Abstract:
A moon roof assembly for a vehicle includes an actuator-driven panel having an open position and a closed position. A moon roof trim ring at least partially surrounds the panel. The moon roof trim ring includes a control housing for supporting a control system. A control system is located in the control housing. The control system includes a control member that is exposed through an opening in the moon roof trim ring for actuating the control member and moving the panel between the open position and the closed position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present specification generally relates to roof systems for vehicles and, more specifically, to roof systems including moon roof assemblies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conventional vehicle roof systems generally include a headliner forming a ceiling of the vehicle. Headliners may include layers of materials such as a foam layer covered with a cloth material. As one example, a headliner may include an outer decorative layer to provide a pleasing visual appearance. In addition, the headliner may include a layer which is intended to absorb sound to reduce noise. 
         [0003]    Some vehicles also include a moon roof. While some may attempt to draw a distinction between a sun roof and a moon roof, as used herein, the term “moon roof” generally refers to a panel such as glass or other material that can be opened to allow air to circulate within the vehicle through an opening in the roof. Often, such moon roofs may be motor-driven and may include controls in an overhead compartment at the front of the vehicle for use in opening and closing the moon roof. However, such controls can be difficult for back seat passengers to access. Accordingly, other moon roof assemblies are desired having increased control accessibility to passengers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a moon roof assembly for a vehicle includes an actuator-driven panel having an open position and a closed position. A moon roof trim ring at least partially surrounds the panel. The moon roof trim ring includes a control housing for supporting a control system. A control system is located in the control housing. The control system includes a control member that is exposed through an opening in the moon roof trim ring for actuating the control member and moving the panel between the open position and the closed position. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, a vehicle includes a front moon roof assembly and a rear moon roof assembly. At least one of the front moon roof assembly and the rear moon roof assembly includes a moon roof trim ring at least partially surrounding an actuator-driven panel. The moon roof trim ring includes a control housing for supporting a control system for controlling movement of the panel between an open position and a closed position. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, a rear moon roof assembly for a vehicle is located above a rear seating area of the vehicle. The rear moon roof assembly includes an actuator-driven panel having an open position and a closed position. A moon roof trim ring at least partially surrounds the panel. A control system includes a manually actuatable control member exposed through the moon roof trim ring for controlling movement of the panel between the open position and the closed position. 
         [0007]    These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exterior view of a roof portion of a vehicle illustrating front and rear moon roof assemblies according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates an interior view of the roof portion of  FIG. 1  according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exposed, floor facing side of a moon roof trim ring according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a roof facing side of the moon roof trim ring of  FIG. 3  according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a control housing of the moon roof trim ring of  FIG. 4  according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a roof facing side of the moon roof trim ring of  FIG. 4  attached to a headliner; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates another view of the moon roof trim ring of  FIG. 4  attached to the headliner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments described herein generally relate to roof systems for vehicles that include one or more moon roof assemblies. The moon roof assemblies may be actuator-driven and include controls for operating the moon roof assemblies. As will be described in greater detail herein, the moon roof assemblies may include controls for operating the moon roof assemblies mounted to a moon roof trim ring for providing greater accessibility to the controls to passengers within the vehicle. Locating the controls in the trim ring may also allow passengers to easily identify the controls and recognize their use in operating the moon roof assemblies. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  includes a roof system  12  including a first, front moon roof assembly  14  and a second, rear moon roof assembly  16 . While two moon roof assemblies  14  and  16  are depicted, there may be more or less than two moon roof assemblies. For example, there may only be one rear moon roof assembly or one front moon roof assembly. The front moon roof assembly  14  and the rear moon roof assembly  16  generally include moon roof openings  18  and formed in a ceiling portion  25  of the vehicle. The moon roof openings  18  and  20  can be opened and closed by a moon roof panel  22  and  24 , for example, formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material (e.g., glass, plastic, etc.) configured for viewing of the external surroundings by occupants of the vehicle. The moon roof panels  22  and  24  may slide in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle  10 , for example, using an actuator such as a motor. A sunshade  26  and  28  may also be provided on the ceiling portion  25  that slides relative to the moon roof panels  22  and  24  for exposing or covering the moon roof panels  22  and  24 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an interior  30  of the vehicle  10  includes the roof system  12  including the front moon roof assembly  14  and the rear moon roof assembly  16 . Moon roof trim rings  32  and  34  are provided about the moon roof openings  18  and  20 . The moon roof trim rings  32  and  34  may provide a smooth, molded look to the front moon roof assembly  14  and the rear moon roof assembly  16 , which are more aesthetically pleasing. As can be seen by  FIG. 2 , controls  36  for operating the front moon roof assembly  14  may be located in an overhead compartment  38 , separate from the moon roof trim ring  32  at the front of the vehicle  10 . Lines  42  and  44  represent front and rear hip points for passengers riding in the front seats and rear seats, respectively. As can be seen, the controls  36  and overhead compartment  38  are spaced forward from the rear occupants a distance that that is greater than a distance that the overhead compartment  38  is spaced from the front passengers. This increased distance from the line  44  to the controls  36  can result in the controls  36  being difficult to reach by the rear passengers. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exposed, floor facing side  46  of the moon roof trim ring  34  is illustrated in isolation. The moon roof trim ring  34  generally forms a ring-shape support that may extend continuously about a periphery of the opening  20  ( FIG. 1 ) and includes side portions  48  and  50 , a front portion  52  and a rear portion  54 . The moon roof trim ring  34  may be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic and by any suitable process or combination of processes, such as by molding. Located at the front portion  52  (e.g., centrally located on the front portion  52 ) is a control housing  56  and a control system  58 . In some embodiments, a control region  55  of the front portion  52  may have a width W 1  that is greater than a width W 2  of regions  57  adjacent the control region  55 . In other embodiments, the entire front portion  52  may have about the same width. In the illustrated embodiment, the control system  58  includes a control member  65  (e.g., a switch, button, etc.) that is configured to allow the moon roof panel  24  to slide open and closed. In some embodiments, the control system  58  can also control tilting of the sunroof open and closed. In some embodiments, the control system  58  may allow a passenger to control degree of opening of a sunroof in four ways (open, close, tilt-up and tilt-down) or six ways (full-open, full-close, tilt-up, tilt-down, partial-open and partial-close). While the control housing  56  and control system  58  is shown centrally located on the front portion  52 , the control housing  56  and control system  58  may be located at other areas, such as at the side portions  48  or the rear portion  54 . There may also be more than one control housing  56  and/or control system  58  located on the moon roof trim ring  34 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a roof facing side  60  of the moon roof trim ring  34  is illustrated with the control system  58  removed. The control housing  56  may be molded integrally with the rest of the moon roof trim ring  34  and may include a front wall  62 , a rear wall  64  and side walls  66  and  68  extending from the rear wall  64  to the front wall  62  forming a volume  72  for receiving and housing the control system  58 . In other embodiments, the control housing  56  or portions thereof may be formed separately and attached to the moon roof trim ring  34 . Projections  70  may be provided for use in holding the control system  58  securely within the volume  72 . An opening  74  is provided through which the control member  65  can be exposed to the interior of the vehicle  10 . As can be seen, a ledge  80  extends inwardly into the opening and away from the walls  62 ,  64 ,  66  and  68  on which the control system  58  can rest when located in the volume  72 . Side wall  68  includes a notch  76  that is sized and arranged to receive an electrical connector  78  of the control system  58 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the control system  58  is illustrated within the volume  72  of the control housing  56 . The control system  58  is sized to fit snuggly within the volume  72  with the electrical connector  78  being exposed within the notch  76  for connecting to an electrical line. In some embodiments, the control system  58  may be friction fit into the volume  72  and/or other methods may be used, such as mechanical fasteners, welding, gluing, etc. the control system  58  within the volume  72 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the control system  58  is illustrated connected to an electrical line  80  by connector  85  ( FIG. 7 ). The electrical line  80  may include several electrical wires, for example, for power and for connecting control functions of the control system  58  to the moon roof assembly  16  (for opening/closing/tilting the moon roof panel  24 ). A cable holding feature  82  may also be provided for holding and positioning the electrical line  80  at a position adjacent to the control system  58 . In some embodiments, a glue or other material may be used for positioning the electrical line  80 . 
         [0023]    The moon roof trim ring  34  may be attached to a headliner  90  using any suitable method. In the illustrated embodiment, the moon roof trim ring  34  includes clip members  92  disposed about a periphery of the moon roof trim ring  34  that can be used to catch and rest on ledge portions  94  extending into an opening  96  of the headliner  90 . The moon roof trim ring  34  may also include fastener regions  98  (e.g., of hook and loop-type fasteners) that are used to secure the headliner/trim ring assembly to the roof of the vehicle. As can be seen by  FIG. 7 , the headliner  90  includes a notch region  100  that is used to receive the control housing  56 . Any other suitable method or combination of methods can be used to secure the moon roof trim ring  34  to the headliner  90 , such as sonic welding, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, etc. 
         [0024]    The moon roof assembly  16  is shown having a shape and size intended to cover a portion of the roof area of the vehicle  10 , and is substantially surrounded by the moon roof trim ring  34  that can provide structural and functional support to the moon roof assembly  16 , and can act as a trim piece for the overhead area of the vehicle  10 . The moon roof trim ring  34  may be provided as a single piece, or as multiple pieces configured for interconnection, or as extendable/retractable (e.g. telescoping, etc.) members configured for use with roof panels of varying sizes (e.g. for multiple vehicle programs, etc.). The moon roof trim ring  34  may also be configured for retaining other overhead components, wiring and electrical components, illumination devices, head impact countermeasure (HIC) devices, etc. 
         [0025]    While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.