Openable motor vehicle roof with protection against pinching

• US 6,186,586 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
• Inventors: Lindinger, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US09/362,039
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 296/214, 296/216-6-2, 296/223
• US Class Current: 296/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/82 for movable panels in roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/443 specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/12 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/27 Profiles; Strips
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels

Abstract

A motor vehicle roof including a roof panel with a roof opening, at least partially transparent cover which covers the roof opening and being selectively movable to at least partially clear the roof opening, a headliner positioned underneath the roof opening and being selectively movable to at least partially clear the roof opening, a sealing element mounted to the roof panel in a manner that the sealing element adjoins the cover from underneath the cover to seal the motor vehicle roof when the cover is in a closed position, and a sensor provided in the sealing element for sensing application of force in excess of a threshold value which is indicative of an object being pinched between a front edge of the roof opening and at least one of the cover and/or the headliner.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle roof comprising:

a fixed roof structure having a roof panel with a roof opening;

an at least partially transparent cover which has a closed position in which the cover closes said roof opening, said at least partially transparent cover being selectively movable from said closed position to at least partially expose said roof opening;

a headliner positioned underneath said roof opening, said headliner being selectively movable to at least partially expose said roof opening;

a sealing element mounted to said roof structure in a manner that said sealing element adjoins said cover, from underneath said cover, in an area proximate to a front edge of said cover, thereby sealing the motor vehicle roof when said cover is in said closed position; and

a sensor provided in said sealing element for sensing application of force in excess of a threshold value which is indicative of an object being pinched between a front edge of said roof opening and at least one of said at least partially transparent cover and said headliner.

2. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said at least partially transparent cover is adapted to be pivoted outwardly into a ventilation position where a rear edge of said at least partially transparent cover protrudes up and out of a plane of the roof panel;

and wherein said sealing element is mounted on said roof structure in a manner that said sealing element adjoins said cover from underneath said cover in an area proximate to a front edge of said cover in said ventilation position as well as in said closed position.

3. Motor vehicle roof of claim 2, further comprising a wind deflector positioned proximate to said front edge of said roof opening, said wind deflector being adapted to automatically pivot outwardly when said at least partially transparent cover is at least partially opened;

and wherein said sealing element engages said wind deflector when said at least partially transparent cover is in said closed position as well as when said at least partially transparent cover is in said ventilation position, thereby preventing rattling of said wind deflector.

4. Motor vehicle roof of claim 3, wherein said sealing element includes a first sealing lip positioned toward the front of said sealing element, said first sealing lip projecting upward to adjoin said wind deflector from underneath when said at least partially transparent cover is in said closed position.

5. Motor vehicle roof of claim 4, wherein said sealing element includes a second sealing lip which projects upwardly to adjoin said at least partially transparent cover.

6. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sealing element includes two sealing lips positioned in succession on said sealing element and said two sealing lips extend upwardly to adjoin said at least partially transparent cover.

7. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor which measures pressure by measuring resistance.

8. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sealing element includes a bead area with a cavity for receiving said sensor which extends in a transverse direction of said roof panel.

9. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sensor is positioned above said headliner.

10. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein a front edge of said headliner adjoins said sealing element when said headliner is in a closed position.

11. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein a front edge of said headliner substantially abuts said sealing element when said headliner is in a closed position.

12. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sealing element is made of EDPM.

13. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sealing element is mounted to a roof part of said roof structure, said roof part projecting into said roof opening.

14. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, further comprising a seal disposed between said front edge of said at least partially transparent cover and a front edge of said roof opening for additionally sealing said motor vehicle roof when said at least partially transparent cover is in a closed position.

15. Motor vehicle roof of claim 1, wherein said sensor is disposed in a manner to be positioned below a front edge of said sliding headliner when said sliding headliner is in said closed position.