METHOD OF OPENING AND CLOSING AN OPEN ROOF CONSTRUCTION OF A VEHICLE HAVING AN OPENING IN THE FIXED ROOF; AS WELL AS SUCH OPEN ROOF CONSTRUCTION

Abstract: With a method for opening and closing an open roof construction of a vehicle having a roof opening (2) in its fixed roof (1), which comprises at least three movably supported louvres (3, 3', 3'') for selectively closing or at least partially opening said roof opening, said louvres are moved between their closed position, in which they abut in a substantially flat manner against each other, and their open position, in which they are positioned close together, one behind the other, in an obliquely upwardly pivoted position. In order to open the roof from the front side or the rear side, the louvre (3) present at the rear end, seen in the opening direction, pivots upwards and slides to the open position first, and the adjacent louvres (3', 3'') are successively opened by being operated by the preceding louvre. The invention also comprises an open roof construction for use with such a method.

Description: Method of opening and closing an open roof construction of a vehicle having an opening in the fixed roof; as well as such open roof construction The present invention relates to a method for opening and closing an open roof construction of a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof; and also to such an open roof construction for use therewith. Such a method and such an open roof construction are for example known from DE-C-19542884. The object of the present invention is to provide a new way of opening and closing a roof. In order to accomplish that objective, the invention is characterized by the features as defined in claim 1, and the open roof construction is characterized by the features as defined in claim 4. Thus, a multiple spoiler roof is provided, as it were, wherein a single panel is divided up into several louvres. The forces which are exerted on these smaller louvres when the vehicle is driving are considerably smaller than in the case of a large panel . This makes it possible to choose a larger roof opening. Due to the smaller forces, the louvres can furthermore be supported far to the front, as a result of which the louvres can be moved close together. This in turn makes it possible to release a larger part of the roof opening in the entirely open position of the open roof construction, without this necessarily leading to instability in the support of the louvres. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the subclaims. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawings, which show an embodiment of the invention by way of example. Fig. 1 is a general perspective schematic view of a roof of a vehicle, showing the embodiment of the open roof construction according to the invention present therein. Fig. 2 is a larger-scale exploded view of a part of a louvre, showing the parts of the associated operating mechanism present on one side of said louvre . Figs. 3a-e are larger-scale perspective views of the operating mechanism on one side of two louvres, showing said operating mechanisms in five different positions thereof . Figs. 4a-e are side views of simplified mechanisms and the associated louvres in the same positions as in Fig. 3. Figs. 5a-e are side views of the lifting mechanism for a louvre in different positions thereof. Figs. 6a-f are side views of driving slides for the louvres and the associated couplings in different positions thereof. The drawings, and in first instance Fig. 1 thereof, show a part of a vehicle comprising a fixed roof 1 or a roof edge or a roof plate, in which a roof opening 2 is formed, which can be selectively closed and at least partially opened by operating closure means of an open roof construction, which closure means consist of a number of louvres 3 in this embodiment. Said louvres may be made of a rigid, transparent plastic or of glass, but they may also be made of steel or other rigid or less rigid materials. In particular Figs. 4a-e show the way in which the louvres 3 are moved for opening the roof opening 2. In Fig . 4a, the louvres occupy the closed position, in which they abut in an substantially flat manner, and in which they preferably lie substantially flush with the fixed roof 1. Downwardly recessed water channels 4 are formed in the front edges of the louvres, the front edge of which is provided on the upper side with a seal 5, which abuts against the underside of the louvre 3 positioned in front thereof and against the front edge of fixed roof 1. The ends of the water channels open above a drain portion present in a stationary part of the vehicle, in the frame or in the stationary guide, so as to further discharge the water outside the vehicle. In the closed position of the open roof construction, sealing means (not shown) provide a seal between the louvres 3 and the edge of the roof opening 2 or parts positioned thereunder. Fig. 4b shows that front louvre 3, which is disposed at the rear end of the louvre assembly, is the first to open from this closed position, in this case by moving rearwardly and pivoting simultaneously therewith, whereby the rear end of the louvre is lifted. It would also be possible, of course, to pivot the louvre completely upwardly first and only then move it rearwardly. In Fig. 4c the front louvre 3 is shown to have been moved completely rearwardly with respect to the next louvre 3', and further movement in rearward direction cannot take place without moving next louvre 3'. Fig. 4d shows how second louvre 3' is driven by the first louvre, whereby it starts to make the same sliding and pivoting movement as front louvre 3. In Fig. 4e, the two louvres 3, 3' are completely nested, and a third louvre 3'' will now be moved in the same manner. All louvres can be operated in this manner, so that all the louvres 3 are positioned close together, one behind the other, in an obliquely upwardly pivoted position near the rear edge of the roof opening 2 in the entirely open position of the roof opening. The closing of the roof opening 2 takes place in the reverse order, so that first the rear louvre 3 moves to its flat position, which is repeated until all the louvres are in the closed position as shown in Fig. 3a again. Now the mechanism by means of which the above movements can be carried out will be described. The description and the drawings show the parts present on one side of the roof, whereby it must be considered that corresponding parts are shown in mirror image in this embodiment. The operation of the mechanism and other mechanisms will be described later on. In Fig. 2 one louvre 3 is illustrated in full lines, whilst a louvre 3' present behind said louvre 3 is illustrated in dashed lines. Each louvre 3 is supported by a supporting member 6, which consists of a specially formed angle piece, whose horizontal flange is mounted on the underside of louvre 3, and whose vertical flange comprises several parts of the mechanism. Mounted on the front end of supporting member 6 is a transverse pivot pin 7 functioning as a hinge for louvre 3, which is positioned a small distance before the front edge of water channel 4 of louvre 3 , at a lower level. Said pivot pin 7 is accommodated in a driving slide 8, which can move to and fro in an associated longitudinal guide 9 extending along the side edge of roof opening 2. The driving slide 8 of front louvre 3 is connected to a pressure-rigid driving cable 10, which is engaged by a manual crank or an electric motor or the like so as to move the cable for opening or closing the roof by moving the front driving slide 8. Each louvre 3 is supported at a point behind the front hinge of pivot pin 7 by a lifting lever 11, which is provided at its upper end with a guide pin 12, which is slidably accommodated in a guide slot 13, which is present in the vertical portion of supporting member 6 for louvre 3. Said guide slot extends far in forward direction. Lifting lever 11 furthermore comprises a locking cam 14 near its upper end, which can engage in a locking cavity 15 in supporting member 6, behind guide slot 13, among other things . Lifting lever 11 is provided near its bottom end with a cross pin 16, about which lever 11 can pivot, and said cross pin 16 is accommodated in a slide 17. To this end, said slide has a short, horizontal slot 18, in which cross pin 16 of lifting lever 11 can make a small horizontal movement, whose function will be explained in more detail yet. A torsion spring 19 loads lifting lever 11 in upward direction of pivoting. A curved guide rib 20 is provided concentrically round cross pin 16, which guide rib is capable of cooperating with a guide cam 21 in the shape of a segment of a circle, which is present on slide 17, which guide cam 21 is formed concentrically with the rear wall of slot 18. Slide 17, which supports the lifting mechanism of front louvre 3, therefore, is fixedly connected to the driving slide 8 of the next louvre 3' of the open roof construction, which is illustrated in dashed lines in the drawing. Said driving slide 8' corresponds with driving slide 8 to a large extent, but it cannot be directly driven by driving cable 10, but by driving slide 8 via slide 17. A coupling device 22 is provided to that end, which on the one hand locks driving slide 8' and slide 17 with respect to longitudinal guide 9 in the closed position of louvre 3', and which on the other hand is capable of releasing said locking engagement with respect to longitudinal guide 9 and of effecting an engagement with driving slide 8. Coupling device 22 comprises a coupling arm 23, which is pivotally mounted in slide 17 by means of a cross pin 24. A torsion spring 25 or the like loads pivoted coupling arm 23 in upward direction, that is, in a direction in which it locks slide 17 and driving slide 8' with respect to longitudinal guide 9. A locking element 25 is to this end formed in longitudinal guide 9, which includes a cavity 27, into which a locking cam 28 formed on coupling arm 23 can slip under the influence of spring 25. Coupling arm 23 can be controlled by means of the driving slide 8 positioned in front thereof, on which an operating element 29 comprising a downwardly sloping rear control surface 30 is formed, which is capable of engaging the upper side of coupling arm 23, and which is capable of pressing said coupling arm 23 downwards when driving slide 8 moves to the rear with respect to slide 17, causing it to pivot about cross pin 24. 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Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method for opening and closing an open roof construction of a vehicle having a roof opening (2) in its fixed roof (1) , which comprises at least three movably supported louvres (3, 3', 3'') for selectively closing or at least partially opening said roof opening, wherein said louvres are moved between their closed position, in which they abut at least substantially flat against each other, and their open position, in which they are positioned close together, one behind the other, in an obliquely upwardly pivoted position, characterized in that in order to open the roof from the front side or the rear side, the louvre (3) present at the rear end, seen in the opening direction, pivots upwards and slides to the open position first, after which the adjacent louvres (3', 3'' ..) are successively opened by being operated by the preceding louvre . 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each louvre (3, 3', 3'') is simultaneously pivoted upwardly and slid to the open position when opening the open roof construction. 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each louvre is pivoted yet a little further while being moved in the opening direction. 4. An open roof construction for a vehicle having a roof opening (2) in its fixed roof (1) , which comprises at least three louvres (3, 3', 3'') which are movably supported on at least one longitudinal guide (9) extending along the roof opening for selectively closing or at least partially opening said roof opening, wherein said louvres abut in a substantially flat manner in their closed position, and wherein they are disposed close together, one behind the other, in an obliquely upwardly pivoted position, in their open position, and which furthermore comprises a drive unit (8, 10) for moving the louvres, and a coupling (22) engaging each louvre, characterized in that the coupling (22) of each louvre (3, 3', 3'') engages the longitudinal guide (9), in such a manner that in order to open the roof from the front side or the rear side, the louvre (3) present at the rear end, seen in the opening direction, pivots upwardly and slides to the open position first, after which the adjacent louvres (3', 3'' ..) successively start to move along when the coupling (22) is operated by the preceding louvre. 5. An open roof construction according to claim 3, wherein said coupling (22) comprises a movable element (23) , which can move between a locked position, in which it is in engagement with said longitudinal guide (9) , and a coupled position, in which it is in engagement with an adjacent louvre (3' , 3' ' ..) . 6. An open roof construction according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each louvre (3, 3', 3'' ..) is provided with an associated pivoting device (11 - 13) , which is supported on a slide (17) , which also supports a pivot (7) of an adjacent louvre. 7. An open roof construction according to claim 6, wherein each coupling (22) is disposed on a slide (8', 17), wherein said coupling can be operated by an operating element (29) on a preceding driving slide (8) . 8. An open roof construction according to any one of the claims 5 - 7, wherein each movable element (23) of the coupling (22) is held in its coupled position by said longitudinal guide (9) and/or in the pivoted position of the next louvre (3', 3'' ..) by a locking element (33) which has been moved to the locked position by the pivoting of the associated louvre (3', 3'' ..). 9. An open roof construction according to any one of the claims 4 - 8, wherein each louvre (3', 3'' ..) is provided with a recessed water channel (4) in its transversely extending edge near the pivoting point, wherein the free edge of said water channel engages under the adjacent louvre (3, 3', 3'') with the interposition of a seal (5) . 10. An open roof construction according to any one of the claims 4 - 9, wherein the direction of pivoting (11 - 13) of each louvre (3, 3', 3'' ..) comprises a lifting element (11) , which movably engages the louvre and which moves in the direction of the pivoting point (7) of the louvre during the opening movement of said louvre .

Inventors: LENKENS PETRUS CHRISTIAAN MART, LENKENS, PETRUS, CHRISTIAAN, MARTINUS
Applicants: INALFA IND BV, LENKENS PETRUS CHRISTIAAN MART, INALFA INDUSTRIES B.V., LENKENS, PETRUS, CHRISTIAAN, MARTINUS
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B60J7
IPC codes: B60J7