Patent Publication Number: US-2005140164-A1

Title: Vehicle having a roof assembly and such roof assembly

Description:
The present invention relates to a vehicle according to the preamble of the claim  1 .  
      Such vehicle is known in various embodiments. The known roof assemblies include rigid panels or foldable covers adapted to move in different fashion.  
      The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle having extended possibilities of opening the roof.  
      For this purpose, the vehicle has the features according to the characterising portion of claim  1 .  
      Due to the invention it is possible to open the roof of the vehicle to a very large extent by moving the at least one closure element and the rear cross beam away into the trunk of the vehicle.  
      In an advantageous embodiment the unit is positioned at the bottom of the trunk when in its inoperative position, and preferably the trunk comprises a bottom hatch below which the unit is positioned upside down when in its inoperative position.  
      Due to these features, the movement of the unit can be quite simple, i.e. substantially a rotating movement, while the trunk can still be used when the unit is in its inoperative position.  
      To obtain a simple movement of the unit by means of the pivotable arms, the vehicle may have a rear window which can be opened for enabling the pivoting movement of the unit to provide even more room for the rotating movement of the unit. It is preferred that the vehicle has a trunk lid to which the rear window is slidably attached, whereas the trunk lid is movably connected to the body on its lower side. This enables the trunk lid and the rear window to move out of the way and enable a wide swing of the unit.  
      An advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention is characterised in that the roof assembly includes at least two, and preferable at least three slidable closure elements, preferably rigid panels, lying one behind the other in the closed position of the roof assembly and lying substantially one above the other in the open position. Such multi-element, in particular multi-panel roof offers many choices in opening the roof, so that the roof can be adapted to all kinds of situations or circumstances.  
      In an advantageous embodiment, the roof assembly includes a rear fixed panel below which the at least one closure element is positioned in the open position of the roof assembly. The fixed panel may be the upper part of a cassette, which is attached to the rear cross beam. The cassette comprises at least one longitudinal guide track extending at least along a side of the cassette and along the roof opening. The at least one closure element is guided by said longitudinal guide track.  
      In this manner the closure element or elements are moved into the cassette by means of the guide tracks, and the cassette with the closure elements may then be moved into the trunk of the vehicle. 
    
    
      The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the drawings, showing an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a very schematic longitudinal vertical section of a part of the vehicle according to the invention, wherein the roof assembly is in its closed position.  
       FIG. 2  shows the vehicle of  FIG. 1 , but with the roof assembly in its open position.  
       FIG. 3  shows, on a larger scale, detail III in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a view corresponding to that of  FIG. 3 , but with the rear window opened.  
       FIG. 5  is a view substantially corresponding to that of  FIG. 4  and illustrating the movement of the unit comprising the closure elements and the rear cross beam of the vehicle roof.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one half of a vehicle roof comprising a second embodiment of the roof assembly according to the invention, when viewed from above.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the vehicle roof according to  FIG. 6 , when viewed from below and without interior coverings, the closure elements being shown both in the open and closed positions.  
       FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixed roof and closure elements of  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view corresponding to that of FIG.  8 , but showing the guide track for the closure elements of  FIGS. 6-8 .  
       FIGS. 10-17  are sectional views according to the section lines X-X to XVII-XVII in  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the stack of closure elements in their open position. 
    
    
      The drawings, and in particular  FIG. 1  thereof shows an embodiment of a vehicle, in this case consisting of a passenger car, in particular MPV car. The vehicle includes a body  1  enclosing a passenger compartment  2  and a trunk  3 . The body  1  has a roof including a roof assembly  4  to be described hereafter in more detail. The trunk  3  can be opened by means of a trunk lid  5 . The lid  5  is connected to the body  1  of the vehicle by means of pivots  6  which are located on the lower side of the trunk lid  5  when in its closed position, so that the trunk lid  5  will move away from the vehicle at its upper side and will present a projecting floor when in its open position. The trunk lid  5  includes a rear window  7  which is slidably attached to the trunk lid such that the rear window  7  will sink away into the trunk lid  5  when it is opened.  
      The roof assembly for the vehicle comprises in this case three movable closure elements  8 ,  9 ,  10  consisting of rigid, preferably at least partly transparent panels. The closure elements  8  are slidably guided in longitudinal guide tracks extending along an opening  17  in the roof and along longitudinal roof beams of the vehicle (not shown). Operating mechanisms will cause the opening and closing movements of the closure elements  8 - 10  in a manner known from the prior art.  
      As is shown in  FIG. 1  and  2 , the movable closure elements  8 - 10  can be moved from a closed position lying one behind the other to close the roof opening  17 , to a stacked position, lying one above the other below a fixed panel closure element  11  which is positioned in front of a rear cross beam  12  of the vehicle roof. The movement of the closure elements  8 - 10  can be obtained in a manner known per se. For example, it is possible to guide each of the closure elements  8 - 10  in its own guide track, and it is also conceivable to guide the closure elements through a common guide track to its own stacked position below the fixed panel  11 .  
      As is further shown in  FIG. 2 , the rear cross beam  12  is attached to the upper end of an arm  13 . In fact there are provided two arms  13  on each side of the vehicle and each fixed to a lateral end of the rear cross beam  12 . One arm  13  is shown in a very simplified manner as a single piece arm  13  having a fixed pivot  14 , but in a practical embodiment the arms  14  may include several parts which may move relatively to each other and which may pivot with respect to a virtual pivot or may perform a combined translating and rotating movement.  
       FIG. 3  shows the rear portion of the vehicle on a larger scale the closure elements  8 - 10  are shown in their opened position in which they form a unit with the rear cross beam  12  such that when the rear cross beam  12  is moved by means of the arms  13 , the closure elements  8 - 11  will move along. One possible embodiment is that the guide tracks for the closure elements  8 - 10  are fixed to the rear cross beam  12  and panel  11  to hold the closure elements  8 - 10  together during the unitary movements thereof.  
      In  FIG. 4  it is shown that the rear window  7  is slid to its open position within the trunk lid  5  in order to make room for the rear cross beam  12  to move downwardly and rearwardly. In  FIG. 5  it is illustrated that the trunk lid  5  together with the rear window  7  are moved to the open position to completely free the path of the unit  15  in order to move from the operative position at the vehicle roof to an inoperative position at the bottom of the trunk  3 . In  FIG. 5  it is illustrated by three different positions that the arms  13  perform a purely pivoting movement around the pivot  14  but it will be understood that, especially in a first part of the movement from the operative position, the unit might have to make a slight lifting movement in order to release the parts from their respective seals.  
      In the inoperative position, the unit  15  is lying upside down at the bottom of the trunk  3  and may be covered by a movable bottom hatch  16  acting as the trunk floor when the unit  15  is in the in operable position so that the trunk may still be used for luggage. When the trunk hatch  5  is closed again, the vehicle is ready again for use. The vehicle is then more or less a convertible car of which the roof is opened completely. In order to close the roof again, the sequence of movements is performed in reverse order.  
       FIGS. 6-18  show a second embodiment of the vehicle and roof assembly according to the invention in more detail. This second embodiment of the roof assembly comprises four moveable closure elements in the form of rigid panels  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  10 ′. In this embodiment, the panels  9 ,  10  and  10 ′ are of the same size, whereas the front panel  8  is smaller in size, in particular shorter in longitudinal direction of the roof assembly. In the embodiment shown, the panel  11  is fixed to the remainder of the roof (it is a part thereof) and thus cannot be moved away. However, it should be understood that the structure of the second embodiment can easily be integrated in the basic idea of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 7  and  8  show these panels  8 - 10 ′ both in their closed position, closing the roof opening  17 , and in their open position below the fixed panel  11 . In this open position, the panels  8 - 10 ′ are stacked one on top of the other. The fixed panel  11  is attached to the cross beam and forms the upper part of a cassette (not shown) in which the panels  8 - 10 ′ are accommodated in their open position. The structure could be made such that the cassette together with the panels  8 - 11  may be moved into the trunk of the vehicle in the manner as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 .  
      In order to guide the movements of the panels  8 - 10 ′, the roof assembly is equipped with longitudinal guide tracks  20 , one on each longitudinal side of the roof opening  17  and on each side of the cassette below the fixed panel  11 . Each longitudinal guide track  20  could be separated in two parts, one in the cassette below the fixed panel  11  and one at the fixed roof. This could be done to allow the cassette to move away into the trunk together with the panels  8 - 10 ′ if they are in the rear part of the guide track  20 .  
      The guide track  20  (only the guide track on one side of the vehicle is discussed) has a front portion  20 ′ and a rear portion  20 ′″ at a lower level below the fixed panel  11 , as well as an intermediate, inclined portion  20 ″ connecting the front and rear portions  20 ′ and  20 ′″. The level of the front portion  20 ′ of the guide track  20  is such as to allow the panels  8 - 10 ′ to be positioned flush with the fixed roof of the vehicle. The intermediate portion  20 ″ and the rear portion  20 ′″ of the guide track  20  allow the panels  8 - 10 ′ to move slightly downwardly below the fixed panel  11  in order to enter the cassette.  
      Each panel  8 - 10 ′ has two slide shoes on each side, which engage the guide track  20  in order to allow for the sliding movements. All front shoes  21  of the panels are equally shaped, which shape differ from the shape of the rear shoes  22 . The shape of the rear shoe  22 ′ of the rear panel  10 ′ differs slightly from the shape of the rear shoes  22  of the other panels  8 - 10 .  
      The shape of the shoes  21 - 22  is best shown in  FIG. 18 . All slide shoes  21 - 22  are diamond shaped. The front shoes  21  have a long lower lateral projection  23 , whereas the rear shoes  22  have an short upper lateral projection  24 , whereas the rear shoe  22 ′ has a long upper lateral projection  24 ′ which is longer than the projections  24  in lateral direction, and as long as projection  23 . The rear shoes  22  also have a short lower projection  25 , while the rear shoe  22 ′ does not have such lower projection.  
      The different shapes of the front and the rear shoes  21 ,  22  are intended to ensure correct entrance of the slide shoes  21 ,  22  into front and rear storage tracks  26  and  27 . These storage tracks  26 ,  27  connect to the longitudinal guide track  20  from below and are inclined rearwardly and downwardly from the guide track  20 . These storage tracks  26 ,  27  are used to obtain the stacking arrangement of the panels  8 - 10 ′ in the open position. In order to prevent the rear slide shoes  22  from entering the front storage tracks  26 , the guide track  20  comprises a central longitudinal guide rib  28 . This guide rib  28  extends from the intermediate portion  20 ″ of the guide track  20  rearwardly into the rear portion  20 ′″ up to a point between the front and rear storage tracks  26 ,  27 .  
      The guide rib  28  is such that the upper lateral projections  24  of the rear shoes  22  are guided above the guide rib  28  thereby preventing a downward movement thereof. The lower lateral projections  23  and  25  of the front and rear slide shoes  21  and  22  run in a separate groove  41  or below the guide rib  28 , respectively, preventing an upper movement of the slide shoes  21 ,  22  during their engagement with the guide rib  28 . The groove  40  extends in the guide track  20  and into the front storage track  26  to ensure that the front shoes  21  enter the front storage track  26 .  
      The different shapes of the upper lateral projection  24 ′ of the rear shoe  22 ′ of the rear panel  10 ′ is such as to cause this slide shoe  22 ′ to enter an upper side branch  29  of the guide track  20 . This upper side branch  29  is provided near the front of the rear portion  20 ′″ of the guide track  20  and is intended to lift the rear end of the rear panel  10 ′ when the panels  8 - 10 ′ are almost in their closed position. This creates the movement of the rear end of the rear panel  10 ′ to the flush level, since the rear slide shoe  22 ′ of the rear panel  10 ′ cannot use the intermediate portion  20 ″ of the guide track  22  to be moved to the flush level of the closed position. As this rear slide shoe  22 ′ is the only one without a lower lateral projection  23 ,  25 , it is the only slide shoe that is allowed to be move upwardly during its engagement with the guide rib  28 . The deflection of the rear slide shoe  22  into the side branch  29  is caused by the engagement of the longer upper lateral projection  24 ′ into a deeper guide groove  30  of the guide track  20 , leading into the upper side branch  28 . None of the other projections engage into this guide groove  30 .  
      In the embodiment shown, only the front panel  8  is driven directly by a driving means, such as an electric motor  31 . Normally there is a drive cable between the electric motor  31  and the front panel  8 . In the drawings, only a cable shoe  32  connecting the cable to the front panel  8  ( FIG. 18 ) and a cable guide  32  are shown (e.g.  FIGS. 7 and 10 ).  
      The other panels  9 - 10 ′ are driven by the front panel  8 . For this purpose, each panel  8 - 10 ′ has a side section  34  having a rear driving surface  35  which is adapted to engage the front end of the side section  34  of the next panel  9 - 10 ′ when the front panel  8  is moved backwardly by the electric motor  31 . There is provided a further connecting member to form a drive connection between the panels  8 - 10  when the front panel  8  is moved forwardly. This connecting member at the front end of the panels  9 - 10 ′ comprises, in this case, an arm  36  which is pivotally connected at its rear end to the respective side section  34  of the respective panel  9 - 10 ′ through a transverse axis  37 . On its free front end, each arm  36  is provided with a cross pin  38  which is adapted to engage into a recess  39  in the lower side of the side section  34  of a preceding panel  8 - 10 . Each recess  39  extends upwardly and slightly backwardly from the lower side of the side section  34 . Each arm  36  is biased in upward direction by a spring member such as a torsion spring (not shown). This biasing force urges a cross pin  38  into the recess  39  if they are aligned.  
      It is further shown in  FIGS. 15-18  that the side sections  34  of the panels  8 - 10  are of such shape that they engage the side section  34  of the next panel  9 - 10 ′ in a sliding manner when they are in a stacked relationship. As a result, the stacked panels  8 - 10 ′ form a unit when they are in their open position within the cassette.  
       FIG. 9  shows a biasing member  40  between the front and rear storage tracks  26  and  27 . This biasing member  40  is spring-loaded in upward direction so as to force the panels  9 - 10 ′ to move from the storage tracks  26 ,  27  into the guide track  20  when the front panel  8  is moved from the open position forwardly to the closed position.  
      The operation of the roof assembly as is follows.  
      When the panels  8 - 10 ′ of the roof assembly are opened, starting from their closed position as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the front panel  8  is driven by the electric motor  31  and therefore slides rearwardly. Due to the driving surfaces  35 , the other panels  9 - 10 ′ are taken along. The rear panel  10 ′ can only be moved rearwardly if the rear end is moved downwardly below the fixed panel  11  which is positioned behind the panel  10  when this is in its closed position. Due to the upper side branch  29  of the guide track  20 , the rear slide shoe  22  of the rear panel  10 ′ which engages in the side branch  29 , is moved downwardly through the side branch  29  in the direction of the guide track  20 . Thus, the rear panel  10 ′ is enabled to move below the fixed panel  11  and the other panels  8 - 10  follow the rear panel  10 ′ when the slide shoes  21 ,  22  thereof move through the guide track  20 .  
      The rear slide shoe  22 ′ of the rear panel  10 ′ is guided past the front storage track  26  due to the engagement of the upper lateral projection  24  with the guide rib  28  in the guide track  20 . When the rear slide shoe  22 ′ has reached the rear end of the guide track  20  and has come into alignment with the rear storage track  27 , the front slide shoe  21  of the rear panel  10 ′ has come into alignment with the front storage track  26 . When the rear panel  10 ′ is pushed further backwardly, it is urged downwardly with its slide shoes  21  and  22 ′ into the storage tracks  26 ,  27 , guided by the engagement of the projection  23  in the groove  41  in the storage track  26  and by the contact of the rear shoe  22  with the inclined rear wall of the storage track  27 .  
      If the rear panel.  10 ′ is moved sufficiently downwardly the preceding panel  10  comes out of abutting relationship with the rear panel  10 ′ and is allowed to slide over the rear panel  10 ′. Then, the side sections  34  of the rear panel  10 ′ and of the preceding panel  10  come into sliding engagement with each other.  
      The described movements repeat for the panels  9  and  10  and when the front panel  8  has entered the rear portion of the guide track  20  within the cassette below the fixed panel  11  all panels  8 - 10 ′ are stacked within the cassette. In case the cassette is movable, the cassette with the panels may then be moved into the trunk of the vehicle as explained with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 .  
      When the front panel  8  is driven forwardly again it is moved along until the recess  39  in its side section  34  passes the cross pin  38  on the arm of the next panel  9 . Due to the upward force of the spring member, the cross pin  38  is forced into the recess  39 . Due to this engagement, the panel  9  is moving along with the panel  8 . It is first urged out of the storage tracks  26 ,  27 , both by the biasing member  14  and by the connection with the front panel  8 . The co-operation between the guide rib  28 /groove  41  and the upper and the lower lateral projections  23 ,  24  and  25 , respectively, prevent the slide shoes  21 ,  22  from entering the front storage track  26  or the upper side branch  29 .  
      This process continues until the rear panel  10 ′ is moved out of the storage tracks  26 ,  27 . When the rear slide shoe  22 ′ of the rear panel  10 ′ approaches the side branch  29 , its guide groove  30  urges the rear slide shoe  22 ′ into the upper side branch  29  due to engagement of the long upper lateral projection  24 ′ in the guide groove  30 . The rear end of the rear panel  10  is then moved quickly upwardly to its closed position during the last sliding movement of the panels. The roof assembly is then in its closed position again. Of course, the seal between the roof opening and the circumference of the panel assembly is such as to allow the various movements of the panels  8 - 10 ′.  
      From the foregoing description it will be clear that the invention provides a vehicle and a roof assembly which has outstanding operating possibilities, a flush exterior design and an advantageous manner of stacking movable closure elements below the fixed panel and, optionally, hiding the unit in the trunk of the vehicle. With the proper design and operating equipment the roof assembly does not require tools or large muscular force to move the unit between the operative and inoperative positions.  
      The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawing and described hereinbefore and may be varied in different manners within the scope of the appended claims. For example, it is possible that the closure element consists of slats or a folding cover, and may also be moved above a fixed roof part in the open position of the roof assembly. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6-18 , the drive means for the closure elements is positioned at the font of the roof assembly. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1-5 , the drive means would normally be in the rear part of the roof assembly which is movable.