A folding roof for a vehicle

Abstract: A folding roof for a vehicle having an opening (2) in its fixed roof (1) comprises a stationary part (3) to be fixed to the roof, which includes guide rails (9) disposed at the longitudinal edges of the opening (2). An adjustable closure element (5,6) supported by the frame is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening (2), and an open position, in which it releases the roof opening on the opening side. The closure element (5,6) includes an operating beam (6) extending in transverse direction, which is connected to driving means (7,8) on the opening side, and a foldable cover (5) attached thereto. The cover is supported by vertically adjustable second supporting bows (12,14), which are adjustably supported at their ends by means of connecting members. Tensioning elements (23,24) are guided along said guide rails (19), which engage said second supporting bows (12,14) via at least one point of engagement and which are connected to said driving means (6,8). They are tensioned when the cover is being closed, thereby exerting a downward force on the second supporting bows (12,14) via said points of engagement. Each tensioning element (23,24) is guided via an associated second sliding shoe (18,20) on either side of the points of engagement of the second supporting bows (12,14), in such a manner that the tensioning element (23,24) extends steeply adjacently to the point of engagement in the closed position of the cover.

Description: The invention relates to a folding roof in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. In a prior art embodiment of such a folding roof (see EP-A-0 376 203), the tensioning elements in the form of tensioning wires extend alternately under the first supporting bows and over the second supporting bows, and in this manner the second supporting bows are loaded in downward direction by the tensioning wires when the folding roof is in the closed position. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved folding roof of the kind referred to in the introduction. In order to accomplish that objective, the folding roof according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1. This manner of guiding the tensioning elements via second sliding shoes enables a better tensioning characteristic of the tensioning elements such as wires. Especially if the tensioning elements extend steeply adjacently to the points of engagement at the folding means, a considerable part of the tensioning force in the tensioning elements will actually be used for exerting a downward force on the folding means. This makes it possible to realise a better seal and a better protection against a possible break-in via the folding roof. Furthermore, the connecting members need not absorb any downward force from the tensioning elements in the closed position of the folding roof, as a result of which a better seal can be obtained at that location as well. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawing, which schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the folding roof according to the invention. Fig. 1 is a very schematic top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the folding roof according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a larger-scale, perspective view of one end of the three rear supporting bows and the associated tensioning wire, in the closed position of the folding roof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the supporting bows of Fig. 2 in the open position of the folding roof. Fig. 1 shows a fixed roof 1 of a vehicle, in particular a passenger car, which is provided with a roof opening 2 for accommodating a folding roof. The folding roof comprises a stationary part, in this embodiment in the form of a window-shaped frame 3, which is attached to the fixed roof 1 and which circumferentially bounds a passage 4 of the folding roof. Passage 4 can be selectively covered or opened by means of a foldable cover 5. In the illustrated embodiment, cover 5 is attached to frame 3 at the rear side of the vehicle, and at the front side said cover 5 is connected to an operating beam 6 or the like. Operating beam 6 can be moved by means of an operating mechanism, with an electric motor 7 and driving cables 8 acting as drive in this embodiment. This will not be discussed in more detail herein. The operating beam 6 is guided in guide rails 9 via sliding shoes at both ends, which guide rails extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle on either side of passage 4. In order to ensure that cover 5 is folded in a controlled manner when the folding roof is being opened, foldable cover 5 is supported by a number of supporting bows, two supporting bows 10, 11 of a first kind and three supporting bows 12, 13, 14 of a second kind in this embodiment. The supporting bows of the first and the second kind alternate. Hereinafter the supporting bows of the first and the second kind will also be referred to as first and second supporting bows. From Fig. 1, when viewed in combination with Fig. 2 and 3, it can be concluded that the second supporting bows 12, 13, 14 are vertically movable or free supporting bows, which are either connected, via arms 15, to operating beam 6 (see supporting bow 12) at both ends or to the preceding first supporting bow 10 or 11 (this holds for second supporting bows 13 and 14). Arms 15 are resilient arms, which are biassed in upward direction. When operating beam 6 and thus the front ends of the associated arms 15 are moved to the rear, therefore, the distance to the first supporting bow 10, which is connected to guide rail 9 by means of a connecting member 21, will decrease, which results in some slackness in cover 5, which makes it possible for the supporting second supporting bow 12 to be pushed upward by arms 15. Eventually a rearwardly sloping fold will be formed in cover 5, with the second supporting bow 12 positioned at the top of said fold, and operating beam 6 will come into contact with first sliding shoes 16, which slidably support first supporting bow 10. The connecting member 21, which is in engagement with guide rail 9, will be disconnected from first sliding shoes 16 by means of a disconnecting element 22 of operating beam 6, as a result of which also the first supporting bow 10 will move rearwards. The same will subsequently happen with the first supporting bow 11 and second supporting bows 13 and 14, so that eventually three folds will be formed in this schematic example. Fig. 1, 2 and 3 show that not only the first supporting bows 10 and 11 are fitted with first sliding shoes 16, 17, but that second sliding shoes 18, 19, 20 are provided near the second supporting bows 12, 13, 14. Said second sliding shoes 18, 19, 20 function to guide an elongated tensioning element in the form of tensioning wires 23 and 24, respectively, which are provided at respective longitudinal edge of passage 4. The front end of tensioning wires 23, 24 is connected to the driving means, to operating beam 6 in this case. The end of tensioning wires 23, 24 remote from the driving means, the rear end in this case, is attached to frame 3, via an adjusting arrangement (not shown), if necessary, by means of which the tensioning element can be adjusted and be readjusted in the course of the life of the folding roof. Tensioning wires 23 and 24 are intended to push the longitudinal edges of the cover firmly down onto the upper side of frame 3 in the closed position of the folding roof, which makes it possible to achieve a proper seal and protection against theft. As is shown in Fig. 2 and 3, tensioning wire 23, which may be a plastic-coated steel cable, for example, is guided into second sliding shoe 18 from the front side near supporting bow 13, and subsequently out again through an opening in the upper side of second sliding shoe 19. At that location tensioning wire 23 is passed over a pin or pulley 25 near the end of second supporting bow 13, and subsequently back again through the opening in the upper side of second sliding shoe 19, and finally out again through an opening at the rear side of second sliding shoe 19. In this way a variable loop 26 is formed in tensioning wire 23 above second sliding shoe 23, which loop is passed over the pulley 25 of second supporting bow 13. The same takes place with second sliding shoe 20 at the rear second supporting bow 14, whereby loop 25 extends forward from the rear, however, and is passed through an eye 27 to pulley 25, as a result of which the tensioning wire 23 is moved in lateral direction and led further rearwards in laterally deflected direction. This is done in order to have the tensioning wire 23 run outside a guiding groove in guide rail 9 behind second sliding shoe 20, so that it will not come into contact with further means which are guided in the guiding groove in question. As a result of the path of tensioning wire 23 through second sliding shoes 18, 19, 20 and, in the form of loops, over pulleys 25 of the associated supporting bows 12, 13, 14, the loops 26 will become larger or smaller upon movement of the operating beam 6 and thus of the front end of tensioning wire 23. When the folding roof is being closed, the tensioning wire will be tensioned as a result of the forward movement of the operating beam 6. Tensioning wire 23 is so dimensioned that a tensioning force will be produced in tensioning wire 23, 24 in the closed position of the folding roof. As a result of the presence of the loop 26, with the tensioning wire extending substantially vertically adjacently to pulley 25, the tensioning force in tensioning wire 23 includes a large vertical component at that location. As a result of this, a large part of the tensioning force is converted into a downward force on second supporting bows 12, 13, 14. As a result, the edges of cover 5 of the folding roof will be pushed tightly downwards against frame 3, thus providing an adequate seal and a proper protection against possible break-in. Each tensioning wire 23, 24 is led straight ahead at the location of first supporting bows 10, 11, with no upward force being produced on said first supporting bows 10, 11, as a result of which the tensioning wire does not oppose the sealing effect provided by cover 5. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a folding roof for a vehicle which is remarkable for the simple and adequate manner in which the edges of the cover are held down. The invention is not limited to the embodiment as described above and shown in the drawing, which can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus the tensioning wires could also be passed over the respective second supporting bows themselves. Furthermore it would be possible to pass the tensioning wires over the first supporting bows as well. Instead of tensioning wires, it is also possible to use other elongated tensioning elements. The invention is also useful in folding roofs which do not have supporting bows, but which have a self-supporting cover, for example incorporating rigid stiffening plates. In that case, there will be folding means only at the sides of the cover adjacent the guide rails. The invention can also be used with folding roofs which can (also) be opened at the rear side.

Claims: A folding roof for a vehicle having an opening (2) in its fixed roof (1), comprising a stationary part (3) to be fixed to the roof, which includes guide rails (9) present at the longitudinal edges of the opening (2), an adjustable closure element (5, 6) supported by said stationary part, which is adjustable between a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, and an open position, in which it releases the roof opening on the opening side, wherein the closure element (5, 6) includes an operating beam (6) extending in transverse direction, which is connected to driving means (7, 8), on the opening side and a foldable cover (5) attached thereto, which cover is supported at least by vertically adjustable folding means (12 - 14), which are adjustably supported near the guide rails by means of connecting members (15) and first sliding shoes (16, 17), wherein elongated flexible tensioning elements (23, 24) are guided along said guide rails (19), which engage said folding means (12 - 14) via at least one point of engagement (25) and which are connected to said driving means (6 - 8), in such a manner that they are tensioned when the cover (5) is being closed, thereby exerting a downward force on the folding means (12 - 14) via said points of engagement, characterised in that each tensioning element (23, 24) is guided via an associated second sliding shoe (18 - 20) on either side of the points of engagement (25) of said folding means (12 - 14), in such a manner that the tensioning element (23, 24) extends steeply adjacently to the point of engagement (25) in the closed position of the cover (5). A folding roof according to claim 1, wherein the cover is alternately supported by first supporting bows (10, 11) extending in transverse direction, which are supported at their ends by first sliding shoes (16, 17) guided in said guide rails (19), as well as by vertically adjustable second supporting bows (12 - 14) extending in transverse direction and forming the folding means, the second supporting bows being adjustably supported at their ends by means of connecting members (15), the tensioning elements engaging said second supporting bows (12 - 14). A folding roof according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each tensioning element (23, 24) extends at least substantially vertically adjacently to each point of engagement (25) in the closed position of the cover (5). A folding roof according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each tensioning element (23, 24) is guided out of the respective second sliding shoes (18 - 20) and passed over the associated points of engagement (25) in the form of a loop (26). A folding roof according to claim 4, wherein each point of engagement (25) is in the form of a pulley-like element, which is disposed laterally of the associated second supporting bow (12 - 14). A folding roof according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the second supporting bows (12 - 14) are pivotally connected to a preceding first supporting bow (10, 11) and to the operating beam (6) by means of a, preferably resilient, arm as the connecting member (15). A folding roof according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second sliding shoes (18 - 20) are freely guided in the respective guide rail (9), whilst the first sliding shoes (16, 17) are provided with connecting members (21) for connecting said first sliding shoes to said guide rails (9). A folding roof according to any one of claims 2-7, wherein each tensioning element (23, 24) is moved in lateral direction at the rear second supporting bow (14) and led further rearwards in laterally deflected direction. A folding roof according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tensioning elements (23, 24) are connected to said driving means (6 - 8) at one end, whilst they are attached to the stationary part (3) and the guide rails (9), respectively, via an adjusting arrangement at the other end.

Inventors: MUNSTERS PAULUS JOHANNES WILHE, MUNSTERS, PAULUS JOHANNES WILHELMUS
Applicants: INALFA ROOF SYS GROUP BV, INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B60J7
IPC codes: B60J7