Abstract:
A convertible vehicle with a roof, which includes, in the closed state, a section of a laterally running roof strut on an area directly or indirectly adjacent to the windshield frame that protrudes farther into the passenger compartment than roof areas lying behind it. The section, on a surface facing the passenger compartment, has at least one large-area recess, coverable by at least one deformable covering.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a US National Phase of International Application No. PCT/DE 2004/0002627, filed Nov. 26, 2004, which claims priority to German 103 57 100.0, filed Dec. 6, 2003. The entire contents of the above identified applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with at least one roof section protruding into the passenger compartment, according to the main concept of Claim  1 , as well as an associated vehicle roof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Convertible vehicles are known that have a flexible roof cover secured to a metal roof frame, whereby the cover is stretched in the front area over a support cross-structure, often also referred to as a roof strut. Such a roof strut can consist, for example, of several individual supports or a die-cast structure, for example of a light metal alloy or a metal foam, with an upper and a lower shell. The roof strut, in addition to the stretching function, can also serve as a support for locking parts of the roof onto the windshield frame, and also operating elements for it, at least in semiautomatic roofs. In each case, this roof section extends farther downward into the passenger compartment than a subsequent roof surface and thereby constitutes a risk of impact during accidents, especially for large adult occupants. This applies especially to sports vehicles, such as two-seat roadsters, in which the windshield is very strongly sloped and the roof is low overall. Under such space conditions, it is therefore also particularly difficult to combine the smallest possible outside dimension of the roof strut with accommodation of locking elements. 
     The underlying problem of the invention is to improve safety in a convertible vehicle of the type mentioned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention solves this problem with a convertible vehicle with the features of Claim  1  and by a moving vehicle roof with the features of Claim  11 . In regard to other advantageous embodiments of the invention, Claims  2  through  10  are referred to. 
     Accident safety for the occupants is improved by the invention, since the roof section extending into the passenger compartment is designed flexibly at these sites because of deformability of the coverings, and is therefore free of sharpness. The cavity lying behind the coverings can permit extensive deformation during head impact. 
     If two recesses lying symmetrically to a vertical longitudinal center plane are provided instead of a continuous recess, the same safety can be created for the driver and passengers, and the stability of the roof strut is retained by a rigid area left in between in the center, which is also suitable for accommodating an optional manually operable locking and unlocking lever. 
     With a minimum width of the deformable coverings of twenty-five, advantageously more than thirty centimeters, a sufficiently large possible head-impact area can also be neutralized during an oblique collision. 
     If parts for locking the roof strut to the windshield frame, especially side safety catches, can be installed through the open recesses, the production of such a roof is simplified. In addition, the roof strut can be kept very small in its dimensions, since accessibility through the open recesses is facilitated and no large, permanent installation spaces need to be provided. Safety is further improved through this. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention can be seen from a practical example of the object of the invention, shown schematically in the drawing, which is described below and can be changed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a middle area of a convertible vehicle according to the invention in the a schematic, partially cut away perspective view, with a fully closed roof, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective, individual part view of the roof strut, viewed obliquely from the front, with two symmetric recesses and mounted coverings, 
         FIG. 3  shows detail III in  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 4  shows the roof strut according to  FIG. 2 , seen from below, 
         FIG. 5  shows a similar view to  FIG. 4 , before installation of the coverings, 
         FIG. 6  shows a section along VI-VI in  FIG. 2 , with a closed roof with the roof strut lying on the windshield frame. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The convertible vehicle  1 , according to the invention, can also be a two-seater or else a convertible vehicle with a larger interior space and, for example, two rows of seats. 
     It includes a moving roof  2 , which, in the practical example, has a flexible roof cover  3 , which is not essential. In the practical example shown, the cover  3  extends over the entire moving roof  2 , which can be locked in the closed state to a windshield frame  4 . The invention is also applicable to a partially convertible vehicle, in addition to the full convertible vehicle shown, in which a roof part attached to the auto body is situated in the rear area of the vehicle and only the roof part lying in front of this is movable. 
     In both a continuous cover  3  and in roof bars designed to be partially rigid, a section  6  of the roof strut  6   a  is provided in the front area  5  of roof  2  in the direction of travel F, which extends farther into the passenger compartment than a roof surface lying behind it, which can be formed in the practical example by the inside of the cover  3  itself or an inner cover stretched beneath it. 
     The section  6  extending farther into the passenger compartment  7  is designed here as a component of a roof strut, generally manufactured as a die-cast structure. This has two recesses  9 ,  10 , symmetric to a vertical longitudinal center plane  8 , which are made in an inward-facing surface  11 . The recesses  9 ,  10  are positioned in the center in front of the front seats, each has a width of at least 25 cm, and they can also be significantly wider, depending on the vehicle configuration. Instead of the two recesses  9 ,  10 , an individual continuous recess (not shown) could also be provided. 
     The two recesses  9 ,  10  shown, however, make it possible for a rigid connection area  13  of the roof strut  6   a  to be left between them, which serves here as a support for a manual operating handle, with which lateral safety catches  12  of the roof  2  can be engaged with or disengaged from the windshield frame  4 . A semiautomatic or fully manual roof operation, as can be desired in sports roadsters, therefore remains possible. 
     It is shown in  FIG. 5  that the recesses  9 ,  10  serve as an aid to installation: the lateral safety catches  12  are accessible through the opened recesses  9  and can be fastened, for example, screwed, to the roof strut  6   a  by manipulation through the recesses. The roof strut  6   a  can therefore be optimized to maximize the remaining head space and, despite the then limited dimensions, normally dimensioned safety catches  12  or similar fastening elements for its locking to the windshield frame  4  can be accommodated. The installation formed with recesses  9 ,  10  simultaneously produces a larger head space and therefore greater accident safety, because of the minimization of the roof strut  6 . 
     The recesses  9 ,  10  can be spanned by coverings  14 ,  15 , i.e., they can be almost or, especially, fully covered. In the installed state, the coverings  14 ,  15  are therefore visible from the passenger compartment  7 ; these can therefore be adapted advantageously in color to the passenger compartment  7  and made from textiles. Both plastics and thin metal sheets can be considered as materials for the coverings  14 ,  15 . In each case, the coverings  14 ,  15 , during any head impact by occupants, are deformable without causing head injuries. The coverings  14 ,  15  can be upholstered for this purpose, for example, also by foaming. During an impact, a person accelerated forward is braked by the coverings  14 ,  15 , so that the airbags can function better. 
     In order to ensure that, during an accident, head impact will actually occur on the coverings  14 ,  15  and not on the remaining areas of the roof strut  6   a , the covering should have significant size: at least 70 square centimeters, but advantageously a multiple of this is necessary for this purpose. In the practical example, each covering  14 ,  15  has a dimension of more than 30 centimeters wide and 20 centimeters deep. 
     During assembly, the coverings  14 ,  15  are screwed to the roof strut  6   a  with their ends arranged to the front in the direction of travel F, which coverings lie on the windshield frame  4  when the roof  2  is closed, so the screws  16  are not visible or accessible when roof  2  is closed and the screwheads therefore do not offer any increased risk of injury. 
     On their rear ends opposite the direction of travel  4 , the coverings  14 ,  15  can be releasably suspended behind a protruding edge  17  of the section  6  of the roof strut  6   a . In order to avoid a situation in which, during head impact, the coverings  14 ,  15  are raised from this edge and forced inward into recesses  9 ,  10 , the edge  17  has a hold-down  18  for the coverings  14 ,  15  arranged in front of it. This holds the coverings  14 ,  15  in their secure position. 
     The recesses  14 ,  15  are arched, as can be seen in  FIG. 6 . In this case, a solder line  19  of the outer surfaces of the coverings  14 ,  15  has at least a rearward facing component and a solder line  20  has at least a downward facing component. Both head impact from the rear, which tends to occur in large persons, and head impact from below, as can occur in smaller persons, are therefore protected against. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.