Patent Description:
Such open roof construction is for example known from <CIT>. In this prior art roof construction, the lifting device and guiding device are integrated and include a pivotable lever which pivots when it acts as the lifting device and slides when it acts as guiding device. To pivot the lever, there is provided a slide including a guide slot engaged by a guide pin of the lever. The guide pin exits and enters the guide slot when changing from lifting device to guiding device and back. At the same time a guide member of the guiding device should enter and exit the rear guide track, respectively. This creates a take-over point which might cause problems.

<CIT> discloses a sliding roof for automobiles in which a panel for closing and opening a roof opening is supported with front and rear stays slidable through guides. The front stay is slidable along a first guide provided on a roof frame, and the rear stay is interposed between the first guide and a second guide provided on the underside surface of the panel.

<CIT> discloses a sliding and venting sunroof, the frame thereof being fitted with at least one front longitudinal guide track extending at least along the roof opening and a rear longitudinal guide track mounted rearward of the roof opening. The closure is supported at the rear by a lifting device comprising a guiding device for engagement in said rear longitudinal guide track upon rearward movement of the panel. The lifting device is adapted to tilt the panel from the closed position in the roof opening to an upwardly inclined venting position and to move the panel from the closed position rearwardly.

<CIT> discloses an open roof construction the closure element of which is supported at the rear by a lifting device comprising a guiding device for engagement in said rear longitudinal guide track upon rearward movement of the closure element. The lifting device and the guiding device are integrated and are constructed as a height-adjustable, rotatable, element which has a forcing mechanism determining whether the movable element acts either as the lifting device or as the guiding device.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an open roof construction according to the preamble in which the described disadvantage is avoided or at least reduced.

According to the invention, the open roof construction includes the features of the characterizing portion of claims <NUM> or <NUM>.

Such arrangement reduces the width or package of the rear support, and still enable the required movements of the closure element. In particular, this arrangement means that parts are not positioned beside each other, but one at least partially and in particular at least substantially behind or below at least one of the others.

If the guide track in the lifting device and the rear guide track include an opening in upward direction, and the guiding device having a width which is more narrow than the width of the opening at least at the position of the opening, it is also possible to arrange the lifting device and the guiding device in substantially the same lateral position.

The forcing guide may be positioned mainly below the rear guide track, allowing these elements to be substantially in the same lateral position.

In an embodiment the lifting device is movably connected to the stationary part and includes a guide track for the guiding device that is connected to the closure element, which guide track of the lifting device connects to the rear guide track during at least a part of the rearward movement of the closure element to allow the guiding device thereof to move between the guide track of the lifting device and the rear guide track. Now that the guiding device is continuously in engagement with one of the guide tracks and these guide tracks are connected to each other at least temporarily, a take-over point as in the prior art is avoided.

In one embodiment, the forcing mechanism includes a guiding slide which is provided with a guide curve to be engaged by a guide member connected to the lifting device.

Such forcing mechanism is simple and reliable.

The lifting device may be rotatably connected to the rear guide track.

Connecting the lifting device to the rear guide track reduces tolerance problems, and thus ensures that the guide tracks precisely align to each other to allow a smooth transfer of the guiding device from one guide track to the other.

An axis of rotation of the lifting device may be arranged substantially at a front end of the rear guide track.

In this case the movement of the lifting device at the front end of the rear guide track is minimal which also enables in a simple manner a precise connection/alignment between the guide tracks.

In another embodiment, the lifting device is rotatable around an axis of rotation which is positioned remote from a front end of the rear guide track.

In such embodiment it might be easier to obtain a connection between the guiding device and the closure element which is closer to the rear side of the closure element which promotes stability. It might also enable a higher lifting of the closure element and/or a smaller vertical package of the rear support in closed position of the closure element.

The guide track in the lifting device may extend rearwardly and upwardly, also in a position when the guide track connects to the rear guide track.

Such extent of the guide track in the lifting device creates an additional lifting movement so that the required vertical movement of the lifting device could be relatively small.

In an embodiment, the front and rear supports of the closure element are driven such that the closure element is moved from the closed position in a first movement to a venting position by mainly a pivoting movement around a pivoting axis near the front support of the closure element, and in a second movement to an open position above the roof area be-hind the roof opening, the first movement being initiated by the forcing mechanism, the second movement by the front support.

This enables a separation of movements without requiring switches in the rear support for the closure element. The switches may now be provided in the drive.

In a simple embodiment, the guiding device is a bracket fixed to the closure element and including a guide member engaging the guide tracks.

In another embodiment, the guiding device is a lever which is pivotally connected to the closure element and includes at least one guide member engaging the guide tracks.

Such embodiment including a lever is more complex but might enable a smaller package of the rear support in the closed position of the closure element, or enable a higher lift of the closure element.

In the invention according to claim <NUM>, the rear guide track is rotatably connected to the stationary part and also functions as the lifting device, wherein an axis of rotation of the lifting device/rear guide track is positioned at the rear end of the rear guide track. In this embodiment, a guide cam of a bracket of the guiding device is continuously in engagement with the rear guide track.

Further details and advantages of the invention follow from the below description with reference to the drawings schematically showing embodiments of the open roof construction by way of example.

In the various embodiments, similar parts are indicated by the same reference numbers.

The drawings show an embodiment of an open roof construction for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle such as a passenger car. As is shown in <FIG> this vehicle is provided with an opening <NUM> in its fixed roof <NUM>, whereby it is noted that said fixed roof <NUM> may either form part of the vehicle or of the open roof construction itself, which in that case makes up the entire roof of the vehicle. The fixed roof <NUM> may consist of an integral part of the vehicle or of one or more (transparent) panels, which may be removable or form a separate adjustable roof element.

The open roof construction comprises a stationary part, such as a frame <NUM> (<FIG>), and a closure element, in this case in the form of a rigid and preferably transparent panel <NUM>, for example made of glass or of plastic material, which is movably supported by frame <NUM>. In this embodiment, panel <NUM> is movable between a closed position, in which roof opening <NUM> is closed and panel <NUM> is at least substantially coplanar with the fixed roof <NUM>, and an open position, in which panel <NUM> occupies a rearward position, at least partially above fixed roof <NUM>, in which a very large part of opening <NUM> is cleared.

An adjusting mechanism is provided on each longitudinal side of panel <NUM> for effecting the movements of panel <NUM>. The mechanism is driven by a driving unit including a driving element, such as a driving cable <NUM> (<FIG>) and a manual actuator, such as a crank, or a motor such as an electric motor, for driving the cable (not shown). The mechanism supports panel <NUM> and is at least partially guided in a front guide track <NUM>, which forms part of or is mounted on frame <NUM>. The front guide track <NUM> extends along the side edge of roof opening <NUM>, at a lower level than fixed roof <NUM>. However, it is very well possible that there is only one front guide track extending centrally below the roof opening <NUM>.

Furthermore, a rear guide track <NUM> is provided, namely at, and in this case just below, the fixed roof, substantially rearward of the roof opening <NUM> and in this case rearward of front guide track <NUM> and on both lateral sides of the fixed roof. The drawings show only parts on one side of the roof, but it should be kept in mind that similar parts are arranged in mirror image on the other side as well.

As is shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the adjusting mechanism for panel <NUM> includes a front support <NUM> and a rear support <NUM>. The front support <NUM> is in engagement with a driving slide (not shown) which is guided in front guide track <NUM> and forms part of the driving unit of adjusting mechanism. The driving cable <NUM> is connected to a driving slide. The front support <NUM> may be constructed as in <CIT>. The structure of the front support does not form part of the present invention and could be constructed in any way. It would also be possible that the sliding movement of panel <NUM> is initiated not through the front support, but in another way.

The rear support <NUM> includes a lifting device <NUM>, a guiding device <NUM> and a forcing mechanism <NUM>.

The forcing mechanism <NUM> includes a guiding slide <NUM> having a guide track or slot <NUM> in which a guide member or pin <NUM> of the lifting device <NUM> engages. Slot <NUM> extends rearwardly and upwardly and has substantially horizontal portions at its ends. In the embodiments shown, the guiding slide <NUM> moves forwardly when panel <NUM> is moved from the closed to the venting position. This may be accomplished by a separate driving cable, but it is also possible to temporarily couple the back end of driving cable <NUM> (as shown) to guiding slide <NUM>, so that the slide <NUM> is driven in a direction opposite to the sliding movement of panel <NUM> that follows if the actuation of the drive unit is continued.

The lifting device <NUM> includes a rotatable element <NUM> which is rotatable around an axis of rotation <NUM> which is positioned at the front end of the rear guide track <NUM>. Preferably, the axis is formed by an element such as a pin that is supported by the rear guide track <NUM>, so that there are no aligning problems between the lifting device <NUM> and the rear guide track <NUM>. This is relevant as the rotatable element <NUM> of the lifting device <NUM> includes a guide track <NUM> that should connect to the rear guide track in one rotational position of the rotatable element <NUM> so as to form one continuous guide track.

The guide tracks <NUM> and <NUM> are intended to guide a guide member or cam <NUM> which is fixed to the guiding device <NUM>, here formed as a simple bracket <NUM> fixed to panel <NUM>. The guide track <NUM> has a light S-shape with a lower portion accommodating guide cam <NUM> when panel <NUM> is in its closed position (providing stability in vertical direction), a middle portion which is rearwardly and upwardly inclined to add lift to panel <NUM> when guide cam <NUM> moves through this portion, and an upper portion which is in line with rear guide track <NUM> when the guide track <NUM> connects thereto.

As is shown in <FIG>, lifting device <NUM>, guiding device <NUM> and forcing mechanism <NUM> are shaped and arranged to form a small packing in lateral (Y) direction. In this embodiment, this is accomplished by arranging guiding slide <NUM>, bracket <NUM> and rear guide track behind each other so that they can be arranged in substantially the same lateral position. The guide track <NUM> of lifting device <NUM> is also positioned in line with rear guide track <NUM>. It includes a vertical opening <NUM> along its length so that bracket <NUM> of the lifting device <NUM> (which is of a small width) can extend vertically through opening <NUM> and can thus be positioned above a part of the guide track <NUM> and does not protrude in lateral direction. The rotatable element <NUM>, to which guide track <NUM> is attached or formed, is made of thin sheet-like material, such as steel, and is positioned close to guiding slide <NUM> so as to add only little width to the rear support <NUM>.

The rear guide track also has a vertical opening or slit <NUM> to allow bracket <NUM> of the guiding device <NUM> to pass through. In case the rear guide track <NUM> is positioned below (the plane of) fixed roof <NUM>, it should also have some kind of passage for bracket <NUM>. The rear guide track could be made of one piece of material, or could e.g. have a separate front piece made of plastic and have an integrated axis of rotation for the rotatable element <NUM>.

The operation of the open roof construction of <FIG> will be explained with reference to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, panel <NUM> is in its closed position. Guiding slide <NUM> is in its rear position, and guide pin <NUM> is in the front bottom portion of slot <NUM>, so that rotatable element is in its downwardly rotated position. Guide cam <NUM> is in front bottom portion of guide track <NUM>.

In <FIG>, guiding slide <NUM> is moved maximally forwardly so that guide pin <NUM> has arrived in rear top portion of slot <NUM>, and rotatable element <NUM> is rotated to its maximally upward position. In this position, panel <NUM> is tilted to the venting position, and rotatable element <NUM> is maximally rotated about axis of rotation <NUM>, so that guide track <NUM> is now in alignment with rear guide track <NUM>.

In <FIG> it is shown that guiding slide <NUM> is kept stationary because guiding cable <NUM> has been uncoupled from guiding slide <NUM>. Guide cable <NUM> has now been coupled to front support <NUM> to move panel <NUM> rearwardly. During this movement, guide cam <NUM> is moved first through guide track <NUM>. Due to this movement through guide track <NUM> which extends rearwardly and upwardly, panel <NUM> is lifted some more during its rearward movement. When guide cam <NUM> arrives at the rear end of guide track <NUM> it is transferred to rear guide track <NUM> smoothly due to the correct alignment of both guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM>. Panel <NUM> may then be slid further rearwardly to its fully opened position.

The return movement of the panel <NUM> to the front, closed position will be effected in an opposite manner.

<FIG> show a second embodiment of the open roof construction. Lifting device <NUM>, guiding device <NUM> and forcing mechanism <NUM> are shown again. Guiding device <NUM> is similar as in the first embodiment. The axis of rotation <NUM> of rotatable element <NUM> of lifting device <NUM> is however positioned at the end of rotatable element <NUM> which is remote from the rear guide track, i.e. at the front of rotatable element. Axis of rotation <NUM> is supported by frame <NUM> or an element fixed thereto.

Guiding slide <NUM> is now positioned at the rear end of rotatable element <NUM> and below rear guide track <NUM> (and might be guided by the lower side of rear guide track <NUM>), so that guiding device <NUM>, forcing mechanism <NUM> and rear guide track <NUM> can still be arranged in substantially the same lateral position.

The operation of this second embodiment is similar to that of <FIG>, as appears from <FIG>.

<FIG> show a third embodiment with a similar arrangement of parts as in <FIG>, however, guiding device <NUM> now comprises a tilting lever <NUM>. It is pivotally coupled to panel <NUM> by an axis of rotation <NUM> and it carries two guide members or pins <NUM>, <NUM>, one of which (the front pin <NUM>) is positioned in guide track <NUM> when panel <NUM> is in closed to venting position, and is positioned in rear guide track <NUM> when panel <NUM> is moved a distance rearwardly. Rear guide pin <NUM> is continuously in engagement with rear guide track <NUM>. This rear guide pin <NUM> acts as axis of rotation for rotatable element <NUM> when it is rotated (from the position of <FIG> to that of <FIG>). As soon as both guide pins are within rear guide track <NUM>, tilting lever <NUM> is not tiltable anymore and only follows the rear guide track <NUM>. The tilting lever <NUM> either creates some additional lift of panel <NUM> or reduces the package height in closed position of the panel <NUM>, compared to the fixed bracket <NUM>.

<FIG> show an embodiment which is a combination of that of <FIG>. The axis of rotation <NUM> is again position at the front end of rear guide track <NUM> (as in <FIG>) and guiding slide <NUM> is again positioned at the rear end of lifting device <NUM> and below rear guide track <NUM>. Rotatable element <NUM> is now a two-armed lever having a central axis of rotation <NUM>. Due to the leverage action of the rotatable element, the height difference between the ends of slot <NUM> can be smaller to obtain the same lifting height of bracket <NUM> compared to the embodiment of <FIG>.

<FIG> show a further embodiment in which guiding slide <NUM> is arranged below and in the same lateral position as guide track <NUM> of lifting device <NUM>. The height of slot <NUM> and guiding slide <NUM> could be less than in <FIG> as the lift of bracket <NUM> is now the same as the lift of guide pin <NUM>. In this arrangement the package in lateral direction is again small. The slide <NUM> may support guide track <NUM> by means of its upper surface the shape of which is adapted to that of guide track <NUM>.

<FIG> show yet a further embodiment which is different in that the rear guide track now also functions as the lifting device. The axis of rotation <NUM> of lifting device <NUM> is now positioned at the rear end of rear guide track <NUM>. Guide track <NUM> and rear guide track <NUM> are now integrated and guide cam <NUM> of bracket <NUM> of guiding device <NUM> is now continuously in engagement with rear guide track <NUM>. Rear guide track <NUM>, guiding device <NUM> and forcing mechanism are again arranged substantially in the same lateral position, so as to obtain a small lateral (Y) package of the rear support.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the invention provides a very simple, robust and reliable support and actuating mechanism for the closure element, and having a small package in lateral direction. It is noted that features of the various embodiments may be combined in different manners.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment as described above and shown in the drawing, which can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, it is possible that the height-adjustable, movable element of the lifting device makes a combined sliding and rotating movement. The positions of the members/pins/axes on the movable element can be varied depending on the desired moving mechanics, force distribution, package height etc. The coupling/locking element for coupling/uncoupling the driving cable and guiding slide may be separate elements, for example the coupling element on the driving slide and the locking element on the driving cable. It is also possible that the guiding slide is driven indirectly by the driving cable, or by a separate drive of the drive unit. The forcing mechanism may be provided with other elements to cause the lifting device to move in vertical direction in the same lateral position, so as to obtain a small lateral (Y) package of the rear support.

Claim 1:
An open roof construction for a vehicle having an opening (<NUM>) in its fixed roof (<NUM>), comprising a stationary part (<NUM>) to be attached to the vehicle roof and at least one closure element (<NUM>) which is movably supported by said stationary part and which can be adjusted by means of a driving unit including a driving element (<NUM>), wherein said closure element is movable between a closed position for closing the roof opening, and an open, rearward position for being at least partially above the roof area behind the roof opening, in which the roof opening is at least partially released, wherein said stationary part (<NUM>) is fitted with at least one front guide track (<NUM>) extending at least along a part of the roof opening (<NUM>), and a fixed rear guide track (<NUM>) substantially rearward of the roof opening, the closure element (<NUM>) being supported near its front side by a front support (<NUM>) which is movably guided by said front guide track (<NUM>), and which is supported rearwards thereof by a rear support (<NUM>) including a lifting device (<NUM>) and a guiding device (<NUM>) for engagement in said rear guide track (<NUM>) upon rearward movement of the closure element (<NUM>), the lifting device (<NUM>) includes a height-adjustable, rotatable, movable element (<NUM>; <NUM>) which has a slidable forcing mechanism (<NUM>) determining the rotation of the lifting device, characterized in that the lifting device (<NUM>) is rotatably connected to the stationary part (<NUM>) and the guiding device (<NUM>) is connected to the closure element (<NUM>), and in that at least the forcing mechanism (<NUM>), the guiding device (<NUM>), and the rear guide track (<NUM>) are arranged such with respect to each other that they are substantially in the same lateral position.