Abstract:
A sandwich component, in particular a transparent component for a vehicle roof system, includes first and second panes that are connected with each other by an adhesive layer. At least one carrier part is embedded in the adhesive layer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims priority to European Application No. 06 010 948.5, which was filed on 26 May 2006. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a sandwich component, in particular a transparent component for a vehicle roof system. The sandwich component includes first and second panes that are connected with each other by an adhesive layer. A sandwich component of this type is disclosed in DE 10 2004 030 086. 
         [0003]    One requirement of such a sandwich component is that in the event of damage it is ensured that any splinters are prevented from penetrating into an interior of the vehicle. This is ensured in that the first and second panes are connected with each other by the adhesive layer. In this way, an inherently stable structure is provided from which no splinters can detach themselves even when damaged. 
         [0004]    When this type of sandwich component is used for a cover of a sliding roof system of a motor vehicle, for instance, a further demand is made. The sandwich component is required to offer a high strength while having a low weight. To this end, in most cases a stiffening frame is provided that is connected to the cover. The stiffening frame then serves to connect the cover to a mechanism of the sliding roof system. 
         [0005]    The object of the present invention is to provide an improved sandwich component which, firstly, ensures that in the event of damage no splinters can enter the interior of the vehicle and, secondly, exhibits a high strength combined with low weight. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    To achieve this object, in a sandwich component of the type initially mentioned, provision is made according to the invention for at least one carrier part to be embedded in an adhesive layer that connects first and second panes to each other. The invention is based on a finding that a stiffening frame may be dispensed with if carrier parts, which are required for mounting the sandwich component, are glued in or foamed in directly between the first and second panes. This has no adverse effects on the splinter protection. In addition, the necessary strength of the sandwich component may be ensured by a suitable shaping. 
         [0007]    The first and second panes may be made of glass. For the adhesive layer, an expandable material is particularly suitable, for instance a polyurethane (PU) foam. 
         [0008]    The carrier part may be used for mounting the sandwich component to the vehicle or to a sliding roof system. The carrier part may also serve to mount other components to the sandwich component, such as, e.g., a seal. 
         [0009]    Advantageous further developments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims. 
         [0010]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic top view of a vehicle roof with two sandwich components; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic section taken along the plane II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic section taken through a further embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment in section; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows yet another embodiment in section. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  schematically shows a vehicle roof  5  in a top view, which is shown in this example as a panoramic roof. The panoramic roof consists of a cover  10  that is adapted to be slid rearwardly, and a firmly mounted pane element  12 . Both the cover  10  and the pane element  12  are transparent. 
         [0017]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the pane element  12  is composed of a first pane  14  and a second pane  16 , which are both made of glass. Both float glass and tempered glass may be used. As an alternative, panes made of a plastic material may be employed. 
         [0018]    An adhesive layer  18  made of an expandable material is provided between the first and second panes  14 ,  16 . The expandable material is PU foam. Foamed into an edge region of the adhesive layer  18  is a carrier part  20  that serves to attach the pane element  12  to a holding bar  22 , and also allows a seal carrier  24  provided with a water gutter to be fitted. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a further embodiment. Unlike in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the sandwich component of  FIG. 3  is a cover  10  that has two panes  14 ,  16  and an adhesive layer  18  of an expandable material. Also in this example, a carrier part  20  is foamed in the adhesive layer  18 . In the region of the carrier part  20 , a recess  25  is provided in the lower pane  16  and in the adhesive layer  18 . The carrier part  20  extends as far as on both sides of the recess  25 . A tongue is bent out downward in the center, which serves to connect the cover  10  with a schematically indicated sliding roof system  26 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows, in section, an edge portion of a cover  10 . Here, the carrier part  20  is an anchoring extension that is formed in one piece with a seal  30  and is foamed into the adhesive layer  18  made of the PU foam. 
         [0021]    Similar to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  shows an edge portion of a cover  10 . In this case, the carrier part  20  is made in one piece with a seal carrier  32  and is again foamed into the adhesive layer  18 . 
         [0022]    A feature that all of the embodiments have in common is that the carrier part  20  is firmly connected with the sandwich component at minimum expense. It is not required to bolt the carrier part to, for instance, a reinforcement frame later. Instead, the carrier part  20  is directly foamed in between the first and second panes  14 ,  16  during the manufacture of the sandwich component. 
         [0023]    The necessary stiffness of the sandwich component can be attained by suitably shaping the first and second panes  14 ,  16  and, hence, the adhesive layer  18  made of the PU foam. 
         [0024]    Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.