Cover of an openable motor vehicle roof

• US 6,076,886 A
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SARL, Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SARL, Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Inventors: Schmitt, Stefan, Schatzler, Walter, Brandner, Hans, Hertel, Johann, Lorig, Roland, Petri, Volker, Schroferl, Thomas, Mickeler, Reinhold, Lehnen, Hans Gunter, Herlemann, Werner, Benda, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/184,954
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 296/216.06, 296/216.09, 296/223, 49/27, 200/61.43, 318/468
• US Class Current: 296/216.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/82 for movable panels in roofs

Abstract

A cover (2) of an openable motor vehicle roof (1) has a cover plate (3) which is surrounded in at least one edge area by a foamed-on or injected-on plastic frame (4) which, at the same time, is used to connect at least one attachment part (inside cover sheet 6) of the cover. At least one sensor element (8) is integrated into the plastic frame (4) and it signals pinching of a body part or an article (11) by means of partial deformation of the plastic frame (4) when cover (2) is closed.

Claims

1. Cover of an openable motor vehicle roof comprising a cover plate which is surrounded in at least one edge area by a molded-on plastic frame, and at least one sensor element integrated into the plastic frame, said sensor being actuated for issuing of a signal by partial deformation of the plastic frame due to pinching of a body part or article between the cover and an edge of a roof, in an installed condition the cover in the motor vehicle roof, when the cover is moved toward a closed position thereof;

and wherein the sensor element is mounted in a groove in an underside of the plastic frame.

2. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pressure nub is provided on the sensor element, said pressure nub facing an outer edge of the plastic frame.

3. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one pressure nub is provided on a wall defining the groove facing the sensor element.

4. Cover as claimed in claims 1, wherein the groove is filled with an elastic material which is softer than the plastic of the frame.

5. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor element is cemented to a wall defining the groove.

6. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein electrical terminal connections of the sensor element are embedded into the plastic of the plastic frame.

7. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame has a contact surface on the outside edge of the cover;

and wherein said contact surface is inclined obliquely downward in a direction away from the cover plate from an upper outer corner toward a lower outer corner of the frame.

8. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove extends into proximity with a top edge of the plastic frame forming a hinge for a rib which extends on an outside edge of the plastic frame and bounds an outer side of the groove.

9. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor element is positioned inclined in a direction extending obliquely downward from an upper outer corner of said frame toward a lower inner corner of said frame.

10. Cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor element is strip-shaped and extends at least in an area of a front edge of the cover.

11. Cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor element is embedded completely into the elastic material in the groove.

12. Cover as claimed in claim 11, wherein a pressure nub is provided on the sensor element, said pressure nub facing an outer edge of the plastic frame.

13. Cover as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one pressure nub is provided on a wall defining the groove facing the sensor element.

14. An openable motor vehicle roof comprising a fixed vehicle roof, an opening formed in the fixed vehicle roof and a movable cover plate mounted in said opening and which is surrounded in at least one edge area by a molded-on plastic frame, at least one sensor element being integrated into the plastic frame, said sensor being actuated for issuing of a signal by partial deformation of the plastic frame due to pinching of a body part or article between the cover and an edge of fixed vehicle roof defining said opening when the cover is moved from a position at least partially exposing the opening in the fixed vehicle roof toward a position closing said opening;

wherein the sensor element is mounted in a groove in an underside of the plastic frame.

15. Vehicle roof as claimed in claim 14, wherein the groove extends into proximity with a top edge of the plastic frame forming a hinge for a rib which extends on an outside edge of the plastic frame and bounds an outer side of the groove.

16. Vehicle roof as claimed in claims 14, wherein the groove is filled with an elastic material which is softer than the plastic of the frame.

17. Vehicle roof as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensor element is attached to a wall defining the groove.