 19'' and the forwardly and upwardly inclined slot portion 19'. The transverse pin 16, which is in alignment with the transverse pin 17 is then situated at the foremost end of the backwardly and upwardly inclined slot 18. In case the transverse pin 17 is in the substantially horizontal slot portion 19'' the transverse pin 17 and thereby the support means 13 is locked with respect to the slide plate 6 in con­ sequence of the relative courses of the slots 18 and 19'', when the slide plate 6 is displaced said displacement being after all parallel to the slot portion 19''. In the position of Fig. 2 the pivot pin 11 on the bracket 10 of the panel 3 is in engagement with the front side of the backwardly and upwardly inclined front portion 12' of the guide slot 12. The front side of the panel 3 is then in its lower position. In fig. 3 the panel 3 is shown in the closed posi­ tion, wherein the slide plate 6 is forwardly moved from the position of Fig. 2 by means of the cable-like push-pull means 4. It is obvious that this displacement is comparatively big. Furthermore it can be seen that the positions of the transverse pins 16, 17 respectively of the support means 13 are changed with respect to the slots 18, 19 respectively. These positions are determined by the relative positions of the slots 18, 19 with respect to each other. When the slide plate is move forward from the position of Fig. 2 the transverse pin 17 cannot be moved further forward­ ly, because the slot portion 19' extends upwardly. As a cause of the relative movement of the slot 18 with respect to the crossing slot portion 19' the transverse pin 16 can move backwardly and upwardly in the slot 18, while the transverse pin 17 slides forwardly and upwardly in the slot portion 19'. The transverse pins 16, 17 are therefore always situated at the cross point of the slots 18, 19. During said forward movement of the slide plate 6 from the position of Fig. 2 the support means 13 has being moved with respect to the stationary guide 8 along a small distance, corresponding with the horizontal component of the displacement of the transverse pin 17 in the slot portion 19'. As a cause thereof the pivot pin 11 passes through the backwardly and upwardly inclined guide slot portion 12', so that the front side of the panel 3 moves upwardly. In the position of Fig. 3 the pivot pin 11 has reached the substantially horizontal guide slot portion 12'', whereby a horizontal free movement of the support means 13 is possible without a change in the position of the panel 3. Fig. 4 shows the panel 3 in its maximum backwardly and upwardly inclined ventilation position, wherein the slide plate 6 has reached its foremost position. In this position the transverse pin 16 on the support means 13 is in engagement with the rearmost end of the slot 18, while the transverse pin 17 is situated in its foremost position in the slot por­ tion 19'. The pivot pin 11 on the bracket 10 of the panel 3 has completely passed through the portion 12''' of the guide slot 12 and has reached its upper position. The upward dis­ placement of the pivot pin 11 compensates the downward pivot movement of the portion of the panel 3 extending in front of the bracket 10, which pivot movement appears when the panel 3 is brought to its ventilation position. Hereby the foremost end of the panel 3 remains substantially in the same height as the fixed roof 2, so that the air-stream is not disturbed when the vehicle is driven. The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawings by way of example, which can be varied in different ways within the scope of the invention.

Claims: 1. Open roof construction for a vehicle with a roof opening, comprising a panel, which closes the roof opening in its closed position and which is movable from this closed position to a opened position, and back, while for displac­ ing the panel a push-pull means on at least one side engages a slidable element, which is guided in a substantially hori­ zontal rail of a stationary guide, the panel engaging a sup­ port means near its front side, which support means adjusts the height of the front side of the panel when the panel is moved from its closed position, characterized in that the support means is in engagement with the slidable element as well as with the stationary guide in such manner that, when the slidable element is displaced in the foremost position of the panel the support means moves with respect to the slidable element as well as with respect to the stationary guide. 2. Open roof construction according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means is in engagement with the slidable element and the stationary guide by means of pin-slot connections, wherein the relative course of the slots determines the relative movement of the support means. 3. Open roof construction according to claim 2, characterized in that the slots cross each other. 4. Open roof construction according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the support means carries two horizontal transverse pins extending in opposite directions, the first transverse pin engaging the first slot in the slidable element, the second transverse pin co-operat­ ing with a second slot in the stationary guide. 5. Open roof construction according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and the second transverse pin are in alignment with each other. 6. Open roof construction according to claim 5, characterized in that the first transverse pin and the second transverse pin are provided near the rear end of a rearwardly extending arm of the support means. 7. Open roof construction according to one of the claim 4-6,characterized in that the first slot in the slidable element inclines backwardly and upward­ ly, while the second slot in the stationary guide inclines at least partially forwardly and upwardly. 8. Open roof construction according to claim 7, wherein the panel is movable downwardly from the closed posi­ tion to a position, wherein the panel is slidable to a wholly or partially opened position, and vice versa, charac­ terized in that the second slot comprises a sub­ stantially horizontal portion, which joins the rear end of the forwardly and upwardly inclined portion at its front side. 9. Open roof construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel is provided with a pivot pin near its front side, the pivot pin engaging a closed guide slot in the support means. 10. Open roof construction according to claim 8 and 9, wherein the panel can be moved from the closed position to a rearwardly and upwardly inclined ventilation position, and vice versa, characterized in that the guide slot in the support means includes a backwardly and up­ wardly inclined front portion, a substantially horizontal portion joining the rear end thereof and a backwardly and up­ wardly inclined portion, joining the rear end of the horizon­ tal portion. 11. Open roof construction according to one of the claims 4-10, characterized in that the second slot is formed in a guide block of the stationary guide. 12. Open roof construction according to one of the claims 4-11, wherein the slidable element consists of a slide plate, characterized in that the first slot is formed in the front portion of the slide plate. 13. Open roof construction according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support means is slidably guided in the substantially ho­ rizontal rail of the stationary guide. 14. Open roof construction according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel carries a bracket near its front side, the bracket being supported on the support means, characterized in that the support means is provided with a groove, in which the lower side of the bracket is guided.

Inventors: BOOTS, ROBERT THEODOOR
Applicants: VERMEULEN-HOLLANDIA OCTROOIEN II B.V.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B60J7
IPC codes: B60J7