Abstract:
In one embodiment, an assembly for an openable sliding roof having a cover for selectively exposing and closing a roof opening is provided, the assembly having: at least one lever for raising and lowering the cover, the at least one lever being pivotally mounted to the cover; and a height adjusting mechanism for repositioning the lever with respect to the cover, the height adjusting mechanism having an eccentric coupling the lever to the cover.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to the following German Patent Application No. 10 2011 018 151.2 filed Apr. 19, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to an assembly for an openable sliding roof with a cover for selectively exposing and closing a roof opening, wherein the cover can be raised via at least one lever, and wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on the cover side and on the vehicle side. 
     Vehicle roofs are known from the prior art, which provide openable sliding roofs, which also comprise tilt/slide sunroofs or panoramic roofs, having a cover which can be shifted between a closed position, in which it closes the opening in the vehicle roof, via various intermediate positions (for example a venting position) into an open position in which the opening in the vehicle roof substantially is exposed. On the vehicle side, two guide rails usually are provided, which extend parallel to the direction of travel substantially on the left and on the right hand side of the opening. In these rails, a shifting and raising mechanism each is provided, to which the cover is attached. The raising mechanism includes at least one raising lever with which the cover is mounted on a movable carriage. By swiveling the raising lever, the inclination of the cover can be adjusted or the entire cover can be lifted. At each lateral edge, a raising lever usually is provided, which engages the cover. 
     For optical, but also for aerodynamic reasons it is desired that cover and vehicle roof lie in one plane in the closed position of the cover, i.e. there is no step between cover and vehicle roof. This requires a manufacture of the assembly within close manufacturing tolerances and a very accurate installation of the assembly. Alternatively, the exact height can be adjusted after installation of the sliding roof. However, the assemblies known so far only have insufficient or laborious adjustment possibilities for height adaptation of the cover. 
     Accordingly it is desirable to provide an assembly for an openable sliding roof, which ensures a better height adjustment of the cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For the solution of this object, a height adjusting mechanism for the cover is provided in an assembly for an openable sliding roof with a cover for selectively exposing and closing a roof opening, which can be raised via at least one lever, wherein the lever is pivotally mounted on the cover side and on the vehicle side, which mechanism includes an eccentric via which the lever is fixed. Such height adjusting mechanism provides for a fast and easy adaptation of the height of the cover relative to the vehicle. In addition, the eccentric ensures a very exact adjustment of the height of the cover, without complicated modifications being required or without having to release the cover-side or vehicle-side attachment of the lever. 
     Preferably, the eccentric is rotatably and hence adjustably accommodated in a cover- or vehicle-side bearing for height adjustment. The position of the lever relative to the cover or to the vehicle is varied by rotation of the eccentric. After adjustment of the eccentric, a releasable locking mechanism can block a rotation of the eccentric relative to the bearing so that after adjustment of the eccentric its position relative to the bearing is fixed. In addition, a counter bearing cooperates with the eccentric, and assumes a different position relative to the bearing due to the adjusted eccentricity providing for a height adjustment. 
     This locking mechanism can be a latching connection. 
     The locking mechanism can block the eccentric relative to the bearing in various rotary positions. A stepless adjustment or fixation of the eccentric involves a relatively high construction effort. A latching connection provides both for an easy blocking of the eccentric and, with a correspondingly narrow raster, also for a sufficient accuracy of the height adaptation of the cover. 
     The eccentric may include lateral receptacles or protrusions for engagement of a locking member mounted on the side of the cover, of the lever or of the vehicle. 
     Preferably, an end-face toothing can be provided. 
     According to one embodiment, the locking member is laterally mounted to be shifted between an adjusting position and a locking position. Locking the eccentric is effected on the end faces of the eccentric and not on a radial circumferential surface. In this embodiment, the receptacle for the eccentric and the bearing can be formed round, which provides for utilizing the previously used components and constructions. 
     The locking member for example is U-shaped and rests against two axially opposite portions of the eccentric. In this embodiment, the locking member for example is a U-shaped clip which can be shifted along the assembly. This provides for an easy assembly and disassembly of the locking member and thus for easily releasing or blocking the eccentric, whereby a fast and easy height adjustment can be effected. Another advantage of such locking member consists in that the same safely prevents an axial shifting of the eccentric, i.e. also slipping out of the eccentric from the bearing and counter bearing. 
     The eccentric can include an axle which is non-rotatably held on the vehicle side, on the lever side or on the cover side. 
     The eccentric also can have a multipart configuration, wherein for example additional components can be used for mounting the eccentric. 
     Mounting can be effected by a cylindrical sleeve in which the axle of the eccentric is held, which is eccentric relative to the sleeve, preferably in that on two opposite axial end faces of the axle one sleeve each is provided. The axle and the sleeve are non-rotatably connected with each other, in particular by positive engagement. 
     Axle and sleeve for example can be parts axially insertable into each other, wherein on the axle or the sleeve radially protruding protrusions are provided, which can engage in corresponding grooves. 
     The eccentric either can be provided between lever and cover or between the lever and a vehicle-mounted part. 
     In one embodiment, an assembly for an openable sliding roof having a cover for selectively exposing and closing a roof opening is provided, the assembly having: at least one lever for raising and lowering the cover, the at least one lever being pivotally mounted to the cover; and a height adjusting mechanism for repositioning the lever with respect to the cover, the height adjusting mechanism having an eccentric coupling the lever to the cover. 
     In another embodiment, an assembly for an openable sliding roof having a cover for selectively exposing and closing a roof opening is provided. The assembly having: at least one lever for raising and lowering the cover, the at least one lever being pivotally mounted to the cover and a vehicle fixture; and a height adjusting mechanism for repositioning the lever, the height adjusting mechanism having an eccentric coupling the lever to the vehicle fixture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages and features can be taken from the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective top view of a sliding roof system with an assembly according to the invention, wherein the cover and the cover holder are removed; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic side view of the sliding roof system in the region of the raising lever of the sliding roof system in a condition with closed cover; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of the sliding roof system in the region of the raising lever in a condition slightly raised; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic side view of the sliding roof system in the region of the raising lever in a condition raised even further; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic side view of the sliding roof system in the region of the raising lever in a condition fully raised; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic side view of the sliding roof system in the region of the raising lever in a condition with the cover fully raised; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a sectional view of the sliding roof system according to the invention in a condition with the cover fully raised, 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the assembly according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 9  shows the assembly of  FIG. 8  in the assembled condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7  the configuration of a sliding roof system will be described below with respect to a lever  20  located at the rear for raising the sliding roof. 
     The sliding roof system serves to shift a cover  10  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) from a closed position, in which it closes an opening in a vehicle roof, via various intermediate positions into an open position, in which the opening in the vehicle roof substantially is completely exposed. The cover  10  here includes a cover holder  12  which via various components of a raising mechanism is shiftably coupled with a vehicle-side guide rail  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 6 ). 
     The cover holder  12  can be formed integrally with the cover  10  or also be a separate component which is connected with the cover  10 . In practice, usually two guide rails  14  and correspondingly two cover holders  12  are used, which both extend substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle and substantially on the left and on the right side of the cover  10  and the roof opening, respectively. 
     For adjusting the cover holder  12  and hence the cover  10  a carriage  16  is provided, which is shiftably mounted in the guide rail  14  and can be shifted by a drive motor (not shown) along the guide rail  14  via a compression-rigidly guided drive cable. 
     In the starting position or closed position of the cover  10 , which is shown in  FIG. 2 , the carriage  16  is in a front position (relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle), in which it ensures that both a guide element  18  located at the front (see  FIG. 1 ) and a lever  20  located at the rear are in a lowered position or starting position. 
     When the carriage  16  is shifted to the rear proceeding from the front position, the lever  20  is swiveled to the rear via a raising rod  22 . 
     At a certain point of the movement to the rear, namely when the lever  20  is fully raised to the outside, the carriage  16  is detached from the raising rod  22 , wherein at the same time the front end of the raising rod  22  is stationarily fixed in the guide rail  14  by a latch mechanism. Subsequently, the carriage  16  is moved further to the rear, wherein the guide element  18  located at the front is carried along. The cover holder  12  thereby is shifted relative to the upper end of the lever  20 , so that in a position with completely open cover the guide element  18  located at the front is disposed relatively close to the lever  20  located at the rear. 
     In this sliding roof system, the guide rail  14  is designed much more compact in transverse direction, since the carriage  16  and the lever  20  are arranged in the same guideway  30  (see in particular  FIG. 1 ). The lever  20  is mounted on the guide rail  14  or any other vehicle fixture such bearing block  24  or guide rail  14  by a swivel bearing  32  or swivel bearing  36  whose swivel axis extends approximately vertical to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail  14  and is formed in the bearing block  24 . The same is mounted on the guide rail  14  such that the swivel axis of the swivel bearing  32  lies below the plane of the guide rail  14 . For fixing the bearing block  24  on the guide rail  14  connecting pins  34  are provided (see  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , the raising rod  22  is located laterally beside the guideway  30 . 
     The lever  20  is L-shaped (see  FIG. 2 ), wherein with lying lever  20  the short leg of the L points downwards and is connected with the bearing block  24  by means of the swivel bearing  32 . In the starting position, the longer arm of the L arranged above the swivel bearing  32  is arranged substantially horizontally and parallel to the guide rail  14 . At its free end facing away from the swivel bearing  32 , the lever  20  is connected with a slider  38  by a swivel bearing  36 , which slider is shiftably accommodated in a sliding guideway  40  which is mounted on the cover holder  12 . In the lever  20  a coulisse  42  is formed, which is arranged as a continuous guiding slot in the longer arm of the L-shaped lever  20 . The coulisse consists of a longer, substantially uniformly curved portion  42 A, whose center of curvature lies on the side of the guide rail, and of a shorter portion  42 B which is comparatively short and is offset relative to the portion  42 A in the opposite direction. 
     A sliding block  44 , which is arranged at the end of the raising rod  22  associated to the raising lever  20 , engages in the coulisse  42 . This end of the raising rod  22  is provided with a sliding guideway  49 , which shiftably engages in suitable guiding formations of the guide rail  14 , for example engages around both sides of a horizontal guiding web of the guide rail. In this way, the end of the raising rod  22  associated to the lever  20  is reliably guided in vertical direction. 
     In the starting position, i.e. when the cover  10  is in the closed position in which it closes the opening in the vehicle roof, the lever  20  is in the position shown in  FIG. 2 , in which its longer arm extends substantially parallel to the guide rail  14 . The end of the lever  20  provided with the swivel bearing  36 , which is associated to the cover  10 , is located closer to the carriage  16  than the swivel bearing  32 . In other words, the longer arm of the lever  20  points forwards to the carriage  16 . When the carriage is shifted to the rear proceeding from its starting position, it carries along the raising rod  22 , which with its sliding block  44  is shifted to the rear in the coulisse  42 . Due to the curvature of the coulisse  42 , the lever  20  is swiveled about the swivel bearing  32 , whereby the swivel bearing  36  is swiveled to the top and to the rear about the swivel bearing  32  on a circular path.  FIG. 3  shows a condition with slightly lifted slider  38 , and  FIG. 4  shows a condition in which the sliding block  44  is maximally shifted to the rear in the coulisse  42 . When the raising rod  22  is shifted to the rear beyond this point, the swivel movement of the lever  20  again brings the sliding block  44  into a part of the coulisse  42  located further to the front (see  FIG. 5 ), since the end of the raising rod  22  associated to the lever  20  is guided in the guide rail  14  in vertical direction. As soon as the condition shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is reached, in which the lever  20  is maximally swiveled to the top, the carriage  16  is detached from the front end of the raising rod  22  and the same is locked in the guide rail, whereby the lever  20  is reliably locked in the position raised. 
     When the carriage  16  now is shifted further to the rear, it carries along the cover  10  to the rear via the guide element  18 , wherein the sliding guideway  40  is shifted relative to the slider  38  which is coupled with the lever  20 . When the cover  10  is maximally opened, the carriage  16  is located at a small distance before the swivel bearing  32  and the region in which the bearing block  24  is arranged. This is possible because the lever  20  now has exposed this region, which it still has assumed in the starting position, due to its swivel movement to the top. 
     The carriage  16  is moved to the front to again close the cover  10 . As a result, it initially carries along the guide element  18  to the front, whereby the cover  10  is pulled forwards relative to the raised lever  20 . Then, the carriage  16  is again coupled with the raising rod  22 , so that the same is shifted to the front. As a result, the lever  20  is again swiveled downwards, so that the rear end of the cover  10  is again moved into its lowered position. In addition, the guide element  18  associated to the front end of the cover is lowered, so that the cover is flush with the vehicle roof and closes the roof opening. 
     In the closed position of the cover  10  it is desired for optical, but also for aerodynamic reasons that the cover and the adjoining vehicle roof are located in one plane, and that it is prevented that an approach flow edge can be formed, i.e. no step or height difference is present in the transition between cover and vehicle roof. For this purpose, the distance between cover  10  and vehicle roof, i.e. the height position of the cover  10 , must be adjusted accurately. 
     The height adjustment is achieved by the assembly shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The assembly comprises the lever  20 , which via the first swivel bearing  32  is pivotally mounted on the vehicle and via the second swivel bearing  36  can be swiveled with the cover holder  12  of the cover  10  and thus with the cover  10 . 
     The swivel bearing  36  is formed by a bore  45  at the lever  20  and by a bearing  46  at the cover holder  12 . The bearing  46  comprises two tabs arranged parallel to each other, which have concentric openings  48 . 
     The distance of the tabs substantially corresponds to the thickness of the lever  20 , so that the lever  20  can be accommodated between the two tabs. 
     The diameter of the openings  48  corresponds to the diameter of the bore  45  of the lever  20 , which forms a counter bearing. 
     Mounting the lever  20  on the cover holder  12  is effected via an eccentric  50 , which among other things includes two sleeves  52 . The eccentric  50  furthermore has a separate part, which subsequently will be referred to as axle  54 . The axle  54  has a substantially cylindrical, central base body  56 . Onto each end face of the base body  56  a bolt  58  is molded, which axially protrudes eccentrically relative to the imaginary middle axis of the base body  56 . 
     On the end face of the eccentric  50 , e.g. on the end face of at least one bolt  58 , a tool engagement structure  60  in the form of a tool receptacle is provided, into which a tool can engage, in order to rotate the eccentric  50 . 
     The sleeves  52  have a substantially circular-cylindrical basic shape, wherein the outside diameter of the sleeves  52  corresponds to the diameter of the openings  48  and the inside diameter corresponds to the diameter of the bolts  58 . At the inner circumference of the sleeves  52  a groove  62  is provided, into each of which a protrusion  64  of the bolts  58  of the eccentric  50  can engage, so that the bolts  58  and the sleeves  52  can non-rotatably be connected with each other. The outer circumference of the sleeves  52  is formed smooth, so that the sleeves  52  are freely rotatable in the bearing  46 . 
     In the connected condition, the cylindrical outer surfaces of the sleeves  52  are eccentric relative to the outer surface of the base body  56 . 
     One end face of the sleeves  52  each has a raster  66  which is formed by a plurality of axially protruding ribs. As will be explained below, the raster serves to fix the rotary position of the sleeve  52  and of the base body  56  non-rotatably coupled with the sleeve  52 . 
     The assembly furthermore includes a locking member  68  which here is a U-shaped metal clip. Together with the raster  66  the locking member  68  forms a locking mechanism. 
     In  FIG. 9 , the assembly is shown in the assembled condition. For assembly, the lever  20  with the bore  45  is inserted into the bearing  46  such that the bore  45  is arranged concentrically relative to the opening  48  of the bearing  46 . Subsequently, the eccentric  50  is pushed into the bearing  46 , until the base body  56  of the eccentric  50  is arranged in the bore  45  of the lever  20 . 
     The diameter of the bore  45  of the lever  20  corresponds to the diameter of the opening  48  of the bearing  46 , so that the base body  56  of the eccentric  50  is rotatably accommodated in the bearing  46 . Subsequently, the sleeves  52  are pushed onto the bolts  58  of the eccentric  50  on both sides, wherein the raster  66  each is directed to the outside. 
     When the bolt  58  is rotated in the bearing  46 , a displacement of the cover  10  or cover holder  12  with respect to the lever  20 , i.e. a height adjustment of the cover  10 , is effected, since the bolts  58  are eccentrically arranged on the base body  56 . 
     To be able to fix the eccentric  50  in a certain position, the locking member  68  can be pushed onto the cover holder  12  in a receptacle  70 , which is formed by two parallel grooves, such that the legs  72  of the locking member  68  engage in the raster  66  of the sleeves  52  and prevent a further rotation of the sleeves  52 . As a result, the base body  56  non-rotatably coupled with the sleeves  52  is fixed and thus the height of the cover  10  relative to the vehicle roof or the lever  20  is defined. 
     Since the base body  56  of the eccentric  50  is rotatably mounted in the bore  45  of the lever  20 , swiveling the lever  20  and thus adjusting the cover  10  for opening and closing the sliding roof is possible independent of the position of the eccentric  50 . 
     The assembly according to the invention thus provides for a fast and easy, individual adaptation of the height of the cover  10 . To be able to perform an adaptation of the height, it is merely necessary to shift the locking member  68  within the receptacle  70  formed as linear guide, so that the eccentric  50  again is freely rotatable. The height can be adapted by rotating the eccentric  50  and subsequently be fixed by mounting the locking member  68 . 
     The legs  72  of the locking member  68  can, however, also be formed resilient, so that a height adjustment also can be effected without shifting the locking member  68 . 
     The locking member  68  might also directly engage the bolt  58  of the eccentric  50 . 
     The embodiment shown here with two sleeves  52  merely serves for an easier assembly, since the eccentric  50  thus can laterally be inserted into the bearing  46 . The sleeves  52  merely serve for compensating the larger diameter of the opening  48  of the bearing  46 . 
     It is also conceivable that the eccentric  50  includes an eccentrically arranged bolt  58  merely on one end face. 
     Instead of being arranged between cover  10  and lever  20 , as shown here, the eccentric  50  might also be arranged between a vehicle-mounted component  74 , i.e. here at the second swivel bearing  32 . 
     Furthermore, locking the eccentric  50  might also be effected at the lever  20 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.