Abstract:
The invention refers to a spacing device for bridging a gap between a carrier part and a roof body and intended for fastening a roof rack, roof rail, roof strip or the like on a vehicle roof, with a support part and a counter-support part, the support part and the counter-support part being held together by a screw connection and being displaceable relative to one another to allow the adjustment of the bridging length, the support part and/or counter-support part being provided with an internally disposed adjustment tool-gripping seat intended for the manipulation and/or adjustment of the bridging length.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention refers to a spacing device for bridging a gap between a carrier part and a roof body for the purpose of fastening a roof rack, roof rail, roof strip or the like to a vehicle roof. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Roof racks, roof rails, roof strips or the like when installed on the vehicle roof of a vehicle do not rest on a roof body consisting of thin sheet metal, but by means of a spacing device are connected to a carrier part. The carrier part can absorb the forces generated by heavy roof loads and, in particular, forces that are to be expected in accident situations (major deceleration). The carrier part cannot be seen from the outside, because it is disposed below the sheet metal of the roof body. The carrier part cannot be seen from the interior space of the vehicle, either, because it is covered by the interior trim (headliner). Between the underside of the roof body and the top side of the carrier part there is present a gap which because of fabrication tolerances varies in height. During the installation of the roof rack, a solid connection with the carrier part must be ensured, but at the same time no pressure must be exerted on the roof body, pressure that would cause sheet metal deformation and lead to bothersome rejections. 
   The installation of known spacing devices is costly. It is possible, for example, to use spacing devices of different lengths, in which case the installer must select a spacing device adapted to the height of the gap in question and then do the installation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the invention is to provide a simple spacing device that is readily installed and widely usable, the installation preferably being possible without any problems also by untrained personnel. 
   To reach this objective, taking into consideration the aforesaid characteristics, the spacing device is provided with a supporting part and a counter-supporting part, said supporting and counter-supporting parts being held together by a screw connection and being displaceable relative to one another for the purpose of adjusting the bridging length, the supporting part and/or the counter-supporting part having an internally disposed gripping seat for the engagement of the adjustment tool. By “internally disposed gripping seat for the adjustment tool” is meant a seat for the adjustment tool that is not located at the periphery of the spacing device or that extends beyond said periphery, but is disposed so that the adjustment tool grips the internal parts of the spacing device without itself extending beyond the said periphery or—in the area of a partial periphery—extends beyond it only insignificantly. In this manner, it is possible to install the spacing device between the carrier part and the roof body from inside the motor vehicle, namely from the passenger compartment. Once this is done, it is possible, also from inside the vehicle, to perform the screw-tightening needed to secure the roof rack or the like. In this case, the spacing device on the one side rests on the carrier part and on the other side is screwed into a thread in the roof rack. The spacing device bridges the gap between the carrier part and the roof body and is capable of transferring to the carrier part the forces generated in the roof rack as a result of installation or use without thereby deforming or unduly stressing the roof body. 
   Advantageous embodiments of the spacing device are covered in the subclaims. 
   The invention also relates to a vehicle roof region with a carrier part, a roof body disposed at a distance therefrom and thus forming a gap between it and said carrier part and a spacing device serving to bridge said gap for the purpose of fastening a roof rack, roof rail, roof strip or the like on the vehicle roof, the carrier part being provided with an opening that tapers off sideways and the maximum width of which permits the passage of the spacing device, the reduced width preventing said passage. In this manner, the spacing device can be pushed into the gap from inside the vehicle through the appropriate wide region of the opening. Once this is done, the spacing device is displaced laterally in the gap, namely it is moved crosswise relative to the aforementioned insertion movement in a manner such that the spacing device reaches the tapered-off region of the width of the opening so that it can rest on the marginal regions of the opening, the reduced width of the opening preventing the spacing device from receding into the vehicle interior. For the said axial insertion of the spacing device and the subsequent radial displacement one uses an adjustment tool that fits the aforesaid adjustment tool-gripping seat of the support part and/or the counter-support part. On the adjustment tool, the spacing device is held axially. With the adjustment tool, it is possible to handle/manipulate the spacing device, namely with said adjustment tool the spacing device can be inserted from inside the vehicle into the gap axially and then displaced there radially. The terms “axial” and “radial” refer to the axis of rotation of the thread connection between the support part and the counter-support part. It is also possible, simply by actuating the section of the adjustment tool extending into the interior of the vehicle, to rotate the support part and the counter-support part relative to one another and thus to adjust the bridging distance in a manner such that the support part rests on the carrier part and the counter-support part is supported by the roof body. For the afore-described installation work, the adjustment tool grips the spacing device in self-locking manner and is provided with torsion-transfer means to permit the rotation of the support part relative to the counter-support part. 
   Advantageous embodiments of the motor vehicle roof region are covered by the subclaims. 
   The invention also relates to a method for positioning and/or actuating a spacing device disposed in a gap between the carrier part and a roof body for the purpose of subsequently fastening on the vehicle roof a roof rack, roof rail, roof strip or the like, the insertion being performed from inside the vehicle through an opening in the carrier part. 
   Advantageous embodiments of the method are covered by the subclaims. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a longitudinal cross-section of the spacing device with a thread for fastening the roof rack, roof rail or roof strip; 
       FIG. 2  shows a cutaway view in perspective of a vehicle roof region; 
       FIG. 3  shows the view of  FIG. 2 , but with the spacing device inserted; 
       FIG. 4  is a view in perspective from the interior space of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, with an exploded view of the spacing device with a washer and the screw, as well as the roof strip; 
       FIGS. 5 to 7  are views in perspective relating to the installation of the spacing device, by use of an adjusting tool, into the gap between the roof body of the vehicle and the carrier part of the vehicle; and 
       FIG. 8  is a cutaway view in perspective of the vehicle roof section provided with the spacing device and roof strip. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     FIG. 1  shows a spacing device  1  intended for the installation of a roof strip on a vehicle root Spacing device I is provided with a support part  2  and a counter-support part  3 . Support part  2  is designed as an outer sleeve  4  and counter-support part  3  as an inner sleeve  5 . Outer sleeve  4  has an axial through-bore  6  with inner thread  7 . Inner sleeve  5  is provided with an axial through-channel  8 . On its outer casing surface  9 , inner sleeve  5  is provided with an outer thread  10 . Inner thread  7  and outer thread  10  are screwed into each other, meaning that inner thread  7  is axially screwed into outer sleeve  4 . In  FIG. 1 , the axial direction is indicated by midline  11 . 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , shaft  13  of screw  12  passes through channel  8  and the corresponding part of through-bore  6 . Head  14  of screw  12  is provided with a washer  15  of relatively large diameter. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , counter-support part  3  protrudes somewhat beyond support part  2 . This is also the case when both parts are screwed together as much as possible and as a result counter-support part  3  has in the region of the protruding end  16  a roof body contact surface  17  in the form of a collar  18  which extends radially beyond outer thread  10  and has a diameter approximately equal to that of outer sleeve  4 . Hollow connecting piece  19  extends axially beyond collar  18 , said connecting piece forming a single piece on counter-support part  4  and also being passed through by pass-through channel  8 . On the side facing screw head  14  namely facing away from collar  18 , outer sleeve  4  is provided with an end face  20  forming a carrier part contact surface  21 . 
   On both the support part  2  and counter-support part  3 , there is provided an adjustment tool-gripping seat  22 ,  23 , adjustment tool-gripping seat  22  being located on support part  2  and adjustment tool-gripping seat  23  on counter-support part  3 . From  FIG. 3  it can be seen that adjustment tool-gripping seat  22  is in the form of an open-edge sleeve wall recess  24  oriented toward end face  20  of support part  2 . This sleeve wall recess  24  can pass radially through the entire wall thickness of outer sleeve  4 . In particular, diametrically opposite midline  11  there is provided in the wall of outer sleeve  4  an additional sleeve wall recess not seen in  FIG. 3  because of the particular rotational position of outer sleeve  4 , but which is indicated by an arrow  25 . Adjustment tool-gripping seat  23  is located on inner sleeve  5  in the form of pass-through channel  8  or a wall section  26  of pass-through channel  8 . In other words, it is possible, by means of an adjustment tool to be described in greater detail in the following, to approach end face  20  of spacing device  1  along midline  11 , the adjustment tool having a supporting pin that enters into the through-channel. Moreover, the adjustment tool has a stop that can be rotated relative to the supporting pin, which stop is pushed axially from the side of end face  20  into at least one of the sleeve wall recesses  24 . This is done so that the adjustment tool—at least in the region facing spacing device  1 —does not extend radially beyond the periphery of spacing device  1  around midline  11  thus enabling the installation of spacing device  1 . This will be discussed in greater detail in the following. It is possible for the supporting pin of the adjustment tool to engage pass-through channel  8  frictionally. This can be accomplished, for example, if from the supporting pin a spring-loaded pressure part extends laterally which—when pushed into pass-through channel  8 —is spring-deflected to a corresponding extent thus transferring a frictional force when the adjustment tool is turned around midline  11 . In the afore-mentioned case, through-channel  8  can be shaped as a cylinder bore. Alternatively, it is also possible for the supporting pin—seen in cross-section—not to have rotational symmetry, but, for example, to have the shape of a polygon, with the cross-section of the through-channel  8  having the same shape, so that rotational entrainment can take place. 
     FIG. 2  shows a vehicle roof region  27  of a vehicle not represented in greater detail. Vehicle roof region  27  has a carrier part  28  in the form of a stable metal sheet  29  and—at a distance therefrom in the Z-direction—a roof body  30 , namely the painted roof sheet  31  that can be seen from the outside. The distance in the Z-direction between these two metal sheets can fluctuate in the course of the fabrication because of fabrication tolerances. Carrier part  28  cannot be seen from inside the vehicle, because it is covered by the roof trim (headliner). In roof body  30  is provided a circular opening  32 . Located beneath this opening  32  in carrier part  28  is a tapered-off opening  33  shaped as a keyhole opening  34 . The arrangement is such that the reduced width  35 —as seen in Z-direction—is disposed underneath opening  32  and that the larger, maximum width  36  of opening  33  is displaced in the X-direction toward the Z-axis that extends through circular opening  32 . In  FIG. 2 , the Z-axis is indicated by line  37 , and the midpoint of the maximum width  36  of opening  33  is indicated by line  38 . Because of the distance between the two structural components, a gap is formed between roof body  30  and carrier part  28  which gap—as will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow—is bridged by spacing device  1 . This bridging can be seen in  FIG. 3 , namely in that figure spacing device  1  is disposed in gap  29  and with one end extends into opening  32  and with the other end rests on internal side  40  of carrier part  28 . In the following, the introduction of spacing device  1  into gap  39  will be explained in greater detail. In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , metal sheets  29  and  31  are shown in cutaway manner so that only parts of opening  32  and opening  33  are recognizable. In actuality, opening  32  is a circular opening and opening  33  is a keyhole opening  34 . 
     FIG. 4  shows the installation of a roof strip  41  on roof  42  of a motor vehicle not shown in greater detail. Roof  42  is formed by roof body  30  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Seen from the interior of the vehicle, the afore-mentioned carrier part  28  lies below roof body  30 , access to said carrier part  28  being possible because the roof trim has not yet been installed.  FIG. 4  shows only a partial segment of vehicle roof region  27  and thus also only a segment of roof strip  41  to be installed on the roof. 
   To install the spacing device  1  shown in  FIG. 4 , said spacing device must be introduced from interior space  43  through opening  33  into gap  39 . By means of screw  12 , roof strip  41  is then screwed tight, washer  15  being supported by the underside  44  of carrier part  28 . As can be seen from  FIG. 1 , shaft  13  of screw  12  passes through pass-through bore  6  and pass-through channel  8  of spacing device  1 . With hollow connecting piece  19 , spacing device  1  passes through opening  32  of the roof body, the end face  45  (see  FIG. 1 ) of inner sleeve  5  resting on underside  46  of roof strip  41  so that end surface  20  of outer sleeve  4  is supported on internal side  40  of carrier part  28 . Threaded shaft  13  of screw  12  is screwed into a threaded bore  46 ′ of roof strip  41  thus bringing about an axial tightening of the structural components, with a tight compression existing between head  14  of screw  12  and the underside  46  of roof strip  41  without an unduly high stress being exerted on roof body  30 , namely the relatively sensitive, painted metallic roof sheet  31  of the motor vehicle. This is because, while end face  45  is resting against underside  46  of roof strip  41 , spacing device  1  cannot be compressed in axial direction and, hence, a support for end surface  20  is provided on internal side  40  of carrier part  20 , and the underside  44  is stressed by washer  15  and the latter by head  14 . 
   In the following will be discussed in detail how this installation condition can be arrived at.  FIGS. 5 and 8  show sectional views of vehicle roof region  27 . Also shown is an adjustment tool  47  which on one end has an actuation segment  48  and on the other end is provided with supporting pin  49  which—as can be seen from FIG.  5 —can take up spacing device  1  when with its pass-through channel  8  said device is axially placed on supporting pin  49  (midline  11 ). In this manner, a positive lock between supporting pin  49  and pass-through channel  8  and thus counter-support part  48  is obtained in that by rotating actuation segment  48  about midline  11  a corresponding rotation of counter-support part about midline  11  takes place. Relative to supporting pin  49 , there is provided on adjustment tool  47  a stop  50  which—independently of the rotation of supporting pin  49  or actuation segment  48 —can be rotated about midline  11 . Stop  50  has an entraining pin  51  which extends parallel to supporting pin  49  and the free end region  52  of which can be inserted axially into a sleeve wall recess  24  of support part  2 . This can be seen in  FIG. 5 . Entraining pin  51  extends beyond the periphery of support part  2  in radial direction. 
   Spacing device  1  is installed in the following manner: An installer in interior space  43  of the vehicle places onto adjustment tool  47  a spacing device  1  which is completely screwed together, namely the underside of collar  18  rests on end face  53  of outer sleeve  4  or at only a slight distance therefrom. The installer then seizes the actuation region  48  of adjustment tool  47  and from the interior space  43  of the vehicle inserts spacing device  1  into keyhole opening  34  at its maximum width  36 . In this situation, spacing device  1  is located in hollow space  39  and actuation region  48  lies in internal space  43 , namely below underside  44  of carrier part  28 . From interior space  43 , the installer now, with the aid of adjustment tool  47 , displaces spacing device  1  in the X-direction into the region of reduced width  35  of keyhole opening  34  in a manner such that end face  20  can support itself on the marginal regions of opening  33  that is tapered off in the direction of its width. This reduced width prevents the spacing device  1  from receding into internal space  43 . Because adjustment tool  47  has an appropriate slender shape, it fits into the tapered-off width  35  of opening  33  thus permitting this radial displacement in gap  39 . As seen from vehicle interior  43 , the installer now turns actuation region  48  relative to stop  50 . Stop  50  cannot turn because its width is somewhat smaller than the tapered-off width of opening  33 . Hence 1  by means of entrainment pin  51 , support part  2  is kept from turning in gap  39  and counter-support part  3  is rotated relative to support part  2  with the aid of actuation region  48  and supporting pin  49  coupled with it, so that as a result of the thread connection of these two parts support part  2  and counter-support part  3  diverge axially from one another. This takes place until end face  20  comes to rest on internal side  40  of carrier part  28 , and the roof body contact surface  17  of collar  18  of counter-support part  3  rests on the underside of roof body  30  exerting a pressure that does not deform roof body  30 . To protect roof body  30 , it is advantageous to provide hollow connecting piece  19 , end face  45  and the top side of collar  18  as well as the marginal periphery of collar  18  with a coating particularly a polymeric coating. 
   The installer now pulls adjustment tool  47  axially out of spacing device  1  in the direction of vehicle interior  43 . Spacing device  1  is thus pre-installed so that subsequently screw  12  plus washer  15  can be mounted to fasten the afore-mentioned roof strip  41 . 
   In particular,  FIG. 5  shows the spacing device introduced into gap  39  with the aid of adjustment tool  47 , said spacing device still being in the screwed-together condition.  FIG. 6  illustrates the axial unscrewing of support part  2  and counter-support part  3  with the aid of adjustment tool  47 .  FIG. 7  shows the final, installed condition of roof strip  41 .  FIG. 8  corresponds to the representation of  FIG. 7 , but is rendered as a perspective drawing thus illustrating the situation. 
   It is understandable that spacing device  1  can be also be readily un-installed. This can be done from vehicle interior  43  by reversing the order of the individual installation steps. 
   In particular, it is possible to unscrew support part  2  from counter-support part  3  by placing on actuation region  48  an installation tool, for example a cordless screwdriver, provided with an appropriate friction clutch so that a defined torque is always applied and, hence, the installation of spacing device  1  is always done reproducibly. To prevent counter-rotation in the counter-clockwise sense, it is possible for the installation tool to be provided with a ratchet that will prevent said counter-rotation. 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.